A/N: So thanks for all your reviews, I'm so happy that lots of you are reading and enjoying it enough to leave a comment!
Somebody's Dark Angel: I love that song too! and I thought it kind of summed up that stage of their relationship, so i'm glad you agreed!
Anyway, I know this post is very short and I'm sorry, but i think it works better for this to be alone as a set up for the next couple of chapters which are quite lengthy. Hope you enjoy it!
Ryan and Marissa had watched the whole saga unfolding from across the hall. From their point of view, it seemed as though it was all going so well, their body language in particular suggested that they were back to the good old days.
But in an instant, that had all changed. Now all they could see of Summer was her silky hair bouncing behind her as she dashed out of the hall and Seth stood alone, in the centre of the dance floor, his face bearing a look of total devastation.
Ryan and Marissa exchanged shocked glances and Marissa made to go after Summer, but placing one hand on her arm Ryan stopped her. "I'll go" he offered "You stay and enjoy the dance"
Marissa looked a little taken aback; she was unsure what Ryan would have to say that would be of any comfort to Summer, but she trusted him so she just nodded. "Ok. I'll check on Seth"
"Thanks" Ryan leaned down and kissed her lightly on the cheek before shooting a concerned look at Seth and hurrying out of the hall after Summer.
Five minutes later he found her. She was sat in the outside dining area of the school with her knees pulled tightly up to her chest. Her slender body rocked back and forth in the chair as tears came streaming down her face.
Suddenly she caught sight of Ryan out of the corner of her eye and hastily tried to wipe away her tears. "Hey" She said, summoning enough strength to at least say that without breaking down.
"Hi" Ryan looked a little uncertain as he saw how upset she was, but renewing his resolve he pulled up a chair and sat down next to her.
"Listen, you can tell me to butt out if you want to, but for what it's worth…he won't hurt you again."
"What are you talking about Ryan?" Summer feigned ignorance although his words made perfect sense.
"Seth…you and Seth" Ryan could tell that he was the last person Summer would have chosen to open up to about this, but he was determined to make her listen.
"Look, I get it ok" he began, looking her straight in the eye "You're scared. When Seth left you didn't realise it was possible to feel that much pain and the last thing in the world you want is to do that all over again. So you tell yourself that you'll never put yourself in another position where it's possible to hurt that much ."
Summer gave a short sardonic laugh; he had pretty much just voiced exactly what was going through her own head. "How did you know?"
"Summer I have been hurt and abandoned by too many people in my life not to recognise the signs." He looked down for a moment, he wasn't really comfortable talking about these things, but he knew he had to…for Seth's sake. "But you can't let it rule your life Sum…or your heart."
Summer looked up at him as the tears that were pricking her eyelids threatened to fall again "But what if it doesn't work out? What if…"
"Summer you can go through a million 'What ifs' and still never know. Sometimes you just have to take that chance." He noticed Summer's face which was still looking slightly doubtful "There are never any guarantees with this kind of thing Sum. But when you take the risk with the right person…" Ryan's eyes took on a slightly wistful look "Well it's definitely worth it." He finished.
"And Seth, do you think he's the right person?"
"He adores you Summer, these past few months have torn him apart. So I'd say he's about as low-risk as you're going to get"
Summer gave a gentle smile, her first one since she left Seth's arms. "Thanks Ryan. You know I don't think I've ever heard you talk so much!"
"Yeah well…if I'd never taken that leap of faith with Marissa…" he broke off and looked away, the consequence of that seemed too awful to contemplate. "Besides..." He said, pulling himself together again "Seth's been threatening to steal my crown as King of Brooding at the Cohen's"
Summer laughed got out of her chair. "Seriously Ryan…Thanks"
Ryan just shrugged modestly "Go on…" he said "Go and get the old Seth back"
Thanks for reading, again, sorry it was short but I think (hope!) you'll all like the next one. Anyway, please review!