Chapter 10 - The Death and Changes

Summer awoke at about 4:00 in the morning, to find Nathan's arms wrapped around her, and the smell of alcohol, and cheap-ass perfume on his clothes. He had probably been with some girl, but it wasn't like it had effected her. Her and Nathan could really never be again. She laid there awake for a couple of minutes, before deciding she wanted to get a drink of water. As she was walking down the stairs, she saw a shadow outside her front doors, which scared her. She walked over to the door, and opened it. She saw Seth sitting on her porch with his head in his hands, and his body shaking.

"Hello?" Summer asked.

Seth raised his head, and turned around, with tears streaming down his face. He stood up, and stood right in front of Summer. She felt terrible for thinking he was crying over her, but it was obviously something much bigger. He stood there still, just looking at her, as he tried to stop crying. Summer almost started crying herself, seeing someone like Seth cry.

"What happened?" Summer asked.

"My cousin was in a car accident, and she died. I was closer to her then anyone I've ever known. And now she's dead. I had to go home and see my parents crying, and had to find out why, at 3:00 in the morning. And for some reason, I ran away, and came here." Seth said, in about 2 minutes, because he was trying hard to get his breath back.

Summer stood there in her skanky night gown, and wasn't sure what to do. Then, she pulled her arms out, in a comforting way, and pulled him into a hug. She grabbed his as tight as she could, and didn't let go. He held her harder then she held him, and she felt terrible. Seth had stopped crying now. Summer hugged him for a good 2 minutes, and then leaned up and kissed his cheek, and pulled away, looking at him.

She waited a few seconds. "Seth. I–I'm so, I'm so sorry this is happening to you."

He didn't say anything too, but looked at her like he understood. Summer was scared, she'd never seen Seth like this before.

"Are you going to be okay?" She asked, but felt stupid for even letting the words come out of her mouth.

He just looked back at her. Then, he moved towards this room off to the side of the front entry. He sat on the bed that looked welcoming, and rest his head on his hand. Summer stood in the hall looking at him in his pain, the pain from the death, and the pain that she'd caused him for being the drama queen she was. She walked in there, and sat down right next too him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and shifted so that she was holding him. He cried all over her shoulder, and she held the back of his head, and kept telling him to let it all out. He lifted his head, and she wiped his tears from his eyes. She smiled at him.

"It's going to be okay Seth. I'll be here for you. Your cousin is in a better place. And I –- I know, I know that doesn't fix things, but it can help better them. But you don't need to try and be strong, let it out, because it will help you in the end." Came out of her mouth.

Seth hadn't said much of anything since he told her about his cousin. She could understand where he was at. Her mother had just left her and her father when she was younger, and never sent a note or anything. She couldn't count how many nights she'd cried herself to sleep. When she concentrated again, felt Seth's grip on her back get tighter. She was sure now that the petty thing she was mad at him about, would phase over. She wasn't even mad at him anymore. She wasn't sure what to do. Seth sat there, staring into her eyes, and she did the same back. Next thing she knew, Seth had moved in, and kissed her softly on her lips. She was wrapping her arms around his neck, and situating her self around his lap. They had a few short soft kisses, before pulling away. They sat on the bed transfixed into each other's eyes, speaking without speaking. Summer was kneeling now, so she was slightly above him. Seth leaned in and grandma-kiss pecked her on her lips. Then, as if he couldn't handle it any longer, he took her face in his hands, and began to kiss her with passion. Her hand inched towards his face, as they slowly but surely fell back onto the bed. The kiss got heavier. Summer wasn't even thinking about Nathan who was just upstairs. Summer and Seth kissed for a good 10 minutes, just kissing each other. She pulled away, and sat up on the bed, and turned her head to the side. She didn't want to just have kissed him, she knew she liked him, but it wasn't suppose to happen like this. She has pretty much kissed him because the moment was right, somewhat anyways. She felt bad because she was worried about all this, when Seth's cousin had died, and he was just lying on the bed, probably wondering what she was thinking.

Summer got up. "I think I'm going to go to sleep, night." She said.

She felt dumb as she walked upstairs, and cruel. They'd just made out for almost 10 minutes, she pushed him off of her, and said she was going upstairs to sleep with Nathan, pretty much. Why would she do that to Seth? This wasn't a time to play a hot and cold game with Seth. Summer got half-way up the stairs, before turning around and meeting Seth in the door way of the guest room. She stared deep into his eyes.

"I'm sorry." She said. "I guess I freaked out." She looked down at her hott pink toes.

"It's alright. I understand." Seth said sort of choked up. "Is Nathan still here?" He said, trying to distract himself from his cousin's death.

"Yeah." Summer said. "But he's leaving tomorrow, I just brought him up here because I wanted to make you jealous..." She cut herself off. "Oh my god. I'm so mean. Way to go super-bitch."

Seth touched her arm with comfort. "It's okay. I guess we know we like each other now though, right?"

Summer was almost hesitant to say that she liked him. Probably because ever since she showed up in Laguna Beach she was chased after. She never had to tell a boy she liked him, they told her that they liked her. She liked the chase, just as much as some boys did. She liked to be chased and loved by others. It was hard for her to admit how much she liked Seth, which was terrible, because she liked him a lot.

"Y–Yeah." She slightly stuttered.

Seth clocked that she had stuttered. "So you're not sure?" He asked her, catching her off-guard.

"What?" She asked him.

"You stuttered, like you didn't really want to say it. I know that my cousin died, but I can deal with pain pretty well Summer. I am a little concerned that you just kissed me and now you're acting like you could care less about me. You just walked upstairs, and now you're acting like you're saying you like me, because of my current situation. Which is bullshit. Tell me how it is. If you don't like me, then don't tell me okay?" Seth let it out all on the line. He probably wouldn't have said any of what he just said if he wouldn't have been so upset.

Summer had a look of shock on her face. Her mouth was partially open, and she wasn't sure what to say. Should she tell him he was completely wrong? Tell him how much she really liked him?

"– - - Yeah. Well, I'm just going to go. It's not like I've never made out with a girl that didn't like me before. I guess I read you wrong for the last month and a half Summer." He walked swiftly past her, and had his hand on the door knob.

Summer walked up behind him. She touched his shoulder softly, and he turned around.

"It's not like that Seth." She started out. "I do like you. . . . a lot. You probably have no idea how much I like you. It's just... I'm sort of stuck in the Laguna phase where I'm used to the boys chasing me, and playing hot and cold. I'm not used to having to say that I have feelings for a guy, unless I'm in a relationship. I– I just... I don't know."

She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was semi-sympathetic. "Why didn't you just tell me?" He asked her.

She couldn't answer. She just shrugged her shoulders, and tried to fight the tears coming up in her eyes, but she couldn't. She broke down, and fell onto the cold marble floor. She covered her face with her hands, and started crying harder. She wasn't quite sure why she was crying so hard, but it just hit her all at once. Everything, all of her emotions. How her father was never there, how her mother had just left, how her step-mother was an addict, how her ex-boyfriend was a player, how she wanted to be accepted so bad, how much she liked Seth, how much she liked kissing Seth, how much she liked to feel of touching Seth. Everything just pounded her like one of those bouncy balls 3rd graders love to throw around. Seth felt very upset for her, even though he was having a tragedy, he felt compelled to have Summer on his mind first. He reached down, and touched her shoulder.

"If it's any conciliation, I really like you Summer. I have since I first saw you at that charity event."

She looked up at him through her misted eyes, and smiled, laughing while having rain drops of tears in her eyes. He leaned down and kissed her lips softly, and gave her a hug.

"I have to go." He said. "My family is going to wonder where I am." He kissed her cheek, and her forehead, and left her house. Summer felt terrible that Seth was worrying about their status together, instead of his family. She decided she'd crash on the couch, while watching Romeo and Juliet, where Leo was SO hott. She passed out right before they first saw each other, and slept until 8 or 9 in the morning.

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Next Chapter:

Seth's cousin?

Summer & Seth?

Nathan leaving?