Chapter 15

Mysteries Come in Small Packages

"So, let me get this straight. My dad threatened to put you into the system?" Seth spoke of it like it was an ungodly sin. And that's a perfect example of why I love him so much.

"If it would get things straight with my dad," I said, running my fingers through his hair. He was leaned up against me on the floor, Ryan and Marissa cuddled together on the bed listening intently.

"But it may just have slipped out in his moment of frustration," Marissa suggested, being the optimistic Coop again.

"Yeah," Seth agreed. "Sometimes dad talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk, you know? I mean lets look at the facts. You were physically and emotionally harmed by your father. Ryan was emotionally harmed by his mother. Mom didn't take to Ryan at first, was about to kill dad if he didn't get him into the system. Now Ryan is practically a Cohen. Mom likes you Summer, and even if dad wanted to which I'm sure he doesn't, he would never be able to get you into the system with me, my mom, Ryan, and Marissa on your side. It's pretty much five against one here."

"And you, Seth Cohen, configured this little evaluation in your head?" Marissa teased him.

"You know Marissa; I don't get on you for being the optimistic one. Don't get on me for being the well thought out one. You do your thing and I'll do mine," Seth said in a mock scolding tone.

"Why do you think your dad hurt you these past two years and then all of a sudden decided to leave?" Marissa asked. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Don't know anymore then you do Coop. I wish I did," I said sadly. "It doesn't bother me. I rather have him far away from me and not know where he is then him being here, having him hit me, and not knowing where his drunken ass is here anyway." There was silence for a bit and then Ryan let out a small cough.

"Maybe," Ryan suggested after pulling a tissue out of the box on the nightstand. "You should take Summer inside Seth."

"Maybe so," Seth yawned.

"I want to stay in here," I argued.

"If you got sick Summer, and something was to happen to your baby I would never forgive myself," Ryan said seriously. "Please go inside. Marissa's all I need."

"Come on babe," Seth said getting up to his feet. He held his hand out to me. I thrust a final pouty face at Ryan. He shook his head slightly. I sighed and took Seth's hand.

"Night guys," Seth waved his other hand behind his head as he led me out of the pool house. We opened the door to the house to find Kirsten and Sandy nuzzling each other on the couch in the living room.

"Mom! Dad! Honestly," Seth cried. "That happens to be my Playstation/Xbox playing couch!"

"We were just about to go up to bed anyway," Sandy said gently his eyes never leaving Kirsten's.

"Okay, OVERSHARE!" Seth drug me over to the couch and pulled his dad to his feet.

"Summer and I really would appreciate it that if after you go upstairs you stay up there. We have some things to discuss," Seth said as Kirsten stood up too.

"We do?" I asked, surprised. Seth elbowed me gently.

"Yes we do," he said through gritted teeth. "And I mean it mom. No unannounced getting a glass of water or wanting to check on Ryan because Marissa has that all under control."

"Okay Seth, we get it," Kirsten kissed his son on the forehead and took Sandy's hand.

"Goodnight Summer," Sandy said.

"Goodnight you guys. Sleep well," I said. Once they were out of the family room Seth tiptoed to the hallway to make sure they were gone.

"Woo-hoo! I just keep getting better and better don't I? Now to finish what you started earlier."

"What?" I asked, confused. Seth gently tackled me onto the sofa and began to tickle me.

"Seth Cohen!" I snapped, trying amidst my hysteria to whisper. I accidentally struck him several times in the stomach with my feet. But if it bothered him he didn't show it. It was only until I swore I couldn't breathe that he got off of me.

"You are an absolute nut case do you know that?" I asked punching Seth a few times in the arm. His reply was to attack my mouth with a kiss.

"You're so cute," he gazed into my eyes and stroked my face lovingly.

"Seth!" I cried in alarm, gripping on to his shirt.

"What? What is it Sum?" he asked.

"I…I think the baby is kicking," I forced a lump down my throat as I placed his hand over my belly. We sat for a couple of minutes just staring at each other.

"That's so…cool," Seth said gently, his hand still in place. "He's an anxious little guy."

"Or girl," I said. We hadn't asked the doctor what the sex of the baby was going to be yet. We decided that it would be a surprise when it was time for the baby to come.

"Do we really have to give him up?" Seth asked sadly. I nodded my head.

"But we're going to pick out a great family he can go to and grow up with," I said.

"I want him to grow up with us," Seth said, hanging his head slightly.

"We can't keep the baby Seth," I said tears brimming in the corners of my eyes. "We just can't."

"Were not far off from graduating high school. Barely two more years and we'll be out. Then we can get married and…," my gaze cut him short.

"You…you want to marry me?" I stuttered.

"Of course I want to marry you Summer. I love you," Seth gazed down at his hands, ending his last statement in a whisper. I took Seth's face gently in my hands and kissed him. After slowly pulling away I could see the traces of tears running down his face.

"I don't want us to have to give up the baby Summer," he said softly. "I want us to be happy. I want us to have a family. I've always thought about it."

"I bet you never envisioned us being so young! Listen to me Seth Cohen, we aren't ready to be parents…we have to just…to just," I couldn't get the words out that I needed to because the baby kept on kicking and I kept on feeling more and more miserable. Seth didn't say anymore. He just rested his head on my belly and whispered soothing words to me and the baby. I took his hand and squeezed it gently. Soon we were both sound asleep.

I woke up, startled slightly. Things were foggy for a minute until I came to terms of my surroundings. I was still on the couch of the living room and Seth was curled up in a ball, asleep at the other end. I rubbed my eyes and realized that it was still dark out. The clock above the TV flashed the numbers 3:30 AM. I sighed and got to my feet, careful not to wake Seth up. The back door creaked slightly as I pulled it open. Seth stirred but remained fast asleep. I eased myself outside and gently closed the door behind me. The door to the pool house didn't put up as much of a fuss as I pulled it open.

Marissa was asleep peacefully, her arm dangling off the side of the bed. Ryan was lying opposite of her but wasn't sleeping so soundly. He was shaking pretty fitfully and I wasn't sure if it was because he was cold or having a bad dream. I put my bets on him being cold and pulled the blankets over his body, hugging him close to me for a couple of seconds. He calmed after a minute and I laid his head back down on the pillow.

"Is he okay?" a groggy voice from the side of me asked. I jumped slightly.

"Yeah, I think he was cold Coop," I whispered pulling her closer to him. She put her arms around Ryan and gave him a kiss on the forehead. He wasn't shaking anymore.

"He's hot," Marissa said worriedly, brushing his blonde bangs off of his face.

"He's tough Coop. I think he'll be okay," I whispered.

"I hope so," Marissa stated. "Are you okay?" I took Marissa's hand and rested it on my stomach. I heard her let out a small gasp.

"Sum," she said. "The baby's kicking."

"And he hasn't given me a break," I admitted. "I couldn't sleep through his little soccer practice in there."

"Do you want to go for a walk?" Marissa asked. I nodded my head.

There was a gentle breeze out but besides that, the June night was perfectly still. Marissa and I walked, arms linked, to the end of the Cohen driveway and towards the beach.

"Seth…he wants to keep the baby," I told her.

"It's going to be hard Sum," Marissa said as if it was any condolence.

"I know," I said. After a few minutes of silence we were on the sandy boardwalk. Everything was completely empty. The cry of a few seagulls could be heard off in the distance. It seemed like Newport was fast asleep. Marissa and I sat on a bench and looked out at the ocean.

"I hope that he…or she…has a better life then what Seth and I can give right now," I murmured randomly.

"You're going to pick a wonderful family that is going to give the baby all the love and attention it needs. But then of course, I know that you and Seth would do the same thing. It's just…your sixteen Sum," Marissa said gently. I nodded again. That's all I could do to keep from crying. It was weird. As soon as I thought of not crying, I could swear I heard a cry not too far away. But something caught my eye and I peered down the boardwalk as far as my eyes could strain. I didn't have to look very far.

"Coop," I shook Marissa's arm and she followed my gaze. Standing next to our bench was a little girl. She had long blonde hair and gorgeous big blue eyes. But her face was dirty and her exposed arms were tattered and plastered with discolored bruises like the ones that were still on my body.

"Hello, honey," Marissa said surprised.

"Hello," the tiny girl hiccupped gently.

"What's your name?" she asked, reaching out to touch her face. She allowed Marissa to touch her.

"Layla," she said gently.

"Where are your Mommy and Daddy?" Marissa asked.

"I don't know," she burst into tears. "I think their…dead."

Alrighty guys. I hate to leave you in the dark. I know this chapter may not make a whole lot of sense now but it will soon. Thank u so much for reviewing. I can't wait until Thursday! Waaaaah...who else thinks that Trey is starting to fall for Marissa?

Dru