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

A Note from the Author: I'm really sorry I had to push this back at least two chapters. Finally, Ryan and Summer tell Seth what the heck is going on. I tried to make this different from, well, all of the other Seth-finds-out moments, but please tell me what you think. Enjoy, and onwards! (This chapter was inspired by Jet's "Look What You've Done". Put me right in an appropriate depressing mood, it did.)

General shout-out – I am really loving the recent warm and fuzzy reviews people have been giving me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just hope I don't disappoint anyone in the future… It really makes writing this fic worthwhile to hear everyone's opinions, especially since, yes (as Lulu34 hinted at), it is a real bitch to update so fast. I had actually started out with about five or six chapters before I posted the story, and then I'd write a new chapter every two days if I could, but I always had backup. Now, because of exams, I've used all my extra chapters up, and it's sometimes been really hellish when inspiration has decided to abandon me. Again, thank you lots! Merci beaucoup! Gracias! Domi arigatou (Mr. Roboto)! Okay, okay, I'll try to stop dorkifying my A/N's now.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Summer stood up and straightened her skirt for what seemed like the billionth time, patting it down neatly before carefully returning to sit next to Ryan.

"Stop it," he admonished in a hushed tone.

"I can't help it! I'm, like, so nervous," she whined, her shoulders sagging as she sighed loudly. Glancing over at his hands, she observed, "You're not doing so well yourself, you know."

Ryan looked down in response, finally realizing that he had been unconsciously fiddling with his leather wrist cuff. He sheepishly removed his right hand from it, and instead reached for Summer's hand. "Remind me why we're doing this again."

"Uh, hello, Earth to Chino! This was your idea," she huffed.

"Oh. Right."

Summer snorted in irritation. Stupid Ryan with his stupid persuasive ways, she griped. She didn't want to have to do this stupid revelation right now. She wanted everything to be peachy keen and allow everyone else to live in their own stupid bubble of happiness and ignorance. Stupid Ryan. Stupid her for going along with him. Stupid conscience. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

The pool house door banged open as Seth strolled in carelessly. "Hey, man, what's up? Found your note, and okay, what's with the notes? We live in the same house and all, and you are not Oliver and I am not Marissa." Catching himself, he continued to ramble, too busy with his hand gestures and phrasing to notice what was right in front of him. "Oh, sorry, bad, bad topic. Anyway, I – S-Summer?" he stuttered in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

"Yeah. What am I doing here?" She chuckled uneasily. "You see…" she explained as she tried to manage a cheery expression, "we – uh, me and Ryan – we have something to say. To you. Like, it's really important…" Her last statement trailed off, and she was at a loss for words.

Ryan took over, regretting that they hadn't really discussed in detail how they were going to tell Seth. "Summer and I… We…" he cleared his throat awkwardly, then finished, "Like. Each other."

"You guys want to be friends? That's cool, I guess, I can't stop you," Seth articulated, perplexed as to why it seemed like they were asking for permission or something.

"No, that's not what I mean. Maybe you should take a seat." Ryan motioned to an empty spot in front of him.

Seth warily sat down, watching the couple suspiciously. "You know, you guys, just shine a bright overhead light on me, and it'll be like I'm in 1984."

Ryan shook his head sadly. "It's not politics, man." He was beginning to lose momentum. It was supposed to be his job to inform Seth of the harsh facts, and then Summer would be right there to try to comfort the boy. Kind of like the infamous 'good cop, bad cop' routine. Only this time, he wasn't so sure that he could pull off the act and tell Seth everything. He wasn't even sure that he could get past the first sentence. It would've been easier if all he had to do was deny Seth bathroom privileges, or hand him really bad coffee. Geez. Cops had it easy.

Summer noticed his hesitation, and decided to take on the responsibility herself. Screw the routine they had briefly worked out. It was about damn time she stopped shying away from any likelihood of emotional pain. "Cohen." She paused, waiting until Seth's attention was fully on her. She was going to have to hurt him badly again, and it wasn't going to be pretty. But, as sure as she was that her name was Summer frickin' Roberts, she'd rather revert back to being the bitch than have Ryan and Seth's relationship broken up over her. She wasn't good enough for that. Gently, she disclosed to a very confused Seth, "Ryan and I. We're dating."

Then everything got fucked up after that.

It was hard not to notice the play of numerous emotions on Seth's face. Disbelief, denial, sadness, anger… He was almost his own five-step grieving process. Almost. As Ryan and Summer became well aware, the steps were a bit out of order, and acceptance was missing. Despite her efforts, however, Seth immediately focused his sudden rage on Ryan. "So," he snarked, "didn't take long for you to move on from Marissa, did you? I'm sure you were just completely torn up about it."

"Seth," Ryan pleaded. "Don't be like this."

"Like what? Like a guy who just found out his 'brother' is dating his ex-girlfriend? What did you expect me to do, congratulate you?" he spat out. "When the hell did this happen?"

Ryan flinched at his caustic tone. He had stepped up to bat for other people several times. It was no problem for him, defending others in fistfights, or protecting Marissa and Summer from their inner demons. But when it came to family, his family (or the lack thereof)… he found himself completely and utterly defenceless. "The beginning of the school year," he lied, hoping for the off-chance that it would lessen the blow.

It didn't.

"After she broke up with me?" Seth said incredulously. "You expect me to believe that? Tell me the truth, when did you two… Never mind," he cut himself off and bitterly remarked, "I don't want to know." Then again, Seth Cohen was always a sucker for punishment. "No. Wait. I do want to know. I want to know how long I've been lied to."

Summer held Ryan's hand even tighter, praying silently that he would forgive her for saying what he didn't want said. "It started this summer."

Seth recovered from a stunned silence, and it seemed like he had taken the time instead to launch into another tirade against the guilt-stricken boy next to her. "Wow. Wow! I mean, all that time…" he accused, never taking his eyes off of Ryan's. All that time I was telling you about her, about wanting her back, about my plans for us. And you were… I'm so stupid, to think that I could trust you. I can't trust you," he emphasized, shaking his head. "I don't have a brother anymore."

Seeing Ryan flinch, Summer couldn't help herself. "Don't be so childish, Cohen," she snapped, immediately regretting it.

Hurt, he replied, "Yeah, I guess I am. 'Be a man, Seth, be a man.' Isn't that what everybody tells me? So I tried, and, it still wasn't enough, was it?" Calming down, it was if he was close to some profound revelation.

Summer tried to cut in. "No, that's not –"

He ignored her, and began to speak in an eerily resigned tone. "It's like I'm Robin. And Ryan's Batman, and you're Wonder Woman. Both of you have self-titled comics, with the chance for crossovers, but I'm always stuck in the background. I'm always the last to get inked, the last for any character development. I get the repetitive and ultimately annoying catchphrase, because I'm only the comic foil."

"Seth." The typically speechless Ryan reached over and placed his hand on the Cohen boy's shoulder.

Seth's face softened momentarily, until he realized where Ryan's other hand was resting: on Summer's. Then his eyes narrowed, and he muttered in a low voice, "Was it fun, Ryan? Making a fool of me?" He brushed Ryan's hand off of his shoulder and got up quickly. "I wish you both happiness and prosperity," he said resentfully, before he turned around quickly and left the pool house.

Watching Seth's retreating figure, Ryan gave a whimper of anguish, and covered his face with his hands. Summer wrapped her arms around him, but he didn't notice. There was only one thought preoccupying his mind right now, and he dwelt on it mercilessly.

What had he done?