A/N: Lets make 200!!! Anyway.. this chapter is a tiny glimpse into the
past, and its not done! Also.. some sappiness, but still, I like it. And
expect the next chapters to explain some more about the 'cheating' scandal.
Chapter 19: Flashbacks
Summer could remember that night perfectly.
It was the much anticipated night of the annual Harrison Hall Kegger. Anyone who was someone was going to be at this party; so of course, Summer was scheduled to make an appearance.
As she walked through the dark hallway towards her dorm to touch up on her makeup before meeting up with Ryan and Marissa at Harrison Hall, she felt a pull on her stomach. She knew something bad was going to happen. When life gets this good for Summer Roberts, it all comes crashing down in catastrophic proportions.
So it was no surprise to her when she saw Seth sitting on the edge of Marissa's bed in their dorm, toying around with his cell phone. How long had he been waiting for her?
Things with Seth had been weird for a few weeks. Things in general had been weird. Summer hadn't felt so hot for weeks now, which affected her mood, which affected Seth. When Summer was happy, Seth was happy. So when Summer was angry/sad/delusional, Seth was.you get the picture.
Two angry/sad/delusional people do not get along. Summer let out a sigh as she closed her dorm room behind her, watching Seth's head pop up at her appearance.
"Hey." He threw his cell back into his pocket, walking up to her slowly. Why did he have to look so good? He was wearing the diesel jeans Summer had purchased for him last year for his birthday, even though he detested them completely and swore he would never wear them. It must have been laundry day. And of course Seth was wearing a nice and tight signature novelty tee. Summer recognized this one, because it was the bright red with 'summer daze' sprawled out across it. The one she loved. Seth was dressing to impress her.
"Hi." Summer gave him a sideways glance, trying to make sure he couldn't see the drool from the corners of her mouth at the sight of him. She walked up to the huge standing mirror Marissa had found at a (ew) flea market a while back. She smacked her lips together, swirling some vanilla flavored lip gloss over her lips and adjusting her hair.
"You going to the party?" Seth asked nervously. She looked at him in the mirror's reflection and turned around to face him.
"Duh." She rolled her eyes. "Cohen, it's the Harrison Hall Kegger. How could I not go?" She ran past him, grabbing her Prada purse, the black sleek one she used to treasure before she sold it for rent money.
"Don't talk to me like that." He sat back down on Marissa's bed, his eyes hurt. Summer paused, looking down at him, questioningly. "What's wrong with you?"
"Excuse me?" Summer asked, a little racked by his question. She sat down next to him, making sure there was mere inches between his legs and hers.
He slid his hand on her knee gently, motioning for her to look him in the eye. "You know you can talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about, Cohen." Summer muttered, staring down at her hands, clasping her bag.
"Then why are you acting like this?" Seth rolled his eyes. "Why are you ignoring me? Why are you treating me the way you used to treat me in high school?" She could feel his muscles tense up with his anger and she couldn't bring her eyes to his, no matter how much she wanted to.
"Seth," She said calmly. "I just, haven't been feeling that great lately."
"Are you sick?"
"No." She faced him, "Not really. Just tired."
"Ok, I can accept that. But," He paused, searching for the right words. "I know you need someone to talk down to when you're angry, but Sum," He kissed her forehead gently, standing up. "It tears me up inside when you do it to me."
Summer felt the familiar chills of guilt crawl down her spine. "The last thing I want to do is hurt you." She whispered, standing up and kissing his lips softly. "Now, let's go party!"
********
Summer jolted awake, a coat of sweat on her face. She wiped her face with the sleeve of her pajamas, letting her head fall back on the pillow.
This dream wasn't new to her. She had been replaying those days over and over in her head for a long time now. That particular moment, in her dorm, before the party, was so much nicer then the other moments. She didn't even want to think about what happened next. But she couldn't help herself sometimes, she thought, as she drifted back into her nap, eyeing the empty plate from Seth's eggs.
********
"Isn't this party off the hook?" Summer said drunkenly in Marissa's direction, although Marissa was leaning on Ryan, half passed out.
"I think Marissa's out for the night, Summer." Ryan laughed, although Summer could tell he was a little angry.
"Come on, Chino! Lighten up!" Summer hollered over the hip hop music blasting from somewhere. "Marissa has been sober for, like, ever. She's in dire need of getting hammered!" Summer grabbed another plastic cup of cheap beer from a tray some dude was carrying and giggled to herself as she felt it glide down her throat.
"I think you've had enough too." Ryan said, grabbing her cup, which she quickly defended and ran away with. Worse was, she called him Chino. He had hoped she had forgotten that nickname, but I guess alcohol brings back Summer's high school memories.
"RYAN!" Seth shouted, walking over to him, a plastic cup in his hand too. "I think," Seth stumbled over Marissa' legs, which she had been trailing on the floor. "I think I'm drunk."
Ryan rolled his eyes. He was the designated driver once again. Actually, walker, since they lived five minutes away from Harrison Hall, right on campus.
"Come on, I'll walk you home. Besides, Marissa's passed out." Ryan screamed, finding it hard to hear himself over the obnoxious drunk college kids.
"No, no, no. I'll walk home." Seth stood up proudly. "Where's Summer?"
Ryan pointed in the direction Summer had ran off in and Seth walked off in a completely different direction which only made him laugh. He pulled Marissa along until they were in the courtyard of the school, walking along the path towards their dorms. Ryan held Marissa's head up to make sure she was still awake, which by her opened eyes, he could tell she was and she grunted as he let her head fall back down again. Ryan looked up, jumping back a little at the sight in front of him.
"Anna?" Ryan screeched, upon seeing the familiar blonde, although with slightly longer hair walking up to him, with a familiar looking boy betrothed on her arm.
"Hey Ryan." She said calmly. "This," She pointed to the boy, "is Keith Rowan."
"Hey." Keith chirped, his brown curly hair bouncing around.
"Hi." Ryan said awkwardly, not being able to hold in his laughs. This 'Keith Rowan' guy looked exactly like Seth, but not.
Anna smirked. "We're off to the Harrison Party. We both go to Berkeley."
"Annnnnnaaaa?" Marissa asked, finally speaking again from her comatose sight and Ryan shuddered.
"I got to get her home." Ryan smiled, pulling Marissa along.
"Bye, Ryan!" He heard Anna scream, but didn't look back. It was just too weird. Why was she here? Before Ryan could ponder this, Marissa stopped and ran to some bushes to throw up. Afterwards, she came back to Ryan, smiling sheepishly.
"Was that Seth and Anna?" Marissa said, stumbling as Ryan took grip of her again, walking on towards their dorms.
"That was KEITH and Anna." Ryan laughed, amazed at how Anna could find such a convincing replacement for the boy she had lost to Summer.
*********
"Well, I'll see you guys at dinner." Sandy chuckled. "Lots of work to do." He laughed, walking off to his office.
"What are you thinking about?" Marissa asked as she looped her arm in Ryan's at the kitchen table after eating Sandy's amazing breakfast.
"Actually, I was just remembering the Harrison Hall Kegger sophomore year."
"Ugh." Marissa whined, shaking her head. "That hangover lasted for days!"
Ryan laughed at her disgusted face, "Yeah. Do you remember bumping into Anna?"
Marissa stared at Ryan, blankly, "Would I remember bumping into ANYONE that night?"
"True. It was just, weird." Ryan shrugged it off. "Whatever."
"Wait, you bumped into Anna?" She corrected herself. "We.We bumped into Anna."
"Yup."
"Wow. Actually, that makes sense." Marissa said to herself.
"Why does that make sense?" Ryan asked softly, eyeing Marissa for her response.
"I can't tell you now. I need to call Summer." She jumped up, running off towards the pool house to grab her cell phone from her bag, leaving Ryan annoyed as usual.
*********
"Summer Roberts, unlock this door!" Seth angrily knocked on the door once more.
"Summer's sleeping right now." Summer whispered angrily, jolting awake once more.
"SUMMER!" She jumped up and unlocked the door slowly. "What the hell? I thought you had died or something."
"I was taking a nap, relax." She rolled her eyes, landing back on her bed. Charlie walked in, sliding down next to her, curling up into her side. "What do you want?"
"I'm leaving." Seth said, grabbing his sweatshirt from her bed.
"Good." Summer hissed, looking straight out the window.
Seth rolled his eyes at her, barging out of the room. Summer sighed, Charlie giving her a questioning look and then she heard Seth barge right back in again.
"I'll see you at dinner, right?" He asked, as she turned around to face him, not saying a word. "Is that a yes?"
"I'll see you at dinner because I was invited and it's rude not to show up. I'm not coming to see you." She crossed her arms. "So there."
"So there? What are you, five?" Seth laughed, Charlie watching them with a bemused look.
"What are you, in denial?" Summer said briskly, turning back around.
"Well," Seth began towards the door again. "Let me know when you decide to grow up." He slammed the bedroom door behind him and Summer ran after him, Charlotte following her excitedly.
"Cohen, don't leave!" Charlotte ran past Summer and grabbed Seth's legs.
"Charlie," Summer said, maintaing her calm, "We will see Seth in a few hours."
"Take me with you!" Charlotte screamed, and started to tear. "Take me with you!"
"Charlie?" Summer tried to pick up the girl from Seth's leg, but she swatted at her mother with great resistance.
"Charlotte, you need to stay here with your mother. I'll see you in a few hours, I promise." Seth said calmly, trying to pry the girl off of him.
"No!!" Charlotte cried even more. Summer sighed, looking at Seth for what to do, but he looked just as confused. "You won't come back!!"
"What?" Summer looked down at her daughter, starting to tear herself, seeing the similar pain on Charlotte's face that Summer had years ago, tugging on her own father's legs when he was off to Brazil or something.
"Charlotte, I'm just going back home for a few hours. To help Kirsten cook. You don't want Aunt Kirsten cooking by herself, do you?" Seth laughed, picking the girl up, who finally had simmered down and cracked a smile.
"No." Charlotte whimpered. "Fine, but you have to p-wo-mise to be there."
"I promise." Seth kissed her forehead, handing her to Summer who mouthed a thanks to him.
"She's never acted like that before." Summer whispered as Charlotte leaned her head against Summer's shoulders.
Seth looked at Charlotte, then back at Summer.
"I guess you're more alike then you thought." He whispered back, smiling at Summer and leaving the apartment quietly.
Summer fell back down on the couch, Summer in her arms.
I guess we are more alike then I thought, she said to herself, as she kissed her daughter's tear stained cheek. Summer couldn't let Charlotte feel like that every time Seth was leaving. Summer had been through the whole 'where is my daddy today?' routine and she couldn't let her baby girl go through it too.
God damn it, why was life so difficult?
Chapter 19: Flashbacks
Summer could remember that night perfectly.
It was the much anticipated night of the annual Harrison Hall Kegger. Anyone who was someone was going to be at this party; so of course, Summer was scheduled to make an appearance.
As she walked through the dark hallway towards her dorm to touch up on her makeup before meeting up with Ryan and Marissa at Harrison Hall, she felt a pull on her stomach. She knew something bad was going to happen. When life gets this good for Summer Roberts, it all comes crashing down in catastrophic proportions.
So it was no surprise to her when she saw Seth sitting on the edge of Marissa's bed in their dorm, toying around with his cell phone. How long had he been waiting for her?
Things with Seth had been weird for a few weeks. Things in general had been weird. Summer hadn't felt so hot for weeks now, which affected her mood, which affected Seth. When Summer was happy, Seth was happy. So when Summer was angry/sad/delusional, Seth was.you get the picture.
Two angry/sad/delusional people do not get along. Summer let out a sigh as she closed her dorm room behind her, watching Seth's head pop up at her appearance.
"Hey." He threw his cell back into his pocket, walking up to her slowly. Why did he have to look so good? He was wearing the diesel jeans Summer had purchased for him last year for his birthday, even though he detested them completely and swore he would never wear them. It must have been laundry day. And of course Seth was wearing a nice and tight signature novelty tee. Summer recognized this one, because it was the bright red with 'summer daze' sprawled out across it. The one she loved. Seth was dressing to impress her.
"Hi." Summer gave him a sideways glance, trying to make sure he couldn't see the drool from the corners of her mouth at the sight of him. She walked up to the huge standing mirror Marissa had found at a (ew) flea market a while back. She smacked her lips together, swirling some vanilla flavored lip gloss over her lips and adjusting her hair.
"You going to the party?" Seth asked nervously. She looked at him in the mirror's reflection and turned around to face him.
"Duh." She rolled her eyes. "Cohen, it's the Harrison Hall Kegger. How could I not go?" She ran past him, grabbing her Prada purse, the black sleek one she used to treasure before she sold it for rent money.
"Don't talk to me like that." He sat back down on Marissa's bed, his eyes hurt. Summer paused, looking down at him, questioningly. "What's wrong with you?"
"Excuse me?" Summer asked, a little racked by his question. She sat down next to him, making sure there was mere inches between his legs and hers.
He slid his hand on her knee gently, motioning for her to look him in the eye. "You know you can talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about, Cohen." Summer muttered, staring down at her hands, clasping her bag.
"Then why are you acting like this?" Seth rolled his eyes. "Why are you ignoring me? Why are you treating me the way you used to treat me in high school?" She could feel his muscles tense up with his anger and she couldn't bring her eyes to his, no matter how much she wanted to.
"Seth," She said calmly. "I just, haven't been feeling that great lately."
"Are you sick?"
"No." She faced him, "Not really. Just tired."
"Ok, I can accept that. But," He paused, searching for the right words. "I know you need someone to talk down to when you're angry, but Sum," He kissed her forehead gently, standing up. "It tears me up inside when you do it to me."
Summer felt the familiar chills of guilt crawl down her spine. "The last thing I want to do is hurt you." She whispered, standing up and kissing his lips softly. "Now, let's go party!"
********
Summer jolted awake, a coat of sweat on her face. She wiped her face with the sleeve of her pajamas, letting her head fall back on the pillow.
This dream wasn't new to her. She had been replaying those days over and over in her head for a long time now. That particular moment, in her dorm, before the party, was so much nicer then the other moments. She didn't even want to think about what happened next. But she couldn't help herself sometimes, she thought, as she drifted back into her nap, eyeing the empty plate from Seth's eggs.
********
"Isn't this party off the hook?" Summer said drunkenly in Marissa's direction, although Marissa was leaning on Ryan, half passed out.
"I think Marissa's out for the night, Summer." Ryan laughed, although Summer could tell he was a little angry.
"Come on, Chino! Lighten up!" Summer hollered over the hip hop music blasting from somewhere. "Marissa has been sober for, like, ever. She's in dire need of getting hammered!" Summer grabbed another plastic cup of cheap beer from a tray some dude was carrying and giggled to herself as she felt it glide down her throat.
"I think you've had enough too." Ryan said, grabbing her cup, which she quickly defended and ran away with. Worse was, she called him Chino. He had hoped she had forgotten that nickname, but I guess alcohol brings back Summer's high school memories.
"RYAN!" Seth shouted, walking over to him, a plastic cup in his hand too. "I think," Seth stumbled over Marissa' legs, which she had been trailing on the floor. "I think I'm drunk."
Ryan rolled his eyes. He was the designated driver once again. Actually, walker, since they lived five minutes away from Harrison Hall, right on campus.
"Come on, I'll walk you home. Besides, Marissa's passed out." Ryan screamed, finding it hard to hear himself over the obnoxious drunk college kids.
"No, no, no. I'll walk home." Seth stood up proudly. "Where's Summer?"
Ryan pointed in the direction Summer had ran off in and Seth walked off in a completely different direction which only made him laugh. He pulled Marissa along until they were in the courtyard of the school, walking along the path towards their dorms. Ryan held Marissa's head up to make sure she was still awake, which by her opened eyes, he could tell she was and she grunted as he let her head fall back down again. Ryan looked up, jumping back a little at the sight in front of him.
"Anna?" Ryan screeched, upon seeing the familiar blonde, although with slightly longer hair walking up to him, with a familiar looking boy betrothed on her arm.
"Hey Ryan." She said calmly. "This," She pointed to the boy, "is Keith Rowan."
"Hey." Keith chirped, his brown curly hair bouncing around.
"Hi." Ryan said awkwardly, not being able to hold in his laughs. This 'Keith Rowan' guy looked exactly like Seth, but not.
Anna smirked. "We're off to the Harrison Party. We both go to Berkeley."
"Annnnnnaaaa?" Marissa asked, finally speaking again from her comatose sight and Ryan shuddered.
"I got to get her home." Ryan smiled, pulling Marissa along.
"Bye, Ryan!" He heard Anna scream, but didn't look back. It was just too weird. Why was she here? Before Ryan could ponder this, Marissa stopped and ran to some bushes to throw up. Afterwards, she came back to Ryan, smiling sheepishly.
"Was that Seth and Anna?" Marissa said, stumbling as Ryan took grip of her again, walking on towards their dorms.
"That was KEITH and Anna." Ryan laughed, amazed at how Anna could find such a convincing replacement for the boy she had lost to Summer.
*********
"Well, I'll see you guys at dinner." Sandy chuckled. "Lots of work to do." He laughed, walking off to his office.
"What are you thinking about?" Marissa asked as she looped her arm in Ryan's at the kitchen table after eating Sandy's amazing breakfast.
"Actually, I was just remembering the Harrison Hall Kegger sophomore year."
"Ugh." Marissa whined, shaking her head. "That hangover lasted for days!"
Ryan laughed at her disgusted face, "Yeah. Do you remember bumping into Anna?"
Marissa stared at Ryan, blankly, "Would I remember bumping into ANYONE that night?"
"True. It was just, weird." Ryan shrugged it off. "Whatever."
"Wait, you bumped into Anna?" She corrected herself. "We.We bumped into Anna."
"Yup."
"Wow. Actually, that makes sense." Marissa said to herself.
"Why does that make sense?" Ryan asked softly, eyeing Marissa for her response.
"I can't tell you now. I need to call Summer." She jumped up, running off towards the pool house to grab her cell phone from her bag, leaving Ryan annoyed as usual.
*********
"Summer Roberts, unlock this door!" Seth angrily knocked on the door once more.
"Summer's sleeping right now." Summer whispered angrily, jolting awake once more.
"SUMMER!" She jumped up and unlocked the door slowly. "What the hell? I thought you had died or something."
"I was taking a nap, relax." She rolled her eyes, landing back on her bed. Charlie walked in, sliding down next to her, curling up into her side. "What do you want?"
"I'm leaving." Seth said, grabbing his sweatshirt from her bed.
"Good." Summer hissed, looking straight out the window.
Seth rolled his eyes at her, barging out of the room. Summer sighed, Charlie giving her a questioning look and then she heard Seth barge right back in again.
"I'll see you at dinner, right?" He asked, as she turned around to face him, not saying a word. "Is that a yes?"
"I'll see you at dinner because I was invited and it's rude not to show up. I'm not coming to see you." She crossed her arms. "So there."
"So there? What are you, five?" Seth laughed, Charlie watching them with a bemused look.
"What are you, in denial?" Summer said briskly, turning back around.
"Well," Seth began towards the door again. "Let me know when you decide to grow up." He slammed the bedroom door behind him and Summer ran after him, Charlotte following her excitedly.
"Cohen, don't leave!" Charlotte ran past Summer and grabbed Seth's legs.
"Charlie," Summer said, maintaing her calm, "We will see Seth in a few hours."
"Take me with you!" Charlotte screamed, and started to tear. "Take me with you!"
"Charlie?" Summer tried to pick up the girl from Seth's leg, but she swatted at her mother with great resistance.
"Charlotte, you need to stay here with your mother. I'll see you in a few hours, I promise." Seth said calmly, trying to pry the girl off of him.
"No!!" Charlotte cried even more. Summer sighed, looking at Seth for what to do, but he looked just as confused. "You won't come back!!"
"What?" Summer looked down at her daughter, starting to tear herself, seeing the similar pain on Charlotte's face that Summer had years ago, tugging on her own father's legs when he was off to Brazil or something.
"Charlotte, I'm just going back home for a few hours. To help Kirsten cook. You don't want Aunt Kirsten cooking by herself, do you?" Seth laughed, picking the girl up, who finally had simmered down and cracked a smile.
"No." Charlotte whimpered. "Fine, but you have to p-wo-mise to be there."
"I promise." Seth kissed her forehead, handing her to Summer who mouthed a thanks to him.
"She's never acted like that before." Summer whispered as Charlotte leaned her head against Summer's shoulders.
Seth looked at Charlotte, then back at Summer.
"I guess you're more alike then you thought." He whispered back, smiling at Summer and leaving the apartment quietly.
Summer fell back down on the couch, Summer in her arms.
I guess we are more alike then I thought, she said to herself, as she kissed her daughter's tear stained cheek. Summer couldn't let Charlotte feel like that every time Seth was leaving. Summer had been through the whole 'where is my daddy today?' routine and she couldn't let her baby girl go through it too.
God damn it, why was life so difficult?