Growing Up-

A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys :) I love em! Anyway this part isn't quite as long as the others but it's something right? I hope it's not too sappy or at least still to your liking.

The guy who plowed into Seth had a striking resemblance to Zach but thankfully it was not. Summer still took the sign as a clear wake up call. There were obviously many unresolved issues in her life that needed repairing before more damage errupted. Seth in turn had his own baggage. The voice had come from a girl the "Zach look-a-like" had also inadvertantly run into. Summer felt her heart drop out of her chest as her boyfriend beamed and reached out to give her a hug. Summer's worst fears were suddenly careening the surface from these god-for-saken encounters; maybe her and Seth just didn't work anymore. She was suddenly very sober and well aware of her jealousy, both to her utter disgust.

"Oh my god, how have you been?" Seth asked pulling away.

"Couldn't be better. I actually have a relationship with my parents and went back to school." Summer looked over her costume; her hair pixie in color and straight as a pin with streaks of red, horns coming through her hair, a goth black atire, and knee high boots not unlike her own. Had her jealousy not already kicked in she could have appreciated the finer details of the devil costume because it was almost as good as her own outfit, but not totally. Summer however was no devil but she could play devil's advocate. Alex and Seth had emerced themselves in what appeared to be a deep conversation but rather drunk babble. Seth had all but forgotten about Summer until she clasped her fingers into his protectively.

"Hi Summer," Alex greeted, finally aknowledging her presense.

Summer paused looking at both her and Seth before responding with a cold hello. Seth hadn't picked up on it and continued talking to her, occasionally animatedly gesturing with his hands and slipping his fingers out of Summer's. Pretty soon Summer gave up and walked to the bar for another drink. If she couldn't have her boyfriend she could always have a friend in alcohol. She searched around for a familiar face and spotted Marissa surprisingly alone. She was standing off to the side watching a heated game of beer die that Ryan obviously was a part of. Summer smiled as she walked over watching Marissa take a sip from her flask, her super hero assessory.

"Coop!"

"Heyyy Summm," she drawled out drunkenly. Her eyes narrowed, taking another sip. "Where's Seth?"

"With A..." Summer stopped, realising that not only did Seth have a history with Alex, so did Marissa. If it hadn't been beneficial to her own relationship she didn't want to burden her best friends' either. "Ahh bathroom." Marissa just nodded. She reached for Summer's hand and began dragging her through the crowd, waving over to Ryan to signify her absense. "Where are we going?"

"Outside. I need some fresh air." They stumbled up the stairs due to a combination of the alcohol, their shoes and the crowd of people that seemed to like to converge on the staircase. They finally made it outside and perched themselves on the porch steps, the sounds of the street now audible with only the quite rumble of music hidden within. "So, we haven't really talked lately. What's going on with you?"

Summer rose her eyebrows. Was she that transparent or was Marissa just asking in general what was up? "Um nothing. Same ol."

"How are you and Seth?" She took a sip from her flask and laid back on the step with her head resting on the top of the porch.

Without giving too much away she replied, "It's.. you know... it seems like the past just keeps coming back to haunt us."

"You mean because of Taylor?"

'Yes her... Alex... everything,' she thought. She really wanted things to be ok but she wasn't sure how to rectify the situation. Everything was so hard; college, relationships, the imminent future. It was hell. "Yeah," she answered softly with a small nod of her head.

"Yeah I think that's true of every relationship. Ryan and I certainly weren't smooth sailing, but pretty soon you realize it's all a waste, all the fights, all the arguments. Sooner or later you just have to grow up."

Summer grinned. "You know Coop, you should just drink all the time. You are quite the intelligent drunk." Marissa laughed and shoved her shoulder until she got a sad look on her face.

Her voice got really soft. "Sometimes I get scared." She peered up into Summer's wide eyes and hesitated to continue. If there was anyone she could tell though, it would be her. "Remember TJ?"

Summer's face scrunched up and she pouted her lips. "How could I forget? I thought I lost you." An unspoken understanding seered between them and they were soon embracing each other. "Coop, you're happy now right?"

She finally smiled, her eyes still glossy. "Yeah, couldn't be happier... I missed this." Her happiness was suddenly shot down by the presense of a police car pulling up along the side of the road. "Oh shit." She bolted off the steps and yanked Summer back into the house. Luckily Marissa found Ryan immediately but Seth was a different story. Summer reached into her purse for her cell phone noticing she had 5 missed calls from Seth. As she flipped it open it started vibrating.

"Hey where are you?" she heard into the phone.

"Getting the hell out of here," she answered coolly. "The cops are on their way to break it up."

"Shit... meet me out back." Summer snapped it shut without a reply and followed Ryan and Marissa out the back entrance. As she spotted Seth she noticed the fleeting black skirt and blonde hair slip around the side of the house. "Hey where did you go?" he asked, reaching for her hand, but she pulled it back.

"With Coop. Did you have fun?" she asked with thick sarcasm.

"What?" he asked a little angry.

Ryan stepped between them. "Guys can this wait? We gotta get going." They weaved their way through the back streets until they split ways and went back to their dorms, Marissa following Ryan, and Seth walking a step behind Summer.

When they were finally alone he broke the silence. "What's wrong?" he said grabbing her arm to stop her.

"Cohen I don't want to argue, I just want to go to bed," she pleaded.

"Who says we're arguing? I just want to know what's wrong." She ignored him and pushed open the door to the stairway. Seth sighed and followed her. As soon as she got in her room she stripped off her clothes and put on some pjs.

"Is this about Alex?" Seth finally asked as he took a seat on Marissa's bed.

Summer turned from her bureau and crossed her arms over her chest with a "well duh" look on her face.

"Were you jealous?"

"I'm going to bed," she said defiantly, skirting away from the conversation at hand. "You can leave now."

"What?" he asked a little hurt. "I'm not going anywhere. I have no where to go."

"Fine." She pulled back her blankets and climbed into bed, turning onto her side away from him. "You can sleep in Marissa's bed then," she mumbled sleepily.

"No." Seth went over and brushed her shoulder to turn towards him. She denied his touch. "Will you just talk to me?"

"Seth! I said I'm tired." Her eyes bore into him. She grabbed her pillow and angrily slapped it over her head. He defeatedly slumped over to his new bed and slipped off his shoes. He went to flick off the light and gave her one last look before laying down on Marissa's bed. Except he couldn't sleep. After ten minutes of laying there he got up and stood over Summer. He reached for her and she didn't move. She had passed out easily after the alcohol and the days events. Her tiny frame was wrapped up in her pillow and her head was leaning against the wall. Seth grinned. He wasted no time in comtemplating his next move but crawled into bed with her and protectively wrapped his arms around her. If he couldn't talk to her he atleast had to be near her, even if she was unconscious. He weaved his fingers in her hair and played with the strands lazily until sleep finally took him.

Summer suddenly jolted from her sleep, springing fullyto life, as she often did after passing out. She never could explain why it was a sudden and violent awakening but she didn't have much time to contemplate the issue as she stretched and clanked her head against the wall. It phased her for a whole three seconds before she felt the warmth radiating off her backside and the arm slumped over her stomach. Despite her anger towards him last night she had to smile. He could never get enough of her and truthfully she could never get enough of him either. 'Sooner or later you just have to grow up.' Marissa's words resignated over Summer as if she were floating above her. She was right of course, but it didn't make it easy. In any other relationship she probably would have gotten freaked out but this was Seth, her Seth. Alex had meant nothing to him right? But why did she have a pit in her stomach? She needed to talk to him. "Cohen," she whispered in his ear. "Wake up." She ruffled his hair and traced lines over his face before tracing his lips. His mouth opened slightly and her finger fell through. His teeth clasped around it and she hit his shoulder. He woke up with a laugh. "Nice Cohen."

"Hey you started it. I was just enjoying it." She grinned before turning on her side so they were both facing each other, sharing her pillow. He reached out his hand and cupped her face, rubbing his thumb up and down her cheek. "I'm sorry if I upset you last night and I'm sorry I crawled in bed with you. I just can't fall asleep without you."

Summer's heart melted and she forgot all about her insecurities. "I love you Cohen." She moved so their bodies were one unit and captured his lips in her own. It was soft and sweet and neither tried to make it more. The intoxication of their lips and tongues was enough. "I'm sorry too," she mouthed after they finally broke. Her voice broke and grew softer. "I was jealous of her." Her eyes cast down into the sheets. "You slept with her..."

He reached under her chin and pulled her sad eyes in his direction. "Summer I've only ever been with you. Alex and I never slept together."

Summer's eyes rose in indignation. "You didn't? I thought you guys were shakin up?"

"I fell asleep at her place while watching a movie, once."

She exhaled a chuckle deep in her throat. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I was insanely jealous of Zach."

Their eyes locked. "I couldn't sleep with him. We were all alone on Valentine's Day..." Seth's head drouped but she picked it back up. "but the only person I saw was you. Cohen... it's always been you." Seth's heart skipped and his dimpled grin shone wide at the utterance of the words he had expressed to her three long years ago. His grin was always more sincere then a full toothed smile. And it always, always got to her. His dimples turned her into puty. He wasted no time and bore his lips onto hers.

"I love you," he whispered onto her lips. She smiled into the kiss but cut it short.

An overwhelming wash of guilt stole her body and she dissolved literally into the bed. She lifted her hands to her face, unable to look at him. ...Kyle... He didn't know and she wasn't sure she could tell himbut if she didn't it would haunt her. 'Sooner or later you just have to grow up.' Sooner or later? They had already shared so much. It had to be sooner rather than later.

Seth had instinctively reached out to her. "Hey, what's wrong? What did I do?"

"Nothing," she choked. "I did something," she mumbled behind her hands. "...someone," she uttered so softly.

He heard. "What?" His voice was full of hurt and Summer's heart broke for making him think the worst. She finally bared her face.

"No... before we got back together I spent the night with a guy." She couldn't bare to say slept with someone nor could she bare to say anything else for fear of what was to come. Seth tried to speak but his words failed him. She continued. "I had a few beers. I was lonely and upset. I missed you."

An unbearable silence broke between them that seemed to last forever. Finally Seth opened his mouth. "Summer... it's ok. Nothing matters but the present and the future. The past is meant for the good memories not the sad and regretful." And with that he brought her back to herself.

"I really do love you."

His eyes softened. "I know," he whispered. His hand weaved down her side and caressed the skin of her waist.

"Are we good?"

"We're better than good..."

Summer rolled onto his body and laid on his chest. He kissed her hair and wrapped his arms around her, rubbing circles on her back. "Get comfortable because I'm not leaving... ever." And she really meant it. It scared her terribly but at the same time she couldn't think of spending her love on anyone else. They really were growing up. Both of them had bared their soles. Only good things could happen from here on out... right?

I could really use some ideas for future chapters... thanksfor reading :)