A/N: So I'm posting on-time-ishly to prevent concussions. No more attempting to jump through computer screens, you hear? Which reminds me to thank you all SO much for reviewing. They make me feel awesome.
And, if you want to actually "talk" to me I hang out at LiveJournal under bluestargirl6. I'm not very interesting or exciting, but I don't usually bite, and occasionally fics get posted there that don't make it here. Come say hi!
As always, ginormous thanks to 60schic. I probably ignored her.
Part 13
"He should lie in the back," Summer advised Seth as they helped Ryan to the car. "Those pain pills will probably knock him out pretty quick."
"Good point."
They settled Ryan into the backseat, Ryan protesting half-heartedly that he wasn't an infant and that he could manage on his own.
"Um, my car's at your house," Summer hesitantly told Seth as they stood next to the car.
"And you're worried about Ryan," Seth inferred. "Climb in."
"Thanks."
"No, thank you. You were good with him in there," Seth jerked his head in the direction of Holly's house as he pulled himself into the Range Rover's driver's seat.
"Talking people out of insanity, it's what I do."
"At least lately," Seth agreed. "So the question now is, are you okay Summer?"
"No, the question is, why do you care?"
Seth shot her a confused look. "I care about you Summer."
"Really?" Summer asked. It was a genuine question. "Because I thought you cared that day at the hospital, and then I guess you and Alex hooked up and then, nothing. I'm confused Cohen, and I'm scared to get close to you again because every time I do, you ditch me."
"I'm sorry Summer. Honestly. The thing is though? You're kind of… amazing. No one compares to you. No matter how great I think some girl is, she's not you. Which makes it slightly hard to date."
"I know the feeling."
"You..? Right. 'Cause you're still in love with me. Which I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around."
"Me too. Especially since every time I think we're getting close, you run away," Summer accused again.
"I'm sorry. Really. It's just, with Alex suddenly interested it just seemed easier to stay away from you."
"Why?"
"Because, as I've mentioned before, I don't know how to be just friends with you. I don't know how to not be in love with you. And now you're in love with me too. What was I supposed to do with that? If I can't be with you it's easier not to be around you."
"Easier sucks."
"Yeah. It kinda does," Seth agreed pulling up to the Cohen house and parking in the driveway. "You okay to drive home?"
"Not really. I'm still a little not sober, and..."
"You want a ride?"
"Can I… do you think I could stay here tonight? With Ryan?" Summer asked tentatively.
"Yeah. Sure. I'll ask the parents, but I'm sure it will be fine."
"Thank you."
"You want to tell me what happened tonight?" Kirsten asked as Summer helped her get a nearly unconscious Ryan into his bed. "Why you're tucking Ryan into bed?"
"Not really," Summer yawned. "I'm not sure how or…"
"Hey," Seth called from the doorway. He had pajamas on and a pillow under his arm. "Can I hang out here tonight?"
"Only if you tell me what happened at that party," Kirsten folded her arms across her chest. Seth glanced from his mother to Summer. She shrugged weakly.
"Um, okay. Well, as it turns out Ryan recalls more about Sunday night than he'd led anyone to believe, which includes the memory of watching Marissa die."
"Oh no! And he told you this at a party? Why?"
"Because I asked him to," Summer's voice was tiny. "I… I had to know."
"Summer," Seth rushed to her side. "You didn't force him. He needed to tell someone. This way is better for everyone."
Summer began to arrange bedding on the floor next to Ryan's bed.
"Seth's right," Kirsten confirmed gently. "Psychologically, you all need to talk. To each other, to trained professionals, whoever, but you need each other."
"Right now what I need is sleep." Summer's tone was polite, but made it clear that the conversation was closed.
"Seth, where are you planning to sleep?" his mother queried.
"Um, the chair?"
"Fine," Kirsten stood in the pool house doorway and flipped off the lights. "Goodnight kids."
