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missmara13Title: Friends & Other Strangers (Chapter Three ~ Pretty Girl)
Author: Mara
Fandoms: The OC/Gilmore Girls/One Tree Hill
Rating: R
Warnings: Language, Sex in later chapters.
Summary: Four college students try to map out the way to deal with their lives as things become ever more complicated and intertwined.
Notes: Will be Ryan/Brooke and Jess/Summer. Assume everything up until the Series finale of GG, Season 4 finale of OTH, and the Series Finale of The OC (Minus the final montage) to be true for these. I have no idea what Ryan and Brooke's project thing is, so... don't ask... lol...
Last chapter was titled after a song 'Here Comes The Sun' by The Beatles, this chapter is after 'Pretty Girl (The Way)' by Sugarcult
Chapter Three ~ ??
"I think we may just pass," Ryan said later as he sat back against the couch, Flapjacks on his lap and Brooke sitting next to him, grinning as she flipped her sketchbook shut.
"Told you it was a good idea," Brooke said, leaning back then reaching over to scratch between Flapjacks' ears. "And I was right that he wouldn't bite me, so there," she added.
Ryan laughed. "He likes you," he said. "And he doesn't like most people. Me, my roommate, my friend Summer, and you are pretty much it."
"What about your parents?"
"I'm not on the best of terms with them anymore, and I think Jacks knows it. Last time they came by, he kept pooping on their shoes."
"Good guard bunny," Brooke said, scratching Flapjacks again.
Ryan chuckled. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Well, you know I don't have much contact with my family, that I have a pet rabbit, and that I'm an architecture major, but I know nothing about you. Besides that you hate togas."
"My parents throw money at me, and that's the extent of our relationship," Brooke said. "They spend the holidays in Cabo or somewhere that I'm not. I'm a Business major with a minor in art history because I guess it kind of fits my life plan..."
"Life plan?"
"Okay, see, I actually own a clothing design label, Clothes Over Bros, it's been picked up by some major companies. But I'm a Business Major so I can learn how to run it better. I want to be famous, and rich enough to take care of myself without needing anyone else, especially a guy who'll probably cheat on me with my best friend."
"Sounds like a good plan and I know the feeling of wanting to be independent and not need anyone," Ryan said. "I wish I didn't need anyone, but as much as I hate it, I hate being all alone more. I need to have at least one person I can count on and trust."
"Completely agreement," Brooke said. "I've got my current best friend, Haley, and her husband Nathan. They're all I really need. Not that I wouldn't mind other friends. Especially ones that live on the same side of the country as me."
"Where do they live?" Ryan asked.
"North Carolina," Brooke said. "We grew up together in this little town, Tree Hill, and Nate plays basketball for this small college, Haley is doing this music thing, they juggling it all with being parents to the most adorable baby boy ever..."
"Good thing you added the 'boy', or I would have had to argue with you," Ryan said. "Because the most adorable baby ever is my little sister."
"Can't be cuter than Jamie."
"Wanna bet?" Ryan said, reaching for his wallet and opening it to the picture of him holding Sophie Rose. "Sophie Rose Cohen," he said. "She's almost two and so smart."
"Half sister?" Brooke asked. "The different last names..."
"Adoptive," Ryan said. "Unofficially. See, her parents were my foster parents, and... when I was talking about my parents earlier, it was them I meant. I don't have any contact with my birth parents at all. Birth mother's a drunk, birth father's an abusive jerk who beat his girlfriend until she miscarried my baby brother."
"I'm so sorry," Brooke said.
"But the Cohens... I met them when I was 15, and they took me in, gave me a home, gave me a real family. Even once I was 18, they basically refused to let me go, I was theirs for good. They pay part of the rent here out of guilt over our falling out..."
"What happened?"
"A big fight with their son. He was my best friend as well as my surrogate brother, and... he did something unforgivable. I refuse to talk to him, hate even being in the same room as him. And they got so mad at me for getting so mad at him. When they found out the whole story, they felt really guilty, but... it was pretty much too late, damage done. They made it clear I wasn't as important to them as he was, and there was no taking that back."
"That sucks," Brooke said.
"I don't know why I just told you all that," Ryan said, chuckling awkwardly. "I don't usually dump my problems on people."
"It's okay," Brooke said quietly. "Sometimes you just need to vent."
Ryan nodded, then looked up as the door opened and Jess came in. "Jess, this is Brooke, we're doing a project for class. Brooke, that's my roommate, Jess."
"Hi," Brooke said..
"Hey, nice to meet you," Jess said, shaking her hand.
"Takeout's in the fridge," Ryan said.
"Thanks, man," Jess said. "So, I hate to interrupt, but I got a call from April today..."
"Girlfriend?" Brooke asked.
"Cousin," Jess corrected.
"What's up in good old Stars Hollow?" Ryan asked.
"The engagement is back on, Uncle Luke will be marrying Lorelai Gilmore this fall in the Gazebo in town square."
"This what, engagement number 4?" Ryan said, snorting.
"Luke and Lorelai are very off and on," Jess explained to Brooke as he sat down on Ryan's other side, passing out beers. "If any two people are meant to be, it's them, but they just can't seem to get to the actual ceremony. First time Lorelai called it off because Luke kept putting off setting a date while he got to know April, who he'd only just found out about. Second time Luke cancelled two days before the wedding because Lorelai's daughter, Rory, called me an idiot pig who was also a hack writer, and Luke got protective. Third time was something about Lorelai's mom kidnapping her to a spa and she decided she didn't want to be like her mother." He paused and shrugged. "The betting pool is open for what happens this time."
"You go for the wedding and deck that ass Dean, which makes Rory call you an ass, which makes Luke defensive, which makes Lorelai protective of Rory, and it all blows up," Ryan predicted. "I've never met any of these people, but I've heard enough to make a good guess."
"I know nothing but what you've told me tonight, Jess, but I'll lay money on Ryan's guess."
"How much? I'll get April to put it in for you..."
"There's actually a real betting pool?" Brooke asked.
"I think Taylor Doose's running it," Jess said. "And I'd really love to take his money, so I'll back Ryan's bet, too. And I'll be sure to hit Dean to help it come true."
"Good man," Ryan said, holding up his beer.
The phone rang, and Jess hit the speaker button. "Yeah?"
"I'm looking for Ryan Atwood?"
"Hey, Summer," Ryan said. "That was Jess, he hit the speaker button because we're all too lazy to get up."
"All?" Summer replied.
"I've got Jess on one side, my classmate Brooke on the other, and Flapjacks on my lap."
"Kinky," Summer said dryly. "But Pancakes does not approve of you subjecting her son to that."
"Summer, is there a point to this call?"
"You're picking me up tomorrow, right?"
"Three o'clock at the air port, Gate 3," Ryan quoted. "Just like you demanded in your last call and the e-mail."
"Good, because like I said, I have a surprise for you, and if you stand me up you're a dead man."
"She's a friend of his from high school," Jess said. "Very bossy from what I've heard."
"You know, I can hear you," Summer said.
"Doesn't make it any less true," Jess said.
"Just because it's true doesn't mean I won't hurt you when we meet face to face tomorrow," Summer countered. "If Chino hasn't told you about the rage blackouts, you should ask."
With that she hung up and Ryan burst out laughing. "Jess, man, you don't wanna be the subject of a rage blackout, trust me. She stabs with forks."
"Why's she flying in?" Brooke asked.
"Ryan's birthday," Jess said. "He turns 21 on Saturday. So tomorrow night, me and Summer are going to take him out, and as soon as it's midnight, we're going to legally get him plastered. You should come with."
"I'm not 21 until next year, I don't wanna drag anyone down," Brooke said.
"Be our designated driver," Jess said. "Ryan won't drink if he isn't sure we'll get home safe, he's painfully responsible like that."
"Well, if someone asks me..."
"Come," Ryan said. "I'd really like it if you came with us."
"I'd love to," Brooke said with a smile. "But as for now, I've gotta get going. 7am class tomorrow."
"That sucks," Jess said.
"You're telling me," Brooke said.
"I'll walk you out," Ryan said, plopping Flapjacks onto Jess' lap and getting up.
~~~
"So, thanks for dinner and the invite," Brooke said as they stopped by her car.
"Me and Jess are kind of pathetic loners, we need to hang out with more people."
"Especially cute girls," Brooke said, nodding.
"Especially really cute, really hot girls," Ryan corrected.
Brooke smiled and leaned in, kissing him. "Consider that a preview of what I might be willing to give you for your birthday."
"Nice preview, I'd... uh... like to see the whole package sometime... and that sounded really really bad..."
Brooke laughed. "Coming from anyone else, it would have," she agreed before kissing him again. "See you tomorrow."
"7pm at O'Malley's, we're all getting dinner first."
"See you then," Brooke said, getting in her car and backing out of the space.
Ryan watched her go, a grin on his face, then turned around to go back inside, not noticing that Taylor was across the street and had seen everything.
To Be Continued...
Author: Mara
Fandoms: The OC/Gilmore Girls/One Tree Hill
Rating: R
Warnings: Language, Sex in later chapters.
Summary: Four college students try to map out the way to deal with their lives as things become ever more complicated and intertwined.
Notes: Will be Ryan/Brooke and Jess/Summer. Assume everything up until the Series finale of GG, Season 4 finale of OTH, and the Series Finale of The OC (Minus the final montage) to be true for these. I have no idea what Ryan and Brooke's project thing is, so... don't ask... lol...
Last chapter was titled after a song 'Here Comes The Sun' by The Beatles, this chapter is after 'Pretty Girl (The Way)' by Sugarcult
Chapter Three ~ ??
"I think we may just pass," Ryan said later as he sat back against the couch, Flapjacks on his lap and Brooke sitting next to him, grinning as she flipped her sketchbook shut.
"Told you it was a good idea," Brooke said, leaning back then reaching over to scratch between Flapjacks' ears. "And I was right that he wouldn't bite me, so there," she added.
Ryan laughed. "He likes you," he said. "And he doesn't like most people. Me, my roommate, my friend Summer, and you are pretty much it."
"What about your parents?"
"I'm not on the best of terms with them anymore, and I think Jacks knows it. Last time they came by, he kept pooping on their shoes."
"Good guard bunny," Brooke said, scratching Flapjacks again.
Ryan chuckled. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Well, you know I don't have much contact with my family, that I have a pet rabbit, and that I'm an architecture major, but I know nothing about you. Besides that you hate togas."
"My parents throw money at me, and that's the extent of our relationship," Brooke said. "They spend the holidays in Cabo or somewhere that I'm not. I'm a Business major with a minor in art history because I guess it kind of fits my life plan..."
"Life plan?"
"Okay, see, I actually own a clothing design label, Clothes Over Bros, it's been picked up by some major companies. But I'm a Business Major so I can learn how to run it better. I want to be famous, and rich enough to take care of myself without needing anyone else, especially a guy who'll probably cheat on me with my best friend."
"Sounds like a good plan and I know the feeling of wanting to be independent and not need anyone," Ryan said. "I wish I didn't need anyone, but as much as I hate it, I hate being all alone more. I need to have at least one person I can count on and trust."
"Completely agreement," Brooke said. "I've got my current best friend, Haley, and her husband Nathan. They're all I really need. Not that I wouldn't mind other friends. Especially ones that live on the same side of the country as me."
"Where do they live?" Ryan asked.
"North Carolina," Brooke said. "We grew up together in this little town, Tree Hill, and Nate plays basketball for this small college, Haley is doing this music thing, they juggling it all with being parents to the most adorable baby boy ever..."
"Good thing you added the 'boy', or I would have had to argue with you," Ryan said. "Because the most adorable baby ever is my little sister."
"Can't be cuter than Jamie."
"Wanna bet?" Ryan said, reaching for his wallet and opening it to the picture of him holding Sophie Rose. "Sophie Rose Cohen," he said. "She's almost two and so smart."
"Half sister?" Brooke asked. "The different last names..."
"Adoptive," Ryan said. "Unofficially. See, her parents were my foster parents, and... when I was talking about my parents earlier, it was them I meant. I don't have any contact with my birth parents at all. Birth mother's a drunk, birth father's an abusive jerk who beat his girlfriend until she miscarried my baby brother."
"I'm so sorry," Brooke said.
"But the Cohens... I met them when I was 15, and they took me in, gave me a home, gave me a real family. Even once I was 18, they basically refused to let me go, I was theirs for good. They pay part of the rent here out of guilt over our falling out..."
"What happened?"
"A big fight with their son. He was my best friend as well as my surrogate brother, and... he did something unforgivable. I refuse to talk to him, hate even being in the same room as him. And they got so mad at me for getting so mad at him. When they found out the whole story, they felt really guilty, but... it was pretty much too late, damage done. They made it clear I wasn't as important to them as he was, and there was no taking that back."
"That sucks," Brooke said.
"I don't know why I just told you all that," Ryan said, chuckling awkwardly. "I don't usually dump my problems on people."
"It's okay," Brooke said quietly. "Sometimes you just need to vent."
Ryan nodded, then looked up as the door opened and Jess came in. "Jess, this is Brooke, we're doing a project for class. Brooke, that's my roommate, Jess."
"Hi," Brooke said..
"Hey, nice to meet you," Jess said, shaking her hand.
"Takeout's in the fridge," Ryan said.
"Thanks, man," Jess said. "So, I hate to interrupt, but I got a call from April today..."
"Girlfriend?" Brooke asked.
"Cousin," Jess corrected.
"What's up in good old Stars Hollow?" Ryan asked.
"The engagement is back on, Uncle Luke will be marrying Lorelai Gilmore this fall in the Gazebo in town square."
"This what, engagement number 4?" Ryan said, snorting.
"Luke and Lorelai are very off and on," Jess explained to Brooke as he sat down on Ryan's other side, passing out beers. "If any two people are meant to be, it's them, but they just can't seem to get to the actual ceremony. First time Lorelai called it off because Luke kept putting off setting a date while he got to know April, who he'd only just found out about. Second time Luke cancelled two days before the wedding because Lorelai's daughter, Rory, called me an idiot pig who was also a hack writer, and Luke got protective. Third time was something about Lorelai's mom kidnapping her to a spa and she decided she didn't want to be like her mother." He paused and shrugged. "The betting pool is open for what happens this time."
"You go for the wedding and deck that ass Dean, which makes Rory call you an ass, which makes Luke defensive, which makes Lorelai protective of Rory, and it all blows up," Ryan predicted. "I've never met any of these people, but I've heard enough to make a good guess."
"I know nothing but what you've told me tonight, Jess, but I'll lay money on Ryan's guess."
"How much? I'll get April to put it in for you..."
"There's actually a real betting pool?" Brooke asked.
"I think Taylor Doose's running it," Jess said. "And I'd really love to take his money, so I'll back Ryan's bet, too. And I'll be sure to hit Dean to help it come true."
"Good man," Ryan said, holding up his beer.
The phone rang, and Jess hit the speaker button. "Yeah?"
"I'm looking for Ryan Atwood?"
"Hey, Summer," Ryan said. "That was Jess, he hit the speaker button because we're all too lazy to get up."
"All?" Summer replied.
"I've got Jess on one side, my classmate Brooke on the other, and Flapjacks on my lap."
"Kinky," Summer said dryly. "But Pancakes does not approve of you subjecting her son to that."
"Summer, is there a point to this call?"
"You're picking me up tomorrow, right?"
"Three o'clock at the air port, Gate 3," Ryan quoted. "Just like you demanded in your last call and the e-mail."
"Good, because like I said, I have a surprise for you, and if you stand me up you're a dead man."
"She's a friend of his from high school," Jess said. "Very bossy from what I've heard."
"You know, I can hear you," Summer said.
"Doesn't make it any less true," Jess said.
"Just because it's true doesn't mean I won't hurt you when we meet face to face tomorrow," Summer countered. "If Chino hasn't told you about the rage blackouts, you should ask."
With that she hung up and Ryan burst out laughing. "Jess, man, you don't wanna be the subject of a rage blackout, trust me. She stabs with forks."
"Why's she flying in?" Brooke asked.
"Ryan's birthday," Jess said. "He turns 21 on Saturday. So tomorrow night, me and Summer are going to take him out, and as soon as it's midnight, we're going to legally get him plastered. You should come with."
"I'm not 21 until next year, I don't wanna drag anyone down," Brooke said.
"Be our designated driver," Jess said. "Ryan won't drink if he isn't sure we'll get home safe, he's painfully responsible like that."
"Well, if someone asks me..."
"Come," Ryan said. "I'd really like it if you came with us."
"I'd love to," Brooke said with a smile. "But as for now, I've gotta get going. 7am class tomorrow."
"That sucks," Jess said.
"You're telling me," Brooke said.
"I'll walk you out," Ryan said, plopping Flapjacks onto Jess' lap and getting up.
~~~
"So, thanks for dinner and the invite," Brooke said as they stopped by her car.
"Me and Jess are kind of pathetic loners, we need to hang out with more people."
"Especially cute girls," Brooke said, nodding.
"Especially really cute, really hot girls," Ryan corrected.
Brooke smiled and leaned in, kissing him. "Consider that a preview of what I might be willing to give you for your birthday."
"Nice preview, I'd... uh... like to see the whole package sometime... and that sounded really really bad..."
Brooke laughed. "Coming from anyone else, it would have," she agreed before kissing him again. "See you tomorrow."
"7pm at O'Malley's, we're all getting dinner first."
"See you then," Brooke said, getting in her car and backing out of the space.
Ryan watched her go, a grin on his face, then turned around to go back inside, not noticing that Taylor was across the street and had seen everything.
To Be Continued...
