Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with The OC

A/N; Wow, I'm actually kind of overwhelmed by the response this story is getting, so thank you all so much! I decided to thank you all with another chapter, soI hope you like it! The reason that the updates are so fast is because I have lots of chapters sitting there waiting to be posted, sothere should be new chapters fairly regularly!

Seth got up out of his chair and grinned around the room "Good job guys! Next week I think maybe we'll tackle the eternal 'Is it possible for a woman to be a real superhero?' debate."

Five of the Six other people sitting round the room nodded enthusiastically at the prospect and, unable to contain their excitement until the next week, began animatedly discussing the great mysteries of life thrown up by comic books.

The sixth person however, simply sighed and looked at his watch, relieved that it was over, but still a little baffled at how they could have discussed the most effective Super Hero transport for nearly 2 hours. "Seth, I can't believe you talked me into joining your Comic Book Club"

"Come on Ryan, you offered! Besides you like comic books"

Ryan just sighed and picked his school bag off the floor. It was true; he had offered to come with Seth. It was the his latest attempt to make Seth get out of the house a bit more and try and retain some semblance of a life after Summer. He had a feeling however that Seth wasn't quite appreciating that he had only endured the past few hours out of concern for him, not a new found passion for graphic novels.

"I have to go my locker and then I promised Marissa I'd go and meet her so I'll see you at home?" Ryan asked but Seth didn't respond, he was lost in a new comic book that he had just been lent to him. "Seth?" Ryan snapped.

"What?" Seth finally tore his eyes away from the book to notice Ryan's face that was growing more impatient by the second "Yeah sure I'll see you at home dude" He waved a hand vaguely and returned his attention to the Comic in his hand.

Ten minutes later, having found an appropriate place to stop reading and having realised that he was now the only one left in the room, Seth gathered his things together and made his way out into the quad. Unfortunately, Water Polo practice had been let out at the same time, so several Abercrombie and Fitch look a likes were congregated such that he would have to walk right through them all just to get out. "Damnit" he sighed to himself.

Now that he had Ryan, the abuse he received at the hands of other kids had lessened substantially, but he was well aware that he was still an easy target for their ridicule when he was on his own. Bracing himself and fixing his gaze firmly on the floor he carried on walking but was shunted out of the way by the athletic build of a six foot jock who backed into him as he joked around with his mates.

"Hey watch it Geek" He said turning on Seth, who just rolled his eyes slightly and lifted his hand in apology.

Unfortunately, however, this exchange had drawn the rest of the group's attention to Seth's presence and it seemed unlikely that he would be allowed to pass through the rest of them without comment.

"What are you doing here so late Cohen? Oh wait…I forgot, it's Queers Anonymous after school today isn't it!" All his friends laughed at his juvenile humour.

"Wow yes that is funny" Seth murmured "I see you didn't bother using the summer to find some new material"

"What did you say?" Several of the lads strode closer to Seth and began to push him around slightly. "Why don't you just go home and listen to your emo crap, queer?"

Seth gritted his teeth but pushed further through the group of them, glad to see the end in sight "Gladly" he muttered. He found it a little galling to be lectured on music by guys who thought that The Black Eyed Peas were the height of musical cool.

Across the Quad, Summer had just been let out of her after school detention and had witnessed the whole scene with Seth. Her heart went out to him as she watched some brainless jackases laying in to him. They didn't know Seth and they would never bother to try. They were happy to simply judge him just because he was a little different to them. As far as Summer was concerned however, it was their loss. Somebody like Seth could open their eyes to something beyond the world of Water Polo and getting wasted, he could show them something real. Not that they deserved it, she had absolutely no time for people who were that self-involved.

Summer was just about to walk over and intervene, or at least lend her support when she spotted a petite, attractive brunette walk over to the group that were gathered around Seth. The girl proceeded to flirt shamelessly with some of the Water-Polo players before turning to Seth with her hands on her hips and looking him up and down with a look of distain on her face.

"No wonder Summer finally dumped you, freak. It was only a matter of time before she woke up and saw what a loser you are. She knows what kind of people she really belongs with." The girl spun on her heel and continued to flirt with the guys behind her while Seth took the opportunity to walk off in the direction of his house.

Across the quad, Summer felt like she suddenly couldn't breathe. She slumped against the wall behind her and ran her hand frantically through her hair. The significance of what she'd just heard began to sink in.

That girl represented everything that she used to be…the scene she had just witnessed was one that she had played a part in previously. Those were kind of people she had belonged with…and that was the kind of person she had been

Summer took a deep breath and at that moment all of Seth's fears made perfect sense. When Ryan had left, Seth was worried that she would abandon him…that she would once again become that girl.

"Hey Sum" Summer looked up startled as Marissa's voice broke into her reverie.

Marissa looked concerned at her friend's demeanour "Sum…are you ok? You look like…like you've just seen a ghost" She laid a comforting arm around Summer's shoulder.

"Urm Marissa, last year…before Seth and I…before Ryan…before everything…what was I like?" Summer's eyes were wide and her lip trembled slightly.

"Sum, I don't understand what you mean. You were…you were just you"

"But I've changed haven't I? I mean I'm not…like I was" Summer glanced anxiously over to where the Water Polo players were still congregated and Marissa followed her friend's worried eyeline. Realising suddenly what was bothering Summer, Marissa turned her friend to face her.

"Sum, you were never really one of them, not on the inside. It's just that…when you were with Seth…we started to see the real you, what was in your heart, not just the front you put up for the rest of the world."

Summer smiled slightly and breathed a little easier. She wandered over to a nearby bench and Marissa followed, sitting herself down next to Summer unsure of what to say next.

"When I was with Seth…" Summer began "I asked him once if…if I was mean to him before we were together. And he said that I wasn't mean because…because I just didn't speak to him. But…it was worse than that wasn't it? I was worse than that" her voice trailed off at the end and she looked up at Marissa who shook her head consolingly and rubbed her hand gently over Summer's back.

"Sweetie it's all in the past. You can't beat yourself up about it now. All the people that matter know what you're really like"

Summer looked up at her friend, her eyes brimming with tears "Yeah but I get it now. I understand why he…no wonder he was scared" Summer couldn't say anymore. She broke down in Marissa's arms and all her pent up emotions flooded out in a torrent of hot tears as she realised what she had put Seth through.

A/N; Thanks for reading, hope that chapter wasn't too much or too sad or too...erm..anything!-let me know what you think!