"In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer."
-Albert Camus
Part One of Three
The News
"Fine, then, maybe we should just take a break from each other!"
Seth's words echoed in Summer's head, causing unrelenting ringing in her ears. She needed a drink.
She couldn't help but think How pathetic am I? She and Seth had been dating since the end of their junior year, and, being near the end of their senior year, they had been "official" for almost a year.
The break was inevitable. Summer and Seth were too different. After almost twelve months of playful bickering, Summer knew that the bona fide arguments were approaching. So when she asked herself how pathetic she was, being that the declaration of their break had been a week ago, she realized that maybe it was time to move on.
Seth was a stubborn guy. More than likely, his intention for this break was to be a break-up, and he'd go to someone else. He'd had his eye on Anna for a while, or so Summer had presumed, so maybe he'd run to her.
Meanwhile, Summer wasn't going to sit around and do nothing. She'd cried enough over Seth. She needed to feel needed, if even for a few hours. Which is why she decided that she needed to move on.
* * *
With the thoughts of needing a drink and needing to move on, Summer knew just the place. Holly's party.
So maybe Summer didn't socialize with Holly anymore. But that didn't matter. She wouldn't have to deal with Holly. She'd just go, let herself have some fun, and try to forget about Seth Cohen.
* * *
The party was great. Why? There was a lot of alcohol. Summer got herself a beer, even though she didn't usually drink the stuff.
"Hey Summer," a voice said in her ear. She turned around to see Parker Prescott standing there. He had to be one of the most popular seniors at Harbor School. He was on the soccer and water polo teams, the president of Student Council and National Honor Society, he was Homecoming King, a member of countless clubs, and the list went on. Plus he was hot.
"Parker," Summer smiled.
"Where's Seth?" he asked.
Summer's smile faltered. "Seth and I are… on a break."
"A break, huh? You want to talk about it?" Summer hadn't talked to Parker in a while. Not since she had stopped hanging out with the "in crowd," anyway. Even then, she hadn't really gotten to know him all that well.
"S-sure," she stuttered, oddly enough. With Parker's chiseled looks, it really wasn't all that surprising that Summer felt the attention from him getting to her. He had perfect dark brown hair, eyes browner and deeper than even Seth's, and a very kissable mouth.
"Let's go somewhere a little quieter," he told her. She obliged, following him first to each get another drink, then outside. "There's an amazing space of beach over here. It's kinda hard to get to, but it's really worth it."
He led her to the spot, which really was worth it. It was a small cove, cozy and inviting. It was like their own slice of the beach. The only audible sound was that of the waves crashing onto the shore: just the right amount of background noise.
"This is beautiful," she told him.
"I know," he said, shifting his gaze from the ocean to her. "But it doesn't compare to you."
She looked at him. "I'm not going to sleep with you," she said bluntly.
He held up his free hand in defense. "I wasn't suggesting that. You just broke up with your—"
"We're just taking a break."
"Right. You and your boyfriend just decided to take a break from each other. I know how it feels. I was just trying to make you smile. Besides, it's true. I'm not like other guys, Summer. When I compliment someone, it doesn't mean that I'm trying to… get into her pants."
She grinned, but not enough for him to notice. "Good."
"Do you need another?" he asked, referring to her drink.
"Sure," she said, handing him her cup.
"I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere," he smiled at her. As he walked away, she let her eyes follow him. She hoped she wasn't too harsh on him, accusing him of wanting to sleep with her. She did know that he was different than other guys. He was… he was like Seth.
Well, not exactly like Seth. Seth was into comic books and skateboarding, while Parker was into sports and hanging out with friends. Still, they shared a lot of qualities. They liked a girl for who she was, not what she looked like or what her social status was. They were bluntly honest. They were sweet, caring, and wanted to help.
She tried to push the thoughts away as she stared out at the rapidly descending sun, crossing her arms.
Before she knew it, Parker was back. Giving her the refilled cup, he revealed that he had also brought a large beach towel down. "So we don't have to stand up," he shrugged and spread it across the sand. "Have a seat," he offered. They both sat down. "So… did you want to talk about it?"
"Where should I start?" she asked.
"Start where every story starts," he smiled gently. "The beginning."
* * *
"I can't come over tonight…."
"You promised, Seth."
"I know, but I already had plans made. I forgot. I'm sorry."
"Plans more important than me?"
"I didn't say that, Summer. It's just that I made them first."
"I swear that I need to buy you an electronic organizer."
"I won't forget again."
"You always say that."
"This time I mean it."
"What are these other plans, anyway?"
"It's… it's nothing."
"Oh, my God. You made plans with her again, didn't you?"
"Summer…"
"No, Seth. No. Once again, Anna comes before me."
"That's not it. You know that Anna is one of my best friends."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before."
"Why can't you just accept that Anna is a friend and nothing more?"
"Thanksgiving and Christmas last year are two reasons."
"That was last year. I chose you, Summer."
"Way to show it."
"You're overreacting."
"You did not just say that to me. How would you like it if I spent more time with Ryan than I did with you?"
"I don't spend more time with her than I do with you."
"Right, Cohen."
"You just called me Cohen."
"So?"
"You haven't called me Cohen in a long time."
"Well, obviously things are changing."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Think about it."
"Summer, you're—"
"I don't want to hear it. Go run off to Anna. You always do."
"That's not fair."
"You're the one who's not being fair."
"I can't deal with this right now, Summer."
"You can't deal with anything."
"Hey! You're taking this way out of proportion."
"Maybe you should go."
"Maybe I should."
"Have fun with your new girlfriend."
"Summer."
"Seth."
"Stop, now."
"Don't tell me what to do. And don't come back until you've got her out of your system and realize that I'm your girlfriend, not her."
"Fine, then, maybe we should just take a break from each other!"
"Maybe we should!"
"Goodbye, Summer."
* * *
"Wow," Parker said, sympathetically.
"So… am I right to be upset?" Summer asked, running her fingers around the lip of her cup. She looked into his eyes, waiting for an answer.
"Of course you are. But he makes a point, too," he replied gently.
"What does that mean?"
"Well, he needs to start remembering when he has plans with other people before he makes plans with you. But if you don't trust him with other girls, then maybe it's a good idea that you take a break," he said, setting his empty cup down.
"It's not that I don't trust him. I just don't like that he spends time with other girls. I have this superiority complex type of thing. I like being his center of attention. Is that selfish?" she asked, dropping her cup next to his.
"Kind of, yeah," he responded truthfully. He really was like Seth in the way that they weren't afraid to tell her what they thought. He put his hand on hers. "I don't know if you remember, but I didn't get… popular… until ninth grade."
"Really? I had always assumed that you were born popular. Then again, I don't remember you from before then," she admitted.
He shook his head. "Nope. Anyway, Seth and I weren't really friends, but sometimes we talked in middle school."
This visibly surprised Summer. "Really?"
"Yeah. Seth… he's the type of person who'll do anything for someone, but he needs that other person to realize that he needs time to do other stuff, too. I'm sure he loved doing stuff for you. But he probably felt that you were smothering him and not letting him spend enough time with his friends."
Summer looked away. "I know he does. Just like I need my time away from him to hang out with Coop. Marissa, I mean. But sometimes he makes me feel like Anna is more important than I am. He's been spending time with her more and more over the past few weeks. Ryan, too. I hardly see him outside of school anymore." She looked back at Parker.
"Maybe it's because he felt he was spending too much time with you. Maybe he felt like he was smothering you. But he should have talked to you about it," Parker said.
"You think so?" Summer asked.
He nodded. "He should have. That's what I would have done, anyway. Unless I'm mistaken, a girl likes to sit down and talk about things like that."
She matched his nod. "They do. At least, I do." She sighed and leaned up against him. "Thanks."
"Sure," he replied, but he was cautious. "Summer, I don't think you should be laying on me."
"Why not?" she asked, craning her neck to look up into his face.
"Summer…." He warned.
"We're taking a break," she said slyly, putting her hand on his knee.
"But…"
"Don't worry about it. We're on a break. I need this. Really. He'll never even have to find out," she told him. "Unless you really don't want to."
"No, it's not that. I do want to. Believe me, I do. You're… you're amazing, Summer. I can really see what Seth sees in you. But I don't want to ruin what you and Seth have," he told her, pushing her hand from his knee.
"Seth and I were probably going to break up anyway. I think this break is going to be permanent."
"Are you sure it's not the alcohol talking? I know you've had at least three beers," he told her. He really didn't want to upset Seth. Or Summer. It was possible that she'd wake up to regret tomorrow anything that she did that night.
"I'm sure. Please," she pleaded, leaning up. "Please…." With that, she kissed him. He still wasn't sure, but if she was…. So he didn't stop her. He didn't give out much, but he was sure that she didn't even notice.
She turned around and pushed him onto his back on the towel. Still kissing him, she began to unbutton his shirt. He stopped her. "Summer…. Do you really want to go this far?"
"Do you want to? You're not a virgin, are you?"
"It's not that. No, I'm not really all that experienced. But I don't want you to live to regret this. I don't want you to get back together with him only to be keeping this inside you, feeling guilty," he said.
"Parker, I want to. I don't want to think about Seth. I've never had a conversation with him like the one I had with you tonight. I want to be with you. If you don't want to be with me, that's fine. But… at least tonight, now," she replied.
"Okay," he agreed. "Okay."
And when she kissed him again, he kissed back. He let her take his shirt off, and he slid hers off as well. As she fumbled with the button on his pants, he whispered, "I don't have any… protection."
She bit her lip. "Wow, um…. That's… that's okay. What're the chances of me getting pregnant? Unless you have an STD?"
"No, no. I don't. You don't, right?"
"No. So… do you still want to?" she asked.
"If you do."
She nodded against his shoulder. She finished undressing him, and he did the same to her. "Ready?" Again, she nodded. Nervously, he entered her and they made love.
* * *
A week later, a tragedy happened. Summer Roberts was raped.
* * *
"God, Coop, pick up," Summer sobbed into her cell phone.
"Hello?" came Marissa's cheery voice.
"Marissa?" Summer choked.
Summer rarely called Marissa by her first name, so Marissa knew that something serious was going on. "Summer? Are you okay? What's wrong?"
"Marissa…."
"I'm here, Summer. What's wrong? Tell me, honey." She wasn't the type to call Summer "honey," but she didn't know how else to get her to talk to her.
"I was… oh, God… I can't… I… I can't…." Summer wept.
"Where are you?" Marissa asked, concerned. Summer never got this emotional.
"Wilkes Motel," she managed. "Room 29."
"Don't move. I'll be right there," Marissa told her, ending the call. Wilkes Motel was a seedy motel on the outskirts of town. Summer would never go to a place like that, and the worst was going through Marissa's mind.
* * *
When Marissa got to the motel, the door to room 29 was ajar. "Summer?" she asked, pushing the door open cautiously.
The scene inside wasn't what Marissa was expecting. The bedding was tangled and torn on the floor, and there were traces of blood on the single sheet that remained on the mattress. Summer sat on the floor, back against the wall. Her clothes were disheveled, and purple bruises were already forming on her arms.
"Oh, my God, Summer," Marissa gasped, hurrying to her friend's side. "What happened? You weren't… oh, my God… you weren't…."
Summer looked at Marissa with tears in her eyes. "I was raped."
* * *
Marissa managed to get Summer out of the motel and back to her house, only because she promised not to tell anyone.
"It's spring break," Summer was saying. "And my dad and stepmother are out of town. So I can stay home all week and let my bruises heal."
"You have to tell somebody, Sum. You can't keep this to yourself. It'll tear you apart," Marissa advised.
"I told you. You're all that needs to know. Nobody else. Not my parents, not Ryan, not the police. And especially not Seth. I'm trusting you not to tell anyone," Summer said before walking up the walkway to her front door.
Marissa sighed. There was no way that she couldn't tell someone. Summer was raped, and Marissa was the only person who could do anything about it.
* * *
It was almost two in the morning by the time the Newport Beach Police Department car met Marissa outside of Wilkes Motel. The uniformed cop opened the driver's door and stepped over to Marissa. He glanced at a small pad of paper, which he pulled from his shirt pocket. "Are you Marissa Cooper?"
"Yes, sir."
"You say that your friend was raped here tonight? Who and where is she now?" he asked, readying a pen.
"Her name is Summer Roberts. I brought her home. She made me promise not to tell anyone, but I couldn't do that. She doesn't know that I'm telling you," Marissa replied meekly.
"It would be better if she was here as well, but it's good that you decided to tell us." He wrote something down, and then asked her to direct him to the scene of the rape. Once inside, he asked if she had touched anything.
"Just the door. Her lip was bleeding a little, so I did use the sink so I could get something to wipe the blood from her face," Marissa told him. He wrote this down and looked the room over.
"I'm going to need to call the station. We'll need forensics to come down here and inspect the scene. Come with me," he instructed, and she followed him outside and to his patrol car, where he used his radio to call the police department.
After he called, he turned to Marissa. "They want you to stay here until they get here. They'll let you know what they want you to do."
Marissa nodded and opened the door to her car so she could sit inside and wait. She just hoped that she had made the right decision.
* * *
When the backup arrived, a detective went to where Marissa was sitting. She stood up to greet him.
"Miss Cooper, we'd like to thank you for alerting us of this occurrence. If you hadn't, it wouldn't be surprising if the motel just changed the sheets and never contacted us about it."
"I just want this guy caught," she told him.
"We'll do our best. You've done your part, and it's late. Early, rather. You should get home and get some rest. Dobson – that's the guy over there –" the detective pointed, "will take down your phone number and address, and we'll get back to you to ask you some questions."
"You won't talk to Summer before me, will you?" she asked.
"More than likely, no. We'd like to go over the scene a bit first, then question you about what you know. Unless there's an emergency, we'll probably talk to you first," he told her.
"Thank you," she smiled, and went to talk to Dobson.
* * *
A month later, Summer's rapist still hadn't been found. The detectives and the police were coming closer, but they still hadn't found a big breakthrough. Summer had initially been upset with Marissa, but she had understood why she had and knew that she would have done the same for Marissa.
But the problems weren't over yet.
"Marissa," Summer said.
"Summer? Is something wrong?" Marissa asked over the phone.
"I… I missed my period," Summer replied nervously.
"What? Oh, Summer…. How late are you?"
"A week…." Summer said quietly. She was afraid, and she knew that Marissa was, too.
Marissa swallowed hard. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I was hoping it was just a couple days late or something. It's happened before, being a few days late. But I'm a week late, and… what if I'm pregnant?"
"Summer, don't even say that. Oh wow. You're not… you're not pregnant."
"I've been feeling nauseous sometimes, lately. And I've been peeing a lot more than usual. Those are signs of possible pregnancy. I think I want to take a pregnancy test," Summer said slowly. "Will you come with me to buy one?"
"I… if you're sure you want to do this," Marissa agreed. Just let me get my purse and I'll be right over."
* * *
The two girls were sitting outside of Summer's bathroom, after having embarrassedly buying a test and Summer taking it. These were the longest two minutes of Summer's life.
"So… is it possible that it's Seth's? If you're even pregnant, of course. But, I mean… did you ever?" Marissa asked.
"We did… twice. But we used protection both times," Summer declared.
"Well, that doesn't mean anything. I mean… condoms… they're not 100% sure, you know?"
"I don't think – if I'm pregnant, which I think I am – that it's Seth's. But that doesn't mean it belongs to the guy who raped me, either."
Marissa was confused. "Who else did you do it with?"
Summer looked down. "It was a week after Seth and I started our break. I was feeling so vulnerable. I wanted to feel needed, so I… I slept with Parker. He didn't want to, but I practically forced him to…."
"Parker Prescott?" Marissa asked, shocked.
"Yeah. We didn't use protection. So it could be his, too."
"If you're pregnant."
Summer nodded. "If I'm pregnant…."
Marissa inhaled. "It's been two minutes. Are you ready?"
Summer exhaled. "I am if you are."
Marissa nodded. "Let's go." They stood up and entered the bathroom. Marissa picked up the indicator off the counter. "Do you want to look at it first?"
"No, you do it," Summer told her, biting her lip.
Marissa looked at the display. "S-Summer…." She whispered.
"Oh, my God. What is it? Am I? Am I… pregnant?" Marissa looked up and into her eyes. This scared Summer, and she grabbed the plastic indicator from her friend's hand. In the display was a blue plus symbol.
The indicator fell from Summer's hand, hitting the tiles with an echoing crack. "Oh, my God. Oh… oh, my God. I'm… I'm pregnant."
To be continued…