"I've been thinkin', Daddy," Livvy announced as she ran up to her father, her Golden Girls lunch box clenched tightly in her fist. Pre-k had just let out and it was obvious Livvy had something imperative on her little mind.
"Do share," Seth replied before picking her up as they walked towards his black Navigator.
"I don't know what to be for Halloween," Livvy cried, as if it was the end of the world, "I wanted to be a princess, but Lena told me that it's too clee-shay. I dunno what that means, but it don't sound good. So then I was thinkin' bout bein' a box."
"A box?" Seth raised an eyebrow, wondering where his four-year-old came up with such an idea, "Livs, why would you want to be a box? What about like…a cat? Or a witch? Or hey you could be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz or something."
"No," Livvy shook her head as he set her in the backseat, "I really wanna be a box."
"Okay then," He laughed, getting into the car himself, "You can be a box."
"Great!" Livvy giggled, "I'm very eccited about this box idea. It's 'riginal, don't you think?"
"I'm really sorry," Lena's best friend, Kimberly, sighed as they trudged home. "I mean, like, I didn't know he was going to fall for me. I really can't help it if guys like me, you know?"
"Yeah," Lena rolled her eyes, trying to restrain herself from smacking Kimberly upside the head, "I mean, hey, it's not your fault that you just happen to be easy, right?"
"Exactly," Kimberly nodded, too air-headed to realize she had just been insulted, "It's just hard to be me. I get blamed for so much! So I'm gorgeous and funny and awesome, like I can really do anything about that!"
"Totally," Lena grunted, tightening her grip on her Western Civ book, "Like, people are just so jealous!"
"You understand me so well, Lena, it's like crazy!" Kimberly continued to snap the huge wad of gum in her mouth, "So you didn't really like Chase, did you?"
"No way," Lena shook her head, giving up on the sarcasm. It was just too easy to make fun of Kim, which kind of took the fun out of it. "He wasn't my type."
"Aw, it's okay," She was some how able to pick up on the sorrow behind Lena's voice, "You'll find someone sooner or later. There's gotta be someone out there for you, right?"
"Yeah," Lena shrugged, trying to shake away the bad mood she was in.
"He's such a jerk anyways," Kimberly commented, "And I think he shaves his back. I mean, that's weird isn't it?"
"So you're not going to go out with him?" Lena asked with a spark of hope. Sure, it was hard to be rejected by her biggest crush since the 6th grade, but it would be even worse if he really did date her best friend.
"Of course!" Kimberley laughed as if it were the dumbest question ever, "He's Chase Winston and the captain of the baseball team. I mean, how could I pass it up? In fact, we're going out tonight."
"Wonderful," Lena said through clenched teeth, what a friend she was.
"I know," Kimberly giggled, "I know it sounds funky, but like, I think he might be "the one"."
"Wow," Lena picked up her pace as her boot heels clicked angrily against the pavement, "You know what Kim? I just remembered that I've gotta get home right away."
"But I thought we we're going to go to my house," Kimberly whined, "Because I need you to help me find something to wear for my date with Chase."
"Um, no," Lena shook her head violently, "I'm grounded."
"You never get grounded," Kimberly pointed out, trying to blow a bubble with her gum.
"I am now," Lena replied, "So…bye!" Without waiting for Kimberly's response, Lena quickly crossed the street- weaving her way through the gridlock traffic. When she finally reached her building, she practically flew to the elevator, her blood nearly boiling in her veins.
"Can you help me with my homework?" Devon tapped on Lena's open door, waiting for her response, "Please?"
"No," Lena stated softly, "Go ask Dad or Summer."
"But I have to make a diorama and you're the best at those," Devon explained, "Please Lena?"
"I said no," Lena replied a little more firmly, "Now go away." Devon let out a heavy sigh, and wandered out towards the living room where Seth and Summer we're trying to help Livvy pick a box for her Halloween costume.
"How about this one?" Summer questioned holding up a long, narrow box that a floor lamp had come in.
"No, I want a little box," Livvy explained, pointing at a smaller, more square box that had belonged to a stereo. "That one."
"Sony box it is," Seth replied as he grabbed the box and set it aside.
"Guys?" Devon asked, kicking at one of the boxes that had been rejected, "I need help with this diorama I have to do for English."
"Lena's great with those," Seth reminded him, "Did you ask her?"
"Yeah, but she said no," Devon explained, "I think she's in a bad mood."
"Any idea why?" Summer inquired, collecting the un-used boxes.
"Something to do with a boy," Devon shrugged, "I mean at least that's what I heard her saying while she was on the phone."
"You really need to stop listening to my calls," Lena snapped, as she passed through the kitchen. "And if there's going to be a family meeting about me, at least wait until I'm out of the apartment."
"There was no meeting," Seth explained, cutting some eyeholes into the box, "An impromptu gathering, maybe, but I can promise there was no pre-planned meeting."
"Whatever," Lena just shrugged and sulked back into her room.
"Wow do I miss the days when she hated boys," Seth commented, glancing at Livvy, "Promise me you'll never start liking boys?"
"Ew! Boys are gross," Livvy yelled, before making a gagging noise, "I'm never going to like them. Not ever. Nope, never ever. Not even in a million gazillion years."
"Great, we got it Livvy," Devon stopped her knowing that she could go on forever if they let her.
"I'm really worried about her, Coop," Summer confessed as the two sat down to a "business" lunch. It was their tradition to take a fancy lunch once a month, and then write it off as a business affair. Sure, it was a little underhanded, but who could resist a free meal at a five-star restaurant?
"She's 14," Marissa didn't even look up from the menu, "I mean, remember us when we were 14? The littlest things seemed like the end of the world. She'll be fine."
"Alright, speak for yourself, Miss Drama Queen," Summer snickered, taking a sip of her sprite, "Seriously though, she seems kind of down and out lately."
"She just started high school," Marissa pointed out, "She's just in that adjustment period. She'll be perfectly fine. Give it time."
"I'll try," Summer sighed, trying to focus on other things, "So did we get the spread?"
"After much discussion and persuasion," Marissa began, a smile pulling at her lips, "Vogue decided to showcase our designs."
"That's great!" A grin broke out on Summer's face as well. Suddenly her cell phone interrupted her. "Just a sec." She pulled it out of her Dior bag, and glanced at the caller ID. It wasn't a familiar number, but it was local.
"Hello?" Summer spoke into the phone.
"Hi, Summer?" It was Lena, sounding a little nervous.
"Lena? You okay?" Summer asked worriedly, "Where are you?"
"School," She replied, her voice coarse, "Do you think you can come pick me up?"
"Yeah, of course," Summer answered quickly, "I'll be right there." Summer hung up the phone and began to stand up.
"What's up?" Marissa asked, her own face concerned, "Was that Lena?"
"Yeah," Summer nodded, throwing on her coat, "I've got to go pick her up. Can I take a rain check?"
"Sure, no problem," Marissa waved her off, "Remember though Sum, give her time."
"Yeah, I know," Summer groaned, giving her best friend one last shaken smile before turning to leave.
Summer parked her car in the school parking lot, surprised by how different the school looked. It was a big brick building, that looked nothing like Harbor. For once in her life, Summer felt oddly thankful for her high school. Because heck, she could have went to a place like this. Grabbing her purse, she made her way inside of the school. Various uniform clad teenagers littered the hall, most of them practically running to make the bell. She followed the signs until she found the main office.
"Hi, I'm here to pick up Catalina Cohen," Summer announced to the receptionist behind the desk.
"You'll have to sign her out," She spoke with a rough Boston accent, "Over there." She pointed Summer to a clipboard to the right of her, which she quickly filled out.
"So um, where is she?" Summer asked, glancing around the room.
"How am I supposed to know?" The woman shrugged, looking at Summer as if she was below her. Summer returned the look, and adjusted her blouse. Just as she was about to give the woman a piece of her mind, Lena appeared in the office with her coat and backpack.
"Sorry, I had to go get my stuff," Lena told her quietly as she looked at her shoes.
"You ready to go?" Summer inquired, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head.
"Yeah," Lena nodded, leading the way out of the building. Summer grew more and more concerned as she studied Lena. Her skin was paler then usual, and her face seemed so vacant.
"So what's the matter?" Summer questioned once they were in the car. She pulled out of the parking lot, but didn't head for home.
"I just wasn't feeling well," Lena shrugged, "I didn't sleep much last night."
"Oh," Summer responded, "Well I've got to make a quick errand, do you mind?"
"No, it's fine," Lena assured her, "So…thanks by the way. I was going to call Dad but I think he has a meeting today. And I'm still not really talking to my Mom."
"It's okay," Summer smiled at her, "This is the kind of thing I'm here for, you know?" She pulled up to a supermarket and hopped out. "I'll be back in a flash." Ten minutes later she got back into the car with a bag full of goodies.
"What's all that?" Lena asked, peeking into the bag.
"Ice cream, chocolate, nail polish, and three movies that every girl needs to see," Summer answered, handing the bag to Lena, "Sixteen Candles, Pretty Woman, and The Matrix."
"The Matrix, why that?" Lena raised an eyebrow, "I never really considered that chick flick material."
"I dunno, I just always had a think for Keanu."
Summer's eyes were glued to the TV as she watched the final moment of Sixteen Candles. When the credits finally rolled, she turned to see Lena knocked out completely, her face buried in a throw pillow. Not wanting to wake her, Summer carefully stood up and draped a blanket it over soon-to-be stepdaughter, and then wandered into the kitchen. It was nearly 3:30, which meant Seth would be home soon. It was a Tuesday so Livvy and Devon would be at Anna's, meaning it'd be just the three of them. As soon as she sat down at the kitchen table she remembered that she'd been meaning to clear her voicemail. Reaching behind her, she stuck her hand into the pocket of the coat hung on the chair. She dug around for the cell phone, but didn't feel anything. What she did feel was a couple small pills. That was weird, she didn't remember putting anything like that in her pocket. Pulling out her hand, she stared at the small neon yellow pills. She glanced behind her, inhaling sharply as she realized it was Lena's coat, not hers. So what were these then? The only thing Summer could come up with was ecstasy. But what could she be doing with that?
"Summer?" Lena's groggy voice called from the couch, as she sat up rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Um, quarter after ," Summer stuttered hastily, as she quickly closed her fist around the pills. Lena got up and made her way into the kitchen, grabbing a Snapple out of the fridge.
"Oh, okay," Lena replied after she'd taken a sip of juice, "Is something wrong?" Summer wasn't sure how to go about this…should she wait and tell Seth? Should she just let it go and trust Lena? Should she confront her now?
"No," Summer shook her head, deciding to wait until she could talk to Seth about it. "Just thinking." Lena gave her a puzzled look, but then glanced at her coat.
"Did you go through my pockets?" Lena demanded as it dawned on her.
"No," Summer replied honestly, "But I did happen to find these." She held out the neon pills, watching as Lena's face soured. It was now or never. "Are they what I think they are?"
"Yeah," Lena shrugged, "So what, I didn't take them."
"Why the hell do you have them then?" Summer asked her firmly.
"Hello! Obviously if they're there, it's because I haven't touched them," Lena pointed out, a sense of victory about her. Summer wasn't going to let her get away that easy.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that," Summer yelled, keeping eye contact with her, "Now tell me where you got these!"
"It's not of your god damn business!" Lena screamed, throwing on her coat, "Your not my mother, okay? So just leave me alone!"
"Oh so I'm your best friend when you're having troubles with your mom," Summer began angrily, "But as soon as you get yourself into trouble, I'm back to being your enemy?"
"I didn't do it!" Lena cried, tears welling in her eyes, "I swear to God, Summer! I didn't do it! I didn't even want them! Please just believe me!" Seeing Lena's face at that very moment told her everything. She wasn't lying. Lena swiped at the tears in her brown eyes. "Please." Not saying another word, Summer hugged the girl fiercely, no longer able to that she wasn't Lena's real mother.
"Did I miss something?" Seth asked from the doorway, a shocked look on his face.
A/N: Hey guys! I don't know if anyone really understood what was going on in the last chapter. Parker is Theresa and Ryan's child (which she is technically still pregnant with on the show, as far as we know). I didn't put any Parker into this chapter simply because the Lena/Summer parts ended up dominating the chapter. Next chapter I will continue the Parker story line.