Chapter 14

It wasn't the same now for Ryan. When things like this happened to him, he would normally talk to Seth about it. But now, he had no one. He walked alone along the beach just thinking about the situation. The information he had been given, Marissa and Seth were in love, was hard to process. Ryan was so deep in thought, he hadn't noticed the figure approaching him.
"Ryan." the voice said.
It took Ryan a few moments to register how it was.
"Oh, hi Summer. I didn't see you there."
"Clearly not. What's going on? Coop called me saying that she was in love with Seth. I thought I was hearing things?"
He shot her a piecing glace.
"I'm sorry Ryan. I thought maybe I had dreamt it."
They stood in silence for a few minutes.
"Are you OK?" she asked with a sympathetic tone.
Ryan shook his head. "How could they do this to me?"
Summer didn't know how to reply. Instead she did something neither of them expected. She gave him a hug. At first Ryan was taken aback by her gesture, but it was just what he needed.
"Thank you." he whispered to her.
"No problem." They let go of each other and exchanged smiles.
"Hey, you hungry?" Summer questioned.
"Starved."
"You wanna get something to eat. My treat."
"Thanks, I'd like that."
Ryan and Summer made there way to the Crab Shack.

When Seth reached his front door, he hesitated. He didn't want another confrontation with Ryan, and he didn't want a lecture from his parents. When he opened the door, he took a deep breathe and entered. He tried to make it straight up the stairs but before he could, he heard his mother voice.
"Seth! Get here, now."
He slowly turned round and made his way towards Kirsten. He threw her an awkward wave.
"Where's Ryan? He's been gone all day."
"I don't know mom. He won't talk to me." Seth replied.
Kirsten gave him a serious look. "Well would you talk to him if the tables were turned?"
Seth bowed his head.
"How do you think he feels right now?"
Seth spoke in a soft quiet voice, guilt-ridden. "I know mom, but it wasn't intentional, alright? I didn't set out for this to happen."
"I know, Seth. But it did happen. Did you even think about the consequences?"
They stood in silence for what felt like hours. Finally, Seth raised his head and looked his mother straight in the eye.
"I really love her mom, and it's killing me what I've done. But it's done and I can't take it back."
"You really love her that much?" Kirsten tried to smile.
"Yeah I do."
Kirsten let out a sigh.
"Well, who'd have thought it. I didn't even know you liked each other?"
She walked closer to Seth and touched his face. "He'll understand. Maybe not now, but he will."
"I hope your right because right now he hates me." Ryan and Summer were walking back towards the Cohen's when Ryan's cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Ryan!" It was Kirsten. "Are you ok? We haven't seen you all day and Sandy and I were worried."
"I'm sorry Kirsten. Yeah I'm ok. I just needed to be alone today."
A huge sigh came from the other end.
Ryan looked at Summer and smiled, "Look, I'll be home soon so you don't have to worry anymore."
"Well, ok Ryan. I see you then. Bye."
"Bye, Kirsten."
Summer looked at Ryan and said "Do you want me to go? You probably want to talk to your family."
"No, No." Ryan replied. "I want you to come back. You've been suprisingly nice to me all day and well, I've been glad for the company."
Both were pleasently suprised by how well they had gotten on with each other considering their very different backgrounds.
"OK, thanks. As long as you're sure."
"Yeah, I am."
"I'm glad coz all I've got waiting for me at home is my step-monster wacked out on perciset."
With that the two continued to make there way back up the beach to the Cohen residence.

It had taken them ten minutes to reach their destination, but neither had felt the time pass. Ryan hadn't even thought about whether Seth would be home or not, and at that point, he didn't care. When the entered the house they were greeted by Sandy and Kirsten. All four smiled at each other with relief.
Ryan was the first to speak. "Hey Sandy, Hey Kirsten."
"Ryan." Kirsten gave him a hug. "I'm glad you're alright."
Summer just stood there, feeling awkward.
"I don't think we've ever been introduced properly." Sandy stepped towards Summer. "I'm Sandy Cohen and this is Kirsten."
"Hi."
"Hi, I'm Summer."
Ryan looked at Summer and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Summer and I were gonna go into the poolhouse." Ryan told them.
"Oh." Kirsten replied. "Well, I've just ordered take out if your hungry?"
"We've just eaten. But thanks." Ryan politely declined.
At that moment, footsteps started to come down the stairs. They all turned to look at Seth, but no one said anything. Seth and Ryan just looked at each other. Seth pleaded with his eyes but all Ryan's eyes had were contempt. The awkwardness was broken by the doorbell. Seth continued to make his way down the stairs and opened the door. It was Marissa. A huge smile spread across Seth's face, at his happiness of seeing her. This mad everyone else look away. It was obvious that they were happy together, but this just made everyone even more uncomfortable.
"Holy awkward." He said quietly to her.
"Hi everyone." She said to try and break the mood. Everyone had forced smiles on their faces.
Seth looked back towards his parents and told them, " I'll be back later."
"Where are you going?" Sandy inquired.
"Just to..." Seth didn't know where.
"Just to my dad's house." Marissa finished.
"Yeah." Seth added. "I'll be back later."
When Marissa and Seth left, Sandy was the first to speak.
"Are you ok, Ryan."
He took a few seconds to speak.
"He's really happy with her, isn't he?"
"I'm sorry Ryan." Kirsten said softly.
"Me too." said Summer.
"Thanks. But I think I need to talk to him again."