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Broken Seatbelts

Chapter 11: The Best Friend's Advice and More Confessions

Summer Roberts sat on her bad staring at the wall. She felt completely alone. Ever since she told Seth she didn't want to be with him, it had ruined her life. She hadn't left her house since that day except to go to school, and even when she was at school she was a walking zombie. And it didn't help knowing that Seth was in just as much, probably more, pain than she was because she was the one who didn't want to take the next step. And to know he was in so much pain that he hadn't even gone to school hurt her worse.

She loved him, she did. But she just didn't want anyone to get hurt. He had left her, and then her new boyfriend crashed into them! How much more pain would they create if they got back together? Maybe they would end up cheating on each other. Maybe they would end up killing each other in a fit of rage!

Or maybe they would get married, have a big house, three cars, two kids and a golden retriever. But she didn't want to think about that part because it was too strong and it would take over her decision to not be together.

"Why does this have to be so hard?" She whispered to herself.

"It doesn't." Summer jumped at the familiar sound. Ryan stood there with hi eyebrows raised and his lips smashed together tightly.

"Jeez, Chino. What's with the stealth thing?"

"It's not stealth; your door was open and you were asking a question so I answered, therefore announcing my presence."

"Fine." Summer sighed and got off her bed and walked up to him with her arms crossed. "Why are you here?"

"Because my best friend," Summer groaned, "is currently," he said forcefully, "lying on the couch soaking wet after being thrown into the pool by yours truly and refuses to move or get changed, or god forbid to take a shower and eat something other orange jello until you are sitting beside him. So I am here to drag you back to the Cohen manor kicking and screaming to make up with my best friend and the love of your life, Seth Cohen." Summer stood there unfazed by his comments and with attitude. He had to resort to begging. "Oh, c'mon, Summer! Please! He's killing me!" He was this close to get on his knees.

"Look, Ryan, I can't."

"Yeah, that's what he said you said. And I know we're not that close but what you're doing is killing me!" As an after thought he added, "And Seth."

"Oh, I'm sorry my feelings regarding Seth are causing you pain!"

"Summer, why? You love him, don't you?"

"I…" She couldn't Ryan all her inner most feelings, can she? She needed to tell someone; maybe he'd give her some advice, more than Marissa. Don't get her wrong, she loved Marissa but the girl wasn't very wise when it came to advice giving. "I do love him. I just don't want to get hurt, Seth knows that, why can't he just understand it?"

"Because you're his life! He would do anything for you. Why won't you do the same?"

"Because he'll hurt me, Ryan!" Tears filled her eyes, but Ryan stayed unsympathetic. "And I'll hurt him." She said the last part so softly Ryan had to strain to hear her.

"And you think he'd hate you, if and when you did hurt him?" She looked down and nodded. "Summer, he could never, ever hate you. And if you hurt him? He'd just appreciate the time you spent together. And if you don't want to hurt him, be with him. Because right now you guys are in a lose-lose situation, not only do both of you lose but so do the people around you, because, man does that kid stink!" She laughed lightly.

"I don't… I don't know if I can."

"Try, Summer. It's better to regret something you've done then something you haven't. And Sum, you will regret not being with him." He smiled tightly to her and awkwardly offered her a hug. After literally two seconds of the awkwardness he pulled back. "Think about it." She nodded absentmindedly and he left.

He was right. She knew that, deep down. But on the surface she didn't.

"Yes…I understand…On the 7th?... No, no, that's fine… What time?... Ten am, ok, thank you…Have a good day, Bye." Sandy hung up his phone in his office at home. He just got off the phone with the DA's office, he figured getting a consultation from someone objective would give him better insight on his son's case; less personal feelings.

When Summer walked in to the Cohen residence at ten after six, no one was home. She figured Ryan was with Marissa and the adults were probably out, but where was Seth? She hoped he was out, she had butterflies in her stomach and her palms were so sweaty that when she wiped her hands on her designed jeans they left sweat marks. Maybe I should just leave, she thought and was about to turn to leave when she heard sounds coming from the TV room. Taking a deep breath she walked slowly and cautiously to the TV room.

She saw Seth sleeping on the couch, his head leaning back and in his hands the game control sat loosely. She almost laughed out loud in relief. She stands there staring at him and made the decision to wait until he wakes up so she sits down, never taking her eyes off him.

In that moment she realizes, that love is all it takes; Seth and Ryan were right.

"Why is your friend so damned stubborn?" Ryan asks his girlfriend.

"She's a guarded girl. But don't worry, she'll eventually realize her undying love for Cohen." Marissa said all the while trying to get her boyfriend in the mood by trying to get his pants off, but to no avail.

"Eventually? Marissa, I don't think I can take the smell much longer, he's driving me insane!"

"I don't mean eventually, I mean that she will. Soon. Now, shut up about another girl and concentrate on fulfilling my needs!" He smiled at her and pushed her back onto her bed and proceeded to do what she couldn't before.

Seth woke up with a start. He jumped and frantically looked around him, vaguely noticing Summer beside him. He did a double take.

"Summer?"

"Hi, Cohen. Go take a shower."

"What?"

"I didn't stutter, go take a shower!"

"But-"

"We'll talk after, go take a shower." Seth shot up out of his spot and grinned at her before taking off towards his bathroom. She laughed at his retreating form.

Realizing the area he had occupied was a mess with a capital M, she decided to tidy up before he got back.

Twenty minutes later, Seth arrived downstairs feeling refreshed and not stinky. Summer was sitting on the couch waiting for him.

"Hi." Seth said stopping just before reaching the couch. She looked up and smiled at him, cocked her to the side and lunged into his arms, pulling his tall frame down and bringing her lips to his for a passionate kiss. The kind of kiss where the girl's foot pops up and her knees go weak and they don't notice anything in the world except how the other feels against them.

Another cliffhanger! I'm just popping these babies out like a…chicken…I didn't think that through, w/e.