I probably shouldn't have called." Summer said, her voice becoming quieter.

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"No, it's ok, I'm glad you did." Ryan said, sitting up now. "It's weird. Usually I don't mind being alone, I actually enjoy it," Summer paused "but I really don't want to be alone tonight." Summer held her breath and waited for a response. It had taken a lot of nerve for her to call Ryan and if he didn't want to come over she would be hurt. "I can come over if you want." Ryan offered. "I'll have to ride my bike, so it will take about 20 minutes for me to get there." Summer let out the breath she had been holding. "Thanks Ryan" she said before hanging up the phone.

Ryan quickly got dressed and headed outside to grab his trusty bike. There were still a few lights on in the main house, but Ryan had already said goodnight to the Cohen's and he didn't expect them to come out to the pool house again. Living in the pool house definitely had its advantages and no matter what anyone said, Ryan preferred living out here. He hadn't snuck out the house two nights in a row since he had been living with the Cohen's. Actually, he had never snuck out two nights in a row since his mom never really cared what he did.

The night air was crisp, but not cold as Ryan rode through the quiet streets. He was glad that Summer had called. He had spent all day not calling her, but wanting too. He wondered if his feelings for Summer were real or just a side-effect of the situation. Marissa was right, Ryan had a thing for saving people. It wasn't that he planned for it or searched these situations out; he just couldn't stand to see someone in trouble and not try to help.

Ryan was breathing hard as he pulled up to Summer's house. He realized that he had not been doing much riding lately. Now that he usually had a car, he was turning soft. The house appeared to be deserted from the outside. Ryan knew that Summer was probably holed up in her room, but he could see how being by yourself in such a large house could be disconcerting. As he walked up to the door, he saw a flash of light from one of the windows.

Summer let Ryan into the house. "Thanks, for coming. I feel kinda stupid for calling you. I mean I'm a big girl, I should be able to take care of myself." Summer stopped talking and looked up at Ryan. "You can take care of yourself, but sometimes its nice to not have too." Ryan said as he smiled at Summer "Trust me, I've learned that lesson over and over and over." Summer laughed for the first time in days, but the action caused pain in her ribs and Summer was soon bent over trying to catch her breath.

Ryan put his hand on her back and said "Try and breathe normally. Take a couple slow, shallow breaths." Summer did as Ryan suggested and soon her breathing was back to normal. "I guess I am not ready to laugh yet," Summer remarked dryly. Ryan became aware that his hand was still on Summer's back. He pulled it away quickly. "It's ok" Summer said sensing his discomfort. "I promise I won't like kick you for touching me, well … I'll try not to anyway." Summer was touched, but annoyed at the same time by Ryan's discomfort. She was touched that he respected her enough to be worried about her like that. She was annoyed because Ryan obviously thought of her as fragile.

"Have you been taking any painkillers?" He asked as he took off his jacket and threw it over a nearby chair. "Not since the one Marissa gave me this morning. I don't really want to be all messed up if I am the only one home" Summer replied. "Well now I am here, so you can take one. Are you sure you don't want to go to the doctor?" Ryan asked. He was still concerned about her ribs. He had had several broken ribs before and not gone to the doctor. He knew there wasn't much the doctors could do with broken ribs, but Ryan didn't want Summer to suffer anymore than she had too.

"I already told you I am not going." Summer said over her shoulder as she walked into the kitchen. Ryan followed behind her. "Ok" he said throwing his hands into the air, "I won't ask again. You are really stubborn, you know that?" Summer opened the fridge and pointed to Ryan. "Help yourself," she said pulling a bottle of water out of the fridge. "I know I'm stubborn," Summer began as she sat down one of the barstools. "Maybe that was one of the problems with Zach. He said he liked me cause I was different from him and his family, but maybe that was part of the problem."

Ryan leaned over the counter resting his arms on the marble surface until his face was level with Summer's. "You know that none of this is your fault. Zach is the one with the problem," Ryan said. Summer kept her head down, staring at the floor. "I know, I know " Summer said," but it doesn't really feel that way." Ryan knew exactly what Summer meant. He had felt the same way the first couple times he or his mother had been hit. It took him a long time and countless beatings to realize it wasn't his fault. Ryan didn't want Summer to learn the truth the same way he did.

There was so much that Ryan wanted to say to Summer, but he wasn't ready to talk yet. He felt like he had done a month's worth of talking in last couple of days. He looked over at Summer, sitting on the barstool, chewing on her bottom lip. He wanted to make her feel better, but he didn't know how. He reached across the counter and took hold of her hand. As Ryan held her hand, he stared intently into her eyes, hoping to convey with his eyes what he was unable to say.

Summer felt comforted by Ryan's actions. Sometimes words couldn't accurately reflect what needed to be said. "Well, "Summer said clearing her throat and breaking the silence, "I think I will go get a painkiller, otherwise I won't be able to sleep tonight." Summer got up and headed towards the stairs. Ryan walked over the fridge and grabbed a bottle of Heineken. He then followed Summer upstairs.

"Ryan!" Summer called as she dug through her step-monsters medicine cabinet. "I'm in here." Ryan followed the sound of her voice through a giant bedroom and into an equally giant bathroom. "I don't know which one I want to take tonight." Summer said as she stared at dozens of prescriptions. Ryan was impressed by the almost obscene amount of drugs in the cabinet. He grabbed several bottles and began reading their contents; Percocet, Xanax, Valium, Darvon, Somma, OxyContin. "Holy shit! You could make a fortune selling this stuff on the street" Ryan uttered aloud.

"Yea, and these are only pain killers and stuff. Most of the depression and anxiety stuff is in another cupboard." Summer informed him. "My mom wasn't really much of a pill popper." Ryan said. "She liked to drink and do almost everything else, but not prescription drugs". Summer paused and then said, "The sad part is my dad prescribes most of these for her and he doesn't realize she has a problem. He thinks that all problems can be solved by money or prescriptions." Ryan pulled out a bottle of Darvon and offered them to Summer. She took one and washed it down with a sip of Ryan's beer.

"I have some stuff on the Tivo I need to watch. Do you mind if we watch tv in my room until this painkiller kicks in and I pass out?" Summer asked while twirling a piece of hair around her finger. Ryan walked into her room and eyed the pink chair warily. He was still sore from sleeping in it last night. Summer caught his look and laughed cautiously. "You don't have to sit there, you can sit on my bed while we watch tv. Ryan sat stiffly on the bed. Summer laughed again, "You can lay back and make yourself comfortable, I already promised I wouldn't kick you."

Summer could tell that Ryan wasn't comfortable laying with her on her bed. She figured that he was uneasy laying so close to her. What Summer didn't know was if he wanted to be close to her or not. Summer studied him secretly out of the corner of her eyes. He really was cute, with his shaggy hair and muscles, plus he was being super nice to her. Not that Summer was in any position to be noticing these things about Ryan. It was going to take her a while to learn to trust guys again and when she did, Ryan couldn't be the one. She knew that, but it didn't stop her from asking him a question.

"Ryan, why are you here?" Summer suddenly asked him. Ryan looked at her curiously and said that he was here because she called him. "No, why did you really come. I know I called you, but why did you agree to come over?" Summer asked again, her voice more insistent. "I mean I know you are into saving people, but this is above and beyond what you normally do." Ryan was silent as he contemplated her question. He shifted on the bed so that he was directly in front Summer.

"I guess I am here because I want to be," Ryan said quietly. "I think I've learned more about you in these last couple days than in the entire last year. We are a lot more alike than you would think." Summer was surprised by this statement. She had never considered that she and Ryan had much in common. "Like what?" Summer asked urging him on.

"Well, we both know what it's like to have a parent leave when you are young. We both had to pretty much raise ourselves. Although at least I had my brother around, it seems like you spent most your time alone." Ryan could tell he hit a nerve with his last observation as it caused Summer to look away. "Both of us tend to be afraid of forming any attachments, probably because deep down we are afraid they will leave." Like Seth did, Summer thought.

"We are both tough and independent," Ryan continued. Summer stopped him and asked incredulously, "You think I am tough, even sitting here covered in bruises?" Ryan reached out and pushed a stray strand of hair off of Summer's face. "Of course. I mean, I know that you are in a lot of pain right now, but you don't show it." Summer shook her head and replied, "That doesn't make me tough. I used to be tough, but now …" Summer trailed off. "What happened doesn't change who you are," Ryan said. Tears were forming in Summer's eyes as she whispered, "I think it did."

Summer couldn't hold the tears back any longer and she broke out into loud sobs. She felt Ryan take her in his arms and hold her tightly. She heard him whispering that everything was going to be ok. She felt him rubbing her back. She cried for what felt like hours, until she was out of tears. Ryan didn't let Summer go when she finished crying. Instead he held her for several more minutes until Summer felt the storm of feelings subside. She pulled back from his slowly, feeling completely zapped of energy.

"You ok?" Ryan asked tenderly. Summer nodded and said, "Yea, but I am exhausted. I think I am ready to pass out." Ryan stood up and got off the bed. "Ryan, could you stay with me until I fall asleep?" Summer asked as she crawled beneath her covers. Ryan eyed the pink chair and hesitantly headed towards it. "Um .. . you could … probably just sleep on the bed. It's pretty big and it's kinda stupid for you to sleep in that horrible chair." Ryan walked back towards the bed. "Are you sure?" he asked. Summer nodded and Ryan laid down on the bed next to her.

Ryan spent most of the night trying not to move. He didn't want to accidentally hurt Summer and he tended to be a restless sleeper. Ryan had just decided to get up and sleep in the chair, when he finally fell asleep. Ryan woke up slowly; he felt oddly content. He was laying in a comfortable bed with his face being warmed by the sun. Through the haze of sleep Ryan was aware of someone moving next to him on the bed. He looked down and saw Summer looking up at him. She had snuggled up next to him during the night. Without thinking, Ryan bent down and kissed Summer. It took Ryan's mind several seconds to catch up with his body. When it did, he pulled back from the kiss and said, "Oh shit!"

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Well, I warned you this would probably end up Summer/Ryan. So if there is anyone left reading this, please leave a review. Thanks