Chapter 7

Summer, Marissa, and I are in an upscale boutique in Newport, searching for the perfect dress for the Cotillion. While Marissa is perusing the racks, Summer and I are browsing through other dresses.

Seth and Ryan enter the store, looking a bit disoriented, guided by Mrs. Cohen.

"Alex, are you here too?" asks Seth somewhat bewildered.

"Yes, I'm here to buy a dress for Summer and Marissa..." I say as I turn around, only to find that they have disappeared. "Yes, I see where they are."

"Are you guys here for your outfit?" I ask both of them.

"Sure, aren't you?" Ryan asks.

"Ah, no. My tailor already made me one, the ones here..." I say without being too cocky.

"What's going on?" asks Ryan, not sure where this is heading.

"Haha, Ryan, as you can tell, you're not from Newport. Here, as far as you can see, Alex is from the richest family by far in Newport, even in the whole country," Seth says cheerfully. "He has different standards."

"Seth..." I say, giving him a hard look.

"Come on, Alex, sooner or later, he's going to find out. Alex's parents moved here to have more peace and quiet while Alex was growing up," Seth comments.

"Really? From where?" Ryan says incredulously.

"Upper East Side, in New York, and yes, here it's a lot quieter than there, so much so you wouldn't believe it," I say jokingly as I give him a playful pat on the shoulder.

"Alex, where have you been?" a voice sounds from behind me. I turn around and see Summer and Marissa, accompanied by Luke.

"I haven't moved from the spot, Summer," I tell her and then give her a soft kiss. "You're the ones who always get lost."

"What is this one doing here?" Luke comments aggressively.

"Ryan is staying here in Newport," Seth affirms.

Listening to Seth, Marissa's eyes light up a little.

"Hey, I don't want any trouble," Ryan replies without a hint of fear.

"You guys are going to be at the Cotillion, see you at rehearsal at the club?" I comment.

"Yeah, see you there," Seth says.

Trying to lighten the mood somewhat, I quickly say as I hand him a dress I had picked out earlier.

"Summer, this dress would look amazing on you. Why don't you try it on?" I tell her.

"That's okay, Alex. I'm going to try on a few more and tell you which one I like," Summer says smiling sweetly as she leaves with Marissa.

< --- >

At the club, Ryan and Seth walk together, discussing the upcoming event. As they enter a room where people are dancing, Ryan seems apprehensive.

"Dancing? You didn't tell me there was dancing," Ryan says stiffly.

"Well, if I told you there was dancing, I'd be here alone right now," Seth comments cheerfully.

"Because I really... don't... dance."

"Uh-huh. I don't either. I just move well," Seth says as he does a strange dance, then whispers, "I'll teach you that one. Huh? Maybe later. Are you ready?"

Ryan shoots Seth a "you're weird" look.

I come up behind them and put my arms around their shoulders.

"Ready for the dance, guys?" I say, noticing the hesitation on their faces.

Marissa, holding a clipboard, directs a couple, saying, "Take your places," then walks over to where Seth, Ryan, and I are sitting. "Hey, guys. So, can I introduce you to your debs?"

Summer sneaks up behind me. "We... we already know each other."

"Yeah, I think so," I say as I stand up and give her a hug around the waist.

"Actually, I'm telling Ryan," Marissa comments. Anna slowly walks over to us.

"So, Anna Stern. This is Ryan Atwood. Guys, Anna just moved here from Pittsburgh," Marissa says cheerfully.

"Pittsburgh? Wow," Summer says with some contempt in her voice. Anna, looking a little uncomfortable, says, "Can we just get this over with?"

Marissa looks proud of herself. Seth says to Ryan, "Caliente."

Ryan and Marissa head over to where Anna is at the other end of the dance floor. Seth yells at Marissa, "So what am I supposed to do?" With a cough, I say, "Over there," as I point to a lone girl at the other end. Summer and I go off to dance to our thing.

< --- >

At the party later, I'm with Summer as we watch Ryan and Seth walk in. Then Luke and a guy from earlier are standing at the kitchen counter. They put some pesto on a chip and Luke tries to give it to the guy, but the guy pulls his hand away, and it falls on the floor. Marissa, unimpressed, is watching this while sitting at a nearby counter. Scanning the crowd, she sees Ryan, and Ryan sees her. She gestures for him to come over to her. He shakes his head, so she approaches. He gets up and meets her halfway.

"So, are you sure you want to be seen with me?" Ryan says.

"Hi. I'm glad you came. I mean, how could you possibly miss all this?" replies Marissa.

Ryan smiles, then looks over Marissa's shoulder and sees Luke watching them. They talk for a while until Luke walks over.

"Look, honey, why don't you go talk to Summer, okay?"

"Or you can. And I'll stay and finish talking to Ryan," Marissa replies.

"Okay. I'm just going to go."

"No. Stay."

Luke angrily says, "What are you doing? Don't tell him he can stay!" After a dispute, Luke punches Ryan in the stomach, causing Ryan to fall to the ground. Marissa quickly goes to help by running forward. "Luke! Oh my God! Are you okay?" she says, bending over Ryan. "Oh God. Luke. You're an idiot."

Marissa leaves in a huff. Luke leaves after her. Seth is at Ryan's side.

Seth says, "Wow. You just got your ass kicked. You didn't even fight back. Dude, you really are a Cohen." Ryan stares at him, still clutching his belly. "Yeah. Let's get you home."

Seth helps Ryan up. "Wow, how intense. Sounds like a telenovela," I scoff as I hug Summer, whom we had watched the whole interaction.

<---------------------------------- >

Author's Note:

I'm going to give few chapters to the Oc and Gossip Girl. This is because I don't want to spend too much time writing things to fit into a story that is already too closed to modify things. Like House I would need the character to be a medical expert, about 10 years in medicine, something I am not going to be able to do.

So there will be up to chapter 10 with the Oc, another 5 with Gossip Girl, an introduction of House and get right into Grey's Anatomy, the MC will start at the same time as the series, since the best seasons are the first ones.

Tell me what you want to see in the next chapters, give some ideas.

Comment if there is anything you would like to add now or in the future. Don't be shy ;D