Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. Besides the usual disclaimer where I claim to own nothing, I'd like to add that I know nothing... that is about real legal matters and it may show up here... You'll see what I'm talking about.

Seth thought Summer looked intoxicating. Her hair cascaded past her shoulders in little waves and she was wearing just enough to cover up, but not enough to stop the desire from swelling in his pants. He knew she had done it on purpose, chosen the exact outfit that would make him go wild with desire, so that he would grovel at her feet and beg forgiveness, but Seth wasn't sure he was the only one who needed forgiving. He had left, but Summer hadn't come.

They drove in silence, Summer's music playing quietly in the background. It wasn't his type of music, but he and Summer had long ago agreed to disagree on their listening preferences. They were so different, he thought for the umpteenth time that year, how was it possible to save this relationship? But Seth knew he had to save it somehow. Ryan was back in Newport, but his life wouldn't be the same or complete unless Summer was part of it.

"Where to?" she asked.

Seth shrugged. "The beach? The docks?"

"Okay."

"Summer—"

She reached over and raised the volume on the stereo. "I'm sorry Seth. I thought I could do this. But I can't."

"You can't what?"

"It's harder than I thought. Spending time with you."

"But we have to talk to figure things out."

"I know."

"And besides. My parents don't want me home tonight."

Summer laughed.

He had missed her laugh. He knew that it had only been a little over a week since they had spent time together, but he missed everything about her anyway. Summer was everything and more than the crush that he had built up over the years. She was sweet and tender and smart and funny. She was rich and spoiled and God, sometimes that frustrated him. But he loved her and didn't want to lose her and Seth didn't know how to make things all right again.

"So which is it, the beach or the docks?"

"Revisit the scene of the crime?" Summer turned her head briefly, but Seth didn't miss the grin.

He shrugged. "Maybe there I can make you understand. Maybe you can help me understand."

"Okay."

Seth let out his breath, though he hadn't realized he was holding it. Maybe they could talk and work it out. Maybe being close to the Summer Breeze Seth could find the words to make her understand how sorry he was and how hurt he was at the same time. Maybe she could find the words to make him understand why she hadn't come.

Seth had waited for Summer once he had arrived at Catalina. He had checked into an inn on the island using his grandfather's credit card. He knew his parents would track his card the minute they noticed he was missing, and he wasn't sure how long it would take them to figure out he had left using the Summer Breeze. He was careful not to leave any details in his note. He just told them he loved them, but that he couldn't stay in Newport. Not without Ryan. But he had told Summer his plan and asked her to join him. He couldn't stay in Newport, but he couldn't be without her. After three days he realized she wasn't coming and that was why he had set out for the dock to check out his boat. And that was when the cops had found him.

Summer pulled into the parking lot near the docks. She paused before pulling out the keys into the ignition.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yeah. I'm ready."

They were both surprised to find the gate locked.

"It's never locked." He scratched his head.

"Should we try something else?"

"I don't know." He walked down the road, following the gate. "It's not so high here. We can just climb over." It wasn't really a gate at this point, just a guardrail that reached Seth's knee.

"Should we?"

"Why not?"

"I don't know. It's locked. Doesn't that mean we should stay out?"

"It's the docks. My boat is there. Why shouldn't I be able to get in?"

"Okay, let's go."

They stepped over the rail and Seth guided Summer to his boat. He stepped inside and held out his hand to help her in, but she shook her head.

"That thing won't hold the both of us." She sat down on the edge of the dock and let her feet dangle above the water.

"Is that why you didn't come? You were afraid to sail with me in this little thing? Or were you just afraid of being with me?"

"It wasn't like that Cohen."

"Then what was it like? I waited for you!" He didn't shout the words, but said it quietly, under his breath.

"Why couldn't you stay Cohen? I know that Ryan's like your best friend. Your brother. And I get that you didn't want to stay in Newport without him, but what about me? Why wasn't I enough?" There, thought Summer, she had finally said it to his face. She clutched the edge of the dock so hard that she could feel splinters digging into her skin.

Seth stepped out of his boat and sat down next to her, his long legs dangling, and the tips of his shoes touched the water. He inched closer to Summer so his hip was touching hers.

"I needed to get away. I'd hoped you would understand."

"Were you planning to come back?"

"I don't know. I really didn't think. Summer—" He took a deep breath. "You know I've had a crush on you since like third grade. I told you that."

"I know. I thought it was sweet."

"Once we started high school, I was miserable. No one talked to me. One of the only outlets I had was sailing and so I concocted a plan in my head." He looked down at his hands. "I planned a sailing trip to Tahiti. I was going to do it this summer. I never planned to go alone."

"Who were you going to take? I mean, you didn't know Ryan yet, did you?"

He shook his head. "I was planning on taking you."

"Me?"

"I told you Summer. For me, it's always and only been you."

"I… Cohen… I couldn't come." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "My father wouldn't understand. And frankly, I was pissed at you. I knew that you were upset about Ryan —"

"And I should have stayed for you. So we both screwed up."

They sat side by side, with Summer's head on his shoulder, not saying a word. Neither was sure how to make it right, but both knew that they had to find a way. Seth squinted when a light was pointed in his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" a gruff voice asked.

Seth held his hand over his eyes, trying to see the face behind the flashlight. He could feel Summer tense up beside him.

"Um… visiting my boat… who are you?"

"I need to see some identification."

"Not until I know who I'm talking to." Summer wrapped her hand Seth's upper arm in a death grip. "Owe. Summer, that hurts."

The man in front of them pointed the flashlight at himself so Seth could see his uniform. It was a police officer.

For a moment Ryan was speechless. His mouth dropped open. He couldn't believe that he had gotten Sandy to finally see his way and now Theresa was going to shoot it all to hell. What on earth was she thinking? He pushed his chair back, not at all being careful that it didn't scrape the parquet floor. He was usually so careful with the Cohens' things.

"Can Theresa and I have a moment alone?" he asked in an even voice. He looked to Sandy for approval. Sandy nodded once and so Ryan turned to Theresa with a pointed look. "Let's go out front," he said.

He was surprised that it was already dark outside, so he stepped back into the foyer and flipped a switch and the driveway flooded with lights. He saw Theresa digging into her jeans and she pulled out a pack of Marlboros and a lighter.

"You want one?" she asked.

He took it gratefully, used her lighter and inhaled deeply before he said, "Hey, why are you still smoking? It's not good for the baby." She almost had the cigarette to her lips, but Ryan plucked it from her fingers and threw it to the pavement, grinding the light out with the heel of his boots.

"The second-hand smoke is just as unhealthy."

He glowered at her, but stubbed it out anyway. "Why do you want the test?" he finally asked.

"Because I want to know whose child I'm carrying."

"It doesn't matter Theresa. I'll do right by it no matter what."

She looked to the floor and kicked a pebble with her foot. Her long black hair fell over her face so that Ryan couldn't read her expression.

"Ryan, they were right in there. I'm only seventeen. We're just kids."

"Kids or not, we're having a child."

"Well who said I want it?" She was shouting.

Ryan threw up his hands. "You're the one who decided against the abortion."

"It's not my only choice."

"What do you mean?"

"Atwood, sometimes you are so thick. I can give this baby up for adoption."

He shook his head vehemently. "You can't do that! How do you know the kid won't get some crap set of parents? At least we know who we are. And we have people who are willing to help us out." He waved his hands at the house, though he wasn't sure how much Sandy and Kirsten wanted to help him raise a child. It seemed to him that they wanted him to give up the responsibility and just go on with his life as if none of this ever happened..

"That's why I want the paternity test Ryan. If it's not your baby, you have no say in the matter."

"The hell I don't."

"You don't even believe it's yours. You never did. You came to Chino out of some sense of obligation. I saw it all over your face. And as pissed as you are or were with Mr. Cohen for dragging you back to Newport, I know that you were glad deep down inside."

"I wanted to do what was right."

"Well, giving this kid a set of parents who can't even vote is not what's right for this kid. The Cohens said they'd pay for a paternity test and I want to do this Ryan."

"What if I don't agree to it? Are you going to tell Eddie you're pregnant and ask him for a sample of his DNA?"

"You don't mean that, Ryan."

"Maybe I do."

"Why are you being such an asshole?"

Ryan sank down on the steps. He didn't know how to answer. He couldn't explain what this baby meant to him. It was a chance to give a kid the opportunity to grow up safe and secure. To feel loved. All the things he had lacked as a child. Why was it that everyone else couldn't see that? Why was it that he had to paint a picture for them?

"I want this kid, Theresa. Whether it's Eddie's or mine. If you don't want it fine. You can give it up and I'll take care of it."

"You're nuts Atwood. It's a baby we're talking about. A child. It's not a hamster. And if I'm not mistaken you killed a couple of those in your time."

He sneered at her. "I did not kill my hamsters. It was their time to go."

"Yeah. After you let them out of their cage."

He rolled his eyes. "Do we have to rehash this? It's been like seven years and I was ten. I wanted to clean the cage. I didn't know what I was doing."

"So what makes you so sure you'll know what to do with a baby? You know which end to diaper? What to do when it cries? What happens if it gets sick or what about all the stuff that comes later? Like when it starts to walk and talk. Are you going to finish school? How are you going to support it? Have you really thought about this Ryan?"

"Not as much as you have, I guess."

"Because this is a lot more real to me than it is to you. It's growing inside of me. I want that paternity test. Then we can think of what's next."

"If it is Eddie's baby you're going to give it up, aren't you?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah. Probably. After we get the results of the test, I'm going to sell my car and go to Atlanta to live with my cousin until the baby is born. I'll find a couple to adopt the baby. Lots of couples look for babies to adopt and they would pay all my medical expenses…"

"You've done your research."

She nodded.

"When? I mean, when were you planning on telling me about this, because clearly this was not a decision made overnight."

"I decided when I saw how miserable you were being back in Chino."

"So officer," Seth said, trying to hide the quaver in his voice. "It's ID you want to see."

The officer cocked his brow and tilted his head, making Seth think of Ryan. He was glad Ryan wasn't around, because he wasn't sure how much trouble he was in, but if Ryan were there, then whatever this was about could blow his probation.

"I don't get it." Summer handed her license to the cop. "What's this all about?"

"You're trespassing."

"Excuse me," Seth spluttered.

"Did you not notice the locked gate?"

"Yeah. But this is my boat. I rent space here."

"But the gate was locked. Stay put," he ordered. I'm going to run your names through my computer."

"Shit." Seth put his head in his hands. "I'm sorry, Summer. I didn't think."

"It's okay. It's not like they're going to arrest us."

"Oh God." He took deep breaths, because the image of him calling his dad from jail just popped into his head. "He better not."

"Cohen, chill. It'll be fine."

"How can you be so calm?"

"Because we're not doing anything wrong. There were no signs. It's your boat. You rent the space."

"Right!" But he still had to put his head between his knees.

"Cohen, stop being such a girl. Come on." She rubbed his back. "What's the worse they can do."

"I don't know. But whatever it is, my parents are going to kill me. And I'm not exactly in their good graces right now."

Summer didn't have a chance to answer, because the officer returned. He handed them their license with a yellow slip of paper.

"What's this?" She asked.

"A summons. You'll need to report to court to pay a fine for trespassing."

"You're kidding, right?"

The officer shook his head. "Sorry, Miss. Not kidding. This is private property and you're trespassing."

"But it's like his boat."

Suddenly, Seth realized he was letting Summer do all the talking and if Ryan were around, he'd do something to try and protect his girl. So he took one final deep breath and said, "Look officer, at least just give me the summons. It was my fault. My girlfriend shouldn't have to answer for this."

"Sorry, son. But you were both here. Besides, I already wrote up the tickets. Come on." He waved his flashlight. "You kids need to move from here." Seeing the despair on Seth's face, the officer's voice softened. "Look, kids, it's not that terrible. You and your parents will go to court and pay a fine. It'll barely be a smudge on your record."

"If I make it to court," mumbled Seth.

"Cohen, don't be like that."

"You scared to go home, kid?"

"Wouldn't you be?"

And the officer laughed. "Okay, get going."

Summer and Seth scrambled up and followed the cop out to the parking lot. They walked back to Summer's car.

"I'm sorry, Sum."

"I know you are. It's okay."

"Is your dad going to be mad?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. He'll probably be more pissed at you than at me."

"Oh great. So I have to face Neil Roberts along with Sandy and Kirsten Cohen. This night keeps getting better and better."

"I love you Cohen."

His heart skipped a beat. He didn't think he would hear her say that ever again.

"I love you too."

"So, maybe, when your parents cool down, I can swing by and visit. Maybe…" Her voice trailed off. "Maybe Ryan wouldn't mind if I hung out in his pool house a little."

"He has a room in the big house now, but it is right next to mine."

"Even better."

Ryan followed Theresa into the dining room. The muted conversation among the adults came to an abrupt halt and Ryan said, "We're going to do the test. When can you schedule the appointment, Kirsten?"

So the trespassing thing happened to my cousin recently on a date... and I thought the story was so funny that I had to add it into a fic.