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Broken Seatbelts

Chapter 7: The Voices of Reason and A Mother's Love

Ryan lied down on his bed and looked out his window that faced the pool, in the left corner he saw Seth and Summer cuddled up on a pool chair. He did not understand their relationship. All he knew was that they were both going to get hurt unless they stopped it or made out or something. He supposed he should take his own advice but Marissa was in a…. relationship. With a female. And although it provided pleasant imagery, he would still prefer her. She was untouchable though. And he could deal with that.

He saw Summer get off Seth and lean down and kiss him on the cheek. And he also saw Seth's brief look of shock, the one that Summer hadn't seen. He saw her leave and saw Seth sit there and analyze what just went down.

Those kids are crazy. Craziest ever known to God and man, alike.

Three.

Two.

One.

Seth Cohen appeared in his doorway, already rambling about the events that had just taken place.

"…but I'm not going to do anything about it, Ryan, no, I'm not. Because that would ruin our already fragile relationship. So, I'm going to let her lead this… thing. Because that is the right thing to do, Ryan. Yep."

"Okay."

"That's it? That's all you have to say about this? This is like, a milestone, a big, ostrich sized obstacle in our relationship and you say 'okay'?" Seth shook his head at his friend. "Some brother you are."

"Hey, if you want to screw up your life and get hurt. Bad. Then, okay."

"So, wait, you think I should do something then? That's what you're saying. I should, like, buy her flowers or offer her my letterman jacket, and ask her to go steady. Only I don't have a letterman jacket. Do you? Does the soccer team get them? Can I borrow-"

"Seth! No, we do not get letterman jackets. And even if we did I wouldn't give you mine so that you could ask Summer to go steady."

"Well, Ryan, what do I do?"

"Talk to her maybe."

"That would be logical."

"Yes, it would be. But it's your decision, so… decide."

"What If she doesn't want me? I'd screw this closeness we have going on up. I don't want to screw the closeness, Ryan. I'd rather screw her. Ha, kidding. No I'm really not." Frustrated, he picked up a pillow and threw it on the ground. "Damnit! I need a new GP,

RA."

"Good point?"

"Game plan."

"Ah, okay. Well, why don't you figure that out while I sleep?"

"Aw, is wittle Ry-Ry tired?" Seth mocked him as he yawned. Ryan took the pillow from behind him and chucked it at his surrogate brother.

"Yes, I am. Now leave."

"Leaving, Mr. McGrump."

That kid would be the death of himself.

Marissa Cooper was listening to her best friend, Summer Roberts, ramble on about her boyfriend- whoops, sorry her non-boyfriend. It didn't make sense to her, or Ryan she supposed, but when in a room with the two, you could literally cut the sexual tension with a knife. And it was flat out annoying.

"… I just hope he doesn't think anything of it. I'm not ready for what he wants."

"Sum, do you even know what he wants?"

"No. But I'm not ready for it. I don't want to commit to him, okay?"

"Okay, but why, you are obviously still in love with him."

"Ew. No I'm not."

"Um, flashback to last summer, Sum?"

"Right. Sorry. I know. I'm still in love with him, but I just can't. He'll either leave, cheat, or get bored. And I will not let him hurt me."

"But isn't that what high schools about?"

"What? Getting your heartbroken time and time again by the same guy?"

"No, living." With the confused look Summer gave her, Marissa continued. "You're not living, Sum. You're coasting, pretending, whatever. But you're not living. And you'll end up hurting yourself and him more than a possible bad break up."

"When did you get so smart?" Before Marissa started to answer, Summer answered her own question with a giggle. "Oh, right, when you started sleeping with my ex's ex! Who's a girl?"

"Ha, ha, ha. When did you get so funny? Oh, right, when you started dating your ex who you're still deeply in love with, and who you're yo-yo-ing with!"

"Yo-yo-ing, Coop?"

Seth Cohen was in a deep slumber, probably dreaming about Summer and comic books. Kirsten Cohen watched her baby sleep. She had come so close to losing him. He was the best thing that ever happened to her, he took precedence over anything and everything in her life.

She was sitting on the edge of his bed watching him breathe, just to reassure herself that he still was breathing. She looked around his room and saw the various posters of bands she had never heard of, his computer, his untouched guitar, and his various pictures; mostly of Summer and him, some of Ryan and Marissa. But she was most surprised by the picture she saw of him and her at the beach when he was about nine or ten; she was behind him with her arms around him, planting a kiss on his right cheek while he was laughing. The picture made her cry, she wished they were still that close, she wished that they spent more time together. So she made a promise to herself; an early New Year's resolution; she would make more time for her baby boy.

She sniffled a little and had a few tears running down her face, but they weren't sad anymore; they were happy because she knew her son was a wonderful man.

"Mom? That you?"

"Yeah, sweetie, it's me." She got off the bed and walked to him and leaned down to give him the long hug she had been waiting for. He hugged her back.

"Are… you okay? What's with the emotion? Dad's the hugger."

"I just love you." Seth sat up, still hugging his mother, but strengthening the hold.

"I love you too, mom." He knew that was the ultimate and unlimited pass for everyone he knew to call him a mama's boy, but he didn't care because she was his mother and he shouldn't be embarrassed to tell her he loves her.

After a good ten minutes, Kirsten pulled away.

"I'm sorry, I… You scared me."

"Mom, it was, like, a month ago."

"I know. Just… Don't ever scare me like that again, okay?"

"Ok." For some reason, he understood.

Ok, that last part is kinda cheesy, I just like the mother-son bonding moments, I think their sweet! I'm going to try to get something on Zach next chapter, but don't hold me to it, lol, I might get off track.

And, sweet! I figured out the ruler thingy!