Friends and Betrayal

"Sooo…." Ryan clapped his hands together and Marissa snuggled deeper into his chest. They had just arrived back in the pool house, and there was already a weird tension amongst everyone. Clearly Ryan and Marissa just wanted alone time so they could get it on, Seth wanted Summer all to himself, while she on the other hand was trying to do anything in her power to prevent that.

If things between her and Seth weren't messed up before, now there was absolutely no telling where they stood. To state the obvious, Seth liked her, since what was it…like 6th grade? And her actions these past few days certainly could provoke the heavy sexual tension that had been looming amongst them ever since they left the Lakers game.

So your probably thinking, he likes her, she thinks she likes him. They should get together, right? For some reason, Summer just can not swallow her pride long enough to actually picture her and him together. Her fears were at an all time high, and she was already thinking about what would happen if they broke up. She is doubting it before it even starts.

"This isn't awkward at all…" Seth nodded furiously and looked at each one of them.

"Well I think I'm just gonna go help Sandy with the dishes…"Ryan climbed off the bed and held an arm out to help Marissa up.

"Yeah, I'll come help…dishes can be a bitch." Marissa replied and let Ryan guide her across the room and towards the door.

"Don't you leave me Marissa, not alone with Cohen!" Summer sprung up from the chair and grabbed Marissa's shoulders and whispered into her ear. She went so fast you could practically only see the outline of her pajama's streaking across the room.

"Dude give me 20 minutes to lock things down with Summer." On the other hand, Seth was shooing Ryan out the door, thus breaking his grip on Marissa's hand.

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"Where do you think they went?" Seth closed his eyes and cursed himself after realizing how stupid and pointless that question was. And if he knew Summer, she would fire back an insult quicker than you could say pointless.

"Dishes, Cohen…" Summer scoffed and shook her head, keeping her eyes glued to the TV. "Its like couple talk for making out dumbass. Nobody does dishes at midnight." She rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, before jumping to her feet and streaking across the room and flopping on the bed.

"What are you doing?" He closed his eyes yet again, this time cursing more loudly to himself.

"Oh wow Cohen, 2 for 2. I'm laying on the bed, getting ready to go to sleep." She adjusted her pajamas than crawled under the blankets. Seth so did not see this conversation turning out this way. Well to a degree he did, just he imagined him and Summer sleeping together, for a second time. The first was just because she claimed she didn't want to be alone. He wanted the second to be when they're a couple. "Good night" She muttered dryly, and woke Seth up from his deep concentration.

"Wait, wait, you're going to sleep…already? We still have to-"

"It is a sleepover Cohen…god." She mumbled from under the blankets and pulled the pillow over her head.

"Nuh uh, not this time." Seth ripped the blankets off and shoved them to the floor. "We have to talk first." Her eyes lit up, Seth squinted his eyes fearing the worst.

"What's there to talk about?" She sighed heavily and sat up straight and positioned the pillows to cushion her back. She knew they had a lot of things to resolve, it was more or less delaying the inevitable.

"We have to talk about us. Last time we were in this exact same spot, then we never talked, and then you ended up going out with Justin." Seth repositioned himself in the chair, then focused his attention on Summer. "I'm not going to let that happen again."

"What the hell do you want Cohen, for us to be a couple or something?" Summer perked up slightly, and her voice boomed through the pool house.

"Yes! That is exactly what I want. Its what I've always wanted." He shoved a hand roughly through his dangling curls in frustration. "I won't leave you like everyone else has Sum…" Seth's voice cracked up, and he softened considerably when he saw Summer wrap her hands around her knees and pull them tightly against her, just like a little child, a scared and afraid child.

He was certainly not going to blow this opportunity, not again. He wanted Summer, and hopefully just hopefully, she wanted him just as bad.

As she slowly rocked back and forth, pondering whatever was flowing through that condensed head of hers, Seth grew ecstatic when he saw her gradually beginning to nod her head. He couldn't help the slowly forming smile that was creeping up onto his lips. This was it

"Yes?" He pursed his lips together and squinted his eyes. She slowly nodded her head again, not once looking up at him. Seth on the other hand, was over the moon in happiness.

"But I think we should ease into it…" Summer broke Seth's inner celebrations up with her soft and humble voice. He glanced over at her, mid celebration. "And do things on my terms."

"Whatever you say Sum, I'm all yours." He couldn't help himself, he dashed over to the bed and laid a soft, meaningful kiss on her lips. She sadly smiled into the kiss, realizing what she would say next could ruin absolutely everything. She realized that everything that had happened between them, was all her fault, and Seth….Seth had been perfect.

"Hold that thought." She broke free from the kiss, exasperated for a moment, then continued on her train of thought.

"What, why? What is it?" Seth leaned away from her. He was confused as hell. Were they going out? Yes, that was cleared up 5 minutes ago. So she was his girlfriend? Yes. So aren't you allowed to kiss said girlfriend? YES!. It all made sense to him, so what was the big deal.

"I think we should be friends…" Seth cocked his eyebrows up in confusion, and stared dryly at her.

"Okay you had me with the whole going out thing, but now you lost me." He scratched his head and waited for her to continue.

"Well, as I was going to say is we should be friends…" She stated rather happily, but her sudden cheerfulness faded away in a hurry. "With benefits."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Ryan don't! Can't you hear? Their having an argument!" Marissa flung an arm out and blocked Ryan from entering his own room. They had been listening since Summer stated the friends with benefits idea, and now after hearing Seth's tone in response…it couldn't be good. He stepped back and scoffed.

"They always argue. It can't be that bad." Ryan dodged around her arm and made a move to open the door.

"No! No! Come on Sum that's bullshit!" Seth's voice was very uncharacteristic, it boomed through the room and out into the backyard.

"Bad idea." Ryan gaped and ripped his arm away from the knob once he heard Seth yell.

"See I told you so." Marissa hissed but remained content and tried to listen in.

"Please Cohen! This is all so new for me. And I just have to make sure its right before we do anything." Summer pleaded with her eyes and moved from her comfortable spot leaning against the pillows, and sat on the edge of the bed.

"So what, we hook up when no ones looking, then go to school like nothing happened?" Seth was furious. He stood up from the chair and began to pace the room. He didn't catch Ryan and Marissa shadows lurking about behind the closed curtains, pressed against the glass listening in. "Sum don't do this.." His voice softened considerably, and it sounded more frightened and scared than anything else.

"We won't kiss anyone else, okay. I promise." Summer stifled her tears at the sight of Seth's hurt look, and was beginning to blurt anything out that would cheer him up.

"Its not that. Its just your going to go back to ignoring me all over again, just like its another day." He froze on the spot in front of Ryan's dresser and lowered his head in realization of what might happen.

"Please! Do this for me, and I promise it won't be too long." Summer frowned her lips and gave her best puppy eyes, filled with hope and excitement. Seth felt compelled to listen.

"Fine!" Seth crossed his arms and pouted, and Summer lunged off the bed and wrapped her arms around him. She cupped his face in her hands, and Seth immediately flung his hands around her waist, pulling her closer. Knowing that he'd only be allowed to do this behind the scenes, when no ones looking, instead of whenever he damn felt like it, like any other boyfriend could. But no, not Seth. Nothing ever comes that easy.

As soon as their lips touched, Seth's tongue lingered the surface of her lips, until she finally gave in and opened to allow him access. Seth gave a beaming smile, not at the terms they were under, but at the feeling of being the love interest of Summer Roberts. He had been dreaming this his entire life, but the only real downer was the whole "friends with benefits" idea. That had to be the thing he had been dreading his entire life concerning her. Summer moaned into the kiss, and just as it was about to intensify, they heard a swift knock then the door fling open.

"Dude get a room." Ryan shielded his face but continued on walking into the room, and plopped down onto the bed. Summer and Seth jolted away from each other, just as Marissa came bounding in after Ryan.

Seth shot Ryan the nastiest glare he could conjure, and when he finally caught eye of the look Seth was sending him, he chuckled and shook his head at Seth's noble attempt to look threatening.

"Your own room."

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"Wasn't Cohen like, the GameMaster or something like that?" Summer stifled a giggle and spoke aloud, keeping her gaze fixed on the screen. Summer and Marissa were beating Ryan and Seth in their own favorite game.

Game Over. Team 2 wins!

Those two words flashed across the screen, and the girls squealed and jumped up in the air, hugging each other. Ryan grunted and turned his face away, while Seth stared in disbelief at the screen, grabbing away at it.

"Was being the operative word there."

"How could they beat us at the Ninja game?" Ryan asked in sheer astonishment, scratching his head and trying to find an answer.

"Its simple. Girls are just better than guys, its that easy." Summer declared and sat back on the floor and leaned against the bed. "They have prettier hair, better clothes, waaay better face-"

"-Okay Louis Vitton, stop right there. Now I would like to formally extend to you, an invitation for a rematch. Ryan wasn't exactly on his A game." Ryan whipped his head back and stared incredulously at him.

"If it wasn't for you killing me 5 times alone, we might've won." Ryan defended himself, and shot Marissa a knowing grin, one she returned.

"What I can't help it? Come on, we're blue, their black for Christ's sakes. They're so similar. Also I'm partially blind." Seth babbled on and began to reset the game for a rematch.

"That would explain your choice in women, blindness." Marissa chimed in and grinned proudly. She just loved getting in shots to Anna. She really didn't like her, and the poor girl never really did much of anything to provoke it.

"Hey, I'm color blind, and also that remark also was a shot at dear Summer over here?" He rose and walked over and plopped down beside Summer. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and placed his head just slightly over top of her head, pouting at Marissa. Summer was laughing too, up until she understood what happened.

"Yeah Cohen, your right…that was about me." Seth mockingly opened his mouth and looked at Marissa. Summer was desperately trying to hide an oncoming laughing fit, but it was growing ever increasingly difficult.

"Come on guys…you know I was talking about Anna…" Marissa laughed nervously and looked at Ryan for support. "Right?"

"I don't know Riss, that was kind of mean." Ryan stood, which was joined by Seth and Summer, as they slowly crept towards Marissa.

Summer grabbed a pillow, and began openly giggling as she approached Marissa. Seth was holding the seating cushion to the pullout couch, and was trying his best to look threatening beneath the huge grin. Ryan had his arms flung wide open, ready to wrap her in a huge bear hug.

"Its not so fun being the one getting ridiculed is it Marissa?" She broke into a giggling fit once Ryan wrapped his arms around her and started tickling her. Summer started whacking away at her with the pillow, while Seth was pulling way back on the cushion, prepping up a huge hit.

"Actually Cohen, come to think about it." Summer stopped her onslaught of hitting and stared at Seth in mock concentration. "Nah, it was always more fun picking on you." She turned around and smacked Seth across the face with the pillow, sending him barrowing backwards. Ryan held Marissa in the air, with both hands clasped around her rib area, and finally realized Seth and Summer were no longer helping him. They stopped their tickling and caught sight of Seth rolling on the ground and covering his face, with Summer whacking away at him.

That's too good an opportunity to pass up

Ryan lowered Marissa to the floor, and walked over and picked up Seth's vacant weapon, the cushion. Marissa held his arms done, while Ryan joined Summer in the hitting.

"This"

Smack!

"Is

Smack!

"Not"

Smack!

"Funny"

Smack!

"You"

Smack!

"Guys"

Seth blurted out in between blows, lucky for him they were hitting in unison and not out of order. Or else this perfect opportunity wouldn't be presented for him. The three attackers were keeled over laughing at Seth's last declaration and his voice that accompanied it. He rose to his feet and bolted out the door. By then, the three had realization dawn on them that Seth was gone, and began chasing after him.

"What's going on out here?" Seth came to a screeching halt just short of the back door leading to the kitchen, where Sandy stood, clearly disturbed by whatever was going on out there.

"Dad. Thank god, I'm actually glad to see you." Seth stumbled over and wrapped him in a faux hug, still catching his breath. What? The pool house to the side door is a long way!

"I said what's going on out here?" The 4 of them were taken back by Sandy's change in character, but understood the motive behind it, seeing as it was 1:30am. They were silenced by his sternness, all rendered speechless.

"Well father…" Of course silence is foreign to Seth. "These three hooligans picked an impeccable time to double cross me and rewind back to the days of the Seth Cohen of old, and beat me."

"Seth your speaking in third person again." Ryan chimed in and tried to keep a straight face. He remembered the first day in Newport, when Seth wanted to go see Chino, he spoke in third person for a good portion of the day, then at the end made Ryan promise to remind him whenever he broke back into his phase.

Who was he to break a promise?

Seth shook Ryan's comment off and continued. "So if your looking for someone to yell at, look no further than these three." He pointed to them and grinned proudly. Ryan found it funny how Seth could easily rat them out, yet they were his closest and only friends. That shows you how much friendship is cherished in Orange County.

"Sandy believe me, it was for a good cause…"Marissa let out a small laugh. This whole conversation was too good to be true, yet completely pointless.

"Yeah its real fun." Summer piped up, and Seth bolted his eyes over to her and shot her a pleading look. She smirked and stuck her tongue out.

"You should try it." Ryan tossed him a spare pillow at Sandy, and it landed at his feet. He still had that disgruntled look on his face, and Ryan desperately wanted the joking and humorous Sandy back.

His features softened considerably and bent down to pick the pillow up. When stood back up straight, he had a huge grin on his face. Seth felt betrayal flow through him, and was soon running out of options.

"Now listen…Dad." Seth held his hands up cautiously and slowly backed away from Sandy, unbeknownst to him at the time, he was backing into Summer, Ryan and Marissa.

"I thought I was an embarrassing father, who sings show tunes and shows embarrassing photos?" Sandy chuckled as he inched near him, holding the pillow in his right hand.

"Now I never said that-"

Whack!

Sandy hit Seth on the side of the head with the pillow, and he keeled over and held his hands over his head.

"GET HIM!" Ryan yelled a war cry, as they all giggled and continued their previous positions. Marissa holding his arms, with the other three swinging away and laughing.

"What on earth is going on out here?" Kirsten came out groaning and looked wide eyed at the visual in front of her. Her boy on the ground covering his face, her husband and said boy's father hitting him, with the boys friends joining in. Now she knew Seth could be difficult sometimes, but hitting was beyond the question. Not to mention illegal.

"Honey you've gotta try this. It's a huge relief." Sandy joined his wife and wrapped an arm loosely around her and dragged her nearer. It was already almost 2 am, and the Cohen house was indulged in a war….on Seth. "And completely legal!" Sandy chimed in again, and this time his grin was matched by one of Kirsten's own.

"Thank god mom! Someone with some sanity left." Seth really didn't find the humor in all of this.

Hitting Seth had crossed her mind, but she never would follow through on it. Sure she gave the odd smack or slap, but never joined in the playful teasing and hitting Seth, Ryan and Sandy did.

Flashback

"This is a good meal Kiki." Caleb sipped on his wine and eyed the meal through his glass.

"That's funny. Mom can't even make cereal." Ryan nearly choked on his food when he heard Seth's witty remark.

"I love you Seth." Kirsten plastered a smile and rose from her seat to go to the kitchen.

"I love you too mom!" Seth plastered his own smile, sarcasm and fakeness induced

End Flashback

Until now.

Whack!

Kirsten ripped the pillow out of Sandy's hands, and smacked Seth in the chest with the pillow. She broke into laughter also, while Sandy was stunned at the velocity of her actions.

"Your traitors. All of you." Seth yelled.

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"That was fun. Wasn't it?"

"H a h a. I see the humor in it. My best friend betraying me, my girlfr- friend?" Summer nodded, telling him it was okay. "betraying me, and my own parents betraying me. That's funny." He dead panned as he looked up at the ceiling. Ryan and Marissa were sleeping soundly on his bed, while Summer had his pullout couch sprawled out into a bed form, with Seth on the floor.

She laughed one last time before adjusting herself for bed. "Goodnight Cohen."

"Night Sum."

Seth stayed on the floor in silence, and thought about the days events.

Well the good news is me and Summer are a couple now! The not so good news is that nobody can know about it. Ugh! I just wish she'd stop being so stubborn and let me in. let me get close. I would never leave her like the barrage of people in her life had previously done. But I do understand where she's coming from. She's afraid of change. So I guess I have to take my battles one step at a time, one victory at a time.

"Sum…?" He softly bellowed and fixed his sight on the corner of ceiling, waiting for an answer.

"…Yeah?" She replied just as equally quiet and opened her eyes. Seth sprung to up, and crawled to her bedside on his knees. She rolled over and caught sight of him, gazing away at her. He gave her his biggest puppy dog eyes and had lips creased into a slight frown.

Summer rolled her eyes and laughed silently to herself, and nodded. "Come on…."She moaned and scooted over to the other side, making enough room for him.

"Thank you." He relaxed on the bed, and Summer just waved her hand dismissively in the air.

As the night progressed, Seth felt Summer's body slowly roam over to his side of the bed, and sure enough was snuggled calmly into his chest, with her head pressed just in the crook of his neck, her hand loosely dangling of his chest and her legs entwined together with his. Seth fell back to sleep with a smile on his face.

Sorry for the long wait for an update. i had exams all last week, and had no time to post, cause i really couldn't afford to fail. haha sorry.