"Okay what we need is to do something to shake her up," Julia said, watching Summer flirt with a group of the water polo guys in the cafeteria.

"No kidding," Seth said, a frown on his face. Ever since he had driven Summer home, she had been avoiding both him and Julia. It was as if she had resolved in her mind that he didn't exist. It was majorly bumming him out.

"Don't give up hope, my friend. I have an idea—just play along," Julia said with a grin. The smile just as quickly left her face and tears filled her eyes. "How could you do this to me?"

Seth looked at her perplexed. What? He was about to ask her what exactly she was trying to do when she spoke again, her voice rising with her words. "Do you love her?" she asked, her voice trembling. She looked at him wide eyed and it took him a moment to realize that she wanted him to respond.

"Uh…I don't know." He wasn't sure what answer she wanted.

She gave him a barely discernible nod telling him that he was doing fine. "You know enough to want to break up with me for her."

"It's, uh, it's not like that," he improvised.

"It is like that, Seth. I saw her, she's beautiful but I thought we had something real." She got up, sadness clearly on her face for everyone to see.

He glanced around and realized that the people around them were starting to stare. Even Summer's eyes drifted over to their table.

Julia continued. "I'm not letting you go without fight, Seth. I'm not." She picked up her bag and sniffled before walking out of the room.

Seth wasn't sure what had just happened but he hoped Julia would fill him in later. He got up and met the disbelieving looks of his classmates but it was the expression on Summer's face that made him feel sick. It was filled with disgust. She looked away from him and with a quick goodbye to the guys exited the cafeteria.

…

"Did you hear about Seth Cohen?"

"Oh my God, he totally dumped Julia."

"And here I was, waiting for her to do it."

"So brutal."

…

"So, I hear he's like seeing some model."

"Well, I can see it. He's pretty hot."

"Like, I know what you mean. There's something about him now. He's totally changed since last year."

…

"Julia's trying so hard to win him back. It's almost sad."

"But I understand. He's totally worth it."

"Yeah! I'm so mad I didn't see him first."

"I think her beach party is so a ploy for her to like get him back."

"I don't know how she thinks she's going to compete with an actress."

A sigh. "I wish Seth would notice me."

…

"Not that I'm not enjoying this new popularity and everything but I don't think I like the means it took to get here and I don't know how this is going to help me get Summer," Seth said as two girls passed them and smiled at him lasciviously.

"Summer will think you're more attractive because everyone wants you," Julia said easily.

They were sitting in one of the sofas at her parent's beach house a week after their little cafeteria scene.

Seth had been amazed at the rumours that had circulated about him. Everyone thought he was some kind of stud or something. He'd had more propositions from girls in the last week than he'd had his whole life. It was hilarious…and weird.

"Yeah, it might have been a good plan but if you haven't noticed, Jule, Summer thinks I'm a contemptible human being. And I really can't say that I blame her. She thinks I'm playing you and some other chick – which, dude, have you heard some of these rumours? She's gone from a random girl to a model, to an actress—to like Paris Hilton. It's not right, man."

Julia snorted. "Why do you think Summer's so mad at you? Because she has feelings for you, that's why. Trust me. I know what I'm doing."

"I don't know—"

"You're continuous badgering is majorly starting to bug. Just shut up and pretend to be indifferent to me sitting here," Julia said underneath her breath as a couple passed by. She doubted anyone would be able to hear their conversation over the loud music but she wanted to be careful.

He shrugged and did as she asked.

…

This was an obvious sign of the apocalypse, Summer thought as she watched Seth Cohen monopolize the attention of four girls from the squad. He said something and they all giggled.

Summer rolled her eyes when she saw Samantha walk over to the group and put her arm around Seth's waist. Was this the same girl who was showing visible disgust at the mere idea of dating Seth three weeks ago? It was pathetic the way the girls were acting.

She didn't like this side of Seth. This new playboy image. She liked him better when, and yes, she could admit it, when he'd only had eyes for her.

She took a big gulp of her Corona and shook her head. She was doing it again. Freaking out over Cohen. She just couldn't seem to stop herself and it was frustrating. Okay, so she had developed a teensy, little crush on the guy. That could totally be remedied. She'd just hook up with someone tonight.

She eyed the guys around the room and frowned. They were all wrong. One wasn't quite the right height, another's hair had waves but not thick curls that tended to grow out in a fro, another's eyes weren't quite the right shade of brown. She suddenly realized what she was doing and bit her lip so she wouldn't scream.

Okay there was only one way to correct this. She had to get Cohen out of her system. Once she did that, she'd be able to move on and completely ignore him. The only way to do this was to … well, to … she'd figure it out when she got him alone.

She put her bottle down and took a step in his direction. Her heart suddenly started to beat erratically and apprehension filled her. She couldn't believe how nervous she was. It's only Cohen, Summer. Get a hold of yourself.

She picked her drink back up, took another drink and resolutely walked to the edge of the circle of girls around Seth. She squeezed past them and found herself directly in front of him. He looked down at her and his eyes widened a little. Good, she thought, maybe she still had an affect on him.

Seth had seen Summer staring at him from across the room and he'd spent much of the same when it came to her until Samantha had slipped her arm around his waist and distracted him. A distraction that he didn't want or need. He didn't like Samantha; she was like a vampire but like, not. Because vampires were hot. Samantha and vampires however had that whole bloodsucking thing in common.

He'd been using all his effort to get her off him, so when he finally did and turned back to the other girls, Summer was no longer at the other side of the room but right in front of him.

"Cohen, we need to talk," Summer said grabbing him by the arm. Before he could speak she pulled him away from everyone, dragged him out of the room and into the last bedroom down the hall.

"Summer, I had no idea you felt this way about me," Seth said jokingly when she finally let him go to close the door.

"Cohen?" Summer put down her drink and walked up to him until they were standing only a few inches apart. "Shut up." She took his face in her hands and kissed him.

Seth bit back his surprised exclaim. When Summer had dragged him into the room, this was the last thing he had expected her to do. She pressed her body against his and settled her lips over his and suddenly he couldn't even remember his name and at the moment, he didn't care.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her even closer to him. His lips parted and hers followed. She tasted sweet. Like strawberries and vanilla. He'd never had a fondness for either but now it was all he wanted. He slid one hand up to her face and tilted it, deepening the kiss.

He started moving back with her still in his arms and the back of his knees met the edge of the bed. He sat down with her nestled between his legs and he grasped her hips to tug her closer. His hands slid up and under her shirt and his fingers brushed against her bare back. She moaned at the feel of his warm hands against her skin and pushed him down until they were both lying on the bed.

Seth was too caught up with the feel of her for the realization to hit that he and Summer were making out and that he was causing the delightful noises coming from her. If he had stopped to think, he might have been more nervous but he wasn't thinking. Just feeling.

He rolled her over onto her side and grasped the edge of her shirt so he could ease it off her. Suddenly someone tore into the room, making the door bang against the wall and causing them to break out of their sensual haze.

"Oh, dude. My bad. I thought this was the bathroom," Luke said eyeing them on the bed before walking out of the room.

Summer gasped and pulled out of Seth's arms. No, no, no this was not supposed to happen. She sat up and fixed her shirt while her mind raced furiously. The kiss was supposed to get him out of her system not make her want him more. Shit.

She got off the bed and made about two steps to the door before he stopped her with a hand on her arm.

She glanced back at him and quickly looked away. He looked so hot with his hair messy, his crumpled shirt, and that really sexy gleam in his eyes.

"Summer that was—"

"That was nothing, Cohen," she said shrugging his hand off her arm. "It meant nothing."

"Liar," he said softly. She paused only slightly at the word but didn't stop walking until she was safely out of the room.

She leaned against the wall and sighed. Now what was she going to do?

*

A/N: I was left a review yesterday saying that I'd updated this three months ago and I was thinking that couldn't be true. And then I looked at the date of the last chapter and realized that uh, yeah it was. I'm sorry that I suck but thank you for being cool about the wait. Your feedback means a lot to me. :)