Authors note: Math is finally done, Woo-hoo! So, in honor of that I thought that I would give you a Seth and Summer centered chapter. Enjoy.

"A woman who'll wait for the third time around, head in the clouds, feet on the ground

She's girl he's glad he's found, she's his shipoopi."

---Shipoopi, The Music Man

A knock at the door stopped the girls from laughing.
"Ugh." Marissa groaned getting up. "Who is it?"
"It's Seth."
"Coming!"

Marissa shot Summer a 'What do I do?' glance and Summer mouthed open it.

"Hi." Marissa said opening the door.
"Hey." Seth said
"What's going on?"
"Ryan wanted me to see if you wanted to come over. Unless you're busy which it sounds like you are. What are you watching?" he asked walking into the house.
"Whatever's on."
"So I guess you don't want to come over."
"No, but I think I know someone who would."

In the family room Summer perked her head up and suddenly started hating her best friend for doing what she knew she was going to do.
"Come with me."
Seth followed Marissa into the family room and was very surprised to see Summer sitting there.
"Summer!" he exclaimed
"Hey Seth." she said hesitantly.
"What are you doing here?"
"Had nothing better to do for Christmas so I thought I'd come visit you guys."
"Hey!" Marissa exclaimed, "Why don't you two go hang out?"
"Coop, I thought this was going to be our girl's night?"
"I know but we can have a girl's night tomorrow, in fact we can have a girls day facials, manicures the works. Plus I'd really like to talk to Ryan about where we stand right now. So you two go hang out I'll be fine."
Summer looked at Marissa for a moment and then asked, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Summer pulled Marissa aside and started whispering to her. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm being the supportive best friend. And if I was in the position to spend an entire night alone with the father of my child I would take it."
"But what about Sam?"
"I'll watch her."
"I can't do that."
"Are you serious? I'm her godmother, which means like instant baby sitting. And plus, I'm not going to take no for an answer."
"Fine." Summer finally gave in
"She's in!" Marissa exclaimed turning around to face Seth.
"Let me just go upstairs and change."

Fifteen minutes later Seth and Summer took a walk down the beach by Holly's house.
"So, did you like the present that I sent you?" Seth asked kicking some sand
"Yeah, I loved it. Actually I started reading Kavalier and Clay on the plane ride here. And the cd's are in my stereo at home."
"Have you listened to them yet?"
"Yeah, some of my friends came over for Christmas and we listened to them."
"And what do the residents of Springfield think about my musical choices?"
"They enjoyed Death Cab. Bright eyes and the Shins were a little iffy." Summer smirked, "So what did you think about my present?"
"Captain Oats loves having his very own Princess Sparkle to hang out with. And I love the Kill Bill posters that you got me."
"I went shopping with my friend Wasman to help him pick out a present for his girlfriend and the minute he pointed them out I instantly thought of you."

"So it sounds like Springfield's treating you well." Seth said shoving his hands in his pockets.
"It is. I mean the parties aren't half as good as here, which can be a good and a bad thing."
"Do you miss Newport?"
"Sometimes." She said putting her hand on his shoulder to help her keep her balance while she took off her sandals, "But other times it feels good to be in a place where no one knows me. You know?"
"I can relate. Before Ryan came I had one thing on my mind; getting out of Newport."
"I'm glad you've changed your mind. 'Cause I know that my life would be a lot different if you weren't in it."
Seth chuckled to himself and looked Summer in the eye. "Remember last year and the whole you, me, Anna situation?" he asked, "I never thought we'd be here like this."
"A lot has changed in a year."
"It sure has." Seth smiled and then asked, "Have you gotten to see Cohen yet?"
"Yeah I saw her yesterday. She's beautiful."
"She's got Ryan's eyes."
"Are you having fun being Uncle Seth?" Summer asked trying to figure a way to lead into the subject of Samara.
"It's great."

Summer opened her mouth to say something but instead she was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Hi Seth." The voice said.
"Anna, hi." He said uncomfortably.
"Hi Anna." Summer said turning around
"Summer. Hi. Wow, I didn't know you're back in town. Are you living here again?"
"No." She said a little too harshly, "I'm just here visiting."
"That's too bad. I just got the first season of Golden Girls on DVD and it's not really the type of show to watch alone."
"I wish I could but I'm leaving soon, sorry."

Half an hour later Seth and Summer sat in the back seat of the back seat of the range rover, which was parked in front of Marissa's house, with his arms around her shoulders just talking.
"So when do you have to go back?" Seth asked
"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."
"That's so soon."
"I know. But I've got to get back 'cause I agreed to help with lights and stuff for the New Years performance of the school musical."
"You're doing drama?"
"Yeah! What's so bad about drama, hmm?"
"It just doesn't seem like it's your thing."
"And what would be my thing?" She asked getting up close to his face.
"I don't know, shopping, tanning, waxing."
"You've obviously never attended a drama club meeting."

They sat gazing at each other, and then slowly they began to move closer and closer until their lips were touching. There was nothing they could do to stop it. It was almost as if they were no longer being controlled by their brains, but by something else.
They were like that for what felt like a lifetime and second all wrapped up in one when finally Summer pulled away.
"What?" Seth whispered, "What's wrong?"
"I can't do this."
"Can't do what?"

Summer turned her face so that Seth couldn't see the tears forming in her eyes.
"Can't do what Summer?" he asked again.

She finally looked at him, with tears streaming down her cheeks, and told him the one thing that she's wanted to say out loud since the night Ryan asked her at Anne Marie's going away party.
"I can't be here with you because it's perfect. Too perfect! And I have to go back to Springfield even though I love you. And I hate that!"