Summer Roberts rolled over in her large cold bed. Unable to sleep she
crossed her room and stood in front of her the huge window that took up
most of her wall. The sky was dark. Somewhere she heard an animal. Moving
slightly she caught a glimpse of the moon and sighed. She hated being alone
in this dark, cold empty house. With hardly anyone at home the house liked
like one of the display homes in an estate. Thinking back the house and
always been chilly but her mother had somehow managed to brighten the
place. Maybe it had been her personality. Sometimes Summer wondered if her
mother had raised her would she had turned out different? Summer turned
from the window and padded down the stairs. Picking up the phone she
dialled a number and waited.
Seth Cohen jolted awake by the ringing of his cell phone. Rolling over he quickly picked up the phone and held it to his ear.
"Hello?
His voice sounded raspy with sleep. Summer cursed herself silently. What was she doing? She forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat and talk.
"Cohen it's me"
"Summer? What are you doing?" He strained to look at the clock.
"It's two in the morning. A man needs his beauty sleep you know" She laughed.
"There is not enough beauty sleep in the world to make you look beautiful Seth"
"Right. Because I'm so manly and handsome? So what's up? Why are you calling me at this hour of the night? Or morning? Not that I mind you calling cause it's always good to hear from you and –"
"I couldn't sleep"
"Ah yes well that explains a lot"
"It should" " Well can I go back to sleep now?"
"Gee thanks for being such a great, supportive boyfriend" "Honoured. Wait. Did you just say boyfriend?"
Seth shifted as he waited for Summer to answer.
"What do you think Cohen?"
Seth didn't answer. She was always surprising him. Like when she kissed him in front of everyone and now that he was actually Summer Robert's boyfriend now.
"I'm Summer Robert's boyfriend"
"Well done"
Seth yawned. Summer heard it and immediately felt guilty.
"So I should go"
Seth stifled another yawn.
"What? No we haven't discussed why you called"
"Go to sleep Seth. I'll see you at school tomorrow"
"You know that sounds like a very good idea"
Summer smiled.
"Night."
Seth mumbled something back in response and hung up the phone. Pulling up the covers Seth gradually went back to sleep trying to ignore the little voice that told him something was wrong with Summer.
Summer pulled out a pair of fitted jeans that went perfectly with her the top she had dragged out of her closet that morning. Running down stairs she grabbed her keys, wallet and bag and ran out to her car, eager to get out of her home. Opening her glove box she fumbled for her sunglasses and hastily put them on as she reversed down the driveway. Turning the music up she grinned as she sang along to Hey Mama by the Black Eyed Peas. Stopping at a red light the car beside her slowed to a stop and of the guys in the car gave a low whistle.
"Hey...where you off to?"
Giving an impish grin Summer accelerated and left the boys eating her dust. She drove up the Cohen's driveway and beeped. Seth opened the door and walked out to her waiting mini jeep.
"Hey," she got out of the car and pulled Seth into a hug.
"Well hey...this is nice," Seth murmured patting her softly on the back. Summer pulled away and gave him a quick peck on the lips then walked around to her side of the car.
"So where's Chino?" Seth threw his bag in the back seat, "Ummm...I think he's sick. I dunno cause it's not like he fakes it so he must be...well mom told him...well not told him more like forced him to stay in bed so he's not gonna be here today," he glanced at Summer to see if she had listened. Fairly often people tended to tune out when Seth was trying to explain something. Summer nodded trying to swallow the lump in her throat. She could never remember anyone forcing her to stay in bed. Because there had never been anyone around. All the housekeepers had thought she was a spoiled little princess who was too stuck up for her own good. The only employee who had ever taken the time to be nice to her was Merla. Merla with her little treats on her birthday. Merla with her warm hugs whenever Summer had a fight with a friend in school or whenever Summer's father couldn't make it to one of her school events. But Merla had her own family to look after. She had her own children. The day Merla had left Summer had felt like it was the day her mother had left all over again. Except that Summer had never witnessed her mother leave. There had been nothing left of her in the house. No perfume, no clothes no jewellery. The house still reminded everyone of Nicole Roberts. Who knew why she had left? When Summer was younger she had thought it had been her fault. Then she grew up. She became popular. Parties were thrown at her house because there were no chaperones at her house. She began to look upon as having practically no parents a good thing. But there was still a large whole in her heart. And talks of mothers and family just made that whole bigger. But Summer Roberts was strong. Stronger than that. No one needed to see what went on behind the mask. Because everyone had proved that they didn't want to know. No one cared but it didn't matter because if there was one thing that her parents divorce had taught her was that emotions of a young girl didn't matter.
"So you're awfully quiet this morning," Seth's voice broke into her thoughts. Summer flinched.
"Shut up and enjoy the music Cohen," Summer eased into a parking space.
"You call this music? Woman we need to get you a new taste," Seth shook his head, "Music. You call talking music"
"It's not talking. It's called rap. It's what normal kids these days listen to. Abnormal ones like you listen to...whatever crap you listen to," Summer replied as they both walked into the school.
"But abnormal in a good way right?" Summer snorted.
"You are so abnormal Cohen" She waved to some girls from her English class.
"But in a good way...I'm abnormal in a good way"
Summer was about to say something back to Seth when Marissa ran up to them.
"Hey guys have you seen Ryan?"
"Well hey there Marissa it's great to see you too. How was your morning?" Seth opened his locker to avoid Marissa's glare. She turned her eyes to Summer.
"Have you seen him?" Honestly the girl looked like a desperate puppy dog. Could she get any more pathetic? Summer instantly felt guilty. What was with her conscience lately?
"No Coop I haven't. He's sick"
Marissa's eyes widened. "Is he ok?"
"I'm sure he is," Summer glanced at Seth surprised that he had managed to stay quiet for this long. Marissa glanced at Seth who slammed his locker door shut and turned towards them.
"Well bye ladies. I am off to homeroom"
Summer stared after Seth puzzled. Why wasn't he saying anything?
"See you at lunch!" She called after him then linked arms with Marissa who was also looking back at Seth with confusion.
"Don't worry about him Coop. I'm sure Chino's fine. I mean he's still alive after all those bruises and stuff," She looked at Marissa expectantly, "He'll be fine," She repeated.
Marissa nodded. She really wanted to talk to Ryan. Now that Theresa had gone maybe their relationship had a chance. She had never felt more abandoned in the past few days than she ever had in her life. At least she had Summer. The one friend who never abandoned her no matter what.
"Coop you look thinner than usual. You know the freakishly skinny look went out months ago," Summer noticed as the girls sat down in their seats for homeroom.
Marissa didn't answer as the teacher had walked into the room and was addressing the class. She stared ahead and blinked back tears. She knew Ryan was avoiding her. And she didn't know what to do about it. She didn't want to look desperate but she missed Ryan so much that it hurt. He had been the only sane person in Newport. He had been like a breath of fresh air to the community. The only one who ever had the courage to call on her shit. The only one who looked at her for little miss perfect but someone with no expectations. He liked her for who she was. She never had to prove herself to him. Maybe she shouldn't have told him that she loved him. I should have believed him about Oliver Marissa thought mournfully for about the millionth time. Ignoring Summer's goodbyes she walked purposefully ahead to her next class. Newport wouldn't want their reigning queen to drop her mask again. Not after her incident in Mexico.
So much for whatever happens in Mexico stays in Mexico.
Seth Cohen jolted awake by the ringing of his cell phone. Rolling over he quickly picked up the phone and held it to his ear.
"Hello?
His voice sounded raspy with sleep. Summer cursed herself silently. What was she doing? She forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat and talk.
"Cohen it's me"
"Summer? What are you doing?" He strained to look at the clock.
"It's two in the morning. A man needs his beauty sleep you know" She laughed.
"There is not enough beauty sleep in the world to make you look beautiful Seth"
"Right. Because I'm so manly and handsome? So what's up? Why are you calling me at this hour of the night? Or morning? Not that I mind you calling cause it's always good to hear from you and –"
"I couldn't sleep"
"Ah yes well that explains a lot"
"It should" " Well can I go back to sleep now?"
"Gee thanks for being such a great, supportive boyfriend" "Honoured. Wait. Did you just say boyfriend?"
Seth shifted as he waited for Summer to answer.
"What do you think Cohen?"
Seth didn't answer. She was always surprising him. Like when she kissed him in front of everyone and now that he was actually Summer Robert's boyfriend now.
"I'm Summer Robert's boyfriend"
"Well done"
Seth yawned. Summer heard it and immediately felt guilty.
"So I should go"
Seth stifled another yawn.
"What? No we haven't discussed why you called"
"Go to sleep Seth. I'll see you at school tomorrow"
"You know that sounds like a very good idea"
Summer smiled.
"Night."
Seth mumbled something back in response and hung up the phone. Pulling up the covers Seth gradually went back to sleep trying to ignore the little voice that told him something was wrong with Summer.
Summer pulled out a pair of fitted jeans that went perfectly with her the top she had dragged out of her closet that morning. Running down stairs she grabbed her keys, wallet and bag and ran out to her car, eager to get out of her home. Opening her glove box she fumbled for her sunglasses and hastily put them on as she reversed down the driveway. Turning the music up she grinned as she sang along to Hey Mama by the Black Eyed Peas. Stopping at a red light the car beside her slowed to a stop and of the guys in the car gave a low whistle.
"Hey...where you off to?"
Giving an impish grin Summer accelerated and left the boys eating her dust. She drove up the Cohen's driveway and beeped. Seth opened the door and walked out to her waiting mini jeep.
"Hey," she got out of the car and pulled Seth into a hug.
"Well hey...this is nice," Seth murmured patting her softly on the back. Summer pulled away and gave him a quick peck on the lips then walked around to her side of the car.
"So where's Chino?" Seth threw his bag in the back seat, "Ummm...I think he's sick. I dunno cause it's not like he fakes it so he must be...well mom told him...well not told him more like forced him to stay in bed so he's not gonna be here today," he glanced at Summer to see if she had listened. Fairly often people tended to tune out when Seth was trying to explain something. Summer nodded trying to swallow the lump in her throat. She could never remember anyone forcing her to stay in bed. Because there had never been anyone around. All the housekeepers had thought she was a spoiled little princess who was too stuck up for her own good. The only employee who had ever taken the time to be nice to her was Merla. Merla with her little treats on her birthday. Merla with her warm hugs whenever Summer had a fight with a friend in school or whenever Summer's father couldn't make it to one of her school events. But Merla had her own family to look after. She had her own children. The day Merla had left Summer had felt like it was the day her mother had left all over again. Except that Summer had never witnessed her mother leave. There had been nothing left of her in the house. No perfume, no clothes no jewellery. The house still reminded everyone of Nicole Roberts. Who knew why she had left? When Summer was younger she had thought it had been her fault. Then she grew up. She became popular. Parties were thrown at her house because there were no chaperones at her house. She began to look upon as having practically no parents a good thing. But there was still a large whole in her heart. And talks of mothers and family just made that whole bigger. But Summer Roberts was strong. Stronger than that. No one needed to see what went on behind the mask. Because everyone had proved that they didn't want to know. No one cared but it didn't matter because if there was one thing that her parents divorce had taught her was that emotions of a young girl didn't matter.
"So you're awfully quiet this morning," Seth's voice broke into her thoughts. Summer flinched.
"Shut up and enjoy the music Cohen," Summer eased into a parking space.
"You call this music? Woman we need to get you a new taste," Seth shook his head, "Music. You call talking music"
"It's not talking. It's called rap. It's what normal kids these days listen to. Abnormal ones like you listen to...whatever crap you listen to," Summer replied as they both walked into the school.
"But abnormal in a good way right?" Summer snorted.
"You are so abnormal Cohen" She waved to some girls from her English class.
"But in a good way...I'm abnormal in a good way"
Summer was about to say something back to Seth when Marissa ran up to them.
"Hey guys have you seen Ryan?"
"Well hey there Marissa it's great to see you too. How was your morning?" Seth opened his locker to avoid Marissa's glare. She turned her eyes to Summer.
"Have you seen him?" Honestly the girl looked like a desperate puppy dog. Could she get any more pathetic? Summer instantly felt guilty. What was with her conscience lately?
"No Coop I haven't. He's sick"
Marissa's eyes widened. "Is he ok?"
"I'm sure he is," Summer glanced at Seth surprised that he had managed to stay quiet for this long. Marissa glanced at Seth who slammed his locker door shut and turned towards them.
"Well bye ladies. I am off to homeroom"
Summer stared after Seth puzzled. Why wasn't he saying anything?
"See you at lunch!" She called after him then linked arms with Marissa who was also looking back at Seth with confusion.
"Don't worry about him Coop. I'm sure Chino's fine. I mean he's still alive after all those bruises and stuff," She looked at Marissa expectantly, "He'll be fine," She repeated.
Marissa nodded. She really wanted to talk to Ryan. Now that Theresa had gone maybe their relationship had a chance. She had never felt more abandoned in the past few days than she ever had in her life. At least she had Summer. The one friend who never abandoned her no matter what.
"Coop you look thinner than usual. You know the freakishly skinny look went out months ago," Summer noticed as the girls sat down in their seats for homeroom.
Marissa didn't answer as the teacher had walked into the room and was addressing the class. She stared ahead and blinked back tears. She knew Ryan was avoiding her. And she didn't know what to do about it. She didn't want to look desperate but she missed Ryan so much that it hurt. He had been the only sane person in Newport. He had been like a breath of fresh air to the community. The only one who ever had the courage to call on her shit. The only one who looked at her for little miss perfect but someone with no expectations. He liked her for who she was. She never had to prove herself to him. Maybe she shouldn't have told him that she loved him. I should have believed him about Oliver Marissa thought mournfully for about the millionth time. Ignoring Summer's goodbyes she walked purposefully ahead to her next class. Newport wouldn't want their reigning queen to drop her mask again. Not after her incident in Mexico.
So much for whatever happens in Mexico stays in Mexico.