(Disclaimer: I don't own anything at all. So don't sue me. Please.)

A Note from the Author: Hoo boy, more angst coming up. I hope I'm not beating a dead horse with a stick here, so please tell me if I am. I was just wondering though, how can one write O.C. fanfiction realistically without having some clichéd angst in there somewhere? It's impossible (unless you're totally talented, unlike me)! I mean, the O.C. as a show was meant to be 90210, soap opera-ish, so, non-OOC fanfiction should be the same, right? Bah. And, just a note, in my nice fictional world, teachers start lecturing on the first day of school and aren't nice enough to let you off with just an outline of the course for the rest of the year. Saw the O.C. episode on Monday, and I have to say, thumbs up all around (although way too much screen time is being devoted to Marissa. Psh. rants) Uh… oh yeah, onwards!

Chapter Fourteen

While the teacher was droning on about fallen heroes and fatal flaws, Summer's mind drifted to another fallen hero. Ryan Atwood.

She snuck glances at him out of the corner of her right eye, willing him to remain oblivious of her, and yet, hoping that he would just look at her, even for a second, at least to acknowledge her presence or something. Could the lecture really be that interesting? (Duh, of course not!) He must hate her then. With a burning passion. With the fire of a lot of suns. With the heat of a chili pepper. (Chili pepper? Ew. Okay, see, she knew there was a reason she hated English class.)

But she wasn't the only one who had missed him. Speaking of Marissa, Summer wondered whatever possessed the girl to just run off like that. Coop never did that often, unless she saw Oliver… or Ryan.

That made sense, she reasoned, Marissa wanting to see him and talk to him. Perfect sense. He had been her white knight in shining armour, and she would never let him go. Marissa was possessive like that, Luke being a prime example. Summer didn't remember him having any success with the Harbour girls after they broke up, even before it was known that his dad was gay.

But Ryan was different from Luke. Marissa never smiled around him, not in that special way that showed that she was really truly happy. Oh no. That look was reserved for Ryan. Summer wanted her best friend to be happy, especially after all that she had gone through with her personal life. She deserved it.

So why did Summer feel so unsettled at that thought? She sighed softly, and snuck another look at Ryan. He was staring straight back at her. Caught off-guard, Summer turned a little pink, then whipped her head around to the left and pretended to admire the classroom wall art.

Ryan almost snorted. That wasn't obvious.

He wondered what happened to the old Summer, the one who would probably just stare right back, challenging him to break his gaze. The Summer that was snarky. The Summer that he had disliked. But that was all different now, especially after his talk with Sandy. So now he didn't dislike her? Which meant that he liked her? And this meant that…

"Ryan!" Mrs. Wexler looked a bit annoyed. "Why don't you tell the class what a hyperbole is?"

Ryan quickly replied with the correct answer. Sometimes this was just too easy.

When English class was over, and then math, Ryan headed off to study hall. After he saw Summer there also, he decided to make his move.

They had to talk, and it was now or never. Frankly, over the past few days, Ryan had been feeling confused. Now, Seth would joke and say that Ryan was always confused, but that wasn't the point. Ryan didn't like feeling this way. He had been confused an awful lot lately, and it wasn't doing his psyche any favours. His emotions were tied up in the time he had shared with Summer, with Seth, with their breakup, and he felt as if he really needed to know why. If not for his sake, then for Seth, who could finally get some closure instead of moping around the house all day in his Spongebob jammies.

Ryan slowly approached Summer. "Mind if we talk?" he asked, bringing to mind Sandy's exact same question and its implications.

Her eyes widened, but she quickly regained her composure and coolly replied, "Sure."

She stood up and they walked through the library, shielding themselves from view behind a shelved array of old scientific magazines no student ever bothered to read.

"So," Ryan said in a hushed whisper, deciding to get straight to the point, "why did you break up with Seth?"

Summer visibly flinched. "None of your business, Chino!" she snapped. She was definitely on guard now. Old Summer was back.

"It didn't have anything to do with what we did this summer, did it?" He pressed on, hoping to receive a legitimate response.

"No." There was silence. "Maybe."

Ryan looked at her, a little shocked. He felt strangely energized, in anticipation.

"I don't know!" she protested. "I just… it was just… it was wrong for us to be together, okay?" She didn't know whether she meant Seth or Ryan.

"Summer." He took her by the shoulders. "Why?"

"I don't…" She looked miserable.

"He said he loved you!"

Her lower lip quivered. "I know."

Ryan couldn't comprehend what she was saying. Wasn't that what all girls wanted to hear? That their boyfriends loved them? That everything was safe and future happiness was ensured? "So why…" he trailed off when he saw tears form at the corners of her eyes. He could remember what Sandy said, could hear it echoing in his head. And how do you feel about her?

Her. Summer. His 'brother's ex-girlfriend. His 'distraction' for the summer. She wasn't just that anymore. Not to him.

"Summer…" he began again. When she looked up, he was struck by what she looked like, even with red eyes and a forlorn expression. She was beautiful.

Then somehow his hands worked their way up to her face, and he was kissing her.

And somehow she was kissing back, tears flowing for another entirely different reason.

They didn't get any studying done that day, but it didn't matter all that much to either of them.