Hey! This was meant to b one long chapter but it was like 9 pages long ahh so I changed it into two chapters. hope u like and plz review

Chapter 4

"You seriously need to get out man."

Seth grunted in response.

He kept his eyes glued to the screen in front of him, furrowing his brow to give off the impression he was concentrating on the game. But Seth wasn't really concentrating on killing aliens and getting top score.

He tried his hardest not to look at Ryan as he sat down on the couch beside him.

When he had arrived yesterday the two boys hugged uncomfortably. Actually it was more like an awkward pat on the back. Sort of a "how you going buddy?" pat.

Seth had kept his distance from Ryan, though he had no idea why. It wasn't like he was embarrassed to be brooding and depressed around Ryan, he had done that many times in front of him, but it was more like he wanted to do the brooding depressed thing alone this time.

It was kind of weird that Seth was avoiding Ryan, especially because Ryan was the king of brooding. Girls seemed to dig the whole Ryan brooding thing. On Seth, it just looked like he was sulking.

He didn't want to get his hopes up and believe Ryan was back for good.

Ryan had told them all that Theresa had lost the baby and she wanted him to move back to Newport. She said he was unhappy in Chino and it showed. Seth thought it was so unlike Ryan to come back to Newport after what had happened to Theresa, but he knew Ryan was completely shocked and saddened by it. Ryan said he asked Theresa to come back to live in Newport with him but she refused saying she had family in Chino, and that she had no problem with him going back. Somehow Seth knew that Ryan wasn't staying for good. Maybe for a while, but not for good.

"Come on man, we're going out."

Ryan's voice shook Seth back to reality. He realized his character on the video game had died and got "game over."

"What? Where? Wherever we go Summer will be there. It's Saturday night."

Ryan raised his eyebrow at Seth.

"Seth, you're going to run into Summer sooner or later. There's this party on, it will do you good to…."

"Hmm a party. Summer will defiantly be there. She likes to part-ay." Seth cut Ryan off sarcastically.

"I'm taking you. Get up. Anna's coming too."

Seth's head snapped up at the mention of Anna.

"Oh and by the way, take a shower before you go. Your not going to get lucky smelling like that."

………………………………………………………………………………………..

Ryan had taken his car, as Seth didn't seem like he was fit for driving.

Seth stared blankly out the passenger's side window, all the while with this glum expression that seemed to be permanently plastered to his face.

Ryan exchanged glances with Anna through the rear view mirror. He rolled his eyes and she shrugged, obviously empty of ideas to revive Seth. Frankly, Seth was starting to piss Ryan off.

They sat in silence the whole way and both Ryan and Anna were relieved when they pulled up to park at the party.

Once they were inside, Seth's mood seemed to lift a little. Ryan took off his jacket near the front door, where a pile of coats and jackets were thrown haphazardly together on the floor. It was incredibly warm in there.

The three of them stood at the bar, scanning the crowd for someone they knew. In truth, Ryan was looking for Marissa and Seth for Summer. Anna stood on her toes, obviously looking for someone too.

Both boys were silent when they spotted Marissa and Summer together at the end of the hall. Both girls had the exact same expression as the boys.

Searching, scanning the crowd, lost.

Marissa turned and stopped dead when she saw Ryan at the bar.

They stared at each other for a moment before Ryan shook himself out of his reverie.

"Uh, I'll be back soon." Ryan told Seth and Anna.

Anna nodded.

Seth didn't seem to take much notice.

He was more preoccupied with the alcohol being served at the bar.

After 20 minutes of patiently watching Seth stare hopelessly after Summer, Anna had had enough.

"Seth?"

Silence.

It was most likely because of the loud music that Seth didn't hear her.

But Anna was sure it wasn't the music.

Seth was entranced by Summer and he was completely switched off to everything and everyone else around him.

"Seth!" she said punching him lightly on the arm.

"Ouch what?" he said rubbing his arm overdramatically.

Anna laughed.

"Your pathetic that didn't even hurt." She poked her tongue out playfully at him.

Seth returned the gesture.

"I'm gunna go dance ok? You wanna come?"

Seth shook his head. "Nah, I'll just stay here."

Anna hesitated, knowing it was probably not best to leave Seth but he faked a smile so she wouldn't worry.

He sat at the bar, trying not to think of everything. Well Summer was everything.

He let his head fall onto the bench of the bar and tried to block out everything. The loud techno music, Summer, everything. What was with the techno music? Seriously? It felt as if it was drilling into his brain. He tried not to look at Summer. Summer dancing with Zach. Summer wearing a cute mini skirt. Summer drunk. Summer dancing sexily. Zach taking advantage of drunk sexy Summer.

Oh god, it was going to be a long night.

He hit his head again on the bar and regretted it almost as soon as he did it. As he looked back up he saw the bartender smirking at him.

Seth smiled nervously back, then looked away trying to avoid eye contact.

"Girl troubles?" the bartender asked randomly.

"Excuse me? Are you talking to me?" Seth asked looking around him, not sure he heard the man correctly.

The bartender laughed.

"Yeah, mate I'm talking to you. It's girl troubles isn't it?"

Seth stared at the man and nodded slowly.

"Is it that obvious?"

The man laughed again.

"I just see a lot of it you know what I mean? It's easier to pick these days."

Seth tried to laugh politely but nothing came out.

"Hey, I know what you need." The bartender winked.

He reached down to a cupboard behind the bar and pulled out a dusty old bottle that had been clearly tampered with.

"My special recipe," he poured the contents of the bottle into a clean glass for Seth.

"I guarantee you mate, that after this you will forget about your little girl problems." He winked again.

Seth paused before accepting the drink.

Half of him was thinking how stupid it was to accept a drink from some seedy bartender. But the other half of him was like "what a loser to be thinking about that right now".

He actually thought it would bliss to not think of Summer. Even for a moment. Just for one night.

He braced himself, took a deep breath then though "why the hell not".

He picked up the glass and downed it in one go.

The bartender looked shocked. He clapped in approval.

"Mate! Good going."

Seth thanked the man and got off the barstool.

God that was nasty, he thought as the after taste hit him.

He lost track of where Anna and Ryan where. And at the moment he didn't even care where Summer was.

He had been walking around for about five minutes and was beginning to feel tipsy.

He'd never felt the effects that quickly. Well, Seth was no drunk. He got tipsy over a few champagne glasses. He'd never been into the whole drink till your sick thing. Not much into the hype of it. He'd never had a hangover before.

Before long he was running into people. And a few times he'd tripped over nothing.

God, it was starting to get hot.

The faces around him began to swirl as he tried to hold onto something, anything. He steadied himself when he found some random girl to lean on. But she wasn't impressed. Disgusted, she shook herself off him.

Seth began to sway on the spot. God, it was hot in here. Sweating, from head to toe, the music drilling into his skull he staggered over to the front door where Ryan had left his jacket. Digging into the pockets he pulled out Ryan's car keys and pocketed them. With one last glance towards the dance floor where he saw Summer dancing with Zach, he left, walking as steady as he could to Ryan's car.