Chapter 7

New Beginnings

Chickening out. The thought crossed my mind more then once as we piled into the car. I could almost tell you exactly what the events would be in the next few hours. Sandy would wake up, see that we weren't there, call the cops, cops would find us probably in less then half an hour tops (especially if we stayed close to Newport, in the parameter of Orange County) we would be drug home, Sandy would talk with my dad, my dad would some how convince Sandy that all I had told him was just a tactic I had cooked up to get to Seth, I would be taken home.

The events from there would depend on how much my dad had had to drink already. And the level of sheer will power that Cohen would have to have in order to come after me. The chances of Marissa, Seth, and Ryan all being able to come after me again would pretty much be slim to none at that point. I voiced my thoughts as soon as I heard Ryan turn the keys in the ignition.

"What's going to happen when Sandy calls the cops?" I asked. I hung my head as hope left my body.

"He wouldn't call the cops," Seth said. "If I know my dad, and I know my dad, then he would just come looking for us on his own." My stomach churned as I realized that maybe this wasn't the best idea.

"Would you take me to my house?" I asked.

"What?" Ryan and Seth cried in unison.

"Alright guys. That's getting kinda scary," Marissa said.

"I want to get Princess Sparkle," I said thinking fast. I knew if anything Seth would understand. But it wasn't the true reason I wanted to go home. I wanted to go home to see if my dad was there. I was ready to confront him. With Seth, Ryan, and Marissa at my side I knew I couldn't fail. I had as much self confidence as I had in my entire life. I was ready. For better or for worse my best friends were with me.

"Aw come on Ryan. You can't keep Sparkle and Summer apart for long periods of time. You know there's that whole separation anxiety thing going on there," Seth said. It was times like these I was grateful for Cohen's goofiness.

"What if he's there Summer?" Marissa asked. Ryan had already started the car.

"Let him be there. I'm not going to let him control me anymore," I stated defiantly. I had always been scared to let the words leave my mouth. But now it felt as if a huge weight had just been lifted from my chest. As I turned to look at Marissa it was like my feeling of happiness was mirrored in her face.

"You mean it?" she asked as tears welled up in her eyes. "You're ready to stop this craziness?"

"Stop it! You're going to make me cry!" I scolded as I threw my arms around Marissa's neck.

"You don't know how much this means to me Sum!" Marissa said with a sense of excitement in her voice. We had pulled up to the driveway of my house. Never had I felt so bold. I stepped out of the car, Marissa, Seth, and Ryan quick to fall in step at my side. For the first time in my life I hoped that my dad was home.

My fingers were shaky as I reached into my pocket for my keys. I stuck the key in the door and waited for the familiar click of the lock. When I heard it I stopped and turned back to the others.

"Are you ready Sum?" Marissa asked. I nodded and slowly pushed open the front door. A strong smell of alcohol hit us as we walked in the front door.

"Summer?" Seth tugged gently at my arm.

"Shhh! Shut up Cohen!" I hissed at him. My ears were waiting for the sound of my fathers footsteps on the linoleum of our kitchen, where the liquor cabinet was kept. Silence. I took Seth's hand and drug him into the kitchen with me. Ryan and Marissa followed.

He wasn't here.

There was a note on the counter. I picked it up and my jaw dropped. It explained that my dad had left! He was gone. For good. He said he couldn't bear to quote on quote "hurt me" anymore and this was for the best. It didn't sound like him even a little bit. And for that I was immediately suspicious. It was too good to be true.

"What's it say Sum?" Marissa whispered. Ryan gently took it from me when I didn't react. He sighed and handed it to Marissa. Seth craned his neck over her shoulder to read it.

"Déjà vu," he said. I looked up at him. When Ryan's mom had abandoned him that's all she left him. A note. That single note and Sandy's love started Ryan's life journey with the Cohen's. I wondered what this meant for me.

"Come on," Seth said. His eyes were a mix of emotions. Above all they were bright. And soft. And sweet. And all the things my little Seth Cohen was made of. Boys may be made up of snakes and snails and puppy dog tails. But Seth was made up of Cinnamon, vanilla, and fabric softener. And love. Tons and tons of love.

"We can show this to dad," he said. I nodded my head in agreement. Seth grabbed my small, battered purple horse off of my coffee table.

"Captain Oats is going to be happy to see you pal," he said giving Princess Sparkle a small kiss on her plastic snout.

"Sure. Give her all the attention," I pouted. His lips met mine and he practically choked me with his tongue. The kiss was long and sweet all the same. When we broke apart we were met with a big, California sunrise. The ground was now colored in shades of bright orange and dull yellows. I hoped that this was the start to a new and better life. A beginning for me. A fresh start for Summer Roberts.

Another short chapter I know but I will definitely make an effort to make the next one longer!

Dru

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