Hey everyone! This chapter doesn't really progress anything, it's basically just one of Summer's flashbacks. Here are some words from me to my awesome group of reviewers!

bfan2good4u: Thanx 4 always having such awesome things 2 say. U rock!

Doves30: U have also always been so sweet w/ the reviews. Thank u for reading :)

j: U took an intrest in Layla! Woo-hoo. JK. Thank u 4being open 2 my random character addition!

Somebody's Dark Angel: I am such a weirdo. Thanx 4 bringing the pregnancy reality 2 my attention. I didn't even think of that but I'm happy ur here 2 say 'HELLO DRU!' JK. Thanks again 4 reading and reviewing:-)

kursk: Thanx 4 being a loyal reviewer of all my OC stories (2) I always look 4ward 2 ur reviews!

sUmMeRiTh: I thank u 2 4 being open 2 Layla. Thanks a ton 4 reading!

adambrody10: Another loyal reviewer...thank u so much for that! Love the pen name by the way.

Rainygal: Thanks 4 ur last review...now I'm not so concious about my chapter length. Thanks 4 enjoying the little chapters!

PrincessSparkle09: Thank u so much for the compliment. I am really glad ur enjoying it and I enjoy hearing from a familiar reviewer each chapter!

Leentje: Thank u 4 being an awesome reviewer! I love hearing from u...:)

IY-ROX: I will definitely keep it up. As long as u keep reading...JK..:0)

Rockchick1232: Sorry about my mushiness...thank u 4 ur reviews...they have always been very constructive to me. Glad ur enjoying it despite my fluffiness!

piperleo4eva: Guessing ur a Charmed fan? How are Piper and Leo doing these days anyway:) I was once a fan myself but kinda drifted away once Chris left. Thank u for reviewing.

SUMMERAN1: I know right what's up with that? Hopefully George won't pick Thursday night to decide to give a speech next time. HELLO WE NEED OC MAN! JK. U rock...thanx 4 feeling my pain:)

U GUYS R THE REASON I WRITE! THANK U x'S A BILLION!

Dru

PS. I probably left some people out but as long as u are enjoying what I do I love u for it!

Chapter 17

Another Flashback...

I sat upstairs watching Marissa, Seth, and little Layla sleep soundly. It was almost seven and Sandy had poked his head in once or twice to check on us. I had pretended I was asleep. I wondered if Ryan was okay and debated whether or not I should check up on him.

I couldn't help but reach out and twist one of Seth's curls around my finger. It used to be sort of a nervous habit I had whenever I was with him. Sometimes, while we were cuddling together on the couch or in his bed, I did it without even realizing it. I squeezed myself next to Seth and rested my head on his shoulder.

As I placed my hand over my belly again I felt emotion overcome me. The baby was still moving around but not to the point where it was incredibly bothersome like it had been earlier. I realized that I didn't want to give up our baby. I was in love. And now I had a baby on the way. I scolded myself, trying to block out the thoughts that were trying to change my mind but I just couldn't. That little voice in my head was Seth. And I didn't have the heart to drown him out.

I closed my eyes and felt myself falling into another flashback. The first time I had ran to Seth and Ryan with the truth…

I slouched over my desk, fighting to stay awake. The shrill cry of the bell brought me back to reality.

"Remember class, to read pages 316-329 tonight and to do the activity on page 18B," Mr. Michelson reminded, erasing something off of the board. I sighed before leaning over to grab my books. I had to bite my lip in order to keep from yelping in agony. I tried hunching my shoulder blades as close together as I could in order to ease the friction of my shirt off of the raw wounds on my back. But in a hasty effort not to be the last one out of class again, I was forced to shut the pain out.

The end of a school day was always bittersweet. I knew I would be able to escape the stares and whispers from behind that I got during the day. But at the same time it was time to go home and show myself before running to Marissa's. This upcoming week I was faced with an almost unthinkable challenge. Marissa was away with Jimmy and Hailey for the weekend meaning I had absolutely no where to turn. To top it all off it was Friday and I would be forced to spend the weekend alone.

I snuck in through the back door and quietly checked every room of the house. My dad was no where to be seen so I was able to let out a sigh of relief.

Nine o' clock came and went and he still wasn't home yet. I hoped he had gotten into some sort of horrific accident or he had passed out, drunk in a bar somewhere. Whatever the case, if he wasn't home by 6:30 he wasn't coming home at all until the next morning. I was grateful but afraid to be alone. It seemed like I was out the door before I could even think about what I was doing. There was no where left to go. But for some reason there was a name that kept popping into my head. Cohen.

Besides Marissa and Ryan he was the only one I ever spoke to. Even if every word that left my mouth was either an insult or something degrading towards his existence. But the truth was I was so in love with him. I would find myself gazing at him from the other end of a long hallway at school. Just the way he twiddled with his black hair, hair I wished I could run my fingers through, would make my heart melt. He was different. But he was Cohen. What would people say? But then again it wasn't like I had an oh-so-great reputation to hold up since rumors started to fly like crazy after my step mom's death.

Before I could stop myself, I had already squeezed myself through the back gate that led to the Cohen's pool house. I had walked this path many times with Marissa but I never would have pictured walking it by myself. There was no visible light on in the pool house and I felt myself freeze. What the hell was I doing?

"Summer? Is that you?"

"Chino! Damn you, don't ever scare me like that again!" I snapped angrily, punching Ryan in the shoulder. He had come from inside the house.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. I glared at him. "Okay, okay. Apparently a stupid question. You feeling pretty lonely without Marissa to drag you around with her?"

"You aren't funny Ryan," I sighed, feeling tears cloud my eyes. Ryan's eyes widened slightly.

"Hey, I didn't mean to make you upset Summer. I was just kidding," Ryan reached out and touched my shoulder.

"It's okay Chino. It's not you," I felt my dam breaking. It was time to throw away this stupid act I didn't even know why I kept putting on in front of Ryan and Seth. This wasn't me. I was being abused. The words hit me like a ton of bricks. I needed someone else to talk to about this. Ryan stood awkwardly next to me, obviously still taken a back.

"Is there something I'm missing here?" he asked.

"Yes. Yes there is," I whispered, tears running freely now down my face. "Can you get Cohen out here so I don't have to explain it twice?" I winced as I folded my arms across my chest, feeling my shoulder blades begin to burn. I couldn't believe I was about to do this.

"O…kay," Ryan hesitated, not sure how to react. "Come sit in the pool house." He opened the door for me then motioned toward his bed. I sat and waited as he disappeared into the house. I pinched the skin on my wrists nervously. It wasn't too late to back out.

"Whoa Ryan. Do you realize that Summer is sitting on your bed?" Seth asked in disbelief, emphasizing my name slightly. I guess now it was too late to turn back.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, keeping a few feet between us. The old me would have cooked up something sarcastic to snap back at him. But the 'no where left to turn' me burst into tears.

"It's okay, don't cry Summer," Seth sat next to me, probably wondering what had set me off. "What happened to you Summer? Ever since your step mom got into that accident you've been a wreck." I couldn't believe that Cohen actually noticed.

"Yeah and I thought you didn't even like her," Ryan said, confused. I hesitated before pulling my shirt off over my head. Underneath I wore a tank top but every other area that once shone with summer tanned skin was now blotchy with dark bruises. Some were older then others but they blended in with the raw wounds up by my neck, near my shoulders. I hung my head shamefully as Ryan and Seth stared in disbelief.

"What…what happened?" Seth was the one to break the silence.

"I'm…I'm being abused Cohen. By my dad," I whispered. It was almost as if the words were too painful to say.

"We have to tell Sandy and put this son of a bitch away," Ryan surprised me with his words. He was always so quiet and soft-spoken.

"Look you two. You can't say anything. Not to Sandy or Kirsten or anybody," I pleaded gently. I felt Seth put a shaky hand on my shoulder but his tone was angry when he spoke.

"You honestly expect us to keep this quiet?"

"Marissa obviously has if you didn't know yet," I answered, wiping away tears with the back of my hand.

"Marissa's known?" Ryan asked. I knew this came as a blow to him. I'm sure they had been open with each other since they got together and now I was uncovering something she had kept hidden from him.

"I made her promise not to tell Chino," I tried to end a future war between the two of them before it even started.

"Where's your dad?" Seth asked like he was afraid of the answer.

"I don't know," I replied only because it was too painful to shrug my shoulders. "Please promise. Please promise that this won't be on the front page of the newspaper in a couple of days."

"Why do you let him do this to you?" Seth asked.

I didn't have an answer to his question.

I never knew if I would ever have an answer to Seth's question. I really didn't know why I had let the abuse go on as long as I did. Why I never just let Seth or Ryan or Marissa go get help, or even find help for myself. Seth rolled over and I gave him a kiss on the nose. He smiled in his sleep. It may be true that I will never find an answer to Seth's question but I knew that as long as he was on this earth, he would fight to keep me safe forever.