A/N: I apologize for the wait. hopefully it was worth it. This chapter
sets up the finale - please read and review!
********************
In her dreams, Summer was cold. She remembered the way the snow felt against her skin and shivered in her sleep. She'd only seen winter once, visiting Vail with Marissa, and she could still picture the great white rolls of stillness. As she slept, she saw herself there once again.
This time she was alone at the top of a mountain. She looked over the edge, expecting to see lush green valleys, but instead there was just more whiteness. Suddenly, the cold became painful, and the white wasn't soothing anymore, it was chillingly bright and her eyes winced from the acute color. Her winter clothing had somehow dropped away and she was shivering in a thin silk sundress, wondering how she would make it home.
She hadn't heard him behind her, but before she turned around she felt him there. As she approached, her arms dropped to her sides - there was no longer the need to warm herself when he was near. He came closer, wrapped his arms around her and the snow around them melted as the water evaporated and streamed heavenwards - the reverse of rain. And he.
Seth.
.was smiling at her, and holding her and she was so warm, so warm in the lovely heat.
********************
"Code B6! Repeat, Code B6, Room 4-4-1, B6, 4-4-1."
The loudspeaker boomed out commands as a flood of hospital staff filled Summer's room. She was vaguely aware of being lifted from her bed as she felt a cool breeze settle over her body. It was gone a moment later as her eyes fluttered closed again, slipping back into the comforting heat.
********************
When Summer opened her eyes, she was propped up in her bed again. She moved her head to stretch out her aching neck when she felt the plastic tubes running through her and noticed the IV in her arm. She startled when she noticed someone watching her.
Tom.
Summer curled the small of her back into the bed and pressed away from him. He'd settled into the visitor chair in her room, and she was grateful for the space between them. She looked around and realized that they were alone.
"What happened to me?" She gestured to the tubes and the IV.
"Oh, you overheated, I guess." Tom shoved his hangs in his pockets and stood over her. She looked up at him, feeling small and uneasy.
"What do you mean, 'I overheated, you guess?'" Summer's voice raised with frustration.
"It's like, a common complication with scarlet fever, babe." Tom looked visibly uncomfortable. "Anyway, I guess the hospital called your dad or something, because he wants you to go up to Napa."
"Napa Valley?" Summer's voice tremored at a much higher pitch than normal. "Why?"
"There's like, a clinic there." Tom leaned against the doorway. "Anyway, I was thinking we should cool stuff off while you cool off, you know?"
Summer raised her eyebrows. Even in her condition, she could recognize the fear in his voice, and knew when to take control. It'd be easier for both of them. "You're right. We should break up. I'd hate to become a burden."
"Wow," Tom spoke slowly, "you're a really cool girl, Summer. Feel better."
He swung out of the room as Summer smiled incredulously. What had she been thinking? Tom was. she laughed softly, suddenly feeling drowsy, wanting to ask questions but needing sleep more. Tom. He wasn't who she wanted.
*************************
Seth drummed his fingers along the kitchen counter. He was restless. He halfhearted flipped through the pages of his book, checking his watch every few minutes. He'd left Summer less than four hours ago, and he had to restrain himself from returning to the hospital. The nurses had informed him that she had to sleep - that he should go home and rest himself. He turned the page of his book, his eyes skittering across the text.
"In the early days after his return from Moscow, whenever Levin shuddered and grew red, remembering the disgrace of his rejection, he said to himself: "This was just how I used to shudder and blush, thinking myself utterly lost, when I was plucked in physics and did not get my remove; and how I thought myself utterly ruined after I had mismanaged that affair of my sister's that was entrusted to me. And yet, now that years have passed, I recall it and wonder that it could distress me so much. It will be the same thing too with this trouble. Time will go by and I shall not mind about this either." But three months had passed and he had not left off minding about it; and it was as painful for him to think of it as it had been those first days."
Seth leaned back on his stool. The memory slipped over him as he recalled falling backwards in biology class. Summer had leapt out of her seat to kneel beside him, and if he just closed his eyes, he could see her dark eyes beckoning, two pools of deep water. He could almost feel her hand on his skin, that familiar, still-startling electricity.
Seth's eyes sprang open when he felt the chair tipping backwards, but this time, he managed to jump away from the stool and land on his feet.
He noticed Ryan at the doorway, looking at him incredulously.
"And scene!" Seth did a little bow as Ryan raised his eyebrows.
Seth stood up straight and picked up the stool, swinging his legs over the top to sit down again.
"How's Summer?" Ryan spoke abruptly. He looked at Seth pointedly, knowing that something had happened between the two. Seth wasn't very good at keeping his feelings concealed.
"She's fine." A smile broke out across Seth's face and cheeks blossomed with a rosy pink color.
Ryan lifted his eyebrows.
"Ok - Ryan, it was awesome. Well, I mean, it's not awesome that she's sick, but last night, when I was with her, we were in her hospital room and she just looked at me, and let me hold her, and I don't know, I could just feel it, that everything was going to turn out how I'd been hoping."
Ryan slowly shook his head and patted Seth on the back. "Good luck, bro." He reached into his pocket to pull out his ringing cell phone.
"Hey hon." Now it was Seth's turn to raise his eyebrows at Ryan. It always surprised him to listen to Ryan speak with Marissa - his voice got so much softer. Maybe I sound different around Summer, he mused.
Seth looked over at Ryan curiously as Ryan began to speak more quickly. "Honey, Marissa, slow down." Ryan's eyes flickered up to meet Seth's. "I'm sure she's fine, she's probably just getting a test-"
Seth stood up. It was about Summer. He could feel it.
"Ok, ok, calm down, we're coming." Ryan snapped his cell phone shut as Seth grabbed the car keys, already pulling his arms through his jacket as he rushed out to the driveway.
********************
Marissa was frantically pacing in front of the nurse's station when Ryan and Seth burst through the doors. She moved towards them, speaking with quick breaths.
"They moved her - her dad called and had her transported - she's in Napa Valley - there's a clinic - I don't know why." Marissa took in a ragged breath and leaned onto Ryan. "I'm the worst friend; I should have been there."
Ryan smoothed her hair and watched Seth with concern. The tall dark-haired boy walked unevenly down the hallway, disappearing into Summer's room.
Seth leaned against the doorframe. The tulips were gone - had they been cleaned up by overzealous nurses? He wondered. A few petals lay on the floor of the room like markers. He picked one up and ran it over his fingertips, the softness light against his skin. He surveyed the room again, looking for any sort of note, a letter, a message, any clue that could give him hope that she was still there with him.
But the room was quiet and still - and he felt more alone than ever.
********************
Seth lay curled on his bed, trying to find any sort of clue in the previously accurate wisdom of Anna Karenina. He kept seeing Summer's face - god, he was such an idiot. He'd ruined any chances they might have had together. Why hadn't he stayed at the hospital? Why? Why? Why? He berated himself, flipping through the text.
He had known that Ryan had only been trying to be nice when they'd spoken earlier, but he still felt angry. How could Ryan even think of suggesting that he give Anna another chance? It wouldn't be fair to her to lead her on again. Seth shook his head. It had to be Summer. There was never a place for anyone else.
He flipped open the text and let his eyes fall upon a patch of words.
"The place was taken, and whenever he tried to imagine any of the girls he knew in that place, he felt that it was utterly impossible. Moreover, the recollection of the rejection and the part he had played in the affair tortured him with shame. However often he told himself that he was in no wise to blame in it, that recollection, like other humiliating reminiscences of a similar kind, made him twinge and blush. There had been in his past, as in every man's, actions, recognized by him as bad, for which his conscience ought to have tormented him; but the memory of these evil actions was far from causing him so much suffering as those trivial but humiliating reminiscences. These wounds never healed."
Seth leaned back on his bed. He sighed. He'd been through a lot for Summer - they'd both been through a lot together. He couldn't explain it to Ryan, but ever since they'd talked by the pool at his grandfather's birthday party, it was like they were both readied themselves for the possibility of a future together. To the outside world, both had a kind of cocky self-confidence, when they each actually shared a wealth of insecurities. Seth sat up. They'd made it so far to be together - what sickness could stop true love?
The sight of the book beside him somehow reassured him, as if she were there, living the story along with him.
"In the morning the sun rose brilliant and quickly wore away the thin layer of ice that covered the water, and all the warm air was quivering with the steam that rose up from the quickened earth. The old grass looked greener, and the young grass thrust up its tiny blades; the buds of the guelder-rose and of the currant and the sticky birch-buds were swollen with sap, and an exploring bee was humming about the golden blossoms that studded the willow. Larks trilled unseen above the velvety green fields and the ice- covered stubble-land; peewits wailed over the low lands and marshes flooded by the pools; cranes and wild geese flew high across the sky uttering their spring calls. The cattle, bald in patches where the new hair had not grown yet, lowed in the pastures; the bowlegged lambs frisked round their bleating mothers. Nimble children ran about the drying paths, covered with the prints of bare feet. There was a merry chatter of peasant women over their linen at the pond, and the ring of axes in the yard, where the peasants were repairing ploughs and harrows. The real spring had come."
********************
In her dreams, Summer was cold. She remembered the way the snow felt against her skin and shivered in her sleep. She'd only seen winter once, visiting Vail with Marissa, and she could still picture the great white rolls of stillness. As she slept, she saw herself there once again.
This time she was alone at the top of a mountain. She looked over the edge, expecting to see lush green valleys, but instead there was just more whiteness. Suddenly, the cold became painful, and the white wasn't soothing anymore, it was chillingly bright and her eyes winced from the acute color. Her winter clothing had somehow dropped away and she was shivering in a thin silk sundress, wondering how she would make it home.
She hadn't heard him behind her, but before she turned around she felt him there. As she approached, her arms dropped to her sides - there was no longer the need to warm herself when he was near. He came closer, wrapped his arms around her and the snow around them melted as the water evaporated and streamed heavenwards - the reverse of rain. And he.
Seth.
.was smiling at her, and holding her and she was so warm, so warm in the lovely heat.
********************
"Code B6! Repeat, Code B6, Room 4-4-1, B6, 4-4-1."
The loudspeaker boomed out commands as a flood of hospital staff filled Summer's room. She was vaguely aware of being lifted from her bed as she felt a cool breeze settle over her body. It was gone a moment later as her eyes fluttered closed again, slipping back into the comforting heat.
********************
When Summer opened her eyes, she was propped up in her bed again. She moved her head to stretch out her aching neck when she felt the plastic tubes running through her and noticed the IV in her arm. She startled when she noticed someone watching her.
Tom.
Summer curled the small of her back into the bed and pressed away from him. He'd settled into the visitor chair in her room, and she was grateful for the space between them. She looked around and realized that they were alone.
"What happened to me?" She gestured to the tubes and the IV.
"Oh, you overheated, I guess." Tom shoved his hangs in his pockets and stood over her. She looked up at him, feeling small and uneasy.
"What do you mean, 'I overheated, you guess?'" Summer's voice raised with frustration.
"It's like, a common complication with scarlet fever, babe." Tom looked visibly uncomfortable. "Anyway, I guess the hospital called your dad or something, because he wants you to go up to Napa."
"Napa Valley?" Summer's voice tremored at a much higher pitch than normal. "Why?"
"There's like, a clinic there." Tom leaned against the doorway. "Anyway, I was thinking we should cool stuff off while you cool off, you know?"
Summer raised her eyebrows. Even in her condition, she could recognize the fear in his voice, and knew when to take control. It'd be easier for both of them. "You're right. We should break up. I'd hate to become a burden."
"Wow," Tom spoke slowly, "you're a really cool girl, Summer. Feel better."
He swung out of the room as Summer smiled incredulously. What had she been thinking? Tom was. she laughed softly, suddenly feeling drowsy, wanting to ask questions but needing sleep more. Tom. He wasn't who she wanted.
*************************
Seth drummed his fingers along the kitchen counter. He was restless. He halfhearted flipped through the pages of his book, checking his watch every few minutes. He'd left Summer less than four hours ago, and he had to restrain himself from returning to the hospital. The nurses had informed him that she had to sleep - that he should go home and rest himself. He turned the page of his book, his eyes skittering across the text.
"In the early days after his return from Moscow, whenever Levin shuddered and grew red, remembering the disgrace of his rejection, he said to himself: "This was just how I used to shudder and blush, thinking myself utterly lost, when I was plucked in physics and did not get my remove; and how I thought myself utterly ruined after I had mismanaged that affair of my sister's that was entrusted to me. And yet, now that years have passed, I recall it and wonder that it could distress me so much. It will be the same thing too with this trouble. Time will go by and I shall not mind about this either." But three months had passed and he had not left off minding about it; and it was as painful for him to think of it as it had been those first days."
Seth leaned back on his stool. The memory slipped over him as he recalled falling backwards in biology class. Summer had leapt out of her seat to kneel beside him, and if he just closed his eyes, he could see her dark eyes beckoning, two pools of deep water. He could almost feel her hand on his skin, that familiar, still-startling electricity.
Seth's eyes sprang open when he felt the chair tipping backwards, but this time, he managed to jump away from the stool and land on his feet.
He noticed Ryan at the doorway, looking at him incredulously.
"And scene!" Seth did a little bow as Ryan raised his eyebrows.
Seth stood up straight and picked up the stool, swinging his legs over the top to sit down again.
"How's Summer?" Ryan spoke abruptly. He looked at Seth pointedly, knowing that something had happened between the two. Seth wasn't very good at keeping his feelings concealed.
"She's fine." A smile broke out across Seth's face and cheeks blossomed with a rosy pink color.
Ryan lifted his eyebrows.
"Ok - Ryan, it was awesome. Well, I mean, it's not awesome that she's sick, but last night, when I was with her, we were in her hospital room and she just looked at me, and let me hold her, and I don't know, I could just feel it, that everything was going to turn out how I'd been hoping."
Ryan slowly shook his head and patted Seth on the back. "Good luck, bro." He reached into his pocket to pull out his ringing cell phone.
"Hey hon." Now it was Seth's turn to raise his eyebrows at Ryan. It always surprised him to listen to Ryan speak with Marissa - his voice got so much softer. Maybe I sound different around Summer, he mused.
Seth looked over at Ryan curiously as Ryan began to speak more quickly. "Honey, Marissa, slow down." Ryan's eyes flickered up to meet Seth's. "I'm sure she's fine, she's probably just getting a test-"
Seth stood up. It was about Summer. He could feel it.
"Ok, ok, calm down, we're coming." Ryan snapped his cell phone shut as Seth grabbed the car keys, already pulling his arms through his jacket as he rushed out to the driveway.
********************
Marissa was frantically pacing in front of the nurse's station when Ryan and Seth burst through the doors. She moved towards them, speaking with quick breaths.
"They moved her - her dad called and had her transported - she's in Napa Valley - there's a clinic - I don't know why." Marissa took in a ragged breath and leaned onto Ryan. "I'm the worst friend; I should have been there."
Ryan smoothed her hair and watched Seth with concern. The tall dark-haired boy walked unevenly down the hallway, disappearing into Summer's room.
Seth leaned against the doorframe. The tulips were gone - had they been cleaned up by overzealous nurses? He wondered. A few petals lay on the floor of the room like markers. He picked one up and ran it over his fingertips, the softness light against his skin. He surveyed the room again, looking for any sort of note, a letter, a message, any clue that could give him hope that she was still there with him.
But the room was quiet and still - and he felt more alone than ever.
********************
Seth lay curled on his bed, trying to find any sort of clue in the previously accurate wisdom of Anna Karenina. He kept seeing Summer's face - god, he was such an idiot. He'd ruined any chances they might have had together. Why hadn't he stayed at the hospital? Why? Why? Why? He berated himself, flipping through the text.
He had known that Ryan had only been trying to be nice when they'd spoken earlier, but he still felt angry. How could Ryan even think of suggesting that he give Anna another chance? It wouldn't be fair to her to lead her on again. Seth shook his head. It had to be Summer. There was never a place for anyone else.
He flipped open the text and let his eyes fall upon a patch of words.
"The place was taken, and whenever he tried to imagine any of the girls he knew in that place, he felt that it was utterly impossible. Moreover, the recollection of the rejection and the part he had played in the affair tortured him with shame. However often he told himself that he was in no wise to blame in it, that recollection, like other humiliating reminiscences of a similar kind, made him twinge and blush. There had been in his past, as in every man's, actions, recognized by him as bad, for which his conscience ought to have tormented him; but the memory of these evil actions was far from causing him so much suffering as those trivial but humiliating reminiscences. These wounds never healed."
Seth leaned back on his bed. He sighed. He'd been through a lot for Summer - they'd both been through a lot together. He couldn't explain it to Ryan, but ever since they'd talked by the pool at his grandfather's birthday party, it was like they were both readied themselves for the possibility of a future together. To the outside world, both had a kind of cocky self-confidence, when they each actually shared a wealth of insecurities. Seth sat up. They'd made it so far to be together - what sickness could stop true love?
The sight of the book beside him somehow reassured him, as if she were there, living the story along with him.
"In the morning the sun rose brilliant and quickly wore away the thin layer of ice that covered the water, and all the warm air was quivering with the steam that rose up from the quickened earth. The old grass looked greener, and the young grass thrust up its tiny blades; the buds of the guelder-rose and of the currant and the sticky birch-buds were swollen with sap, and an exploring bee was humming about the golden blossoms that studded the willow. Larks trilled unseen above the velvety green fields and the ice- covered stubble-land; peewits wailed over the low lands and marshes flooded by the pools; cranes and wild geese flew high across the sky uttering their spring calls. The cattle, bald in patches where the new hair had not grown yet, lowed in the pastures; the bowlegged lambs frisked round their bleating mothers. Nimble children ran about the drying paths, covered with the prints of bare feet. There was a merry chatter of peasant women over their linen at the pond, and the ring of axes in the yard, where the peasants were repairing ploughs and harrows. The real spring had come."
