Chapter 7: Wake me up When September Ends:

Every day Seth and Ryan would visit and talk to her, even though they knew she couldn't repond to them.

Seth layed in bed, studying for his upcoming entrance exam. Sandy talked to Principal Kim (is that her name? i couldn't remember) and she agreed to let Seth take the exam the following Thursday. He studied day and night. He wanted to make it into Harbor. He had new motivation: Do it for Kirsten.

"Whats a quadriatic formula? how the heck do you DO a quadriatic formula? WHAT THE HELL! Algebra 2! I havent even taken Pre-Algebra! Man, I'm not gonna make it in this school! Man..." Seth was rambling on. The math material he had to study was extremely hard to make sense of.

"Hey man. You need any help?" Ryan appeared in the poolhouse doorway.

"You know how to do this stuff?"

"Yeah. I got a perfect score on last years tests. I've also gotten straight A's since 6th grade, especially in math. I love algebra. It's challenging, you either get the answer right or wrong. No second guessing, I like that."

"Well, it's always nice to know you're life revolves around solving equations and such. But thanks for helping."

And they sat down together, Ryan patiently explianing how to solve a linear inequality.Seth listening and trying to solve a few simple problems on his own. By 6 in the morning, Seth had mastered the basics of Algebra 2...almost. Ryan went to bed a few hours before. Seth stayed up and worked and worked until he got 10 problems right.

"Hey man, you're up early...and still working on those problems. Good to know you're life revolves around equation solving." Ryan teased as he brought Seth a cup of coffee, black with no sugar.

"I never went to sleep. At all, I stayed up solving some of the practice problems." Seth looked at Ryan with a zombie-like stare.

"Okay. You need to stop looking at me like that. You're creeping me out. But l;et me see the problems."

Seth handed him the problems.

"Hmmm...y -2x-8...y8...y3x+4...2y+5x20..." Ryan read the problems one by one figuring them in his head...they were all right.

"They're all right. Good job Seth. We'll work on quad formulas later. But I think you should do some more of these just to make sure you're getting this." Ryan stopped talkling when he heard a noise coming from the bed.

"Seth?" Ryan turned around to see Seth splayed out on his back in bed snoring loudly, mouth wide open and drool running down his cheek.

"That's disgusting." Ryan turned around and walkd into the house to watch some TiVo.

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5 hours later, Seth woke up and started studying the history portion and science. He took the practice tests in the back of the books and scored about a 92 on most of them.

Seth and Ryan studied for the math tests and Seth was finally ready to take the practice tests for Algebra 2 and got about an 85.

Seth spent all day Wednesday studying and going over any last minute things he might have missed.

Finally, Thursday rolled around.

Seth woke up early, took a much needed shower, got dressed in a polo and khakis, drank his black coffee and a seseame bagel and headed to the car wiht Sandy and Ryan.

The drive to the school seemed to take forever for Seth, even though it was only 10 minutes from their house. Seth slowly got out of the car and looked around at the school. It was definitley different from his old school, no graffiti, no broken windows, no spray-painted lockers. The landscape was manicured nicley and didn't have weeds or brown grass. There were brand new Beemers and Range Rovers and Mercedes in the parking lots. Everything looked expensive inside the hallways. There was even a two story wishing well near the main office. And...someone walking in the hallway. Seth turned to see a girl walking in a white and gold sequined tank top and dangerously high heels. He recognized her almost immediately.

"Summer?"

The girl stopped and turned around.

"Hey, Simon. Right?" Summer said as she walked towards him.

"Seth. Seth Jo-...Cohen. Seth Cohen." 'wow, that sounds REALLY strange. But in a good way, it really fits. I look like a Cohen'

"Cohen? I thought it was Johnson." Summer was shocked she actually remembered that.

"Nope, turns out I'm going to live here for a while. They decided to adopt me officially. I am now a Cohen."

"Wow, that's good. I'm glad you're staying" Summer gave him a bright smile.

"Thanks. Me too" Seth stared into her eyes, searching for a deeper connection. 'You can't tell me you don't feel this electric charge. Don't deny it, Summer' Seth thought.

Summer looked away, feeling his intense gaze on her. She began to turn a birght shade of red. 'This can't be happening. I can't fall in love. I'm not allowed to fall in love. He cannot be in love with me.' Summer knew that look. It was the look of a guy who was in love with a girl he saw. She saw it all the time with guys and Marissa. Hardly any guy ever looked at her that way.

"So, you will be going to school here?" Summer avoided his eyes.

"Yeah, if I pass this entrance exam. Hopefully I will. I'm not doing it for myself. Im doing it for Kirsten."

"Right. How is she doing?"

"She's doing pretty good, for someone who's in coma."

"Right, stupid question. Sorry. I hope you pass the test. It will be interesting having you here. Well I gotta go...Bye" Summer turned around and walked away quickly, her heels clacking noisily down the hallway.

"Wait, what did you mean by interesting?" Seth called to her.

"nevermind." Summer was now running down the hallway out the door and into her car.

Seth just stared dumbfounded and going over what just happened in his mind when he heard a lady call his name.

"Seth Cohen?"

"Yeah, that's me." Seth walked into the wooden doors sat down and listened as Dr. Kim gave him directions and handed him the testing booklet, which was about 20 pages long.

After 2 hours, Seth finshed and handed her the answer sheet. He walked outside and waited for Sandy to drive around and pick him up at the gates.

"So, how do you think you did?" Ryan asked as Seth got in the car.

"Pretty good. There were only bout maybe 30 questions I didnt know on the Spanish War. But there was over 300 problems."

"The Algebra section?"

"Those problems were easier than I expected them to be."

"Well that's good." Sandy said.

"So when will i find out if I passed or not?" Seth asked Sandy

"Dr. Kim said there'll be something in the mail in abou 5-6 days."

"5-6 days! I cannot wait that long!"

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Eventually 6 days came. Seth and Ryan were playing video games on the floor when Sandy called Seth into the kitchen.

"It's here." Sandy said

"Are you serious! Let me see it."

"Here you go."

Seth opened it up and his face fell slightly.

"Oh no...Oh man, this is not good at all..." Seth said.

"What is it? Did you not get in? Oh Seth don't worry..."

"No, it's not that. It's just, you know...now I have to take AP Algebra, Physics and History classes becuase I got a PERFECT score on all them!" Seth smiled.

"Well, congratulations!"

Seth hugged Sandy.

"Thank you so much for taking me in. Who knows what could have happened to me if well...ya know. Never in a million years did I think I would be in AP courses. Thanks Sandy"

"Well, your welcome kid. Anytime."

Suddenly the phone rang.

"Mr Cohen? This is Dr. Smith at the hospital. It's about Kirsten..."

"What is it?" Sandy grew alarmed.

"She's awake...and wondering where you are!" The doctor laughed lightly then continued, "She's mad she hasnt been able to eat Thai and drink diet coke for 12 days, She wants you to come here immediatley with the food and coke...and the boys"

"We'll be right there."

At the hospital, Seth and Ryan ran into the room. Seth gave her a huge hug and told her he got into Harbor and she was his motivation. Ryan just gave her the usual comic book and vague musical references update.

"I'm so glad you got into Harbor. Its a wonderful school. Right, Ryan?"

"Well, unless you get water polo team urine in your gym shoes. Then kids call you The Urinator and make cracks bout how fast urine can run, When you're doing laps in the gym. But yeah its a wonderful school. The people there are sooo friendly." Ryan gave a cheesy smile and turned around to roll his eyes when no one was looking. 'Only two more years until I'm out of this school! Hallelujah Praise the Lord!'

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The next week was spent getting Kirsten settled in the house, she had to take off work for a month because of her broken foot. She wasn't very happy about missing work and neither was her father but he never said so around her. He was just glad she was all right. Caleb Nichol doesn't like people to know he has emotions, he is supposed to be a stone wall when things get tough...I guess you could say he built a plastic wall around him after his dad died in an electrical fire and then when his wife died ,that plastic wall became one of stone. It's inpenetratable, no one can get through to him hardly. And that's how he usually likes it.

Caleb visited Kirsten on Tuesday to check up on her. Seth was there playing Grand Theft Auto with Ryan.

"I see you're pretty good at that game, Sam. I guess you would be considering how you stole someone' car for dope or whatever it is you Chinno kids call it." Caleb greeted Seth.

"Well, ya know. That's how we 'Chino kids' get down in the OC. We play their games lookin' for tips on how to scam the richies. It's just how I roll, yo. Don't get mad dawg, get glad and get happy fo rizzle off the chain!" Seth rambled on.

"What the hell did you just say?"

"What? you dont understand no Chino Lingo? Dawg you must be off on the heazzy to be in a state of total disrepair to NOT know what chino lingo is. It's all the rage on my side of da tracks. Now please leave me be I gotta beat yo grandson's score, yo. I am true gangsta for shizzle." ' what the hell AM I saying?'

"Very well, then. Fugitive. Have a nice day ,Sam."

"It's Seth. Yo C, if ya can't get the name right don't touch the merchandise dawg. OR the hair." As Caleb patted him on the back...well kindof a half-pat half-hit.

"Dude, man. It's obvious he hates you. Don't push him too far, though." Ryan thought a minute then added, "Dawg." and started laughing.

"Yeah, man. Okay. Oh look, I just beat you. Again."

but Ryah wasn't paying any attention. He just kept on laughing. And laughing. And laughing.

Meanwhile, Caleb was tlaking to Kirsten in the kitchen.

"Kirsten, that boy of yours is a disgrace. I will not tolerate being called a 'dog'. I cant bark why would he call me a dog?" Caleb greeted Kirsten

"I'm fine dad. Thanks for asking about me. And maybe Seth wouldnt talk back to you if you didn't call him a fugitive ALL the time"

"Well he IS isn't he?"

"NO. If you insult my son anymore in my house I'm asking you to leave."

"I said nothing about Ryan. He's a good kid, why would I comment bad on Ryan.?" (ironic, much?)

"I was talking about Seth. He's my son now. We adopted him."

"Are you out of your MIND? What do you think the Newpsies are going to say about this?"

"Nothing."

"You are as stubborn as your mother. But I must remind you that Monte Carlo Night is Friday night. Becuase of your injuries, Julie Cooper organized everything. All you have to do is show up and be happy. Don't bring the fugitive though."

"Yo, maybe the fugitive dont want to be there. He gettin kinda tired of this whole 'part-ay' thing. He just want to kick back and roll wit his homies." Seth came in the kitchen for some water when he heard Caleb say that last part.

"I though parties were your thing. Where you smoked and got high and had group orgies. Dont do that at the party tomorrow night. This is a sophisticated event. Dont screw it up." and with that,Caleb left.

"No offense or anything, because I know he's your dad and everything. But I kind of hate him."

"Seth, dont say hate. But if it's any consolation, I feel the same way."

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yay i updated! sorry it took so long! but you know, school...stuff...anyways i will finsh the other chapter later on...im almost done with it!