Summer extracted a pink key from the bottom of a flowerpot. She fit the key into

the lock, twisted it carefully, and the door sprung open. She made her way into her old

playhouse. It was her place of refuge, of solace. It was her place of escape when she was

eight, twelve, and even now. The house was located in the very back of her property,

behind a jungle of trees and vines. Only years of walking to this house in various shades

of light could ensure that one would arrive there upon the first try, No one knew it was

there except for Summer...and her mother.

Elizabeth Baker Roberts was a beautiful woman. I mean, what else could she

have been to have given birth to Summer. She grew up in Macon, Georgia, and then

when she turned 18, she moved to L.A., looking for fame and fortune. There, she met an

even more lucrative business offer. A handsome, young, promising investment banker.

She married Timothy Roberts in 1985 and two years later they were blessed with a

beautiful baby girl. Summer Winifred (her grandmother's name; something she tried to

keep on the down low) Roberts. Soon after Summer's birth, Tim struck it monstrously

rich with international finance, and the Roberts moved to Newport. Elizabeth and Julie

Cooper became best friends, thus leading Summer and Marissa to become friends, and

then when they started school, best friends.

One day, Summer came home from day camp and her mom grabbed her hand and

took her back, far into the woods. Her father was out of town on business, as usual.

They stopped and Summer became ecstatic. There stood a rather large playhouse, with

white shutters and a porch complete with a swing.

"Mommy?..How?...?"

"All week while you weren't school I had some men come and build it. You like

it? It is a late Happy-Out-of-School present and an extremely early-early birthday gift."

"I love it Mom!"

"This can be your secret place, Sweet Pea. Come here to play or to just be al one.

Don't tell anyone either. It can be our secret."

I promise! Now let's explore," Summer squealed, grapping her mother's hand

and pulling her inside.

Two months later, a day before Summer's ninth birthday, Elizabeth left. Summer

went to sit down on the couch, curled up into a ball, and cried.

Seth made his way through the woods. Ryan had made it seem as if he wanted to

be alone by abruptly walking out of the house and towards the water. Seth had decided to

honor his unspoken with and wandered off in the opposite direction, the woods. Every

once in awhile, he encountered couples, in various states of undress. At first, he was

mortified. Now, five couples down the line, he simply mumbled his apologies and

wandered off in the other direction. He sipped his beer, whishing that his property had

this type of land. He could imagine Summer running through the woods, playing

princess with Ma..

NO DAMNIT!

He wasn't going to think of her. Step Four of his Five Step Plan was to try and

think of her as little as possible. He was surprised when, in the moonlight, he saw

a cottage. Feeling brave (and rather bored), he walked up the steps and tried the

door. It was open and his curiosity got the best of him. He opened the door and

stepped inside.

*OK, guess what is going to happen! I think it is very hard (this was written with

dripping sarcasm.) But anyways, thanks for the great reviews. And side note, did anyone

see that ET on MTV totally devoted to The O.C.? I was like hyperventilating during the

whole thing. And they made a commercial totally for me! It is like, "The wait is almost

over," and other encouraging messages like that! How kind of them to

understand... Did anyone just love last night's episode? Well I did and all I have to say

is, those were the longest six weeks of my life! OK, now enough talk! Review!*