After a second, he slowly pulled away..

"And how was that going to help you get over me?" she asked, still a little shaken.

"If I felt nothing, then I knew it was completely over. I was completely and

totally over you."

She waited a minute before she asked the next question, "And?"

"Screw the Five Step plan!"

Summer look surprised, and then burst out into laughter.

Marissa exited Summer's study. She looked around awhile for Ryan, and not

seeing him, decided to check outside. She looked on the deck and then ran down the

steps to the beach. She was relieved when she saw him sitting on a dune, letting the sand

run through his fingers.

"Hey," She said, carefully sitting down next to him.

"Hey," he grunted in response.

"Come on now. Don't give me the Seth treatment. I haven't done anything

wrong."

"So...did you get back together with Luke?" Ryan asked, staring out at the

waves.

Marissa let out a curt, loud laugh.

"Yeah right! He wanted to talk, so I decided to let him do just that. I'm not

going to be a complete bitch about it...though I have a right to."

"So what did he say?" Ryan asked, turning to face her.

"Well, he DID want to get back together, but I totally refused. I won't forgive

few things, and cheating on me is one of them. I don't think it was meant to work out."

"Well, maybe it's for the best," Ryan said, taking a hold of her hand.

Summer and Seth sat on the couch, and his hand casually slipped into hers.

"Seth, I know that you had some crazy idea about me taking part in some..."

"Let's not talk about it," he said stoically.

"NO! I really think we need to. If our relationship...I mean if that is what you

want to.." she stuttered, uncharacteristically nervous.

'Of course I do," he said gently.

"Well, if it is to go well, we need to clear the air of the whole thing," she finished.

"Fine," Seth sighed.

"I really don't know where you got the idea. I mean, the old Summer might have

done that. And as cheesy as it sounds, I have become a different person since I have

gotten to know you."

Seth smiled and blushed.

"So where did you get that crazy idea? Explain the whole thing."

"Well," he started, "the night that I went to get the food for you and Marissa, I

met Holly outside."

Upon the mention of Holly's name, Summer's features turned frigid.

"And she told me this detailed story about how you were only being friendly to

me as a dare or bet or something. And I figured since she was one of your friends..."

Summer snorted in response to the last statement.

"Well, since she was a psuedo-friend, that she would know and then that got all

these wheels turning in my head and then I just got really pissed."

"You can say that again," Summer snorted/laughed.

"And that is the whole story."

"But why would you think I would do that?"

"Just the fact that you ignored me for the longest time, and then when you did

notice me, you were a teensy bit rude.

"I..I don't really have an explanation. I was a bitch then...still am to people

who rub me the wrong way. But I didn't know you...like I know you now. So conflict

solved?"

"Conflict solved," Seth repeated.

"Well, I'd better get back to the house to make sure it hasn't burned down."

"OK," Seth laughed.

They exited the playhouse and Summer wondered. Did her mother know that this

playhouse would be so instrumental in her growing up? Or did she just have it built for

Summer's own selfish pleasure? Either way, as she locked the door, she smiled and

whispered.

"Thanks mom."

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