Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story, the credit for that goes to Josh Schwartz. Grr.
A/N: I edited the end of the last chapter with a Seth/Alex part that was accidentally left out due to computer problems. And I'm sorry this took so long, I just had a really hard time writing this chapter and I also tend to procrastinate a lot. Hope it was worth the wait. :)
Chapter 4
Summer heard a car pull up outside and peered out her window, her father's black Mercedes Benz coming into view. For once her dad was actually home early, and her stepmom was still at some Newpsie meeting. It was the perfect opportunity to talk to him. She snatched her cell phone off her bed and pressed speed dial one.
Seth picked up his phone after the third ring. "Hey Summer," he said.
"Cohen, I can't come over for dinner tonight."
The stepmonster had been experimenting with baking for the past couple of weeks and the kitchen was literally a disaster. Not even the housekeepers dared to go in there anymore. Summer had been having dinner at the Cohens every night to avoid being force fed awful desserts.
"Why not?" He asked in concern.
"Daddy's home," Summer said simply.
"Oh..." Seth said in realization. He walked through the living room and spotted his own dad in the kitchen. "Yeah, I think I'm going to do my own begging and groveling as well. Call me later?"
"Okay. Wish me luck."
"Good luck. It'll be fine, Summer," he reassured her.
"Bye," Summer hung up and prepared herself to do some major sucking up.
"Hello father," Seth said, strolling into the kitchen where Sandy was sitting at the counter going over some paperwork. "Can I just tell you how handsome you look today? I certainly have good genes."
Sandy rolled his eyes. "What do you want, Seth?"
Seth made a dismissive noise. "What do I want?" He scoffed. "Can't I just compliment my extremely good looking dad on this fine fine afternoon?"
"If this about another party-" Sandy started.
"Nope. No party," Seth shook his head.
Sandy put down the folder he was looking through. "Are you failing a class?"
"No."
"Then what is it?"
"I need to run an idea past you," Seth said and Sandy looked at him curiously. "And before you say anything I need you to just hear me out."
"Okay..." Sandy said hesitantly.
"As you know, Summer and I are back together-"
"Yeah, that's great-"
"Dad," Seth interrupred. "Seriously, just let me talk first."
Sandy opened his mouth but once again Seth cut him off. "Please.."
He gestured for his son to go on.
"You know what happened last year...how I majorly screwed things up with Summer."
Sandy raised his eyebrows, surprised at where this conversation was going. Seth hasn't exactly been open to discussing what went on last summer with either him or Kirsten.
"And miracle upon miracles she has taken me back," Seth continued. "I have a second chance with the girl of my dreams and I really want to make it up to her. I want to show her that things can be different this time. I want to show her that I'm ready for her."
Seth looked at Sandy expectantly and he took it as his cue to speak. "Well, what are you going to do?"
"I'm glad you asked," he smiled. "Mom told you about my boat that I bought back, right?"
Sandy nodded.
"I am going to take Summer on a romantic sailing adventure! We'll sail to Catalina and then to Santa Barbara," Seth said enthusiastically, looking hopefully at his dad.
"Seth..." Sandy shook his head, trying to process everything.
"Hi daddy!" Summer chirped as she walked into his study, where neil was already sitting at his desk buried in paperwork.
"Princess," he smiled.
Summer walked over and kissed him on the cheek then sat down on the chair across from him.
"I'll order Chinese for dinner," Neil said. "It's just you and me, Megan won't be home until later tonight."
She bit her lip to stop the hige grin that was threatening to break out at that news. "That sounds great, daddy."
Neil nodded and went back to his paperwork. Summer fidgeted in her seat nervously, trying to figure out a way to bring the subject up. Several minutes passed and when Summer made no move to leave, Neil looked up.
"Was there something that you wanted, Summer?" He asked.
"Uh well...Actually daddy, there is-"
"You have the credit card, sweetheart. Buy whatever it is that you want."
Summer frowned. "No, it's not that."
Neil raised an eyebrow. "It's not?"
"It's about my plans for the summer."
"Ahh..." he picked up a document and began reading it.
Summer ignored her father's apparent lack of interest. "I'm going for two weeks. You know, around the time you'll be in London."
"With Marissa? Caleb letting you borrow a yacht of his?"
Summer shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "Actually I'm going with Seth, daddy. On his boat."
Neil's head snapped up and he looked at his daughter sternly. "Alone?"
"It's just to Catalina, daddy," Summer said. And Santa Barbara, she added silently in her head.
He sighed. "Really, Summer, you know I don't like this boy-"
"You've barely given him a chance!" Summer protested. "So what if he made one bad impression? Seth is a really great guy-"
"Do not raise your voice at me, young lady," Neil warned.
Summer sat back in her chair and pouted. "I'm sorry, daddy," she said.
Neil sighed again and rubbed his forehead. "I don't understand why you left Zach for that boy. Zach is a fine, well-mannered young man who comes from a good family. He has a bright future ahead of him, he can take care of you."
"I can take care of myself," Summer said through gritted teeth.
Her dad actually looked amused at that statement. "Really, you can?" What if I cut you off? No allowance, no credit cards, no trust fund, no inheritance...Can you take care of yourself then?"
Summer's eyes widened. "You wouldn't do that...Would you?"
"If the situation called for it," Neil said flatly.
Summer bit her lip and looked down at her feet.
"I just want what's best for you, sweetheart," he said more gently.
"Being with Seth is what's best for me," Summer murmured softly, still not meeting her father's eyes.
Neil shook his head. "Do what you want, Summer," he said in defeat. "I'll be in Europe for a month."
Summer looked up. "I thought it was just two weeks!"
"Megan wants to travel a little more," he shrugged.
"You'll be here for my birthday, right?"
"You're birthday...right," Neil flipped through his planner. "I'll try my hardest to make it. But if I can't I promise to send you something nice. And we can have dinner in LA once I get back."
Summer could feel the tears forming and she bit her lip to hold them back. Her father hated it when she cried, he said it made her look weak. And he didn't raise her to be weak. But she knew that he wouldn't be home for her birthday. And that dinner would keep getting postponed until it was forgotten. But he will send her a ridiculously expensive gift. She had a box full of them stashed in her closet.
Neil stood up and and began rearranging his files. "I think I forgot something at the office. I'm going to have to go back and get it."
"But I thought we were going to have dinner..."
"Another night, okay?" He said distractedly.
Summer nodded sadly and slowly walked out of the study. She closed the door and pressed her back against it, letting the tears fall freely down her cheeks.
"I don't know, Seth," Sandy said. "You and Summer alone on a boat for two weeks?"
Seth rolled his eyes. "We're not going to be on the boat for two weeks, dad. We'll be in Catalina and then in Santa Barbara."
Sandy sighed.
"You're letting Ryan go to Chicago," Seth whined.
"Only for a week. And he will be staying with Lindsay and her mother," Sandy put emphasis on 'mother'.
Seth decided that he couldn't argue against that and quickly changed strategies. "Please...?" He gave his best puppy dog look.
Sandy clapped him on the back. "Save it for your mother, son. I'll have to talk to her first."
"But you're not saying no?"
"I'll talk to your mother," Sandy repeated in a tone of voice that clearly said end of discussion.
Seth nodded and walked over to the phone.
"Don't go calling Summer with good news yet," Sandy said.
"I'm not, I'm going to order a dozen roses and send them to mom's office."
Sandy grinned. "Oh, you're good..."
"I learned from the best," Seth smirked.
Summer sat in the newly repainted Summer Breeze, which was now back in the water at the docks. She hugged her knees to her chest, tears flowing silently down her cheeks.
It was a beautiful night, millions of bright, twinkling stars shining light down in the otherwise dimly lighted docks. The air was warm and only a light breeze blew across the waters yet Summer shivered, wishing she had brought a coat.
This boat was now her favorite place to go to when she needed to think or just needed an escape from home. Usually she was here with Seth but even when she was alone she could feel his presence in this boat with her. It was comforting and suddenly she was a lot less alone. He didn't to be there physically for her to be connected to him.
And as if he could sense her thinking about him, her phone started ringing and Summer immediately knew who it was. She took a few seconds to take a couple of deep breaths and compose herself. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and took her phone out of her purse.
"Hello?"
"Hey," Seth said. "I've been waiting for your call. How'd it go?"
"It went..." Summer's voice cracked and she began crying all over again.
"Summer...hey, what's wrong?"
She could hear the concern and worry in Seth's voice and it only made her cry harder.
"Baby, where are you?" Seth asked, the panic evident in his voice.
"B-b-boat," she hiccupped.
"Don't move, I'll be right there."
Summer hung up and buried her face in her hands.
