OPERATION: SETH AND SUMMER
Ryan was now on top of Marissa, back in the pool house, making out; however, Ryan wasn't his usual self.
She pushed him away a little when she began to worry, "Ryan... is everything okay?"
"Yeah." He lied, he leaned back down for a kiss but she pushed him away again.
"Remember our deal?" He turned away but she put her hands on his face to make his eyes meet hers, "So tell me."
He didn't want her to think he was jealous... because he wasn't. Was I? He began to think. "So Alex..."
Marissa immediately let out a giggle, "We're making out and all you can think about is my hot lesbian ex?"
"You think she's hot?"
"Ryan, I dated her. Of course I think she's hot but... wait, is someone jealous?"
Ryan sat up at the edge of the bed, facing away from Marissa. Great. Just great. He shook his head.
Marissa couldn't help but laugh at her jealous boyfriend. She went over to where Ryan was and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "I can't believe Ryan Atwood is jealous."
"I'm not jealous." He turned around to see Marissa, not buying it. "I'm worried! One minute I'm on the phone, the next I see you with Alex, laughing and having a good time." He turned away again.
Marissa smiled at Ryan. "We were just catching up. A lot's happened in both our lives and we both just wanted to see how each other was doing. We were laughing at the fact that Summer ran into her ex, now we're running into each other, how it's all a big 'blast from the past'. And when we talked about you..." Ryan looked at Marissa, "I told her how glad I am, how things turned out." She leaned in to give him an assuring kiss.
Ryan looked at his girlfriend and smiled in relief. Then his phone started to right as well as Marissa's.
"I'm just gonna..."
"Yeah me too. I'll step outside." Marissa answered her phone and made her way out the pool house.
Ryan flipped it open, "What Seth?"
"Look man, you never called back and I'm going crazy with this whole Summer thing."
"Where are you?"
"I'm on my way back to the casa, you there?"
"Yeah, just come home and we'll talk. Don't do anything stupid okay? Just come home."
"Yeah yeah, alright. Thanks buddy."
As Ryan hung up the phone, Marissa did the same.
"Summer. She and Seth are..." She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, that was Seth. I know what you mean." He sighed, "So I'm guessing dinner is off?"
Marissa then thought of something, "Hold that thought. Dinner is still on. You go back to Summer's and talk to her and I'll talk to Seth. It's always been the other way around, so let's give this a shot."
Ryan wasn't expecting this suggestion.
"Just talk to Summer. And Seth and I will meet you at the Diner at 6." Marissa gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and started to make her way to Seth's room. "Don't worry, nothing'll happen between me and your adoptive brother." She smiled.
"I... I'm not jealous!"
/
"So Ryan, I think I have an idea – " Seth began, walking into his room to find not his brother sitting on his bed. "Marissa? What are you – Unless... Ryan! You mastered the transformation spell! Tell me how you do these things!"
"Seth!" Marissa grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "It's just me, Marissa."
"Yes, I can see that, so where's Ryan? He said he would help me out with this whole Summer thing..."
"He went to Summer."
"Perfect! I knew he would pull through with a plan."
"What? No." Marissa stood up, "He went to Summer to talk to her and I'm here to talk to you. No deceptive plans underway... just talking."
"O...kay? Why?"
"Because our best friends need us. And it's always been me with Summer and Ryan with you. But a majority of the time, you and Summer are just crying and complaining."
"I don't complain."
"I wasn't talk about you when I said complaining."
"I don't cry! Did Ryan tell you that? Oh I'm gonna –"
"I was kidding!" Marissa sat back down on the bed, "Come."
Seth slowly made his way and sat down beside Marissa. "So how does this work?"
"Just tell me what happened."
"You already know what happened."
"From Summer's point of view. I want the full story from your side, you don't want me to be all biased, do you? From only what Summer's told me..."
/
Meanwhile, Ryan made his way to Summer's, just like what he was told to do by his girlfriend. Man, I am so whipped, he thought. But then he realized, his two best friends were in an argument of something stupid, he has to do something.
Knock knock
"Finally Coop! It's about time." Summer's voice was muffled through her door. "I've been waiting to tell you everything. Cohen is such a – Ryan." She opened her bedroom door to find her fiancée's brother. "Chino. What are you doing here? I called Marissa and –"
"She sent me instead. Did a little switch up with me and her for you and Seth."
"Oh..." Summer didn't know how to react. "Come in I guess..."
"Thanks..." He looked around her room. All purple-y and... too much for him. "So.. nice room?"
"Save it, Atwood. We both know you'd rather be in a room full of wifebeaters and punching bags." He laughed at her reaction, and Summer, who at first intended to be angry at her soon-to-be-brother-in-law, ended up laughing herself. "Sit." She sat down on a fluffy pink pillow and offered another to Ryan, who at first was hesitant but took the offer.
"So Seth?" Ryan asked.
"Is an ass."
"Well, could you say a little more than that for me to understand? I mean, I'm allowed to answer with 3 words, but definitely not you, Summer Roberts."
"Since when were you the sarcastic one?"
"I don't know, I've been getting that a lot lately."
"Blame it on, Seth. He is always really the one to blame." She muttered angrily.
"Except on this topic. He was just offered back his comic book. I would think out of all people to be happy for Seth, it'd be you."
"I am happy, I just..." Summer looked at Ryan, "Can I tell you something?" Ryan nodded. He was kind of scared as to what she was about to say. "When Seth went off to use the bathroom or something, he left me and Zach alone." Ryan was now looking worried. "No, Chino, snap out of it, I'd never cheat on Seth. Nothing happened with me and Zach. But anyways, he told me more about what's happened these past few years, how he was doing... then he mentioned he was dating Reid on and off while working on the comic book, now he's fully broken up with her to go to college. So here she is, in love with Seth's comic and she will be his soon-to-be comic book boss."
"So this isn't about the comic book, it's about Reid. That's why you're all worried."
"Yeah and just picture our relationship slowly drifting apart, he stays those 'late nights at the office' with comic geek skank... I'm gonna lose Seth!" Summer almost began crying.
"Summer, don't cry. Marissa's allowed to cry because I can make out with her and problem solved. You, not so much." He joked and Summer let out a little laugh, "Back onto Seth... you know he'd never do that to you. If I were to video tape every Seth-Ryan time, it would just be hours and hours of Seth talking about you. He loves you. You mean the world to him. And with marriage down the road, you should trust him."
"I guess."
"This can be a way for Seth to prove to you that he is trustworthy. He really wants to do this. It's his dream, you're not going to stop him?"
"No... of course not. I really am happy for him and this opportunity. I'm just scared."
"Tell him that. Talk to him."
"Since when were you the one to give 'talk-to-them' advice, Mr. 5-Syllables-Only." Ryan laughed. "Thanks Atwood... now enough of me and Cohen, how are you and Marissa?"
"Good."
"Are you gonna pop the question any time soon?" Ryan looked into Summer's eyes. "Don't worry, I was sort of kidding. But if you were going to anyways, I can keep a secret unlike Seth."
Ryan contemplated for a second. "I have the ring already." He let out.
"What?!" Summer was so shocked. She shrieked and hugged Ryan, "I'm so happy for you!"
"Wow, Summer. Slow down. I'm not popping the question any time soon. I just asked her to move in with me."
"Well, why do you have the ring already?"
"Because... my mom gave it to me when she and I caught up during my second year at Berkely. She told me, when the time is right and the woman is right, go for it. It was my grandma's ring and I just think my mom wanted to give it to me before she loses it. And she keeps telling me how old she's becoming, maybe she just wants grandchildren already..." he and Summer laughed. But then she gave a serious look, so Ryan continued, "Listen, I love Marissa and I can't wait to live with her. I always dream about my future with her and only her in it. But we both have school and you just got proposed to. I was thinking of after your wedding..."
"Okay...no rush, Atwood. But still, I'm so happy for you. I can't wait!"
/
"UGH, Marissa it's been an hour, just tell me what to do."
"Seth, it's not that hard. You really want to do this comic book but love Summer. Just prove to her that you love her more and you doing this, won't jeopardize your relationship."
"But I don't know what to say anymore. I've said all the good ones from the book."
"The book?"
"It's an expression."
"Well how about the expression, 'screw the book, tell her how you really feel.'"
"I've never heard of that one." Seth said sarcastically.
Marissa rolled her eyes. She then thought of something. She turned to Seth and gave him a big fat kiss.
"MARISSA. What was that?"
"How do you feel?"
"I feel so SCREWED. Not only will Summer kill me, but now Ryan?!"
"I'll explain the kiss to Ryan, just tell me how you feel."
"What?"
"Did you enjoy it?"
"What? The kiss? NO!? I love Summer, I don't know how in the world you got the idea that I wanted some from you. I love Summer and will only love Summer. The only kisses that are real to me are from Summer. The only feelings I've felt with, are with Summer and I know that won't ever change."
Marissa smiled.
"What?"
"Tell Summer that!"
"Wait... You just kissed me to get your answer of how I felt about Summer?!"
"Well it worked!"
Seth sat there and then jumped up, "That's perfect! Coop, you're a genius!"
"Okay Seth, first of all, don't ever call me Coop. It's only cute with Summer. Secondly, you're welcome."
Seth sat back down, with a big smile still plastered on his face. He turned to Marissa, "Thank you. Really. I mean, Ryan's great but his limit of 100 words is really annoying so thank you for doing this." He gave her a hug, which she was first surprised about, but then she returned it.
"No problem, Seth. Just do me a favour... when Summer is your wife, continue to love her. Or I'll kick your ass."
"Thanks. You're really good at this stuff. Not just the advice and talking but the whole kissing thing..."
"Shut it Seth."
"I'm joking. C'mon." Seth stood up and put on a jacket, "We've got dinner soon and I've got a fiancée to make up with. And you have a boyfriend to make out with."
Marissa grabbed the pillow on the floor she threw at earlier, and threw it at him again.
/
Seth and Marissa walked into the Diner and found Summer and Ryan sitting in their usual booth. They were both laughing and talking until they noticed the two approaching them. Ryan still had on his smile; in fact, it grew bigger at the sight of his beautiful girlfriend. Summer on the other hand, was now nervous; she didn't know how to approach Seth.
Seth sat down across from her and Ryan got up. "Change of plans, Marissa and I are going to the Bait shop. Once you two are done having dinner, meet us there." Ryan said, grabbing Marissa's hand. And they were off, leaving the brunette couple behind.
"Hey." Seth greeted her.
"Hey." she said back with a smile.
"So I was just talking to Marissa and– "
"No wait, let me go first... The whole reason why I was upset wasn't because of the comic book. I couldn't be any more happy for you about this opportunity. But when you left Zach and me alone for a minute, he told me about Reid. They were having an on and off relationship ever since he started working full-time on the comic book. But now he's gone to college and here you are taking over Atomic County– "
"You're scared I'm going to ditch you for Reid?" Summer looked down. Seth scooted over until he was beside her. He put his arm around her and lifted her chin. "Summer, I love you. There is no way Reid's looks and love for comic books will compare to your rage blackouts and bruises you give me."
Summer smiled, "That... was so sweet. I love you too, Cohen." They kissed, making up for all the arguments and fights they've shared over the comic book.
"So is that a 'yes'? Can I do the comic book?"
"Of course. It's your dream, I'm not gonna stand in the way. Just mention my ring on my finger, I want you to myself."
"First of all, Summer, my all time dream is to have you as my wife. So I'm already happy that it's coming true. Secondly, there's no way I can fall for another girl if it's not you."
Summer kissed him. "Coop did good."
"Yeah, did I tell you she kissed me?"
"WHAT?!"
"Now, before you go off strangling your best friend, hear me out. She didn't kiss me because of my charms. She did it to make me realize that anyone can kiss me but I only really love you."
"So you didn't enjoy it?"
"Marissa has quite the lips, Ryan is a lucky guy. But no, I only enjoy kissing you."
"Glad to hear it... I guess I owe Coop one."
"If you ever want to make it up to her and need me, I'm up for a three way."
"God Cohen.."
He kissed her on the tip of her nose. "Glad to see things are back to the way they were."