Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Note: As promised, here is another chapter of the story. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback on my stories. The inspiration for this chapter was the new preview for the OC that was on during the Swan last week. This song was used in the commercial, so I thought I'd base the chapter around it. If you have not seen it, there is a link in my live journal: RockintheOC that will allow you to view it on windows media. Keep reviewing…and enjoy…
Lady in Red
Chapter 6: the reason is you
Another few weeks had gone by. Seth had tried to call Summer but she wouldn't take his calls. She couldn't believe that she fell for his whole story. He was using that sad, "I was left by the love of my life" sob tale to get into her pants. No way was she going to let that happen. He tried to visit her at her other job as a swimming instructor at the Marina High School pool. All he wanted to do was apologize to her. But she wouldn't see him. He only had one last hope, and that was Marissa. She was Summer's good friend, she could convince Summer to see him.
"Hey, Marissa, can I talk to you?" he caught up with her after class.
"Sure Seth, what's up?"
"I need Summer's phone number. Or address or whatever."
"I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"I don't really think she wants to talk to you. You really hurt her."
"Those things aren't true. Anna was just being a bitch."
"So you mean to tell me that you didn't hook up with Jamie the week before taking Summer to Holly's?"
"Well, okay, so it happened. But I didn't want that to happen between me and Summer."
"So, is she like not good enough for you or something?" Marissa started getting defensive.
"NO, I mean no. Of course not, I think she's a really cool girl, but I really only see her as a friend. I'm still looking for that girl from the party. But I think Summer could be a really good friend."
"She is. She always has been to me. Which is why I'm going to protect her. She doesn't need a guy like you hanging around her all the time. She's a nice person, a good person, Seth. I don't want her to get hurt."
"I won't hurt her, I promise. I don't want that to happen. We're just friends."
"Make sure she knows that." Marissa wasn't so sure that Summer only wanted to be friends. She knew about what had happened at the Fire Ball, and she knew that Summer was starting to grow feelings for Seth. She didn't want to see her friend fall like so many other girls had.
"I will. I'll make it perfectly clear."
"Okay, her home number is 876-8623. Don't tell her that you got it from me."
"Don't worry."
"Okay, I won't. But I swear, if you even make her shed one tear, I'll kill you."
"Geez, Marissa, don't get all creepy and scary on me."
"You're the one who's in love with some girl he met once at a masquerade ball. Do you really think you'll find her?"
"Well, Jason talked to some people from Sage Hill, and they thought they knew someone with that description from Dana Hills High, so maybe I'm getting closer to her, you know?"
Maybe if you would open your eyes and just see that she's there under your nose, you'd find her, reject. "Wow, cool. I'm sure she'll find you when she's ready. You should totally keep looking though. I think that's really romantic." Marissa wasn't willing to give up Summer's secret. She didn't entirely trust Seth. If it was meant to be, then Summer would will it to happen.
"Hey I gotta get going, I don't think Summer's really ready to see me, but if you see her, can you give her this?" He handed Marissa a CD that he had burnt. It was a conciliatory gesture.
"Sure. I'll give it to her. I'm sure she'll really like it." Marissa sighed as he left. She hoped she was doing the right thing by allowing it. She had a deep feeling that Summer was going to end up heart broken.
***
Summer sat on her bed and listened to the tracks for the tenth time that day. It was a good mix of songs. She wasn't really into a lot of pop-punk or mainstream rock (seriously, give the girl some Death Cab or Yo La Tengo and she'd be happy), but she had to admit that the songs were catchy. Maybe he wasn't in the wrong after all. She was still leary of his whole friendship deal, but she could forgive him. She had become addicted to one song in particular that seemed to describe the situation perfectly. Well, not really, but she wanted it to. She wanted to be his impetus to change. She wanted to make him want to be better. Most of all she just wanted to be with him. She wanted him to notice she was there. She wanted him to pick her out of a crowd. She wanted him to notice her details like the way she noticed the way he shuffled his feet slightly before teeing off or the way his shirts hung half tucked and half un-tucked. She wanted to be loved by him. She drifted off into a dream filled sleep, thinking of Seth and how deep she was falling for him.
I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know…
I found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you
I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear…
I found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you
And the reason is you
And the reason is you
And the reason is you
I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know
I found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you
The Reason by Hoobastank