A/N: First off, thanks for all the nice reviews. ;) I wasn't exactly expected them, so they definitely brought a smile to my face. And sorry I had it where you had to sign in to review—I changed that. They automatically put it like that when you first make a pen name, I guess. I made this name specifically for my OC fics, b/c I have a different one for my other stories. Anyway...I hope you like this chapter, don't forget to review when you're done so I know how I'm doing. Hopefully it won't take too long to put up the next chapter, but I have finals coming up, so I don't know... ;/ I bet I can get at least one more chapter up before then, though. ;P
Chapter 2
"What do you think are we going to do?" Marissa asked an hour later.
She and Summer had dropped their stuff off at Marissa's place, and Marissa had insisted on changing clothes and fixing herself up, even though she looked great already.
"We're probably going to just hang out at the beach or something," Summer called, flipping through a magazine. Suddenly, she shivered. Thinking of the beach reminded her of the letter she had received earlier.
She glanced over at the bathroom door to make sure it was still closed, before she dug through her purse for the envelope that she had stashed in it. While Marissa was in the bathroom, it gave Summer a chance to read the letter. She felt compelled to read it, even though she wasn't so sure she wanted to know what it said. Did that make sense?
She tore open the envelope, grabbing the carefully folded paper inside. Her eyes scanned over the short letter, her brow furrowing in concentration. She didn't even notice Marissa slip back into the room. When she was done, reading, she stuck the letter back in her purse. Looking up, she jumped as she finally noticed Marissa standing there.
"You read the letter," Marissa teased.
"Yeah, so?" Summer replied defensively. "I couldn't help it."
"And?"
"And this guy needs to be committed. I'm thinking about telling my dad we need to move so this freak won't have our address."
"It's not that bad. Do you still think it's Seth writing the letters?"
"Maybe. Or maybe he's paying someone else to do it," Summer responded thoughtfully.
"Right." Marissa rolled her eyes.
"I'm not ruling him out," Summer said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"That's good. You shouldn't. Now come on, they're waiting."
"You're the one that took forever," Summer mumbled, following Marissa outside.
Sure enough, they did end up going to the beach. As soon as they parked, Marissa and Ryan ran to the water, laughing. They were immediately caught up in a splash war, and Seth and Summer watched as they set down the beach blankets and towels.
Summer swiftly pulled her shirt over her head, revealing her skimpy navy blue bikini top. She tossed her shirt onto the blanket next to her and reached for the lotion. Squirting some on her leg, she rubbed it all over in small, circular motions. Seth watched her, mesmerized. She looked over at him, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. Once she had finished putting lotion on her legs and arms, she tried, unsuccessfully, to reach around herself to put it on her back. She gazed at Seth, who was trying awfully hard to keep his eyes off of her. Grinning, she reached over and tapped him on the arm.
He turned to her, his eyes involuntarily scanning the length of her body. Usually, that disgusted her, but this time she found it amusing.
"Cohen, will you help me?" she asked innocently.
He swallowed. "With, uh, with what?"
"My back. I need to put lotion on it or I'll burn to a crisp. Do you mind?"
"No," he replied enthusiastically, taking the lotion from her and scooting over.
Summer's lips curved in a smile as she turned her back to him. "Thanks."
"No problem," he assured her, squirting some lotion on his hands. Oops, too much. He wiped some on his leg, before moving his shaking hands to Summer's back. He gently started to massage the lotion into her skin, and she closed her eyes, pulling her hair away from her neck to make it easier for him. His gaze fell to her exposed skin, and he had to keep reminding himself that all he was allowed to do was lotion her back. None of...none of the other stuff he was thinking about. Oh boy, no, that would be wrong.
The tension left Summer's shoulders, and she was just beginning to relax...when his hands stopped.
"Done."
She sighed, laying down on her stomach and squinting over at him. "Thanks, Cohen."
Back to being called Cohen? Damn. Oh well, he'd take it. If it meant he got back-lotioning priviledges, he sure as hell would take it. "Anytime."
About an hour later, Ryan and Marissa were walking down the beach, hand in hand, and Seth and Summer were still laying on the blankets. Seth glanced over at Summer and his eyes widened.
Summer had fallen asleep on her stomach, and her back was bright pink. It was almost painful just to look at. Seth reached over and gently shook her.
"Summer...Summer wake up!" he said urgently.
She swatted his hand away. "Go away."
"Summer, you better flip over. Your back is—"
Summer rolled over and let out a cry. "Ow—oh no."
Seth reached into the beach bag sitting at the end of the blanket. "Here, lay back down. Let me put this stuff on you, it should help."
Summer obediently lay back down, and Seth grabbed a small bottle from the beach bag sitting next to him. He gently rubbed the lotion on the redness. It felt cool on her back, and it took away some of the sting.
"Mm."
"Am I hurting you?" Seth asked.
"No," she whispered, sitting up.
Seth blinked under her gaze. "Uh, good."
She licked her lips, slowly leaning forward. Seth pulled back, frowning in confusion. What was she—
Before he had a chance to finish his thought, Summer grabbed his bare shoulder, her mind just then registering that he had taken off his shirt, and she pulled him over to her. Next thing he knew, her lips were on his. He closed his eyes as the kiss deepened, and the shock wore off. Then, as suddenly as the kiss had begun, it was over.
"Wh—what was that?" Seth asked.
Summer shrugged, slowly lowering herself onto her back. She reached for her sunglasses, putting them on. "A kiss, Cohen," was her response. And that was that.
* * * * *
A few days later, Seth stared down at the phone in his hand. Who was he kidding? Why would she say yes now? She always turned him down, and he was used to it. Just because she had kissed him that day at the beach for god knows what reason, didn't mean she actually liked him and would want to do something with him. What was he thinking? Why even bother asking?
She had all but avoided him since that day, and he didn't know why he thought today would be any different. He glanced over at Ryan, who was beginning to look bored.
"Are you going to call her or not?"
"I don't know, man. I don't really see the point. I know the answer—it never changes. I don't see why I bother." Seth started to put the phone down, but Ryan grabbed it from him. "Woah, dude, all you had to do was say you wanted to call Mar—"
Ryan quickly dialed a number and handed the thrust the phone back into Seth's hands. "Don't say I never did anything for you." He walked off, leaving Seth alone.
Seth put the phone up to his ear in confusion. It was ringing. Suddenly, someone answered, "Hello?"
"Oh my god."
"Cohen?"
"S-summer?" Seth choked out, starting to sweat. He cleared his throat.
"Did you want something?"
"No, yeah, um...I was wondering if you wanted to...do something."
"Like what?" she asked.
His eyes widened. He hadn't expected that kind of response. He had been waiting for a laugh or a dialtone, or...well, anything other than that.
"I don't know, anything. We could go to the movies, or—Summer? Summer?"
Seth frowned. Did she just hang up on him? Yup, there was the dialtone. Well, that's awesome. He knew it had been too good to be true.
"He what?"
"He just called and asked me if I wanted to go to the movies. That was, like, exactly what the last letter I got said. Something about us going to the movies. And then there was the letter I got the other day, the one saying somethink about him dreaming of us going to the beach, and then that day we went to the beach. I'm, like, starting to think he's the one sending me the letters again."
"So what did you tell Seth?" Marissa asked her friend, frowning.
"I hung up on him," Summer admitted. "I panicked."
"Summer, what if Seth really isn't the guy sending you the letters?"
"What are you saying? That I should go out with Cohen? Ew."
"I'm saying you should at least give him the benefit of the doubt. Call him back."
"No way."
"Summer—"
"Alright, Coop. Fine. But if he kills me in my sleep, I blame you."
Marissa snorted. "Duly noted. Now pick up the phone and call him."
Summer bit her lip, staring at the phone Marissa was holding out to her. They were sitting in Summer's bedroom, after Summer had called Marissa and told her to come over right away. Marissa didn't question her; she told her father where she was going and ten minutes later, here she was.
"Do I hav—"
"Summer." Marissa gave her an encouraging smile, and Summer slowly let out a breath.
"Okay, here goes." She dialed Seth's number and listened to it ring a few times, before someone finally picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hi Mr. Cohen, is, um—"
"Seth," Marissa hissed, laughing.
"Right. Is Seth there?" Summer threw her pillow at Marissa, giving her a look.
"Who may I ask is calling?"
"Summer Roberts."
"Oh, hi, Summer. Hold on a second, Seth is right—"
"Hello?"
"Cohen?"
Seth cleared his throat. "Yeah, hey." There was a click as Seth's father hung up the phone.
"Hey."
"...What's up?" he asked, when she didn't say anything else.
"Oh. Right. Um, if you still wanted to do something..."
"When?"
"Now?"
"I'll be right over."
"Oh, okay. But Cohen?"
"Yeah?"
"No movie."
"Of course not."
"Bye."
"Bye, Summer," he replied in a daze.
Summer hung up the phone, turning to her friend. "There. Are you happy now?"
Marissa just answered with a big smile on her face.
-
Your body's warm
But you are not
You give a little
Not a lot
You coup your love
Until we kiss
You're all I want
But not like this
I'm watching you disappear
But you, you were never here
It's only your shadow
-