Chapter 16

The Emergency

Summer stared at the letter in front of her, shaking her head in confusion.

"No," she said firmly. "No, no I didn't… I didn't sign the papers. How – what the hell is going on?"

Seth shook his head in the same confused manner as Summer. "You sure you didn't sign?"

"I'm positive!" Summer was getting hysterical, something really crazy was going on here. In her hand was a letter telling Seth that his divorce had gone through. "And even if I did, we can't divorce without two signatures! So either we've signed them drunk, or – or…"

"Or someone's forged it," Seth said. Summer nodded mutely.

Cady got up from the couch and walked over to where Summer and Seth were stood in the hall, staring at each other silently.

"So… let me get this straight – you're divorced, but you have no recollection of signing the papers?" she asked. Seth and Summer nodded.

"Yeah, I'm going to go with the drunk option," Cady joked. Summer went pale.

"This isn't funny Cady," Seth said softly. Cady nodded in agreement.

"You're right, it isn't, but… but," Cady sighed. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," Seth shrugged, "What can we do?"

"Phone the police?" Cady suggested.

"No," Summer said quietly. Seth and Cady turned to her, she hadn't spoken for a while.

"Summer, we've got to. Someone has forged our divorce papers. I didn't even get one to sign! Whoever did it knows our signatures. Someone close to us has forged our papers. We need to phone the police Summer," Seth pleaded. Summer shook her head.

"I just – I need to ring someone else first."

"Your Mom?" Seth asked.

"Yeah," Summer said, as if in a daze, "I have a feeling she'll have something to do with this."

She walked over to the hall phone and picked it up. Seth watched as she dialled the numbers and his heart ached at the look on her face. She looked betrayed. And she was, by her own mother.

"Mom," Summer said as her mother answered with her usual over the top greeting.

"Summer," her mother said, and her tone was flat. "I was waiting for you to call."

"Yeah. So um, guess what I got in the post this morning," Summer said with strained calmness.

"Summer, what are you talking about? I'm sure I have no idea," Eva said from the other side. Summer's eyes flicked over to Seth who was smiling at her reassuredly, but she could see the pain behind his eyes. They were divorced.

"I'm talking about the divorce papers mom!" Summer said, pain causing a grating edge to form in her voice. "The signed divorce papers! Why are you doing this to me Mom? Why can't you be a mom and stop this twisted game that you're playing because…"

"Summer," Seth said softly, putting his hand on her arm. Summer stared into his eyes and felt the tears threatening to escape.

"Because you're destroying me," She said, her last word catching in her throat and becoming a sob. Before she knew it she was crying hysterically down the phone. Cady watched on helplessly, while Seth tried to wrestle the phone from Summer, who refused to let go.

"Summer, Summer please don't cry," Eva said, her voice only just audible above Summer's crying. "I'll tell you everything, I just need you to come back and I'll tell you everything." Eva's voice was thick with remorse and guilt.

"No," Summer said. "I can't trust you Mom. You've lied to me."

"Fine. I'll come over there. I can't tell you over the phone, but please know that I am sorry. I've been selfish and… and I'm so sorry – I should be a mother first, and I've always put you last. But now… but now you are my priority. I'm coming over. What's the address?"

"You know," Summer said, her sobs starting to reside. "You sent the letter."

"No sweetie, I wrote the letter. And besides, surely he doesn't live in the same place?"

"No, no he doesn't. But, wait a second – are you trying to say that there's someone else involved?" Summer asked. Seth looked at her with question in his eyes.

"No, not someone. Some people. Address?"

Summer gave her it. "Who – who's involved?"

"We'll talk about it when I get there. Stay where you are. I'll be as quick as I can."

The static in the background was replied with the shrill dead tone. Summer put the phone down and stared at Seth. He stared back.

"She's coming over," Summer said.

"I got that," Seth replied. Summer nodded dumbly.

"I'm going to go change," Summer said. She got up and headed into Seth's bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

Seth collapsed onto the sofa and stared at the blank TV. Cady flopped beside him and pulled him into a hug. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Um, yeah – you know, considering," Seth replied weakly. He shook his head. "No, no I'm not. I just found out that my worst nightmare has come true. I'm divorced to the girl I love – and I do love her Cady, I love her so much. Why would Eva do this to us?"

"You can remarry," Cady suggested. Seth stared straight ahead.

"Yeah, but… but when you marry, you want it to be forever. And I know me and Summer will be together, but with the divorce, it's like there'll be this constant reminder of how much I screwed up, and how there was this great big gap in our life together. Us, as in, me and Summer, we're perfect. I guess, I guess I just wanted everyone to know that."

"Seth, everyone does know that. I mean, the first time I saw you guys together was about twenty minutes ago, and I know it. You two are like, amazing together. It's the kind of thing little girls dream about for their future Seth. You and Summer – you're the couple. And you love each other. You'll get over this – I mean, you got over the fact that you've spent the last three years apart through fear and misunderstanding."

"Yeah."

"So, just kick Miss Summer's Mom's butt and get remarried. Oh, and Seth?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to be a bridesmaid."


Summer pulled on the white silk skirt she had bought on a shopping trip four days ago, after getting sick of wearing Seth's shirts, and adjusted the collar on her green blouse. She flopped onto the bed and put her head into her hands. She was sick of the constant obstacles. Being with the man she loved shouldn't be so hard.

The cell on her bed started to ring. Summer looked at the screen, Meagan. She flipped it open and held it to her ear.

"Meagan, this isn't a good time," Summer started, but was cut off by the sound of Meagan's hysterical sobbing. "What's wrong Meagan? Are you okay?"

"I – I'm fine. It's… Oh God Summer, you need to come back quick! There's so much blood here," Meagan sobbed. Summer's blood froze.

"Blood? Oh God Meagan, what's happened? I'm too far to come in time, have you rung the ambulance?"

"Where – where are you?"

"I'm in LA, Meagan – have you rung the ambulance?"

"They're on there way, but he keeps asking for you Summer. I think you need to get here quickly."

"Who? Who's asking for me?"

"Dominic. Dominic tried to kill himself Summer… He slit his wrists, he keeps going in and out of consciousness, but – there's so much blood."

Summer gripped the edge of the bed tightly. "Get him to hospital, I'm coming to Newport now."


AN: Yeah. Too hot to write an AN. Seriously, it's the north of England and its 30+ degrees celsius, which is nearly a hundred degrees farenheiht (or something) cos we're having a heatwave. Woo hoo. Been sunbathing all day because I slept in for college and decided not to go (heh heh). Ooh, just been watching all the Sethummer parts in my Season 1 box set and SETH IS ADORABLE! lol, was watching the one where Dandy Warhol's song we used to be friends is playing and Seth is dancing in his dressing gown (and his lil legs lol) and then he walks into the kitchen pretending to die cos he doesnt wanna face Summer and Anna -CAN'T WAIT 4 SEASON 2 BOXSET!

Gunna sign off now - toodles

Leanna :)