Chapter 12
The final bell rang, and I waited by Summer's locker to discuss the plan for tonight. Only I wasn't the only one there.
"Hey," Aaron said, nodding.
I returned the gesture and tapped my feet impatiently. Where was she? The bell rang a while ago.
"Waiting for anyone particular?"
"Umm… yeah actually," I answered, "Summer."
"Why?" Aaron asked suspiciously.
"Project," I said simply.
"Oh, alright."
A few more minutes passed, and then Summer arrived.
Aaron stepped forward and tried to go in for a kiss, but Summer shoved him away.
"Move," she snapped at Aaron, "You're standing right in my way!"
Aaron looked hurt, "What's wrong?"
"I just need to get going, and you blocking my locker aren't helping much," Summer said.
"Sorry."
I coughed to make my presence known.
Summer whirled around, "What, Cohen?"
"Have you forgotten about our project?" I asked, "Remember, you wanted to get it done as soon as possible?" I said, mimicking it in her way.
"I thought we agreed on five," Summer said pointedly, "I didn't mean for you to come get me like now, right when the bell rings."
"I'm sorry, Summer, why don't I just come back in about five minutes, will that be better?"
She sighed in exasperation and turned to Aaron.
"Aaron, Seth is coming over today. I guess he's driving, is that right?" She asked me.
"I guess so," I agreed, "I mean; we can walk if you want…"
"That's quite alright," Summer replied sarcastically.
"Alright, so let's go."
Aaron leaned in for a kiss, but Summer, not noticing, strolled on by.
"Bye," he muttered quietly.
We approached the Land Rover on the passenger's side. Summer reached to upon the door, but I beat her to it.
"Your chariot awaits."
Summer rolled her eyes, "Suave, Cohen, very suave."
"I try," I said grinning.
A small smile escaped Summer's shinny pink lips as she climbed in.
I skipped around to the driver's side and hopped in.
"Want any music?" I asked.
Summer shook her head, "I don't care to repeat the Mexico road trip from hell,"
"Ok then," I said. Pulling out of the parking lot, I started to tap my fingers on the wheel and hum a song that had been in my head for a while. Summer sat close to the door, peering out the window watching the as the scenery passed by.
"So…" I said, trying to break the silence.
"Why did you break up with Katie?" Summer asked suddenly.
I sighed. Did Summer really want me to answer?
I looked over at her, and that was enough; her worst fears must have been confirmed.
"Oh," Summer said, somewhat timidly. She took a breath and changed her tone, "Well she was a major bitch anyway."
"Yeah," I said indifferently.
The rest of the drive was spent mostly in silence as we made our way to Summer's house.
"That's weird," Summer commented, "The cars are here; my parents aren't supposed to be back from Italy for a week."
"Guess they're home early."
Summer huffed, "Way to point out the obvious."
I clicked my tongue, "How can such a sweet girl be so sour?"
"That made no sense," Summer replied sardonically, "I'm never sweet."
That wasn't completely true. There were times when Summer was sweet: how worried she was about Marissa, and even giving the squirrel her lunch. I unfastened my seatbelt and turned my body towards hers. Looking into her eyes, I said sincerly, "Sweet, sour, it doesn't matter; you're perfect the way you are."
Our eyes were locked, and the beginnings of a smile peeked on the corner of Summer's mouth.
"We should get out now," she suggested hastily, breaking the moment.
"Oh… sure," I said, "Let's hit the books!"
"Summer!" An overly made up women in her early 30's exclaimed, throwing her arms around a startled Summer.
"Nancy, hi," Summer said, somewhat uncomfortable.
An older gentlemen, who I assumed was her father, came into the kitchen buried behind a newspaper.
"How's my Sweet Pea?" He asked, also giving her a hug.
"I'm great, daddy," Summer said.
"And who's this fine young man?" Mr. Roberts asked.
"Daddy, this is Seth. Seth, this is my dad, Tim."
"Nice to meet you, sir," I said politely, extending my hand to him.
He grasped it firmly and said, "Nice to meet you too."
The older women walked up to me, and seemed to be undressing me with her eyes.
"And Seth, this is my step mom, Nancy,"
"Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you," I said, also offering my hand.
She shook it, and then started going up my chest, which caused me to squirm uncomfortably.
"Good choice, Summer," she whispered loudly
Summer turned beat red. "Uh… no," she started, "Seth is just.."
"We're just working on a project, ma'm," I said, filling it in.
"Oh, that's a shame, I would love to see more of you," Nancy said seductively. With that, she winked at me and exited.
"It was nice meeting you, Seth," Tim said, "Hope to see more of you."
"Goodbye, sir," I said to his retreating back, as he followed his wife out of the kitchen.
"They seem…. friendly," I commented.
"Sure, they seem like that," Summer said sordidly, "That's just because you're here." She laughed bitterly, "They are they two fakest people in all of Newport, believe it or not."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know…"
"Just watch, in minutes my dad will accuse Nancy of cheating on him, and she will start bitching about one thing or another, and the screaming match will go on and on," she rambled, clenching her fists.
"Um… we can go somewhere else, if you want," I suggested.
"No," she stated, "God, I sound like such a baby." She laughed lightly and straightened her hair, looking at her reflection in the stainless steal refrigerator.
"So," she started more cheerfully, "Let's go up to my room and get started."
"Uh wait. Did I hear this right," I stuttered, "We're going to your room?"
"Cohen, get a grip."
"So, basically, Act III is about…"
I was interrupted by a loud, low yell, followed by a slightly high one. There was stomping, shouting, and not to mention, profanity that could be heard.
Summer wasn't joking. We had hardly had anything done due to the bickering of her parents.
Summer slammed her book shut. "That's it," she said, "I need to take care of something, I'll be back in a few minutes." She walked to the direction of her door and opened it. "Oh… and don't touch anything." She said before walking out to the hallway towards the stairs.
I. Was. Alone. In. Summer's. Room. The very room she slept in, I'm sure not entirely by herself. The room where she gets dressed, puts on make up… everything.
My wandering eyes landed on her bed. It looked so soft, a lavender comforter on top of matching silk sheets. There were plush pillows by the headboard, and a few stuffed animals laying on top of the king size bed.
Tempted, I sat down on Summer's bed. It was like sitting on a cloud; the bed molded to my body. I lay down and my head struck the pillow, and I inhaled the flowery scent of Summer's shampoo.
On her nightstand, was a picture. The picture looked strangely familiar to me.
Mrs. Baker… Summer in a ballerina costume… second grade… me as Simba from the Lion King.
I smiled at the fond memory. Summer still had a picture of the second grade Halloween party. In the picture was Summer and Marissa, who had their arms around each other, Luke was in it also, along with Holly, and a few other people.
I was also in it. Only I was by myself, staring at Summer. Well, I guess I've made some progress. I've actually talked to her, but the staring still continues.
Where was Summer? She had been gone a while, so I decided to look for her.
"Summer?" I called down the hallway.
Okay, she's not here. I walked down the steps stealthily, trying to evade her screaming parents.
I called for her quietly a few more times; nothing. Deciding there was no where else she could be, I opened the backdoor. Summer had some nice property; a pool close to the house and a sandy beach, with good shore, only a few hundred yards away.
Soft sobs could be heard, followed by brief sniffles. Summer?
Summer was huddled up in a lawn chair, quietly crying to herself.
I carefully walked closer, not wanting to disturb her.
She sniffled a few times and looked up at me with teary eyes.
"Seth..."
A/N: Well, there ya go!! That's about all I could squeeze out, hope ya like! Please please please make me happy and drop a lil ole review!