Chapter 7
The Confrontation
Seth was going over his newly arrived drinks menu when Summer came back. He couldn't help but notice that there was something different about her.
"Hey," he greeted. "So how are we doing this? A drink before dinner or shall we just start off on the coffee's and start making them Irish as the day goes on?"
Summer sat down on her chair and crossed her legs. "This is not a social thing Seth. So here is how we are 'doing this'. We'll order coffee, talk about how you tried to screw up my life and bypass all of your pathetic jokes. Okay?"
Seth stared at her. There was an edge to her voice that hadn't been there before and she was sat up straighter. She meant business. "Sorry," he coughed. "I… making inappropriate jokes is just how I…"
"Cope? Yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before Seth, but here's something I haven't heard – Why. Did. You. Leave?"
Seth was silent. The same waiter that had served them earlier appeared. "May I take your orders?" he asked, his bright white teeth acting as a beacon for underpaid waiter's everywhere.
"Um, an Americano please," Seth said, passing his menu on and feeling utterly dejected. He didn't know what he had expected but it wasn't this, although it probably should have been.
Summer scanned her menu thoughtfully before handing it back, "An Ice Mocha Latte please," she said, her stony expression belying her polite tone. The waiter told them their orders would be a moment before heading off. Seth continued to stare at the table, having stared out the rest of the café already.
"Well?" Summer asked pointedly.
"What?" Seth feigned ignorance. He didn't know how to explain and he didn't want to get into this now. He couldn't relive the past and he couldn't relive… well, like he said, he couldn't do this now.
"Don't play dumb Seth. Answer the question, don't I deserve that at least?"
Seth stared up at her and his breath caught. She did deserve that. She deserved everything she wanted because she was special and unique and… and beautiful.
"I… I was scared," he said quickly. He glanced up and caught Summer's expression. Disbelief.
"You were 'scared'?" she repeated in a monotone. "And why, Seth, were you 'scared'? No wait, you know what? I'm going to tell you why I was scared. You had left me when I needed you most, you left me when I felt like you were the only person I had left. That scared the shit out of me Seth, hell, it plain out terrified me!"
Seth's head snapped up. "Hang on a second Summer. If you thought I was the only person you had left, then why did you push me away? Twice?"
"What?" Summer asked, her eyes narrowing, "Are you talking about?"
"The first time, " Seth continued on, "When your dad died…"
"Yes Seth, my dad died! And what did you do? You ran away! How exactly did I push you away then?"
"You wouldn't let me comfort you! You told me he was the only person you'd ever really loved! Do you know how shitty that made me feel? You were my life Summer and you told me, more or less that you didn't even love me."
Summer felt tears prickle at the corner of her eyes. The waiter appeared again, obviously unaware of the scene he had just walked into the midst of.
"Americano," he placed a cup of coffee in front of Seth, "And Ice Mocha Latte," he placed a glass of creamy coffee in front of Summer. With a flourish he disappeared again.
"I was grieving," Summer said silently. "I… I didn't mean it – you should have stayed Seth. You should have seen something through for once in your life."
Seth glanced at her. He had realised of course, once he was in a crappy motel in LA, that he had made the biggest mistake in his life. He wanted her to cool down though, wanted her to realise that she did love him, so he stayed for two weeks. Two weeks, that was all he was supposed to be gone for. But she… Seth closed his eyes tight… she didn't want him back. At least that was what it had said in the letter he had received…
Seth sat on the bed of his LA 1 Star Motel room. He had a letter in his hands. A crisp white sheet which had been folded into a crisp white envelope. Its seemingly innocent appearance did nothing to dull the blow it was making on his heart. He didn't even try to blink back on the tears that were escaping his eyes.
Dear Seth, It read. This is not as painful as it probably should be so I'm guessing that means that what I'm doing is right. When I said I didn't love you, I didn't mean it. I did love you – do love you. But I am no longer in love with you. I feel that the love we once had has passed its course and for a while I was pretending with myself, and that isn't fair on either of us. Who said love was forever anyway right? I mean, my Mom and Dad got divorced, as well as half or more of the American population. I think that it would be too painful for either of us if you came back. Please, just get on with your life, and I will get on with mine.
Summer.
Seth reread the letter, over and over, trying to get the words to make sense, to stop hopping about on the page. He didn't believe it. She was just hurt, she didn't mean it. She couldn't mean it. So he grabbed his cell phone and dialled the number that was imprinted on his brain. No answer. He pressed the 'end call' key. He went onto messages and typed:
Did u mean it? The letter? I
know I hurt you but plz don't
say thats how you really feel.
I want to cum home Summer.
Let me cum home. Seth x
He waited. He waited and waited. He couldn't think or see or feel for waiting. Finally, at ten O'clock that night his phone played its Killers ring tone. He picked it up. He had a message. From Summer. He pressed 'read':
I meant every word. I'm sorry
but its over. You left me when
I needed you and it was 4 the best
I'm over it and I'm over you.
plz don't come back. Youv
already caused enough trouble.
Seth curled up into a ball and cried.
Summer sat, waiting for Seth's reply. He was in a deep thought and Summer noted that his eyes looked glassy. Finally he lifted his chin up and looked her square in the eyes.
"I wanted to. I was going to but…"
"But what?" Summer said, after Seth let his own sentence trail off into thin air.
"For Gods sake," he snapped, he looked angry. "Are you really that much of a heartless bitch that you're going to make me go through this again? You should know why I didn't come back. You didn't want me to! Don't act like you're the only one that was hurt by this. You broke my heart too."
Summer glanced down. He obviously meant the whole love thing. When she had told him her dad was the only one she had ever truly loved.
"I was grieving," she repeated.
"You can't use that as an excuse for everything Summer. It's not fair – what was it again? Oh yeah – 'It's not fair on either of us'"
Summer stared at Seth, wondering what he was going on about. "I don't use that excuse for everything Seth, only for this. And what the hell are you talking about?"
"Look, I'm tired and hung-over and all I really want is to go home. So if you don't mind, I'm going to excuse myself."
Summer couldn't believe how inconsiderate he was being. How had she ever loved him when he obviously cared so little for her feelings? She was getting mad. Time to land the final blow.
"Actually Seth, there is something else I wanted to talk to you about," she said stonily, draining the last of her drink.
"Yeah?" Seth said, turning from where he was currently trying to get past a baby stroller. "And what would that be? About the letter? The text? The heart smashed to pieces under your heel?"
Summer couldn't be bothered trying to decipher his idiotic ramblings. She stood up and flung her bag over her shoulder, having left her bill on the table.
"No, whatever the hell you're talking about is of no concern to me whatsoever. What I did want to talk about though concerns you a great deal."
"Go ahead, play dumb. What the hell could you have to say that could concern me at the moment. Our love has 'passed its course'"
Summer was getting sick of not knowing what the hell Seth was saying. "Yeah," she said airily, "it has." Then, with a small smile and an edgier tone, she said loudly, attracting the attention of yet more diners, "which is why I want a divorce."
AN: Dun dun Duuuuuuuuuuuun! Heh heh. Bet ya didn't know they were still married huh? Well actually I bet you did but Whatev. Er. Heh heh. Moving on. Um, so yeah, a little bit more into what was going through Seth's mind and why he didn't come back. The reason it seems so sudden and out of place is because I had originally intended on having Seth nearly drown and come back to find her with Dominic because, I'm going to let you in on a little secret here, she was making friends with him veeeeery soon after Seth left. But don't think badly of Summer. She was distraught, she was vulnerable, and this is answering the prayers of people who want Dominic to be evil everywhere. Tee hee. Damn, I've probably made the storyline dead predictable now. Oh well, I'll try to put some little twists in here and there, and it might not be as straightforward as it seems… Aaah! See? Lol, again with the rambling. I just feel like I'm making new friends here, I like to talk. Talk back! In fact, I'm going to ask a question. I'm making one of the old teenage newpsies make an appearance. Who should it be – Anna or Zach? No romance or anything but it would make things a little more interesting don't you think? Answer in you reviews – hah, presumptuous, me? Okay, gunna sign off now :)
Leanna xx
