Chapter Three

Charleston, South Carolina

Adrianna sat in her living room, going through boxes. She looked back at the scrapbooks she had been making. There were pictures of Seth and her, Valentine's Day cards he had given her. He was so romantic. The perfect husband.

Adrianna glanced down at her belly, which had slowly been growing over the past two months. She rubbed it gently and smiled to herself. Seth would also make the perfect father.

That was when she found a thick black leather bound book. She opened it and began to flip through the pages. What was this? Then, on one of the pages, she found the words: "Dear Journal." This was a journal? Who's was it? Then she flipped back to the first page and saw the name inscribed on the first page. "Seth Cohen."

"Hmm," she said to herself. "I wonder what Seth has been thinking lately."

Flipping back through the journal, she found a entry written around a year before.

Dear Journal:

Ever since the day that they made Atomic County into the movie, my life has been filled with nothing but regrets. Why? I can tell you many reasons. There is the girl that I let get away. Summer. The love of my life. The one that I hold dear to my heart. I will remember her always. And all that I can think of is that day. The day we parted ways forever. It was in July, and they had just begun filming the project, and Summer was cast as Little Miss Vixen. Of course, it was obvious why. I based the character on her. The radiance of the character shown through, representing my love for the girl. But recently we had been fighting. About the movie, the project. I didn't want her to star in the movie. I knew what it was like to be famous, in the spotlight, me creating the comic book and all. And I didn't want Summer to go through the same thing that I did. So we fought. We screamed at each other. And slowly our love for each other topple down. That fight set off the trigger, and I had to leave. In the end the movie didn't happen, but Summer still grew famous. Today, she is acting in movies, modeling, etcetera. I've seen her on the cover of one of my wife's magazines. I don't care. Really. I've moved on. Right? I don't know. Deep inside, I still have feelings for this girl. Really, I do. What will I do? What can I do? I love her. Deep inside. Obsess over her night and day. The other night when Adrianna and I were making love, I called out her name.

What will I do?

Seth

7/17/09

Adrianna gasped. Seth was still in love with Summer Roberts? How could this be? She felt weak in her stomach. "No," she said to herself. "This can't be. This isn't Seth. Seth didn't write this. He couldn't have..." She wiped a few tears from her cheeks. She told herself it wasn't Seth. These journal entries weren't true. They couldn't be. Right?

Adrianna leaned back against the wall, her legs crossed over one another in Indian style. Even though she told herself that Seth loved her, loved her more than this girl, she knew that it wasn't true. Ever since she married Seth, it had been forced.. The marriage. The love making. The dates. The kisses. He didn't really love her. Seth was in love with a girl named Summer Roberts.

And then Adrianna stood, sobbing, and walked over to the kitchen table. Her People's Magazine sat there. And on the cover was one of the most beautiful women Adrianna had ever seen. Then she looked at the caption to the side of her arms.

"SUMMER ROBERTS: A RISING STAR".

Adrianna gasped. Her husband was in love with a movie star.

Newport, California

"Nice to see you again," said Seth, walking across the living room towards Marissa and Anna, who had just arrived. He embraced each one in their turn and Marissa whispered sympathies in his ear.

"I am so sorry about your father," she said. "I just want you to know that I'm here if you need anything." Marissa backed away and smiled encouragingly.

"Thanks," said Seth.

Marissa nodded into the kitchen, and began to help Anna and the Nana make refreshments for the arriving guests.

Seth stood in the living room staring at his feet, hands in his pockets. This was such a miserable occasion. He never thought this day would come, when he would have to bury his father.

That was when the doorbell rang. He hurried to the door, grabbing the doorknob and pulling the large door open. And there was Summer.

Meanwhile in the Kitchen

"So, do you know when Kaitlyn and your parents will be here?" asked Anna.

"Sometime today," said Marissa. "I am so excited. I haven't seen them in a while."

"Yes," said Anna. "I know what you mean. My parents still live here in Newport. After the funeral, I'm going to visit them."

Marissa nodded. "So, how have things been for you in Pittsburgh--"

That was when the back door opened behind them. Marissa turned around and saw Ryan entering, carrying a plate of smoked salmon and steaks. Marissa's eyes widened, and so did Anna's.

"Hi," said Marissa, shocked.

"H-hey, Marissa." Ryan sat the plate on the island in the middle of the kitchen and smiled down at her. "Long time no see."

"Yeah..." said Marissa.

"Okay...I'm going to..." Anna struggled to come up with an excuse to leave. "I'm going to go and...uh...clean the toilets. Bye!" And she quickly bolted out of the room.

"I heard...I heard you were living back in Chino. Is that true?"

"Yeah...yeah..."

"With Theresa?" Marissa added, regretting it the moment she asked.

"No, she left a while ago. She's living in Atlanta. Like she always planned to do."

Marissa nodded. "Cool..." Cool? Why the fuck had she just said cool? She had practiced five years for the moment that she would come upon Ryan again and after all of that training, all she could come up with was 'cool'?

"And what's up with you?"

"I'm going to school in Phoenix...and I've got a boyfriend. How about you?"

Ryan didn't want to tell her the truth. He couldn't. Only disappointment could come from the truth.

"I'm...uh...going to USC..."

"Hmm..."

"Yeah," said Ryan, clenching his hands together, his knuckles nearly going white.

"So, about earlier," said Marissa.

"Earlier?"

"Five years ago."

"Listen, Marissa," began Ryan.

"I was wrong not to tell you the whole truth about everything," said Marissa. "I realize how important friends are now that...you know...Sandy's gone..."

"Yeah," said Ryan. "I wish I had stayed in touch with everyone."

"Yes, and what I'm staying is..." Marissa extended her arm. "Friends?"

Ryan grinned. She loved to see him grin. "Friends," he said.

And they shook hands.

Back in the Living Room

"Glad you're back," said Seth, hugging Summer.

"Brings back memories," said Summer.

"Yeah," said Seth.

His heart was beating incredibly fast.

"So, how was..."

"Charleston..."

"Yes, Charleston?"

"Very nice..."

"Any new loves?"

"Well..."

That was when the door flew open. And there stood Julie Cooper. "It's nice to be home!"

The Kitchen

"Oh my GOD!" said Marissa. "Is that my mother?"

"I think so…" said Ryan.

"Yes!" cried Marissa.

"I've never known you to be excited at the sight of Julie Cooper."

"It's not her I'm excited about seeing!" cried Marissa. "Where there's Julie, there is Jimmy! My dad is here!" Marissa ran from the room. "Dad!" she cried.

Ryan smiled to himself. He was happy to see Marissa so full of joy.

The Bedroom

Later That Day

Hailey sat beside Kirstin on the bed. "Come on, Ki-Ki. You need to come see the family."

"No," moaned Kirstin. "The love of my life is gone…the only man I could ever love…"

Hailey hugged her sister close to her. "Come on, Ki-Ki. Be strong. For Seth."

"Some one saying my name?" asked Seth, entering the room.

"Hey, Seth," said Kirstin, forcing a smile on her tear stained face.

Seth embraced his mom. "I miss him too," said Seth.

Kirstin began to cry again. "What am I going to do without him?" she asked. "How can I go on?"

"We'll get through this…" said Seth, although unconfident in his own words.

"…Together…" Seth turned and saw Summer in the doorway. She walked towards him and took his hand in her own.

Seth smiled.

He didn't realize what he was getting himself into.