"You ever coming back to the room?" Seth had been on his way to the vending machines when he passed the pool and spotted Summer's dark silhouette.
"Later, when everyone's asleep maybe," Summer didn't look away from her position flat on her back starring at the stars, "I just kind of need time by myself." Seth stared at his ex-girlfriend as if it was the first time he'd seen her since they'd gotten to North Carolina, and laid back against the concrete with her.
"So what's going on with you. You seem kind of upset," Seth inquired as Summer continued to stare straight ahead not even glancing over at Seth as he sat, a sure sign that something was wrong.
"I dunno, I guess everyone being in such close quarters has been really getting to me."
"Yeah, I guess it kind of sucks. But it's better than being in the car for endless hours," Seth remarked, trying to cheer her up.
"I guess I'm just kind of ready to go home," Summer whispered.
"Summer, what's going on?" Seth asked, worried by her soft sad tone.
"Zach broke up with me," Summer responded, sounding sad and relieved at the same time.
"What? Why?"
"It doesn't matter," Summer sighed, "I just...I don't know if I can stand being around everyone much longer. It's hard trying to be so calm and collected and social when I just want to be sad and frustrated and anti-social."
"Summer..."
"No it's cool," Summer responded and moved to a seated position, pulling her knees to her chest. "I mean everyone else is enjoying themselves. You and Brooke. Coop and Lucas. Ryan and Lindsay. I can wait it out until everyone is ready to go. I just kind of need some space to get it together." Seth sat up as well and wrapped an arm around Summer.
"So what are you up to?" Peyton leaned in the entrance of Brooke's room, watching as the brunette finished clipping up her curled hair, "Haven't seen you around as much lately."
"Same could be said about you," Brooke raised an eyebrow, but smiled brightly to show she was just joking. Unplugging her curling iron, she stood up and crossed over to her closet. "Things are going well with Jake, I assume."
"Couldn't be better," Peyton blushed, plopping down on Brooke's bed, "And you and Seth seem to be enjoying a summer fling yourselves."
"Yeah," Brooke nodded, a smile pulling at the corners of her lips, "But it's not a fling...I mean a fling is something that is meaningless. This isn't like that."
"Aw, Brooke sentimental? I'm shocked," Peyton laughed, dodging a pillow her friend threw in response. "No I think it's cute, you and Seth make a great couple."
"Thank you," Brooke replied, giving herself once last glance in the mirror, "In fact, I've got a date tonight, so I should get out of here."
"Okay," Peyton nodded, a little sorry they hadn't gotten to talk a little more. She'd really missed out on girl talk since the only female she was usually around couldn't really speak yet.
"I'll see you later, Peyt," Brooke waved before exiting out the door.
Brooke rounded the corner, remembering to meet Seth in the hotel lobby. As she was about to enter the hotel, a better thought entered her mind. She knelt down and picked up a handful of pebbles, planning to throw them at his window like they did in the movies. It seemed like a cute enough idea, and he was usually late so she figured he'd still be getting ready. Pushing open the pool gate, she stepped inside the pool area, looking up for the balcony that belonged to the group's suite. After spotting it, she looked back down, noticing a couple sitting together at the edge of the pool. Feeling nosy, she stepped closer in order to get a better glance.
"Summer?" Brooke called, figuring she might as well make nice. Sure enough the brunette's head snapped up, turning around to look at Brooke. But it wasn't the only person to turn around. The boy next to Summer, the one who had her wrapped tightly in his arms, was no one other then Seth Cohen. An incredibly awkward silence settled in the dark night air, broken only by the sound of a handful of pebbles hitting the ground.
"Brooke," Seth immediately jumped to his feet shooting an apologetic glance at Summer.
"I'm fine," Summer assured, "go talk to her."
"Brooke, hang on," Seth called after Brooke who has turned on her heel and walked swiftly in the direction she had come from.
"Just forget it Seth!" Brooke tossed over her shoulder.
"Will you just hold on for a second?" Seth demanded grabbing Brooke's shoulder and turning her to face him quickly.
"It doesn't matter Seth," Brooke's expression was angry. "I should have known you were just like every other guy on the planet, it's my fault, I should have set my expectations of you so high."
"Brooke, it wasn't how it looked," Seth assured, "really it wasn't."
"Oh yeah, cause I spend plenty of nights staring at the stars with my ex-boyfriend all the time. You know come to think of it he was a cheater too so why should I assume you were any different?"
"Nothing happened. Summer and I are just friends. We haven't been anything more for a year, there's nothing going on."
"There's not," Summer appeared beside Seth. "Cohen and I are so totally over, Zach and I broke up he was just comforting me. We're friends."
"Really?" Brooke looked between Seth and Summer,
"I promise," Summer nodded, "Why would I lie to you about it? It's not like we're friends or something."
"I guess you have a point," Brooke's eyes locked on Seth's, "If you tell me there's really nothing going on between you too, that you're completely over, then I will believe you." Summer tensed next to Seth unable to make up her mind if she actually wanted to know the answer to Brooke's question, but Seth answered before Summer could reach a decision.
"Summer and I are long over."
"You guys should go," Summer encouraged with a bright smile, "Don't you have a date or something?"
"You going to be okay?" Seth asked. Summer nodded, "I'm going to be fine." Once they were done Summer took a deep breath and slid to the ground.
"This place is nice," Seth stated gesturing to the view over the water at the waterfront café Brooke had chosen for their date.
"I like it," Brooke nodded, "It's nice without being too prissy." Seth nodded and a silence descended over the couple.
"Seth, what's going on? You are acting weird," Brooke commented, taking a sip of her Shirley Temple.
"We have to go home as soon as the car is done, which should be soon," Seth finally admitted, looking up and into her eyes. They both knew what this meant.
"I thought you were going to stay through the rest of the summer?" Brooke questioned. She didn't want to believe it, she wanted to think that they could live happily ever after, but that wasn't true.
"I was, but Summer needs me, breaking up Zach has upset her. She needs a friend and she needs to be away from Zach. Delaying the tripe home would make it harder for both of them and that's not fair to either of them. They're my friends..." Seth knew Brooke wasn't going to like that explanation, but he had to tell her the truth.
"You still love her, don't you?" Brooke didn't want to jump to conclusions, but she couldn't help but say it, even if it hurt like hell to hear it out loud.
"Whoa, what happened to if you tell me the truth I'll trust you?"
"Last time I saw you, you went on about how you didn't care what you friends said, you were staying. And then bam, Summer break sup with her boyfriend and you jump on the
"let's go home" bandwagon. What the hell is that? You love her." Brooke accused, looking down at her lap.
"Yeah," Seth stated nonchalantly, not taking his eyes off of her.
"Dammit Seth," Broke moved quickly to her feet.
"Will you sit down?" Seth grabbed Brooke's hand and pulled her back into her chair, "I love her like a friend. Nothing else."
"Right."
"You love Lucas, right?" Seth pointed out, with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, yeah but..." Brooke's cell phone rang, interrupting what Brooke had intended to say. With a deep breath Brooke answered, "Hello. Oh, hi Daddy. What? I'm actually on a date right now. Can it wait until later?" Brooke let's out an exasperated sigh, "fine, whatever. Yeah. Yes. Fine. Now. Yes. Bye." Flipping her cell phone shut with a snap Brooke stood up, "I have to go. My dad is ordering me home." Brooke shook her head sadly, "Leave Seth. Do what you have to do. But won't be there to say good-bye to you. I can't and I'm not going to."
"Brooke..."
"Nope. I'm sorry Seth, I can't just stand there like an idiot and watch you drive away. There's no way. It's just not happening. It was nice knowing you." And with her words Brooke walked away without turning to glance at Seth again.
Ali: Hey guys! So a month later we've updated! Thanks to all for sticking with us! Only one more chapter left so stick with us, we should be done soon!
Steph: We apologize for the long space between updates! My comp broke down, and things were so busy we just got a chance now to post! Thanks for the awesome reviews!
