Summer moved briskly through the packed group of people at the beach. She raised her plastic cup above her head, to prevent it from spilling. She took a long sip out of the cup and stumbled toward Marissa. She had little to eat all day and the alcohol was starting to get to her.
"Coop, I thought I lost you for awhile there." Summer exclaimed, rather loud.
Marissa turned beside her to Luke and smiled sympathetically, "We're right here Sum."
"Did you ever notice like you always find things the last place you look? Its like a coincidence. Like fate. Don't ya think?" Summer asked, her eyes widening and taking another sip of her drink.
Marissa shrugged to Summer, "Are you okay Sum?"
"I am so okay. I'm great. I'm having a great time. I love this. I love the beach. I love the bonfire. I love him." Summer pointed to a random guy walking beside her. She was clearly intoxicated and was beginning to fall over.
Luke nodded his head and chuckled, "I think it's fair to say that you certainly love everyone tonight Summer."
"Look, I'm just having some fun. I let you guys have your like ménage a trios. Just let me have my fun." Summer sighed, running over to a group of people huddled up by the fire.
Luke turned to Marissa, "What is she saying?"
"I don't know." Marissa said softly.
Luke watched Summer huddle in with the group and take sips of others drinks, "Is she okay?"
"I think she's lonely." Marissa turned to look at Luke.
Luke shook his head, "How could someone who is always surrounded by people, be lonely?"
"They don't get her. Summer is this complex and intricate person. She likes to be challenged and that's what she wants. She wants someone who is going to let her be her, yet at the same time challenge her every step of the way. That's what she deserves."
Luke extended his arm around Marissa's shoulder and pulled her into his chest, "I'm gonna go over and get a drink. You want something babe?"
"Ah, no I'm okay thanks." Marissa replied.
She watched as Luke got lost somewhere in the crowd. She saw Ryan and Seth make they're way through the crowd and come towards her. She bit her lip nervously. She knew that Ryan and Luke did not get along, and if Luke saw her talking to Ryan, he'd flip.
"Hey." Marissa said gently, not locking eyes with Ryan nor Seth.
Seth was scamming the beach to find Summer, "Summer didn't come with you?"
"No she did. She's here somewhere." Marissa replied with a small shrug.
Ryan and Marissa locked eyes for a moment and then both looked down at the sand nervously. The last time they had been together, they had almost kissed and things had started to become awkward after that.
"Although this conversation is extremely scintillating, I'm off to look for Summer." Seth tapped Ryan on the shoulder before heading off.
Ryan and Marissa in unison, "I better go too."
They both smiled at one another and headed off in opposite directions.
Summer was sitting around the bonfire with a large bunch of people. She couldn't exactly tell who everyone was because of the large amount of alcohol she had consumed. She was able to tell that one of the guys was Matt Parker. Matt was really athletic and popular but he just tried too hard. She didn't want a guy that had to try to be something.
"This punch is like, amazing." Summer called out rather loudly.
Matt put his arm around Summer's shoulder and pulled her in closer to him, "Can I have a sip?"
"You can like get your own." Summer rolled her eyes, pulling the cup in closer to her.
Matt laughed and pushed a falling strand of hair behind Summer's ear, "Don't act like you don't want to," He whispered.
"Ew, what are you saying?" Summer scooted her body over away from him.
Matt ran his hand along her face and kissed her. Seth had just spotted Summer right when Matt began to kiss her. He felt like he had gotten the wind knocked out of him. He turned in the opposite direction, unable to watch anymore. He couldn't believe he fooled himself to believe that Summer would ever be remotely attracted to him.
"Ew! Why did you do that?" Summer asked shoving Matt off of her.
Matt chuckled, slightly embarrassed, "Oh C'mon Summer, everyone knows you're easy. Its like common knowledge."
"To everyone except me I guess." Summer spoke softly. She took her cup of punch and poured it on Matt while she was getting up.
"Why the hell did you do that?"
Summer shrugged, "Oh C'mon Matt, everyone knows you're an ass. Its like common knowledge."
The crowds of people cheered, laughed, gasped and whatnot. Summer remembered when she used to be one of that crowd. The type of girl that lived for the recent gossip, that relished in fights and breakups because it was something to talk about that night after dinner or at lunch the next day. Now, she realized how fake everyone in Newport. Herself included.
Summer was getting kind of light-headed from the punch. She couldn't remember at this point how much she had drunk. Her eyes wouldn't stay open, and Luke and Marissa were nowhere to be found.
Summer continued to walk by the tide, the cool water felt refreshing on her warm skin. She fell on the sand, cutting her leg on a piece of broken glass. She looked down at the deep cut on her shin. She extended her leg into the water to wash away the blood. She looked to her side so see if anyone was there. Everything was blurry to her and she was unable to make out the distance from her to the rest of the people.
It was then she saw a faint shadow walking towards her. She closed her eyes tightly, hoping that keeping her eyes closed would stop the pain. Instead it seemed like the pain continued to get worse. She cringed at the sight of the blood flowing down her leg. She had always been queasy at the sight of blood and knew it wouldn't be long before she was passed out on the floor.
Seth could see a girl sitting on the beach, lifeless and lacking energy. As he made he way closer, he was able to make out that it was Summer. He didn't want to seem desperate, so he took his time walking up to her. He noticed that she was clutching her leg, and saw the blood dripping down the side of her leg.
"Are you okay?" Seth asked falling to his knees to help her.
Summer looked up at him, her eyes barely staying open, "I know you."
"Yeah," Seth answered with a smile knowing that she probably didn't recognize him from the other night but just from random passing in the hall, "You're bleeding, what happened?"
Summer shrugged, "I hate guys. I mean, are they all the same?"
"Not all of them." Seth mumbled under his breath.
Summer nodded her head and tilted it to the side, "Supposedly everyone thinks I'm easy. How do we come up with these labels without even being aware of it? It's like I'm apparently this tramp. But the truth is, I've barely even kissed half of those guys."
Seth listened attentively, he knew that Summer was drunk and she probably wouldn't remember this conversation in the morning. But, he would.
"I'm drunk, but I know what I'm saying. I mean, like, seriously do guys think I'm that dumb? Is it like karma? Not that I'm totally sure what that is. But every time I hear it, it seems to be in reference to what I feel like. I guess I deserve it." Summer sighed heavily.
Seth let his head hang lowly, "No one deserves to be treated like that Summer."
Summer locked eyes with Seth for a minute, "You are the guy from the dock."
"Guilty." Seth blushed slightly. He couldn't believe that she knew he was the guy from the dock.
Summer smiled, "You're a good listener."
"I, uh, I do my share of babbling." Seth said staring at the sand.
Summer took a fistful of the sand beneath her; she picked it up and let it seep through his fingers, "Ever try really hard to hold on the sand, like clutch it. And then it just seems right through. When I was little I used to love to like hold sand in my hands. The more I held on, the more it slipped away. Isn't that just exactly how life is though?"
"You're quite philosophical when you're drunk, you know that?" Seth stated looking into her brown eyes.
Summer shrugged, "Only when I'm drunk am I like this."
The two looked at one another and smiled, "Do you think its sad I've never had a boyfriend?" Summer asked as her forehead scrunched.
"It is only as sad as me never having a girlfriend." Seth replied with a small reassuring smile.
Summer giggled slightly and raised her plastic cup, "Here's to us."
"To us." Seth repeated with a smile growing on his face.
Summer woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. The bright sunlight shining in through her curtains weren't helping either. She rubbed her eyes and grabbed for her clock that was on her bureau. She saw the red lights on the clock flashing 11:15. She pulled the pillow back over her face and dropped the clock. The telephone began ringing. She picked up the telephone, half asleep.
"Hello?" She asked hardly about to keep her eyes open.
Marissa sighed heavily, "Summer! Where are you?"
"Asleep." Summer replied shortly.
Marissa moved the receiver in closer to her, whispering slightly, "Summer, we have to help out at the benefit, remember?"
"Oh, yeah, how could I forget?" Summer answered, having no idea what Marissa was referring to.
Marissa looked around outside, "You better hurry. I'll see you in a few, right?"
"Yeah, sure, see you in a few."
"Okay great."
"Wait, see you where?"
"At the club! I have to run, see you later Sum." Marissa said quickly and hung up the phone.
Summer hung up the phone soon after, she rubbed her temples. Her head was spinning and her headache was just getting worse. She knew she'd have to get up, she promised Marissa and Mrs. Cooper that she would help benefit dinner.
Summer pulled herself out of bed. She went into her bathroom and glanced at herself in the mirror. Her eyeliner and mascara had run all down her cheeks. Her hair was all over the place. She took a wet tissue and washed off the running mascara and eyeliner. Summer looked down at her leg, which had a deep gash on it. She sighed heavily; she had no recollection of last night. She remembered going to the party with Luke and Marissa, and having a lot to drink.
Summer ducked her face into the sink and splashed water onto her face to wake her up. She looked up at the mirror, and gently wiped away the water.
"What is wrong with me?" Summer said to herself.
Seth had volunteered to help at the benefit dinner weeks ago in hopes it would give him a chance to talk to Summer. He had no idea that he would have already had the chance to talk to her. The past few nights had been so surreal. He and Ryan had been working for over an hour and there was no sign of Summer.
Seth had felt that the more he talked to Summer, the more he learned about her. The more he began to like her. The first night she was so vulnerable and confused. He had never seen Summer sad, she was usually all smiles and the life of the party. Then last night, she was drunk and rather incoherent but she was being candid and honest with him.
Seth turned around to see Summer entering the banquet hall. She was wearing a summer dress that was covered in pink and blue flowers. Her hair was half up and slightly curled. Her eyes looked tired and red. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and rubbed temples. Summer locked eyes with Marissa on the other side of the hall. Summer walked towards Marissa and Seth thought it'd be the opportune moment to say hi.
Seth confidently walked in front of Summer to stop her from walking; right then a guy from behind her came up and kissed her neck. Seth awkwardly looked down at the floor and then behind him to see where Ryan was. Summer shrugged uncomfortably and smiled somewhat. Ryan nodded his head, encouraging Seth to say hi to her.
"Hey Summer." Seth spoke, looking up at Summer's brown eyes.
Summer shrugged, "Yeah?"
"Just seeing how you are." Seth looked back down at the floor and shuffled his shoes.
Summer looked next to her at the guy and gave him a puzzled look, "I'm okay."
"Okay, good, just checking." Seth replied, giving a half smile and walking off defeated.
Summer turned to the guy next to her and giggled slightly walking off with him over to Marissa. Seth watched as Summer squealed to Marissa about how she couldn't remember a thing from the night before and how crappy she felt. He knew that it was too good to be true. Seth walked over to Ryan and hit his back lightly.
"Don't let it bother you man." Ryan told him sympathetically.
Seth nodded his head, biting the inner sides of his cheek. He sighed heavily, "I don't get her man."
"Me neither." Ryan said looking over at Marissa who was looking up at Luke with a long gaze.
Seth sat at one of the banquet tables, resting his chin in his hand and tapping the table with a spoon. He couldn't stand to watch Summer laugh and giggle with her guy escort. He could hear her utter "oh really?" and "that's like so cool!" every few minutes. He rolled his eyes and shook his head; he then looked next to him to see a girl with short blonde hair sitting next to him.
"Hey." She said, sounding tired.
Seth nodded his head, "Hey."
"Is Newport usually this much fun?"
"Oh trust me, it gets better." Seth stated dryly.
She smiled softly, "I'm Anna by the way."
"Seth." Seth replied, looking over at Summer.
Anna took notice of his passing glances at Summer, "Ex-girlfriend?"
"Not even close." Seth mumbled under his breath.
Anna nodded, catching on, "Why don't you go talk to her?"
"Oh I've tried. And it usually ends with a death stare and a laugh in my face." Seth told her, his voice was cracking slightly.
Anna shrugged her shoulders, "Then why do you like her so much?"
"It's this feeling and connection that I just couldn't describe in words. But, I always feel it. I just, I don't know, I see more to her than she lets people see." Seth looked over at Summer, who was now standing at the buffet table alone, and then back down at his feet.
Anna smiled, "Then you should go for it. Taking risks goes hand in hand with liking someone. It's never a guarantee that they will feel the same way, but there is always that possibility that makes it all worth it. So do whatever it takes Seth."
"Yeah, yeah, you're right. Thanks." Seth said, standing up from the table and resting his hand on Anna's shoulder before he walks off.
Seth walked toward Summer who was standing by herself, picking at the foods at the buffet table. She took a plate from the end of the table. She placed assortments of food on it. Seth tapped Summer on shoulder and placed her plate on the table.
"Can I talk to you?" Seth asked, his voice was stern and serious.
Summer looked up into his eyes, she chewed on her lower lip feeling guilty about her actions from before, she nodded, "Okay fine."
The two walked outside the banquet hall to the garden outside. There was a bench beside a water fountain and a large display of flowers.
"So, what did you want to say?" Summer asked, taking a seat on the bench.
Seth looked around at the outside and shrugged his shoulders, "I can't keep putting myself out there and have you keep like shutting me out."
"What are you talking about? You don't even know me." Summer said softly standing up from the bench.
Seth shook his head and sighed heavily, "You're right. I don't know a thing about you. Like I don't know that you would walk home your next door neighbor everyday or bring her lunch when her mom forgot. And I have no idea that you would share your lunch with that squirrel in 3rd grade. And I didn't know when all those guys were talking bad about Marissa, you went and confronted them. Sorry for thinking I knew you, but, you know, you're right Summer I don't know a thing about you."
Seth sighed heavily almost about to walk off when Summer grabbed his arm. She tilted her head and bit on her lower lip and then smiled. She extended her arms around Seth's neck and kissed him. Seth closed his eyes tightly and couldn't believe that they had just kissed. He didn't want to think about what he had said, or why she had done it. He didn't want to think about what might happen or if anything would at all. He just wanted to stand there, with Summer, kissing her.