A/N: Thanks for the reviews. This chapter is longer. The camping trip
starts next chap. R&R please.
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Seth had purposely waited as long as he could before stepping inside his 3rd period class, biology, the first class he had with Summer all day. He hadn't seen her yet, so they were still technically a couple. The hard part was -- he really did want to see her, it was hard enough going an entire weekend without his Summer fix, now he had to be in the same building with her without actually seeing her or talking to her or smelling her or touching her.
It was complete torture.
Seth peeked his head in through the open door of his biology class. He searched the noisy room for her, she wasn't in her seat and she didn't seem to be anywhere else in the class. Before he had a chance to take a step forward he heard a very familiar, somewhat pissed, voice from behind him.
"Uh move! This is not a-"She stopped the moment she recognized him. He turned around slowly... damn, Code Red, Code Red! Op. Avoid Summer just tanked.
There she was standing in her Manolos, a short white skirt, and a pink Abercrombie spaghetti strap. He hair up in a ponytail revealing her tiny heart shaped necklace.
Her eyes instantly softened when he looked into them. Her insides turned, and that pain that had been plaguing her heart the past 3 days instantly returned. "I-um..." She tried to look every where but at him.
Seth swallowed the lump in his throat and moved to the side of the doorway, pressing his back against the frame allowing her space to move past him. He couldn't peel his eyes away from her.
She adjusted her matching pink Fendi bag and clutched her binder close to her chest as she slipped past him into the class.
Seth banged his head back against the doorframe and let out the breath he had been holding in. That went famously.
His plan had already been sabotaged, there was no turning back now. He stepped into the class just as the bell rang and all the students hurried towards their seats.
"Mr. Cohen," Mr. Milord his biology teacher announced in front of the class, "that bell means you should already be in your seat."
"Yessir." He mumbled and dragged himself to his desk behind Summer's.
"Alright, were going to be starting our Calorimetry Lab. By burning pieces of food, heat will be produced which are measured in units called calories. Now get into partners and find a lab station, then collect a sample of each type of food and begin." Mr. Milord instructed the class after taking role.
The class stood up and began bustling around, pairing up and getting to lab stations. Seth didn't move, he just stared at the head of raven hair in front of him.
He finally snapped out of his daze and looked around the class, everyone seemed to be paired up. He looked back to Summer, she didn't seem to be planning on getting up and asking him to be her partner anytime soon. And there was no way he going to ask her in fear of getting verbally attacked in front of the entire class.
But they were stuck together, he couldn't deny he was leaping for joy on the inside. He stood up from his desk and walked right in front of hers towards an empty lab station to the right, where he knew she had no choice but to notice him there.
"Ms. Roberts, do you not have a partner?" Mr. Milord asked as her stood next to her desk.
Summer exhaled and rolled her eyes, "No." Her voice cracked a little.
She missed Seth. He was always her partner. Now things we so different. They weren't even talking and it was her fault. She was so confused.
She spent her weekend very similar to Seth's, locked up in her room... crying.
Crying! Can you believe it? Summer Roberts didn't cry, and especially not over boys.
Her father told her that it would be okay, that Seth was just a boy, that there'd be others. He told her that Seth wasn't good enough for her anyway, that she could do better.
Summer would just nod and choke back her tears until he left her room, and then she'd break down all over again. She wanted to believe all the things her father told her, but it was hard to change her heart.
He flew to Florida this morning on business.
"Does anyone need a partner? Ms. Roberts doesn't have one." Mr. Milord announced over the loud, clattering of the class.
How embarrassing. Summer's cheeks flushed and she rolled her eyes. Kill me now.
Seth tried hard to hide the small, smug, smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. He slowly raised his hand.
"Ah, there you go. Mr. Cohen also needs a partner, I new we had an even number." Mr. Milord patted her on the shoulder and returned to his desk at the front of the class.
Summer groaned and stood up, making her way next to Seth at the counter.
Seth tried to play it cool, but his palms were sweating and his pulse was racing. He racked his brain for something to say.
How was your weekend? I like your necklace. Is that a new shade of lip- gloss? Are we still a couple? Does your Nazi Father still hate me?
Instead he arranged the small cups of different food objects they'd be burning, and started to assemble the burner they would be using.
Summer just leaned against the counter and stared off into space, trying her hardest not to break down in front of him and let him know how much it was killing her to be so close to him but without him.
"Is this right?" His voice was flat.
Hearing him speak sent shivers through her body. Her breath caught in her throat. She turned to him, he was fiddling with the ring stand and clamp. Is this right? No, of coarse it's not right. This isn't right at all, I'm miserable. I miss you. I miss us.
"Wh-what?" It came out softer then she had planned.
He looked up at her, "Is this right? The burner. Did I put it together right? I don't want any explosions."
"I don't think a test tube, water, and stand-y thing is enough to cause an explosion."
"Safety first Summer." He scolded.
She glared at him.
"Okay, you're the rocket scientist." He held his hands up in defeat.
She stared at him a moment longer then she intended to. Her anti-Seth walls were starting to crumble. Damn Mr. Milord for sabotaging her plan.
"So what's next?" Seth looked down at the directions on their handout. "Place water in the test tube, put test tube in clamp, place thermometer in test tube..." He trailed off.
They set everything up and decided to burn the Cheeto first. Seth lit the pilot at the bottom of the stand and positioned the Cheeto over it.
"It's falling." Summer observed casually.
"Where?"
She reached over around the flaming Cheeto to adjust the test tube, her arm accidentally turned the knob on the stand, raising the flame at the bottom.
The fire grew and singed the side of her hand. She instinctively yanked her hand away from the flame and cried out in pain.
Seth's eyes widened. Without a second thought he grabbed her wrist and pulled her over to the sink next to their lab station.
"I can do it!" She pulled her arm and turned on the water.
"No, Sum-"He was interrupted by the stream of profanities erupting from her mouth.
She had turned the knob for hot water instead of cold.
She cradled her burned hand as she struggled to control her breathing. Seth turned off the hot water and turned on the cold. He checked the temperature to make sure it had cooled down and gently pulled her hand under the stream of cold water on top of his.
She began to trace over his features with her eyes as he held her hand under the faucet. The pain in her hand was going away, all she could think about was him.
Her eyes started to sting with tears. She subconsciously leaned to her side against his chest.
Seth's gaze finally met hers. "Does this help?" He asked.
She nodded as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Thank you." She said almost silently and sniffed. He was the sweetest guy on the planet, and she had to dump him. Her father was the only person she had besides Marissa, and if he didn't approve what could she do? Nothing. She had to break things off with Seth, even if it killed her.
Seth moved his free hand to her back and pulled her into his chest. She wiped her tears on his chest and closed her eyes, inhaling his cologne.
"You should go to the nurse." He murmured, afraid he'd ruin their moment.
"I'm fine." She whispered into his shirt.
"That's because your hand is under cold water."
Summer took a step away from Seth and pulled her hand out from the running water and looked at it. The side of her hand didn't look that bad, it was a little red. But after about 3 seconds of being out of the water it started stinging and burning just as worse, if not more so, then it did when it was actually over the flame. She shoved her hand back under the water.
She glanced up at Seth who gave her an I-told-you-so look.
"Okay, okay. The nurse it is."
"Seth, Summer. Is everything okay here?" Mr. Milord asked as he approached them.
"Summer got burned, it doesn't look too bad."
Summer pulled her hand out from under the faucet to show him then quickly put it back under the cool water.
"Are you sure yo-"Mr. Milord was interrupted by the sound of breaking glass a lab station in the back of the room. "A burn is a burn, she needs to go to the nurse. Go on, you can take her." He turned around and hurried in the direction of the shattered glass.
Seth grabbed a paper towel and wet it then turned off the water and carefully placed it on her injury. He ushered her towards the door with a hand barely touching her back. Summer grabbed her purse off the desk when they passed it and thought to herself how the day couldn't get any worse.
...
"Okay sweetie, doesn't look too bad. It may start to blister though..."
Summer made a face, "Ew." Blisters? Gross.
The nurse took an ice pack out of the freezer, wrapped it in a paper towel, and handed it to Summer.
"What's your name?" The nurse asked sweetly.
"Summer Roberts." She answered.
"Okay," the woman turned around to search for her file on the computer, "are either of your parents at home?"
Summer looked down at her painted toenails. "No." She didn't really want Seth to know how her dad had bailed on her after less then a week of being home.
"At work then?"
"No, my father is away on business and it's not likely my step-mother is home."
Seth frowned, how could her father's opinion mean so much to her when he was only home a few days a month.
The nurse opened her mouth to speak but decided not to pry when she noticed Summer's apprehension.
She gave Summer some aspirin for the pain then took a tiny bottle out of a cupboard. "This is medicated lotion, apply it whenever the affected area starts getting dry, or after you use a cold compress. It'll cool down your skin pronto." She handed the bottle to Seth and turned back towards Summer. "Now there is a possibility you may develop a slight fever but that's only with serious burns, so it's not likely with this one."
Summer nodded.
"Well okay, you're free to wait here until school is out or you can go back to class."
"I'll be fine, I'll just go back." Summer smiled courteously before grabbing her purse off the counter and walking out of the office, Seth at her heals.
She walked swiftly down the hall, as if she were trying to escape Seth.
"Where're you going?"
"Home." She said without looking back.
He ran up next to her, "I'll give you a ride."
"No." She said a little too quickly. "No." Her tone was softer. She kicked her self for being rude, he was just trying to help.
"Your gonna drive?" He asked condescendingly. She glared at him. "It'll be hard with one hand."
"I don't have a stick," she said and continued down the hall, "that's you."
"You can't drive with one hand. And If the ice pack isn't on it'll start to burn again. Let me drive you home."
She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to him, tears stinging at her eyes now. He saw the pain in her face and his stomach immediately tightened up. He was surprised, he expected her to be furious, not sad. But then he realized what she was about to do, end his life.
A moment of silence was broken when Seth swallowed the lump in his throat and spoke, "You're breaking up with me now?" He mumbled.
Her eyes welled up in tears as she tried desperately not to look at him, she knew if she did they would spill out.
"Sorry." She whispered.
Tears rolled down her cheeks and she quickly wiped them away best she could with her good hand. He just nodded, swallowing back his own tears.
"Sorry." She repeated quietly as her tears flowed freely now. She ran past him and down the hall. He stood there listening to the descending click of her heels on the tiled floor. He heard her push through the heavy doors and exit the school.
Seth stood their long after she had left. He was broken. He didn't know what to do.
He didn't want to go back to class and finish the lab by himself, but he couldn't leave early because all his stuff was in the class. He thought about chasing after Summer, it really wasn't a good idea to drive one handed, especially in Summer's case, she wouldn't be wining any Driver Of The Year awards anytime this century. She had a bad case of road rage, and that didn't mix well with her blackouts. And, he was pretty sure she scammed her way through her driving test. She had absolutely no knowledge regarding dotted or solid lines or the meaning of any street signs without words.
It wasn't until the bell rang that Seth realized he still had the medicated lotion the nurse had given him for Summer in his hand. Now not only was he completely heart broken and sad, he was also worried and scared. Worried that she'd be in pain without it, and scared about having to give it to her.
Seth walked back to class and grabbed his stuff. Maybe he could catch Marissa and have her bring it to Summer.
Seth headed toward Marissa's next class.
Nope, too late. The bell for 4th period just rang. He couldn't pull her out of class, and he couldn't wait until school was over, it would be hours.
He sighed and watched as a few late students scurried down the quiet hallways to class. He knew what he had to do.
...
Seth pressed his shaky finger against the doorbell button. His stomach was in his throat. This wasn't normal. After breaking up it was customary for at least a 24-hour time period to mourn and drown your sorrows. And this wasn't just some random break up, it was Seth's first, with his first love.
Seth rang the doorbell once more and listened as the extravagant ring tone echoed through the large house. He waited for another minute or so then started knocking.
He thought about turning back, it would be so easy to. But he knew she'd need it. She wasn't going to go see a doctor, her father wouldn't be home until god knows how long, and she'd never ask her stepmother for anything.
Seth sighed. Why wasn't she answering? She was probably drowning her hand under the faucet. Why'd she have to go and forget her stupid lotion?
Seth turned the doorknob and it opened. He shook his head, she shouldn't leave the door unlocked when she was home alone.
He pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside. The scent of Cuban cigars (her father), vodka (her stepmother), Lemon Pledge (the maid), and Summer swam around his head. Summer's scent couldn't be described as anything other than Summer, a mix of her flowery shampoo, her raspberry body wash, perfume, and Coppertone Sun block. He loved it.
He moved cautiously through the house. It was much colder inside then it was out. He'd only been in her house a few times before and was always a little uncomfortable, with the exception of her room. Her room was very Summer, while the rest of the house was very... Newport. Very hotel lobby.
He made it into the living room and she was no where to be found, the house was eerily quiet.
"Su-," He swallowed the lump in his throat and raised his voice, "Summer?"
He peeked his head into the empty dining room, then walked back into the living room. She was probably up in her room. Should he just leave it on the table downstairs? Maybe on the mantel. But what if she never comes down and sees it?
Seth scratched his head nervously. He moved over to the staircase. "Summer?" He called. When he got no response, he quietly crept up the stairs, the only thing heard was the sound of his heart pounding in his chest. She'd probably freak once she found him breaking and entering to stalk her.
He moved to her bedroom door, ready to knock when he heard the faintest noise coming from inside. He leaned his ear against the door and recognized the sound as sobs. She was crying. Why? His palms suddenly grew moist as his mouth turned to cotton. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the worse and knocked.
"Summer?" He choked out. He heard sniffling then silence.
"Seth?" She didn't exactly sound angry, just completely baffled, the anger will come later.
"Uh yea, sorry to just barge in like this but you forgot, or I forgot to give you your medicine lotion stuff. I mean, I figured you'd need it and no one answered. I know this is weird, not that I have a lot of experience with break ups or being dumped or anything, but I know your not suppose to follow your ex home and sneak into their-"
He was cut off when she opened the door. Her mascara, or eyeliner, whatever it was made it clear that she HAD been crying. She took a deep breath when she saw him standing there, as if the sight of him knocked the wind out of her.
After a silent moment of shifty eyes and uncomfortable glances Seth held up the bottle. "Uh, here." He whispered, barley audibly.
Summer parted her lips to speak, but then just took the bottle instead. Seth glanced at her injured hand, it was really red. She hadn't been icing it.
"You should put it on soon, and ice your hand." His voice was hushed. His brain wasn't even functioning correctly, he was just thinking out loud.
Summer finally brought her eyes up to Seth's, as she tears slid down her rosy cheeks. She kicked herself for letting him see her cry, again. She had forgotten about the pain in her hand, in fact she wished it hurt more. Enough to take the pain away she was feeling inside.
Seth finally realized how stupid he looked just standing there for so long staring at her, he pulled his gaze away from hers and nodded. "Well, I'll see ya." He knew if he didn't get out of there soon he'd start crying also. He turned and quickly headed for the stairs.
"Thank you." She murmured quietly, her voice cracked. He knew she was crying.
He stopped. He was so confused. She seemed so upset. He wanted to turn and yell at her that he loved her, she was obviously upset about they're breaking up, so why was she doing it? Because of her stupid father who's never around?
But he didn't. He didn't turn, he said nothing he just quickened his pace through the hall, down the stairs, across the living room and out the front door.
He locked it from the inside first. Then hopped in his car and sped off.
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Seth had purposely waited as long as he could before stepping inside his 3rd period class, biology, the first class he had with Summer all day. He hadn't seen her yet, so they were still technically a couple. The hard part was -- he really did want to see her, it was hard enough going an entire weekend without his Summer fix, now he had to be in the same building with her without actually seeing her or talking to her or smelling her or touching her.
It was complete torture.
Seth peeked his head in through the open door of his biology class. He searched the noisy room for her, she wasn't in her seat and she didn't seem to be anywhere else in the class. Before he had a chance to take a step forward he heard a very familiar, somewhat pissed, voice from behind him.
"Uh move! This is not a-"She stopped the moment she recognized him. He turned around slowly... damn, Code Red, Code Red! Op. Avoid Summer just tanked.
There she was standing in her Manolos, a short white skirt, and a pink Abercrombie spaghetti strap. He hair up in a ponytail revealing her tiny heart shaped necklace.
Her eyes instantly softened when he looked into them. Her insides turned, and that pain that had been plaguing her heart the past 3 days instantly returned. "I-um..." She tried to look every where but at him.
Seth swallowed the lump in his throat and moved to the side of the doorway, pressing his back against the frame allowing her space to move past him. He couldn't peel his eyes away from her.
She adjusted her matching pink Fendi bag and clutched her binder close to her chest as she slipped past him into the class.
Seth banged his head back against the doorframe and let out the breath he had been holding in. That went famously.
His plan had already been sabotaged, there was no turning back now. He stepped into the class just as the bell rang and all the students hurried towards their seats.
"Mr. Cohen," Mr. Milord his biology teacher announced in front of the class, "that bell means you should already be in your seat."
"Yessir." He mumbled and dragged himself to his desk behind Summer's.
"Alright, were going to be starting our Calorimetry Lab. By burning pieces of food, heat will be produced which are measured in units called calories. Now get into partners and find a lab station, then collect a sample of each type of food and begin." Mr. Milord instructed the class after taking role.
The class stood up and began bustling around, pairing up and getting to lab stations. Seth didn't move, he just stared at the head of raven hair in front of him.
He finally snapped out of his daze and looked around the class, everyone seemed to be paired up. He looked back to Summer, she didn't seem to be planning on getting up and asking him to be her partner anytime soon. And there was no way he going to ask her in fear of getting verbally attacked in front of the entire class.
But they were stuck together, he couldn't deny he was leaping for joy on the inside. He stood up from his desk and walked right in front of hers towards an empty lab station to the right, where he knew she had no choice but to notice him there.
"Ms. Roberts, do you not have a partner?" Mr. Milord asked as her stood next to her desk.
Summer exhaled and rolled her eyes, "No." Her voice cracked a little.
She missed Seth. He was always her partner. Now things we so different. They weren't even talking and it was her fault. She was so confused.
She spent her weekend very similar to Seth's, locked up in her room... crying.
Crying! Can you believe it? Summer Roberts didn't cry, and especially not over boys.
Her father told her that it would be okay, that Seth was just a boy, that there'd be others. He told her that Seth wasn't good enough for her anyway, that she could do better.
Summer would just nod and choke back her tears until he left her room, and then she'd break down all over again. She wanted to believe all the things her father told her, but it was hard to change her heart.
He flew to Florida this morning on business.
"Does anyone need a partner? Ms. Roberts doesn't have one." Mr. Milord announced over the loud, clattering of the class.
How embarrassing. Summer's cheeks flushed and she rolled her eyes. Kill me now.
Seth tried hard to hide the small, smug, smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. He slowly raised his hand.
"Ah, there you go. Mr. Cohen also needs a partner, I new we had an even number." Mr. Milord patted her on the shoulder and returned to his desk at the front of the class.
Summer groaned and stood up, making her way next to Seth at the counter.
Seth tried to play it cool, but his palms were sweating and his pulse was racing. He racked his brain for something to say.
How was your weekend? I like your necklace. Is that a new shade of lip- gloss? Are we still a couple? Does your Nazi Father still hate me?
Instead he arranged the small cups of different food objects they'd be burning, and started to assemble the burner they would be using.
Summer just leaned against the counter and stared off into space, trying her hardest not to break down in front of him and let him know how much it was killing her to be so close to him but without him.
"Is this right?" His voice was flat.
Hearing him speak sent shivers through her body. Her breath caught in her throat. She turned to him, he was fiddling with the ring stand and clamp. Is this right? No, of coarse it's not right. This isn't right at all, I'm miserable. I miss you. I miss us.
"Wh-what?" It came out softer then she had planned.
He looked up at her, "Is this right? The burner. Did I put it together right? I don't want any explosions."
"I don't think a test tube, water, and stand-y thing is enough to cause an explosion."
"Safety first Summer." He scolded.
She glared at him.
"Okay, you're the rocket scientist." He held his hands up in defeat.
She stared at him a moment longer then she intended to. Her anti-Seth walls were starting to crumble. Damn Mr. Milord for sabotaging her plan.
"So what's next?" Seth looked down at the directions on their handout. "Place water in the test tube, put test tube in clamp, place thermometer in test tube..." He trailed off.
They set everything up and decided to burn the Cheeto first. Seth lit the pilot at the bottom of the stand and positioned the Cheeto over it.
"It's falling." Summer observed casually.
"Where?"
She reached over around the flaming Cheeto to adjust the test tube, her arm accidentally turned the knob on the stand, raising the flame at the bottom.
The fire grew and singed the side of her hand. She instinctively yanked her hand away from the flame and cried out in pain.
Seth's eyes widened. Without a second thought he grabbed her wrist and pulled her over to the sink next to their lab station.
"I can do it!" She pulled her arm and turned on the water.
"No, Sum-"He was interrupted by the stream of profanities erupting from her mouth.
She had turned the knob for hot water instead of cold.
She cradled her burned hand as she struggled to control her breathing. Seth turned off the hot water and turned on the cold. He checked the temperature to make sure it had cooled down and gently pulled her hand under the stream of cold water on top of his.
She began to trace over his features with her eyes as he held her hand under the faucet. The pain in her hand was going away, all she could think about was him.
Her eyes started to sting with tears. She subconsciously leaned to her side against his chest.
Seth's gaze finally met hers. "Does this help?" He asked.
She nodded as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Thank you." She said almost silently and sniffed. He was the sweetest guy on the planet, and she had to dump him. Her father was the only person she had besides Marissa, and if he didn't approve what could she do? Nothing. She had to break things off with Seth, even if it killed her.
Seth moved his free hand to her back and pulled her into his chest. She wiped her tears on his chest and closed her eyes, inhaling his cologne.
"You should go to the nurse." He murmured, afraid he'd ruin their moment.
"I'm fine." She whispered into his shirt.
"That's because your hand is under cold water."
Summer took a step away from Seth and pulled her hand out from the running water and looked at it. The side of her hand didn't look that bad, it was a little red. But after about 3 seconds of being out of the water it started stinging and burning just as worse, if not more so, then it did when it was actually over the flame. She shoved her hand back under the water.
She glanced up at Seth who gave her an I-told-you-so look.
"Okay, okay. The nurse it is."
"Seth, Summer. Is everything okay here?" Mr. Milord asked as he approached them.
"Summer got burned, it doesn't look too bad."
Summer pulled her hand out from under the faucet to show him then quickly put it back under the cool water.
"Are you sure yo-"Mr. Milord was interrupted by the sound of breaking glass a lab station in the back of the room. "A burn is a burn, she needs to go to the nurse. Go on, you can take her." He turned around and hurried in the direction of the shattered glass.
Seth grabbed a paper towel and wet it then turned off the water and carefully placed it on her injury. He ushered her towards the door with a hand barely touching her back. Summer grabbed her purse off the desk when they passed it and thought to herself how the day couldn't get any worse.
...
"Okay sweetie, doesn't look too bad. It may start to blister though..."
Summer made a face, "Ew." Blisters? Gross.
The nurse took an ice pack out of the freezer, wrapped it in a paper towel, and handed it to Summer.
"What's your name?" The nurse asked sweetly.
"Summer Roberts." She answered.
"Okay," the woman turned around to search for her file on the computer, "are either of your parents at home?"
Summer looked down at her painted toenails. "No." She didn't really want Seth to know how her dad had bailed on her after less then a week of being home.
"At work then?"
"No, my father is away on business and it's not likely my step-mother is home."
Seth frowned, how could her father's opinion mean so much to her when he was only home a few days a month.
The nurse opened her mouth to speak but decided not to pry when she noticed Summer's apprehension.
She gave Summer some aspirin for the pain then took a tiny bottle out of a cupboard. "This is medicated lotion, apply it whenever the affected area starts getting dry, or after you use a cold compress. It'll cool down your skin pronto." She handed the bottle to Seth and turned back towards Summer. "Now there is a possibility you may develop a slight fever but that's only with serious burns, so it's not likely with this one."
Summer nodded.
"Well okay, you're free to wait here until school is out or you can go back to class."
"I'll be fine, I'll just go back." Summer smiled courteously before grabbing her purse off the counter and walking out of the office, Seth at her heals.
She walked swiftly down the hall, as if she were trying to escape Seth.
"Where're you going?"
"Home." She said without looking back.
He ran up next to her, "I'll give you a ride."
"No." She said a little too quickly. "No." Her tone was softer. She kicked her self for being rude, he was just trying to help.
"Your gonna drive?" He asked condescendingly. She glared at him. "It'll be hard with one hand."
"I don't have a stick," she said and continued down the hall, "that's you."
"You can't drive with one hand. And If the ice pack isn't on it'll start to burn again. Let me drive you home."
She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to him, tears stinging at her eyes now. He saw the pain in her face and his stomach immediately tightened up. He was surprised, he expected her to be furious, not sad. But then he realized what she was about to do, end his life.
A moment of silence was broken when Seth swallowed the lump in his throat and spoke, "You're breaking up with me now?" He mumbled.
Her eyes welled up in tears as she tried desperately not to look at him, she knew if she did they would spill out.
"Sorry." She whispered.
Tears rolled down her cheeks and she quickly wiped them away best she could with her good hand. He just nodded, swallowing back his own tears.
"Sorry." She repeated quietly as her tears flowed freely now. She ran past him and down the hall. He stood there listening to the descending click of her heels on the tiled floor. He heard her push through the heavy doors and exit the school.
Seth stood their long after she had left. He was broken. He didn't know what to do.
He didn't want to go back to class and finish the lab by himself, but he couldn't leave early because all his stuff was in the class. He thought about chasing after Summer, it really wasn't a good idea to drive one handed, especially in Summer's case, she wouldn't be wining any Driver Of The Year awards anytime this century. She had a bad case of road rage, and that didn't mix well with her blackouts. And, he was pretty sure she scammed her way through her driving test. She had absolutely no knowledge regarding dotted or solid lines or the meaning of any street signs without words.
It wasn't until the bell rang that Seth realized he still had the medicated lotion the nurse had given him for Summer in his hand. Now not only was he completely heart broken and sad, he was also worried and scared. Worried that she'd be in pain without it, and scared about having to give it to her.
Seth walked back to class and grabbed his stuff. Maybe he could catch Marissa and have her bring it to Summer.
Seth headed toward Marissa's next class.
Nope, too late. The bell for 4th period just rang. He couldn't pull her out of class, and he couldn't wait until school was over, it would be hours.
He sighed and watched as a few late students scurried down the quiet hallways to class. He knew what he had to do.
...
Seth pressed his shaky finger against the doorbell button. His stomach was in his throat. This wasn't normal. After breaking up it was customary for at least a 24-hour time period to mourn and drown your sorrows. And this wasn't just some random break up, it was Seth's first, with his first love.
Seth rang the doorbell once more and listened as the extravagant ring tone echoed through the large house. He waited for another minute or so then started knocking.
He thought about turning back, it would be so easy to. But he knew she'd need it. She wasn't going to go see a doctor, her father wouldn't be home until god knows how long, and she'd never ask her stepmother for anything.
Seth sighed. Why wasn't she answering? She was probably drowning her hand under the faucet. Why'd she have to go and forget her stupid lotion?
Seth turned the doorknob and it opened. He shook his head, she shouldn't leave the door unlocked when she was home alone.
He pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside. The scent of Cuban cigars (her father), vodka (her stepmother), Lemon Pledge (the maid), and Summer swam around his head. Summer's scent couldn't be described as anything other than Summer, a mix of her flowery shampoo, her raspberry body wash, perfume, and Coppertone Sun block. He loved it.
He moved cautiously through the house. It was much colder inside then it was out. He'd only been in her house a few times before and was always a little uncomfortable, with the exception of her room. Her room was very Summer, while the rest of the house was very... Newport. Very hotel lobby.
He made it into the living room and she was no where to be found, the house was eerily quiet.
"Su-," He swallowed the lump in his throat and raised his voice, "Summer?"
He peeked his head into the empty dining room, then walked back into the living room. She was probably up in her room. Should he just leave it on the table downstairs? Maybe on the mantel. But what if she never comes down and sees it?
Seth scratched his head nervously. He moved over to the staircase. "Summer?" He called. When he got no response, he quietly crept up the stairs, the only thing heard was the sound of his heart pounding in his chest. She'd probably freak once she found him breaking and entering to stalk her.
He moved to her bedroom door, ready to knock when he heard the faintest noise coming from inside. He leaned his ear against the door and recognized the sound as sobs. She was crying. Why? His palms suddenly grew moist as his mouth turned to cotton. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the worse and knocked.
"Summer?" He choked out. He heard sniffling then silence.
"Seth?" She didn't exactly sound angry, just completely baffled, the anger will come later.
"Uh yea, sorry to just barge in like this but you forgot, or I forgot to give you your medicine lotion stuff. I mean, I figured you'd need it and no one answered. I know this is weird, not that I have a lot of experience with break ups or being dumped or anything, but I know your not suppose to follow your ex home and sneak into their-"
He was cut off when she opened the door. Her mascara, or eyeliner, whatever it was made it clear that she HAD been crying. She took a deep breath when she saw him standing there, as if the sight of him knocked the wind out of her.
After a silent moment of shifty eyes and uncomfortable glances Seth held up the bottle. "Uh, here." He whispered, barley audibly.
Summer parted her lips to speak, but then just took the bottle instead. Seth glanced at her injured hand, it was really red. She hadn't been icing it.
"You should put it on soon, and ice your hand." His voice was hushed. His brain wasn't even functioning correctly, he was just thinking out loud.
Summer finally brought her eyes up to Seth's, as she tears slid down her rosy cheeks. She kicked herself for letting him see her cry, again. She had forgotten about the pain in her hand, in fact she wished it hurt more. Enough to take the pain away she was feeling inside.
Seth finally realized how stupid he looked just standing there for so long staring at her, he pulled his gaze away from hers and nodded. "Well, I'll see ya." He knew if he didn't get out of there soon he'd start crying also. He turned and quickly headed for the stairs.
"Thank you." She murmured quietly, her voice cracked. He knew she was crying.
He stopped. He was so confused. She seemed so upset. He wanted to turn and yell at her that he loved her, she was obviously upset about they're breaking up, so why was she doing it? Because of her stupid father who's never around?
But he didn't. He didn't turn, he said nothing he just quickened his pace through the hall, down the stairs, across the living room and out the front door.
He locked it from the inside first. Then hopped in his car and sped off.