Chapter Eight

Kaitlyn giggled as if she were a young girl while slipping the card into the lock and watching the light go from red to green. Once it turned green, she pushed the handle downwards and opened the door, motioning for Zach to go ahead of her. Then, after looking down the hallway and making sure that no one was watching her, she slipped into the suite herself. She poked her head out into the hallway once more and then Zach grabbed her around the waist, laughing the whole time, and pulled her back into the room. They laughed most of the time, their kisses being interrupted by giggles and snorts and sudden bursts of laughter. "That tickles," Kaitlyn would say when Zach kissed her on the side of her neck. She fell onto the bed and watched him as he began to undress himself. "Are we drunk?" she asked suddenly, out of nowhere.

"I'm not sure," laughed Zach. "Do you not want to do this?"

Kaitlyn said nothing but answered him by pulling her t-shirt over her head, revealing her bare breasts, perfect and round, like two small pineapples. Yes, she was more like her mother, not her sister, in having extremely large (natural) breasts. Zach stood there, awed by the beauty of her bosom, and said, "They're beautiful."

"Thank you," giggled Kaitlyn. She let him unzip her jeans and pull them to her ankles, and then throw the pair of pants to the floor. She looked back up at Zach, he now wearing only his wife beater and pair of boxer briefs. She kissed his lips softly, and this time they were not interrupted by laughter. The kiss was sensual and passionate and loving. Kaitlyn knew that now was the time to become serious. She moved her hand up and down his back, and then, no longer being able to control her passion, ripped the shirt over and off of Zach's head. His chest, she found, was muscled and toned. He had large pecks and a midway developed six pack. A small trail of hair led up his belly button and ended where his six pack began. She kissed his neck, slowly making her way down her chest, trying to be sensual and loving.

Then she began to pull down his boxer briefs, desiring him with such effect that she could barely stand it, but Zach stopped her. "Are you sure that you want to do this?"

"Zach," she said, kissing his mouth. "I want to. Yes," she wrapped her arms around his neck and they fell backwards, nearly tumbling off the edge of the bed. "Don't you?"

Zach stuck one thumb on either side of her panties and slowly began to edge it down her ass, towards her legs. "Yes," he mumbled. "God, yes."

She pulled the cover over their heads, feeling as if she would be seen if she didn't, and they moved together, as one. She moaned with pleasure and, finally climaxing, fell at his side. She lay there, her head on his chest, her arms wrapped around his waist, and declared her love to him. But was it really love? They had been flirting for the past few days, Kaitlyn desperately wanting to get in his pants. But she couldn't be sure. She thought she loved him, but then again, she had never been in love before. Was this love, or was it lust?

Meanwhile at the Bait Shop

"Didn't they say they were going to go home?" asked Marissa. She was leaning against Ryan's shoulder, his arm draped around her, as they walked towards the car.

"Yeah," said Ryan. He kissed the top of her head softly, then released his hold on her in order to unlock the car door.

"Ryan," said Marissa, drunken. "Ryan, I love you."

"Marissa, that's just the beer talking," Ryan said, opening the door and sliding in, unlocking the other door for her. Marissa climbed in and immediately dropped her head into Ryan's lap, unconscious. "Great," Ryan said to himself. "Not this again." Ryan gently sat her up in the seat and then revved the engine, slowly beginning to reverse out of the parking lot. That was when he saw a girl standing directly behind the car, and had to slam on the breaks. "Lindsay?" he cried, shocked.

She walked around the car towards the driver's seat and motioned for him to roll down the window. "Can I get a ride? My car broke down when I was halfway down the road. I call the tow truck but they said that it might be a while."

Ryan nodded. "Climb in the back seat."

Lindsay smiled. "Thanks." She opened the back door and climbed in slowly. "What happened to Marissa?"

"Too much beer," he said softly, running a hand through the unconscious girl's hair. She was so beautiful, even in the stage of unconsciousness.

"Oh," said Lindsay. She buckled up and wringed her hands together in her lap. "Are you and her…eh…going out?"

"Not really," said Ryan, not paying much attention, trying to concentrate on getting out of the parking lot. "I think that she's dating someone in Phoenix."

"Phoenix, huh? I lived there for a while when I was little. Mom and I moved there when I was like five, but then we moved back to Newport because her old job was offered back to her, and it was an offer she couldn't refuse."

Ryan turned the corner and began to drive down the highway. They were silent most of the way to the house, and when they got there, Ryan took Marissa in his arms and carried her up the driveway, around the back of the house (in fear that her parents might be inside and he didn't want to embarrass her by letting them know that she had passed out from drinking too much) and to the pool house. He took off her shoes, and her coat, and as gently as possible he lay her in the sleeping bag and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Marissa." She moaned softly when he said this, then went back to sleep. Ryan stood and walked out onto the patio, where Lindsay sat, playing her oboe.

"Sounds nice," said Ryan. "What is it?"

"Oh, nothing…just something that I composed." She looked up at him. "You want to hear it?"

Ryan nodded. "Sure. Why not?"

Lindsay held the end up to her lips and began to play. She sounded beautiful, Ryan knew this because he compared it to how she used to play and how she played now. Beautifully. After Lindsay finished the piece, she stood, taking the oboe apart and placing it back into her case. She walked over towards Ryan and smiled. "It seems like old times. Before I had to leave."

Ryan grinned. "I remember. What about the time Caleb and I had the pool match."

"Over me?"

The two laughed. That was when Lindsay suddenly grabbed Ryan, wrapping her arms around his neck, and began to kiss him passionately. Ryan pulled away, astonished at what they had just done.

"I'm sorry," said Lindsay. "I don't know what came over me."

Ryan stared down at his feet. "We can't do this, Lindsay. I'm not in love with you anymore."

"Ryan, I still have feelings for you--"

"I don't have feelings for you, though. I love Marissa, Lindsay."

"But she's dating another man--"

"We're working things out." Ryan looked over at the sleeping Marissa, snoring ever so softly, her mouth slightly agape. "Don't ruin this for us, Lindsay."

"I understand," said Lindsay. "The temptation is too great. I had better leave before…before I start something that I shall regret."

Ryan kissed her softly on the head. "If the circumstances were different, though, I want you to know that there could be a chance that we would be together. But right now, I'm in love with Marissa."

Lindsay nodded and, taking her oboe case, walked into the house. Ryan fell into the lounge chair and lay there for a moment. He hoped that he hadn't hurt her feelings, but of course he had. She was still in love with him, and he had shot her down. But it was worth it, because now he had Marissa.

Summer and Seth walked up to the house together. The whole night Summer had been trying to give an apology to Seth, but he would listen. She didn't know why, she just wanted him to hear her out. She had a reason for sleeping with Luke (although probably not that good of a reason in Seth's eyes). Summer just wanted Seth to listen. They were halfway up the walk when two men came running out of the bushes, armed with cameras which were flashing constantly as they approached the former couple.

"Mrs. Roberts!" came a cry from behind her. Summer turned around and saw that across the street, reporters and photographers lined the street, all running towards her, screaming their questions.

"Are you dating this man?"

"Why are you in Newport?"

"Is it for that man's funeral?"

"Were you close to the deceased?"

That was when one of the photographer's grabbed Summer's shoulder in an effort to spin her around. Seth, eyeing this attack, grabbed the paparazzi and slammed his fist into the man's nose. The man fell to the ground, his camera rolling towards the road, screaming in pain. "C'mon!" cried Seth, grabbing Summer's hand and leading her towards the front door. He shoved the door open, pushing Summer inside and then slamming the door shut after he himself got inside. "I'm calling the police," he said.

Seth had protected Summer! Summer knew that he must have some type of feelings left for her if he had punched a photographer in the nose for her! She grabbed Seth's shoulder and spun him around, wrapping her arms around his neck, and kissed him passionately. She shoved him against the wall, trying to unbutton his shirt, but he stopped her.

"Summer, stop. Just because I helped you--" That was when he noticed that she was crying. "What's the matter?"

"Seth, I love you." She put her hands over her face and sobbed.

"You cheated on me, Summer. After I broke up with my wife for you." Seth fell into a nearby couch and stared up at her. She sat down too.

"You don't understand," pleaded Summer. "Seth, after you broke up with me, I didn't know what to do. I cried over you for months. Then, finally, I managed to get over you. I began my career again, and I was on a roll. I was doing so good. And then, I got a part in a movie, and they were filming it in Portland, and I saw Luke….and we began a relationship…Seth, we never broke up. I left but we never broke up, and I still have feelings for him."

Seth was struggling to hold back tears now. "Then go to him. You love him. Don't stay with me because you feel sorry for me or whatever."

"I don't feel sorry for you, Seth…" She paused for a few seconds. "Seth, I love you, and the point is…I don't know who I want…there's you…I'm in love with you…but I'm in love with Luke, and it's so fucking complicated. I can't stand this, Seth. It's so hard for me. You don't even realize."

"You don't realize, Summer!" cried Seth, getting to his feet and pointing angrily at her. "I gave my whole self to you, more than once, and every time…every time you break my heart!"

"I am so sorry, Seth…and I really want this to work, but it's so hard for me!" She got to her feet and went to grab his hand but he jerked it away.

"Don't touch me…" He glared hard at her. "So you want both of us, huh?"

Summer was sobbing. "I don't know…I don't know…"

"Call me when you make your choice," said Seth, turning and making his way down the hallway, towards the stairwell.

She just stood there crying, not knowing what to do. Who should she choose? She loved them both.

That was when the doorbell rang, and Summer wiped the teas from her eyes and went to answer it. She pulled open the door and saw a fairly handsome, older man there. "Hi," he said. "May I come in?"

"Who are you?" asked Summer, scared he was a paparazzi.

"My name's Carter," he said, running a hand through his dark hair. "I just heard about Sandy. I'm a friend of Kirstin and Sandy's…may I come in?"

"Yeah," sniffled Summer, moving aside so that the man could enter.

"Thank you," said Carter, hanging his coat up on the hanger. "Where is Kirstin?"

"She's in the bed, but I'm not sure if she's in the mood to talk," said Summer, sitting back down on the couch.

"I understand," he said. "Is Seth and Ryan here? I want to talk to them, see how they are doing. And Julie?"

"Yeah, uh, Seth is in his room…Julie's in the kitchen, and Ryan's in the pool house."

"Okay," said Carter, walking down the hall. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," said Summer. She leaned her head against the soft pillow. What had she done? The biggest mistake in her life, sleeping with Luke. Now she might never be able to be with Seth again.

And at that thought, she burst into tears again.