So here is the gist on this story guys. It is set seven years after the main events of the finale (not the montage at the end, so basically seven years after Julie's "wedding.")
This story takes place over the span of 14-15 consecutive days. So every day is a chapter, and I will be posting every single day.
Now I began writing this story a year ago, and started it up again this Christmas, so bear with me if tiny facts mismatch, I'm pretty sure I've caught everything, but we shall see.
Disclaimer- This disclaimer applies to the entire 14-15 chapter story. I do not own anything that has to do with The OC or The OC itself. I also don't own any of the literary references in this story, obviously. I also have nothing to do with the ownership or financial gain of Coconut Records' West Coast lyrics.
So without further ado, I present to you, Suitcases.
February 5th, 2014
The bright red numbers on the alarm clock flashed in unison with the loud annoying screeches coming from it. A hand reached out and hurriedly stopped the obnoxious noise. The young man sat up in bed, wiping the sleep from his eyes. As he let his calloused feet hit the hardwood floor softly he stretched his arms high above his head, ready to start the day. In a matter of minutes he had pulled on a sleeveless shirt and a pair of Nike running shoes and headed out on his daily run around the streets lined with cozy homes. After he returned home he let the hot water of the shower rinse the sweat from his body and he quickly threw on one his classic oxfords, green today, and black slacks. The second he opened the door from his room the smell of scrambled eggs wafted through the hall.
As he made his way into the soft yellow kitchen he spotted a tiny brunette clad in a pink cotton robe standing over the stove.
"Hey Summer," he greeted.
"Morning Atwood," Summer said, not turning away from the stove, "you want some toast with these eggs?"
"Sure," he answered, grabbing an oversized coffee cup from the cabinet and filling it to the brim with the dark liquid, turning to fill Summer's close to empty cup that sat by her at the stove.
"So, big day today right?"
"Pretty big," Summer replied joyfully. "I'm just praying that our speeches are strong enough to convince the real estate company to expand their track south of the river, instead of over it. We're hoping that saving the beaver dams can be used in their marketing campaign, and we will win them over with that!"
Ryan smiled into his cup in that special Atwood way. He had become accustomed to Summer's environmental rambling, but he never minded, he had always been a good listener.
After Summer had finished her years at GEORGE she was one of the most desired young environmentalists on the west coast. Although she turned down many jobs to earn a full college degree, she kept up with her activism, and when she had graduated school, the jobs were still waiting.
"I'm sure you will be amazing," Ryan told her when she was done with her rant.
She smiled in return as she handed him a plate. They sat together at the table enjoying their breakfast, and Ryan was glad at their ritual of whoever made breakfast made enough for everyone in the house.
The ate in a comfortable silence until another person came into the room, immediately serving himself a pile of eggs and sitting next to Summer at the table.
"You're up late," she said to him.
"Yeah, I was up late last night too. I got a great idea for a new issue, and I had to get it out before I forgot it," he said with a sparkle in his eye, "and what about you Sum, today is the big day, are you excited?"
"I'm more nervous than excited," she said cautiously.
"Well you have no reason to be nervous at all, you will be amazing, as always."
After his words he leaned in to kiss the nervous brunette.
"Thank you Cohen," she said smiling, leaning in for another kiss.
"Well, that's my cue," Ryan said placing his empty plate in the sink.
"See you later Ryan," Seth called as Ryan left the room to gather his things.
When Ryan made his was back into the kitchen to leave the house he found Seth and Summer still at the table giggling lightly.
"Well Summer, good luck today. I will see you both later."
"Thanks Ryan," she said smiling.
"Hey," Seth began, "you want to join us for a celebration dinner tonight?"
"Cohen!" Summer said as she whacked him on the arm, "I haven't even won the case yet!"
"Yes but you will. So Ryan what do you say?"
"Well, while I know you will defiantly have something to celebrate;" he said throwing Summer an encouraging smile, "I'm sure you would rather be alone tonight."
"Ryan, that's not true," Summer said.
He just threw her a look and she looked away sheepishly.
"Plus Nick from is having some pre-wedding dinner party I told him I would go."
"A pre-wedding party?" Seth questioned.
"It's something about some of their relatives and the wedding planner getting in to town today. They want to welcome them with a gourmet meal."
As Ryan said his last words he swung open the back door and walked out of the house, hopping in his car and driving off into the city to work.
After Ryan had graduated with a degree in architecture from Berkeley, he couldn't bring himself to leave this small college town. For some strange reason Ryan seemed to feel unbelievably at home in Berkeley, more comfortable than he had ever felt anywhere else. Although it probably had something to do with the fact that the all five of the Cohen's now lived here, and in his four years at college, and even more so afterward, he became incredibly close with his new little sisters.
Sandy and Kirsten had decided shortly after having Sophie that they didn't want another only child. They had seen how close their boys were, and how much happy Seth had been with a companion, so they tried, and six months after Sophie was born, they were expecting another child. They were both overjoyed when they found out they were expecting another little girl.
Every Saturday night since he graduated he had been taking Sophie and her little sister Zoey out to give Sandy and Kirsten some alone time. Sometimes they would even stay over at Seth, his, and now Summer's, home. To say that they all loved them unconditionally was an understatement.
As Ryan drove he realized that he hadn't seen Sophie and Zoey any other time than their Saturday visits in over a month. Luckily yesterday he had finished up a big project, and he vowed to spend some more time with them before his next big project came along.
While Ryan was thinking about his little sisters, he began to notice the taxi in front of him. There was what he assumed to be a young woman sound asleep in the back seat, her soft green hood of her sweatshirt pulled up as her head leaned against the window.
He thought he could see a suitcase next to her, and only assumed she was coming from the airport after a red eye flight.
For some reason he smiled.
Taylor Townsend flopped down on the bed with a smile. The hotel she was staying in was just outside the city limits of San Francisco, and since she had an in with the owner, for the next two weeks she was staying in the pent house, which was complete with floor length windows that wrapped around the entire sweet.
The clock next to her read 8:00am. She figured since today was her only full free day, she would spend a little bit of it seeing some sights of the city. A city she wished she had known much, much better.
Pushing the familiar sadness from away she decided she would take a few hours to sleep before she went out.
Too tired to grab a pair of sleep pants out of her suitcase, she slid off her jeans to reveal a simple pair of striped cotton boy shorts. Fluidly she slipped under the puffy comforter as she pulled her light green hoodie tight around her torso.
"Hey Ryan," Nick said as he stepped into Ryan's office.
"Hey," Ryan replied.
"So were you planning on going home before dinner tonight, or were you just going to stay in the city?"
"I was thinking about stopping by to see the girls after work."
"Well Jordan is in the city with her family so I'm just meeting her at the restaurant, which means I get two hours alone at the house before I have two weeks of her two sisters and her mom taking over the place."
"Good luck with that man," Ryan said laughing.
"Well you want to ride together?"
"Uhh," Ryan thought as he typed something up on his computer, "sure, you want to drive or should I?"
"Um, you drive, I can always go home with Jordan."
"Works for me, I'll pick you up around 6:30."
"See ya then," Nick said as he began to walk out the door, but he stopped and turned back, "You could leave early if you felt like it today. We won't know if we have the Marshall Project for another two weeks, and since you just finished the Cumberland project Friday, I think it would be okay."
"Thanks boss," Ryan mocked.
Although Nick's own architecture firm had only been around seven years, it had one of the best reputations in San Francisco. It was the first place Ryan had worked as an official architect, and could very well be his last. After only three years officially working here, he was third to Nick in rank, although Nick knew of Ryan's talent and ability and usually left him on his own.
They were also great friends. Nicks fiancée was actually Ryan's age. Two years ago Nick offered Ryan to go out on a double date with him and his current girlfriend, Alice, who had someone for Ryan.
Unfortunately Ryan and Jordan didn't hit it off, and Nick and Jordan did. Now, two years later, they were getting married, and Ryan was a groomsman.
Although Nick was seven years older, Ryan, Seth and he got along very well. As did Jordan and Summer.
They were only one of the many couples Ryan, Seth, and Summer were close with.
Ryan knew he needed to jump on the bandwagon and get a girlfriend, or even wife, soon. He had always dated, been in a few serious relationships but currently, he couldn't think of anyone he wanted to be with.
But he really wasn't thinking that hard.
"Sophie Rose!" Ryan said childishly and the blond seven year old ran into his arms.
"Ryan!" She squealed happily.
"Hey Ryan, long time no see," Sandy called as he made his way into the entry way after Sophie.
"Sorry about that," Ryan began as he carried Sophie while he followed Sandy into the kitchen, "But Nick says for the next two weeks I'm practically a free man."
"So you can spend all your time with me!" Sophie teased him.
"Apparently you're not." Sandy replied.
"Hey Ryan," Kirsten said as she was cooking up something in the kitchen, "you just missed Seth."
"Well I live with him, I see him more than enough."
"Summer and he were just heading out for miniature golf to celebrate Summer's successful case."
"Oh so she got her deal," Ryan said happily.
"We all knew she would," Sandy said.
"And miniature golf to celebrate," Ryan said, "sounds just like Seth and Summer."
"Ryan, you have to come see my costume for my recital, we finally got them today," Sophie told him, dramatically.
"Well why don't you go try it on and model it for me," Ryan said placing the little girl on her feet.
"Zoey got hers the today too, do you want to see it!"
"Of course!"
"Zoey!' Sophie yelled padding her way up the stairs, "Ryan's here and he wants to see our costumes!"
After both girls modeled their costumes, Ryan promised to come by tomorrow to help them with their soccer moves for their new teams that would be starting after their dance class was over.
He stopped at home to shower and change into a silver gray top with a casual black Joret and slacks, and then was off to pick up Nick.
"So," Ryan began as they drove back into the city, "who exactly will be there tonight."
"Well, for the next two weeks both Jordan's mother and two younger sisters are staying with us, her brother and father are going to come down next week, and then a bunch of her extended family, who are all getting rooms I need to comp, are coming down two days before the wedding. So tonight just her two sisters, Jayme and Jenna, and her mom, Carol will be there," Nick said. "Oh, and the wedding planner will be there too. Jordan is close friends with her, they shared an apartment together in Chicago when they were getting their masters."
"None of her siblings are married?" Ryan asked.
"Nope, she's three years older than all of them, and then the three of them are all less than a year apart from the one older than them, so the next oldest is only 23."
"Please tell me Jordan is not going to set me up with her; she is always talking to me about me finding someone to marry."
"No I don't think she would ever set you up with her sisters, she is very protective."
Ryan could sense a hint of lying in Nick's voice.
"Niiiick?" Ryan crooned.
"What! She is not going to set you up with either of her sisters!"
There was still that lying sense lingering in his voice.
"What are you not telling me?"
"Fine, but no telling Jordan I told you, she made me promise."
"You should have a successful marriage," Ryan deadpanned.
Nick just rolled his eyes.
"She thinks you and the wedding planner would make a cute couple."
"What?!"
"I don't know, I had no part of it."
"Jeez Nick, I don't need any help finding a women."
Nick just shot him a glance.
"Plus, you would be surprised at what my type is."
"See! That is exactly what I told Jor, and she said that she could read you like a book and you and she will totally hit it off."
"What about you, what do you think of her?"
"I've never met her, I don't actually know her name, something with and 'a' I think."
"You don't know her name?"
"Jordan has been flying back and forth from Chicago to meet with her, I didn't really do much for this wedding."
"Once again, your marriage should be successful."
The men reached the restaurant at 7:05, Nick had called Jordan and she informed him that everyone was there, and that since the place was packed and they were in the back, she would meet them at the front.
"Hey Ryan, how are you?" The bright red head asked him.
She was someone who was perfect for Nick, fun loving, exciting, bubbly, and although she wasn't known as a sweet heart, something about her made her seem like she was.
"So Ryan," Jordan said as she began to escort them to the back of the restaurant, "I'm sure Nick has told you about my sisters and mom, and then we also have out wedding planner with us, I think you two will really hit it off."
"Gee Jordan," Ryan said weaving in and out of tables and chairs occupied by people, "you're not trying to set me up are you now?"
"What, not at all." It was all Jordan could think to say.
Ryan and Nick stepped into a private room they had rented for their intimate dinner party. Jordan immediately started introducing her family.
There was another young woman with her hair swept up in a messy bun standing with her back to the others as she stood at a small private bar.
She saw Ryan before he saw her.
When Ryan had been introduced to the other three women, Jordan turned to introduce him to the other girl.
Their eyes finally met as Jordan spoke.
"And this is my good friend and amazing wedding planner Taylor. Taylor Townsend."
"Hello Ryan."
"Taylor, hey," Ryan said in a friendly way.
"Oh," Jordan started, "have you guys met before?"
"Yeah," Taylor said before Ryan had a chance to, "we went to high school together."
She caught his eye and there was an understanding that no more would be said.
"Well," Jordan said happily, "I'm sure you two would love to catch up!"
She motioned for Ryan to take the seat beside Taylor's, and he did so.
As the others talked happily Ryan and Taylor sipped their wine in an awkward manner.
After the waiter had come to take their orders Taylor finally turned the man sitting next to her.
"Listen Ryan, you know I don't like to go through awkwardness, and usually I just talk and talk until the annoyingness overcomes the awkwardness, but with you…" Taylor took a deep breath, "I don't know what to say to you anymore."
"Well," Ryan thought for a moment, "You know, I know we didn't exactly end on a great note, but it's not like we wanted to kill each other either. Maybe we could just forget about the problems or the hurt we might have caused each other. I mean, you have, apparently, a very big wedding coming up, and I just finished a big architectural deal, let's have a fun night."
"Well, I will drink to that," Taylor smiled as she raised her glass and clinked it with Ryan's.
She took an extra large gulp.
"So," he began after their toast, "you are obviously a successful wedding planner."
"Well, thank you. And you are a very successful architect from what I hear."
"Eh, if you take out the very," Ryan said smiling.
"You are so modest," she said teasingly. "So I heard Kirsten had another baby."
"Yeah, another little girl, Zoey."
"Aw, You love her don't you Ryan."
"Of course," he said smiling.
"No, but I mean, you're really close to her, them, both of them," Ryan just smiled in response, "I bet there are pictures in your wallet just begging to be shown to me."
A hearty laugh was let out by Taylor as Ryan reached to his back pocket and pulled out and expensive looking wallet.
"This is Sophie," Ryan said handing Taylor a picture.
The girl in it was in a light pink sundress, her blond hair flowing lightly over her shoulders as the large smile on her bright teeth matched the one playing in her bright blue eyes.
"And this is Zoey," as another picture was laid into Taylor's hand she was shocked at the difference.
Zoey was dressed in a light blue flowing skirt and a yellow top. Her hair was dark and thick with brunette curls. Her eyes were the same shade as her hair and there was shyness in them that differed greatly from that of her sister.
"They are each one of their parents," Taylor said in a happy astonishment.
"Definitely."
"What about Seth, how is he."
"In love," Ryan responded.
"With who?"
"Who do you think?"
"Summer," Taylor said in a sort of girlie astonishment.
"Yep, and I'm pretty sure they are as happy as they have ever been."
"Are they living here, or in New Jersey?"
"Right here in Berkeley?"
Taylor squeed with excitement.
"Yeah actually…" Ryan started.
"Oh my gosh, you have to let them know I'm in town, we have to have dinner together! Here give me your cell phone!" Taylor demanded.
Ryan obliged and handed over his phone.
"There," she said handing it back to him, "talk to them and give me a call, I'll be free during the nights, and I would love to see them again."
"Yeah, of course," Ryan said happily, seeing her smile again made him want to smile too.
As a waiter approached them their wine glasses were filled again, and three times afterward.
At the end of the night Taylor was wobbly on her feet, and as always Ryan was basically sober.
"You want me to take you home," Ryan asked Taylor as the party was dispersing.
"I would like that," She replied.
As the two walked out of the restaurant, Nick going home with Jordan, Jordan shot him a smile that could only read, I told you so.
Ryan and Taylor couldn't stop talking the whole way home, Taylor was far from the state of giggly and out of it drunk, and she was only a little bit woozy. Ryan had forgotten how much he enjoyed her company.
"You want to come back to my place for a drink?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, I mean, we haven't run out of things to talk about yet, I'll drive you home when we do."
Taylor smiled, "Okay."
Three hours and eight beers between them, it was safe to say no one would be driving anyone home tonight.
"Ryan, we have defiantly drunk…drank…um, yeah drank… way too much tonight. I am sensing that you too, are in fact, drunk."
"That would not be an understatement."
"Well, look at this mess!" Taylor exclaimed referring to the pile of beer bottles lying hazardously around the table.
"Here," she said grabbing four of the bottles and getting up to place them in the sink, she walked wobbly and Ryan followed with the remaining bottles in hand.
"Aw look, it's the girls!" Taylor said pointing to the refrigerator which had many pictures of both Sophie and Zoey.
"Yeah, they are both very photogenic, especially Sophie there," he said pointing one out in which Sophie was all dressed up in a mismatch of clothes, and pointing to the camera.
The space between the counter and the fridge was tight, and without thinking Ryan had come so close together that when she scooted back her back was but half a centimeter away from his chest.
Taylor turned her head slightly to meet Ryan's eyes, "I would love to meet them while I'm here."
"Yeah, sure," Ryan said breathlessly. Taylor sensed that something in him probably hadn't even thought about his answer.
"Ryan," Taylor said softly. Their faces were so close he could feel her breath on his neck.
"Taylor," he said inching closer.
"Don't make me do this," she whispered.
"Do what?"
""Wish I had decided to go to Berkeley and stayed here, with you."
Her words came out softly as her eyes closed, leaning in to Ryan. In a brief moment their lips touched lightly.
They pulled away timidly before looking into each others eyes.
Something was fused there, something waiting to break free. A deep sense of passion they had both felt so long ago. In an instant they couldn't hold it back any longer, and before she knew it Taylor's back was pressed against the fridge, Ryan's mouth pressing hard against hers.
He lifted her up and carried her to his room, there kisses never stopped until he laid her gently on the bed, letting her hair loose with his one free hand.
It was longer than he remembered it, darker too, but just as soft, and as he brought it to his nose he realized it smelled exactly the same.
Like peaches.
There eyes met, asking for unspoken permission. Each gave in without a second guess.
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