THREE WEEKS LATER

It's three weeks on.

Zach has settled in with Seth and Ryan and the three of them have come to some sort of agreement with living arrangements. Ryan would take out the trash every Monday, and Zach got it on Thursdays.

The three of them clubbed together and got a housekeeper to take care of the cleaning, washing dishes, making beds, and general upkeep of the apartment. Seth was pretty much the self-appointed "supervisor" of the house.

Summer had finally accepted that Zach was serious about this being apart thing until they got married. She wasn't happy with it, but reasoned that she had waited eight years, what's another eight weeks right? Well, not really, but she was trying. She and Zach had already been to two other counseling sessions, and it was going okay. Summer had asked Marissa to stay with her while Zach was on "celibacy leave" as Summer termed it.

Marissa was only too happy to move in with her friend, especially given that she stayed in her own place, and knew how lonely that could feel sometimes. However, Marissa was preparing for a business trip to San Francisco in a week's time, and would be away for about a month. Summer again would be alone.

It was Thursday evening. The McNab trial was almost over, and it was now down to the closing arguments which Seth and Zach would be delivering in the morning.

Zach generally had a better track record than Seth at winning cases, but this was the first time the two of them were up against each other, so they were both taking extra time in preparing their closings, and thus were both working later than usual. Although they were good friends, and both great lawyers, they were still both very competitive; Seth a little bit more so perhaps than Zach, but he was also a little bit more hot-headed. Zach's and general 'I-have-it-all-together' manner had often helped him win over many a juror. Seth was always a little more indifferent, while at the same time dogmatic, which often made him come across as unprepared. Seth knew he would have to remain calm and not go off on a tangent… he needed to keep the court engaged throughout his closing.

ZACH'S OFFICE

Zach sat in his office typing away rapidly on the keyboard. His closing was barely half way through, and in less than 12 hours he'd be delivering it in court.

The door opened.

"Mr. Stevens… working late?"

Zach looked up from the screen to see his secretary standing with the door half-open. "Oh, hey Jan, yeah… big closing tomorrow."

"Ok, well, I'm off… you've the last one here…"

"Thanks enjoy your evening."

And with that Janice closed the door and Zach got back to his closing.

But it wasn't five minutes later, and there was another knock on the door. The door opened and in walked an extremely good looking lady. She could well be Cosmo's model of year. She was tall, tanned, with long blonde hair and striking blue eyes. Although she could have been about middle age, she didn't look a day over thirty.

Zach could hardly believe his eyes. She was as beautiful as he had remembered her so many years ago. He stood up to greet her.

"Abby… wow… I haven't seen you… in years… to what do I owe the pleasure?"

But she didn't answer. All she did was break down in tears.

RYAN, SETH AND ZACH'S PLACE

Over at the house, Ryan and Trey were working on the final plans for a proposal for one of the biggest business meetings of their lives. Friday morning, 9am was going to see them in the boardroom with a team of Orange County's most high-powered executives and businessmen. They were coming to witness what Atwood Construction Training (ACT) could do. This meeting was a make-or-break one for them. Although the business was doing okay, it had suffered some financial set-backs the last few months, and was facing having to down-scale unless one of these guys bought in to it. Trey had been handling some private business deals to keep the business afloat, but it wasn't always on the up, and he kept the details of it very secretive; even Ryan had no idea about them.

Ryan and Trey were probably going to be working through the night to put a presentation together to sell to these guys. They were in the dining room, and papers were spread out all over the table and floor. Both brothers looked exhausted.

"Ok, little bro, one more time I've got it… I'm going to go over the architecture and previous successes, and you are going to do the business plan and prolonged finance thingies for the next 5 years?"

"PROJECTED Financial Statements for the next 5 years, yes." Ryan corrected his brother.

"Man, I need a break." And with that Trey lit up a cigarette.

Ryan was about to ask him to smoke it outside, when the doorbell rang. He got up and went to answer it.

"Hey Ryan…"

"Hey Summer… Wanna come in?"

Ryan stepped aside and let Summer in. She walked to the living room. Ryan closed the door and followed her.

"Hey Trey." Summer greeted.

"Yo."

"Um… is Zach here?"

"No, sorry… he and Seth are both working late…" Ryan looked at his watch. "But they shouldn't be too late… Well, Seth anyway, he needs his sleep."

"Tell me about it."

"You can wait if you like… Got some fresh coffee still and chances are with this presentation I'm gonna be up all night…"

"Well… I was actually kinda hoping you and I could talk… but if you're busy…"

"Oh, sure… no, I need to get a breather." Ryan looked over his shoulder at Trey.

Trey got the hint. "Uh… I'm gonna take a walk to the store… this coffee you got here is week bro, gonna get us some espresso…"

"Make that one for me too…" Summer added.

Trey left and Ryan and Summer sat down on the couch.

"So what's up?"

"Have you ever made a decision on something like totally convinced that it is the right one, only to later find that there's a possibility you could be wrong, but realize its too late to change it, or if you do then it's gonna affect a whole lot of people other than yourself and badly at that, and then thought, 'hmmm how do I get out of this one' but realize you can't because it's gonna affect a whole lot of people other than yourself... and badly… and… and I'm repeating myself…"

"Yup."

"Yup what? Yup I'm repeating myself, or yup, you know what I'm talking about…"

"Yup… repeating yourself… no idea what you are talking about…"

Summer just sits there, Ryan speaks up. "But I'm guessing this has something to do with Zach?"

"Yes! Exactly… You could make that out from all my ramblings?"

"Living with Seth teaches you to read between the lines…"

"Ah… Cohen… jackass… if it weren't for him, my life would probably be so much simpler…"

"… or not… If you want my advice, I think the solution is a lot simpler than you think. 'You can't ride two horses with one ass' I believe those were YOUR words."

Summer smiled. "The Chinese always know just how to say it right, don't they."

"Yup."

The front door opened, and in walked Trey with the espressos.

Summer stood up. "I think I'll be on my way. Ryan… thanks for the advice…"

Ryan walked Summer to the door. "Pleasure… and Sum… If ever you need an ear…"

"Thanks Ryan." She gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek and left.