Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Author's Note: It's been awhile, but I've had a hard time writing this. I really have no idea where I'm going with it. I think there's only a few more chapters left in this story--hopefully I'll get it done by the time the show starts up again. I have some other little short random stories that I've been toying around with, but I've been really busy with school starting up again. The song that goes along with this chapter is She's got a way by Billy Joel--a classic. Hope you enjoy this chapter--I'll try to get the next one up soon.

Still Fighting It

Chapter 10: I get turned around

She comes to me when I'm feelin' down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me and I get turned around

She's got a smile that heals me
I don't know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She's got a way about her
I don't know what it is
But I know that I can't live without her
Anyway…

--Billy Joel

He was nervous as he put his clothes on. Just a simple button down shirt and jeans. Nothing too fancy. He was casual, cool Seth Cohen, the musician. The butterflies in his stomach were fluttering out a distinct pattern in his abdomen. He was going to expose the cheating bastard, but more importantly, he was playing a show for his family. This was Danny's first time seeing what Seth did for a living up close. His parents would be there looking on along with his friends. It was a big night.

Sweat poured from his temples, he was almost halfway through the concert and it was a success. He loved the way all of his fans sang along with him, a sea of people having a good time. It wasn't like his other concerts, where people would be screaming and throwing things at him, but this was different and beautiful and he didn't even really know how to explain it. Although there was a table and chair set up and most of the crowd were Newpsies who went to yogalates with his mom, for this one night, everyone was shedding that serious, Newport Beach I'm-too-cool-to-like-anything attitude and they were standing and cheering, swaying along with the music. The energy was fantastic. He wanted to make this the best concert ever. He looked over at Jimmy, who sat with the guitar and smiled out at the crowd.

"So, NEWPORT, how are we doing tonight?" the crowd roared back. "Good to hear, well it's been a long time, but it's really great to be back." The audience cheered and Seth laughed. "That's what I like to hear. It's nice to see that you all still know how to rock here. Okay, well this next song is off my latest record, the one that just came out two weeks ago. Has anyone had a chance to pick it up yet?" Once more, everyone screamed, and he smiled. He made eye contact with his son and Summer who were sitting at a table close to the stage, right in the center of his view. Danny was smiling so brightly from Sandy's lap, Seth couldn't help but grin in reply.

Summer rolled her eyes at him and smiled. She was having a good time regardless of what was going on between him and her. He always knew how to put on a good show. He was a born entertainer. Jared kept checking his watch, which annoyed Seth to no end, but it didn't matter because for Jared, the time would come very soon. Seth hopped off the stage and went into the audience, with his bodyguards watching his every move. The camera crew followed his every move. He scanned the crowd for Luke and Stacy who were sitting at the same table as Amanda, the other girlfriend. "Well, thanks to everyone who got it, thank you so much. Without you I would definitely not be standing before you right now. I am so grateful for everything you've done for me and the band. Thank you. So this next song is a love song, and I wrote it for someone really special to me, so I want to share the love. Hopefully, we can dedicate this song to a special person too. How about you?" He stopped at a few tables over and held the microphone up to the woman, who jumped up and down, hugging and kissing him. "Okay, how about you? What's your name?" He held the microphone out to Amanda, who looked at him, shocked.

The plan had been set into action. They had found her address and sent her a ticket, along with a note that read, "Surprise, come to the concert tonight. Don't worry, I'll find you there. Love, Jared." And in case she tried calling him, Seth had somehow procured Jared's cell phone and turned it off. They could never be too careful. He hoped this would work. They all did. It had to.

"Amanda." She smiled in awe, if she hadn't been a fan before, she sure was one now. He always knew how to charm a woman.

"Is this your boyfriend?" Seth pointed the microphone at Luke, even though he knew very well where her boyfriend was. Amanda blushed, really, how often is it that a rockstar comes up to you and talks to you? Summer craned her neck to see what was going on, but the disadvantage of being short was that she could never see anything. Jared just sat there, looking bored. He counted the minutes until the concert was over. He couldn't think of anything he wanted to do less than be at Summer's husband's concert. He took her hand and gently rubbed it. Summer smiled at him. She tossed her hair, making contact with the necklace that Danny and Seth had given her. An overwhelming wave of sadness washed over her as she closed her eyes.

Amanda shook her head no. "He was supposed to meet me here. I got a ticket at my office today saying that he would find me tonight. So I don't know where he is."

"Oh, well that's too bad. Well, maybe I can help you out, so you can find your boyfriend, then I can perform this special song for the both of you," Seth looked at Ryan and Luke and smiled. "What's your boyfriend's name?"

"Jared Thompson." Summer couldn't hear the muffled sound through the various cooing and outbursts of affection from some of the other fans.

"Well, JARED THOMPSON, where are you? Your girlfriend is looking for you! JARED are you here? Your GIRLFRIEND Amanda is looking for you." The color drained from Jared's face. Summer looked at him quizzically. "Hmm, no Jared in the house tonight?"

"He's over here!" an anonymous voice that sounded strangely like Marissa's penetrated the air.

"Well, Amanda, looks like we found him, let's go up and get your man." Seth took Amanda by the hand and led her towards the front. She smiled as soon as she saw Jared, but quickly frowned when she realized that he was holding Summer's hand. He dropped her hand as quickly as he could. Seth got back on stage, as Summer shoved him away from her and stood up.

"How could you? They told me this was going on and I trusted you. I believed you over Seth and Ryan and Danny. I thought they were lying to me and all along you were. I can't believe this!" she slapped him across the face hard as the crowd erupted into hushed whispers. No one was sure if this was for real, or just a part of the show. It wasn't very un-Newport to have something like this erupt during one of their big events. The only thing missing was someone being punched in the face or pushed into a pool. The camera men swooped in, catching all of this on tape. Amanda walked up to the two and slapped him across the face too. She grabbed a drink off the table and poured it all over him.

"Amanda, wait!" She ran out of the venue, and Jared was left there standing and humiliated. He stomped off in a different direction. Summer sat back down and covered her face, this was maybe the most humiliating thing that had ever happened to her--save the strangely reminiscent incident 7 years ago. Marissa rushed over, but Summer picked up her head and held it high. She didn't cry. She couldn't, not again. From the stage, Seth and Jimmy signaled the camera crew to stop filming the soap opera that had unfolded. He sat down at the piano and started to sing slowly. He wanted nothing more than to comfort Summer. He wanted to hold her in his arms and whisper to her that he loved her. Life was too short. He was going to get her back.

He looked at his parents who were holding hands and smiling at him. Ryan held Marissa's hand and patted Danny on the back. This was Seth's home. His family was here, he needed to be here. He wouldn't leave them again.

He looked at her, sitting there, being strong. She wiped at her eyes, smearing her makeup off, but it didn't really matter to Seth. He loved her no matter what. He loved her for who she was, not what she looked like. He loved Summer Roberts for the essence of who she was. A caring mother, an ambitious and aggressive girl who won his heart. He could just imagine leaning down and kissing her. The flashbulbs would go off all around them, illuminating them in a glow that would set them on fire.

He wanted to jump off the stage to go and grab her and kiss her. He just stared at her, intently, trying to send the message telepathically. He knew she got it--after so many years of being together and knowing each other too well, he knew she knew. Summer could read his mind better than anyone else. She started to cry and broke the eye contact. He didn't know what that meant, but he did deep down. He didn't want to know what it meant. So he took that at his cue to get back into focus and sing as if nothing had happened. But something had. Something that he didn't really get. Everything was different this time, and he was confused and he didn't know what anything meant anymore. Jared was out of the picture, but he wasn't sure if that had really changed anything in their relationship. He looked back at her as she picked Danny up and put him in her lap. She didn't know what to do. There was no Jared, but that didn't mean she was just going to jump back into Seth's arms. Seven years was a really long time. He couldn't expect that she would just forget that ever happened. She put her chin on the top of Danny's head and sighed. She had a lot to think about, and by the end of the night, she had figure out what she had to say to Seth--without hurting him too much.