"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

After many hours of painting Summer and Seth made their way out to Anne's car.
"So, what do you want to do now?" Seth asked as he unlocked the car door.
"I'd like to get out of these dirty clothes."
"Really?" Seth asked raising an eyebrow
"Not like that." She said blushing
"I know. I could take you home to change if you'd like."
"I wouldn't want to make you wait outside." Summer said slightly flustered
"Well, I could come inside with you."
"Yeah, but then you'd have to deal with Gary, and I'm like a daughter to him. I mean he scared Counterman and Wasman and they were only picking me up to go to a movie. I'd hate to see him go after you."
"I think I can handle myself. And come on, that paint's going to stain if you let it sit any longer."
"Let me call home and see if he's there."

Summer pulled out her phone and hit 'home' on her speed-dial.
"Hello?" Meg asked out of breath.
"It's me, you okay?"
"Yeah. You almost missed us, that's all. What's wrong?"
"I was just wondering if it would be safe to bring Seth over so I can change clothes."
"You mean have I picked up all of Sam's stuff so he won't wonder why you haven't mentioned a baby in the house? Yeah."
"Good."
"Okay. Be safe. Condom's are..."
"Hey now!" Summer exclaimed loudly, "There are some things I just don't need to know."
"See you tonight."
"Bye Meg."

Summer hit end and turned to Seth.
"Meg says that it is safe to bring you home."

------

Summer unlocked the house and pushed the door open.
"Cool place." Seth said walking into the living room.
"Thanks." Summer laughed, "You can just stay here while I go get dressed."
"Alright." Seth said sitting down on the couch.
"So, what do you think of Springfield so far?" Summer asked
"It's okay. Although I have seen nothing that would make me want to stay here for eight months."
"I needed a change." Summer said walking out of her room dressed in the red sweater and jeans she had thought about wearing that morning
"Wow, you look great." Seth said walking over to her.
"Why thank you. So, you ready to go?"
"In just a second." Seth said trying to peek over her shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Summer asked pulling her door shut quickly
"I just want to see your room."
"No. No, no, no, no, no, no. Uh-uh. You are not going in there."
"Why not?"
"Because it's a sty. I cannot stand going in there, I really wouldn't want to subject anyone else to that. Now come on, we've got so many things to do and so little time to do them."

------

"So, would this qualify as a normal evening in Springfield?" Seth asked that night as he and Summer watched the police drag a disheveled looking man out of the late showing of a special showing of Kill Bill volume two.
"Honestly? This is the most excitement I've seen since I got here. Except for that time a group of guys got together and pulled all the fire alarms in school during the first snow of the year."
"Can I have your attention please?" A young pimply faced usher said walking to the front of the theatre "We are sorry for the disruption and unfortunately we aren't going to be able to finish the movie. But you all will be reimbursed."
"Well this is great." Summer whispered
"So, what can we do now?" Seth asked as they got out of their seats and headed towards the back entrance.
"Well, it's almost twelve thirty so most of the good places are closed, plus I've gotta be home in a half hour. But you know what? There is one place not to far from my house we could go to."
"Okay. Let's go."
"Okay."

------

Fifteen minutes later Seth and Summer sat across from each other in a tiny white booth at a twenty four hour breakfast restaurant.
"You come here a lot?" Seth asked as he sat his cup of coffee down on the table.
"Sometimes. Whenever Anne's in town mostly. Kristi, Becca and I spend the night at her house, which I know sounds really childish, and do nothing but watch bad teen movies and gossip and then we finish off the evening here."
"It sounds like you really enjoy living here."
"I do. It's great."
"I'm glad."

Seth smiled at her and went back to eating his breakfast and Summer just looked at him.
"What?" he asked
"I was just wondering if..." She paused for a moment
"What?"
"Have you seen my dad lately?"
"Yeah. Yeah I have. He was at Caleb's birthday party."
"How is he?"
"He's fine."
"Good. That's good." Summer looked down at her food, and then quickly looked up again, "He didn't say anything to you about why I came here, did he?"
"No...why?"
"Just curious. Now come on, finish eating. We're going to need to get me back home soon."

------

Seth pulled up to the house and shut the car off.
"So, this is it." Summer said turning to face Seth.
"Yep. In six hours I will be on my way to the airport."
"And I'll have to wait an entire month till I see you again. "
"Come on, if we could go six months without seeing each other, thirty days is going to be nothing. And plus we have those lovely pictures taken from the dance. You will send me copy's right?"
"You bet." Summer smiled.
"I can however see where you're coming from."
"You can?"
"Yeah, I can. I know that the days are going to go by so fast if I can just convince myself to say goodbye and let you get out of the car."
Summer smiled and looked down at her feet
"You know," She said, "a friend once told me that you know its love when the hardest thing to say is goodbye."
"This must be the best love ever then."