A/N – Awww. I love you guys. Thanks for pointing out my errors and also all the support. Y'all are the coolest. Also to answer a question: Seth decided not to decide between Summer and Anna at Christmukka. He had identical gifts for them ('Seth Cohen starter packs' that neither of them accepted). He had dated both up until then. Anna wandered into his driveway and they started going out on New Year's Eve.
Lies-42
"Seth. Wake up."
Seth opened his eyes and looked over Summer's head to see his father standing by the bed, looking decidedly pained. Immediately realizing it was morning and Summer had fallen asleep in his bed instead of going back to her room, he took a half second to enjoy waking up with her before forcing himself to gently untangle his arms and legs from hers and get out of bed. He kept his voice low. "It's not what you think, Dad. See? I have on pajamas and so does she. She has terrible nightmares and she's been afraid to go to sleep by herself is all. She wakes up in a panic and it's really, really scary for her and I'm the only person that can touch her without making her freak out."
"Shhh, before you wake her up." Sandy motioned Seth out into the hall. "It could have easily been your mother instead of me coming up here this morning. You're going to have to be more careful."
Seth closed his bedroom door and shook his head slowly, sure that he was dreaming. "Did you just tell me to be more careful? And did you just NOT read me the riot act about sleeping with Summer?"
"Look, kid. I know Summer's having a rough time, and I know sex is probably the last thing on her mind after what happened to her. She's been walking around like a zombie for days, so if you can somehow help her get some rest, then I'm all for it." He raised one finger as Seth began to smile. "BUT. Do not plan on sleeping together on a regular basis. You can sit with her until she goes to sleep, then get back to your own room. If your mother had come up here …? I think you know just how ugly it would have been."
"Yeah, I know."
Sandy put a hand on Seth's shoulder. "So you're back together?"
Seth nodded. "Yeah. She saw the light, finally. Somehow."
"I'm glad, son. Now either get her up, or get her back to her own room before your mom gets enough coffee in her to wonder why you're still in bed."
Looking confused, Seth checked his father's watch. "It's almost 10:00! I didn't realize it was so late."
"You can thank me for keeping your mother out very late last night. Now get dressed."
"Right." Seth opened the door to his room and paused, looking back at his dad. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
After closing the door behind him, he walked far enough into the room to look at her lying in his bed. How many times had he imagined that happening in the past? It was so weird to see another fantasy come to life - her spending the night in his room. Sadly, he had always imagined a different beginning to this fantasy day - one that did NOT include being awakened by his father. He sighed. Summer stretched without sitting and opened her eyes, smiling sleepily at him. He went over and sat next to her.
"Hey, handsome." She reached up, wiggling her fingers in an attempt to get him to lie down with her again.
"We just got busted, you know." Knowing he shouldn't, yet unable to resist her, he found himself lying on his side with her arms around him, his head on her shoulder.
"I heard - your dad is the best. I need kisses, Cohen."
"Actually? You need to get in your own room. Summer." She pouted at him, sticking out her bottom lip, and he rolled up onto his elbows, lowering his head to hers, gently biting her lower lip. She giggled, making him smile as he kissed her. "Did you sleep ok?"
"SO good. No bad dreams at all." She kissed him, pulling him down to her. "So the making out went well, don't you think?"
Seth grinned. "I would have to agree, yes." They'd spent hours kissing without her having a flashback or feeling uncomfortable, finally falling asleep savoring the physical contact. He was surprised that he didn't want or need more, but he truly hadn't. Just holding her was enough. "So what's on your agenda today?"
"I'm meeting Mrs. Wesley at 2:00, then I have an appointment at 4:00. That's it. What about you?"
"I'm completely free today. So… Comics, Playstation, and porn. Not necessarily in that order."
She smacked him lightly. "You don't need porn. Would you like to be James today?"
"Who's James and does he get porn?"
Rolling her eyes, she pushed him away. "Absolutely not. James is my driver, remember? And he waits on me hand and foot, so naturally he doesn't have time for such disgusting things."
"Hey!" Seth regained his balance on the edge of the bed and lay on his side, supporting his head with his hand. "This James guy sounds suspiciously like a boyfriend. Are you cheating on me already?"
"Cohen, I'm asking if you want to BE James!"
"Ok. So theoretically, I'd be the OTHER man today. You'd actually be cheating on me with another version of me."
"Which is totally double the fun for you," Summer pointed out.
"But there's no porn."
"Nope. None. Take it or leave it." She crossed her arms and looked away, feigning indifference. "If you do a good job … there might POSSIBLY be a bonus of some sort in your pay… which WON'T be money, if you get my drift."
"Ah haaa … I'm getting paid non-monetarily to cheat on myself with you? Plus bonuses? I am SO there. Is there a signing bonus? Perhaps?" He smiled eagerly.
"As a matter of fact, there is. Come here." Summer grabbed his shoulder and pulled him down on top of her again, kissing him enthusiastically. She maneuvered him onto his side and abruptly ended the kiss, sitting up and stretching.
"Um …"
"Time to get up, Cohen. That was just an incentive." She stood, opening the robe to show him the negligee she was still wearing beneath it. "Think 'bonuses', Baby."
Seth rolled onto his back, groaning. "What's the word for 'beyond whipped'?"
Summer walked around the bed toward the door, pausing to lean down and kiss him on the forehead. "Besides 'Cohen'? I think it's 'slave', sweetie. You don't mind if shower first, do you?"
Seth shook his head, silently mouthing "slave".
"That's your Mom?" Seth was incredulous.
Summer nodded happily.
"She was … hot! I mean – wow … She looked just like you except, except a little older, and uh …" He took the photo of Autumn with baby Summer from her hand, inspecting it closely. "Of course, you were adorable too." He looked from the photo up to Summer, then back at the photo again. "Except for the drool. But – is this what you're gonna look like in 10 years? You'll be like a – supermodel or something." He handed her the picture.
"Aw, Cohen, you're so sweet." She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Isn't it incredible how much I look like her?" She opened a folder and placed the photo inside with others that Mrs. Wesley had given her. Their meeting had been a surreal experience, with the older woman telling her story after story about her mother, slowly bringing her into focus in Summer's mind. She had described Autumn as a bubbly, outgoing woman, with a huge sense of humor, sometimes goofy, but underneath it all as strong as iron. After having nothing but a blank slate, these new, vibrant images of her mom gave Summer a sense of comfort and real familiarity.
"It's uncanny, the resemblance. Did Dad say why he wanted us to come here?" Seth looked around his father's office, as usual wanting desperately to take the picture of himself down off the wall. His dad loved the photo taken of Seth the day he'd bought his boat, posing self-consciously on it at 14, hands and feet way too big for his rail thin body.
Summer followed his gaze. "Oh, look at that! Is that when you first got "Summer Breeze"?
"Yeah. So - Dad? Did he say why?" Seth wanted nothing more than to change the subject.
Summer got up and walked over to the picture. "You're so cute! How long ago was this?"
Seth snorted. "Cute. Right. Two and a half years. Are you purposely avoiding my question?"
"No, Cohen, I'm not. He didn't say. He didn't sound very happy, though." She watched him thoughtfully. "You've filled out a lot since then. Gotten taller, more muscular. Cuter."
"Uh huh. So where is my father, then?"
Summer walked up behind him and bent to whisper in his ear, sliding her hands over his shoulders and down his chest. "Sexier."
Seth blushed, never having heard that before in his life. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." She moved around to kiss him, then sat back down in the chair next to him.
"But when you're a supermodel, you'll forget all about me and go out with actors and rock stars."
"Stop pouting, Cohen. I'm too short to be a supermodel, and I don't care how hot actors and rock stars are, they could never deal with me like you do. You're the only person in the world that knows the real me, and all this crap with my past has only made us stronger. And I love you more than anything so shut up and quit being so insecure."
Seth stared at her for a minute. "I really like it when you put me in my place like that. I think."
She smiled sweetly. "I know."
Sandy came into the room apologizing. "Sorry, things went long with the lawyer."
"What's going on, Dad?"
"Something has gone wrong, and I'm not sure what, but I have a good idea. I got a call earlier, and the police want you to come down to the station."
"Me? Why?" Seth exchanged a puzzled look with Summer.
"They say they want to get a statement from you about the confrontation Summer had with – Mr. Roberts. Which shouldn't be necessary since Summer already gave her statement about the attack that happened later."
"Then why do they want Seth?" Summer had a sinking feeling.
"My guess is that Mr. Roberts is claiming something different happened than your version of the events." He sat back in his chair behind the desk, rubbing his forehead.
"So you're saying the police don't believe me? They think I made it all up?" Summer was quickly becoming unnerved.
"I'm not saying that, hon. Just keep in mind that Mr. Roberts is a very wealthy and influential man with an equally powerful and influential attorney, and the cops have to investigate his claims. The judge may even grant him bail, so be prepared for that."
"He – he could get out? He killed my mother! They can't let him out!" She stood, losing her composure. "He tried to rape me! He hit me a million times - !"
Seth went to her and put his arm around her. "You're safe with us, Summer. He can't hurt you, even if they do let him out. It's going to be ok."
She wasn't convinced. "And now they want to drag you into it! No. This is not going to happen. You're not going to talk to the cops. They can just talk to me instead. Come on, Sandy. Let's go." She tried to pull away from Seth, but he wouldn't let her go.
"Summer, it's ok. I'll just go and tell them what happened, and then I'll come home. It's no big deal."
Sandy stood, heaving a sigh. "Unfortunately, Seth does have to go, Summer. I've arranged for one of my co-workers to be there with him as legal counsel, and I'll be there also because he's a minor."
Summer looked from Seth to Sandy, and pulled away from Seth. "I'm going, too."
"There's no need for you to go; they won't let you in the room. We'll take you home, then – "
"No. I'm going." Her voice was firm, her mind made up. "I'll wait outside if I have to, but I'm going."
"Are you sure you want to go back there?" Sandy was worried. "You didn't do so well last time – "
"I'm going." She took Seth's hand. "Let's go. Let's get this over with."
"You might as well give up, Dad." Seth was really very worried, but smiled at his dad so Summer wouldn't see it.
"I know better than to argue, son." Sandy walked across the room and opened the door, ushering Summer and his son out.
Kirsten was sitting in a chair in the lounge next to Ryan and Anna, trying to look unconcerned.
"Oh, I see, it's a party." Seth commented dryly.
Ryan got to his feet. "We're just here for moral support. I'm sort of – familiar with police stations, you know."
"Yeah, I heard that somewhere." Seth put his hand on Ryan shoulder. "Thanks for coming, man. I'm sure this is no big deal, though."
"Oh, yeah. I know. I uh, just thought you might want me to go with you."
"I'm going." Kirsten had the same tone in her voice that Summer had, and Seth and his dad shared a look.
Sandy looked around. "So we've got how many cars here now?"
Ryan held up 4 fingers.
"Really Ryan, I appreciate the thought, but I know how much you love the cops. I'll be ok if you just want to head home." Seth nodded for emphasis.
"You sure?"
"Yep. Start up Halo, and I'll be there in a while to kick your ass."
Ryan smiled and put an arm around Anna.
"Good luck, Seth, or whatever you say at a time like this."
"Thanks, Anna. I'll see you guys soon." Seth waved as they left, then turned to his dad. "Ok. We'll meet you."
Summer and Kirsten stood as the office door opened finally. They'd been in the waiting area for an hour and a half, squirming on uncomfortable wooden chairs and trying to guess what was going on in the room down the hall, taking turns shooting down each other's increasingly paranoid theories. Summer grabbed Kirsten's arm as she saw Seth's face, white and shocked, followed by Sandy, looking grim and determined. His co-worker was a moment later in coming out, but appeared equally stoic. Sandy stopped and took a minute to quietly speak to him, then shook his hand. The other man left the police station, and Sandy headed off another lawyer as he came from the room they'd all just left.
"Not now, Will. It's late and she's still recovering."
Will sidestepped Sandy and approached Summer, who was busy trying to find out what happened from Seth. "Maybe she'd like to talk now, instead of making another trip here, Sandy. It can't hurt to ask, now can it?"
"Damn it, Will, I said not now!" Sandy moved quickly past Will, putting an arm around Summer and taking Kirsten's elbow. "You girls go on out to the car. Seth and I will be right behind you."
Summer stared from one man to the other. "Talk about what? What's going on?"
Will saw his chance and took it. "We'd just like to talk a little more about the day of your attack. It won't take long - ."
"No." Everyone turned to look at Seth, who until now had kept a dazed silence. "Leave her alone. Does she have to, Dad?" He checked hastily with his father, and after receiving a curt 'No', stared down Will. "She's been through enough."
"We'll still have to do it sometime, young man," the other attorney warned.
"Whatever. We're leaving. Come on, Summer." Seth threw a protective arm around her and guided her towards the door.
"What he said." Sandy ushered Kirsten after the younger couple.
"You're not serious. This is a joke, right?" Ryan sat back in his chair, looking around the table at the rest of the family, plus Anna.
"Oh, how I wish it were." Sandy stared into his wine glass.
"So let me get this straight. This jerk is saying that after Summer confronted him, Seth was mad at Summer for not telling him everything about her past, and HE beat her up?"
"Very basically, yes."
"But that's ridiculous! Seth has never hit anyone in his life! And she's living here; why would she do that if Seth knocked her around? I mean, I know he didn't, just – how can they justify even claiming something so stupid?" Anna wanted to know.
"Mr. Roberts says that by the time he went back to the house later Seth and Summer had made up and decided to accuse him of the beating."
"But he tried to rape her!"
Summer, who'd been sitting quietly, suddenly rose from her chair. "Excuse me. I have to – I can't do this right now." She turned and walked through the hall to the stairs, pulling herself up with help from the railing.
"I'm sorry. Maybe I should learn to be quiet." Anna seemed ashamed.
"It's ok." Seth spoke, lifting his head from his hands. "We're all thinking the same thing. I asked the asshole the very same questions tonight." He looked around, then got up, pointing after his girlfriend. "I'm going to make sure she's ok. Good night."
Sandy quickly filled them in on the remainder of Summer's father's story. "As for the rest of it, I'll tell you this much – Mr. Roberts is denying the attempted rape and saying that Seth and Summer framed him for it."
"What! That's crazy!"
"Agreed, but that's the story. He's saying Seth went back to the house, Seth and Summer made up, and when he then arrived at the house and started to call the police after seeing Summer's injuries, the kids attacked him and set it up to look like – well, how the police found it."
"But I was here when Seth came home. It was way before the hospital called you about Summer!" Ryan couldn't believe this was happening.
"I know. But Seth told the police that he came home and went upstairs to lie down, leaving a large amount of time with his whereabouts unaccounted for."
"I saw him go up the stairs!" Ryan argued.
"Did you actually see him in bed?" Sandy asked gently.
Ryan shook his head.
"Is it possible that he could have left without you knowing it?"
Ryan, frustrated, just looked at him, knowing the answer was yes.
"These are questions you would be asked if you were to testify, Ryan. All they have to do is put the seed of doubt in the judge or jury's minds. And who do you think has more believability, a wealthy businessman with worldwide holdings, or a high school couple?"
"A wealthy businessman that sexually abused his daughter? They would believe him?" Anna was astounded.
"He denies that also. Says Summer made it up and threatened to expose him if he didn't give her a Hummer and a Porsche."
Anna and Ryan both sat back in their chairs, stunned. "He's twisted everything around."
Ryan snorted. "I suppose Summer's mom 'fell', too."
"Yep. Fell." Sandy shook his head.
"Hey." Seth opened the door the Summer's room. "You in here?"
Receiving no response, he stuck his head through the doorway. "You're not lying on the floor in here having a panic attack and trying to be invisible again, are you?" He checked carefully on the other side of the bed. "Cuz it's working this time, if you are." He waved at the bare carpeting.
"I'm right here, Cohen."
He turned quickly, and she was right behind him, rolling her eyes.
"Oh. Hey. I didn't really think, you know, that…" He pointed to the floor.
"Whatever." She grabbed his arm, and led him across her room, sinking gratefully into the couch.
"You ok?" Seth took a seat beside her, surprised when she motioned for him to lie down. She leaned into the corner end of the couch, and he stretched out on his back with his head on her lap.
"The question is – are you ok?"
"I'm – well, yeah. No. I'm completely freaked out." No sense denying it. She'd had to drive the Hummer home, he'd been so stunned by the accusations. His hands were still shaking.
She stroked his hair back off of his forehead. "How bad was it?"
"It was freakishly bad. I seriously kept looking around, waiting for Ashton to pop up and tell me I was being Punk'd. I wanted so badly to laugh out loud at the funny, funny joke, but the moron of a lawyer was all red-faced and irate at the GALL of my actions, and the pervert was sitting there looking all outraged at the mere THOUGHT of me beating the hell out of you, his precious, precious daughter. So noble and righteous – he actually said he still loves you dearly even after your betrayal, and he's far more worried about getting justice for you than the fact that he's sitting in jail for something he didn't do. I almost puked." He made a face and shuddered, remembering it.
"OhMyGod. He was IN there?" She was consumed with guilt, sure that she should have seen this kind of thing coming from her devious father. "I'm sorry, Cohen."
"Don't even, Summer. It's his fault."
A tap sounded on the door, and Sandy came in, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "You guys doin' all right?"
"Oh, hey. Just fabulous." Seth pulled himself upright, preparing to pepper his dad with questions, now that the shock had worn off. "Wha -?"
Summer beat him to it. "Bottom line; can he actually get away with this?"
Seth looked from her to his dad. "Yeah. That."
"Maybe. Probably not. There are details he doesn't know that can easily throw suspicion back on him. But … I'm guessing that his story will be leaked to the press, by someone in his camp of course, and you two will come out looking like Bonnie and Clyde."
Seth shook his head. "I can't do a fedora or a newsboy. I don't look good in hats." He took a quick look at Summer. "You, however? Hot. Totally."
"Shut up, Cohen. Sandy, this will help the business aspect like, a lot, won't it?"
"I suppose it will. His company will probably stay stable if the public has the option to believe he's not a rapist/murderer. By blaming someone else, he gives them that option. Of course, neither of your names have been or will be mentioned because it's a rape case and because you're under age, but this is Newport Beach. Everyone knows, and it will get out."
Seth snorted. "And since we're just rich, supposedly spoiled, teenaged kids, and he's a respected businessman, most people will assume his version is what really happened. Another of the top ten reasons why being in high school sucks; everyone believes a lying, sicko pervert before they'd believe a kid. This is just – ridiculous."
"Listen, guys, I'll talk to some people tomorrow and see if I can't come up with enough solid evidence against him to make him recant. They haven't charged you with anything yet, so just relax. I'm sure you'll be required to speak with Will tomorrow, Summer, so be prepared. I'll make sure it's late in the day so I can go in there with you fully prepared to invalidate the bastard's story."
"Ok. Thanks." Summer gave him a weak smile.
"Yeah, dad, thanks. I'm –uh – really glad you're … you know."
"I know, son. Both of you try to get some rest tonight. Everything's gonna be ok." Sandy left, closing the door softly behind him.
"Hey, dad!" Seth yelled at the door.
It opened again. "What, Seth?"
He lowered his voice. "Can you make sure Mom doesn't come up? I mean, please?"
There was a moment of silence. "Son, you're putting me in a terrible position."
"C'mon, please, Dad?"
More silence.
"Ok, how about this? We'll stay dressed. Even if she does come up, she shouldn't lose it too badly."
"Yeah, yeah, ok. But if she does come up, my name is NOT mentioned. I am not sanctioning your sleeping together, clothed or not." Sandy sighed.
"Deal. Night, Dad."
The door closed again.
Summer shook her head. "You're terrible."
"I knew that already. Do you really want to be by yourself tonight?"
She stared at him.
"Ok, I'll admit it. I don't want to be by MYSELF tonight. Is that so bad, that I – uh, kinda need you?"
She half-smiled and shook her head, touched by his honesty.
"Good. Now I'd do something romantic, like carry you over to the bed, but shlepping you around so much has got my arm hurting."
"Told you so."
"It's annoying when you're right."
"I'm always right. Learn it, live it, love it." She smiled sweetly.
"How about if you carry me to the bed?"
"In your dreams, Cohen."
"Speaking of dreams, let me tell you about this one I had. We were in the mountains at a ski lodge –"
"Eww. Snow. Cold. New dream."
"Must you deny me my own dream at a time like this?"
"Yes. Cold makes me all tense and I'm already tense enough. How about a dream about the ocean and a tropical island, where it's all warm and lovely and none of this stuff ever happened and we can lie around in a hammock big enough for both of us under palm trees sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them like lazy, normal people without a care in the world?"
"Can I not have a little umbrella in my drink in this dream? It's kinda frou-frou."
"I think I can edit out a tiny umbrella." She sighed. "The sacrifices I make for you…"
"And yet they show me how much you really care." He kissed her. "I appreciate the sacrifices, Summer."
"You too." She looked away, still feeling the guilt of the situation.
"Hey, let's watch a movie or something. Get our minds off stuff."
"Good idea. You pick."
Seth got up and went to his room, looking through his collection of DVD's. He heard her in the doorway and turned, curious. "You think of one you want to see?"
"No. Actually, um…" She crossed her arms, seeming a bit shy. "Did you print out any of that stuff you've been finding online? I mean, about me?"
"About abuse and violent attacks? Yeah, I've got it all here." He opened a drawer in his computer desk and sorted out several stacks of papers, going through them and stapling the pages of different articles together. "I'm, uh, not all that organized sometimes. But they're all together in the right order now." He held them out her, watching as she just stared at them. "You look as though you may be sick. You don't HAVE to read these, you know."
Her voice was soft. "I know. It's just - it's easier to shove it out of my thoughts. Denial, I suppose is what I've been doing. At the meeting I could pretend it was all about everyone else. Reading this stuff will make it like it really happened. I mean, it happened, I KNOW that, but …."
" … confronting it is hard, Summer. If you're not ready, it's ok. This is all on your time schedule, not anyone's else's."
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, drinking in the concern and affection radiating from him. "I think I owe it to myself, and you, to do whatever I can to get past this." She held out her hand, and he gently dropped the stack of articles into it. Her voice lowered to a whisper. "I couldn't do this without you. Any of it."
"I know for a fact that you can do anything you want to, with or without anyone else. I'm just glad you'll accept my help." He smiled softly. "So I'm on my own with the movie?"
"I'll keep one eye on it with you."