Confrontations

Marissa stayed true to her word and made sure everyone knew about Summer's sex debacle, at least everyone on their floor and not surprisingly Ryan. Summer lost it when she coaxed out of Marissa the conversation her and Ryan were having on the phone when she hastily interrupted. Summer could care less that she was teased with sexual inuendos from the guys on their floor, but when she knew that Marissa had told Ryan her biggest fear was that it would get back to Seth.

Seth and Summer's relationship had hit the fan somewhere between enroling in college and graduation. It had been one big blur that she seldom analyzed or talked about, even to Marissa, who held almost all her dearest secrets. It was a petty, ridiculous argument that left them both stubbornly clinging to their side of the story. As a result the fantastic four were separated for a week before Marissa had enough of it and forced them to eat at the diner together. Marissa had purposely prepositioned herself beside Ryan in the booth so Seth and Summer had to sit together. It was not their finest hour but progress had been made. Within the next week they were all able to hang out together with minimal bickering, but minimal for Seth and Summer was still at a pretty sever level. This time however Summer didn't put a stop to it with a flirty slap across his arm nor did Seth pull her close and kiss her hair. Summer reverted back to Pre-Anna phase and constantly teased him and his manhood. Seth constantly reminded her of how much of a bitch she could be. It really was back to old times.

Summer had been lying in bed with the covers over her head for hours. She hadn't been able to fall back asleep and she had no desire to get up and motivate herself to do something. Marissa had gone to breakfast with Ryan hours ago. She would most likely spend the rest of the afternoon with him doing god knows what, though she knew quite well what they were probably doing. She wondered what Seth did when they would stumble through the door, already attached at the mouth and groping each other. Marissa was polite about giving Summer her time and space to find something to do when they wanted their "alone time". She doubted Ryan gave Seth many options.

"Seth...," Ryan mumbled against Marissa's lips as he backed her into his dorm room. He was hoping he was out skateboarding or studying in the library.

"Yup, I'm here," Seth said from his computer. "I'll be right out of your way," he said putting up an away message and grabbing his coat. He didn't need to face them to no what they were up to. He barely looked at them as he slipped through the door but said as a joke, "Be safe." Ryan kicked the door shut and met half way with Marissa's mouth.

Seth stood outside the door, slipping his coat on, and realized he had no where to go nor did he have anything to do. He almost regreted rooming with Ryan. Whenever he turned his back it was Ryan and Marissa making out. Thank god they had devised a no sex pack after 5 everday so Seth could get some sleep. He didn't mind that Marissa slept over sometimes, as long as he wasn't awoken by a moaning quaking mattress beneath him as he was on the top bunk. They had a special knock to signify if the room was Marissa-less. Marissa-less for the pure fact that Ryan would never have to use the knock on Seth. Seth had barely looked at another girl since Summer. He wished things would go back to "the way they were", as he often rambled to Ryan. Pre-Oliver, Post-Anna, such happier times for the fantastic four. He missed having her to escape to, especially when he got kicked out of his room. They still remained friends, but they rarely ever hung out alone except when Ryan and Marissa left the table early at dinner or they ran into each other going to class. It was no doubt awkward but there was still a twinge of normalcy, a light at the end of the tunnel.

Seth had forgotten to grab his skateboard in his hurry to leave. He supposed he had no other choice then to truge around in his converses. That's when he remembered Ryan's bike chained outside. Of course he knew the combination, he had purposely looked over his shoulder, memorizing it for moments like this. He decided to take a nice long bike ride to clear his head. It was boogled of course with thoughts of Summer and his awaiting homework upstairs, but Summer was first and foremost, always first and foremost.

When Summer had exhausted her brain and could no longer stare at the comforter grazing her eyelashes she decided it was time to get up. She threw the blankets off heaving a sigh of boredom. She practically crawled to her desk where she slumped heavily into the seat. She unclicked from being away where a message from Kyle was awaiting her. "I don't know what happened last night but it's cool. I have your clothes." It all came rushing back and all Summer could do was drop her head in disgust, letting it hit against the desk. Her experience, if you can even call it that, was no doubt up their in the top 10 funniest college sex stories, but it was also amongst the sluttiest, at least in her book. What made it even worse was that Kyle had no idea what happened to her, but he seemed not to have cared. The sex was apparently that bad, or he really is a manwhore. She just should have listened to Marissa in the first place.

"Um yeah, right," Summer wrote back, really having no idea what to say. It worked out fine because Kyle didn't need an explanation and offered to bring her clothes down to her dorm. She contemplated getting dressed or at the very least fixing her hair but couldn't have cared less. She actually wanted to look like hell for Kyle, and that she did, noticing her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was in a loose ponytail, drooping down her neck with wispies sticking out in all directions. She had on a black tank top and baggy flannel pants, no make up. That was a truely rare occasion for Summer to leave the room looking completely disheveled.

She made her way down the stairs. The tiles were cold on her bare feet and she realised she probably could have at least slipped on some sandals. When she reached the front stoop there were several people out smoking and chatting away. They glanced in her direction as she came out the door and she self consciously ran her hands through her hair, attempting to tame it. Kyle was obviously late so she cleaned a spot on the steps to sit on. Nestling her head in her hands she realised how ridiculous it would look to be handed over a pile of clothes. It almost made her feel guilty, like she was cheating on Seth. They had been apart five months although it felt more like a year, yet it was still fresh in her heart. She didn't know why she had gone to Kyle's that night. Sow her "wild oats" perhaps? It was supposed to make her feel whole again but it only succeeded in making her miss Seth more. Sex with Kyle was like getting proded and poked haphazardly but with Seth it was real and it was intimate. Nothing could compare to... "Cohen?"

Seth had been riding along but came to a screeching halt at the sound of his name, or rather the familiar voice that said it. He pedaled over in her direction and stopped out front of her. "Hi," he said at a lack of words.

"Since when do you ride a bick Cohen?" she inquired to break the ice.

Seth held his hand up on his forehead shielding his eyes to get a better look at her. "Since I stole it from Ryan. And since when do you hang out in your pjs outside at... 12:30?" he asked checking his watch.

It figures he has to be here at this precise moment, she thought. Of all people she expected to see he was certainly not one of them. What a perfectly inopportune time to ride by. Maybe if she had kept her mouth shut he wouldn't have noticed her presence and kept going. The thought of him and then suddenly seeing him left her mouth little time to object from yelling out. "Um I just needed some fresh air." It was technically a lie but the fresh air did make her feel better.

"Rough night last night?" he asked with a smirk.

For a fleeting second she thought Seth knew what happened. But there was no way he could have known, and that she was thankful. She needed to get him to leave, now. It had been several minutes. Kyle would be there anytime now. "I don't mean to be rude but I'm actually gonna head back up now."

"Oh," Seth said a little defeated. He brightened at the thought of following her. "Um... can I come with you?"

Summer hesitated, noticably.

Perhaps that was a little too forward. "Oh, it's ok. Never mind, I should actually go to the gym and lift."

Summer let escape a chuckle. "You lift weights Cohen?" She used any excuse just to say his name, to hear herself say his name.

"Is that so hard to believe Summer?"

"With those chicken arms?... yes," she said jestering toward his now crossed arms.

Seth looked down flashing his dimples. "Fine I lied... I thought I was Ryan for a second."

Summer smiled. I lied too, she thought. "Come on Cohen." She motioned for him to follow. He didn't even bother locking up Ryan's bike. She didn't know if this was such a great idea inviting Seth to her room but with everything that had happened it might feel good to have him in her presense. "Um I'll meet you up to my room, I have to go to the bathroom." She glanced behind her at the same time and noticed Kyle making his way up the stairs. "Go," she persisted.

"Gees I'm going woman."

Summer smiled briefly until she turned back around towards Kyle. He came to the top of the stairs carrying her boots in one hand and the rest of her clothes in the other. They made eye contact but hardly knew what to say. He made the first attempt. "Ah, here are your clothes. Don't worry about what happened but I gotta split."

Summer barely had time to reply before he turned his back. "Thanks," she replyed weakely, "I guess..." She checked through her clothes and realised her favorite bra was missing. "Fuckin perv," she said as she turned to walk through the door.

"Who's a perv?" Seth was standing in front of her. She met his eyes but couldn't read them. Her face was full of guilt, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. Had he seen Kyle leave or was he just teasing her?

"Ah no one," she practically whispered as she pushed past him.

to be continued...

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