Palm Trees and Power Lines
Chapter 15: Promise
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
Disclaimer: Disclaimers are just so boring… there isn't a large variety of ways to say that I don't own this stuff…
A/N: So, I hope this update is quick enough for you… it's the best I can do… so I know my other stories are kind of …well not doing anything, but I figure I'll finish this one, then get the other ones done… so keep looking for them ;-) … umm… the song in this is Promise by Matchbook Romance… it's weird, because usually I'll pick out a song after I write the chapter… but before I even wrote a word of the chapter, this song just seemed to fit everything I was thinking… so yeah, here it is… Matchbook is an amazing band, btw (:
0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo
What would you say if I asked you not to go?
To forget everyone, forget everything and start over with me
Would you take my hand and never let me go
Promise me you'll never let me go
"Please, don't go," Seth pleaded as they walked through the airport. They stopped and he took her hands in his. "You can still stay here Summer. Please, just don't leave. I love you."
It was the last day of August, and it was finally time for Summer to go back to California. She and Seth had spent the last two days just being with each other- cherishing the last few hours they had until she had to leave. He wanted her to stay more than anything, but she knew she couldn't. She had to go back home- where her life was- and finish everything up there. After that, if they were still together, she'd gladly transfer anywhere that Seth wanted her to go but now… they just needed a break for a while. Both of them needed to know that this relationship could withstand anything.
"Cohen… we'll see each other in a few months. Please, just don't make this any harder," she looked down at their entwined hands and closed her eyes blinking back tears. "It's just college right? I mean… we have the rest of our lives ahead of us. Plus, it's only one year. Just one year…"
"Summer," he begged one last time. "I-"
"Seth, please," she cut him off. "You aren't making this easy."
"I feel like I've lost everything when you're gone. We almost died when we were apart. Don't do this again, please, Summer I'm begging you," Seth squeezed her hands in his, allowing a few tears to slip down his cheeks.
"Cohen, please, just stop," she had finally given in to her tears and they were now doing the same as Seth's, and sliding down her cheeks.
"Flight 104 to Newport Beach, California is now boarding for first class," the speaker said and both Seth and Summer's hearts sunk.
"That's my flight," Summer looked up, but didn't let go of Seth's hands. She leaned in and gave him a slow, soft kiss, then pulled away. "Promise me, Seth… promise me you'll never let go."
"I promise, Summer, God do I promise," he breathed through tears. "I'll see you for Thanksgiving. Call me as soon as your flight lands- I don't care how late it is."
"I promise," she whispered and with one last kiss, turned and walked through the gates.
Seth's heart shattered as she walked away. He stayed there watching out the window as she boarded. He stayed there as the plane took off down the runway, and when the plane was long gone, he was still standing there staring out the window. When the next plane pulled up and began loading people, he was still sitting there, tears flowing steadily down his cheeks.
"Are you going to be okay, son?" an old man came up to him and asked. "Girlfriend?"
"Yeah," he replied, a bit startled, and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Love of my life."
With that he turned and walked out of the airport and to his car. Tonight was going to be a lonely one…
0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo
And now the stars aren't out tonight,
But neither are we to look up at them
Why does hello feel like goodbye?
These memories can't replace,
These wishes I wished and dreams I chased
Take this broken heart and make it right
Summer looked out at the black sky as she flew through the air on the plane. It had been at least an hour and the tears were still making their way down her cheeks. She had tried watching the movie, tried reading a magazine, doing a crossword- pretty much everything. None of it helped her though. She finally settled on listening to a mix that Seth had burned for her the day before she left. Of course it wasn't helping her forget about him, but it was the only thing she could think to do. The sounds of Matchbook Romance were now echoing in her ears. It was funny how similar these lyrics seemed to what had just happened hours ago.
I feel like I've lost everything when you're gone…
Seth had said that to her. She closed her eyes, and leaned back in the chair. Maybe if she could sleep she could stop thinking about everything…
0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo
I feel like I lost everything when you're gone
Left remembering what it's like to have you here with me
I thought you should know, you're not making this easy
I never thought I'd be the one to say
Please don't, well please don't leave me
I feel like I lost everything when you're gone
Left remembering what it's like to have you here with me
I thought you should know, you're not making this easy
You're not making this easy (easy, easy, easy...)
Seth walked into his new dorm to find his roommate, Joel lying on the bed. Summer had helped him move in yesterday and get everything set up.
"Hey man," Joel said, sitting up. "So this is the new pad. Not very big but… homey?"
Seth tried to laugh, but more of a bitter scoff came out instead. He hadn't meant for it to come out that way, it just had. "Hey."
"Seth, man, I'm so sorry about Summer. I mean, you'll get to see her in a few months, right? It's not going to be that bad is it?" he asked getting up and patting Seth on the back. "You're gonna make it bud. I know how much she means to you, and I saw how much you mean to her. It's gonna be okay."
"Thanks, Joel," he said and walked over to his bed. "It's just… I can't imagine not having her here. It was hard enough when we were broken up but now? I just hope she doesn't find some other guy…"
"Maybe you should just get some sleep," Joel replied. "Beer?"
"No thanks. Maybe I'll just lay down and watch TV," he flopped back on his bed and picked up his cell. It was only 8:00, and Summer wasn't due in California for another two hours.
0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo0oo
Take my hand and never let me go,
Take my hand and never let me go,
Promise me, you'll never let go
You'll never let go, you'll never let go
You'll never let go, make this last forever
I feel like I lost everything when you're gone
-That's why I'm singing baby don't worry, cause now I've got your back. And every time you feel like crying, I'm gonna try and make you laugh-
Seth shot up from his sleep and fumbled around for his phone, frantically as he heard the familiar Bright Eyes tune playing. Bowl of Oranges was Summer's ring…
"H-hello?" he answered.
"I miss you already," Summer's voice said on the other end. "I hate Newport."
"God, Summer, I miss you too," he replied, flopping back on the bed. "How was your flight?"
"Lonely," she answered truthfully. She hated the flight home. "I'm at your house. My dad's not even here. He's in Paris until September 7th with the step monster. Your mom said I could stay in your room. She's really happy that we worked everything out."
"That's good. I'm glad you have someplace to stay…" he really didn't know what to say to her. There wasn't anything to talk about, really.
"Seth, there's someone here that you need to talk to," she told him, and Seth was suddenly very curious.
"Hey," an all too familiar voice spoke on the other end.
Suddenly all of the anger that had seemed to settle was now swirling up and creating a huge storm in his mind. Seth didn't know what to say to the person that brought him up from the nothing he was, then helped to almost tear his entire life apart.
"Ryan," he replied through gritted teeth. This was going to be one interesting conversation…
Left remembering what it's like to have you here with me
I thought you should know, you're not making this easy
You're not making this easy, you're not making this easy
You're not making this easy, you're not making this easy
I'll fall asleep tonight, 'cause that brings me closer to you
A/N: So… Summer's back in California. It's all so sad… I'm not a very fluffy person. Hehe… so review please… aren't you proud of me, though? This update was super-fast! (: yay for me!