Lies – Chapter 26
"So, how ya doin', man? Really." Seth dropped into a chair in the pool house and eyed Ryan warily. "Are you gonna be ok with seeing Marissa? Are you up for the drive? Dad said you're not supposed to be doing anything other than lying around like the vegetable of your choice. Does your head still hurt? Did you get any sleep?"
Ryan sighed. "Seth, slow down; it's too early. I'll be ok. Sitting in a car isn't much different than sitting on the couch. When are you going to tell me the real story of how you broke your arm?" He looked up after slowly tying his shoelaces.
"I always appreciate a good segue into a new subject. Maybe you could astound me and come up with one sometime. What makes you think there's another story? I'm quite clumsy, you know."
"Seth. You ride a skateboard and you've never broken anything." Ryan raised his eyebrows and stared.
Seth threw his hands up. "All right! You and those "Eyebrows of Truth" again. Summer and I were making out on the gurney in the ER and the doctor came in and startled us and I fell off. Happy?"
Ryan smiled. "Uh huh. So, how'd you manage to get her back?"
"Dude. We weren't really back together on Sunday; she just told you that to explain why she was at our house. So, I just stayed with her, you know, while she was in the hospital, and – uh – accidentally found out some things that explained a lot about her. She finally trusted me and we just got closer and closer and then I told her I was in love with her." He had a distant look, remembering how it happened.
"Wait a minute - You what?" Ryan had been standing by the bed, but now sat down again.
Seth looked back at him earnestly. "I love her. She's just – she's incredible, and you want to know the best part? The one totally unbelievable element of the entire scenario? She feels the same way about me. Honestly. I didn't believe it either till last night."
"So what happened last night? Or do I not want to know?" Ryan cringed, expecting sordid details.
Seth smiled slyly. "Chill, amigo. While it's true that I am a newly inducted member of the "virginity-free" hall-of-fame, that happened a couple of nights ago and that's all I'm saying about it. Last night? Summer -" He held up his hand and showed his friend his ring, "- gave me this – along with verbalizing powerful emotion and buying "Seth Cohen style" clothing for herself. And – and for me." He twisted it off his finger and handed it to Ryan. "Check it out. It's engraved inside."
Ryan inspected it carefully. "She gave you this? That's awesome, man." He glanced up at Seth. "Love and Commitment? Does that mean...?"
Seth grinned. "It means we're more than just going out, but less than engaged. And SHE asked ME. I still can't quite wrap my head around it."
Ryan gave him a concerned look while handing back the ring. "You're ok with that? Beyond just the love part, Seth, this is a big deal. Are you ready for a relationship that serious?"
"Ryan. It's interesting that you ask that, because my friend? She's it. You know how long I've wanted to be with her, and, and I'll admit I thought sometimes that maybe I'd just made up a version of her in my head, you know like the perfect girl for me? - that, that kept me hanging in there all these years, but it turns out the real Summer is better than my imaginary one. She's just – she's funny and smart and wicked with the sarcasm and humor and the sparks just fly between us and for the first time I'm more worried about someone else than I am about me. Horrors, that makes me sound egocentric, doesn't it? But I would gladly be hit by a car if it meant she wouldn't. Wait, I worry about you, obviously, but, but I want to take care of her, whereas I'm certain you can take care of yourself. Because you're Ryan. Ryan from the mean streets of Chino. But back to me. Sometimes it's beyond comprehension how much I FEEL when I look at her. Of course, the short answer to your question would have been - Yes. I'm ready. Beyond ready." Seth looked up, and Ryan was looking somewhere past his shoulder.
"O-kaay. That's cool, then." Ryan smiled a little. "Although I never would have believed the part about Summer dressing like you until right now." Summer had walked in the open door to the pool house and heard their conversation. She was standing just inside the door, biting her lip and staring warmly at Seth.
He turned and saw her. "Hey! Come here. I was just showing Ryan the new bling. He's very impressed - also jealous and a little bitter, I think."
Summer walked over and sat on the arm of Seth's chair. She kissed him, then hugged him hard for a minute while he smiled happily at Ryan and jerked a thumb toward his girlfriend. She finally looked up at their friend. "I'll buy you one too. A friendship ring, what do you think? Do you like diamonds?" She cocked her head to one side, appraising him. "Actually? You look more like a sapphire man."
Ryan laughed. "Uh - I don't need sapphires, but thanks. I'm not really into jewelry. Seth's is really - nice, though."
"You like it?" She leaned to kiss Seth on the cheek. "Ryan needs a ring too, sweetie. We need to go shopping again. Tonight."
"Yes, my pet. Whatever you want." He turned to Ryan. "Shopping is good, man." He nodded solemnly.
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Oh boy. This is worse than I thought."
Summer looked up quickly. "He's not whipped. He's just – "
"- in loooove." Seth finished for her, then kissed her.
"No one could miss that... So. Anna should be here soon." Ryan looked a little tense all of a sudden.
"Did you guys hang out last night?" Seth shifted his attention back to Ryan, putting his arm around Summer.
"Yeah. She stayed a while. We – talked. About stuff." Ryan lay back on the bed again.
"Yeah? What kind of stuff?" When Ryan didn't answer, Seth caught on. "Oh. Cooper stuff. Dude, you know you can talk to me, right? To us? I know we haven't been around much, but all you have to do is say the word and I'm here. In fact, I feel bad now, like I've somehow failed you as a best friend and brother. I could also be jealous that you talked to Anna instead of me, while I'm sharing."
"Seth, cut it out. You haven't failed me. She just – it's like, she wasn't there when it all happened."
"Yeah, Cohen. She probably has a different perspective." Summer looked uncertainly at Ryan. "Right?"
He nodded. "Exactly." Summer sat back, smiling smugly.
Seth nodded slowly. "Anna is very wise. Hey, whatever helps, Ryan. You know, though -?" He pointed from himself to his friend then repeated the gesture a few times.
"I know, man. Thanks."
"And me! I'm –"Summer copied Seth's gesturing, pointing from herself to Ryan, "– too. Anytime."
Ryan smiled. "Got it."
"Hey, everyone." Anna stood in the door, appearing unsure if she should come in.
A chorus of "Heys" came back at her, and she walked in, hesitantly stopping by Ryan. He looked flustered, then stood up and hugged her.
"So. How do you feel today?" Anna asked as they pulled away from each other.
"I'm better. And yes, I took the meds."
She smiled and patted him on the head. "Good boy! I guess I'm the designated driver then." She looked around at them. "You're all pretty much drugged, huh?"
"Uh – forgot about that. Do you mind? We can take our truck." Ryan looked concerned.
"I don't mind. I don't think I trust any of you to drive anyway. Someone has to co-pilot and tell me where I'm going, though." She smiled up at Ryan, glancing nervously at Seth.
Ryan put his arm around her. "I got directions from Sandy, so I'll ride shotgun and be your co-pilot."
Anna visibly relaxed. "Sounds good. Shall we go, then?" She put her arm around Ryan.
Seth and Summer watched their interaction with curiosity, then glanced at each other. Summer spoke up. "Ok, guys. Anna and I will let Sandy know we're leaving. We'll meet you in the driveway." She grabbed the other girl's arm and pulled her toward the door. "We should hit the little girls' room before we go anyway, right, Anna?"
"I really don't –"
"Sure you do. Come on. We'll tone down your make-up a little. The natural look is back in, obviously you didn't get the memo..." The argument continued as they walked past the pool.
"Ryan? Is there something you'd like to share? Just what, exactly, happened here last night?" Seth crossed his arms and stared expectantly.
"Drop it, Seth." Ryan grabbed his crutches and began to head for the door.
Seth stepped directly in front of him. "Um, no. Were you sincerely planning on NOT telling me that you hooked up with my ex last night, and now she's driving us to see the girl you're in love with? What the hell is going on?"
Ryan only stared. "Are you jealous?"
Seth looked as though he'd been hit in the stomach. "You of all people – I just told you. Summer is who I'm supposed to be with. And excuse me for caring about you and Anna, and worrying that you're the rebound couple of the year whose relationship will only end in even more negative drama. Do whatever the hell you want." He turned and walked out the door.
Ryan immediately looked ashamed. "Seth. Hey – Wait! Seth!"
Seth stopped, but didn't turn around, so Ryan made his way out to him. "Sorry, man. Look, I've been worried all night about how you were going to take this, so I went with the worst possible scenario. I guess as a defense." He stared at the tile by the pool.
"What are you guys doing? Do you really think this will somehow work out?" Seth shook his head in frustration.
"I don't know. But we decided to try."
"'We'? You and Anna talked about it?"
"Well, yeah. We're not idiots. But we like each other, and it doesn't matter how much I loved Marissa, we're not getting back together, and you're with – never mind. We're not going into this blindly, Seth."
Seth raised both hands into the air. "Ok. I will hereby mind my own business. Probably. Maybe. But the bizarre factor at the hospital is going to be WAY out of control."
Ryan just nodded.
"So let's go find our women and get this train wreck started." Seth held the door for Ryan as he entered the house.
"Could you try to be a little more negative, Seth? I'm not worried enough yet."
"Hey. No problem. What do you think our odds are of making it to LA without another car wreck? I actually know, but you'd be too terrified to get in the truck if I told you, so I won't."
Ryan groaned and shot Seth a look. "Great. Thanks."
"Ok, so Ph.D. Barbie wouldn't talk. Did you get anything out of Iron Man?" Summer was lying on her side by Seth, who was reclining, knees up with his head on a pillow he had positioned against the truck door. They had pushed the back of the seat down, making themselves comfortable on the makeshift bed.
Seth spoke in a loud whisper. "What the -? Did you just refer to them by code names? That is SO cool. And you are SO my girl." Seth gave her an amused smile. "You might want to lower your voice though; they ARE sitting less than three feet away."
Summer rolled her eyes. "Like they could hear me over this crappy howling Ryan calls music. What kind of a name is "Journey", anyway? Were they faded when they made it up or something?"
"Yes, Summer, they were. History shows that everyone was high in the '80's. Witness the popularity of movies like "Dirty Dancing" or "Crocodile Dundee", and the music of "Milli Vanilli", for crying out loud. The entire population had to be stoned out of their respective gourds. But yes, Iron Man came clean. Apparently they've bonded over their similar experience of being passed over for someone else. Which is a little awkward, since I'm one the passers, but even more so since we're all on our way to see the other passer. But he says they understand the pitfalls of a rebound relationship and want to try it anyway."
Summer eyed him carefully. "And how do you feel about that? That she's rebounding from you to your brother?"
"It's a bit weird, but since they're two of my favorite people, I sincerely hope it brings them peace and happiness. And I'm still ecstatic that I'm with you, on the off chance of that being a question borne of jealousy."
"You're so poetic, Cohen! Normally I'd laugh, but that's exactly how I feel about you." She dropped her head to his shoulder.
"Which? Poetic? Peaceful? Oh, I know! Borne of jealousy?"
"Ecstatic, peaceful, and happy, dumbass. Way to kill the moment. Again."
"Hey. It's what I do. So how do you feel about Ryan moving on from Marissa so quickly? Any urges to leave marks on him with your new purse?"
"A little. I get where he's coming from, though, I guess. But Ryan with Anna? NOT the two people I'd ever imagine together."
"I agree, but remember, no one ever imagined us together." He bent to kiss her forehead.
She giggled. "Not even me! Now I can't imagine being without you."
He lifted his hand to look at his new ring, and she admired hers, lifting her hand up next to his. He deftly turned his wrist and touched his ring to hers. "You won't ever have to."
"OhmyGod! That was like, a superhero moment, with the ring clicking and stuff, huh? Is this where our secret identity outfits and masks magically appear on us?"
Seth laughed. "So you WERE paying attention during my "Intro to Comic Books 101" training. I thought you were there just to make Anna mad."
"I wouldn't do that."
Seth stared at her.
"Ok, I would. All right, I was! But I really liked the comic book stuff, even though at first I thought I'd have to give an Academy Award performance to just show interest. Cohen?"
"Yes?"
"I'm like, kind of scared. To see her. Everything is so wrong about this. What if Coop's not in there anymore and all that's left is the nutty chick?"
"I don't think you're going to have to worry about that today. No one's called, so I'm guessing she's still comatose. Just remember, she can most likely hear you even if she's unconscious, so talk to her like you normally would."
"Duuh! I know! I was in a vegetablish state not very long ago, remember?"
"I think you mean 'vegetative' and of course I remember. Vividly. I hated every second of every minute of every hour of it."
Summer rolled her eyes. "Right. Except when I was running your hand across the pretty colored bruises from my hip up to my boob! Nice, Cohen. You took a free feel!"
Seth sat up, incensed. "Hey! I apologized and the fact remains that YOU were the one doing it. I didn't even look!"
"Oh." Summers voice softened. "Ok, I remember now. You were embarrassed and sweet. I'm sorry, baby." She closed her eyes, feeling bad about accusing him. It struck her finally, and she looked up to see him staring at her in amazement. "I was – "
"- Unconscious when that happened! Yes! Yes! Hey Ryan! Anna! Listen to this! Summer remembered something else from when she was passed out in the hospital!"
Ryan turned down the volume of his CD, and Anna hung over the back of the front seat, intrigued. "Was it something specific that you said this time?"
"No, it was when I – I - uh –" remembering the delicate nature of what happened, he stopped. "Uh, it was something she – we - did. Wait a minute!" He looked back to Summer. "You said you remembered that I was sweet. What did I say? Do you remember that?"
Summer was thoughtful for a moment. "I thought I'd done something wrong and you didn't like me, but you said YOU were wrong and apologized. You said..." Her eyes caught his gaze. "You said you promised to take care of me, not take advantage of me."
"That's exactly right!" Seth looked triumphantly at Anna. "See? Something specific!"
"How fascinating! Summer, can I do a formal interview with you for my paper?" Anna pleaded. "Whenever it's convenient for you," she hurried to add.
"Sure, I guess." Summer was still staring at Seth. She waited until Anna resumed her original position and Ryan turned the music back up. "I was coming on to you, wasn't I?"
Seth looked away. "You were, but, but – it never crossed my mind to do anything ......Ok. That's a complete and total lie." He raised his eyes to hers. "It crossed my mind over and over and over again until there were like, really deep ruts in my brain from where it kept crossing this way and that way and over again. Ruts like from a wagon train rolling to parts unknown in the West, you know? Probably not. Right. But anyway, I'm not so innocent."
Her father had taken advantage of her at every opportunity, using her childhood innocence to manipulate her for his own sick pleasure. He'd made her believe that fondling and rape was his way of showing how much he cared about her. Seth's simple act of pulling his hand away when he realized he was feeling her breast suddenly seemed like a monumental gesture of love and respect. She felt hot tears building behind her eyes. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But you didn't do anything."
"No." He shook his head. "You were acting weird. Like a little girl. It felt – " He noticed her eyes filling. "Aw damn it, don't cry. I'm so sorry, Summer. I really didn't mean to. I knew you'd be upset if you remembered that part. But – but – "
She laid her hand over his mouth, still whispering. "I'm not mad."
His eyes showed his relief as he nodded. "MAWmesmmm. Mmow. Mmwy mnnt?" His words were muffled, but she understood him.
"Because you didn't do anything; you took care of me, instead. That means everything to me." She took her hand off of his mouth and hugged him. Pulling away, she snuggled under his arm with her head on his shoulder. "Thank you."
He kissed the top of her head. "Hey, no problem. You're my girl. My goal is to make sure nothing bad happens to you ever again."
"Awww. Stop being so sweet, or my goal will be to have sex with you at the next available opportunity."
Seth cocked his head to one side with a look of confusion. "Was that supposed to be a threat? Because I'm just not seeing the downside of that. At all. And by the way? The phrase "Next available opportunity" has me fantasizing about hospital supply closets or empty rooms on the geriatric floor where everyone has extremely bad hearing." His voice rose with excitement. "Oo! Maybe we could, uh, uh - find a nurses' uniform!?" He looked at her hopefully.
She laughed. "We'll see, sweetie. It's good to know that you're enthusiastic about places other than the bed."
"Have I ever told you how much I love the hot tub? And I have deep feelings toward the kitchen table and/or countertops. The beach is really romantic at night, and – and – I have some truly positive emotions concerning the hood of your car and public restrooms. And elevators. Oh. Have you ever been on a sailboat? The ocean is very...inspiring. Yes. No, but... Not that – uh – I've given it much thought."
Summer shook her head solemnly, playing along. "Oh, no. Of course not."
"You know I'm lying, don't you?"
She smiled at him. "Yep."
"I confess, I've given it a lot of thought. Since puberty happened and my chest hair grew in."
"You mean last week?"
He gave her a sarcastic smile. "Ha...You're just a laugh riot."
"You're just a dork."
"And you're a spoiled princess."
"Did I mention that I fell in love with a dork once?"
"Oh yeah? I fell in love with a princess. Go figure and God help me."
"So are you gonna kiss me already, Cohen?"
"If you'd stop chattering long enough, I would. Your lips keep flapping and I can't get a good angle."
"My lips do not and never have flapped, and only you would need to 'get a good angle'. Jeez."
"Again, with the flapping."
Summer sighed. "Never ask a boy to do a man's job."
"Hey! I've had the bar mitzvah AND sex. I'm a man in every conceivable way now."
She rolled her eyes. "Or a job a woman can do better." She lightly laid her fingers against his cheeks and kissed him gently, making it last. She pulled away and looked up at him questioningly.
He grudgingly nodded. "Ok. I'll admit that was pretty damn good."
She smiled smugly.
"For a girl." His lips were on hers before she could protest, and he kissed her passionately, then drew away.
"Jesus, Cohen," she breathed. Her eyes were still closed, and she was panting.
Ryan cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah – Guys? We're here. We'll just be outside."
Seth and Summer turned in unison to see the backs of Ryan and Anna as they fled. The truck doors slammed shut, and they turned back to each other.
"How long have we been here?"
"I don't know. When did he turn the music off?"
Summer shrugged. "Should we feel bad? I hope we didn't make Anna feel weird."
"Me either. Let's go face the firing squad."
They maneuvered their way out of the truck and looked around. The other couple hadn't made it through the parking lot yet. They were making out against a parked BMW.
Summer grabbed Seth's hand. "So much for feeling bad. We started a kiss – fest."
"It appears they were inspired by the waves of sexual tension emanating from the back seat, doesn't it? Maybe we should consider naked fun with a camera, Summer. What do you think? $20 per download? We'd be rich."
"We ARE rich, and if I ever see video equipment anywhere near me when you're suddenly feeling friendly? You'll be capturing an amputation on film that you won't be so eager to sell."
He blinked, then gulped. "Oh hey! I just remembered! I don't have a camera of any type anymore. Gave them away to a worthwhile charity. Did I mention that you look really hot today? Because I meant to. Your ass looks awesome in those jeans."
She looked at him sideways and sighed. "You're getting too good with the fast saves. I'm going to have to raise the bar."
"But the bar raising event will be next time? Right? Oh! I'm sorry - I meant to say that your hair is really sexy when you put it up like that. I don't know how I forgot that part."
"Oh, all right. You're not in trouble anymore." She nudged him grudgingly with a shoulder.
He dropped an arm around her shoulder. "Ha. The soft spot you've developed rears its ugly head again, huh? You just can't resist me, Roberts."
"I can SO. I just – don't want to right now."
"Fair enough." They began walking toward the doors of the hospital.
"Does my butt really look good? I didn't have time to try them on at the mall, and I couldn't turn around far enough to see in the mirror this morning. It was like I was a cat chasing my tail or something!"
"Oh hell." He laughed. "I'm sorry I missed that - sounds veeery entertaining. When we get back I'll get some catnip and watch you go insane with a ball of string. And yes, your ass positively looks better than any other girls anywhere. Ever."
"Damn right it does. Hey! When were you looking at other girls' asses?
"Never! Ok, maybe a long, long time ago – they're like distant shadows of memories. Shadowy memory asses, totally uninspiring......"