Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

A/N: 60schic betaed. I ignored. Also, thanks to pinkBubblegum123 for nagging me into posting. You guys are both stars.

Part 11

Thursday morning Summer walked up to Zach while he was talking with his water polo teammates and tapped him on the back.

"Can we talk?" It was cliché, but Summer figured there had to be a reason clichés were clichés. Besides she wanted this to be as painless as possible, for both of them.

"Yeah, of course," he beamed at her and followed her away from the guys. Summer half expected him to whine and roll his eyes at his friends but he didn't. He was such a stand-up guy. If she was really honest with herself Summer could admit that it kind of pissed her off. "What's up sweetie?"

Summer couldn't remember Zach ever calling her 'sweetie' before.

"Zach…" Summer bit her lip. "I don't know how to tell you this, but-"

"You're leaving me for Seth."

"No!"

"No?" Zach's voice was hopeful.

"Well, I'm not leaving you for Cohen."

"Who then?"

"Marissa." Catching Zach's confused expression, Summer elaborated. "Things haven't been right between you and I in a long time. With Marissa gone, my head's in a bad place. I just can't work on us right now."

"Okay."

"It is?"

"Well yeah Summer, of course. I can understand if you need some space. It's fine. You're worth it. I'll wait."

Summer sighed in frustration. "The thing is Zach, I don't want you to wait."

"What?"

"You're a good guy and you deserve better than," Summer gestured to herself, "a girl with a head full of ashes and a heart full of stone."

"But I don't want better. I want you."

"I'm sorry."

"What can I do to convince you to stay?"

Summer could never understand why people begged to keep relationships. Why would you want to be with someone who didn't want you? It was almost kinder to just sail away, but Summer wasn't ready to go there just now.

"Nothing. I'm sorry Zach."

"Stop saying that! You've been waiting to dump me since the day Seth came home!" Zach accused.

"That isn't true. It really isn't."

"I don't believe you."

"I'm sorry."

"No. You're not."

"Yes I am! If you're trying to make me regret dumping you, it isn't working!"

"Heartless bitch," Zach grumbled.

"Stop being an asshole Zach. You're not that guy. You're a good guy," Summer told him gently.

"Just not good enough for you."

"It's not like that."

"Then what is it like? Summer I just don't get it."

"I'm sorry, truly. I wish I could explain it better."

"Yeah, me too." Zach turned and walked away.

Summer found herself inexplicably sad about the end of her relationship.

After school Summer found herself in what was becoming her usual spot between Ryan and Luke on the Cohen's sofa.

"A party at Holly's?" Luke asked dubiously. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Absolutely not," Summer laughed. Catching Luke's worried expression she assured him, "it'll be fine Luke. Honest. I checked with Holly. She really, really wants to see you."

"Yeah?" Luke asked dubiously

Summer nodded. "It's supposed to be, like, a wake for Marissa or whatever. All of her friends. Any of her friends," Summer explained.

"Me?" Ryan asked skeptically.

"Of course!"

"Seth?"

"If you want to invite him, I'm not going to."

"But do you want him there?" Ryan pressed.

"He's your friend. He's Luke's friend. If you guys want the support of Seth's presence than I'm certainly not going to deprive you of it," Summer answered haughtily.

"Which means?" Luke pressed.

"I honestly, truly, do not care." Spying Seth in the hallway, Summer changed the subject. "So, Zach and I are over."

"You went through with it."

"I told you I would."

"How?" Luke pressed.

"I told him basically what I told you guys. That being together wasn't fair to either of us."

"So you left Seth out of it entirely?" Ryan asked dubiously.

"I did, he didn't. There was fighting. It wasn't pleasant."

"I'm sorry," Luke offered Summer a small smile.

"Me too." Summer shrugged. "So are we going to Holly's party?"

"I need to clear it with Kirsten," Ryan reminded his friends, "But it should be cool."