RYAN'S OFFICE (ACT)

Five days had passed since the four friends had their picnic and walk along the beach. Ryan was really baffled about his feelings for Summer. Things had not been great between the two since their near kiss two weeks earlier. He knew there were feelings there, and he was pretty sure she felt them too, but was he willing to risk his friendship with Seth to explore his feelings for Summer? Normally it would be a no-brainer for him, but for some reason it just wasn't that simple, and this was made even more difficult by Summer's actions the other night on the beach. She had not responded to any of his calls, IMs or emails, and the past four days she had been spending a lot of time with Seth, going out to lunch, movies, and just hanging.

It was now Friday afternoon, around 2:30pm, and Ryan had decided to take Kirsten up on her offer for the investment. Earlier in the week, he had signed and delivered the documents to the Newport Group's offices. Fay, his secretary had come back, but basically it was going to have to be a start from scratch again, which meant Ryan really needed to sign on a contract as soon possible.

Ryan sat at his desk looking over document after document of previous contracts that ACT had worked on. It was almost impossible now to get any of them back, as most had found other companies to do the work for them.

"Fay, has that fax from Lithuanian Consultants come through yet?" Ryan asked pushing the button on his intercom system.

"Yes, Mr. Atwood… It just arrived no less than a minute ago."

"Can you bring it in please?"

Seconds later Fay entered the office with the fax. Lithuanian Consultants was a placement company that often got word of companies looking to outsource construction work. Ryan had contacted them that morning.

Ryan looked over the document, and began to make some phone calls.

SUMMER'S OFFICE

It was Friday afternoon and Summer had just completed typing up a document for her boss just as the phone rang…

":Bernstein, Hollard & May Invest…" Summer started her regular business greeting, but was cut off.

"Hey my Summer…"

"Cohen! What have I said about calling me at work?" Summer moaned back.

"Just checking if we're still on for tonight."

"Yeah, I may be a bit late… got something to go sort out after work…"

"Okay, see you at the mall… around 7ish?"

"Actually… Seth, can you meet me at my place around that time? I… just see you later okay?"

"Sure. Bye."

Summer put the phone down just as her boss came through.

"Summer, is that document ready yet?"

"Yes Sir, just emailed it to you."

"Thanks. You can take the rest of the afternoon off."

"Really? Hey, thanks…"

And with that Summer shut her PC down and left the office.

SETH'S OFFICE

Seth put the phone down, logged off his PC, and walked out his office. As he walked past the reception area, he asked the secretary, "Lindy, did you organize those flowers?"

"They'll be waiting for you at the florist at 4pm."

"Thanks."

And with that Seth left.

RYAN'S OFFICE

"Yeah, Monday will be good." Ryan responded to the person on the other end of the phone.

"Ok, one of the partners will land at The OC airport at 9:15am, and should be at your offices by 10am." The voice on the other end commented.

"Great. Thank them for me…" Ryan said as they ended the conversation.

Ryan got on the intercom. "Fay, please make sure we've got fresh coffee on Monday morning. We have our first possible contract."

"Will do Mr. Atwood. There is a lady here to see you too… been waiting for 10 minutes now…"

"Okay, send her in."

Seconds later the door opened, and Summer walked in. Ryan was a little shocked, as he stood up to greet her.

"Summer… hey… didn't expect to…" Ryan was cut off.

"We need to talk Ryan." Summer said abruptly cutting him off as she sat down on the couch in Ryan's office. He went and sat next to her.

"Okay…" It's what Ryan had wanted to do for some time, but this was a bit of a surprise and he wasn't sure how to take it.

"I'm just gonna get right down to it… We're both adults here, Ryan. What happened the other night… was just… awkward…

"Right."

"… and we are both in very vulnerable stages in our lives right now…"

"Right."

"Me with the Zach thing, and you… with… you know…"

"Right."

"So, let's just put this behind us and move on okay?"

They just sat there for a while, not too sure what to say next.

Ryan nodded his head, eventually breaking the silence. "Yeah… you right. We were both vulnerable… difficult times in our lives…"

He stopped, looked out the window, and then looked straight at Summer. "You are a great friend, and I wouldn't want to mess that up with something we both know isn't right…"

"Oh… so… you agree with me?" Summer was taken a bit by surprise. All Ryan's phone calls and emails, she expected him to want something more.

"Yeah… that is okay right... for me to agree with you?" Ryan said jokingly and smiling.

Summer just laughed, but it was clearly a relieved laugh.

"So… you and Seth hey? It's on again?" Ryan said with a smile.

"Cohen and I… we're… Don't know what we are, but we're something. He's still geeky, very verbal diarrhea-ish, but not as full of himself as he used to be…"

Summer and Ryan stood up.

"So, I'm going to get Cohen to buy me supper… guess I'll see you over the weekend?"

"Yeah…"

"You know actually… what are you doing tonight? I know Marissa is free… why don't the two of you join us?"

"Um… okay, yeah… sounds good."

"Good. My place, 7:30."

Ryan and Summer hugged good bye, and this time… it didn't seem weird. It seemed like a huge weight had been lifted off the both of them, and now they could get on with their lives. Whether the feelings were real or just something in the heat of the moment, at a time when they were both very vulnerable, they may never know, but what they did know, was that they were not prepared to put friendships at risk to find out. Ryan cared for Seth as a brother, and for that matter, now, his ONLY brother.

10:30PM, SUMMER'S PLACE

"God, you guys, that is like your 6th piece each!" Summer exclaimed with disgust, and Ryan and Seth leant forward to grab another slice.

"Really? Wow, ok…" Seth responded.

"…looks like we've still got a long way to go bro!" Ryan finished Seth's sentence bringing laughs from the rest.

The four friends had gathered to watch DVDs and eat pizza till they just couldn't take any more. It was an evening of fun and enjoyment the foursome hadn't had for almost years.

Marissa and Summer were counting calories, while Seth and Ryan were counting wedges. Summer and Seth sat next to each other on the one couch, while Ryan and Marissa on the other. Zach was clearly out of the picture and for the very first time it seemed like the fantastic four could enjoy each other's company without having to worry about issues.