Summary ep 12

An effervescent Seth dances down the hall in robe and boxers. But when he sees Sandy, he pretends he's sick. Ryan is hip to the fact that Seth is trying to ditch school to avoid Anna and Summer and Sandy slowly catches on. Kirsten comes in, still weary from drinking too much on Thanksgiving, and Ryan and Sandy smugly revel in the fact that the other two Cohens are facing problems for a change.

School time. The history professor describes how teams of two will be working together on a big project and he'll be picking partners at random. Wouldn't you know it? Ryan and Luke have to tackle the Spanish Inquisition.

With Jimmy, Sandy informs him that the SEC and Jimmy's clients all agree that if Jimmy makes full restitution by January 1, he can avoid prosecution and jail time. But that means selling the house, something Jimmy is reluctant to do.

Later, in the bathroom, Summer questions Marissa's loyalty in having lunch with Seth. And then immediately wants to know what he said. Marissa refuses to get involved and as she exits, Anna enters. Summer, still in a stall, continues the conversation, but when she exits is surprised to find out she's talking with Anna now. The girls snipe at each other, then both agree they don't want Seth anymore, then start to bond.

Upon exiting the bathroom, Anna runs smack into Seth. Summer shortly follows and Seth soaks in the awkwardness of his two kissing buddies in front of him. The girls excuse themselves, explaining they have to hit the library for some studying, then the mall for some shopping.

Kirsten hits the locker room before her yogalates class, and true to her prediction, Julie Cooper has tipped off half of Newport about Kirsten's wine intake around the holidays. Kirsten wonders why Julie is spreading rumors and tells her to start acting like a friend if that's what she is.

Ryan heads over to Luke's place to be his study buddy. Ryan observes the happy Ward family of mom, dad and three kids, but Luke quickly pulls him upstairs. He seems pretty eager about the resources they have at hand and doing a kickass presentation, and Ryan starts to think maybe this won't be so bad after all.

Jimmy calls Julie for a talk. He tells her he needs to pay everything back by January 1st. She doesn't like the sound of that and asks where they're going to live. He suggests her mother's…or Caleb's. Julie rejects that and suggests that maybe he deserves to go to jail.

Luke and Ryan drop by Mr. Ward's Lexus dealership that night. They check out a Saleen Mustang and continue getting along. Luke spies his dad and his business partner, Gus, entering the dealership and is approaching him when dad and Gus duck into a hallway. And then they kiss. A full-on, passionate, hugging, long embrace. Near tears, a stunned Luke trips over a car, setting off the alarm. He and Ryan run out, but Luke's dad comes out just in time to see them running. His cover's finally blown.

The next morning, Marissa drops by the pool house, wondering how it went with Luke. Marissa wants to know why he's so quiet, but Ryan says something happened, but he promised not to say anything. He swears Marissa to secrecy and then spills it. In the kitchen, Seth is sipping coffee when Ryan and Marissa enter. Seth is dying to know about what it's like hanging with Luke. At school, he's switched gears to his own problems. Mainly, Anna and Summer's trip from the bathroom to the library. Ryan sees Luke and approaches him to discuss the project, but Luke snaps at him and calls Seth a queer to boot.

Seth finds Anna in the library and sits next to her. She immediately cuts him off and switches tables. Summer comes in and breezes past Seth's table to join Anna. They continue leaving Seth in their dust and their giggles drill into his head like knives.
At the gym, Kirsten approaches Julie and says she knows about the house. Kirsten says she or her dad can find her a house if she needs, but Julie tells her that Caleb said that would compromise their relationship so they broke it off. At that moment, another woman comes in with some amazing gossip about what her friend saw at the car dealership that they are not going to believe!

At the country club, Sandy implores Jimmy to have a realtor show the house. Julie will change her tune when she hears she's being investigated as a co-conspirator. Touched by his kindness, Jimmy has to get something off his chest. Something he thought Kirsten already mentioned. But didn't, of course. He…uh…um…kissed her. Jimmy apologizes profusely and Sandy tries hard to control his rage. His cell rings, and how about that? It's Kirsten. She has some news for him. But only him.

Simultaneously, Summer excitedly approaches Marissa with some huge news about Luke's dad. She dreads what's coming up. Seth then approaches Ryan with the huge news. At the same time, kids in the hall are already making fun of Luke's dad. Ryan tries to apologize to Luke, but Luke just slams him into a locker and predicts his death. Ryan confronts Marissa to find out who she told. He's the only one who knew and she's the only one he told, so it must've been her. She swears she didn't tell anybody and if Ryan doesn't trust her, he can find his own ride home.

At said home, Sandy walks outside, where Kirsten is arranging flowers. He seems worn down by what Jimmy said and wonders why she didn't tell him. Kirsten claims it's because it meant nothing, but with all this grief from her about him and Rachel, how could she have been holding on to this?

At the gym the next day, the women are going to town about the obvious gay tells they missed over the years. Nice arms, crying at The Lion King. Julie and Kirsten stew in silence. They decide to ditch the gym for fried food and beer.

In history class, Luke is conspicuously absent. Anna and Summer continue enjoying each other's company in the library when Seth begs to speak with them and apologize. He says he wasn't prepared for what happened, but they can't blame him for wanting to be with either of them and that he can only hope they'll forgive him one day. Seth leaves and the girls melt, effectively dissolving their friendship. Every woman for herself while going for Seth!

Summer is the first to sidle up to him, glowing about his apology. What are you doing Saturday night? Then it's Anna's turn, also glowing about his apology. What are you doing Saturday night? In the new spirit of sincerity, he mentions his Summer date. Anna wonders what he's doing on Friday night then.

Ryan drops by Luke's for some consolation. Marissa is already there. Luke apologizes to Ryan because it turns out Luke's mom spread the rumor. Luke's dad tries to talk to him, but Luke runs out. That night, Ryan and Luke share beers with Marissa at the Little League field. Luke starts putting the pieces together on his dad's lies in the past. Working late. Business trips. Ryan says at least his dad was there occasionally.

The pensive moment is interrupted by a couple of kids from Del Vista, who call Ryan and Luke "Harbor butt pirates" and Luke "a fag." When the jock advises Luke to just run to his dad, Ryan and Luke look at each other, then drop the punks with one punch. Their satisfied smiles disappear when six more Del Vista jocks start heading their way.

Julie drops by the Cohen homestead. Seems that after her chat about Caleb with Kirsten, she called him and let him have it. So Caleb is now buying the Cooper house as an investment. Jimmy won't go to jail, Julie and Caitlin still have a place to live and maybe one day Caleb will be Kirsten's new neighbor! Moments later, Ryan and Marissa help a battered Luke into the house. After a call, Luke's dad swings by. Carson Ward thinks about ditching town, but Sandy advises him that now's the time to be strong. Luke finally comes down and he and his dad take off together.