A/N: Thanks to everybody who reviewed! Well this is a pretty long chapter (for me anyway!) but i don't really want to say anything about it until you've read it so...erm...here you go!

A few days later, Seth was making his way through school between classes, when he noticed a small group of girls gathered around the lockers where he was headed. They were the kinds of girls that he basically detested; cliquey, judgemental and self-obsessed, but he had a vague recollection that they were friends of Summer's so he offered a half smile and a brief wave as he passed, receiving only disdainful looks in return.

Reaching his classroom he smiled wryly to himself. He should have known better than to assume there was actually a heart or even a soul hidden beneath the copious layers of foundation. Soon, he instructed himself, he would learn that they weren't all like Summer; covering up their insecurities with a bitchy exterior. Some of them were just bitches.

Musing this, his thoughts wandered to Summer, as they were in the habit of doing during 80 percent of the day. The run in he had had with her and Marissa on Monday had left him feeling little better and this had sustained throughout the week. Despite this , and his continuing worries about her, he still looked forward to the evening that they had made plans to spend together that weekend, just the two of them.

Whatever was happening in his life, or hers, having her in his arms had the miraculous power of making the world seem just that bit brighter.

Slumping further into his desk and letting the teacher's words wash over him he sunk deeper into his reverie and pondered how, even now after all this time, it amazed him that Summer was his girlfriend. Summer Roberts; the most popular girl in school, had found space in her heart for him, Seth Cohen.

Sometimes, when they were out in public; holding hands, sharing a kiss or play fighting in the adorable way that only they knew how, he would be unable to wipe the smile off his face and surreptitiously pinch himself just to check it was all a reality.

He was sure that, for Summer, being with him was in no way so enthralling – If anything he was a step down for her. But most of the time, he didn't let this bother him. As long as she seemed happy he was content to sit back and admire the Goddess that he had somehow managed to get to fall for him…and he was careful to keep his goofy little neuroses to himself.

At the front of the class, the teacher dropped a large book on to the table, breaking into his thoughts and forcing him to remember where he was. Looking around, he noticed the similarly glazed expressions that were settled on the faces of his classmates, but he was pretty sure that none of their thoughts were being occupied by somebody they loved like he loved Summer…in fact he was pretty sure none of them had the first idea was love really was.

Two rows in front of him Katie McGovern was busy twisting her golden locks aimlessly around her fingers and staring out of the window. Ugh, Seth thought to himself, remembering that she had been standing with the group of girls that he had encountered on the way into class and this caused his mind to wander back to the cold reception he had received from them.

It wasn't that that kind of treatment was alien to him; god knows he'd experienced enough years of it, but despite this, every time it happened it just hammered home to him that he would never really fit in. Clearly he had been naïve to think that just because they were friends of Summer's they would be civil to him, or at least accept him.

Sighing, he sat back in his seat and stared fixedly at the clock at the front of the room; counting down the seconds. Surely, he only needed to get through this lesson, this day and then Summer could provide some respite from the hell they fondly referred to as school…he was sure she'd find some way to entertain him.

Sadly however, it was not to be that simple.

Seth heaved a great sigh of relief as the bell to signal the end of the day resounded around Harbor High. He slammed shut the books that were sprawled across his desk and hastily packed them into his bag. He certainly wasn't going to hang around school a moment longer than was necessary.

Standing up and shoving his chair back under his desk, he surveyed the classroom and quickly plotted the best route to the door; avoiding all the Newpsies-in-Training who were still carefully placing each book into their Gucci bags, fearful of breaking a nail.

Laughing softly to himself at the extent of their vanity Seth crossed the room and made it through the door and out to his locker unscathed.

As he slammed his locker door shut Seth noticed that animated voices were still coming from the classroom. This in itself was nothing extraordinary, but his ears pricked up and he edged closer to the door as he heard Summer's name mentioned.

"…What the Hell? Has Summer not asked you yet Zach?" Katie's shrill voice could be heard demanding from the classroom.

"What? Summer? I…er…no, we split up a while ago. I mean isn't she taking Seth?" To be fair to him, Zach sounded genuinely confused, but it was nothing to the uncertainty that was engulfing Seth at that moment.

"Seth Cohen?" Jen clarified, with a note of disgust in her voice. "Please…" she scoffed "…Like I want him at my party"

Despite the confusion and unease that Seth was suffering, he rolled his eyes at this comment. Clearly it had never occurred to Jen that being at her party might not be top on his list of priorities either.

"Summer was just going to ditch him for the night and go with you…" Katie clarified "…Or at least that was the plan" she added, unable to disguise the irritation in her voice.

"Isn't that a little harsh on Seth?" Zach asked, the sincerity in his tone making for a stark contrast with the affected voices of the girls.

"Oh come on…" Katie snapped, her patience with Zach's apparent conscience wearing thin "God knows how, but the guy is dating Summer,he's probably so shocked at her sudden lack of taste that he won't even notice…I mean, talk about out of his league" she finished in a patented, chirpy voice and several others girls could be heard giving cruel, high-pitched laughs.

Outside, Seth's heart hammered as he leant against the lockers. How could Summer not have said anything to him about this? He was under the misguided impression that they told each other everything.

At that instant Seth was overcome with doubt; was he really crazy to think Summer was serious about them? Was he stupid to think that he could ever be good enough for her?

He rubbed his face violently in his hands to try and erase some of the demons that were conquering his mind. Taking a deep breath, he gathered himself to go home but his heart sank as he heard the unmistakable tones of high heels approaching ever closer.

There was no time now to get sufficiently far away so he collapsed silently against the lockers and braced himself for the onslaught.

Coming around the corner, Katie immediately caught sight of Seth. Her eyes took on a malicious glint and a smug smile crept across her face as she realised that he must have heard every word. Far from being ashamed or embarrassed she was clearly delighted at the pain that was now etched across Seth's face.

"Sid…" she began perkily, determined to rub salt into any and every one of Seth's emotional wounds.

"It's Seth…" he corrected with indifference

"Whatever." She grinned and stepped closer to him, folding her arms across her chest "Why the sad face Cohen?" she asked, feigning concern "Surely you didn't think that you and Summer were actually going somewhere? That you were what she wanted?"

Seth gritted his teeth together but said nothing. He knew Summer better than anyone…and definitely better that some jumped up Newport whore like Katie McGovern.

She flashed him a patronising smile "You're not a part of her world Cohen…you never will be. You're just a phase…something to pass the time…someone to satisfy her brief desire for geeks and losers"

Seth exhaled heavily and looked up, straight into Katie's cold eyes "Not that it is any of your business, but Summer and I happen to be in love."

"Love?" Katie gave a shrill sardonic laugh before smothering her sniggers and assuming a mock-serious expression "Yeah ok Seth…and how long do you thing that's going to last?"

There was a brief silence and Katie raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow. She'd clearly struck a nerve, several she hoped.

She turned on her heel, content to leave Seth to stew over the pathetic shards of his life, but couldn't resist one parting shot as she walked away "You'll never give her what she wants Seth…it's not enough. Or should I say…you're not enough"

Seth leant back against the lockers and slid to the floor with his head in his hands as her footsteps died away.

A/N: Ok so I know that was horrible, it was horrible to write too (I know I created the character but I hate Katie-such a bitch!) but i felt it needed to be done so that I could advance the storyline so I hope you didn't mind too much. Anyway thanks, as always, for reading and please review with any comments!