Here ya go, the next part you have been dying for! Lol.

Broken Seatbelts

Chapter 9: The Confessions of a Not-So Dramatic Princess and a Destined Couple

"I love you."

"Oh."

Summer sat up quickly and tensely, both hands grasping at his sheets. She felt kind of woozy; his carpet was spinning.

"Summer? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. But… Summer, I do. Love you. And I just can't not. And I can't go on like this. With you so close to me, but I can't kiss you. I can do everything else; hold you while you sleep, hold your hand while we're out, put my arm around you at the movies. But I can't kiss you, and Summer all I want to do is kiss you."

She wasn't facing him so he couldn't see the tears running down her face. He only realized she was crying when he saw her shoulders shudder. He moved closer to her and went to hold her, but she pushed him away and stood in front of him.

"No! Don't. I can't do this." She turned to leave but quickly got up and grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him.

"Why? Why can't you do this? I know you have to feel something for me or you wouldn't be here all the time! Why are you here all the time if you don't want to be with me? You keep… fuck, Summer! You keep playing these fucking games with me and I'm sick of it! What do you want from me? Why are playing me like this?"

"I'm not playing you, Seth." She said in a small voice that made Seth feel bad for raising his voice at her. He let go of her and ran his hand through his unruly hair. "I just…I can't."

"Why?" He asked her just as softly.

"Because," Summer said with resolve, "I don't want to."

"Bullshit, Summer. For once just tell me the truth."

"The truth? The truth is hard to come by in this fucked up world, Cohen."

"If it's hard to come by, it's because of people like you, Sum. People who don't want to let anyone or anything in. People who can't handle the truth."

"Yeah, and the truth is easy for you? Please, Seth. If you could go through life not telling the truth once, you'd do it. So, don't you tell me I can't handle the truth."

"I just want to know how you feel!"

"I love you, ok? But I will not let you hurt me. And I won't let me hurt you."

"But that's… that's what life is, Sum! Getting hurt, it's a part of life. A part you can't lie your way out of! If you love me, then love me and let me love you." He moved closer to her and cupped her cheek but she pulled away.

"No, Seth. We can't. I can't."

"But I don't get it! Why? If you love me, then why?"

"It's not that easy. Not when feelings are involved, Cohen."

"Yes, it is, especially when feelings are involved."

"Look, Seth, I can't. I don't want to. Just leave me alone." Summer started to leave but Seth grabbed her wrist again, and she stopped cold in her tracks, still not turning around.

"I won't give up on you, Sum. I love you." She took a deep breath and turned around, a small sad smile on her face.

"I love you, too." She placed a small kiss on his cheek and then pulled away. "But I can't be with you."

"No-"

"Shut up, Seth. I can't be with you. Not right now, Cohen. If you love me, then you'll stay away from me. For now."

"For now?"

"For now. I just need time and space."

"Time and space?" She nodded. "So, that means that… maybe… after your time and space phase, you'll go through the Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts phase?"

"Maybe, Seth. I don't want to give you false hope."

"Too late for that." She smiled tensely at him, and then turned to walk away peacefully without any lovesick teenage boys to stop her.

Walking out of a house she considered more her home than her father's house, she knew it was more than maybe that she would go through the 'Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts phase.' Right now was just not the time, he'd have to understand that.

Seth was lying on his bed going over everything that had just happened in his mind. If time and space was what she wanted, time and space was what he'd give her. He'd just have to fill his time up with some good old-fashioned Seth-Ryan time.

But he wanted Summer-Seth time. In bed. Or the shower. Or couch. Anywhere, really. Well, the pool would be super hot.

But he wasn't getting Summer-Seth time of any kind because he screwed up and told her how he felt. And now he was sulking and moping over the not-so beneficial benefits.

"I did not say that!"

"Yes, you did! And I quote: 'You're the monkey-er of us lords of doom.'"

"Ryan, that doesn't even make sense!"

"You were sleep talking, dreams don't usually make sense. Especially not yours." From Marissa's position on the couch, sitting Indian style facing Ryan she threw a hand full of popcorn at him. "So, when do you think our favorite non-couple will get it on?"

"Get it on, Ry?" She said smiling.

"You know what I mean. I give them a week."

"Hmm, no, in the next four days."

"Four days? Really?"

"Oh, yeah. Summer can't live without sex ever since she lost her virginity."

"Ok, wow. Too much information."

"But anyway, Sum will break. Especially since Seth has been doing that physical therapy stuff, the guy has buffed." At Ryan's disbelieving look she added. "A little. Enough to make him somewhat appealing."

"You have a girlfriend, you shouldn't be thinking about somebody else like that, especially one with male reproductive organs."

"Well, it's not like I'm a full blown lesbian; I can still appreciate a good looking guy."

"Oh, ok."

"And, honestly, I think my attraction to Alex is really motivated by my hatred for my mother. It's crappy for me to think, I know. But I think it's true."

"Well, your mom does suck." Ryan answered, feeling a tad bit awkward about this conversation seeing as he was still in love with the girl sitting in front of him.

"And… I, um, I b-broke up with her." This caught Ryan's attention, as did the way she said it; with such innuendo, and emotion. For him.

"Wh-why?"

"I hate that stupid question! Why? It's so…" Seth complained, completely oblivious to the fact he had just interrupted the possible rekindle of his brother and his love's best friend. "…annoying!"

"Uh, Seth?" Ryan asked questioningly.

"It's Summer. I told her I loved her. She said she loved me-"

"Ha!" Marissa said with a smile on her face, but it quickly disappeared when she saw Seth's hurt expression.

"-and then she said she couldn't be with me." Seth flopped in between his friends, still completely oblivious.

"Maybe she just needs time."

"That's what she said."

"Well, then, just give it to her. She'll tell you when she's ready." Ryan said with wisdom.

"But what if she's never ready. What if she realizes she doesn't love me?" Seth's voice was so vulnerably and raw, it made Marissa feel for him.

"She won't. She does love you, she's probably just confused." Seth looked at the beauty queen next to him for a few minutes and then turned back to Ryan who was staring at said beauty queen. He thought for a minute then got up and turned back to them.

"You know, you guys are right. I'll give her her time and space." He started to leave but stopped at the last minute. "You guys are really a great couple, you should get back together, I can see it now; Summer and I, Ryan and Marissa, the Fab Four together again. It'll be like the Spice Girls reunited." He flashed him an ear to ear grin and left the room.

Ryan and Marissa watched him leave and then turned back to each other.

"I broke up with Alex because I'm still in love with you." He smiled and then reached over the vacated space Seth had previously occupied and kissed her soundly on the lips.

"Good, because I'm still in love with you."

Ok, I left ya'll w/ some fluff, just not that of the S/S variety. Hop you like. Reviews make the world go 'round, think about it; If movies got bad reviews, the box office would plummet. If books got bad reviews, there would be tons of authors who would be living in the streets. ;)