Hey : ) god this is getting depressing! Lol I really didn't plan it like this! O well lol. I promise it will get happier tho near the end :) enjoy and please read and review ;)

Chapter 16

Summer reached out for the door handle but stopped, hesitating, and let her hand fall lifelessly to her side.

She felt Marissa grip her shoulder comfortingly, and took one deep shuddering breath before opening the door.

Summer felt as if the air had been sucked out of her. The room was so deadly quiet it was eerie. The curtains were shut tight, and only a tiny glimmer of light could be seen, escaping through, which cast a ghostly shadow on Seth's bed.

But he wasn't there.

Summer walked over to the window and threw open the curtains. The sunlight that gratefully streamed through it almost blinded Summer, but automatically spread warmth through her body.

The silence was getting too much for Summer. Seth's room was never quiet.

She glanced over at Marissa and Ryan who were huddled up together in the corner, almost as if they were afraid to step into the room.

Summer sighed deeply and headed for the door.

And then, as she reached it, she heard footsteps. Followed by a crash and a door slamming.

Summer exchanged glances with Marissa and Ryan before taking off in the direction she heard the door slamming.

When she reached the bathroom door, she leaned her head against it and knocked softly.

"Seth, it's me." She said gently.

She tried to turn the door handle but it was locked.

"Seth, please…let me in."

But she could hear nothing but silence.

After a while, she slid down onto the carpet, her head still leaning against the door.

Summer began to rub at her temples, as she felt a shooting pain around her forehead and eyes.

"Seth, please." She said again, defiant not to give up.

Then she heard a click.

Surprised, she pulled herself up and slowly turned the door handle.

Seth was lying in the same position he had been a few days before when he had heard about Anna and Luke.

Summer gasped at his appearance. He was incredibly pale, his hair matted and he didn't look as if he'd changed out of his clothes in days.

"Oh my god, Seth honey."

Summer fell to the floor beside him and wrapped her arms around him.

It took a moment for Seth to realize she was there. He was so still, and that scared Summer the most.

Seth was staring straight ahead of him and Summer could see that his eyes were bloodshot.

Then, something caught his attention. Seth looked up to see Ryan and Marissa at the door. Seeing them all there for him, hit Seth hard. It was as if it was closure. Closure that Anna was really dead.

Seth pushed himself up and away from Summer, trying to get away from everyone. He had to run away. If he ran away, none of this could be true. He made his way for the door, but Ryan stopped him.

"Get off me!" Seth yelled, his voice breaking.

Ryan didn't say a word, he just held onto Seth as he struggled and fought against him. Ryan's expression was unreadable, but Summer could tell he was experienced with this sort of thing.

"It's OK Seth." Summer said in barely audible voice. She hated seeing him like this. She wanted to take all his pain away but she didn't know how.

"OK?" Seth said rounding on her.

"How can it be OK? Anna's dead!" he cried.

Summer started as he yelled at her.

Her eyes were beginning to water.

"I fucken let her go! I as good as fucken killed her!"

Tears were now streaming down Summer's face. What happened to Seth Cohen? What happened to her boyfriend? She barely recognized him anymore.

"You can't blame yourself." Ryan spoke up quietly.

He shot a sympathetic look at Summer as if telling her it was the drugs talking, not him.

Ryan then remembered the blue bottle. He started to panic, hoping to god Seth hadn't taken any more.

"She's not dead…she can't be dead." Seth said feverishly, trying to get away from Ryan.

As he tried desperately to break free, he started to move towards the door to run. Run away. He needed to be away, anywhere. Away some place where Anna was not dead. He had been doing a lot of running away lately.

He lashed out at Ryan, but dramatically started to lose energy. His knees bucked again under him.

Ryan and Marissa caught him before he fell and they slid to the tiles with him, Summer soon joining them. Seth broke down and cried freely as the three of them held him, wrapping their arms protectively around him.