*****

Summer wakes up to the sound of music. Loud, angry rock music. It takes her a second to recognize her surroundings but finally she realizes that she's in her room at her beach house. The previous days come back to her in a rush and she gets up, needing to check on Ryan.

"What the hell are you doing?" Summer asks, bursting into the kitchen. Ryan is standing in front of the stove with his back to her.

"Cooking," Ryan replies.

"Check out the apron!" Seth calls from the dining room.

Summer has to laugh when Ryan turns around and looks at her. His face is spotted with flour and he's sporting a pink apron. He gives her a slight smile.

"You're not vegetarian, are you?" He asks.

"No, but what are you doing?"

"Didn't we just go through this? I'm cooking. You need to eat. Seth needs to eat. I haven't been able to keep anything down for days so I'm thinking that we need a meal," Ryan replies.

"What happened to you? Are you like, split personality guy or something?"

Ryan smiles slightly again, lifting Summer's spirits immediately. "I hope not. Let's not give me any more issues, okay?"

Summer goes to his side. "What are you making?"

"Hmm. That's a good question," Ryan replies as Seth joins them in the kitchen. "Potatoes, burgers, chicken, bread…"

"How many people are coming to dinner?" Summer jokes, seeing the amount of food that Ryan's preparing.

"Just us. I need to keep busy. We have a pretty rough day ahead tomorrow. I figured…I need to do something for you guys since you've been holding me together lately," Ryan replies quietly.

"And I am really starving," Seth says, trying to keep the upbeat mood.

"Yeah, hurry up, Chino," Summer teases. "Why the angry music?"

Ryan's eyes flicker for a moment. "Its Marissa's favorite. I found it by the stereo. She'd been looking for the CD for a while."

"Oh…I didn't recognize it…"

"Yeah, we saw your musical taste in there. Come on, Justin Timberlake?" Seth teases.

"Hey, I have yet to find another white boy that makes me want to dance," Summer replies with a smile. She watches as Ryan returns his attention to the food on the stove.

"How are you feeling?" Seth asks her, putting a hand on her back.

"I'm okay. What time is it?"

"It's around ten. Ryan was up so I got up. He called my folks and managed to get them to let us be. They want us to go with them to the funeral tomorrow to avoid the press and stuff," Seth explains.

Summer is watching Ryan closely. His hands are still trembling but his eyes are clear and focused on his work. "What's eating you?"

"What?" Ryan asks.

"Something's up with you. Something different. What did the Cohens say to you?" Summer asks.

Ryan sighs. "I have to go see the cops after the funeral. They need an official statement."

Seth nods to Summer, indicating that he got the same story. "That's all, he says."

Summer accepts it with a nod, giving Seth a wary look.

"That's it, guys, don't be so paranoid," Ryan says evenly. "Everything's cool. I was thinking that, if it's cool, that we crash here tonight and head over to the Cohens in the morning."

"Sounds like a plan…" Summer says, jumping as the phone rings.

"I didn't think anyone knew we were here," Seth says instantly.

"People still call sometimes." Summer goes to the phone and answers it. "Hello?"

"Summer?"

"Yeah?"

"It's Luke. How you doing?"

"Okay. Why are you calling me here?" Summer asks, walking from the kitchen to escape Seth and Ryan's ears.

"I tried your house, Cohen's house and then I found this number. Word is that you guys had to take Chino somewhere 'cause he's flipping out."

"Where'd you hear that from?"

"Marissa's dad called me," Luke admits.

"Oh."

"So where's Chino?" He asks after a long pause.

"Depends. Why are you asking?"

"I need to talk to him. Not about Marissa, about something else I heard. Is he there?"

"Depends…" Summer starts.

"Summer, come on. I know the kid's devastated…shit…but this is important," Luke says.

Summer walks back into the kitchen and hands the phone to Ryan. He accepts it, curiously.

"Yeah?"

"Ryan. It's Luke."

"What's up?"

"I need to talk to you. Can you step outside or something?"

Ryan shrugs to Summer and Seth, covering the phone. "Can you watch this stuff for a second?"

"Um, sure. But we're not responsible for any fires or poisoning," Seth replies. Ryan pulls the apron off and hands it to Seth who looks at him, feigning indignation.

Ryan smiles, taking the phone and a pack of cigarettes to the back patio. "Okay, Luke, what's up?"

"This is such bullshit, man."

"What?"

"I had to go talk to the cops today about the stuff at the school. The kid that you took down, his family's suing the school."

Ryan sits down. "What?"

"That's what I said. Anyway, I heard you hadn't been down there yet and I know…I know you're on probation or whatever…"

"Don't say it, Luke. I don't want Seth and Summer to hear about this, okay?" Ryan says quietly.

"So…what do you know?"

"Fighting at school is a violation of my probation," Ryan whispers. "Mr. Cohen says I shouldn't worry, but…I have a feeling this is going to just get worse."

"Damn, man. I'm sorry…"

"This isn't your fault. I don't regret what I did. I mean, I'm on probation, dude, I'm the only one responsible for that. This is just…I'm just getting punished for my crimes, right?"

"So, you're not going to tell them? Summer and Cohen?"

"I told them that I have to go to the police station tomorrow. That's it. I'll deal with the rest if I have to. They don't need to know."

"Why don't you get out of town, Chino? Shit, I'll give you a ride…"

"I'm done running. I can't do that to the Cohens now. I'd rather rot in jail than hurt these people again by running out on them…"

"But…you don't think Mr. Cohen can get you out of this?" Luke asks, quietly.

"I had a little hope but if the kid's family's suing…I don't know. Why do you care, Luke?"

"I care…because Marissa cared. I got you into this…"

"Luke, come on," Ryan mutters.

"You have to admit that I had something to do with it, right?"

"I'm not into blaming this on anyone except those fucking kids trying to play Rambo, Luke." He lights a cigarette. "What else did you hear? How were the cops?"

"Assholes. They were all about trying to get me to fess up to be in on it with those kids. I told them they could go to hell. After the interviews were over, they were very polite. They're under a lot of pressure to prosecute the case, they said. But they're pretty brutal…"

"Figured as much."

"This really isn't phasing you?"

"Oh, I'm definitely phased. But I'm not about to lose it again. I can hold it together tonight and through the funeral tomorrow. Then I'll worry about this. I'm serious, Luke. Don't say anything."

"Okay. But if you change your mind about running…"

"I appreciate the gesture."

"Is Mr. Cooper taking you tomorrow?"

"I haven't talked to him. The Cohens want to keep the press away so I'll find out tomorrow." Ryan hears a loud alarm from the house. Dinner.

"I have to go. We can talk tomorrow," Ryan says, rushing into the house. The kitchen is filled with smoke and Summer and Seth are coughing and standing by the stove.

Ryan gently pushes Seth and Summer out of the way. "Damn, I was gone for like, two minutes and you guys caught stuff on fire!" Ryan exclaims, calmly moving the flaming pan from the range to the sink so it can burn out.

"Sorry…" Summer coughs.

"Go outside, both of you. This smoke isn't good for you. I'll take care of this," He orders. Summer and Seth step outside and Ryan proceeds to salvage what he can. After the kitchen is cleared of smoke, Ryan puts the food he managed to save on the dining room table. He goes into the kitchen and suddenly feels him resolve waver. He puts his hands on the counter as he starts to tremble. He closes his eyes and forces himself not to think of her. Marissa.

"Hey," Seth calls.

Ryan steadies himself as Seth and Summer return. "Hey."

"You still okay?" Seth asks, glancing at Summer.

"Let's eat, okay? Let's sit down and eat what you guys didn't destroy," Ryan smiles to reassure them. The three friends go to the table.