Hey all! Longer chapter, shorter flashback. Little Seth becomes more of a character in this part too! So READ, REVIEW, AND ENJOY!
XOXO Jules
Chapter 7: "Hoping I don't come around"
"Oh my god Sum!" Marissa said flying across the room embracing her best friend, she backed away when Summer flinched. It had been so long since she was touched by anyone besides Todd, and little Seth.
Marissa surveyed her best friend. All of the bruises on her face, on her arms and legs. Summer said nothing as her best friend looked her up and down. She could not even look her in the eye… What had happened to Summer Roberts?
16 year old Marissa and Summer sat on Marissas bed giving one another manicures.
"So, he and Anna were TOTALLY trying to throw the whole "just friends" thing in my face." Summer rattled off.
"Well then tell him!" Marissa said
"Tell him what?" Summer asked as though she didn't know
"Oh come on! It is so obvious that you have a crush on him!" Marissa said shoving her best friend off of the bed.
"Well he wants to be with Anna, and so if he wants skank I'll let him have her." Summer said pretending not to care… That was something that she was always good at.
"Summer. How come you didn't tell me? I could have helped you!" Summer said nothing… it was then that Marissa noticed the child that lay asleep in her arms. "'S he yours?" Marissa asked
Summer just nodded, but then for the first time spoke.
"His name is Seth." Summer said tears coming to her eyes…
"Is he Set-" Marissa began to ask when Summer quickly shook her head no.
"I wish." Summer admitted, "He's Todds."
"And Todd is the one who…" Marissa said looking over her friends bruises again
"Yeah." Summer confessed
Marissa wasn't sure what to say. She never expected to be the one that would have to keep Summer grounded. Summer was the strong one… Summer always was…
"So do you like work here or something?" Summer asked her
"Um yeah. I've been working here for about six months. I like it a lot." Marissa said
Summer nodded.
"Wanna come back to my place with me. I am off. You were supposed to be my last person for the night. Usually we have rooms here for you and stuff, … but I would really like it if you came back to my apartment with me."
Summer thought for a second. Where else did she really have to go? This was it for her. Marissa was what she had…
"Sure." Summer said
The ride back to Marissas apartment was a silent one. Little Seth was asleep in the back seat. Marissa showed Summer around her two bedroom apartment.
"You guys can stay in here." Marissa said leading Summer, who was holding Seth into the guest room.
"Thanks." Summer said lying Little Seth down on the bed.
"Wanna come out into the living room and talk for a bit before bed?" Marissa asked
Summer shrugged
"Why not." She said
The two sat down on the couches in an awkward silence for a couple of seconds.
"So how old is Little Seth?" Marissa asked
"He's is about three and a half." Summer said. "So what have you been up to the past four years?" She quickly asked trying to avoid the questions that she knew were coming her way… But four years since they saw each other? She and Marissa before college were ever apart for more then four days.
"Ah. Same old Same old." Marissa said. "I graduated from College two years ago and that's about it. I just stared working in the shelter. Nothing interesting really."
"What about Ryan?" Summer asked, surprised that they were not currently attached at the hip.
"We, we haven't talked in awhile." She looked down at her hands. "When we did the year in Spain, I guess it was like, I donno, Junior year of college, anyway, we both realized that… I guess we realized that we both wanted different things." She tried to rationalize, seeming unsure of the situation herself.
Summers head was screaming to ask about Seth… but something stopped her.
"Now you." Marissa said "What have you been up to the past four years." Her voiced stayed calm and even.
"Not much."
"Oh Sum, don't even try to feed me that. I know it's been awhile but you are still my best friend."
Summer looked over at the shelf above Marissas fireplace. A picture sat there of She, Marissa, Ryan, and Seth right after graduation.
"I met Todd my first year at Berkley. He was a Sophomore there at the time…" She stumbled over her words. "We started dating… about six months later I was pregnant with Little Seth." Summer explained like it was nothing, but her eyes told a different story.
"And so he was the one that hit you?"
Summer nodded
"At first I thought it was cute how he didn't like other guys looking at me and stuff… But then it got kind of scary. He didn't want me to go out anywhere… He didn't want me to do anything with anyone…"
"Why didn't you leave?"
"It's not that easy!" Summer said rather defensively. "Todd was all that I had, … and then when I found out that I was having Little Seth he was so happy… I thought that the baby would change him."
"Did it?" Marissa asked
"For awhile." Summer tucked her hair behind her ears. "But then Little Seth was born and he cried a lot, … and then Todd snapped off the handle again."
"So this has been going on for the past three years?"
Summer shrugged.
"I guess." She said trying to change the subject.
Marissa nodded and looked at her feet. She should have been there for her, she should have kept in touch, or this wouldn't have happened. Summer would have known that she had someone to go to.
"I'm going to head in." Summer said heading back to the room. "Goodnight." Summer said mentally slapping herself for not asking Marissa where Seth Cohen was these days. Oh well, she'd find out soon enough.
"Night." Marissa said sitting on the couch awhile longer before retiring into her room.
The next morning Marissa awoke at 5:30 in the morning, as usual because she ran before work. She called in sick to so that she could spend time with Summer.
"Maybe I should make breakfast." Marissa said when she heard small footsteps coming from thew kitchen. She stepped cautiously around the corner to find Little Seth on the counter eating peanut butter…
She didn't make her presence known, she just watched as the Little Boy sat, expressionless, feet dangling over the edge of the counter… He seemed to be thinking. But what did a three year old have to think about? Maybe this three year old had too much… Little Seth took care of himself when he had to, and it showed.
"Hi." Marissa said coming into the kitchen. Little Seth didn't respond. He just looked at her. "I'm Marissa, your mommys friend."
The little boy looked over at her.
"Maybe we shouldn't eat peanut butter for breakfast."
Little Seth looked down at the jar, and then back up at Marissa.
"What do you say about pancakes and eggs."
Little Seth thought for a second. His big brown eyes then met Marissas…
"Eggs ar' 'pensive…" He said.
Marissa was surprised. What would a three and a half year old know about prices?
"I think it will be fine. And we can get some pancakes too!" Marissa said smiling and helping the little boy off of the counter. "We can run out to the store and get some, I will go tell your mom." Marissa said walking out… Little Seth went and put the peanut butter back in the pantry…
"SUM!" Marissa whispered gently shaking her best friend who was sleeping like a rock. "Is it cool if I take Seth out to the store real quick? We'll be back in twenty minutes."
"Yeah." Summer said turning back over. She slept like she never had before, because for the first time she felt safe…
Marissa re-entered the room to see Little Seth counting his fingers over and over again. Marissa raised her eyebrow. Now was not the time to question the boys strange behavior.
"Ready to go?" Marissa asked holding out her arms to pick him up.
Seth nodded and allowed the older woman to pick him up. The little boy had a bony frame and was quite easy for Marissa to carry. Go figure. She opened up the door and then headed out to the hallway where she saw her neighbor getting him mail… He neighbor Seth Cohen…