If You Can't Beat 'Em...(2/?: Morning After Madness)
Angelus angelus1317@hotmail.com
See first chapter for disclaimer, etc.

~*~

Seth shifted uncomfortably. Sometime in the night, Anna must have rolled over, because her tiny body, as little as it weighed, was doing an excellent job of cutting off the circulation to his arm. He turned, ready to poke her and tell her (albeit in the kind, gentlemanly boyfriend way) to move over.

Long dark hair, perma-tanned skin...

Oh, crap.

It wasn't Anna next to him; it was Summer. All of the sudden the previous night came rushing back. He had meant to lie with her until she fell asleep, kiss her on the forehead, and sneak back to Anna. He had never meant for himself to fall asleep as well. How the hell was he going to explain this?

First things first. Seth shook Summer gently. In response, she rolled over to face him, her eyes still closed, and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

"Summer..." She must not have realized exactly who she was embracing, because at the sound of Seth's voice, her eyes flew wide open.

"What the..." she began, checking their surroundings, and a light of recognition went on in her eyes. She remembered. "What time is it?" she asked. Seth made an angry grunt.

"Almost seven," he said.

"Oh, crap." This was what he loved about Summer - he never had to explain himself. Whether they were fighting or not, she always knew exactly what he was thinking. They complemented each other that way - a way that, he had to admit, he and Anna did not.

Summer was dressed in minutes. She tossed Seth the robe he had left on a chair last night. He slid it on as they silently faced the closed door. Giving each other a look that voiced a "Ready?" without even having to say it, Seth pulled it open and made a wide, sweeping gesture with his arm; a parody of her own similar one last night; "After you." So she proceeded him down the hallway. Off they went to face the masses.

In the kitchen, Ryan and Marissa sat silently at the large table, a coffee in each of their hands. Clearly, something had happened last night, because they barely even looked at each other. If Seth had been willing to place a bet on what the fight had been about, his money would have easily been on Oliver. But Ryan's girl problems weren't really his concern the way they used to be - he had plenty of his own to deal with these days. He and Summer exchanged a nervous glance as they poured themselves their own mugs of coffee and took a seat, next to Ryan and Marissa, respectively.

Awkward silence number one...

Seth sent a surrepitious glance Summer's way. She steadfastedly ignored him. Ryan did not look to be in the talking mood either. But Seth was Seth, after all, and silence had never been one of his strong points.

"So...has anyone seen Anna this morning?" he asked casually. Marissa shot him a look.

"You're the one rooming with her. Shouldn't you know that?" she asked, then looked over at Summer. Marissa was a smart girl - she had seen them come downstairs together. Damn.

"Yes, well..." Seth trailed off, not ever bothering to respond. He didn't really think either of them cared at this point, anyway. Ryan folded his arms in front of him and dropped his head.

Awkward silence number two...

"Hey, guys!" It was Anna, bright and bubbly at 7 a.m. in a manner that was just plain inhuman, rounding the corner into the kitchen. Seth forced a smile.

"Hey," he said. Anna plopped herself in Seth's lap, stealing a sip of his coffee. Oblivious to Seth's nervousness, Summer's glares, and Ryan and Marissa's silent treatment, she launched into a monologue of possibilities for the day's activities. Seth, however, was on too much of an adrenaline rush to pay attention. They'd gotten away with it. Not that he should be proud or anything. And, really, he hadn't even technically cheated. But he knew Anna, and he knew that when it came to Summer, logic often went the way of the caveman, only to be replaced with what Seth considered to be the worst female emotion: jealousy. Jealousy made girls do crazy, stupid things. Like stay up half the night crying, then curl up in the arms of the very guy they'd been crying over and sleep the night next to them. Truly, he would never understand the fairer sex.

"...sailing," Anna was saying. "Do you suppose they have someplace around here to rent boats?"

"Anna, it's California," Seth teased. "Of course they have a boat rental." Now was the time to convince his girlfriend that he was just as loyal as ever. Anna leaned back against him, and his arm instinctively went around her waist.

"So, whaddaya say?" she asked. Seth nodded. Anna turned to the other strangers. "Does anyone else wanna come?" she asked. Summer glared.

"I get seasick," she informed them, and promptly left. A tiny part of Seth longed to follow after her, but he resisted. Every time, it got a little bit easier. Maybe he was finally getting over Summer once and for all. That was what he needed - to get over her. To devote all his time and attention to Anna and forget that he'd ever had that ridiculous little crush on Summer Roberts.

Easier said than done...