Palm Trees and Power Lines
Chapter 2: Destination Anywhere
Summary: Sort-of future fic. Summer breaks Seth's heart and all he could think to do was leave… but will she find him again, and will he want her back if she does?
Rating: PG-13… you never know. Right now it's not bad… but future chapters… yeah
Disclaimer: I own nada… not "The O.C." or the actors… and unfortunately Sugarcult owns every song in this fic… darn it...
A/N: Here's chapter two! I don't know how fast I'll be posting them… it will be faster right now because of spring break… but soon it might only be like… once a week, or less…. But yeah… just review! LoL! This chapter is the song "Destination Anywhere"… of course by Sugarcult!! Be cool and review!
Somebody help me get out of this
place
Too many words, I confuse what I say
Calling the victims, A probable cause
Give me the keys and get out of this box
Seth furiously threw clothes, CDs, video games, and money into his last bag. He needed to get out of here- and fast. He couldn't stand to see Ryan or Summer again; he knew he would break down if he did. How could they do that to him? His girlfriend- who he loved with all of his heart-, and his brother- who he trusted more than anyone. It was beyond him, but he didn't plan on sticking around to figure all of that out. He just wanted to leave; to go to Pennsylvania and start college. He could make a life for himself there and who knows; maybe he would run into Anna. So what if he was going to Philly and she would be five hours away in Pittsburgh- it didn't matter.
He threw his last few things into the bag and zipped it up. His room was barren. There was nothing left on the walls, the floor, his bed- all that was left were the big stationary things. Slinging his duffel bag over his shoulder, and picking up a suitcase and his pillow he bid farewell to the room that he always knew as home. Quickly he walked down the steps and grabbed his car keys. As he opened the front door though, he heard his parents calling him.
Keep both hands up
On the way to destination anywhere
Keep both hands up
On the way to take control
"Seth? Is that you?" Kirsten called from the kitchen. Soon she appeared in front of him. "Seth! Where are you going?"
A small smile appeared on his somber face as he spoke. "I got into the University of Pennsylvania." He felt proud of himself for a minute, but then remembered the whole reason he was leaving so early.
"And you're leaving three months in advance to get a good dorm?" she asked. "Come on Seth, I know you're excited but three months?"
"That's not why I'm leaving," he replied quietly.
"Well then why are you? Are you going to go visit Anna?" she questioned, concerned with her son's aura. He wasn't acting like normal- and why hasn't he said anything about Summer?
"No! No! I'm leaving because Summer cheated on me with my asshole brother, that's why!" he exclaimed, grabbed his things, and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.
Sandy heard all of this and came running out. The two got to him as he was getting in his car.
"Seth, running away isn't going to solve anything! You can't get into the college yet anyway. Where are you going to go? Your trust fund isn't accessible for another six years! How do you plan on getting by with nothing?" Sandy argued, as Seth started his car.
"I don't know, and frankly I don't care!" Seth yelled. "All I know is I can't stay here any more. Now you can either help me, or try and stop me. But I'll tell you now, there's no way you can stop me."
"Seth, honey, please," Kirsten pleaded. "Just stay for a little longer. You can't solve things this way."
"There is nothing to solve," he replied. "Now are you going to help me or not?"
Sandy sighed and pulled out his wallet. "Here," he said, handing his son some money and a credit card. "Be careful, son. Go visit your Nana, and maybe Anna. Good luck."
"Thanks Dad," he whispered. "I'll see you guys later." He finished and pulled out of the driveway, his music blasting as the tears escaped his eyes. He still couldn't believe that his brother and girlfriend betrayed him like that.
I can't let myself fall down
I can't help myself right now
I can't let myself fall down
If I can't be myself, I fall down
* * * *
"I think we need to have a talk with Ryan," Kirsten said as her son was too far away to see, "and find out what exactly went on."
"Yeah," Sandy agreed. "Maybe we should call Summer over too."
"Good idea," she replied. "I'll call Summer and you go start talking to Ryan- and be calm." She finished and headed back up to the house.
When she got there, she found Summer's phone number and picked up the phone.
* * Ring * *
* * Ring * *
* * Ring* *
"Hello?" Summer answered.
"Summer? Hi, it's Kirsten. Do you think you could come over here? There's some things Sandy and I need to straighten out with you and Ryan," she said.
"This is about Seth isn't it?" Summer asked. "Is he going to be there?"
"Yes, it is, and no, he won't. He left for the airport about ten minutes ago and-"she couldn't finish because Summer had obviously hung up and a loud noise was echoing in her ear. Soon though, the phone rang again.
"Hello?" Kirsten answered.
"Mrs. Cohen? I'm sorry, I had to call you on my cell phone," came Summer's voice from the other end.
"Are you on your way here?" she asked.
"Uh, no. I'm on my way to the airport," Summer replied. "But I'll be there afterwards- promise."
"Oh, okay, well I'll let you drive," Kirsten told her. "See you later."
"Bye," Summer replied and hung up her phone.
Kirsten hung up and headed down to the pool house to talk to Ryan with Sandy, a bad feeling about what was to come pulling at the back of her mind.
Somebody help me get out of this
place
Too many fools with a smile and a face
Somebody help, The prescription is wrong
I'm never awake unless I fake it
* * * *
Summer skidded into the airport parking lot. She had to try and get to Seth before he left. Quickly, she jumped out of her car and ran into the building, searching for the Pennsylvania flight. She asked around frantically when she saw him. He had just gone through the metal detector, and was gathering his carry-on bag.
"SETH!" she screamed, and luckily he heard her. But to her dismay, when he turned around, he had tears clouding his eyes, and he just went on his way. He didn't stop to see what she wanted- he just left.
Summer's eyes filled with tears as she watched him board the plain. She lost him. Slowly she walked back to her car, in no hurry to see anyone else.
* * * *
I can't let myself fall down
I can't help myself right now
I can't let myself fall down
If I can't be myself right now
"Ryan what were you thinking?" Sandy asked, storming into the pool house.
"What?" Ryan asked, sitting up from his bed. "What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about!" he exclaimed. "You slept with Summer! Now would be the time to explain so your brother doesn't board that plane to Pennsylvania!"
"He's leaving now?" Ryan questioned. "But school doesn't start for three months."
"Well, I don't blame him! He just caught his girlfriend in bed with his best friend. What did you expect him to do? Congratulate you?" Sandy continued, as Kirsten walked through the door.
"I see you've talked to him in a calm, cool, rational way, Sandy. Good job," she deadpanned then turned to her almost-son. "Ryan, why did you do it?"
"Maybe you should let Summer explain her side first," Ryan replied. "Hers makes more sense."
"No, I want to hear why you did it," Sandy stated. "I'll talk to Summer later. Speaking of her, where is she?"
"She's on her way to the airport- to stop Seth from leaving," Kirsten answered. "But, I really doubt it's going to work."
"I see. But that's not important now. What is important is that you chased Seth away and who knows when we'll see him again. Ryan, just tell me, why did you do it?" Sandy asked again.
"You want to know the truth? I don't even know," Ryan admitted, hanging his head. "Summer came to the pool house, just before Seth's party, crying. I didn't know what to say, so I asked her what was wrong. She said that Seth was going to get accepted to an Ivy League school and leave her behind in California. I said he would never do that- he would either make sure she got into a school over there, or not even go himself. He loves her too much to leave her. But she wouldn't listen to anything I said."
"Okay, that explains why she was here… but not why you slept with her," Kirsten said. "Now would you like to elaborate?"
"Well, she kept crying, saying I was wrong and that he would leave and go back to Anna or something like that. Then, out of nowhere- she kissed me and said that she needed to get over Seth before he hurt her. She started taking off my shirt and hers and- I- I tried to stop it, really I did! But, I am a teenage boy and…I know I shouldn't have done it but I did. And for it, I'm extremely regretful, "Ryan continued, still hanging his head low. "Then, when it was…err… all over, she told me that she would come down tomorrow morning again for another "Get Over Seth Session". I didn't know what to do!"
"Ryan you knew it was wrong- why did you do it?" Kirsten asked, more disappointed than angry.
"I couldn't help myself. I mean, I was single, and I assumed Summer would be soon enough. I know it was wrong, but I- I don't know. There is no excuse for what I did," he said. "And I'm sorry I did it."
"Well, now I guess we still need to talk to Summer," Sandy turned to Kirsten. "See why she did all of this."
"Well you can talk to me now," a voice came from the door. The three turned to see Summer, tears streaming down her face. "He left. And he wouldn't even talk to me."
"Summer, honey, I know you tried," Kirsten's motherly instincts kicked in as she wrapped the young girl in her arms. "Now, we need to talk to you."
"I know," she said, and followed Kirsten over to where the other two were sitting. "Just, let me say one thing. Mr. Cohen, Mrs. Cohen, I'm sorry for making your son leave. I never meant to hurt him."
"Why did you do it Summer?" Sandy asked. "We thought you were better than that."
"I know… The truth is I was afraid. We were so close, and it scared me. I was afraid that he would dump me as soon as he was accepted to college. So I went to the only person I could think of- that could help me through this: Ryan. He knew Seth better than I did, and maybe he could talk to him. Well, it didn't work so I just let my cynicism get the best of me and…well you know what happened," Summer explained. "And now? Now I know he never would have done that, but it's too late because I lost him. I don't know what to do, I love him."
"Why didn't you tell him that?" Kirsten asked, taking Summer's hand.
"He wouldn't listen! I tried, believe me, I tried. But he just kept yelling, and saying that it was over and… God what am I going to do?" Summer broke down, not knowing what else to do.
"Well…Summer, I know how you feel… I know it was a mistake, but you got yourself into this mess," Sandy spoke. "I'm not saying Ryan wasn't to blame at all, but you were a part of it."
"I know…I know. I guess I'll just live forever alone. God, look at me. I'm a mess. Well, I better go. Thanks for listening," Summer replied, and quickly left the pool house.
Keep your head on straight
Make the kids behave
Keep your mind awake
If I can't be myself, I fall down
Keep both hands up on the way up
Destination anywhere
She climbed into her car and took off down the street, tears clouding her vision as she drove. She messed up…and now she couldn't fix it. Her life was ruined by one, stupid, horrible mistake. How wonderful…
I can't let myself fall down
I can't help myself right now
I can't let myself fall down
If I can't be myself right now
Keep your head on straight
Make the kids behave
Keep your mind awake
If I can't be myself, I fall down
Fall down
A/N: So that was the second installment of Palm Trees and Power Lines…. Like it? Hate it? Review por favor.