*Inside the pool house*
He woke up. Took another white pill. Went back to sleep. Didn't look at the clock. Had lost track of the days. Didn't care.
****************************************
*Outside the pool house*
"Seth, seriously, it's been like three days. I'm like... deep fried. Mayor Bloomberg is going to ban me from coming within his cities limits. Can we please do something else?" Summer never thought she would see the day that she'd be begging to go do something besides lie out by the pool.
"Like?" Seth didn't move an inch from his inflatable raft that floated in the middle of the pool.
"I dunno... Anything else but this?"
"I'd suggest video games or comic books... But you hate both of those."
"Yuck. Yes, you're right. How about we, I dunno, go to the mall or something. I'll go with you to the comic book shop. You can make out with me in front of the guy who works there who didn't believe I existed." Summer pleaded.
"Mmm... Tempting, but no thanks."
"Come on Cohen, this is seriously rediculous. And where's Chino?"
"Chino?"
"Yeah you know? Ryan- your foster brother? Blond hair, blue eyes, likes to hit stuff- that Ryan."
"I dunno... Think he's sleeping or something."
"Sleeping? For three days?"
"He had a rough few before that. Jail is very tiring from what I hear."
"Marissa says she's hasn't spoken to him since..." She didn't finish the sentence. She wasn't sure how to finish it. ...Since she Trey, though true, sounded just too... Terrible.
"So? She can do what you did and just show up here or something."
"Yeah but..." She looked again towards the pool house. All the shades were drawn. "Aren't you worried about him?"
"No, why should I be? I'm not his parent."
"His brother just got shot!"
"And my mom's in rehab but you don't see me sitting around boo-hoo'ing my fate. I don't sit inside all day and sulk. I come out here. I soak up rays and sun. I enjoy the sun's warmth and glory. I'm working on my tan. I'm reconnecting with my desert-dwelling roots. Forty years in a desert Summer, forty years!"
"Right, I'm sure they had infinity pools with inflatable rafts in the desert too. Seriously Cohen, I can't take any more of this."
"Fine... fine... Let's go watch a movie."
"I meant, we should leave the confines of your home."
"What for?"
"I dunno... Fun? Something to do?"
"We have food. Shelter. A pool. Movies. What could the outside world possibly offer us?"
"Is this about Ryan?"
"What?"
"Are you like afraid to leave him or something?"
"No! He's a big boy, he can take care of himself."
"Okay good, so let's go. Let's go to the video store. Or, go to the pier. Take out your skateboard. Something! Please Seth- I'm begging you!"
Seth sat up on his pool float looked around for a moment, like he was seriously considering it, and then sank back onto it, "Yeah, no thanks. Feel free to go, I'll be right here." He closed his eyes and crossed his arms.
"That's it- I'm going for reinforcements." Summer stood up from the chair and strode purposefully toward the pool house.
"Wait Summer- you can't go in there! Don't you know about bears in hibernation? Don't poke the sleeping bear?"
"Fine, then get out of the pool and come with me."
"Fine, go ahead, lose a hand or an eye. See if I care."
"Fine! I will! And when I do- it's going to be all your fault!" Summer knocked loudly on the door. "Chino! Yo Chino! Ryan!"
It took a few moments but finally a pale, dishelved looking Ryan came and opened the door, and peered out into the blinding sunlight, "Wha-? Summer?" He looked down at her confused. Her hair was mussed and his face was still badly bruised and swollen.
"Dude- you're alive!" Seth called out cheerfully from the pool.
"Uhmm... Yeah..." Ryan looked around.
"Chino, make Seth get off that raft. He's been on it for three days." Summer whined.
"You woke me up- to make Seth get off that pool float?" Ryan looked at Summer in disbelief.
"No, I woke you up because sleeping for three days, just isn't healthy. Now call Marissa. Oh, but first, please get Seth off that raft."
"I haven't been asleep for three days..." Ryan muttered.
"Actually dude, you have. Trust me. I've been right pretty much the entire time." Seth spun the raft in a circle.
"You're purple," Ryan said.
"I think you mean 'bronzed.'"
"No... I meant purple... I'm going back to bed." He turned around but Summer grabbed his arm.
"God! What is wrong with the two of you? Chino- you are not going back to bed. Cohen- get out of that pool. We are going to go do something. And it's going to be fun! And if we don't-" She turned and stared daggers at them both.
"I think I just turned to stone..." Seth said, flipping off his raft and into the water.
"I'm not afraid of you Summer," Ryan sighed, and gently pulled his arm out of her grasp.
"Can't punch a girl Ryan and I will make your life a living hell until you agree to my demands... So why don't we just do this easy way?" Summer said, her voice reasonable but slightly inpatient.
"Dude, trust me, the easy way is better. Kid Chino only has his fists of fury. He's powerless against the 'rage blackout.'"
Ryan sighed, "Fine, whatever."
"Awesome, thank you for your cooperation. Now can you like take a shower and put on a change of clothes? You smell like an old sock."
"Thanks Summer..."
"Anytime," Ryan disappeared back inside the pool house. "Oh and I'll be checking on you in ten minutes so you'd better not be asleep or naked!" Summer hollered. She glanced towards the pool. Seth was now lounging on the steps. "Cohen? Take a shower! Get dressed! And move!"
"God... Such a slave driver..." Seth muttered as he climbed out of the pool. "You know you would have felt right at home with the Pharaoh's..."
"Seth- just go!" Summer ordered. She sighed as she picked up her phone and dialed, "Hey Coop,"
"Hey Sum, what's up?" Marissa's voice held little enthusiasm.
"Not much, I was about to go to the diner with the boys. Do you want in?"
"Do you really think Ryan wants to see me?"
"He might..." Summer pleaded.
"I shot his brother."
"Yeah, but, he knows its not your fault... I mean, Trey was going to kill him right."
"Sum, I appreciate the invite, but I think I need to give Ryan a little space, okay?"
"Yeah, okay... I'll stop by later?"
"Yeah, sure, I'll be here..." Marissa said.
"Alright, bye Coop, hang in there..."
"Yeah, you too... And can you tell Ryan... Actually never mind."
"You sure? I don't mind being the messenger."
"No, it's fine."
"Okay..."
"Bye Sum...."
"Bye Coop." Summer hung up and stared at the phone.