Chapter 6

Let's Go

"Hi there Summer," Sandy said gently entering the pool house. Ryan had uttered the words my father had right before he pointed a gun at me.

"Hi…Mr. Cohen," I stated, trying to erase any trace of tears in my voice. It was too late to hide the ones on my face.

"What happened to you Summer?" Sandy asked sitting at the edge of Ryan's bed. I don't think Ryan had seen so many people on his bed before. I refused to open my mouth. This was one of my worst fears coming true. When nobody came to my rescue I answered.

"You know how clumsy I am Mr. Cohen," I answered jokingly. "Always falling down."

"Sandy! Her dad beats the hell out of her!" Ryan surprised all of us with his outburst.

"Ryan," Sandy gently scolded. "We can't be making those sorts of accusations. Not if Summer says they aren't true."

"It's true," Marissa stated gently. I looked at her, horrified. If anything I thought she would be the longest one to hang on.

"Is it true Summer? Is your father hurting you?" Sandy asked. His hair was slightly tousled and his eyes were tired. I didn't want to lie to him but at the same time I couldn't very well admit the truth. So I stayed quiet.

"Summer," Seth squeezed my hand tightly. "Please. This is our chance to help you." I looked up into Seth's chocolate brown eyes and sighed tearfully. I loved him so much. It was time.

"It's true," I said softly. "He hits me."

"Oh Summer," Sandy sighed and got up from the bed to pace with Ryan. "How long has this been going on?"

"Since my step mom passed away," I answered quietly. I hung my head down in shame. It was out. The secret was out. And to a lawyer! I was supposed to be able to keep this a secret forever. But I had caved in front of Seth.

"Could you explain to me what he does? If you could Summer. It would really help me out," Sandy said gently. I trusted Sandy a lot. I had so much respect for him. But I still couldn't help getting choked up.

"He…gets drunk and he…hits me," I said slowly.

"He broke her rib," Marissa said. "We took her to the hospital last night. That's why Seth snuck out. To be with her." I cried gently. Seth stroked my hair and hushed me slightly as Sandy began to talk again.

"It'll be easy to make a case against your father Summer," Sandy said. "You will be out of your situation in no time."

"NO!" I cried, jumping to attention. "I don't want a case against him! I don't want to be put with another family member! I just want to stay with Seth!" My throat was pretty raw now. Not primarily from yelling just then but from all the emotion I was holding back.

"Okay, okay," Sandy murmured gently as I buried my head deeper into Seth's shirt. "We don't have to make a case right away."

"Are you crazy? He's hurting her! What part of that don't you understand?" Ryan cried unsteadily.

"Ryan! Please," Marissa tugged at his arm.

"Alright everyone just calm down," Sandy instructed. Everything was quiet again. "It sounds to me Summer would rather have it if her father got help rather then locking him up, is that right?" I nodded my head even though I knew it was all bull. Marissa, Ryan, and Seth knew this too. That's why when Ryan opened his mouth to protest I glared him down. His mouth slowly closed.

"It also sounds to me," Sandy said running a hand through his hair. "That Neil has developed some sort of a drinking problem. That's why he hits you? Because he's drunk?" He was turning to me for answers again. I nodded again. This time Marissa stared at me with obvious pain in her eyes. It sounded to all of us that all Sandy would do at this point was decide to enter my dad into some drinking program for a couple of months.

"We're all tired. Why don't you guys just go back to bed and we can discuss this tomorrow morning," Sandy said rubbing his tired eyes. "I'm glad you decided to come to me for help, Summer." After he had left us alone again, Marissa broke down into tears. Ryan was quick to cradle her in his arms.

"Summer! How come you didn't tell him the truth?" she sobbed. "This could have been the last time he ever hit you!"

"I told you it's not that easy Coop," I said through a sob of my own.

"I just don't get it," Marissa said.

"Neither do I," Ryan jumped in. "Maybe you wouldn't have to be put with another family member. Maybe you could stay with Marissa or with us."

"They wouldn't have reason to let me stay," I said softly. I had thought through all of these scenarios in my head dozens of times before. And there was always ways I found that they could prove me wrong or I would end up in a situation I wasn't hoping for. None of my family lived in Newport. They were all scattered across the US.

"But we love you Summer! Isn't that reason enough?" Ryan cried. I don't think until today I have ever heard Ryan raise his voice.

"Let's run away!" Marissa came to a conclusion.

"What?" Seth and Ryan cried at the same time. Those two cracked me up sometimes. There actions could fool anyone into believing they had been brothers all their lives.

"Why not?" Marissa asked.

"2 words! Newport and Beach!" Seth argued. "Our lives are here!"

"Who said anything about leaving Newport? We could stay in Orange County," Marissa said.

"If we run away we have to do it right though," Ryan spoke up.

"I can't believe your actually considering this!" Seth cried.

"2 nights. What's to miss? We'll be home before anybody ever knows we were gone," Marissa with slight sarcasm in her voice. We knew someone would notice us missing. Sandy was planning to talk with us later on in the morning.

"We'll go somewhere close. It's not technically running away. We all just need some time," Ryan said. "We have to go before the sun comes up." Outside was still bathed in purple light and I knew the sun would be breaking the horizon any second.

"Let's do it," I said.

Hell, I was feeling rebellious! A weekend away with the three people that were the reason I woke up in the morning.

What was there to loose?

Hey guys. Sry this ch. is so short but I have things going ontomorrow and I probably won't have time2 update. So try to enjoy this chapter even though I left you hanging again:) I can't thank u all enough 4 ur reviews!

Dru