A/N- Here we go.. Few hours to waste. What a weekend. Just dyed my hair, kinda scary.. I'm now waiting to see how horrible it is. So yeah, here ya go. Chapter- to tell you the truth, I have no clue what chapter this is. Hm.. let me think. I promised some Sam/Summer bonding, Marissa doing something stupid, S/S, and whatever else I decide to add. Spell check isn't working, so let's hope I don't reveal how stupid I can be.

Ryan walked down the beach in the mid-morning sunshine. He watched as small children played in the sand and splashed in the water. Older couples with floral print shirts and big sun hats sat in the sun and talked. They seemed so carefree, with nothing to worry about. How he wished his life could be like that sometimes.

Marissa had blown up on him about an hour ago. She took off, he figured to go spend time with her Dad, but Jimmy left a note saying he had to run into work for a couple hours. Ryan had looked all over the house but there was no Marissa. The beach was full of people so he didn't think she'd go there. The only other place he could think of was an abandoned lifeguard station down the beach that they saw on the way in last night.

He ran the final strech of the long palm paved beach, his sandy blonde hair moved un naturaly all over his head. He focused on the lifeguard tower as he inched towards it. He was afraid of what he might have to see.

Marissa sat, empty bottle in hand, staring out to the ocean, "Is this really what my life has come to? All it takes for a few hours of happiness is a bottle of vodka and something to stare at?" She played with the bottle, finally setting it beside her. She heard footsteps on the creaky wood and looked to her side. She already knew who it would be.

Ryan; her knight in shinning armor, the one who always seemed to save her. She hated putting him through this, but more-so hated herself right now for what she did. She knew what she was doing when she drank all the vodka, even if she didn't right now. Her mind was fuzzy, the water began to spin and she could feel her body tingling, starting to become numb, just like her mind.

Ryan swept a single tear off Marissa's face with his thumb, moving her head to the side so he could see her. She finally looked him in the eye. Her eyes were clouded from the vodka, but he could still tell she was scared. She rested her head back agaisnt the wall and let the tears roll out, "I'm sorry," she whispered.

He knew she meant it, but a simple 'I'm sorry' doesn't mean anything. He learned that with his Mom. Everytime she'd put him through this she'd say that, thinking it was good enough. But it still happens again. Ryan wanted to go off on Marissa, telling her how stupid what she just did was, and that he can't keep doing this, but he knew it wouldn't help when she might not remember it anyways.

"Let's go back," he nudged her shoulder and helped her get up. They stepped out of the lifeguard station but Marissa was wobbling too much. Ryan held onto her back and lifted her up into his arms. Her hands clung to his shoulders, sobbing softly Marissa fell into a deep drunken sleep and was carried back to the hut.

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Alex, Seth, and Summer all sat in the Cohen living room, playing PS2. This was Seth's way of getting through a tough situation. That and some inapropriate jokes close to the tragedy. He comforted Summer and slept next to her through the night, telling her things would be ok, and that he was there for her.

"Oh Alex, I'm sorry. What just happened? Did you die?" Seth taunted, throwing his controller down and putting his arm around Summer.

"Why yes I did. I should get going.. Have to check on the club and set up for Klutz Pups tonight. You guys are welcome to come, it's just a local band, not that great," Alex searched for her jacket and stood, admiring the couple.

Seth looked at Summer who was still sitting quietly, "Nah, I think we'll just stay in."

"Thanks Alex," Summer took Seth's hand and stood up, heading for the kitchen. Alex just smiled and nodded her head, then left.

We have bagels, cereal... a wide assortment of flavored cream cheeses," Seth tried to sound hopeful as Summer just gave him a 'shut up' look.

"Seth, please.. You're giving me a headache," She sat on the barstool, putting her hand to her forehead and clenching her teeth.

"No, that would be your Mother that is doing that, I'm just trying to make you feel better," Seth pointed out, getting bowls down from the cupboard. Summer shot him a death glare. This wasn't somethign she wanted to talk about.

A ringing sound came from Summer's as she rumaged through it.

"Hello?" Her voice was frantic, she was hoping nothing was wrong.

"Hi Summer," Sam sat on her sofa, twirling her hair with one hand and the phone in the other. It was a nervous habit. She noticed the silence and figured Summer was mad at her. She had every right to be, "Um, so I was wondering if you wanted to go downtown, maybe see some sites, spend time together."

"Uh, yeah. Ok, that sounds good. I can show you around Newport," Summer wanted to spend time with her, but was just afraid to.

"Sounds good."

"Yeah, so I'll be home in a couple minutes," Summer hung up and spun around to see an anxious Seth.

"Soo?" Seth bobbed his head up and down, and side to side, waiting to hear what was going on.

"So I'm going- to hang out with my Mom."

"Your Mom as in," he makes a snorting motion, "her?"

"No jackass, my other Mother," She slaps him and grabs her stuff.

"I'd like to meet her," Seth follows Summer to the door.

"You're an idiot."

"Is that so?"

"Uh huh. I'll call you later, tell you how everything went," She gave him a quick peck on the lips and skipped out the door. Hanging out with her Mom, scary thought, but something that would have to happen eventually..

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Summer knocked on the thin white door. It swung open and she saw Samantha standing there in faded denim capris and a light maroon tan top. For being almost 40, she was still thin. Summer figured it was from the drugs.

"Ready to go?" Sam smiled, this was what she had been waiting for since she left Summer, to finally get to know her daughter.

"I'm always ready to shop, come on,'' Summer followed the small redhead out to her car.

A/N: So that wasn't a whole lot of Sam/Summer bonding, but I'll save that for next chapter so we can have a whole chapter about it or something. I'm working on a new story, don't know the title for it yet, but if you have time, check it out! Read and Review please. This darn weather.. it's too hot to do anything.