Chapter Five

For those of you who are disappointed that this chapter doesn't have anymore scenes with Summer camping, fear not they will be revealed but in their own special time in their own special way! Also I know this chapter is short, but I couldn't help but leave it off where I left it off...don't worry a new chapter should be following soon picking off where this chapter ended...don't worry Summer's activity won't be left out like the camping was....Oh and Hailey your request will be granted in the next chapter!!

"You're back," Sandy greets cheerfully as Summer and Ryan walk back into the Cohen house after lunch on Sunday afternoon.

"How was camping?" Kirsten asks direction a women in a catering uniform to the kitchen.

"It was fun," Ryan responds.

Summer rolls her eyes, "it was sleeping on the ground."

In a very Summer-ish manner Ryan rolls his eyes as well, "she had fun, she won't admit it but she had fun and I'll have the proof as soon as Steven converts the video footage to DVD."

Summer swats Ryan in the stomach, "shut up."

"What's going on here?" Ryan asks gesturing to the people bustling around the house.

"Julie stopped by just after you guys left on Thursday and convinced Kirsten to host a charity event here." Sandy responds.

"Doesn't she, like, have a brand new castle?" Summer questions.

"Yeah," Kirsten nods, "but it's being repainted. Summer you are more than welcome to come."

Summer shrugs, "I don't think so, but thanks Mrs. Cohen."

"Summer," Ryan shoots Summer a look that's practically begging her to stay.

Summer grins wickedly at Ryan, "just kidding I thought it'd be fun to watch you squirm, sure I'll come, thanks Mrs. Cohen."

When Summer walks into the pool house two hours later Ryan can't help but stare, "wow, you look..."

"Pretty damn good considering I just went without any good hygiene for three days."

"Just..." Ryan trails taking in Summer's body, clad in a tight red sparkle dress with a hem that cuts from her left thigh to her right knee, "wow."

"You were checking me out," Summer gives Ryan an odd look with her comment.

Ryan blushes, "sorry."

"What's with your tie?" Summer, slightly flustered, changes the topic to Ryan's attempt to tie his tie.

"Yeah," Ryan nods still obviously thrown by Summer's dress. "I haven't mastered the concept yet."

Summer rolls her eyes at Ryan, "okay here." Quickly and expertly Summer fixes Ryan's tie and adjusts his collar. "So this thing is going to suck without Coop or Cohen."

"Well, we could hang out with Jimmy and Sandy if you feel inclined to call people bythose last names." Ryan jokes nervously, guilt already eating at him for even looking at Seth's girlfriend.

"Oh right, cause that would be a blast." Summer rolls her eyes and then suggests, "we could just blow it off."

Ryan shakes his head, "nah, without Seth here Kirsten feels weird, so we should stick around."

"You guys don't have to stick around," Sandy states an hour into the party. "If I could escape this hell I would."

"We can stay," Ryan begins before being cut off by Summer.

"Really? You and Mrs. Cohen wouldn't mind?" Summer asks.

Sandy waves his head, "Kirsten won't even noticed and while I'd like toescape with you, I won't put you through my own personal hell brought on by the Newpies."

"TV sucks," Summer sighs dropping her remote. Figuring that Summer had to go home and change anyway Summer and Ryan had opted to hang at her house and watch TV instead of trying to figure out something else to do.

"Listen," Ryan clears his throat. "About earlier..."

"Checking me out?" Summer questions.

"Yeah," Ryan blushes again, "I really am sorry about that."

Summer shrugs, "I bought the dressed wanting to be looked at Ryan, I just don't think you've ever looked at me like that before."

"Like what?" Ryan asks quickly.

"Like an actual girl," Summer responds with a short laugh.

"Of course I think you're a girl..." Ryan trails not sure exactly what Summer is trying to say.

"That's not what I mean," Summer shakes her head. "Like, I mean from day one it's always been about Marissa, you wanted her even before I knew you existed. So for a while I was just this girl who's best friend you were in love with and then I was Seth's girlfriend...and then when I wasn't any of those I think that was when you first started to see me as a real person..."

"I didn't mean..." Ryan trails knowing that she's not finished.

"And now I think you saw for the first time that I exist completely," Summer grins. "That's kind of cool...very few people see me as a real person you know? In school, I'm just Summer the girl all the girls want to be and all the guys want to screw."

"Sum-"

"Don't apologize," Summer holds up her hand and shakes her head. "You were going to apologize and I really don't mind because, you know, it's better than being the person no one ever sees."

"Because that's the person you are here?" Ryan surmises.

Summer bites her lip, "did you know my dad is probably gone seven months out of the year. He has a practice in Paris so he goes back and forth between here and there."

"I had no idea," Ryan comments slowly, trying to remember if Seth had ever mentioned any of that kind.

"You wouldn't have," Summer shakes her head. "Seth is afraid of my father, so he tries to avoid him at all costs and I never felt like...you know...Seth's parents aren't like my parents. I don't think he'd understand."

Ryan shakes his head, "probably not."

"But you understand, probably even more than Coop can."

The two lapse into a serious but comfortable silence that Ryan finally breaks, "so where are you taking me this weekend?"

"Oh, you'll see," Summer responds with a sidelong glance and a smirk. You are just going to have to keep in mind that you promised."

"No," Ryan shakes his head staring up at the building. "There is no way in hell I am going in there."

Summer raises and eyebrow at Ryan, "don't tell me you forgot our little arrangement?"

"No," Ryan shakes his head, "I haven't but I mean come on, you actually thought I'd agree to go ice skating?"

"No, that's why I got you to agree to it without knowing what you were agreeing too."

"That's evil."

Summer nods, "I'm an evil genius. Now come on, you promised and I know you well enough to know you don't back out on promises."

Ryan glares at Summer and as he follows her into the building her softly confesses, "I don't know how to ice skate."