Chapter 11

Dreams and a Flashback

The last thing I remembered was the flashing lights. They were red, and off in the distance some flashed blue. I could hear muffled voices around me. Some sounded panicked. And I could hear Coop crying. I felt someone's hand clamped tightly into mine. Then I heard his voice.

"I won't leave you Summer. You'll be okay." It was Seth. That was all I remembered. When I woke up I was in severe pain. My sides ached and I realized that I had a tube down my throat. I couldn't even whimper or moan or make any indication that I was awake. I felt sedated but I was able to open my eyes.

Coop was standing over me. Her hand was in mine and her face was drenched in tears.

"Hi honey," she whispered wiping away tears with the back of her hand.

"COOP!" my mind screamed but I couldn't talk with this dumb plastic tube down my throat.

"Don't try to talk sweetie. The doctors put the tube down your throat because your lungs collapsed there for a while. Oh Summer! You scared the hell out of us," Marissa cried as she gently moved the hair away from my eyes. "Seth and Ryan should be back in a second. This is Ryan's first cigarette in a while Sum." A smile broke over her face and I squeezed her hand tightly. The image of Ryan smoking a cigarette seemed like a blast from the past to me.

I took my other hand and gently touched the tube that was helping my lungs expand.

"They put in a chest tube earlier to drain out the blood that was in your lungs," Marissa explained. "Your rib punctured one of your lungs but they were able to get in there before it did any severe damage. I should really go get the doctor, and Seth, to tell them you're awake." I tried to make some sort of movement to let Coop know I understood but all I could do was squeeze her hand and stare up at her.

She bent down and gave me a kiss on the bridge of my nose, a few tears rolling off of her face and onto mine. She wiped them away and then left me alone. Having the tube in my throat made me feel like I wanted to throw up again. The burning feeling in my throat reminded me of the sensation I felt when my father had put out a cigarette on my upper arm. I closed my eyes and traveled back to that day.

It was the middle of summer. July or August, I couldn't remember. It was around 8:30 at night and I snuck around my dad's room in hopes of getting out unnoticed. No such luck. He started towards me and I panicked, beginning to run. He was able to quickly yank a fistful of my hair and press his lit cigarette to my exposed skin. I yelped in pain, wishing I hadn't worn a tank top. He pushed me out of the door before slamming it shut, never saying a word.

When I got to the Cohen's, Ryan and Marissa were splashing around in the pool. I had gone shopping earlier with Coop and I had told her I would be over after I changed.

"Will you be okay alone with him? I could go with you," she offered. I shook my head no. I remember having to promise Coop I was going to be okay before she was satisfied.

"Sum!" Marissa cried excitedly, getting out of the water.

"Hey Coop," I smiled as she wrapped a towel around herself.

"I'll go get Seth," she said.

"Alright," I smiled, watching her run, dripping wet, into the house. Kirsten would appreciate that.

"Hey loser," Ryan got out of the pool and joined me on a piece of overly expensive patio furniture.

"Hey Chino," I said as he flicked water at me.

"Are they extensive tonight?" Ryan asked, referring to the wounds he was afraid I had received in the afternoon alone with my dad.

"Just a burn," I replied, reluctantly showing Ryan the small, red circle on my skin. It still stung.

"Cigarette," he said surely. He gently gripped my arm and blew softly away the stray ashes that still stuck to my skin.

"How'd you know?" I asked, blushing a little at his gentle touch. I was glad that Coop was in such good hands and that Seth had such a wonderful person here to stick up for him and be his brother.

"Mom used to do it all the time," he explained. "It shouldn't sting for much longer."

"Summer!" Seth jumped excitedly as he saw me. He had on blue swim shorts but his hair was dry so I knew he had just prepared. My heart melted as he gently touched my face and gave me a baby kiss on the nose. Then he got rebellious again.

"Race you to the pool!" he cried challengingly at Ryan.

"No running around the pool!" I scolded. The boys looked at me and Marissa giggled.

"Yeah, you'll break your necks," she agreed with me.

"We're just going to have to do something about you guys. You sound like my mother," Seth shuddered and picked me up.

"COHEN!" I squealed as I saw Ryan out of the corner of my eye, scoop up Marissa. I already knew what they had planned. They jumped into the water, Marissa and I still in their arms. That had been one of my favorite nights that summer.

I opened my eyes as I felt a gentle hand on my head. I wanted so badly to reassure Seth that I was okay. I saw the milky tears in his big brown eyes.

"You scared us Summer," he gently scolded as he bent over to give me a kiss. I could smell the smoke on him. I knew Cohen wouldn't put a cigarette even remotely close to his mouth even if there was a cash prize involved so I knew Coop was right when she had said that Ryan had been smoking. A doctor entered the room and approached the side of my bed.

"Alright Ms. Roberts," he replied assisting Seth in helping me to sit up. He saw that I was conscious and he decided to take out the tube. "On the count of three I want you to give me a good cough. One, two…three." On the count of three I did as I was told and he removed my breathing tube. I coughed and sputtered a bit before taking in a large gulp of air. That had been the most uncomfortable thing I had ever been through.

"Try not to talk for a few minutes," the doctor instructed. "Your throat is going to be a bit sore for a while." After the doctor left I attempted to speak.

"Cohen," it came out as a pitifully weak whisper.

"It's okay Summer. You don't have to talk," he murmured giving me another kiss. At that moment Marissa and Ryan walked in, hand in hand.

"Summer! Your okay," Ryan sounded relieved as he followed Marissa in joining Seth at my side. It hurt too much to talk but with the tube out of my throat I was now able to smile. Marissa grabbed one hand and Ryan grabbed the other while Seth rested his hand on my belly. The four of us sat there in silence. I looked up at the people I had such admiration for. They were all so worried about me. In a sense I felt guilty that I was always the center of attention. But on the other hand I couldn't very well help it.

"You're going to be okay kid," Ryan whispered.

"Yeah, we kinda like having you around," Marissa smiled.

"We love you Summer," Seth said. Then every thing was quiet again.

"Maybe when this is all said and done Mom and Dad will drop us off at six flags," Seth said.

"Cohen," I found enough breath to whisper his name in a scolding manner.

"You're a dreamer Seth Cohen," Marissa said squeezing his shoulder.

"We all gotta have our dreams," Ryan said.

These three people around me were more then I could have ever hoped for. But I hoped that maybe, when this was all said and done that some more of those dreams would come true.

Okay just to set the record straight, Sandy and Kirsten know what happened with Summer and are somewhere in the hospital. I just kinda wanted this chapter to be more sentimental between Summer, Ryan, Marissa, and Seth so that's why they never did show up. They will next chapter though. Thank you so so so much for all of your reviews.

Dru

PS. Ashton's punking Rachel Bilson on Punk'D tonight (Sunday March 27th) 10:00 Pacific Time. I think she was crying on the preview so shame on Ashton because she's too adorable...

PPS. HAPPY EASTER!