SUMMER'S PLACE

It was two weeks later, and the yearly monsoon has come and gone and left Southern California with its rays of sunshine again.

Trey had gone missing. Nothing new had come to light since the mysterious call Ryan made to his brother. The FBI had in the meantime shut ACT down and officially Ryan was now unemployed.

It was Thursday late afternoon, and Summer was preparing for their bi-weekly meeting with the marriage counselor. She was straightening out her hair in front of the mirror in her room, while listening to the radio in the background.

She had been thinking a lot about what Ryan said to her concerning Zach. What is it that drew her to him? She knew she loved him; why else would she have dated him in the first place right? Cohen had left her high and dry at the college ball and when she needed a dance partner, it was Zach who was there. Whenever she needed a shoulder to cry on, it always seemed to be Zach. He was clearly the perfect partner.

"Then why doesn't it sit perfect?" Summer's thoughts were almost screaming at her.

She sat back on her bed and opened the draw on the night stand next to the bed. Underneath a pile of books and papers, she pulled out a photograph. It was a photo of her and Seth together in Palm Springs.

"God, my hair was so much more manageable then." Summer thought to herself, and started teasing it. The song Wonderwall by Oasis started to play on the radio, as a smile formed across Summer's face. She was remembering back on those happier days.

Suddenly she realized it was getting late. She looked at the clock on the dresser, quickly put the photo back in the draw and closed it. She picked up the phone and started dialing.

"Hello?"

"Zach! Where are you? Our session is in like fifteen minutes…"

"Oh, sh1t! Summer, sorry, I must've forgotten. Can I meet you there?" Zach sounded rushed and flustered.

"Uh, no! You have the car… remember?" Summer snapped sarcastically.

"Oh…" Zach hesitated. "Can you take the bus?"

"What? Zach! Ew. God, are you serious?"

"Its just around the corner Sum, if I have to come get you we're going to be late."

Summer huffed. "Whatever." And slammed the phone down.

She started dialing Marissa's number, but it went straight to voicemail. She hung up and dialed another number.

With an annoyed sigh, Summer walked out the room and out the house.

RYAN, SETH & (NOW ZACH'S) PLACE

Zach walked through the door, looking like he was in a hurry.

"Oh, hey Ryan… is Seth here?"

"No, he's just gone out quick… which I'm about to…" Ryan is cut off as Abby walks in behind Zach.

"Ryan I'd like you to meet Abby."

"Uh… nice to meet you." Ryan is completely confused now.

"She's visiting for a while, and needs a place to stay… thought here might be okay."

"Uhh… Zach… can I see you in the kitchen… NOW." Ryan jolts his head in the direction of the kitchen.

"Sure… um… Abby just make yourself at home…"

Zach follows Ryan to the kitchen.

"Do you think this is such a good idea?" Ryan questioned Zach.

"Its just for a while… she's an old friend, my tutor, and…"

"What about Summer?"

"I'll tell her…"

"Tell her what? That you've invited your 40 year old flame to stay with you?"

Just then Abby walks in. "Uh… look, if it's going to be a problem…"

"No, Abby… it's cool…" Zach shot a glace at Ryan. "I've got to go, but I'll be back in about an hour."

As Zach walked out the front door, Seth walked in.

"Oh, hey buddy… I…"

"Can't chat now Seth…"

And with that Zach left.

MARRIAGE COUNSELOR'S OFFICE

Summer was sitting in the waiting room of the pastor's office. She had taken a bus, but was far from impressed, and had every intention of making Zach know it.

The secretary's desk was away to the right and chairs were positioned adjacent to the desk. Zach had not yet shown, and the appointment was supposed to have started almost half an hour ago.

Summer was looking impatiently at her watch and getting more and more annoyed and irritated. She pulled out her cell phone and tried to call Zach. It rang for a while, and then went to voicemail.

The secretary looked up at Summer. "I don't think he's coming, dear. Would you like me to reschedule?"

Summer stood up and slung her handbag over her shoulder. "No thanks. We'll call you if we need another appointment."

And agitated, Summer stormed out.

RYAN, SETH & ZACH'S PLACE

There was a loud knock at the door, almost as though someone was about to break the door down. Ryan and Seth both jumped up from the couch, and Abby walked through from the room.

But before any of them could answer the door, Summer opened it herself and stormed right on in.

"Where is he?" Summer snapped, angry.

"Hey Summer…" Seth greeted sarcastically.

"Who?" Ryan could tell Summer wasn't in a mood for jokes.

"Zach! You know, the as.s who stood me up at our marriage meeting thing!"

Summer then saw Abby, and with a quizzical looked at Seth.

Before any of them could answer, Abby introduced herself. "My name's Abby. I'm staying here for a while until I can find a place of my own."

"Hi Abby. Friends with Seth, I take it? How do you put up with all his moaning and bickering? It just is beyond me…"

Abby laughed. "Oh, no, I've only known Seth and Ryan for…" She looked at her watch. "… almost an hour. I am friends with Zach… used to be his math tutor… You must be his girlfriend right? Summer, is it?"

Summer was clearly not impressed. "Math tutor hey? The one with the kids?"

"Yeah, well, that's part of the problem why I'm here to see Zach…"

"Oh… I see…" Summer was upset.

The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife. Ryan and Seth actually had no idea what to say.

Just then Zach came in. He suddenly looked a bit nervous as he saw Summer there.

"Oh, hey Summer, I was just looking for you… was over at the pastor's…"

"That appointment was almost an hour ago…" Summer snapped.

"Oh… wow, sorry, the daylight savings thing must have…"

"Save it Zach… I've had it. Firstly you make me take a bus… then you stand me up at a marriage course of all things. But I still was prepared to give you the benefit, so I came over here to see if maybe you were okay… that you weren't perhaps sick, or had run in to some trouble, and instead, I find your ex-girlfriend who is old enough to be your aunt is staying with you." She looks at Abby. "No offence intended."

"Oh, none taken. If it's any consolation… we haven't done anything…"

"Trust me, I'm not surprised… Zach hasn't quite figured how to use it yet… seems he's lost the manual." Summer responded very sarcastically and annoyed.

"Summer please, let me…"

"Forget it jackass… I'm through." And with that Summer stormed out.

Zach turned to chase after her, but Ryan grabbed his arm.

"Maybe… I should go. Don't think she's going to listen to you right now, ok?"

Zach gave in and Ryan ran out after Summer.

"Summer! Wait up!" Ryan called. Summer stopped dead in her tracks, but didn't turn around until Ryan was almost right behind her.

"You know, it's funny. After our conversation the other night I have been doing a lot of thinking, and you know what Ryan… you are right. I don't know what I see in him."

Ryan didn't respond. He didn't really know how, or even why he ran after Summer in the first place… it seemed almost out of place… something that Seth or even Zach should be doing, but he was.

"HERE!" Summer pulled off her engagement ring and handed it to Ryan. "Tell him to give me a call when he's ready for a real commitment, and if I'm still available and interested, I'll let him know."

Summer turned to leave, and then turned around again, and took the ring back from Ryan.

"Actually, give me this back… I'm gonna be needing a car."