AN: I kind of stumped myself in the last chapter because I really didn't know how to proceed from there. I hope this chapter works.
Marissa and Summer sat in Summer's room watching The Valley.
"You ok Sum?" Marissa asked.
Summer turned to Marissa and gave her a very quick and very fake smile. "Of course I'm ok. Everything's fine Coop."
Marissa just kept staring at her best friend.
"What is it Coop? I told you everything is perfect."
Marissa just kept staring.
"He won't leave me alone!" Summer burst out suddenly. "Everywhere I turn he's there! Maybe that's the way it always was but now that I'm aware of it, it's just creepy. I mean he just takes off and is gone for months without so much as a phone call and now that he's back he wants to talk. That stupid letter should have said everything he needed to say to say to me because I'm never speaking to him again!"
Marissa put an arm around her best friend. "Feel better now?" She asked.
"Much better." Summer replied. "I just can't wait for Jean Luc to get here."
"You guys are really close, aren't you?"
"I guess so, I was kinda a mess when I was in Europe and he cheered me up."
"I can't wait to meet him."
Summer's face lit up. "You'll love him Coop! He's so amazing."
Summer started rambling on and on about her new mystery man and Marissa listened with a sad smile. Summer noticed there was something wrong with her best friend.
"I'm boring you with this whole Jean Luc thing aren't I? Sorry." Summer said to Marissa.
"No it's not that," Marissa replied quickly.
"It's just that this whole thing is reminding you of Chino isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Have you guys talked at all since he moved away?"
"Nah, I hear he's doing okay, though, Kirsten told me. I wanna see him but what's the point. There's just too much stuff between us for us to be together again and it's too hard being friends. It's best if I just keep my distance."
Summer gave her friend a hug.
"I'm so sorry, Coop but you'll see we're better off without both of them."
Meanwhile
Seth sat in his room staring at Captain Oats. He didn't even know what to say to the horse. Summer had completely humiliated him. He didn't know what else to do. Giving up was not an option he waited on Summer too long to give up on her. Maybe he should have listened to Ryan and given her a couple of days before he talked to her. He could use a little time to regroup also. Suddenly he had a perfect idea.
"Mom!" He yelled. "I need to talk to you for a minute!"
A few hours later he was pulling into the drive way and Ryan was already outside to greet him.
He jumped out of the car and hugged Ryan.
"It's great to see you," Seth said releasing Ryan
"Yeah. By the way man your looking kinda buff man."
"Pulling ropes all day on a boat will do that to you, better keep Theresa away from me this weekend she gets on look at this man and she might not be able to control herself."
"I think I'll manage," Theresa said from the doorway.
"Hey Theresa," Seth gave her a hug too. "Packing on a couple pounds are we? There's something going on with your stomach you might wanna have that checked out."
Theresa smacked them on the back of the head and the three went into the house. Then Theresa headed into the bedroom leaving the boys alone to talk.
"I just need to get away from Newport for a while and the boat was not an option, thanks for taking me in."
"Well there isn't a pool house but the sofa's fine."
The two smiled at each other.
"Seriously dude, thanks for letting me crash here and regroup. I need to think and that's kinda impossible in Newport."
"Mi casa es su casa, hombre."
"I see Theresa's been giving you lessons. That should come in handy the next time we head to Tijuana."
"I think I've had enough of Tijuana."
"Hey, you set up your PS 2 already. Well why are we waiting for? I haven't kicked your ass in how many months?"
"You'll eat those words. I've been practicing."