DAY TWO: REVELATIONS

MORNING - SCHOOL CORRIDOR

Summer was by her locker, trying unsuccessfully to open it. Marissa came closer and smiled at her.

"Hi!"

"Damn, I hate these rusty locks, why everything has to fallen apart in here?!", Summer complained in frustration.

"Wow, already in a terrible mood even before the first hour!"

"Yeah, I know, It's just that everything goes wrong lately."

"Hey, what's up? Don't you try to beat me in the "who is the most depressed" competition, because, you know, the victory is mine", Marissa tried to cheer her up.

"Well, after yesterday I don't know..."

"What happened? Tell me about it."

In the meantime, Seth and Ryan joined them.

"Hey!", Seth greeted.

"Hi, guys", Marissa replied.

"Well, I'd better get going, my class is starting", Summer excused herself while taking some books and closing the locker.

"But it's not even 8 AM!", Seth questioned.

"Yeah, but I have to finish the homework for the first hour", Summer started walking away. Seth followed her promptly.

"Hey, what's going on? It's since yesterday that you're avoiding me", he asked after a few steps.

"No, no, don't worry, it's just that I have to copy this homework from Taylor...I'll see you after class, ok?"

"Ok, I'm coming to your place this afternoon."

"Bye, Cohen". Summer entered the class, leaving Seth wondering.

Back at the lockers, Ryan and Marissa were talking.

"I think Summer and Seth are in a crisis", Marissa spilled it out.

"Uhm, no, why?"

"Summer is depressed. Before you guys came here I asked her why, but she didn't tell me, but I guess it involves Seth. Did he tell you something?"

"No, but this time, it's not about Seth."

"And so, what is it?"

"All right, but if I tell you, you have to promise me you won't share it with anybody, ok?"

"Promised!"

"Well – Ryan struggled to find the words to reveal something like that to his ex-girlfriend and Summer's best friend but eventually he found the courage - Yesterday Summer came over looking for Seth, then she got really emotional because things between them are a little complicated right now, so I tried to comfort her and suddenly we...-coughing- kissed."

"What?"

Ryan coughed louder. "Kissed."

"Oh, so I've heard it right..."

"Yeah, it's terrible, I know."

"Well, it's...weird. Even weirder that you are telling me among all people."

"Yeah... Anyway, it was just a mistake, it didn't mean anything and it won't happen again", Ryan quickly justified. "Do you think I still have to tell Seth?"

"Tell Seth? Are you crazy? If it meant nothing, there's no reason to make him suffer over this."

"Yeah, I know, but I feel super guilty. But maybe you're right. I have to go now, thanks."

"Bye Ryan."


AFTERNOON – SUMMER'S BEDROOM

Summer was watching some TV while Seth entered the room.

"Hi."

"Hi Cohen."

"I brought you something."

"Really? What is it?"

"Here." Seth gave her a package. Summer opened it and saw her portraits for Atomic County.

"Wow! The book! Thanks Seth, it's really beautiful."

"I found it by chance while I was looking for another book."

"Really? How lucky!"

"No, actually, it took me two hours to turn over the room and found it – Seth sat close to her - What are you watching?"

"The rerun of The Valley. This is the episode where Jack finds out that his girlfriend cheated on him with one of his friends and so he decided to shot them both with a flare gun. Absurd, isn't it?"

"Well, he had his own reasons..."

"What the hell are you saying? She was confused and they made a mistake, do you really think that this could justify his behavior?"

"No, but I can't justify them either. But why do you care so much? These things could happen only in the Valley."

"Yeah, I know, but if, by chance, would happen in real life, you won't do like Jack, right?"

Seth looked at her puzzled.

"Summer, what are you saying? This could never happen in real life because my only friend, besides Captain Oat that would be very offended if I didn't mention it, is Ryan, so I have nothing to worry about, since the only bad thing he could do to me is to hide my X-Men dvds when he wants to see the NFL..."

Summer raised her eyes at him, dying inside.

"Or not? - Seth continued, even more confused - Do you-

"No! We didn't sleep together, it was just a kiss, a mistake, a terrible mistake that won't happen again, I promise, I'm so sorry, I-

"I was saying, do you know where he hides them, but this is one hundred times worst!", Seth stood up.

"Seth...", Summer's eyes filled with tears.

"My head turns, isn't hot in here? I'm suffocating, are you sure the AC is not broken?", Seth walked around the room, getting closer to the ventilation system.

"Seth, it was nothing, ok? I don't care about Ryan, I love you, you know that, right?"

"Yep – moving his hands close to the air vent – I think is broken, you should check on it before the temp would be unbearable here. I'd better go now."

"Seth, are you listening to me? Promise me you won't use a flare gun!"

"I'll do much worse, Summer, much worse!".

Then, he got out.


AFTERNOON – POOL HOUSE

Ryan was wearing his jacket, preparing to get out. Seth arrived.

"Hey Seth, I was just looking for you to talk to you."

"With 'looking for me' you meant going to Summer's right? Since now you're close friends, or better, more than friends, just too close to each other's."

"What you mean? Did she tell you-

"About the kiss? No, the Ironist decided to use his super power of mind reading since certainly Kid Chino didn't even dream about being honest with him."

"I'm so sorry, Seth, I wanted to tell you, but then I thought that since it meant nothing for either of us, maybe it was best just to forget it and move on."

"Maybe, for you it meant nothing, but for me it really matters. How could you? Since you arrived I talked to you about Summer 24/7, you knew how hard it was for me to make her even noticing me and, now that we are together, you step in between us?"

"It was a moment of weakness, really, I don't know what else to say besides that I'm sorry."

"Well, don't say anything, and that is no news. You can't imagine how mad I am right now, you must thank that I have delicate hands, because otherwise I would've already punch you in the face, Ryan Atwood's way."

"If it can make you feel better, go on."

"Of course, for you it's easy, anything settles with a punch. Your friend betrayed you? A punch! A bully provoked you? A punch! The guy behind you crashed into your car? A punch!"

"Seth..."

"But I'm not gonna do it and you know why? Because luckily I'm not like you and I've figured out that a remorse is worst than a punch in the face. Of course, if you do feel a remorse."

Seth headed for the door, disappointed.

"Hey, come on, wait a minute!", Ryan tried to stop him.

"Damn, you know what's the worst thing about this? That I can't event slam the door and get back to my house because we live in the same place. So, at least, do me a favor, avoid me, ok?"

Seth got out, while Ryan sat back on the bed, sighing.


EVENING – COHEN'S KITCHEN

Sandy and Kirsten were about to have dinner, opening the boxes of Chinese take away.

"I cannot believe that tomorrow at this time we'll be in a fancy restaurant in Palm Spring", Sandy said with excitement.

"Yeah, me too, it seems like a dream", Kirsten replied, following her husband's joyful mood.

"A whole weekend for the two of us, without stress, without work, without kids...just you and me", saying so, Sandy came closer to kiss her. In that moment, Seth walked in, visibly angry.

"Uh, here you are, we were just about to have dinner, is Ryan coming?", Kirsten asked, without noticing the expression on his face.

"I don't know and I don't care. Anyway, I'm not hungry", Seth replied harshly, walking away.

"But we have spring rolls here!", Sandy tried to tempt him, while having a bite.

"No, thanks", Seth ignored him and got out.

Sandy turned to Kirsten. "Do you think we have to stop it with oriental food?", he asked.

"I think you should go and talk to him if we don't wanna ruin our weekend before it could even start."

"Then, I run! I would never allow anything or anybody to ruin our anniversary."

"I'm going to call Ryan instead."

Then, they both left the kitchen.


EVENING – SETH'S BEDROOM

Sandy knocked on Seth's door.

"Seth, may I?"

"No, I'm studying", a voice said from the other side.

"Seth Cohen is studying after 8 PM? What a magical event, I won't miss it for the world!"

Sandy opened the door and got in.

"I told you I'm studying! Can we have a little privacy in this house?"

Sandy noticed Seth on the bed, listening to music with headphones.

"I didn't know that punk was a subject of study at Harbor's. Why wasn't I born in the 90's?"

"Because that way you couldn't brag with anybody about your revolutionary deeds in the 80's."

"Oh, yeah – Sandy exclaimed proudly - It seems like yesterday that we were protesting under the governor's office and the police almost didn't arrest me..."

"Dad!", Seth rolled his eyes.

"All right, good times, but it doesn't matter now. What is the problem?"


CUT TO THE POOL HOUSE where Kirsten and Ryan were talking.

"Me and Seth had a fight tonight", Ryan started to speak.

"I guess I realized that by the face Seth made when I mentioned you. Reason?", Kirsten investigated.


BACK TO SETH'S ROOM

"I don't feel like talking right now", Seth continued.

"Oh, come on, what could it be so terrible?", Sandy insisted.


BACK TO THE POOL HOUSE

"Me and Summer kissed and she told him."

"Oh, bad situation, I know something about it. If I can give you an advice, I would say not to give up on Seth about trying to explain to him what really happen and, little by little, you'll see that he will listen to you. Everyone can make a mistake, but since Seth cares a lot about you, I'm sure that he will eventually understand..."


BACK TO SETH'S ROOM

"Just one question, dad: when Jimmy Cooper kissed mum, did you understand him, right?"

"Uhm...Ok you're right, maybe it will take a little longer."

"Indeed. Now, if you don't mind, I have my homework on the history of punk to finish."

"Ok. If you get hungry, the kitchen is always open."

Seth put his headphones back on, while Sandy left the room.


COHEN'S KITCHEN

Sandy got back to the table just to find Kirsten who was eating alone.

"How did it go?", she asked.

"Well, there is always a worst way for things to unfold", Sandy said sarcastically.

"I spoke with Ryan and he told me what happen."

"Yeah, I know."

"Do you think they will be able to make up and fix it?"

"We did it. And, thinking about tomorrow, also in a very good way, so why not?", Sandy came closer to her again.

"Don't you think it's a little rash to leave them alone right now?", Kirsten asked, more worried.

"I'm sure they'll be ok. Maybe it will also help them to solve their problems faster."

"Let's hope it...Spring roll? We have plenty of them!", she smiled, reassured by her husband's words.

"Well, if you tempt me this way, how can I say no?"

Sandy sat down to eat.