Safe With You || Seth Cohen

||63||

I looked up as Seth walked over to the bench I was sitting at outside school. 

"Hey." I greeted with a smile. 

"Hi." He stated, sitting next to me. 

"So did you write your thank you note yet to the Brown interviewer?" I asked him, looking down at my own half-written letter. 

"No, actually that's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Well you came to the right person, because I am a master of the thank you note. I studied the ones your mom's clients send to her and Julie."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, listen to this. Thank you so much for the resplendent interview."

"Resplendent?" Seth asked and I smiled. 

"I found the word in a thesaurus. Shelley loves SAT words." 

"Hey, I didn't realize you two were on a first name basis." Seth stated with raised eyebrows. 

"Oh yeah, we talked about a lot of personal things. The first name sort of came with the territory. Which is great for us because I think I might have an actual chance of getting into Brown."

"Yeah."

"So how did your interview go? Do you think you did well?"

"I knocked it out of the park." Seth stated and I grinned. 

"Really?"

"Yeah, yeah and it wasn't easy believe me, but you know, I turned on the Cohen charm as usual.. and the lady swooned."

I felt my smile drop as I stared at him. 

"Seth. Shelley's a guy."

"Is he? I'm sorry, you're right, but with a feminine energy, you know. I got a gay vibe, but you know me, I'm genderblind. I'll have to work on at Brown next year when we go together. Okay, I'm gonna see you later. Gotta go."

I sat there speechless as he walked away. How could I have been so stupid? He'd skipped the interview and lied to me about it, right after he promised not to lie to me again. Yet, I loved him, so I believed him. How stupid did that make me?

~~~~

I avoided Seth that night, still trying to sort out my feelings about being lied too once again. I wasn't what to even do. The next morning, I walked into the kitchen to find Kirsten, Sandy and Ryan already there. 

"Ally are you alright, honey? Your eyes are all red and puffy." Kirsten asked. 

"Oh, that'd be from the crying."

"Crying? What happened?" Sandy asked me in concern. 

"I rented The Notebook from Blockbuster. That is one sad movie." I lied, not wanting to get Seth in trouble, no matter how pissed I was. 

"Oh yeah, that is sad." Kirsten agreed as I went to sit by Ryan. He glanced at me curiously and I just shrugged as Seth walked in. 

"Ah, there's my son." Sandy remarked. I looked up and met Seth's eyes. His eyes widened as he saw mine. 

"You okay?" He asked as he walked over to me. 

"You tell me." I said, looking away from him. 

"Ally-"

"I'm going to go for a walk." I announced, standing up and leaving the kitchen. 

I walked down the driveway, ignoring the footsteps I heard behind me. 

"Wait, Ally!"

"What do you want?" I asked him angrily as I turned to him. 

"I want to know what's wrong. I don't enjoy seeing my girlfriend cry."

"Maybe you should have thought of that before you skipped out on your Brown interview."

Seth's face fell. 

"You know about that?"

"It wasn't too hard to figure out."

"Ally, look, I don't know what to say. I choked."

"Why did you have to lie? You promised that you wouldn't lie to me again!"

"I'm sorry, Ally. I am, truly. I was just so scared to tell you. I knew how mad you'd be."

"There you go again assuming how I'd react! I'm not some rage-filled bitch, Seth, and I'd appreciate it if you'd stop treating me like one."

"Of course you're not, Ally! I just didn't want to screw up. I knew you would do great, because you're you. Everyone loves you. At Brown, it's going to be the same way and I'll just be the boyfriend that everyone wonders why you even go out with."

I felt my anger dissipate as I stared at him. 

"That's not true. Seth, I don't care what anyone thinks. We have to be honest with each other if this is going to work." I told him, taking his hand. 

"I know. You're right."

"Words every woman wants to hear." I joked, then smiled. 

"Are you sure there isn't anything else you want to tell me?"

"No."

"Good, then you're exonerated. Just don't screw up again." I told him. 

"Yes ma'am." Seth joked in a Southern accent and I laughed, leaning in to kiss him. 

~~~~

I was sitting on the couch with Seth watching The Notebook, (for real this time) when Marissa and Ryan came rushing in. 

"What's going on?" I asked, moving my head from Seth's shoulder and standing up. 

"Johnny's in trouble. Kaitlin called." Ryan told us. 

"We're coming with you." I stated, pulling Seth along. 

When we reached the beach where Kaitlin said they were, I gasped as I saw Johnny standing on top of a cliff, getting dangerously close to the edge. Kaitlin was looking up at him, begging him to come down. 

"Oh my God." Marissa stated as she looked up at him. 

"You three go to Kaitlin. I'm gonna find another way up there. Keep him talking." Ryan told us before rushing off. Marissa, Seth and I ran over to Kaitlin, who was crying.

"Johnny, just come down!"

"Kaitlin are you alright?" Marissa asked, hugging her sister to her. 

"I'm so happy that you're here." Kaitlin told her as she hugged her. 

"Whoo! Marissa! I see you brought the whole gang!" Johnny yelled drunkenly, looking down at us. 

"Johnny, look you need to come down from there." Marissa pleaded. 

"No, I don't even want to see you!" Johnny replied, his feet getting very close to the edge again. 

"Johnny, please! Come down. It's not safe." I called and Marissa nodded. 

"We can get through this, Johnny. I mean, you're one of my best friends!"

"After all we've been through, I get to be your best friend?"

I looked behind Johnny and saw Ryan approaching him carefully. 

"Just go away and leave me alone."

"Come on, let me explain it to you. Look, just come down, Johnny!" Marissa yelled, looking very concerned. I was beginning to feel very worried myself as Johnny got closer to the edge. I gripped Seth's hand as Ryan walked towards Johnny. Johnny said something to Ryan, then glanced back at us. 

"Right, Ryan Atwood saves the day!" 

I screamed as Johnny's foot slipped and he fell. 

"No! Johnny!"