Predictably Naïve     

Chapter 2: Undeniably Appropriate

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own the show or any of the characters in it.

A/N: Feeling very joyous today, I saw Something Corporate *squeals! Okay, anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for the reviews and on with the pathetic concluding chapter…

Song Featured:

She Will Be Loved – Maroon 5

"Where's Seth?" Summer poses the question to the happy couple. She places her tray on the lunch table and waits while they disentangle themselves. Rolling her eyes, Summer continues, "He wasn't in second period."

"Awwh, look at this, she cares," Marissa reaches across the table to pinch her checks, "my little Summer all grown up." She avoids a collision with Summer's hand by pulling hers back, all the while grinning.

"It's just… a noticeable change. The dork annoys me everyday." She twists the cap off the bottled water, taking a small sip. 

"But he's your dork," Marissa teases; she's happier these days, perky as Summer says, her tone dripping with pseudo sarcasm. In truth, Marissa deserves happiness.

Ryan interrupts before an insult can be formulated. "He's sick," Ryan takes the time to chew until Summer is ready to jam the spoon down his throat. "Kirsten let him take stay at home."

"Oh," her voice is smaller, timid even. So Seth wasn't going to have the chance to bug her all day… Somehow the next few hours seem to expand beyond their limits.

Light-headed, Summer abruptly stands up, her legs close to hitting the underside of the table. "I'll see you guys later," walking out of the cafeteria, out of the school.

*

Ding-dong. Summer glances around Seth's front door her eyes landing on a slightly out of place potted plant. A key is found as she places the plant into its spot. She hesitates before turning the key; there's still time to leave unnoticed…

She gingerly drags her hand on the banister taking her time up the stairs. Seth's door is partially open and she gently enters, the door moving further back, dragging against the carpet. Summer stands above him for a minute, a rare full fledged smile noted…

Seth cringes, and blearily looks out of one eye to see two hands shaking him to wake… a mere reflection off another. Seth starts to sit up, rubbing at his eyes until they could actually be peered through. He croaks, "Summer?" She really was standing in front of his bed… wasn't she? Delusions were far from absurd in his circumstances.

Summer doesn't respond but instead impatiently holds out an oversized take-out cup to him. Seth sits upright even further, trying to reach for the container; his lethargic speed continually pissing her off, she walks to the side of his bed and hands him the cup.

Seth smiles gratefully, removing the lid. Steam rises as a spoon is plunked into the soup. Chicken noodle soup, what else? He looks up, traces of arrogance is evident.

"What," she demands. "It's just soup, Seth. I didn't bring you the cure to cancer."

"I was right. You don't want me to die," he says before bringing the spoon to his mouth. "That's definitely a cause for celebration when you realize your girlfriend doesn't want you to die." Seth glances over at the clock. "Aren't you missing something, like I don't know… a test, school?"

She only shrugs, "So I skipped, big deal."

"You skipped to be with me," he beams, realization dawning on him through his sluggish train of thought.

Rolling her eyes she curtly answers, "It's nothing new, I've skipped thousands of times before."

"Fine, believe what you want to," his tone is superior, as if he held a secret she hasn't discovered.

Summer sits on the swiveling chair and responds, "You're delirious." Swerving to an earlier subject, "Besides how do you know I didn't bring you the soup to watch you choke on the vegetables?"

She sees his side profile shrugging, taking another spoonful. "Now this is just me, but wouldn't it have been easier to just poison the soup instead of waiting for me to possibly choke on the vegetables? But what do I know, I'm delirious."

Summer rolls her eyes but can't stop the natural grin, appearing more often around him than anyone else. Coincidence.  "Just eat it, it'll shut you up."

With his mouth full, "I can talk while eating; multitasking, it's a gift."

In a sing-song voice she says, "Easier for you to choke…" Seth makes a face when this proves to be true.

"That was just a fluke. You love me too much to kill me." A section of his brain winces, shouting obscenities, but it is overshadowed as usual, not ready to be processed.

Nevertheless, the affect on Summer is miraculous. She is hunched over; his statement is heard over and over until she deems it to be true. No! Untrue! That's what she meant… Untrue. Slip of the tongue.

"Thanks by the way. I was worried I would have to wait for my mom's soup and that wouldn't have been a pretty sight…" Seth trails off, quicker than usual, sensing the uncertainty in the air. He swallows hard, almost tasting the soup climbing itself up his throat. Insecurity begins to control him, leaving his mind occupied with open-ended questions. This was it. He had scared her, making assumptions, having expectations… expecting Summer to feel the way he did.

Yet he barrels on, the optimistic in him believing everything would be okay if he just says the right things. "I remember one time when she burned the Thanksgiving turkey. I felt sorry for the bird; even its family wouldn't have been able to recognize it. Not that I actually believe that bird's can talk but I bet they know who their families' are…" 

Seth trails off once again, his body feeling cold, though he can no longer blame the malady. Apparently the right words were to be used on his mom's cooking.

Summer starts rubbing her arms trying to rid the goose bumps; his room keeps growing bigger, hollow. Seth's going on as if avoiding the subject would make the bumbling constriction evident with every breath leave completely. She realizes she'd gotten it wrong yesterday… Summer's rubbed off on him. And she's not quite convinced it'll grow into an admirable quality.

"Hey…" Seth's voice is barely audible. He's still unsure whether he wants to be heard or not. Placing the empty cup on his nightstand, he licks his mouth, tasting the last of the soup. "Come here," his voice noticeably determined.

Summer's eyes flicker up, her head slowly following. She has taken up a vacant stare, her mind a mess. Words have jumbled together, forming incoherent thoughts, nonsense syllables. Three words slip through the chaos, beckoning to be whispered… announced… screamed. But she forces them back; her barricade falling like little bits of snow. In a minute she'll reveal too much… in a minute she'll break down completely. But she miraculously stands still… sixteen years has amassed another defense, concealed until practically everything else has fallen from her. She shares a pathetic smile, satisfied. In a few precisely measured intervals, Summer makes her way to the bed wanting reassurance that she is still the same. She delicately climbs onto the bed finding a place beside him.

Seth wants to break her. He's not too absent-minded to know Summer's teetering at the edge, ready to spiral downward… But he can't, or more importantly, won't. Set her off too far and she'll bluntly decline, shoving him away until all remnants of them are swept away, destined to be forgotten.

He'll settle for this passably satisfying interlude where she permits him to hold her hand whenever he reaches out to touch her… where she doesn't pull away when he leans in for a kiss.

So he gently wraps his arm around her waist and pushes her back until she's lying down, fitting perfectly beside him. Unconsciously, Summer reaches for his hand around her waist and when found, they lie intertwined resting on her stomach. She lets her eyes wander, and they dawdle when focused on Seth's face.

Convinced that she's completely fine, Summer flips onto her stomach and traces a finger down his right cheek following with her eyes. Seth concentrates on letting out an even breath, staring back at Summer, unwilling to be the only one played. He reaches up with his right hand, and cups her cheek. Unsure of who moved first, she meets him halfway in a fierce kiss. After feeling her tongue on his bottom lip he immediately pulls away; Seth's vaguely aware of the cause for today. "Sorry, I don't want to get you sick." He dreads his next words, "You should go before I make you any worse."

She simply waves off the excuse. "A vacation is always needed besides, another day like this doesn't seem too bad," Summer sounds sincere and she carefully yields herself back into her former position. He's weakened by the implication of the future and merely kisses the side of her head ready to spend a few hours just like this.    

Her body regretfully becomes rigid; she now pronounces silence fatal error. The mass of thoughts have exposed themselves, the emotions disappear before she wants the chance to decipher them. Oh no, they've come back.  She bites down on her tongue, halting the words from cascading through; they feel odd in her mouth, aware that they've never traveled this far before.

Summer needs a distraction; she slightly turns again, facing him. He forgets to respond at first, caught off guard. Seth props himself on his left elbow and comes closer; the kiss is deepened, thoughts forgotten, scattered. His hand feels hot, trembling, making its way up Summer's back. She shivers taken back by this intimacy. Everything is new with him; feelings are involved and they bring her to a stabbing conclusion.

They've stopped for the moment, foreheads touching, eyes closed, each taking in short breaths. "Seth," his name is whispered from her lips. Everything would crumble after this; she will be considered helpless, vulnerable. But it's rising above all of her defenses; she is now powerless against it. "I…" her voice is hesitant, unfamiliarity has taken its toll and truth is; she doesn't know how to say it.

Seth opens his eyes in shock, understanding her uncompleted confession. He's pathetic… she's going to kill him. He's started sinking six month ago and now? Summer will have complete control of him… but she won't believe this. He's the one who's passed everything she's ever put up.

They are true equals in a sense, though neither sees it this way.

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile

-
She will be loved

"I love you too," he murmurs a split second before their mouths touch once again. They both smile against one another, the silence breaking without making a sound. A metamorphous can be felt, charged through them, running through the room…

Minutes later…

The serenity is interrupted as Summer pulls away, suddenly coughing.