Thanks for the great feedback everyone! It really fuels the writing.
**************************************************************************** ***
Ryan and Seth are sitting in the pool house looking morose again. They're both sitting down on the sofa, but neither is looking at the other. Seth is the first to speak.
"Guess our summer is over early."
"You could say that. Not that I really care. After all that's happened I just want this madness to be over with."
"With you there."
Ryan leans back and looks and Seth quizically.
"Hey, why was your Dad so perturbed this morning?"
Seth's eyes bulge out for a second, but he has a quick recovery.
"Huh? I don't know what you mean?"
"He went up to get you and when he came back down he looked like he needed therapy."
"I get my weirdness from his side. It was probably nothing, man."
Ryan accepts this and Seth looks relieved.
"I keep screwing up with your parents, though. This one is going to put me over the edge."
"No, man. You just have the unfortunate luck of getting stuck as an innocent bystander in compromising circumstances. Except that time with my would-be step-grandma. That was all you."
Ryan nods.
"Marissa's never going to want to see me again."
Seth steps up to his roll as best friend.
"I doubt it. This is going to be touchy for a while, but it'll fade eventually. Luke, on the other hand. Well, he's screwed."
"I'm not so sure. Seems like, according to everyone around her, Luke can do no wrong."
Seth doesn't know what to say, because he knows it's true.
***
Later on in the day Seth is alone in his room, laying on his bed reading a comic book. Suddenly, through the sliding glass door of the balcony, we can see Summer, climbing up. She hauls herself over the edge of the balcony and dusts herself off.
"Our house does come fully equipped with a front door, y'know."
"I know. I just figured this was the best way since I didn't know how much shit you're in with your parents." She flops down onto the bed next to him.
"Knee-deep."
"Figured. So what's your punishment?"
"Grounded until school starts, which isn't that terrible all things considered."
She nods in agreement. Suddenly the unlikelihood of the situation hits Seth and he casts his comic book aside and turns to her.
"Y'know, Summer, for someone who condemns me at pretty much every chance she gets, you sure are stuck to my side..."
"I suppose you're expecting some sort of explanation?"
"Humor me."
"Fine." She thinks about it and is trying really hard to be nice. "Okay. Well, obviously I have no shortage of people who want to be around me. But those people... they're just interested in having a good time. Which is fine, but sometimes a person needs a little more than that. I can't talk about what happened to Marissa with those people."
"Summer, you and I barely know one another."
"I know. What's more sad is that I know those people even less."
She's quiet and humble and totally unlike herself. She's definitely won him over.
"So what were you dreaming about last night?"
She hits him on the arm.
"You wish, perv."
"No, I'm serious. You were tossing around this morning and then you started yelling. So what's the deal?"
She tries to remember, but comes up with nothing.
"I don't know. It was probably nothing, though."
Seth decides not to push it any further and risk ruining the dynamic they've got going.
"Enough of this crap. I'm tired of all the sorrow and moodiness. I'm going to get a big enough dose of that when I get to visit Marissa tonight. Until then let's go somewhere."
"Can't. Grounded."
"So? Be normal. Sneak out."
"Summer, do you even realize how much shit I've gotten into in the last month alone?"
"Come on. Please?"
"Can't."
"Fine. You leave me no choice."
She gets up off the bed and heads back out to the balcony. She climbs over the edge and back down. Seth shakes his head and picks up his comic book again.
"Women."
***
The doorbell to the Cohen home chimes and Sandy briskly walks over to answer it. Standing at the door is a sad-looking Summer.
"Summer. Hello."
"Hi Mr.Cohen. Is Seth around?"
Sandy is a little taken aback by her being there.
"Well, yes, he's upstairs. But he's been grounded until school begins, so he's not allowed to have visitors."
Summer's face falls dramatically.
"Oh. Of course. I understand." She begins to turn around and head back.
"Is something wrong, Summer?"
She turns back to him with tears in her eyes.
"Well, with everything that's happened... Seth has been a really good friend to me. And right now I could really use a good friend. I just wanted to go out for a walk with him."
Sandy looks at her, trying to read her sincerity, but breaks quickly.
"I suppose it won't matter for a couple of hours. But he has to be home for supper."
Summer's face brightens instantly. Sandy lets her inside and she follows him upstairs.
***
In Seth's room he is exactly where we left him. But every so often he casts a glance out at the balcony. Finally, temptation gets to him and he puts the comic down and goes out onto the balcony. Just as he's looking over the edge and contemplating what it would take, his bedroom door swings up. It catches him off-guard and he spins around looking guilty and surprised.
"Dad!"
"Seth, you have a visitor."
From behind Sandy, Summer steps out and comes in.
"Hi, Seth. How's it going?"
Sandy looks at the two of them. Summer is playing innocent and Seth looks like he's about to lose it.
"Seth, you and Summer can go for a walk, but don't be late for dinner. Your mother would kill me if she knew I was letting you do even this much." Sandy warns him, but heads for the door.
"Thanks again, Mr.Cohen!" Summer waits until Sandy is gone before turning back to Seth looking mischevious.
"Never doubt me, Cohen."
***
Seth and Summer are walking down the boardwalk side-by-side. It's warm and sunny as usual as they stroll along.
"I don't get it. First you want me to break out of my own house to spend time with you and now we've spent half an hour wandering around and you haven't said a single word to me."
"Why do you like me so much, Cohen? I treat you like crap and every day you come back begging for more."
"I don't know. I just do. Maybe I'm a massocist...?"
She shakes her head at him and tries to suppress laughter.
"I've got a better question, though. Why do you like me so much and treat me like crap?"
"What makes you think I like you so much?"
"Let's evaluate, shall we? First, you kissed me. In Western civilization this is generally indicative of attraction from the kisser to the kissee."
"Or else indicative of the injestion of large quantities of intoxicants by the kisser."
"Wow, you know big words?"
"Bite me, Seth."
"Okay, okay. Carrying on. Second, not once, but twice you have come to the bed that I was occupying, asking me to share."
"Well, the first time was because you were acting like a jackass and wouldn't give up the bed to me as any other normal decent guy would do."
"Sticks and stones. Fine. I might have bought that if it weren't for the fact that there was a second visit wher you came to me, to my home, to sleep beside me, in my bed."
"Extreme circumstances. But, rest assured, it will never happen again."
Seth takes this opportunity to jump in front of her and bend down so that he is directly in her face making her a tad uncomfortable. He has an arrogant, mischevious smile on his face.
"Fine, Roberts. But something just tells me that last night is not going to be the last time you'll be trying to snake your way between my sheets."
"Get bent, Cohen. We all have our days of insanity."
"True enough, but we're getting off-track here. First, there's the kiss. Then there's you coming to my bed which, by the way, is a pretty strong argument unto itself. But last, and most of all, there's the fact that you went to the lengths of springing me from my house so I'd spend time with you. Me! Not any other guy. Face it, babe, you're in love with me."
He leans back, confident as hell. She raises her eyebrow and give him the most skeptical look.
"Keep the dream alive there."
She waltzes past him confidently and he gives a little laugh at her indignation. Then all of a sudden his face drops.
"Summer, what time is it?"
She checks her watch.
"6:30."
"Shit!"
Seth grabs her wrist and begins dragging her back in the direction they came from.
"Ow, Seth! What the hell are you doing?"
"Heeding warning. I can't be late."
"So don't be late. But you don't have to break my wrist in the process. I'll see you sometime later."
He stops briefly.
"Summer, you're not going to go back to that big empty house. You can come have dinner at my place. My parents will think it's great. They're into taking in stray kids."
Before she can protest he's off and running again dragging her behind him. She eventually manages to keep up.
***
The Cohen family and Summer are sitting around the dinning room table. Kirsten and Sandy are at either end with Ryan on one side and Summer and Seth sitting side-by-side on the other. They're all eating their pasta in relative silence.
"So, Summer, your Dad is in Bangladesh? That must be exciting business. When is he coming home?"
Kirsten tries to make pleasant conversation to alleviate the tension.
"Um, I'm not sure Mrs.Cohen. My Dad just kind of comes and goes all the time. I never really know where he is."
Kirsten has gotten herself into a sticky situation and wants to get out of it just as quickly.
"Oh. Well, I'm sure it must be nice for you to have the house all to yourself, then. I'm sure Seth and Ryan would throw one massive party if Sandy and I were to take off."
Ryan and Seth smile at each other.
"With streamers."
"And cake."
Sandy rolls his eyes.
"Please, don't hold back."
Suddenly Summer gets quite awkward as she removes her napkin from her lap.
"Thanks so much for dinner, Mrs. Cohen, but I should actually get going now."
"Oh. Alright then. Well, please feel welcome to come back anytime Summer."
"I will, thanks."
Seth gets up with her.
"I'm just gonna, y'know, do the guy thing."
They both head to the front door.
***
"What was all that about?"
"I have to go visit Marissa. It's nothing. I mean it."
He nods, but doesn't buy it.
"I'll see you later, Cohen."
***
Seth wanders back to the dinner table, confused. He doesn't notice at first that all eyes are on him as he sits down. He gets lost in his own thoughts as the other three stare at him expectantly. When he looks up he is startled by it.
"Whoa."
"She's cute, sweetie."
"Not to mention that she seems to be head-over-heels for you, Seth. She nearly went to tears when I told her you were grounded."
Sandy is smiling at Seth proudly, who just doesn't seem to get it. Ryan, the only other person who seems to know most of the situation, is trying desperately to stifle his laughter. Kirsten and Sandy both look so proud of their son.
"But next time please let us know when your girlfriend is coming over."
"Oh, Summer isn't my girlfriend. She's just my... stalker?"
Ryan can't hold it in any longer and has to laugh at that. Kirsten looks at each one of them, confused.
"What's so funny."
Ryan shakes his head and Seth looks annoyed.
***
Summer walks into Marissa's hospital room looking scared. It's mostly dark with only the light above Marissa's head on. Marissa looks comatose and the only signs pointing to her being alive at all is the steady beep of the monitor next to her bed and the IV drip. Summer tentatively takes a seat in the armchair next to her friend's bed, not wanting to disturb her.
"Hi Summer."
Summer nearly jumps out of her skin at the sound of Marissa's voice, unaware that her friend was even awake. She plasters on a fake smile to boost morale.
"Hey there, Coop. How are you feeling?"
"Beyond the obvious?"
Summer smiles at Marissa's attempt at humor.
"Ryan and Seth pass on their regards."
"You've seen them? They don't hate me for putting them through this?"
"Of course not. Seth's entirely too unaware to even consider being angry and Ryan's pretty much wracked with worry. They both wanted to come, but their parents grounded them until school starts."
Marissa nods sadly. Summer isn't sure she wants to get into the next part but she sees no way around it.
"Speaking of which... are you going to start school with us? I mean, when are they letting you out of here?"
"I'm not sure. I'm just under observation for now. My Dad's been here and my Mom has called a lot. She doesn't want to come down because she doesn't want to risk running into him. It's a disaster. I want to go back at the beginning of the year like everyone else if I can. But then again, there are certain things I'm not exactly eager to face anytime soon..."
Summer nods.
"Yeah. I take it Luke doesn't know about this?"
"I don't think so. Have you or the guys told anyone?"
"Nope. We figured we'd just keep it to ourselves. There's no need for anyone to know."
"God, that would just be icing on the cake. My parents are divorcing, my boyfriend has been cheating on me for who knows how long with someone I thought was my friend, and now I'm a psychopath with severe mental issues who is going to be known for trying to off herself."
Summer looks intent and scared at her friend's rant.
"Is that what you were trying to do? Kill yourself?"
Summer's voice is uncharacteristically tiny and Marissa looks guilty.
"I don't know. I don't think that's what I was trying to do, but at that point if it had happened I don't think I would have cared much. I just wanted to make everything stop."
Tears come to Summer's eyes, but she tries to hold them back for Marissa's sake. She is beginning to lose it, though, and she jumps to her feet unexpectedly.
"I'm sorry, Coop. I love you and you're my best friend, but I have to get going. I promise I'll come back tomorrow, though, okay?"
"Yeah, sure. Listen, I'm really sorry about all of this. Could you tell Ryan and Seth that too?"
"Yeah, of course. But, listen, you have nothing to be sorry for, okay? Just try to feel as good as you can, okay?"
Summer slips out of the hospital room leaving a contemplative Marissa behind. She looks out of the window next to her bed, hoping for her freedom.
***
Seth is lying asleep in bed with the lights out. Everything is calm and serene and still. Suddenly, out on the balcony Summer is hauling herself up again and she quietly tries the sliding door so as not to awaken Seth. Unfortunately it's locked. She curses this before gently knocking on the glass, trying to be quiet so as not to wake up anyone else in the house. After a couple of knocks Seth awakens out of his sleep and grogily gets out of bed. He sees her outside and wanders over to unlock the balcony.
"Man, Summer, I knew you'd cave, but I didn't think it would be so soon..."
Then he finally notices her face. Her eyes are puffy and her cheeks are covered in tears. She looks at everything in the room except him. He tries to ascertain whether or not he should pry into the details, but instead he just lets her past him. He silently goes over to his drawers and pulls out some pyjamas. He hands them to her without a word, but an understanding smile instead. Then he crawls back into bed and face away so she can change without being seen. She quickly slips into the pyjamas before crawling into bed next to him. He rolls back over and turns to face her.
"If you want, we can talk about it tomorrow."
She nods silently, but instead of rolling over and going to sleep she grabs onto him and pulls herself closer so that she is nestled into the crook in his neck. She silently cries and her tears end up falling on his bare shoulders. He puts a reassuring arm around her as they both slip into sleep.
**************************************************************************** ***
Ryan and Seth are sitting in the pool house looking morose again. They're both sitting down on the sofa, but neither is looking at the other. Seth is the first to speak.
"Guess our summer is over early."
"You could say that. Not that I really care. After all that's happened I just want this madness to be over with."
"With you there."
Ryan leans back and looks and Seth quizically.
"Hey, why was your Dad so perturbed this morning?"
Seth's eyes bulge out for a second, but he has a quick recovery.
"Huh? I don't know what you mean?"
"He went up to get you and when he came back down he looked like he needed therapy."
"I get my weirdness from his side. It was probably nothing, man."
Ryan accepts this and Seth looks relieved.
"I keep screwing up with your parents, though. This one is going to put me over the edge."
"No, man. You just have the unfortunate luck of getting stuck as an innocent bystander in compromising circumstances. Except that time with my would-be step-grandma. That was all you."
Ryan nods.
"Marissa's never going to want to see me again."
Seth steps up to his roll as best friend.
"I doubt it. This is going to be touchy for a while, but it'll fade eventually. Luke, on the other hand. Well, he's screwed."
"I'm not so sure. Seems like, according to everyone around her, Luke can do no wrong."
Seth doesn't know what to say, because he knows it's true.
***
Later on in the day Seth is alone in his room, laying on his bed reading a comic book. Suddenly, through the sliding glass door of the balcony, we can see Summer, climbing up. She hauls herself over the edge of the balcony and dusts herself off.
"Our house does come fully equipped with a front door, y'know."
"I know. I just figured this was the best way since I didn't know how much shit you're in with your parents." She flops down onto the bed next to him.
"Knee-deep."
"Figured. So what's your punishment?"
"Grounded until school starts, which isn't that terrible all things considered."
She nods in agreement. Suddenly the unlikelihood of the situation hits Seth and he casts his comic book aside and turns to her.
"Y'know, Summer, for someone who condemns me at pretty much every chance she gets, you sure are stuck to my side..."
"I suppose you're expecting some sort of explanation?"
"Humor me."
"Fine." She thinks about it and is trying really hard to be nice. "Okay. Well, obviously I have no shortage of people who want to be around me. But those people... they're just interested in having a good time. Which is fine, but sometimes a person needs a little more than that. I can't talk about what happened to Marissa with those people."
"Summer, you and I barely know one another."
"I know. What's more sad is that I know those people even less."
She's quiet and humble and totally unlike herself. She's definitely won him over.
"So what were you dreaming about last night?"
She hits him on the arm.
"You wish, perv."
"No, I'm serious. You were tossing around this morning and then you started yelling. So what's the deal?"
She tries to remember, but comes up with nothing.
"I don't know. It was probably nothing, though."
Seth decides not to push it any further and risk ruining the dynamic they've got going.
"Enough of this crap. I'm tired of all the sorrow and moodiness. I'm going to get a big enough dose of that when I get to visit Marissa tonight. Until then let's go somewhere."
"Can't. Grounded."
"So? Be normal. Sneak out."
"Summer, do you even realize how much shit I've gotten into in the last month alone?"
"Come on. Please?"
"Can't."
"Fine. You leave me no choice."
She gets up off the bed and heads back out to the balcony. She climbs over the edge and back down. Seth shakes his head and picks up his comic book again.
"Women."
***
The doorbell to the Cohen home chimes and Sandy briskly walks over to answer it. Standing at the door is a sad-looking Summer.
"Summer. Hello."
"Hi Mr.Cohen. Is Seth around?"
Sandy is a little taken aback by her being there.
"Well, yes, he's upstairs. But he's been grounded until school begins, so he's not allowed to have visitors."
Summer's face falls dramatically.
"Oh. Of course. I understand." She begins to turn around and head back.
"Is something wrong, Summer?"
She turns back to him with tears in her eyes.
"Well, with everything that's happened... Seth has been a really good friend to me. And right now I could really use a good friend. I just wanted to go out for a walk with him."
Sandy looks at her, trying to read her sincerity, but breaks quickly.
"I suppose it won't matter for a couple of hours. But he has to be home for supper."
Summer's face brightens instantly. Sandy lets her inside and she follows him upstairs.
***
In Seth's room he is exactly where we left him. But every so often he casts a glance out at the balcony. Finally, temptation gets to him and he puts the comic down and goes out onto the balcony. Just as he's looking over the edge and contemplating what it would take, his bedroom door swings up. It catches him off-guard and he spins around looking guilty and surprised.
"Dad!"
"Seth, you have a visitor."
From behind Sandy, Summer steps out and comes in.
"Hi, Seth. How's it going?"
Sandy looks at the two of them. Summer is playing innocent and Seth looks like he's about to lose it.
"Seth, you and Summer can go for a walk, but don't be late for dinner. Your mother would kill me if she knew I was letting you do even this much." Sandy warns him, but heads for the door.
"Thanks again, Mr.Cohen!" Summer waits until Sandy is gone before turning back to Seth looking mischevious.
"Never doubt me, Cohen."
***
Seth and Summer are walking down the boardwalk side-by-side. It's warm and sunny as usual as they stroll along.
"I don't get it. First you want me to break out of my own house to spend time with you and now we've spent half an hour wandering around and you haven't said a single word to me."
"Why do you like me so much, Cohen? I treat you like crap and every day you come back begging for more."
"I don't know. I just do. Maybe I'm a massocist...?"
She shakes her head at him and tries to suppress laughter.
"I've got a better question, though. Why do you like me so much and treat me like crap?"
"What makes you think I like you so much?"
"Let's evaluate, shall we? First, you kissed me. In Western civilization this is generally indicative of attraction from the kisser to the kissee."
"Or else indicative of the injestion of large quantities of intoxicants by the kisser."
"Wow, you know big words?"
"Bite me, Seth."
"Okay, okay. Carrying on. Second, not once, but twice you have come to the bed that I was occupying, asking me to share."
"Well, the first time was because you were acting like a jackass and wouldn't give up the bed to me as any other normal decent guy would do."
"Sticks and stones. Fine. I might have bought that if it weren't for the fact that there was a second visit wher you came to me, to my home, to sleep beside me, in my bed."
"Extreme circumstances. But, rest assured, it will never happen again."
Seth takes this opportunity to jump in front of her and bend down so that he is directly in her face making her a tad uncomfortable. He has an arrogant, mischevious smile on his face.
"Fine, Roberts. But something just tells me that last night is not going to be the last time you'll be trying to snake your way between my sheets."
"Get bent, Cohen. We all have our days of insanity."
"True enough, but we're getting off-track here. First, there's the kiss. Then there's you coming to my bed which, by the way, is a pretty strong argument unto itself. But last, and most of all, there's the fact that you went to the lengths of springing me from my house so I'd spend time with you. Me! Not any other guy. Face it, babe, you're in love with me."
He leans back, confident as hell. She raises her eyebrow and give him the most skeptical look.
"Keep the dream alive there."
She waltzes past him confidently and he gives a little laugh at her indignation. Then all of a sudden his face drops.
"Summer, what time is it?"
She checks her watch.
"6:30."
"Shit!"
Seth grabs her wrist and begins dragging her back in the direction they came from.
"Ow, Seth! What the hell are you doing?"
"Heeding warning. I can't be late."
"So don't be late. But you don't have to break my wrist in the process. I'll see you sometime later."
He stops briefly.
"Summer, you're not going to go back to that big empty house. You can come have dinner at my place. My parents will think it's great. They're into taking in stray kids."
Before she can protest he's off and running again dragging her behind him. She eventually manages to keep up.
***
The Cohen family and Summer are sitting around the dinning room table. Kirsten and Sandy are at either end with Ryan on one side and Summer and Seth sitting side-by-side on the other. They're all eating their pasta in relative silence.
"So, Summer, your Dad is in Bangladesh? That must be exciting business. When is he coming home?"
Kirsten tries to make pleasant conversation to alleviate the tension.
"Um, I'm not sure Mrs.Cohen. My Dad just kind of comes and goes all the time. I never really know where he is."
Kirsten has gotten herself into a sticky situation and wants to get out of it just as quickly.
"Oh. Well, I'm sure it must be nice for you to have the house all to yourself, then. I'm sure Seth and Ryan would throw one massive party if Sandy and I were to take off."
Ryan and Seth smile at each other.
"With streamers."
"And cake."
Sandy rolls his eyes.
"Please, don't hold back."
Suddenly Summer gets quite awkward as she removes her napkin from her lap.
"Thanks so much for dinner, Mrs. Cohen, but I should actually get going now."
"Oh. Alright then. Well, please feel welcome to come back anytime Summer."
"I will, thanks."
Seth gets up with her.
"I'm just gonna, y'know, do the guy thing."
They both head to the front door.
***
"What was all that about?"
"I have to go visit Marissa. It's nothing. I mean it."
He nods, but doesn't buy it.
"I'll see you later, Cohen."
***
Seth wanders back to the dinner table, confused. He doesn't notice at first that all eyes are on him as he sits down. He gets lost in his own thoughts as the other three stare at him expectantly. When he looks up he is startled by it.
"Whoa."
"She's cute, sweetie."
"Not to mention that she seems to be head-over-heels for you, Seth. She nearly went to tears when I told her you were grounded."
Sandy is smiling at Seth proudly, who just doesn't seem to get it. Ryan, the only other person who seems to know most of the situation, is trying desperately to stifle his laughter. Kirsten and Sandy both look so proud of their son.
"But next time please let us know when your girlfriend is coming over."
"Oh, Summer isn't my girlfriend. She's just my... stalker?"
Ryan can't hold it in any longer and has to laugh at that. Kirsten looks at each one of them, confused.
"What's so funny."
Ryan shakes his head and Seth looks annoyed.
***
Summer walks into Marissa's hospital room looking scared. It's mostly dark with only the light above Marissa's head on. Marissa looks comatose and the only signs pointing to her being alive at all is the steady beep of the monitor next to her bed and the IV drip. Summer tentatively takes a seat in the armchair next to her friend's bed, not wanting to disturb her.
"Hi Summer."
Summer nearly jumps out of her skin at the sound of Marissa's voice, unaware that her friend was even awake. She plasters on a fake smile to boost morale.
"Hey there, Coop. How are you feeling?"
"Beyond the obvious?"
Summer smiles at Marissa's attempt at humor.
"Ryan and Seth pass on their regards."
"You've seen them? They don't hate me for putting them through this?"
"Of course not. Seth's entirely too unaware to even consider being angry and Ryan's pretty much wracked with worry. They both wanted to come, but their parents grounded them until school starts."
Marissa nods sadly. Summer isn't sure she wants to get into the next part but she sees no way around it.
"Speaking of which... are you going to start school with us? I mean, when are they letting you out of here?"
"I'm not sure. I'm just under observation for now. My Dad's been here and my Mom has called a lot. She doesn't want to come down because she doesn't want to risk running into him. It's a disaster. I want to go back at the beginning of the year like everyone else if I can. But then again, there are certain things I'm not exactly eager to face anytime soon..."
Summer nods.
"Yeah. I take it Luke doesn't know about this?"
"I don't think so. Have you or the guys told anyone?"
"Nope. We figured we'd just keep it to ourselves. There's no need for anyone to know."
"God, that would just be icing on the cake. My parents are divorcing, my boyfriend has been cheating on me for who knows how long with someone I thought was my friend, and now I'm a psychopath with severe mental issues who is going to be known for trying to off herself."
Summer looks intent and scared at her friend's rant.
"Is that what you were trying to do? Kill yourself?"
Summer's voice is uncharacteristically tiny and Marissa looks guilty.
"I don't know. I don't think that's what I was trying to do, but at that point if it had happened I don't think I would have cared much. I just wanted to make everything stop."
Tears come to Summer's eyes, but she tries to hold them back for Marissa's sake. She is beginning to lose it, though, and she jumps to her feet unexpectedly.
"I'm sorry, Coop. I love you and you're my best friend, but I have to get going. I promise I'll come back tomorrow, though, okay?"
"Yeah, sure. Listen, I'm really sorry about all of this. Could you tell Ryan and Seth that too?"
"Yeah, of course. But, listen, you have nothing to be sorry for, okay? Just try to feel as good as you can, okay?"
Summer slips out of the hospital room leaving a contemplative Marissa behind. She looks out of the window next to her bed, hoping for her freedom.
***
Seth is lying asleep in bed with the lights out. Everything is calm and serene and still. Suddenly, out on the balcony Summer is hauling herself up again and she quietly tries the sliding door so as not to awaken Seth. Unfortunately it's locked. She curses this before gently knocking on the glass, trying to be quiet so as not to wake up anyone else in the house. After a couple of knocks Seth awakens out of his sleep and grogily gets out of bed. He sees her outside and wanders over to unlock the balcony.
"Man, Summer, I knew you'd cave, but I didn't think it would be so soon..."
Then he finally notices her face. Her eyes are puffy and her cheeks are covered in tears. She looks at everything in the room except him. He tries to ascertain whether or not he should pry into the details, but instead he just lets her past him. He silently goes over to his drawers and pulls out some pyjamas. He hands them to her without a word, but an understanding smile instead. Then he crawls back into bed and face away so she can change without being seen. She quickly slips into the pyjamas before crawling into bed next to him. He rolls back over and turns to face her.
"If you want, we can talk about it tomorrow."
She nods silently, but instead of rolling over and going to sleep she grabs onto him and pulls herself closer so that she is nestled into the crook in his neck. She silently cries and her tears end up falling on his bare shoulders. He puts a reassuring arm around her as they both slip into sleep.
