A/N Short chapter, but I am going on a short vacation this weekend that involves drunken gambling so I thought I would post anyway. When I come home broke, hung over, and smelling like I spent the weekend in an ashtray some reviews would definitely brighten my day. Oh and there is a violent scene, so you've been warned.

They weren't even halfway through the song before Summer felt someone grab her arm.

"We are leaving now" Zach growled at Summer through his clenched jaw. "Hey man, let her go," Travis said as he stepped toward Zach. "Travis no, its ok. We had better go, thanks for keeping me company." Summer realized now that dancing with Travis had been a mistake and she just wanted to get Zach out of there before he made a scene. She knew that he had been drinking, since he smelled like Marissa, and this was not the time nor the place for a fight.

"Zach, let go of my arm!" Summer hissed as Zach half-dragged and half-escorted her out of the party. Zach didn't say anything. Summer knew that he must be really pissed if he wouldn't even talk to her. For just a moment Summer considered not leaving with him. Marissa's words from the summer came back to her. "If he hurt you once what makes you think he won't do it again?"

Summer was still trying to decide what she should do when they reached the entrance and Zach gave the valet the ticket. "Zach, we really don't have to leave. I know that you were excited to see Brad. Travis is way too old for me. We were just dancing, please don't let it ruin the evening." Summer knew that she was rambling, but she just wanted Zach to say something, anything. Zach stayed silent, staring out into the night, not willing to meet Summer's gaze.

They stood in silence for what seemed like forever until the valet brought Zach's car around. "Zach why don't you let me drive, I've had less to drink than you." And I'm not angry, Summer silently added. She flashed back to the wild ride Zach had taken her on after he had punched Seth. "Summer, I'm fine. Get in the car." Zach said flatly, his tone making it obvious that who was going to drive was not up for discussion.

Summer quietly sighed as she opened the door and slid across the leather seat. She was so excited about this evening and it had turned out to be a total bust. They drove in silence for several minutes, until Summer couldn't contain herself any longer. "Zach, you didn't have to drag me off the dance floor. Travis and I were doing nothing wrong. You left me by myself for over an hour. What was I supposed to do, hang out by myself?"

"Do you know how I knew you were with him?" Zach asked, finally breaking his silence. "My father came to find me and told me I better get back to the party because my girlfriend was with another guy. Do you know how I felt?" Zach was starting to shout. "Do you know how stupid it made me feel when my dad told me, in front of my friends, that my girlfriend was making a fool of me!" He pounded his fist on the steering wheel. "God dammit Summer!"

Summer was starting to get scared. She didn't understand how someone as rational as Zach was normally could turn completely irrational with one word or action. "Zach you are like way overreacting. I didn't nothing tonight to embarrass you. You embarrassed yourself by dragging me off the dance floor like some caveman. And why, because your daddy said too?" Zach snapped when Summer mentioned his father. Before she realized what was happening, Zach punched her in the side of the face, slamming her head into the window. She could feel the blood streaming down from her nose.

Summer screamed as the Mercedes came within inches of an oncoming truck. "Stop!" she yelled. "Zach pull over before you kill us." Zach kept driving . Summer couldn't believe what had happened. She never though that he would actually hit her. All she knew was that she had to get away from him before she got hurt any worse.

Finally, after several more minutes Zach stopped the car at a little park on the edge of town. Summer immediately grabbed her purse and jumped out of the car. Zach came around the passenger side and started toward her. Summer tried to back up, but she got tangled up in her dress and tripped, falling flat on her back on the gravel parking lot. Zach grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her up.

Before Summer could react Zach hit her in the face again. Summer crumpled to the ground and lost consciousness for a few seconds. When she came to she could hear Zach screaming at her. She couldn't focus on exactly what he was saying, but she could make out the words "slut" and "my father." Summer tried to crawl away, but he kicked her hard in the ribs causing her to lose her breath.

Through her foggy mind, Summer heard Zach's car pull away. She managed to sit up, but the action caused a sharp pain in her side. Summer sat frozen for a moment, her tears mixing with the blood on her face. What the hell was she going to do now? She was miles from her house and judging by how much it hurt to stand up, there was no way she could walk home.

She groped blindly in the dark for her purse and was relieved when she found the cell phone inside was still intact. But who was she going to call? She knew that she should probably call 911, but she really didn't want to deal with the police. She thought about Cohen, but she knew if she involved him and his parents she would end up telling her story to the cops. That left Marissa, Summer dialed her number, praying that Marissa wasn't drunk for once.

Marissa wasn't drunk. She was actually just on her way home from hanging out with DJ when she got Summer's call. She is probably calling to gloat about what a fabulous time she had at the party, Marissa thought as she answered the phone. At first Marissa couldn't understand what Summer was saying. She thought that maybe Summer was just wasted, but when she heard Summer crying she knew something bad had happened.

"Marissa I need help. Zach went crazy and I think I'm hurt and I am at some park and I don't have a car and I can't walk and I don't want to call the police and its dark and cold" Summer blurted out when Marissa answered her phone. "Wait, slow down Summer, I can't understand you. What happened?" Summer took a deep breath to calm herself and began again.

Marissa's mind raced as fast as her mustang as she headed towards Memorial Park. That fucker. I can't believe he hurt her. I swear to god that I will kill him. These thoughts kept running through Marissa's mind as she drove towards Summer. At first she didn't see Summer when she pulled into the dark parking lot. Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of silver. She must have worn the Chanel.

Marissa gasped when she saw Summer. Summer was a mess. She was shaking, there was blood everywhere, her hair was tangled, and the beautiful silver dress was torn and dirty. "Zach did this," Marissa asked as she was pulling out her phone. Summer nodded and asked who she was calling. "The police, he should totally go to jail for this" Marissa replied as she tried to clean up Summer's face with some Kleenex. "No!" Summer cried desperately. "Please don't call the police. I don't want to deal with all that. I just want to go home."

"Well, you at least have to go to the hospital. Your nose might be broken. You're freezing, lets get you into the car and then you can decide." Summer felt her nose and said "I don't think its broken, I thought I broke it when I was little but my dad told me if I could wiggle it like this then it wasn't broken." Summer tried to stand up, but she couldn't balance on the 4 inch heals of her Prada shoes. Marissa gently helped her up and got her to the car. "I am not going to the hospital," Summer declared weakly. "If I go they will call the police and everyone will find out what happened. Please Marissa."

Marissa looked at her best friend and considered her options. Summer was obviously hurt and she should probably go to the hospital, but she wasn't going to take Summer against her will. Maybe if she took Summer home and got her cleaned up she could talk her into going. Marissa sat quietly, unsure of what to do next. She didn't know what to do or how she could help her friend. Then suddenly Marissa though of someone she could call. Even though they hadn't really talked lately she knew that he would come. She flipped open her phone, scrolled through the contacts, and when she saw Ryan Cell she pressed send.