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

A Note from the Author: So incredibly sorry for the abundance of dialogue in the last chapter, between Seth/Ryan and Ryan/Summer. I know how annoying when it's just talking and no action, but the latter two were on the phone, so I couldn't really do anything about that. It's a good thing Summer returns in this chapter. (Oh, you didn't know? Well, now you do. grins) Plus, I tried writing a rage blackout, I really did, but then I had to cut most of it out. Oy. When did Summer become SummerLite? And, okay, wow, so many reviews for the last chapter. Thanks so much, you've made me really happy (even though I have finals right now)! Everybody deserves a nice hug! Upwards and onwards…

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ryan quickly scanned the airport terminal, hoping to catch a glimpse of a certain petite brunette (finally) back in Newport. His attention was focused on any sign of tanned leg or short skirt in the area, but he was having no luck. And then he saw something that he could only dream about.

"Summer," he called out a bit too loudly as he advanced towards her. "Pants? You're wearing pants. Long pants."

"Shut it, Chino," she said irritably. "I spent hours in that God-awful plane, and I feel all disgusting right now."

"Pants," he continued to mutter as he looked down at her. "Pants."

"Just take me home so I can finally wash – ew – recycled airplane smell out of my hair," she grumbled, as she hastily dragged him out of the airport, almost forgetting her suitcase on the way out.

In the car, all Ryan could do was continue his incoherent mumblings of "Pants. She's wearing pants," and so on. The truth was that, yes, she was well-aware that currently she was wearing pants. Long pants, not capris or shorts. Jeans, if you really want to know. Few people had seen her wearing more than a miniskirt, and maybe a dress, if they were lucky. She really couldn't help it, though; it had just been so damn cold in New York.

In more ways than one.

To Summer, it used to be that the sensation of rain was a welcome, pleasant feeling, especially after a scorching day in Newport when she was sticky with sweat. That all changed when she was standing in the pouring rain alone, a borrowed umbrella failing her, staring at the dark mound of dirt piled before her. Her mother's grave. The tombstone was lacking in inscriptions, instead only detailing her name, and dates of birth and death. Nothing of the sort along the lines of "She will be loved." or "Devoted wife, loving mother." The phrase 'loving mother' felt like such an oxymoron to Summer, two words that seemed totally irreconcilable.

She picked at her black dress and overcoat, deciding immediately that the colour looked unbecoming on her. She'd much rather wear red. Or a light blue. Give her puke-green any day. Forget this, she thought. It was time to leave.

Glancing at her mother's gravestone one last time, she involuntarily shivered.

She decided right then and there that she was going to sell her mother's apartment. At first, she had contemplated keeping it, as a safe place if the shit ever really hit the fan in her life in Newport. It could be her one escape, somewhere that only Ryan could think of, and even he didn't know its exact address. But running away was stupid and childish, and Summer was sick of its consequences. Marissa running away to Tijuana. Seth running away on his little boat. Her mom running away from… God knows what. Leaving her only daughter behind. It was loathsome.

The next day, she turned the apartment and its contents over to a realtor, and began packing for her trip back home, or the only place that she had ever really known. The suitcase currently sitting in the back of Ryan's car now held some of her mother's possessions: Summer's childhood photograph and letters. She couldn't very well part with them, could she? Even if all she did was stuff them in a box the minute she returned home, and shove said box into the irretrievable depths of her walk-in closet, that was still one more gesture that the Old Summer would not have done. And she was proud of herself for it.

She returned to these thoughts as she was in the shower, back at her Newport home. Ryan was waiting in her room for her to finish getting ready, and then later they would be going to the Cohen mansion to face Seth. It had to be soon, because they had also decided to make their relationship public in school, and he deserved prior warning. The thought made her heart seize in her chest. Of course they would be together, her and Ryan, but Seth would be all alone. And he would be caught by surprise, too, plus the fact that he got overly emotional sometimes. She wasn't really sure that he could take it.

She shut off the water, wrapping herself in a large white terrycloth towel. Entering her spacious closet, she began rummaging through her clothes, having a hard time deciding on an outfit. After all, what should she wear to confess to her ex-boyfriend that she had been going out with his surrogate brother? This situation just seemed too 90210 for her tastes, in fact, she was sure she had seen this episode once as a rerun somewhere.

But what had the main female character been wearing? She tapped her foot impatiently as she mulled over the answer, finally giving up and decided to ask Ryan. Maybe he had seen that episode; after all, if he was willing to watch The Valley, why not 90210?

She found him scrutinizing Princess Sparkle, who had been tossed on the dresser. This situation seemed all too familiar.

"Hey! Put that down!" she cried, quickly moving to face him.

"Make me." He held the toy My Little Pony high up over his head. For once, he actually relished in his height. No matter how short he was, Summer was still shorter.

"Chino," she warned, giving him a patented Summer Glare. This glare had scared the shit out of Seth once before, and other jocks who were a little too 'friendly', and she only used it for special occasions. Her cherished childhood toy being manhandled was certainly a special occasion.

However, it didn't faze Ryan a bit. "I like it when you're angry. It makes you look… sexy," he teased.

She intensified her glare. "Well, watch my sexy face when I bring my knee up and send you into a world of pain!"

"And plus," he whispered, ignoring her sudden burst of rage as he leaned in dangerously closer, "you're even sexier after a shower."

Summer could've taken advantage of this moment, when he at last let his guard down, to snatch back Princess Sparkle from his grasp, or follow up on her threat. She didn't, however, and instead concentrated on his very agreeable-looking face. The two exchanged looks for about half a second before he kissed her. Hard.

Suffice to say, they had missed each other during the week. I mean, really missed each other. Hands tangled in hair, they tumbled onto her bed, legs entwined. Ryan's hands (which she remembered well) roamed over her as he discarded her towel on the floor, and she began unbuttoning his shirt. Then his belt came off, then pants, then…

Then they stopped.

It always got to the same point, much like in the summer. They'd finally strip down to a single layer of clothing between them, but it wouldn't matter who was wearing it or what was being worn. In the beginning their being together had felt exciting and forbidden, a factor which had egged them on. Now, it was different, to say the least. Their feelings just got in the way, which prevented them from ever going any further. Really, Ryan had briefly mused, Sandy's sex talk had turned out to be useless.

Both couldn't understand it. Luke and Julie could do it. Many, many times, in fact, without hesitation or regret.

But for some reason, again like in the summer, whether they wanted to or not, Summer and Ryan never went all the way. And both were very (and growing increasingly) painfully aware of that fact.

"We can't, can we?" he finally voiced what they had already been thinking the last two months or so.

"Well, duh. Thank you, Captain Obvious," she retorted, frustrated.

"And we're just trying to delay the inevitable, aren't we? Telling Seth?"

"I guess. Oh God, what are we going to do?" she moaned.

Ryan could only respond with a meaningful sigh.

Her moaning was supposed to be his job.