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"Summer! Summer wait!" Seth called watching as her car turned on.

Summer looked into her review mirror and saw Seth waving his arms and calling her name. She rolled down her window and said, "What?"

"Wait." Seth called again running, panting up to her window.

"What do you want?" Summer asked again.

"I need to talk to you." Seth explained keeling over out of breath.

"Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine if I can just talk to you."

"Get in the passenger's seat."

"Sure." Seth said walking around the front of the car and climbing in.

"Now talk or get out."

"Tell me why you said that to Ryan."

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes."

"I know you won't except this as an excuse but it's true."

"Okay..."

"I was worried about Coop, I needed to blame it on someone Chino just presented the perfect person to blame."

"Okay..."

"I didn't expect it to be on national television."

"Neither did Ryan."

"I really didn't mean it and I meant to apologize but I kept getting nervous and then just as I was going to,"

"Yes..."

"But Ryan went downstairs and when he came back up Chris was with him."

"And I know what happened from there. But why didn't you say all that up there?"

"Everyone's eyes on me made me freak, I hate pressure you know that."

"I do know that Summer."

"I just couldn't get a full sentence out."

"My real question comes now."

"What is it?"

"Why did you say it was over?"

"Because for one moment up there when you told Chris 'I wasn't the person he thought I was' I thought you thought I had gone back to the old me."

"The old you?"

"The popular bitch, who never cared for anyone."

"Summer?"

"Ya?"

"It would take an awfully long time for you to ever be popular again. Unfortunately I do that to people's social status."

"Can it Cohen." Summer said letting a smile slip.

"But Summer you are the same person you used to be."

"What?"

"You just let the real you shine through."

"What?" Summer asked again in a softer tone.

"That 'old you' was just a cover, a shield that used to protect yourself."

"Okay..."

"But when you're with people you trust,"

"You, Marrissa, Ryan, Your parents, Jimmy, Haley."

"You let that shield down. But when you had to protect Marrissa someone you love that shield came back up."

"I guess."

"I know so."

"Thanks Cohen."

"I didn't really do anything Summer."

"Yes, yes you did."

Seth just smiled.

"Do you want to go back in?" Summer asked.

"Why?"

"I need to apologize."

"Okay." Seth said kissing her.

Summer kissed back and then climbed out of her car walking towards the entrance with Seth one step behind her.

(MEANWHILE IN THE WAITING ROOM UPSTAIRS)

"Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Cooper?" Doctor Cordal said coming into the waiting room.

"Mrs.Nichol, Marrissa's mom." Julie said standing.

"Mr. Jimmy Cooper." Jimmy said standing.

"Okay," Dr. Cordal said weirded out, just woke up and requested to see her father first and then a young Mr.Atwood."

"Not me?" Julie asked at the same time Jimmy asked, "Is she okay?"

"She's fine, and she requested to see her father and Mr.Atwood the young man who brought her in."

"Okay, we'll go right now." Jimmy agreed following him with Ryan one step ahead of him.

When they reached the door of Marrissa's room the doctor spoke, you can go in."

"Okay thank you." Jimmy said entering the room.

"Mr.Atwood you may wait here until is done."

"Thanks."

"Sure." The doctor said leaving.

Ryan was relieved, scared, worried, angry, upset, and happy all at the same time. Marrissa would be okay now that she was out of a coma wouldn't she? He was relieved that she was awake, as well as happy but that could all change in a matter of seconds couldn't it? At these thoughts worry washed over Ryan and he ebbed towards the door to peek in the window looking at Marrissa smiling towards her dad made the worry move to the side of his brain. Anger was starting to make Ryan think of Summer he had told Seth to go after her and not worry about what she said to him but really he was pissed. She had no right to say those things she didn't know what happened. It wasn't his fault was it? Ryan didn't like second-guessing himself it made him upset. It wasn't fun playing 'yes it was' 'no it wasn't' yes it was' with your own brain. It took forever to finally come to a conclusion. But about Marrissa drowning the game was still going on. He wasn't sure if it was his fault she drowned but he knew he would apologize to her. He hoped Summer would apologize to him so that he could forget about this whole incident but he didn't know how soon that could happen.

(MEANWHILE IN MARRISSA'S HOSPITAL ROOM, MARRISSA'S POV)

"Jeez dad I'm fine." Marrissa said pushing her father away. In truth she wasn't fine she had just came out of a brief coma but she was tired of her dad pestering her. She just wanted to see Ryan. Her dad had told her everything about what Summer did and her immediate reaction was 'what?!?!?!?!?!?' but now she just wanted to se Ryan. She didn't want him blaming himself when it wasn't his fault.

"Sorry kiddo, I'm just worried." Dad said.

"Why should you be worried I'm fine." I said unsure of what his answer would be.

"I know but you did just come out of a coma."

"I'm going to be fine right?"

"Of course kiddo."

"You aren't hiding anything from me?"

"You are eighteen tomorrow by then they would legally have to tell you so it doesn't matter if I don't tell you now."

"If there is anything wrong tell me now."

"Nothing is wrong I'm just saying if there was anything wrong I might as well tell you because you'll find out anyway."

"Oh."

"Yes, now there is a young man outside waiting to see you. Should I send him in?"

"Yes, dad."

"Is it going to stay PG?"

"Yes father."

"Positive?"

"Positive."

"Good then Ryan will be in, in a second."

"Thanks dad."

"Sure thing kiddo."

One minute later Ryan walks in a comes to her side.

"Hey baby." He says kissing me.

"Baby?"

"It sounded like the appropriate thing to say."

"I thought it was appropriate to don't worry."

"Let's all make fun of Ryan." Ryan said pretending to be hurt.

"Ryan?"

"Ya?"

"I have something to say."

"I do too."

"You first."

"No you first."

"You first."

"No you first."

"You first."

"Fine." Ryan caved.

"I'm really sorry."

"For what?"

"For everything."

"What? This?" I asked pointing around the room.

"Yes, this."

"It's not your fault."

"Yes, I think it is."

"Ryan. If you're saying this because of Summer don't."

"What about Summer?"

"My dad told me Ryan."

"Oh."

"And it's not your fault."

"I feel like it is."

"Did you feel like that before Summer yelled at you?"

"Sort of."

"No you didn't, you saw it as an unfortunate accident."

"No I blamed myself." Ryan said uncomfortably.

"Ryan no one blames you. Summer doesn't even blame you."

"Oh, sure Summer doesn't blame me."

"She doesn't. She's just protective."

"Uh huh."

"What I think Seth's trying to get your attention in the door window."

"What?" Ryan said turning to look at the door. Seth was waving his arms and acting like a freak, or maybe that's just Seth but...

"What?" Ryan asked again this time directing the question to Seth.

Seth waved his hands toward him gesturing for Ryan to go there.

"I guess I should go." Ryan said pointing to Seth. He leaned down and kissed me, "I'll be back."

"I won't be going anywhere."

"Ya..." Ryan said drifting off.

He left the room.

(OUTSIDE MARRISSA'S ROOM, RYAN'S POV)

"Ryan can I talk to you?" Summer asked when I got out there."

I glared at Seth but turned to Summer and said, "Sure."

"Cohen leave." Summer ordered.

"He can stay." I said pointedly.

"I'll leave." Seth said seeing Ryan's face he explained, "Rage blackouts you know?"

"Sure." I said not believing him.

"Ryan, I'm really sorry I just get to protective of Coop." Summer started when Seth had left.

"Sure whatever." I said not wanting to get into this.

"And I shouldn't have blown up at you and I'm really, really sorry."

Summer looked genuinely upset, "Really it's fine no big deal." Ryan said.

"It is a big deal, and I hope you can forgive me." Summer said reaching out to hug me. I hugged back surprising her and me.

"And Summer. I think forgiveness might not take so long to come." I reassured and wave bye turning and walking down the hall.

"I saw you two hug is everything okay?" Kirsten asked when I got further down the hall.

"Ya, everything's going to be fine." I said smiling I left her standing there open mouthed.

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