Chapter Two

"Get your lazy ass out of bed."

"Wha-" Ryan's brain is fuzzy and the only thing that registers is that someone is hanging over him.

"It's 3:30 and I'm so bored I could shoot myself so you're gonna get your lazy ass out of bed and we are going to do something."

"Huh?"

"It's me, Summer Roberts..." Summer states as Ryan opens his eyes and stares at an annoyed looking Summer. "Now get your lazy ass out of bed."

Ryan sits up in his bed and yawning he asks, "Summer what are you doing here?"

Summer scowls, "I thought we've been through this? I'm bored and you are coming out with me."

"Why me?" Ryan groans, he hadn't slept well in several days and his body was in complete revolt of getting out of bed. "You do have other friends."

"True," Summer nods, "but everyone's always so cheerful and I always have to be cheerful with them and I don't feel like being fake cheerful."

"That was to much for my brain to take in all at once," Ryan moans.

"It doesn't matter, all you need to know is that you have to get your lazy ass out of bed cause we are going out."

"I need a shower."

"That's fine, I'll wait." Summer responds.

Ryan yawns and stretches, "fine I'm coming." When he's halfway to his bathroom Ryan asks, "do the Cohen's know you're here?"

Summer shrugs, "I don't know I didn't go in through the front if that's what you're asking. I figured it would be kind of weird to see them and ask if you were around...I am their sons girlfriend after all. It's not like I'm trying to hide from them though."

Ryan turns around at this comment, "are you?"

"What?" Summer asks.

"Trying to hide from them."

"I just said I wasn't, didn't I?"

"Well, yeah..."

Summer arches an eyebrow at him, "so?"

"Nothing, I'll be out in 15."

When Ryan walks out of the bathroom 15 minutes later Summer lets out an exasperated sigh, "God, finally. You were in there forever. Do you realize that your room is as boring as hell?"

Ryan shrugs, "so?"

"So can't you get something cool in your room...like a TV or computer or something so that when you insist on making people wait they have something to do. So are you ready?"

"Yeah, just gotta let Sandy and Kirsten know I'm going out." Ryan responds, "which won't be a problem at all seeing as how you're not avoiding them."

Summer glares at Ryan, "of course not."

Walking into the house they find Sandy and Kirsten in the kitchen, "hey you're up," Sandy greets. Then when his gaze falls on Summer he responds, with an odd expression on his face, "hey Summer, haven't seen you around in awhile."

Summer nods slowly, "yeah, I've been busy."

"Of course," Kirsten nods. "Have you heard from Marissa?"

Summer shakes her head, "not since she left. She's only allowed to call family, so I have the feeling that she doesn't use the phone very often."

"So we're going out," Ryan interrupts. "Is that okay?"

Kirsten nods, "of course...have fun."

Ryan nods, "thanks." As they walk out of the kitchen Ryan asks, "what exactly are we doing?"

"Well, I didn't have anything in mind until I saw your room, we need to go shopping." Summer states.

"I don't think..."

"Wait a minute you guys," Kirsten calls out behind them." Ryan closes his eyes as he turns he knows exactly where this is going, "Summer I think that's a wonderful idea."

"Really?" Summer flashes a bright smile at Kirsten.

"I've been thinking about it for awhile now, there's not a lot in there and until Seth gets home I'm sure you'd like to hang out in there instead of hanging around with us old people." As she speaks Kirsten has pulled out her purse and a check book and is in the process of writing a check. "I'd give you my card but I know I did that you wouldn't spend anything so this is probably the best way to get you to buy things," Kirsten rips the check off and hands it to Ryan.

Staring at the check Ryan blinks twice before protesting, "I can't take this money Kirsten."

"Of course you can, and you are. Summer you make sure he spends that money."

Summer nods shortly, "sure thing Mrs. Cohen."

"I can't spend this much money," Ryan mutters still staring at the check as they slide into the seats of Summer's jeep.

Summer glances at the check and shrugs, "I can."

Ryan leans his head back against the headrest mumbling, "oh God."

"I heard that," Summer responds shortly.

"I do not need a new couch," Ryan states clearly for what seems to be the millionth time.

"You don't really think that the one you are sleeping on now is comfortable?" Summer asks scoffing.

"It's fine."

"Kirsten gave you money to redo the room a new couch is part of that," Summer responds. "Now stop complaining and have fun and find something you like."

Ryan looks around the furniture store and points to the cheapest pull-out couch around them, an ugly brownish color, "that one."

"No way in hell." Summer responds simply, "it's ugly." Glancing around as well her gaze finally settles on a huge couch bold white and green-ish blue stripes. "Now this one is nice and it would work well in a pool room."

"Summer it costs a fortune."

Summer rolls her eyes at Ryan's comment and turning to a salesperson she quickly gets their attention, "can I help you?"

Summer nods, "we are going to need to get this couch delivered."

The woman smiles at the two of them, "of course. Is this for your first home?"

Summer and Ryan exchange glances and with a bright smile Summer responds to the woman's smile, "it sure is, we're newlyweds."

Ryan's eyes go wide at Summer's response and it takes all of the willpower that Summer can summon to keep from bursting out laughing in front of the woman. "Congratulations," the woman seems oblivious to the fact that she is being put on. "Are you aware that for making us the place for the furniture in your first home you will get 10 off of your next purchase."

"No, we weren't aware of that." Summer shakes her head. "That'll be great for when we get around to redecorating the dining room won't it sweetie?"

"Oh yes, wonderful snook-ums." Ryan responds with a smirk in Summer's direction.

"If you'll come up to the front desk with me I can fill out the forms for you," the saleswoman leads them up to the front desk. "I just have a few questions, when was your wedding date?"

"May 23rd," Summer responds without skipping a beat.

"The address the couch, certificate and special offers we'll be sending you will be received at."

Ryan groans inwardly at the thought of all the junk mail he would be getting but rambles off the address at the Cohen's house.

"Oh and your names please."

"Mr. and Mrs Ryan Atwood," Summer smiles sweetly at the woman and bites her lip to keep from laughing.

The woman finishes writing, "very good. Everything should be delivered within the week and I can ring you up right here."

By time they finally get out of the store Summer is gasping for breath, she'd just given the woman a full detailed account of their small intimate wedding and then their honeymoon in France. "That was so much fun," Summer laughs collapsing in a fit on a nearby bench.

"I can't believe you did that."

"What?" Summer chokes out, "I saw the advertisement on TV the other day about the free 10 off and I want to redo my room so that'll come in handy."

"Except they have my address on file," Ryan points out."

Summer shrugs, "I'll figure it out. But you should have seen your face when I told her that we we're newlyweds."

"Well it wasn't something I was expecting."

"But you have to admit that it was funny."

Ryan cracks a smile, "it was pretty funny. She was just eating up your story about how I proposed...hey wait we never even got the chance to pick out a couch I actually liked."

Suddenly Summer is able to stop laughing and she stands up quickly, "so are you hungry? I'm hungry? How about some dinner?"

"Summer!" Ryan calls as he catches up to her.

"What?" Summer asks, "it's a nice couch and eventually you're going to thank me for making you buy it. But since you're so grumpy I'll let you choose the restaurant."

"How about the Crab..."

"If that sentence ends in Shack you might as well end it now because I'm not eating there."

"You said I could pick," Ryan points out.

"But I have veto power," Summer adds with a sharp nod.

"I didn't have veto power."

"That was then, this is now."

Ryan rolls his eyes, "why don't you just choose?"

"How about the Jamboree Grill?" Summer suggests, "do you like Asian foods."

Ryan nods, he had to admit Asian did sound good, "fine."

Summer smiles, "good because we can eat there and then go and find you a TV and a stereo. There's an electronic store not far from here plus another furniture store I want to check out."

"I don't need anymore furniture."

"Kind of figured you'd think that way, but you do need more furniture. You are going to need a stand for your TV and stereo and maybe some shelves, you know basic stuff."

"Don't you have a party you'd rather be at?" Ryan asks but immediately silences with the look that crosses Summer's face.

But the look is gone quickly and Summer shakes her head, "the only party that's going on tonight is something at Holly's and I'd rather not even bother. Her things are all about the alcohol and since Marissa...you know...I'd rather just steer clear of Holly in general you know..."

Ryan nods, even though he's not exactly sure what Summer is really avoiding at Holly's, if it was Holly herself or the drinking part, something was definitely up with Summer. "So Jamboree Grill."

"I don't think I've ever seen anyone who wasn't Asian use chopsticks like you," Ryan comments as he watches Summer expertly use the chop sticks that came with their meals.

Summer shrugs, "I grew up eating a lot of Chinese food, ordering in, eating out. My nanny when I was little was Chinese, she tried to teach me Chinese but you know bratty kid that I was I had no desire to learn. I kinda wish I did though."

"Learn Chinese?" Ryan asks.

Summer nods, "Mandarin Chinese, it's hard to learn you know. One word could mean four different things depending on how you pronounce it."

"Then why do you want to learn it?" Ryan asks.

Summer shrugs, "it'd be a challenge, something new and definitely nothing anyone around here could do."

Ryan nods and before shoving a fork full of noodles in his mouth asks, "why haven't you taken class? I'm sure you could find somewhere to take it."

"I know of a couple places around here that teaches Chinese but..." Summer shrugs, "I dunno. I guess I've just never done it. Always something else to do...drama to deal with. Boyfriends and best friends taking up my time...now I have neither."

"You could take it this summer," Ryan suggests.

"I guess, I dunno, maybe." Silence descends around the two of them. Until Summer slowly suggests, "you could take it with me. It'd be fun."

"Didn't you just get done telling me how hard it is?"

"Yeah," Summer nods, "but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be fun and you're pretty smart. And it could be a way for you to pay me back for shopping with you today.'

"You mean shopping for me."

Summer waves her hand, "yeah, whatever. So what do you think? Wanna learn Mandarin Chinese with me."

"Not really."

Summer's face falls for a fraction of a second, but then in a blink she rolls her eyes, "who needs you anyway. You'd just bring me down...I'll learn it by myself and then you can see how you feel when I've mastered..."

"I'll do it."

"What?" Summer looks shocked at Ryan.

"I said I'll do it," Ryan repeats. "It'd give me something to do and Sandy and Kirsten would like it."

Summer smiles brightly, "really?"

Ryan shrugs, "sure, why not?"

"You didn't buy anything?" Kirsten looks disappointed when Ryan walks into the house later that night.

"Oh we, no," Ryan shakes his head, "Summer spent everything, it's all being delivered this week. But really Kirsten you didn't have to do that."

"Of course I did, I've been thinking that you need a few more things in there and I was going to take you myself but, you know, with work I never got around to it."

"Well, thank you. Um, Summer insisted that I need a new couch too so that'll be delivered too."

"Great," Kirsten responds enthusiastically.

"Great?" Ryan asks.

"Kirsten hates that couch, her Dad bought it for us as a wedding present." Sandy informs, "she's been wanting to replaces it forever."

Kirsten nods, "I should've told you this morning that you should look for that, but it sounds like Summer took care of you."

"So you and Summer are hanging out," Sandy comments and the tone in his voice makes Ryan think that Sandy and Kirsten think there's something going on between them.

Ryan shrugs, "yeah I guess. Marissa and Seth aren't around, there's no one else to hang out with. Oh and Summer talked me into taking Chinese classes with her."

"That's great Ryan."

Ryan shrugs, "yeah, it's something to do at least."

"We'll pay for it," Kirsten states firmly.

"I have money..."

"No," Kirsten snaps surprising both Sandy and Ryan. "We let you get away with paying for a lot of your own stuff last year, that's not happening this year."

"Okay," Ryan responds quickly not wanting to upset Kirsten.

"So what are you up to tomorrow?" Sandy asks changing the subject.

"Summer wants to go sign us up for this class." Ryan responds, "and she says that there's still some more shopping she wants to go. I think I'm her Marissa replacement."

Sandy and Kirsten both laugh lightly, "it'll be an interesting experience for you." Sandy assures.

"Yeah, I guess so. I'm going to go to bed...shopping with Summer is exhausting."