Chapter 16

Hey guys, sorry this chapter is so damn short, it's just that this is sort of a filler chapter...I'll admit it...but the next chapter everything starts getting good....But good for who? Guess you'll have to bare with me to find out!
"How's Ryan?" Marissa asks when she meets up with Anna and Seth just outside the school then next morning.

"He was still asleep when I left this morning," Seth states. "But Mom says that he'll probably sleep most of the day with the pain killers they gave him."

Marissa nods, "does your mom still think it'll be alright if I come over after school today?"

Seth nods, "I don't know why not. She has some sort of doctor's appointment today and she needs to me to watch Aurora anyway."

"Well if you want to go..." Marissa trails off as Summer approaches the trio. "Hey Sum."

"Not now Coop," Summer snaps and immediately turns her attention on Seth. "I hate you," her words are bitter.

"Summer..." Seth says her name, unable to come up with any other sort of response to Summer's harsh words.

"I hate everything about you, you and your stupid comic books. I hate that you made me waste like a year of my life and I hate that you left me all summer making me wish you were here with me instead of me alone in my bedroom wondering where you were and worrying about you. I thought I loved you Cohen, but I'm so wrong. I hate you and I want you out of my life forever."

"Summer," Marissa grabs Summer's arm. "Knock it off."

"Whatever," Summer waves her hand. "I'm done anyway." With her words Summer stalks away leaving Seth, Anna and Marissa motionless and stunned.

Without a word though Marissa quickly follows Summer, "what the hell is your problem?"

"I'm just sick of my entire life being about Seth Cohen, I'm over him and I wanted him to know."

"So you had to let him know like that?" Marissa asks quickly, "he's got so much going on right now to do that...."

"Are you finished?" Summer asks, "I have things to take care of."

"Summer, what's with you?" Marissa questions, "what the hell have I done to offend you?"

"We're best friends one minutes, and you're hating Cohen and then the next thing I know you and Cohen are best buddies and you can't even glance my way."

"Summer," Marissa begins but Summer cuts her off.

"Forget it Coop, it's not like you're my only friend, it's fine. I'll see you around." With her words Summer turns on her heel and walks away from Marissa.

"Seth, you okay?" Marissa asks when she reaches Anna and Seth, who haven't moved during her exchange with Summer.

Seth's facial expression reveals nothing and Marissa can't help but think that Seth must've been taking lessons from Ryan, but unlike his adoptive brother Seth's eyes reveal what he is really feeling. Seth is completely heartbroken and Marissa knows exactly how he feels, Summer had just said the exact words Seth had been dreading since their break-up.

"We're not going to class," Anna states suddenly.

"What?" Marissa stares stunned at the punky blonde girl.

"None of us have relaxed in forever, it's not going to kill us to skip school a day," Anna insists.

Marissa and Seth exchange glances and Seth feebly shrugs so Marissa states, "okay, let's skip."
"You're busted," are the first words out of Ryan's mouth when Seth walks in the door later that afternoon.

"The school called?" Seth questions.

Ryan nods, "10 minutes ago."

"My guess would be that The Kirsten is not happy about my ditching school."

"She's pretty ticked," Ryan comments, his resting comfortably on the couch a sleeping Aurora cradled in his arms. "But she's also running late for her doctor's appointment."

"Seth," Kirsten appears in the living room looking flustered and frustrated.

"Mom," Seth draws the word out slowly and then very quickly he states, "I skipped all my classes."

"If this is some ploy to get you out of trouble, it's not going to work," Kirsten states.

"I know, it's just we had a run in with Summer and then someone suggested that we ditch because everything has been so crazy and stressful lately...and I brought you a pretty seashell," Seth holds the peace offering out.

"We'll talk later," Kirsten states. "I'll bring dinner home, pass the message along to your father please."

Seth nods, "sure, sure."
"So I'm pregnant, right?" Kirsten asks when her doctor walks back into the office.

"We just have to wait for confirmation from the lab, but all the other tests have come up positive so I don't know why the lab report would show anything differently. Now just comes the question of whether or not you're ready to have another baby." Kirsten doctor smiles kindly, the woman had been a friend of her mother's and Kirsten had known her first most of her life.

Kirsten laughs lightly, "I freaked out at first, I went through an entire spiel about how I was to old to be having a baby...but I love the idea now. I love the thought of being able to go back and fix all the mistakes I made with Seth. Even the mistakes I've made with Ryan. My sister's pregnant too," Kirsten comments.

"I know, she came in to see me the other day. She's excited as well, from what I can tell. She said she and Jimmy Cooper are getting married."

Kirsten nods, "in two weeks, yes."

"Your sister never was one to take things slowly. So how's Sandy taking the idea of being a father again?"

"My husband? The one who brought in a stranger and made him as much our son as Seth is? He's thrilled, can't wait."