Ryan, Seth, Summer and Elena sat at the Cohen family kitchen table, eating a dinner Summer cooked up after a long day of painting. It had been approximately six days since Elena began moving into her very own room and the process of making it Elena's own space still wasn't done. Sandy and Kirsten offered to help but Summer insisted she help Elena with the painting and decorating. Summer had referred to her as the "sister she never had".

The room was coming along nicely, too. The walls, freshly painted pale green, were finished. A white plush throw rug was laid across the center of the room on top of the hardwood floors. The bed was made with the brand new comforter. A white side table sat next to the bed. The room was only a desk and drawer away from being done.

They all sat at the table, chatting mindlessly and eating when a thought struck Summer.

"Oh! Ryan, I forgot to tell you..tomorrow my best friend—Taylor, I told you about Taylor, didn't I?—is coming home. I wanted you guys to meet. Seth and I were talking about it and we think you'd really like her." Summer said before shoving a forkful of pasta into her mouth.

"Oh yeah?" Ryan said apprehensively.

"Yep. I think she's coming by here tomorrow and I thought we could like, go sailing or hit up the beach or grab dinner or something like that. Double date?" She suggested.

Ryan's eyebrows shot up. "A date, huh?"

"It's not that big of a deal, Ryan! It would mean a lot to me...Seth, too. Isn't that right, Seth?" Summer said, putting her arm around her boyfriend.

"Oh yeah, for sure." Seth said, seemingly disinterested in the conversation.

"Please, Ryan? Pretty please with sugar on top." Summer said, smiling sweetly.

"I..." Ryan paused. He liked Summer a lot, sure, but he knew next to nothing about the type of people she associated herself with aside from Seth. He didn't exactly fit into the Newport crowd, no matter how hard he tried.

She looked at him expectantly. "Well?" It was clear she wasn't going to let this go without at least trying to convince him.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Seth reminded him as he polished off his plate.

"Eh, I guess I can go. Why not?" Ryan said, shrugging.

"Yay! Thank you so much, Ryan. You're going to love her, I promise. Her name is Taylor Townsend, she's super pretty and super smart and..okay, she's kind of preppy and you're kind of..rough around the edges but trust me when I sa—"

"Summer, I think we get the point." Seth interrupted, causing Summer to smack his arm playfully.

"Shut up, Seth!"

Ryan chuckled and shook his head. "It's fine, it sounds fun."

"What about me?" Elena asked meekly, the disappointment over her exclusion evident on her face.

"I dunno, Lena. Probably hang at home with Kirsten and Sandy." Ryan replied. He was slowly attempting to begin the transition from father figure to brother—a concept that was difficult for both him and Elena to grasp.

Elena slumped her shoulders and hung her head but didn't press the subject any further. Summer took notice almost instantly and nudged Elena. "We should do a girls day sometime, you know? Me, you and Taylor. I'm sure you're going to love Taylor."

"Oh, yeah. Sounds great." Elena said through clenched teeth.

As unfair as Elena knew it was, she got the feeling she wasn't going to like this Taylor girl.

Taylor stood pacing in front of her vanity, chewing furiously on her previously perfectly manicured finger nails, for what seemed like hours. Her nerves were definitely shot. She had tried on roughly twenty different outfit combinations and nothing felt right. Nothing seemed good enough. Her hair, flat ironed at least three times, still seemed too frizzy. Her frilly pink sun dress seemed like too much. Her shorts and tank top didn't seem like enough. Light, natural make-up made her feel like she wasn't trying hard enough. A decently hefty amount made her feel like a cheap hooker. She was, basically, a wreck.

It wasn't until Summer came bursting through the door, shopping bags in tow, that Taylor felt somewhat at ease.

"Here," Summer said, thrusting one of the plastic bags towards her. "Wear this. I'll do your hair and make-up when you're done, okay?"

"Thank you so much, Summer! I am so lucky to have a friend like you." Taylor said, enveloping her arms around the petite brunette standing in front of her.

"Yeah, you are. Now get your butt in those clothes, we don't have much time!"

Taylor eagerly nodded her head and scurried into the bathroom. She pulled the dress out and balked at the sight of it. "Oh no, Sum. I don't know."

"Taylor, it's just a dress!"

"Yeah but, like, a super sparkly sequined dress! I don't want him to think I—"

"Taylor, please. For me? Just try it on."

Taylor sighed. She knew she wasn't going to get out of this—Summer was nothing if not stubborn.

After about five minutes of back and forth, Summer desperately trying to convince Taylor to wear it while Taylor adamantly refused, Taylor's resolve deteriorated. She reluctantly stepped into the dress and turned around, looking in the mirror. Although she would never admit this to Summer, she was happy she listened to her. The dress fit perfectly and she did look pretty hot, if she did say so herself.

"Let me see!" Summer called from the other side of the door, anxiously jiggling the doorknob. "Taylor!"

Taylor emerged a few seconds later and Summer's face lit up at the sight of her. The silver, shimmery sequined dress hugged her curves perfectly and in all of the right places.

Taylor grinned, a newfound confidence instilled in her, and twirled for good measure. "What do you think?"

"Oh my god, it's perfect!" Summer squealed. "See? I told you. Didn't I?"

"I know, I know." Taylor took a step towards the vanity. "So, about my hair..."

********

Ryan stood in front of the mirror, trying his hand at tying a tie, when Elena walked through the door with a sullen expression on her face.

"Ryan, do you have to go? I mean, what about me?"

"What about you?"

"Ryan!"

"I'm joking, Lena. You and Kirsten and Sandy are going to rent a movie and hang out."

"But Ryan, it's not fair! You guys are going to go out and have fun without me." Elena whined, throwing herself onto Ryan's bed dramatically, much to his dismay.

"Elena, enough." He said sharply. "We've been through this. I'm older than you and—"

"But!"

"Elena, I said enough."Ryan said dismissively, his patience running thin.

"Fine. But, I mean, what do you even know about this girl? For all you know, she could be some psycho serial killer!"

"She's Summer's best friend."

"So?"

"I'll keep an eye out, okay? Don't worry about me." Ryan said, laughing. "Here, help me with this tie, please?"

"Fine," Elena reluctantly stood up and walked over to where her brother was standing. "Why are you even wearing a tie, anyway? Where are you going?"

"Just out to dinner but Summer told me—and I quote—not to look "homeless". So, there's that."

Elena giggled. "Well, the tie is a start."

About thirty seconds later, Elena put the finishing touches on the tie. Ryan grinned and placed a kiss on his little sisters forehead. "Thanks, squirt. I love you. Have fun tonight, okay?"

Elena didn't say anything, simply rolled her eyes as Ryan disappeared out of the pool house and into the kitchen.

She loved Kirsten and Sandy but she knew it was going to be a long night.

"I'm nervous, Sum. What if he doesn't like me?" Taylor asked quietly as they sat in Seth's car, eagerly awaiting their dates.

"Taylor, what is with you? Who is this neurotic, paranoid girl and what has she done with my best friend?"

"Summer, I've always been neurotic!" Taylor practically screamed

Summer giggled. "I guess you have, huh? Look, don't worry. He's going to love you."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then he's an idiot. Now here he comes." Summer said, gesturing towards Seth and Ryan's approaching silhouettes. Taylor let out a deep breath. She knew next to nothing about the boy, aside from what Summer briefed her on about his past.

"Okay. Don't let me embarrass myself." She whispered to Summer who nodded in response.

When the car headlight hit Ryan's face, the knot in Taylor stomach grew even bigger. "He's way cuter than you said he was!" She said to Summer, who giggled before putting her finger to her lips and shushing her.

When the car door opened, Ryan smiled warmly at her before climbing into the car next to her. He let out a nervous chuckle and extended his hand out. "Ryan. You must be Taylor."

"Taylor. Yes." She choked out.

Summer snorted from the front seat, causing Taylor to kick her chair. "Sorry," she said quietly.

They drove to the restaurant in silence. Seth turned the radio on about halfway through which eased some of the awkward tension. When they arrived, the valet took the car while Seth and Ryan held the door open for their respective dates.

It wasn't until they were settled into their seats, though, that an actual conversation took place. "So, Ryan..you have a little sister, Summer said?

"Yes, Elena." Ryan smiled. "She wanted to come but I said no."

"Aw, you should have brought her!" Taylor said, laughing a little. "I always wanted a little sister."

"She can be a pain in the butt," Ryan admitted. "But, I mean, I don't think there's anything I wouldn't do for her."

"How old is she?"

"Nine."

"That's about how old we were when we met, Tay." Summer said, giggling at the memory.

From that point on, the awkwardness had died down completely. Taylor told Ryan all about how she and Summer met, how she used to have the biggest crush on Seth (which caused Seth to blush) and about her dysfunctional and strained relationship with her mother. Ryan told Taylor all about Elena, his mother, even his brother. They talked a little bit about school, Taylor's summer trip across Europe and places to go (and avoid) in Newport.

After they were finished eating, they all decided to go mini-golfing. Summer felt ridiculous mini-golfing in a cocktail dress but Taylor insisted, urging her best friend to let loose a little. Summer rolled her eyes but reluctantly agreed. Two games and an ice cream cone later, they all began to walk back to the car.

Like a cliche out of a cheesy romantic comedy, Ryan tugged his jacket off of himself and draped it around Taylor's shoulders as the air grew cooler and the wind began to pick up. A smile crept onto Taylor's face and she shook her head. "You don't have to do that, Ryan."

"No, no, I want to." He said with a crooked grin.

"Thank you," she practically whispered. "You're sweet, you know that?"

Ryan shoved his hands into his pant pockets and smiled bashfully. He looked embarrassed, nervous—shy, even.

Seth snaked his arm around Summer's waist as he turned around and whispered to Ryan, "thanks for making me look bad, Atwood!"

"Sorry," Ryan mouthed, amused.

They all climbed into the car and headed to Taylor's house to drop her off. Ryan walked her to the front door while Seth and Summer practically bumped heads to catch a glimpse of the two.

"Thank you, Ryan. I had a lovely time tonight." Taylor said quietly when they reached her door.

"I did, too." Ryan said. "Can I call you?"

"Of course you can."

"Do you want to..um, go out again? Maybe, like, Friday night or something?"

"I would love to." She said, grinning.

"Okay, well..I'll call you." He took a step towards her and placed his hands on both sides of her face. She froze and her eyelids began to flutter shut. She stood there, anticipating his lips on hers, when she felt his lips brush up against her cheek. She couldn't help but feel disappointed despite the fact that she, too, didn't want to rush into anything and she could practically feel Summers eyes burning a hole in the back of her head. "Goodnight, Taylor Townsend."

"Goodnight, Ryan Atwood." She said breathlessly.