Seth x Summer

Seth x Summer is the het ship between Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts from The O.C. fandom.

Canon
Presumably, Seth and Summer met as children, when they were schoolmates. Seth fell in love with Summer with her upon hearing her read a poem that everyone believes she wrote to their class.

Seth's love for Summer persists throughout his life. He often watches her, remembers everything about her, and feels bad about himself when she doesn't come to his Bar Mitzvah. But he never finds the courage to go after her her, so by the time they reach high school, Summer doesn't even know Seth exists, let alone about his feelings for her. At thirteen, Seth was heartbroken when Summer didn't go to his Barmitzvah.

At one point, Seth gets a sailboat that he names after Summer, calling it Summer Breeze.

Ryan's arrival
Seth's father, Sandy Cohen, is a public defender. One of his clients is Ryan Atwood, a boy Seth's age, who tried to steal a car with his brother. Sandy manages to get him released, but Ryan's mother, Dawn, is unable to take care of him. When her partner throws Ryan out of the house, she does not object strongly. Ryan has nowhere to go and therefore has no choice but to ask Sandy for help, who had told Ryan to call him if he needed help. Not having the heart to leave him in the middle of the street, Sandy decides to take Ryan to his house for the weekend.

Seth is a lonely, introverted boy. He is addicted to comic books and is not athletic, meaning he has no friends. But he and Ryan hit it off right away, with Seth even telling his new friend about his crush on Summer.

Marissa Cooper, Seth's neighbor and Summer's best friend, is immediately impressed by Ryan and invites him to a party that he brings Seth along to. Summer is also attracted to Ryan, which upsets Seth when he finds out. However, he pretty much gets over it when Ryan defends him from bullies.

When Sandy brings Ryan back to his mother, the two find the house deserted, so he decides to keep Ryan at home for a while longer. Seth later goes to see Marissa and runs into Summer by chance, staring at her and complaining when Marissa doesn't make him look good in front of her. Summer and Seth later go to a casino-themed party, and she decides to use him as a "lucky charm" since she wins craps twice with him close by. Seth is delighted that she wants him near her, but she can never remember his name.

Eventually, Seth's parents decide to adopt Ryan. This makes Seth very happy, and he immediately asks his new brother for advice on Summer.

At the debutante ball, Summer finds herself paired with Seth. She is annoyed by this turn of events, while her partner is elated. At her friend Holly's pre-party for the ball, Summer tries to bribe her to switch chaperones with her, but Holly refuses. Summer doesn't even want to talk to Seth, which disappoints him. At the prom, Seth befriends Anna, a comic-loving girl who recently moved to Orange County. Summer finally manages to replace Seth with Luke, Holly's chaperone, which makes him very sad, but Anna helps him understand that he doesn't have to be Summer's doormat. Summer find herself alone when Luke leaves after arguing with Marissa. She tries to get Seth to be her date again, but he refuses. Some time later, Seth and Ryan accidentally run into Summer and Marissa. Summer asks Seth to take her to his grandfather's birthday party and Seth gladly accepts. His grandfather, Caleb Nichol, is one of the most powerful men in Newport, and Summer wants to go to his party to meet rich and influential people. Seth later brags to his family that he landed a date with Summer Roberts.

After a while, Seth gets tired of introducing Summer to people. When she asks him why, he complains about her exploiting him. Seth explains that no one there knows her like him and recounts moments from their childhood. Summer is surprised that he knows her so well and kisses him. She tells Seth that he doesn't need to introduce her to anyone else, but later go back to ignoring him.

On the last weekend before the holiday ends, Seth tells his parents he's going to a comic convention so he can go to Tijuana. Many of his schoolmates are making this trip, including Summer, who agrees to go with him. Seth hopes to be able to kiss Summer while on the vacation. Summer and Seth start teasing each other, but due to a quarrel, they end up off the road and have to stay in a motel overnight. The two find themselves having to share a bed, and Summer orders Seth not to hit on her, and he obliges. The next morning, while they are having breakfast, Seth tries to get Summer to admit she likes him, but she rudely denies it. Despite all this, once they arrive at their destination, Summer and Seth seem to get along well.

After Marissa finds out that her parents are getting a divorce and that Luke is cheating on her with her friend Holly, she overdoses and ends up in the hospital. Perhaps hoping that this shared trauma has brought them closer, Seth finally finds the courage to ask Summer out. But Summer sees Seth being teased by some of her friends and tries to politely refuse. Seth, however, takes the hint and bitterly states that he won't ask her for anything more. Summer seems sorry to have hurt him. Knowing that Marissa's mother wants to have her interned, Summer decides to ask for Ryan's help. Not being able to find him, she asks Seth for help, and he admits that he feels unable to face Marissa's horrible mother. Despite the situation, the boy still tries to flirt with Summer, to which she still responds negatively, but without as much malice. Summer, Seth, and Ryan then work together to get their friend out of the hospital, which allows Summer and Seth to get to know each other better.

Eventually, Marissa convinces her mother to let her stay with her father. Meanwhile, Summer seems to be growing fond of Seth. However, back at school, Summer goes back to ignoring Seth, but he is now confident he will be able to woo her.

Summer's jealousy and the triangle
Anna, the girl Seth met at prom, has started attending their school. When she and Seth see each other again, they hug, which makes Summer jealous. Seth asks Anna for help making Summer fall in love with him, but Anna's constant presence at Seth's side begins to make Summer nervous. She later sees Anna kissing Seth and seems to feel badly about it. When Seth comes to say hello, she says that she wants someone to ride the roller coaster with her, and he immediately volunteers.

Seth realizes he's always talking about Summer, boring Ryan and Anna, so he decides to invite Anna to a charity party organized by his grandfather, Caleb, promising not to mention Summer. When he tells Summer he's going to the party with Anna, Summer immediately tells him that another guy has invited her and walks away, bumping into Anna on purpose as she goes.

Summer becomes increasingly jealous and complains to Marissa about how close Seth and Anna are, and Marissa immediately realizes that her friend has fallen in love with Seth. Summer finds Seth when he is alone and kisses him, admitting that she has a crush on him. Seth is shocked, but Summer walks away, saying that if he tells anyone what just happened, she'll kill him.

On Thanksgiving, Anna comes over to Seth's house, but Summer also comes uninvited. Seth attempts to navigate his awkward situation, trying to keep the girls from finding out about each other's presence. Summer kisses Seth again, but finds herself unable to explain why she is attracted to him. Seth tries to go further with her, but she refuses. Eventually, Summer and Anna both find out that the other is there and become furious with Seth.

Fearing the wrath of Anna and Summer, Seth pretends to be ill to skip school, but is soon caught and forced to go. Both girls are still hurt and angry, but after a few days, Seth apologizes and the two forgive him, but go back to competing for him.

Summer then thanks Seth for his apology and asks him to go out on Saturday, which he immediately accepts. When Chrismukkah (Seth's hybrid of Christmas and Hannukah) arrives, Seth prepares two identical gifts for Summer and Anna. Both girls want to go to Caleb's Christmas party with Seth, but he doesn't want to ruin anyone's holidays, so he decides not to go with anyone and just meet them at the party. Both girls go against this agreement and show up at Seth's house, both wanting him to escort them to the party. Luckily, Seth manages to prevent a fight from breaking out. When they are left alone, Summer tries to seduce Seth by dressing up as Wonder Woman, but learns that Anna made a comic for him. The two are interrupted by Anna, and Summer tells Seth that he has to choose one of them.

Seth doesn't know who to choose and tells both of them that he just wants them to be friends, but they refuse. Summer goes with Marissa to a New Year's Eve party, where she runs into Anna.She pretends that she no longer cares about Seth, but she hasn't gotten over him at all. She later asks a random guy to choose between her and Anna to make herself feel better. She even kisses him, but doesn't like it since he's not Seth.

At this point, Seth has gotten together with Anna. He tries to tell Summer about his decision, but puts it off since he doesn't know how to tell her without hurting her feelings. Anna offers to tell Summer for him but he refuses, wanting to talk to Summer in person. However, Summer tells him that she already figured it out. Surprisingly, she seems to be fine with it and agrees to remain friends with the others. But Summer is actually very angry about this new development. When the group goes on a weekend trip to Palm Springs, she gets between Anna and Seth constantly.

Seth soon gets bored of his relationship with Anna, since they're just so similar. Summer starts dating a guy named Danny in a very obvious attempt to replace Seth, which annoys the latter. Summer and Danny's relationship doesn't last long, possibly due to accidental sabotage on Seth's part.

Unable to spend much time with Marissa, Summer continues to hang out with Seth and Anna a lot. Seth starts to favor Summer over Anna, neglecting his own girlfriend. Anna realizes that Seth never truly got over Summer and dumps him.

Become a couple
As Valentine's Day nears, Seth asks Summer about her plans for the holiday, telling her that he and Anna broke up. Summer seems happy about the breakup, but then angrily tells him that she's not going to be his rebound.

"Wait, wait. Before you kick me out, can you please give me a second to explain? Okay listen. Summer... it's not like now me and Anna broke up I'm now choosing you. Okay? Because the whole reason that we broke up is because, for me, it's always been you, Summer. It's always been you. I've tried to fight it, and I've tried to deny it. And I can't. I can't do it. You're undeniable."

- Seth declares his love to Summer.

After school, Seth goes to Summer's house and explains that she is not a rebound for him, but that he and Anna broke up because he's only ever truly had feelings for Summer. Summer is delighted and kisses him, which leads to them having sex for the first time.

Later, Seth confides in Ryan that he is not sure if he was able to satisfy her. He then asks his father for advice but it doesn't help much, so he decides he wants another attempt at the whole thing. Summer agrees, but it doesn't go very well. Seth is convinced that Summer doesn't want him anymore, so at the Valentine's Day gala, he tells her that he might be ready in a few years, but he is ready to call it off until then.

Summer: ''The other night when we... had sex.''

Seth: Yeah.

Summer: You weren't the only virgin in the room.

Seth: ''There was someone else in the room? Like, filming us?''

Summer: ''Me, jackass. I'm a virgin. Or, I was a virgin,''

Seth: Why didn't you tell me?

Summer: ''I don't know. I guess I felt like I had this reputation to uphold and I figured you think less of me.''

Seth: ''No. Are you kidding? Not at all. I'm just--I'm shocked. God. Never in a million years would I think that you, of that people, not that-- That is not what's important here. That was a huge moment in our lives and we just blew past it.''

Summer: Really quickly.

Seth: ''Hey, not that quickly. Pretty quickly, yes. And it was a big deal.''

Summer: ''I think that it should've been special. And we rushed it.''

Seth: ''What if we were to slow it down a little bit? Maybe start from the beginning?''

Summer: What do you men?

[Seth puts on some music]

Summer: You are so cheesy, Cohen.

Seth: Come on, I'm sweeping you off your feet.

Summer: Well the sad part is you kind of are.

- Seth and Summer clear things up.

After the party, Summer goes over to Seth's house and tells him that she was also a virgin before they had sex and that she didn't tell him because she thought he might think less of her. The two realize that they've been rushing their relationship, and decide to slow down and start over.

"I just don't know why he likes me. I mean, he's way smarter. And we have like, less than nothing in common. And he's just gonna get bored with me, because, pretty much all boys do. If everybody knows we're dating they'll know when he breaks up with me, which he will. I mean, dumped by Seth Cohen? It's real good for my reputation."

- Summer admits she doesn't feel enough for Seth.

Summer agrees to work a kissing booth to raise money for their school's water polo team. She doesn't tell anyone that she and Seth are together, which makes him think she's ashamed of him. He decides to avoid her until she stops keeping their relationship secret. Summer admits to Anna that she's convinced Seth will break up with her one day and that a public relationship means a public breakup, which would only add to the pain she would feel after a potential breakup.

Seth: I need to talk to you.

Summer: I'll IM you later.

Seth: ''Okay. Let's talk up here.''

Summer: ''Oh, my God. No.''

Seth: Summer, I know you 're scared.

Summer: Yeah, of you.

Seth: ''You kiss these other guys, but you won't kiss me? Acknowledge me now or lose me forever.''

Brad: You're dating this emo geek?

Seth: ''Yes, Brad, she's dating this emo geek. Yeah, that's right. I'm a big dork and I listen to emo. And I'm dating her.''

Summer: Why are you doing this?

Seth: ''Because, Summer, I like you this much. And if you feel the same way about me, then...Someone will have to give me a hand down. It's high up here and I could fall and that would be embarrassing. More embarrassing.''

[Summer joins him]

Summer: I can't believe this.

Seth: It's all over but the public make-out session.

- Summer and Seth go public with their relationship.

Anna encourages Seth to tell Summer how much he loves her. Seth climbs on top of the kissing booth and publicly declares his love for Summer, who kisses him in front of the whole school. When Anna decides to move back to Pittsburgh to live with her relatives, Seth believes that he's the reason she's leaving. Summer realizes that Seth is feeling guilty and tries to comfort him about the situation. However, she starts to become jealous again. Seth assures her that there are no romantic feelings behind his desire for Anna to stay. Summer tells him to go talk to Anna, but he is unable to convince her to stay.

Summer and Marissa accidentally run into Grady Bridges, one of the stars of Summer's favorite TV show, The Valley. Bridges invites the two to a party in Los Angeles, which they decide to bring Ryan and Seth to. Seth becomes jealous of Bridges, believing that the actor is trying to seduce Summer. In turn, Summer becomes jealous as Seth catches the eye of a wealthy socialite. Seth's suspicions turn out to be correct. Bridges was actually trying to get Summer to sleep with him, but she angrily rejects him. Meanwhile, Marissa finds out that her ex-boyfriend, Luke, is in a sexual relationship with her mother and she runs away, horrified.

Having heard that Seth's grandmother, Sophie, is coming to town for Seder/Passover, Summer decides she wants to meet her. However, Seth thinks it's not a good idea, since his grandmother is very politically and socially active, while Summer has never been interested in that kind of thing. The leads Summer to believe her boyfriend is ashamed of her, but he assures he that he is only trying to protect her. Summer goes to Seth house anyway and gets mad at her boyfriend when she discovers that his grandmother is actually very nice. However, it comes out later in the night that Sophie has actually contracted lung cancer and was trying to hide it from her family. Meanwhile, Summer is trying to learn what it takes to join the family dinner. Marissa moves in with her father and Summer helps her get her bedroom ready, convincing Seth to help. While they are rearranging things, Summer finds their 2002 yearbook and decides to flip through it. While she does so, she realizes how long she'd been completely ignoring Seth and feels guilty.

Seth discovers that Summer has a very close relationship with her father, Robert, and asks to meet him. Summer has never introduced any of her boyfriends to Robert as she thinks it is a very important step in a relationship, but she agrees to introduce Seth.

Seth tries his best to connect with Summer's father, but sadly Mr. Roberts doesn't have a good impression of him. For Summer Neil's opinion matters a lot and the next day she makes it clear to Seth that maybe she doesn't want to go out with him anymore which hurts the young Cohen.

Summer herself is devastated and begins to avoid Seth. A few days later Seth queues up at his grandfather's bachelor party in Las Vegas and when he tells Summer where he's going he leaves when he realizes she seems willing to do nothing about their relationship.

Summer: ''Cohen. Listen, I've been thinking.''

Seth: Yeah.

Jenn: Hey, I have to kiss you again.

Summer: What?

Marissa: What?

Summer: ''Cohen? What is going over there?''

Jenn: You're an amazing kisser.

Seth: ''Hold that thought, please. Hey, Summer. Hello?''

Summer: ''He's kissing another girl. Yes. Right in front of me on the phone. I can't believe this. I have been crying actually tears over that ass, and he's kissing randoms''.

Marissa: ''Okay, you know what? We're gonna have a girl's night out. Theresa's coming over. We can do whatever you want''.

Summer: ''Really? Because all I want to do right now is go to Las Vegas and kick Cohen's ass.''

Seth: She's gonna kick my ass.

- The misunderstanding that brings Summer to Las Vegas.

After Seth's departure, the girl dissolves in tears and after a while she decides to call him, but unfortunately she catches him just as a girl is pretending to be with him in order to stay on the beach of the hotel where he is staying (it is possible only access if you are with a hotel guest) and kisses him in the middle of the call. An angry Summer then decides to go to Las Vegas to teach him a lesson, and Seth immediately deduces that the girl will make him pay.

Seth makes friends with this girl, Jenn and in the evening she tries to kiss him. He seems hesitant at first, but begins to enjoy it when Summer arrives. The girl yells at the blonde to get away from Seth, but at that moment three other women arrive and it turns out that Jenn is a prostitute who has hooked Seth and since she has organized a party of her, her pimp demands prepayment. With the misunderstanding cleared up, Summer agrees to help Seth and Ryan pay and she and her boyfriend make up.

The departure of Ryan and Seth
Seth is very happy to have solved things with Summer, but back home the boys have another shock: Theresa an ex of Ryan with whom he has had a casual relationship is pregnant and does not know if Ryan's or another man, Eddie. Seth later decides to sell the boat and give Theresa the money from the sale. Summer goes with him and finds it strange that Seth's boat is named as her, and he doesn't find the courage to tell her that he named it Summer Breeze after her in her honor.

Summer is clearly intrigued that Seth is giving Theresa six thousand dollars. The two later go to the rehearsal dinner together and the girl helps her boyfriend distract Marissa that she doesn't know about Theresa's decision to keep the baby.

Summer: ''They sent me out to find you. Found you. I figured you'd be stuffering your pockets with cocktail weenies. You're still gonna see him. Chino's not that far away.''

Seth: ''I just can't believe he's leaving. He's the first real friend I've ever had. He's the only real friend I've ever had.''

Summer: I know. You have me.

Seth: ''Yeah, but that's not the same thing. You don't get it. Before he got here I was the biggest loser. This place was hell for me, okay? And I can't help him, and-- I can't even imagine what it's gonna be like here without him.''

Summer: ''We'll make it through it. I promise.''

- Summer tries to cheer up Seth. Eventually Ryan decides to return to his hometown Chino to help Theresa raise the baby. All the Cohens are devastated and on their wedding day Summer tries to do the best of her to console her boyfriend, but despite this Seth decides to escape to Tahiti by boat. Summer is devastated, not only by the fact that her boyfriend has left and left her a note, but also because it implies that her love was less important to him than Ryan's friendship.

Season 2
Eventually Seth lacks the courage to go that far, and so he stops in Portland where Luke has gone to live with his father and spends the summer with the Wards. Since he planned to stay in Portland indefinitely, Seth leaves Summer. Over time, Summer begins dating a guy named Zach, a Protestant, gymnastic, non-neurotic version of Seth. Summer comes to see a therapist to overcome Seth's abandonment and declares that she never wants to fall in love again. Summer later on the advice of the therapist brings back home Cohen any object that she centers in some way with her ex.

The return of Seth and Ryan
Ryan in turn decides to join Seth to convince him to go home, only to discover that Theresa has lost the baby (a lie told by the girl who doesn't want the boy to be with her out of a sense of duty). At that point the two boys decide to return to Newport and Kirsten and Sandy are delighted to welcome them back.

Seth avoids Summer until school begins and then she learns of the Jew's return to Newport until she faces him in the yard and leaves without speaking to him. Seth follows her and tries to talk to her, but the girl leaves him in the lurch after exchanging a few words and telling him she has started a new relationship.

Having interests in common ironically Seth and Zach make friends and the young Cohen finds it absurd that Summer has gotten together with someone so similar to him. Seth is upset by what he found out, but he thinks he deserves it and that Summer won't even want to be friends with him anymore.

Seeing him so sad, Ryan goes to Summer and tries to break a lance in favor of his adoptive brother, but fails to pity the girl who now seems certain that she and Seth would not have lasted anyway. Discovering thanks to Ryan that Summer does not see her relationship with Zach as serious, Seth decides to try to win her back by imitating the blatant gesture with which he had convinced her to go public with their relationship.

Summer: ''Oh, my God! Are you okay?''

Seth: Yeah, I'm fine.

Summer: ''Good! What you think you're doing? This isn't a game! You could've gotten hurt!''

Seth: Good thing I didn't.

Summer: What do you want from me, Cohen?

Seth: I just want you.

Summer: ''No, you don't. You had me. You had me at the Crismukkah in a freaking Wonder Woman costume and you chose Anna. You had me three months ago and you left.''

Seth: I wanna make that up to you.

Summer: ''It has nothing to do with me. It is about you, and it is always about you. What you need, and what you want, you know. It seems that you noly want me when you can't have me. You like the chase, and that's all. So you know what? You can have it. I'm going home.''

- Summer rejects Seth,

Summer realizes what Seth wants to do, but the attempt has no effect and the boy ends up standing in front of Zach's car to force her to talk to him. Eventually he succeeds, but she does not forgive Seth and refuses to go back with him.

Seth realizes that there is some truth in Summer's accusations and decides to try to become more altruistic (especially because he still hopes to win her back).

Eventually Seth gets hired at a club to get concert tickets to give to Summer and Zach, and when he goes to bring them the girl accepts them. But Zach decides not to go there and asks the girl to go with Seth, so that she understands who she wants to be with. Summer takes his advice, and when Seth tells her he's been working to get tickets, she's impressed. Unfortunately caught up in the emotion of the moment, Seth gives a kiss to Summer and she goes away. Seth, however, joins her and apologizes, but admits that perhaps he is not capable of just being friends with Summer and she replies that perhaps they shouldn't seeing each other anymore. After talking to Marissa, Seth goes to find Summer to apologize again, but finds her introducing Zach to her father and walks away sad.

Out of spite, Seth decides to start dating another girl and manages to arrange a date thanks to Ryan, to then brag about it to Summer. The latter seems angry, probably a mix of anger due to the presence of Seth and jealousy of him. Coincidentally Summer and Zach go to the same place where Seth and Lindsay went. The two both seem jealous and the embarrassment is palpable. Zach finally gets fed up and leaves and Seth joins him and Summer, telling the girl that it's okay for him to stop talking to each other, but the brunette ignores him and walks off with her boyfriend.

The second triangle
Afterwards Seth and Summer continue to tease each other, and Zach continues to feel annoyed, probably because he understands that neither of them has really managed to archive their romance. The date with Lindsay didn't go well, but Seth manages to snatch a kiss from another girl Alex, and when she doesn't say interested in a story with him, he goes to ask Summer for help and even if he would like to do backed down, his ex decides to help him.

The two seem to begin to regain complicity, but Zach, who saw them, feels bad and decides not to go with Summer to a school party. By a turn of events, Seth and Summer find themselves going to the party with Marissa and Ryan. Shortly after their arrival, the two find themselves alone and after an initial refusal, the girl grants them a dance.

Zach: Hey, Guys.

Summer: ''Zach! You came''.

Zach: ''Yeah. I thought you might still need a date. Stupid, huh?''

Seth: Zach, it's really not like that.

Zach: ''Yeah, it is. And I get it. You're just one of those couples. Even when you'are not a couple, you'll always be a couple.''

- Zach recognizes the bond between Seth and Summer. Zach decides to go to the party and arrives right in the middle of their slow. Of course he gets angry and walks away.

The boy goes to let off steam right in the bar where Alex works and misunderstanding his advice decides to teach Seth a lesson. Alex then follows to stop him, but is unsuccessful. Summer doesn't like it at all, but Zach apologizes quickly and Seth leaves with Alex, so Summer does the same with young Stevens.

Since Summer and Marissa have no plans for Christmas (their boyfriends are away with their families, like Alex), Seth invites them to celebrate Crismukkah with him and his family and they accept. Shortly after Ryan and Seth discover that Lindsay, who has become Ryan's girlfriend in the meantime, is Caleb's illegitimate daughter and Ryan decides to cancel the invitation he gave her to the Crismukkah, begging Seth to do the same with Summer.

"You know, I just think it's really cool that you invited me tonight. After everything we've been through you were able to put aside our differences. I just think you're really changing and that maybe we're actually friends".

- Summer appreciates Seth's kindness. The boy doesn't want to because he finds it a rude gesture, but Ryan soon convinces him. Both girls are thrilled though, so Ryan and Seth are unable to cancel the invitation. Seth tells his ex that he really appreciates his kindness and so the boy gives up. Summer is in such a good mood that she even kisses his cheek as they pass under the mistletoe.

Summer later wonders if Seth and Alex are serious and offers to comfort her ex. Finally she Summer pushes him not to give up the Crismukkah and helps him save the party.

Zach mortified by the situation with Seth, apologizes again and confesses that he kissed an ex of his, while he was in Cabo asking him for advice and he suggests that he tell Summer everything. Unfortunately one evening when all three are in the same room, Seth exaggerates with alcohol and lets slip what happened. Obviously because of this Summer and Zach fight. Summer later gets mad at her ex about it. Finding out that Seth had sex with Alex, Summer gets angry and decides to do it with Zach out of revenge. However Zach misunderstands and introduces her to his mother and sister. In the end the relationship between Seth and Alex fails, and Zach to cheer him up convinces him to draw his own comic, proposing to help him and the boy is convinced. Summer isn't happy about it, as Zach starts devoting a lot of time to the project.

She later brings them back to him and when Seth thinks she's angry and intends to destroy them, she tells him that she finds them very beautiful and even asks Seth to give her at least one. He says he can take them all, but he begs her not to let Zach see them and she agrees and then leaves. Summer fears that the situation involving him having a lot to do with Summer will rekindle his love for her, but Ryan reassures him. Seth also talks about it with Summer, and eventually she ends up posing for him. As soon as the two find themselves close, they exchange intense looks and Seth decides to leave.

Summer herself while talking to Marissa, seems to admit that she still has feelings for Seth. Alex later realizes that Seth still has feelings for Summer. Seth then goes right to the girl and the two decide to spend as little time together as possible, to keep things professional, but Zach has managed to get a publishing house interested in the comic and drags both of them to San Diego for an official meeting. Seth fears trouble, but can't escape the trip which, to top off bad luck, will take place on Valentine's Day. Due to a delay, the meeting is postponed to the next day and the three stay overnight in a hotel and the idea that Summer shares a bed with Zach annoys Seth. Seth tries to get between them a bit like Summer did with him and Anna the previous year and perhaps remembering it, the girl doesn't get too annoyed.

In the end the meeting goes badly due to Seth's nervousness and the girl tries to talk to him, but he ignores her and goes home by bus. The boy is tormented by the idea that his ex had sex with Zach; discovered of Seth's curiosities, Summer gets very angry and goes to him to protest, but after he apologizes she forgives him and tells him that she didn't sleep with Zach, which makes the young Cohen happy. Zach later decides to tell Seth that he intends to have sex with Summer during a trip to Italy, but Summer admits to Marissa that when she thought she was going to have sex with Zach, she couldn't help but think of Seth. Eventually the latter goes to Summer and tells her to stay calm, because the crush on her has passed and Summer seems happy in words. Before her departure, Seth goes to Summer again, but again he can't tell her how he feels. To win back Summer, Seth decides to buy back the catamaran that he had sold to get to Portland that he had baptized with her name. He succeeds, but when he phones Summer she refuses to go to him. Seth is devastated, but at the airport, after Summer hears a message he left on her answering machine, she sees a boy playing with a plastic horse (Seth has kept one since he was little, just like Summer) and so she decides not to leave with Zach and go to Seth. When she reaches him, she gives him a kiss, making her choice clear.

Lindsay and her mother move to Chicago, and Ryan is devastated, so Seth decides to try to cheer him up. He tells Summer about it and she suggests they go to the mall with Marissa too, a suggestion Seth decides to follow. Summer and Seth appear very sweet to each other, they kiss constantly and Summer tries to keep Seth from finding out that Zach sent her a postcard. The four remain locked inside the mall and spend the night there. Seth finds the postcard and he and Summer have a little argument, but make up pretty quickly.

Seth begins trying to get Marissa and Ryan back together as well and Summer tries to dissuade him after realizing that the two are not a well-matched match, but Seth doesn't listen to her. Summer finds out that Seth keeps trying to get their friends back together and the two argue.

Zach returns from Italy and seems in good spirits. He doesn't seem to bear a grudge against either Seth or Summer and he says he's started dating an Italian Francesca. Seth promises not to tell Summer, but Summer finds it strange that Zach took so well that she dumped him for Seth, and Summer eventually extorts the secret from him. Summer feels bad, despite being the one who dumped Zach, but soon discovers that Francesca's whole story was just a lie. That night, Summer storms out at a party at Seth's house hosted by Caleb to celebrate the release of a magazine sponsored by the Newport Group. Seth doesn't understand why she's mad at him and Summer and the two end up arguing, but when Seth claims he's afraid Summer regrets dumping Zach for him, she reassures him.

Carter one who works for a magazine sponsored by the Newport Group, offers to Seth and Zach to make a graphic novel of their comic. Seth is not convinced, but decides to ask Summer if she agrees, but she doesn't even want to hear about it. However, Carter arranges a meeting with a publisher and Zach convinces his friend to go behind Summer's back. The girl finds out, but she decides to allow the two to at least give it a try. Summer decides she doesn't want to know anything about Atomic County (Seth and Zach's project), and the charge they need to talk to is an attractive young woman, Reed. Seth then doesn't tell Summer that Reed is female, but she changes her mind and decides she wants to know about the development of the project. Summer runs into Reed by chance at Trey's (Ryan's brother who just got out of jail) birthday party and when he finds out she's a hot girl she gets mad at Seth and storms out. Seth apologizes and Summer forgives him, and he refuses to see Reed for the graphic novel to take Summer to a concert, but Zach eventually talks him down and Summer gets angry again. The two authors also have to go to a party and Summer is requested to participate and seems to miss Seth at the concert. However, Summer can't mix well with the other guests and has Zach take her home, like she did with Trey's birthday party. Seth has to go to Miami for his grandmother's wedding, and goes to inform Summer to apologize for the party thing. Summer agrees, as she thinks it is good for her and Seth to have some separation. Seth in Miami is forced to help a girl participate in a rather particular competition: the girl will cover herself in cream and he will have to eat the cherry she will keep in her mouth before time runs out. The competition is televised and Summer sees it, and in anger gives Zach a kiss. Seth decides to tell Summer everything, but she replies that she already knows everything, and reciprocates by saying that she kissed Zach. Seth doesn't get mad, but Summer says she doesn't know what's going to happen from then on. The fight for Summer is reopened and Seth comes to make Zach look bad in front of Summer by exposing his omission. The two boys get into a fight in front of Summer and finally ask her to choose one of them, but she refuses them both.

Seth thinks he can win back Summer, convincing her to come with him to the prom and the girl since she has a good chance of being elected prom queen, tells the two that she will go with one of them, but that they will have to find a way to unravel the issue. Reed, however, informs them that George Lucas has taken an interest in their project and decides that only one of them should meet him and the meeting is set for the same night as the ball. This is also an important thing for both of them and the two of them decide that one will go to the dance and the other to the date. Not knowing how to choose between the two possibilities, the two decide to draw lots by tossing a coin. As a result, Seth has to go on a date with Lucas and Zach on a date with Summer. The two follow the coin's decision, but Seth doesn't get the dance out of his mind, while Summer understands that Zach wishes he was elsewhere and he understands that she was hoping Seth would come. The young Stevens thus decides to exchange places with Seth who accepts. Seth arrives as Summer is elected prom queen and joins her on stage, declaring his love for her in front of the entire school. She accepts it and the two share a kiss.

Unfortunately that same evening, Caleb has a heart attack and dies. In addition Kirsten is slipping into alcoholism and Seth discovers that his father is thinking of having her committed and feels guilty because in the last year he hasn't been very close to her, thinking mostly of Ryan and Summer and the latter tries to console him. During the memorial, Sandy asks her to take Seth away to distract him and she accepts. Seth's family situation worsens even more, since his mother has sunk into alcoholism and Sandy has decided to have her interned and immediately after this Summer goes to tell Seth that Ryan's older brother Trey has tried to sleep with Marissa, trying to force her. Seth tells Ryan and this leads to a fight between the two brothers in which Marissa is also involved and which ends when the latter shoots Trey.

Season 3
Just before the trial and the start of school, Summer convinces Seth, Marissa and Ryan to try to have a fun day without thinking about their problems. When Ryan faces arrest, the group tries to flee by boat, but fails. In the end, fortunately, everything turns out well.

Eventually Marissa is expelled and Taylor Townsend takes her place as head of social activities. Summer gets angry and decides to challenge her for her place with help from Seth. The boy manages to be a valid support for her and to give her good advice. He later tries to console her about Marissa's expulsion. When Taylor insults Seth, Summer flies into a rage and starts insulting her back. They later help Ryan give Marissa a romantic surprise. However, this gets Seth two months of detention, because he took school materials to help Ryan and refuses to report Summer. Summer would also be willing to confess, but Seth doesn't want to. Summer later confesses the same after being deceived by Taylor, fearing her boyfriend might be suspended. Summer accidentally discovers that Taylor is having a sexual relationship with disciplinarian Jack Ass. Seth initially doesn't believe it, but since Ass is ready to make Ryan unable to go to university and he is fishing boat, Seth not wanting to leave, decides to humor Summer, hoping she's right. The two then make the two lovers fall into a trap and obtain proof of their relationship, so Sandy forces Ass to resign and readmit Ryan to school.

Taylor organizes a night at school for the seniors and Ryan, Summer and Seth are forced to attend. The latter overhears a conversation between Taylor and her mother Veronica and understands that Taylor is not a bad person, but she is simply very lonely and very sad, as he was before meeting Ryan; in fact, Taylor is even worse off than he was at the time since Seth at least had parents who loved him, while Taylor has only her mother who has always treated her as the most annoying nuisance that could happen to her. The boy takes pity and decides to be more friendly with the young Townsend. Taylor however misunderstands and therefore prevents Summer from entering the night at the gym to be alone with Seth on whom she takes a crush. After a while Taylor declares herself to Seth, but although she is a beautiful girl and unlike Summer she shares some interests with Seth, the latter does not even consider accepting her advances. Summer realizes that Seth and Taylor have grown closer and the young Townsend even manages to make them fight, since Summer comes to suspect that Seth has cheated on her with Taylor. Luckily Seth manages to clear up with her the next day by telling her that he was simply trying to help Taylor and that since she's not used to anyone being nice to her he misunderstood. Summer believes him and the two leave to watch a DVD Taylor gave Seth as a thank you.

The University
The time comes to choose the university and Seth has every intention of moving away from California to somewhere cold, while Summer in love with the Californian climate intends to attend a university that is located in a warm place. Seth finally decides to try to get into Brown University, while Summer decides to try to go somewhere else altogether, in Arizona. Taylor then points out how distant she and Seth will be.

The girl then complains to Seth about what happened and when she discovers that she has been worried about the distance that will divide her from Seth for the whole night, while he hasn't worried about it in the slightest, she leaves angry. Later Summer decides to try her turn to get into Brown and when she finds out that Taylor is also thinking of going there, he thinks that she is still determined to win him over. Seth then asks her to try to go with him, but to her pride she doesn't admit that she's already trying.

Summer: Thanks for coming, Taylor.

Taylor: Well, it was no problem at all, Summer.

Summer: I wanna talk about next year.

Taylor: ''First, let me just say that were I apply to college is frankly none of your business. And if some of those schools happen to cross with Seth's, well--''

Summer: ''Taylor. Shut up, okay? You can have him. Go to Brown or wherever you smart people go. He's yours.''

Taylor: This is a ploy, isn't it?

Summer: ''No, it's life. He's going to Rhode Island and I'm going to Arizona.''

Taylor: I thought you would do the long-distance relationship thing.

Summer: ''And struggle along, break up at Thanksgiving and hook up at Christmas. Then break up in January when we're both back at school?''

Taylor: You could apply to a school near him.

Summer: ''Imagine me on the East Cost. I'd be like those animals ripped from their habitat and put in the zoo. My fur would get any mangy. I'd throw dung at people. It'd be awful.''

Taylor: You know, I'm almost offended that you think I would believe that sort of idiotic lie.

Summer: ''You want the truth, Taylor? What if he goes the college and meets a bunch of really smart and interesting girls and realizing that that's who he's supposed to be with?''

Taylor: ''And that you're just his high school girlfriend. Cute, you're fun to be with but doesn't want his kids to have your DNA?''

Summer: ''Yeah. Maybe we should just end it, you know.''

Taylor: Summer.

Summer: You be nice to him, okay?

- Summer still thinks she's not enough for Seth, even after two years of being together. Summer is convinced she won't be able to get into Brown and meets with Taylor who can take Seth, explaining that she's sure their story wouldn't last under such conditions and it turns out that she still thinks Seth could do better than she, then leaves asking Taylor to make him happy.

Summer: Well, I wanna see what we are going to look like next year.

Seth: What are you talking about?

Summer: ''I'm coming with you. Providence College. It's only 20 minutes from Brown.''

Seth: Are you serious?

Summer: Yeah. ''I wanna give us a shot, you know. And I can't do that from across the country, so...''

Seth: ''I don't believe this. What made you change your mind?''

Summer: ''Taylor. She made me see that at Brown you're gonna be surrounded by smart people. It's gonna make you feel really stupid. So you need someone to make you feel smart again. I mean, you want me to come with you, right?''

Seth: ''Do I want you to come with me? Summer, you're my little snow angel.''

Summer: My little rabbit.

- Summer decides to follow Seth. That evening, however, Taylor shows up at Summer's house and urges her to try to enter Providence, a university closer to Brown and more within her reach, reminding her that Seth loves her and she isn't even giving their relationship a chance. After this event Summer begins to judge Taylor a friend and she realizes that she is over her crush on Seth. Summer then reaches Seth and tells him that she has decided to go to Providence and he is very happy about it.

Summer gets an excellent score on the college entrance exam and even surpasses Seth's, who is a bit disappointed. The girl comes to think she can aim for Brown. Seth later makes sure that Summer really wants to go to Brown, and not for him.

Summer: Why do you have to be better than me at everything?

Seth: ''See? That's just it, Summer. I'm not better than you at everything. There was one thing that I was better at.''

- Seth and Summer during their competition to get into Brown. Seth later makes sure that Summer really wants to go to Brown, and not for him. However Brown typically admits only one student a year from Harbor and so the two compete. Seth comes to fear that Summer will lose his esteem, going so far as to beat him in everything, but Ryan manages to cheer him up and convince him to apologize to her. The two make it up and then send their applications for admission together.

The two promise that if only one of the two is admitted, he will not give up and that they will love each other just the same. Chrismukkah arrives and Seth goes tree shopping with Summer, Marissa and Ryan. Seth still can't connect with Summer's father, but he notices that Summer is sad and tries to cheer her up. Summer decides to get Marissa back to Harbor and Seth agrees to help her. In the end Seth manages to convince Taylor to help them, despite the contrary opinion of his mother and the help of the young Townsend proves to be decisive.

Fanon
Seth x Summer is one of the most popular ships in The O.C. . Even though they both dated other people throughout the show, it was always clear that they only truly loved each other. It rivals Ryan x Marissa and Rylor as the show's most popular ship.

There are numerous videos and fanfictions dedicated to this couple.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Seth/Summer on Fanfiction.net