Chapter five: Picking up the Pieces

Seth, and Summer were back in the same building for the first time in a week. Things felt as though they never changed, but Seth kept getting the vibe that something was off. Just to pass the time between awkward silences between him and his wife, Seth called Ryan's cell phone.

"Hello?" Ryan replied in a near slur of words.

"Hey bud, how's Hawaii?" Seth asked oblivious to the situation Ryan found himself in.

"As bad as you can imagine, then double it...and you should have half of the idea of how I feel." Ryan said almost angrily.

"Dude, what's up?" Seth asked concerned causing Summer to look at Seth for an answer to the question in her mind

"Theresa, she's here...with her eleven year old blonde haired son... do the math."

"Oh my god...she had the baby..." Seth said in near shock causing Summer to drop her glass She didn't here her name, but somehow she knew that Theresa was the subject of their conversation.

"What are you gonna do Ry?"

"I have no idea...but I'm only supposed to be here for one more day, so I need to figure out what the hell it is I have to do."

"No, not what you have to do Ryan, what you want to do. This kid has been out of your life for a decade, and not only that, you were lied to so that you would believe there was no kid. Your decision is what you want to do... Just don't think of it as a weight on your shoulder. It's not your fault you didn't know about the kid." Seth said trying to convince his friend of going with Theresa.

"It's not that easy it...it's complicated." Ryan replied as if he has lost all hope.

"It always is bro...hang in there, bye."

Seth hung up the phone in a look of disgust. Summer came over, and wrapped her arms around his neck, but received no response. She kissed him on the cheek, and walked away. Summer figured that it was just because of Ryan's problem... to Seth, some problems were his.

meanwhile -

Kirsten had driven all the way to Sacramento to see Carter, but now that she was at his door, she was frozen. "It's too soon, You just saw him, don't go in." One side of her mind repeated, but the other side said "What are you waiting for, it's been a month, and it's not like your going to do anything with him. Just be polite, and have a drink... I know you like to drink." Her mind had been undecided ever since Carter came back into her life. Before she could make a move, the door opened.

"You know usually, I don't have to open the door for visitors before they knock... Not that I get any visitors...but anyways, come in." Carter said as Kirsten wearily stepped into his decent sized house

"So, what brings you here?" Carter said pouring two glasses of cherry wine, he always knew what she wanted to drink. She figured fifteen years of being a drunk gave him super bartending powers.

"Hey, I think I just made a new character for "Atomic County." She muttered.

"I felt bad about just running out on you the other night, and I wanted to say I was sorry."

"Well, that's very nice, but you're a very busy woman, and I don't think you would drive to Sacramento just to apologize...what else is on your mind?" Carter said as he handed her the glass of sweet alcohol.

"Well..ever since I've read your letter, I can't get you out of my head. I don't know why, but... you're always on my mind." Kirsten said embarrassed as she sipped a bit of her wine.

"Well...I'm sorry, but I'm actually seeing someone right now... I didn't mean to lead you on Kirsten, and if I did, I'm sorry" Carter said apologetically. Kirsten"s expression was one that he couldn't read.It was either sadness, or relief, he couldn't tell. She placed her wine glass on the table next to her, and walked out of the door. He threw his glass against the far wall, and the red liquid cascaded down the white wall, he could care less because he knew then that he hurt someone who truly meant something to him.

She got to her car, and sped off into the falling sun, her eyes dripping with salty tears. She wiped them away as soon as they came out, not letting herself cry over him.

meanwhile

Seth sat on his bed listening to the Death Cab for Cutie CD that he had as a teenager, he felt as though he still identified with the songs. Summer came up to his room, knowing something was wrong.

"Sarah fell asleep in the middle of herPowerPuff girl video, so I thought maybe we could talk. I know something is wrong, maybe it's Ryan, maybe it's us, but I want to find out what it is..."

Summer said running her hand through his short cut, curly, black hair.

"I'm just still a little rattled after everything. These things shouldn't be resolved by one dramatic kiss in the rain. Maybe we need to stop for a minute, and think about what we are doing." Seth said rubbing Summer's cheek with his hand.

"So, you don't want to be with me?" Summer asked in a shocked, and scared tone.

"No, of course I do, why would I lay outside in the pouring rain for half a day if I didn't love you. I'm just saying we can't just automatically return to the way we were after what just happened with us. Do you understand what I mean?" Seth asked comforting his worried wife.

"Yes, I just never meant to hurt you, and I thought we could start over from when we were happy!"

"Maybe we shouldn't...Summer, I love you more than words, but if we just brush this off, one day I might wake up, think of this, and be more pissed off, and hurt than I am today. I don't want that, I think maybe we should face this head-on, and take care of it now so when this is over, we can be happy...I'm gonna go take a walk, I'll be back, ok?" Seth said before kissing Summer on the forehead, and walking out of his room.

meanwhile-

Ryan sat alone in Marissa's room, he figured she was at a bar. She soon came into the room, and sat next to him on the bed. "I love it when you have stubble, it reminds me of the first time we met... Look, I know this is hard for you, and I know that this is something you never wanted, but you might have to go with Theresa. I love you to death, and I want you to be happy, but this is something we have to face." Marissa said as she touched his face,

"I know...but I'm not gonna lose you again. You left my life 3 times already, and I don't want to make this a 4th time. Theresa lied to me, and I know this is big, but this isn't my problem anymore. I love you, and only you, and this kid is not gonna tear me away from you, not again...I'm gonna go talk to Theresa, and tell her I can't take care of this kid, not if it takes me away from you." Ryan said. They kissed deeply, and he walked away from her.

later-

Kirsten was at the house alone, well, except for Summer, and Sarah who were asleep upstairs when the doorbell rang. She slowly walked to it, and opened it up to see Carter.

"Carter, hi, what are you doing here." Kirsten asked while inviting him into the house.

"Kirsten, I thought about why you came over today, and how you reacted when I realized that I have feelings for you...I wanted you to know that I stopped seeing the woman I was with, and I came here to see you. I hope that means something to you, because you mean a hell of a lot to me..." Carter said. He felt vulnerable after spilling his affections to a woman he hadn't seen in years.

"Well...Carter, I say... I thought you would have been here hours ago." She said as she slowly leaned close, and kissed Carter again. She still felt guilt, but the moment had swept her away. They continued the kiss for several seconds until the door opened, and Seth walked in. The sight caused his eyes almost automatically fill with tears of anger. Right after opening the door, Seth walked outside again, and closed the door.