Hey guys! Thankyou soo much for the wonderful feedback! I had a record number of reviews, so I owe it all to you guys!

Many apologies for not updating for nearly a week! I was on holidays (or vaccation)with my family. But the good news is that I managed to write lots of material! So expect to see lots of chapters over the coming days!

This chapter features a lot ofSeth/Summer action, so never fear if you thought I'd forgotten them! Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own the OC. Never have, never will. sighs sadly

Summer and Seth sat at the pool, their bare feet relaxing in the cool, turquoise water. Summer had her head resting comfortably on his shoulder and every now and again lightly pecked him on the cheek.

Seth was lost in his own thoughts though. Ryan had made him promise not to leak a word of the proposal plans to Summer. All night there had been an extra beat in his heart as he waited impatiently for the sign that told him that Ryan had popped the question. But as midnight approached, he had neither seen nor heard from Ryan since their farewells in the car. Maybe he had some extravagant all-night thing planned. At the thought Seth chuckled out loud and startled Summer.

"Okay, Cohen! Enough of this!" Summer said crossly.

"What?" Seth returned. His cheeks began to grow warm. He was so bad at keeping secrets. He'd been doing so well all night, but now Summer was on to him! I'm going down, he said under his breath.

"Come on, Cohen! Do you think I'm blind of something? You've had that same look in your eyes all night."

"I do? I mean, I have?" Seth coughed pathetically. "Uh, what look?"

"The kind of look you usually have when something's up and you've been sworn to secrecy. Except that you and I both know your track record on actually keeping the secret!" Summed grinned wickedly and gently elbowed him in the arm.

Seth blushed, "Nothing, I know nothing," he was failing miserably.

"Coh-hen, I'm wait-ing." Summer cooed expectantly. She scowled at him, her arms tightly crossed.

He couldn't take it anymore. He sighed deeply and took a breath. "Okay," he began. "There is a chance… well maybe a bit more than a chance… a great possibility… well, actually, an almost certainty…"

"Cohen!"

"Okay! Don't rush me!" Seth groaned. "Tonight... Ryan is…"

Abruptly, before Seth could go on any further, he was interrupted by the sudden ringing of a phone.

"Oh wait, hang on," Seth breathed a sigh of a relief. Saved by the bell! He reached into his pocket and pulled out Sandy's cell phone.

Summer looked at it, puzzled, "Wait, why do you have your Dad's cell?"

"I lost mine." Seth replied.

He surveyed the number on the screen. It read Unknown Contact.

Summer raised an eyebrow, "You seem to be losing a lot of things lately, Cohen; your watch, your cell. Careful or you'll be losing me next!" She fluttered her lashes.

Before answering, Seth shook his head smiling and kissed her on the lips, "No, my Summer Beloved, that is impossible!" Summer giggled.

Seth flipped the phone open, "Hello?"

"Sandy Cohen?" said a serious voice on the other end.

"Um, no, this is Seth, his son," he replied hesitantly, "Who may I ask is calling?"

The solemn voice continued, "Please put your father on. I require to speak with him immediately."

"Uh, yeah, sure. Just a sec."

Seth got up and looked around for his for dad.

"Who's that?" Summer questioned.

"Some dude for my Dad," Seth answered, still searching through the crowds, "Do you see him anywhere?"

Summer looked with him. They found Sandy with Kirsten and Julie who were having a wonderful laugh.

"Hey, Dad!", they walked towards him, Seth waving the cell phone in his hand. "Someone for you."

Sandy grinned, obviously adding to their conversation, "Ah! You see, Julie? I'm not as unpopular as everyone says!" Julie and Kirsten giggled.

He raised the cell phone to his ear and said cheerfully, "Sandy Cohen."

"Mr Cohen? Father of Ryan Atwood?" replied the man on the receiving end.

"I'm his guardian, yes, how may I help you?" Sandy replied, a tinge of unease entering his veins.

Seth, Summer, Kirsten and Julie all watched in confusion and despair as Sandy's expression turned utterly ice-like.

"Mr Cohen I grieve to inform you that Mr Atwood and a Miss Marissa Cooper were involved in a serious automobile accident approximately forty minutes ago."

"Oh my God!" Sandy said in a low, severe voice. The others stared in panic.

"Dad?" Seth said alarmed. When his dad had mentioned the word "guardian" he'd guessed immediately this was about Ryan. Something was desperately wrong.

Sandy finished his conversation, "Thank you, Officer, we'll be there right away." He took the phone from his hear.

"Mr Cohen?" Summer asked, her voice quivering.

Sandy swallowed hard, "It's Ryan and Marissa…"

X

Summer's eyes blinked open. Her vision was hazy and the movement of her cheeks made her dried tears tingle. She looked around the hospital waiting room, at first unaware of where she was. Then she remembered.

She raised her swollen head from Seth's lap. Her hand was still clasped in his as he, too, slept lightly.

Summer took out the small mirror she kept in her bag. Her eyes were red and her mascara and eyeliner had run away with her tears. Her lips were dry and lacked their usual scarlet shine, and the glow from her face had burnt out. She couldn't care less though.

All night she had been sitting here, unable to see Marissa. The doctor had strictly insisted that only family members were permitted to see her for now. Life-long best friends hadn't made the cut.

Seth roused shortly after. He looked nearly as bad as Summer. His eyes no longer held their usual twinkle. Instead they were black against his dry, melancholy skin.

"Hey," he said quietly,

They looked at each other in the eyes. Summer tried to smile and be strong for him, but it was too hard.

"How's Ryan?" she choked. It took her every muscle to muster the words, but tears still brimmed her eyes.

Seth shook his head sadly and shrugged, "I don't know. Mom came out about an hour ago. He's still in theatre." He bit his lip, trying to swallow the emotion, "He's in bad shape."

Summer kissed him gently on the cheek, and pressed her forehead upon his. The tears fell down her face, "It's okay," she rubbed her hand up and down his arm.

"And Marissa?" Seth returned.

She sighed, her breath breaking under the cries. "I don't know either. Still nothing."

She sniffed back her tears, "Seth, why did this have to happen? They were so happy, and she was doing so well! She was nearly better!" she dug her face into his shoulder and cried violently.

"I know," Seth whispered in a low voice, "I know."

"Summer, honey?" Jimmy came down the hall. His tie hung loosely around his neck and the sleeves of his dinner shirt were rolled up. He gave the two of them a sympathetic smile.

"How is she?" She burst from Seth's hold and stood up abruptly.

"Well… she's awake," Jimmy said tiredly, but there was still great sadness in his tone, "You can go and see her now," Summer nodded and turned to Seth, "Cohen?"

"Any news on Ryan?" Seth asked. He was relieved for Marissa but he couldn't be happy until he knew Ryan was safe as well.

Jimmy shook his head remorsefully, "Still no word, I'm afraid."

Seth buried his head in his hands and tried to blink away the frustration and misery.

Summer's heart broke to see Seth like this. She bent down and raised his head slowly with her finger under his chin. "I'll be right back," she kissed him.

Seth nodded and went on waiting in the uncomfortable chair while Summer walked away down the corridor.

X

Marissa lay numbly on her bed. She felt like a ton of bricks had fallen through her body. On her forehead she bore twenty-two stitches, she had two black eyes and her cheeks were swollen and blue. Her chest had a further ten stitches and her neck ached.

But her scars were nothing compared to the hurt she felt inside. She was broken and a deep sadness swelled in her heart. The memory was so clear in her mind: the glass, the blood… the sight of his limp body.

But no one could tell her where he was. No one knew. Outside she was crying silent tears, but inside she was screaming and cursing, wanting to get out.

She closed her eyes, trying with all her might to drain out the agony. More tears bled from her eyes and she could feel the wetness on her lashes. She kept thinking that when she opened them he would be there, cradling her and telling her that he was okay.

She blinked them open.

He hadn't come.

But there was someone.

"Coop!" Summer rushed over to Marissa's side. They embraced tightly, weeping deeply into each other's shoulders. Then Marissa broke away and looked desperately into her friend's eyes.

"Coop?" Summer combed through her Marissa's soft blonde hair with her long nails, "What is it?"

"I need to see him, Summer! Where is Ryan?"