Summer in Tree Hill 9
Title: Summer in Tree Hill
Fandom: OC/OTH Crossover
Character: Summer/Lucas
Summery: Summer ends up in Tree Hill after Seth left for Tahiti and Lucas has just been left by Brooke. What happens when they meet?
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or places from the shows OC, One Tree Hill or Star Wars (slight reference).
I realize I'm playing fast and loose with the timeline, but this is fanfiction, not canon! MWAHAHAHA!
Part 9
Summer laughed and swatted at Ryan as they walked across the mall parking lot loaded with bags - at least Ryan was. Summer claimed that since most of it was his that he should carry them. Ryan didn’t dare point out that if they had been hers he would have been forced to carry them as well - he feared the rage blackout.
The two friends had been shopping since that afternoon with the understanding that Ryan would pay Summer back as soon as he had access to his account. Ryan just hoped that he hadn’t overspent the way that Summer had attacked the stores in his name. It reminded him of shopping with Kirsten. The thought of his foster mother ached and Ryan stopped laughing.
Summer noticed that Ryan was distracted and stopped in front of him with her hand on his chest so that he wouldn’t continue and run into her. “Chino what’s wrong?”
Ryan looked away and shrugged.
Summer narrowed her eyes and placed her fists on her hips. “Ryan Atwood, tell me what’s wrong right now! I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”
“You’ve already helped Summer. You got me out of there and gave me a place to stay.” Ryan told her.
“I thought we were friends Chino.” Summer stated softly.
“We are.” Ryan confirmed.
“Well friends talk. So talk to me, tell me what’s going on in that head to make you laugh one second and depressed the other.” Summer demanded.
“I was just thinking that you shop like Kirsten.” Ryan confessed.
Summer tilted her head and looked at him curiously. “Was that so hard?”
“I thought it would kill me.” Ryan teased.
Summer huffed before she stepped forward and hugged Ryan. With his hands full, all Ryan could do was lean into the hug. “It’s going to get better you know.”
Ryan nodded and then stood back up straight. “I know, it’s not like I haven’t been through this before.” He muttered.
“Damn, you are morose today. I think that a time like this calls for pie. Get a move on Chino, pie waits for no man!” Summer declared before turning and marching off to her car.
After Ryan loaded the bags into the back of the convertible, they got in and drove off towards Karen’s Café. Neither Californian took notice of the curly-haired blond watching them with a sly smile on her face. She started her black car and roared off out of the parking lot.
Lucas was sipping on an iced tea waiting for his girlfriend and her new roommate. Normally he would be jealous of the muscled blond guy who was living with Summer, but it was obvious from the moment that he saw them together that he was watching another him and Haley - or what used to be him and Haley, Lucas thought darkly.
“Jeeze, what is with the brooding going on around here today? If it’s not Chino, it’s Skywalker! Am I destined to be singled out as the only smile in this joint?”
Lucas grinned ruefully at his girlfriend and stood to kiss her hello. “Sorry my Lady, I will endeavor to keep my brooding at a minimum just for you.” He declared, tapping her nose with his finger.
Summer grinned. “That’s much better.” Then she turned serious and placed her palm on Lucas’ cheek. “But if you need to talk you know I’m here, right?”
Lucas smiled and held her hand to his face. “I know. Maybe later, ok?”
Summer smiled and kissed him quickly before turning her attention to Karen, who was standing at the counter watching the scene with a smile. “Mrs. Skywalker! I’d like you to meet a good friend of mine! This is Chino, a.k.a. Ryan Atwood from California. He’s staying with me and Dad for a while. He’s going to Tree Hill with us. Chino, this is Skywalker’s mom, Karen Roe.”
Ryan smiled shyly. “It’s nice to meet you Ms. Roe.”
Karen smiled at the handsome young man who could give her son a run for his money in the looks department. In fact, they looked more like brothers than Lucas and Nathan what with his stylish blond hair and those blue eyes. “It’s nice to meet you as well Ryan. Welcome to Tree Hill.”
Ryan gave her a shy smile and nodded. “Thanks.”
“So I was telling Chino about that little piece of heaven that you create here.” Summer grinned at Karen.
Karen smiled. “After you eat your lunch.” She instructed.
Summer pouted for a second before smiling again. “What if I’m too full to eat my pie?”
Karen leaned forward over the counter. Summer automatically leaned closer. “Then you will have it later.” She said softly.
“Aw Mrs. Skywalker!” Summer whined.
Lucas and Ryan stood side by side chuckling at the two women. After they ordered, they found a table in the corner. Summer went to the ladies room while Ryan and Lucas sat across from each other.
“How are you doing man?” Lucas asked softly.
Ryan shrugged. “Better than last night. My foster father said I could stay. So it looks like I’ll be going to Tree Hill. What’s it like?” He asked, sipping on his water.
“It’s your average high school. Basketball pretty much rules there.” Lucas shrugged.
“Do they have a soccer team - or an art program?” Ryan asked.
“Yeah, I think there’s both. You draw?” Lucas asked.
“Some, I want to be an architect.” Ryan replied.
Lucas smiled and leaned back in his seat. “That’s a worthy aspiration.”
“What about you? What do you want?” Ryan inquired.
“I used to dream about the NBA.” Lucas began.
“Yeah, Summer told me about the HCM. That’s a tough break.” Ryan interrupted.
Lucas looked at him curiously. “What else did she tell you?”
Ryan grinned slyly. “Not much; just went on and on about how sweet and romantic you were. How she loves it when you read to her. The way your eyes sparkle when you smile at her.” Ryan started laughing at Lucas’ red face.
“Are you serious?” Lucas croaked.
“She definitely needs a female friend. If I have to hear one more ‘then he took me in his arms’ story I’ll probably hurl.” Ryan complained.
“Oh God!” Lucas exclaimed, dropping his head on the table, then lifting it slightly and slamming it again.
“Is there a reason you are trying to break my table with your head?” Karen asked as she approached holding their lunches.
“Yay! Food!” Summer declared as she sat down next to a moaning Lucas. She looked at him questioningly. “What’s wrong?” She asked, popping a fry in her mouth.
“Oh nothing - well unless you count telling Ryan about how sexy I am!” Lucas griped.
Summer’s jaw dropped for a second before she turned her head and glared at Ryan. “Chino!”
Ryan held his hands up in surrender. “Hey! I never told him that you called him sexy!” He glanced at Lucas. “Even though she did.”
“Chino I am going to kick your ass!” Summer raged.
“Oh don’t do that. It would be a shame to mess up anything so perfect.” A husky, seductive voice declared from behind Ryan.
Ryan turned in his seat to see the sexiest girl he’d ever met. She smiled at him and then prowled over to him like a big cat on the hunt. Ryan’s eyes widened and he stood to face her without even realizing that he’d moved.
Summer smiled in satisfaction and mentally patted herself on the back. “Chino, I’d like you to meet your date for the party, Brooke Davis. Brooke, this is Ryan Atwood.”
Ryan, thanking God for his friend Summer, smiled at the gorgeous brunette and held out the chair next to his own. She winked at him and after running her hand down his bare arm, she sat down in the offered chair. Ryan had to fight not to touch her tight ass. Ryan sat down next to her.
Karen smiled from across the restaurant. She had worried what would happen when Brooke returned from California. She liked Brooke and was worried that the girl would be crushed when she found out about Lucas and Summer. But in typical Brooke Davis fashion, she managed to land on her feet - and maybe into a new relationship. Ryan must be a good kid for Neil to allow him to stay with them.
“So Surf Boy, what’s your story?” Brooke asked, stealing a fry off Ryan’s plate.
Ryan smiled and leaned back in his chair. “I don’t surf.” He stated softly.
“So what do you do?” Brooke asked coquettishly.
Ryan gave her a slow smile that oozed sex appeal and cause Brooke to make a mental note to change her thong later. He draped his arm across the back of her chair and leaned in close. “I prefer full contact sports.” Ryan whispered huskily next to her ear. His warm breathe gently rustling her hair.
Brooke met his gaze and smiled in anticipation. “Then we already have something in common.” She replied, her voice rougher than before. She glanced from his eyes to his lips a couple of times and then ran her tongue across her own.
Ryan felt his jeans tighten. As he smiled at the sexy brunette that Summer had set him up with, Ryan couldn’t help but think how much he was starting to like Tree Hill.
The clearing of a throat from across the table broke into the electrified moment. Ryan and Brooke were startled to realize they weren’t alone. Both of them made a mental note to remedy that in the near future.
“I’m glad to see that you two are getting along so well, but the air conditioner can’t keep up with the heat you two bunnies are putting out.” Summer teased. “So Brooke, what do you think of having this bash on the beach? We could do a bon fire.”
“Sounds great.” Brooke agreed, happy to notice that Ryan’s arm hadn’t moved. Oh yes, Summer Roberts was a very good friend to have.
Summer and Brooke had been working on the plans for the party the next weekend. They were taking a quick break when Summer looked up at Brooke.
“I need to warn you about Ryan.” Summer stated suddenly.
Brooke looked up at her questioningly.
Summer took a deep breath. “I hope you don’t mind, but if you want any sort of relationship with Ryan, you are going to have to lay off the booze.”
Brooke’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Summer shrugged. “Lucas told me that you like to drink at these parties, and that you aren’t afraid of drinking too much. Ryan’s mom couldn’t take care of him because she’s an alcoholic. His foster mom just went into rehab for the same thing and Ryan’s ex-girlfriend pretty much drowns everything in a bottle of vodka. He came out here to get away from all that. So if you are at all interested in more than just this one date, you need to stay sober.”
Brooke sighed. “Thanks for the heads up. I really do like Ryan and I would hate to do something to mess everything up. I kind of had an incident in California that opened my eyes. A friend got alcohol poisoning at a party. It was really scary. We all thought she was going to die. I haven’t really touched it since then. Lucas was right, before I left I was drunk pretty much every weekend. Like I said, I don’t want to mess up what Ryan and I have. I think I’m already falling for him.”
Summer grinned. “He’s definitely a keeper. When he first came to Newport, I was all about trying to nab him, but then we got to know each other better and I see him more like the brother I never wanted. Ryan’s probably my best friend now.”
“I’m very glad to hear that.” Brooke chuckled darkly. “I’d hate to be involved in another triangle.”
Summer nodded. “Yeah Lucas already informed me. I told him if he ever tried anything like that with me he better plan to become a eunuch.”
Brooke chuckled and held up a catalogue. “What do you think about these Tiki torches?”
It was warm and breezy the night of the bash. Ryan was sitting on the couch in the living room waiting for Summer to finish getting ready. Lucas was supposed to pick them up at six, and then they would swing by Brooke’s house. Ryan and Brooke had spent a lot of time together in the last few days. Despite the heavy flirting and petting sessions, they had yet to make it into the bedroom.
Summer was just putting on her sandals when the doorbell rang. Smiling at her reflection for one last check, she sauntered out of the room and down the stairs. She could hear voices coming from the foyer as Ryan let Lucas into the house. At least they were in the foyer for a moment, then Ryan saw Lucas’ car.
“Is that a ’67 Mustang?” Ryan gasped, his eyes glued to the vehicle. He walked out to the driveway and ran a hand over the hood. “This is a primo paint job.”
“Yeah, it was my uncle’s. We actually used to work on this thing together when I was little.” Lucas smiled as he remembered.
Ryan looked in the window. “Is that the original interior?”
Lucas nodded. He opened the door so that Ryan could get a better look. “Yeah, it was pretty much the only thing still intact when he got it.” He explained as he popped the hood and then they were lost in a world of engines and horse power.
Summer stood on the front porch with her arms crossed over her chest. Normally she would be pissed that her boyfriend was so distracted, but it was so nice to see Ryan excited about anything. He had been friendly with Lucas and especially with Brooke, but he was still hurting. He had spoken to Sandy the day before when he found out just how many zeros were on his bank statement. Despite everything Ryan had said, Sandy refused to take any of the money back out. Needless to say that Summer had been paid back.
“Are you two boys through playing?” She called out, striking a sexy pose.
Lucas glanced up and gulped at the sight of his scantily clad girlfriend. Ryan glanced over at his new friend and grinned. He had seen Summer in bikinis before, and while he couldn’t deny she was hot, Summer always felt like a relative. There was nothing there. The same obviously couldn’t be said for Lucas. Ryan was beginning to wonder if the other teen needed a bib the way he seemed to be drooling over Summer.
Satisfied by the look on her boyfriends face, Summer smiled and continued down the steps to the car. “Let’s go, Brooke should be waiting for us.” She declared.
Lucas rushed around the car and opened the passenger door for her. Summer kissed him thoroughly before settling into the passenger seat. Ryan rolled his eyes and let himself into the backseat from the driver’s side. Lucas hurried around the car and they were on their way, each teen looking forward to one last party before the start of school.
Sandy sighed and ended the call. Kirsten was out of detox, and he could speak to her over the phone now. He missed his wife desperately, but he couldn’t help but wonder about the woman that he had married. She was doing better now that she was sober, but there had been no mention of their foster son. Kirsten asked how he was doing and about Seth, but it was as if Ryan didn’t even exist.
“How is she?” Seth asked from the doorway.
Sandy pasted a smile on his face. “She sounds much better.”
“She didn’t ask about Ryan did she?” Seth asked, already knowing the answer. His mom had been calling home for a few days now, but she never once asked about the guy he considered to be his brother. It just seemed to further support the argument that Ryan had concerning Kirsten not wanting him there at all.
Seth had been talking to Ryan on the phone lately. They talked at least three times this week. Seth had accepted that he and Summer were over and she had found someone else to love. He had also learned to live with the fact that it was his own fault. But he refused to give up on Ryan. He desperately missed his brother.
Just then his cell phone rang and Seth glanced down at the caller ID. He grimaced as he sent the call to voice mail. Marissa, however, still thought that she had a chance with Ryan. Julie had hired a high-priced lawyer with money that Jimmy had sent her. Marissa was on probation and serving community service, but she had avoided jail time. She had gotten sober long enough to realize that Ryan was gone, and he hadn’t gone to defend her honor after all. Despite his major statement of moving across the country, Marissa was determined to get him back. She was convinced that Seth was her key to doing so.
“Marissa again?” Sandy asked sympathetically.
“Of course.” Seth rolled his eyes. “You know, with her acting this way, I can’t say that I blame Ryan for staying as far away from here as possible. Thinking that Mom wants him gone doesn’t help any.” He muttered.
Sandy ran his hand over his face, feeling the beard that was forming due to his lack of shaving. It just didn’t seem worth the effort lately. “I don’t know what to think anymore Seth. To be honest I’m a little jealous of Ryan for getting away from all this.”
Seth brightened immediately. “You know that’s not such a bad idea. We could go visit Ryan, make sure that everything is ok with him, and at the same time get away from here for a while.”
“Seth we can’t leave your mother like that.” Sandy argued.
“Why not?” Seth shrugged. “She’s not exactly going anywhere for a while. She’d still be just a phone call away.”
Sandy thought about it for a moment before smiling at his son. “You know, that’s not a bad idea. Go pack for a few days. I’ll make reservations and call in to work. I think we need some father-son time.”
“Or father-sons time.” Seth corrected him.
“You couldn’t be more right Seth, you couldn’t be more right.” Sandy winked as he picked the phone back up.
Seth jogged up the stairs to his room, a spring in his step that had been missing since the day his mother went to rehab and his brother left town.
TBC