Show Me How to Live

Part: 2

A/N: Jesus christ I've been trying to get this up for like 2 days! Anyway here ya go. Hope you like.

"Shit," Seth mouthed to Summer. "Who is it?" he asked louder this time, throwing his voice towards the door.

"It's Mom," came the slightly muffled reply.

Seth heard the click of the doorknob and realized his first words should have instead been 'Don't come in!' Seth sprang from the bed, thankful he had put his boxers back on and hastily threw on a t-shirt to intercept his mom around the corner before she caught a naked Summer scrambling for her clothes.

"Hey!" he announced cheerily, leaning against the wall in an attempt to act aloof, his body acting as a shield.

His boxers and shear dumb innocence led little to the imagination. Kirsten cocked her eyebrows with a little grin. She knew her son and his girlfriend had sex and while she wasn't keen on it happening under her nose there was really no preventing it… as long as they were careful. "I was just wondering if you two would like some dinner or if you'd already eaten," she asked. Her eyebrows arched, daring him to deny the third unseen body in the room.

"Already ate," he said quickly, stretching his arms over his head. "Gosh, I'm tired. I'll see you in the morning," he rambled. He gave her a slight nudge hoping she'd get the idea to leave and preferably do it without a hassle. Unfortunately luck was not on his side.

As Kirsten turned around she almost ran straight into Sandy, who had just slipped through the doorway. His face was downcast, his eyes an unreadable mask of emotions. Seth felt his mouth go dry, a sudden fear rising in his gut. "Ryan called," Sandy murmured in a hushed voice. "Something happened… its Marissa."

All three pairs of eyes turned onto Summer as she appeared at their side, now fully clothed in her jeans and one of Seth's t-shirts. Her hair was tousled, bed head. Everything about her indicated sex except for her eyes. "What… what happened?" she stuttered.

"There was an accident," Sandy stated softly, reluctant to finish. "Um… she didn't make it."

Kirsten's hand immediately clapped over her mouth.

Seth felt his stomach knot for the second time that night. His thoughts immediately floated to Ryan wondering where he was. When he snuck a glance at Summer, however, all his thoughts were directed towards her. Except what he saw wasn't his girlfriend. She was stunned silent, a feat he could only relinquish with his mouth, but even then she was the only one that could verbally compete with him. It hadn't hit her yet and he was afraid of the repercussions. Seth had just lost his sometimes friend, Ryan had just lost his on-again off-again girlfriend of three years, but Summer had just lost her life long best friend… they had grown up together, were going to be sisters even.

Summer's body stood rigid, her face steadily dropping, soaking up the information. "She's… she's de… de," she whispered, unable to come to the reality that her best friend was gone, not coming back, MIA forever. Seth reached for her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, waiting for it all to hit her. Three minutes later she broke down in his arms. It was the third time she had cried that evening except this time the tears were overpowering, they consumed her.

As Seth pulled her closer he stole a glance at his parents. His mom had tears in her eyes while Sandy held a hand to her back. They moved into Seth putting a weary arm around their son and his girlfriend. Seth had an eerie sense of deja vu that in no way settled his stomach.

Some time later a great fog had gathered around the Cohen's home. Ryan was brooding in the pool house no doubt planning Volcheck's death, Sandy and Kirsten sharing a somber coffee, Seth resting by a finally unconscious Summer.

Seth stole a glance at her, noticing the rise and fall of her chest. Her eyes were shut tight, a swollen redness still noticeable. Her head was tucked into his side while her hands tucked between them, grasping his shirt taught. She had been "sleeping" for an hour but it was anything but peaceful. Seth wanted to wake her several times as she dug her nails into his flesh but thought otherwise. Asleep or awake Summer was either frantic or catatonic and he couldn't stand to witness either emotion. At least in sleep he knew where she was.

When the first batch of tears had fallen after the news washed over her, Summer uttered a few words, pacing and mumbling. Seth had tried to comfort her but she was in her own world, almost possessed and pushed him away. Seth could see she wanted to flee but each time she tried the tears dissolved her back into his Summer and she was crawling back into his arms.

Seth leaned his head down and placed a kiss on her nose. Slowly he untangled her fingers from his shirt and eased off the bed. He had only managed to cajole a fragmented sentence from Ryan, and he wanted to make sure he was still ok or at least breathing. He took two hesitant steps before Summer's murmurs alerted him.

She was pawing her hands along his vacated spot, her eyes now fluttering slowly open. He immediately joined her side, scooting back onto the bed. Her head tilted off the bed, joining her pools of sorrow with his eyes, hoping they portrayed empathy and not sympathy. He didn't know how he felt about Marissa's death but Summer needed him right now and he would give her everything.

Seth noticed her eyes glistening again as her head fell to his lap. His fingers brushed her hair away while his mind went into overdrive thinking of the right words to say. Nothing he could say would really make this situation any better. But talking was better than shipping everything away, and Seth Cohen of all people knew a thing or two about talking.

He needed her closer, silently letting her know. She eased her head off and he slid down to her level. She immediately warmed under his touch again against his shoulder. His hand stayed tangled in her locks. "Hi," he whispered.

She didn't reply, just nuzzled closer.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Marissa."

Of course, he thought. What else. But the wasn't the thing that really struck him. It was her use of Marissa and not the ever popular Coop.

"Yeah? You want to talk about it?" he nudged.

"I can't… I can't do this," she said sitting up. "I… I have to get out of here."

"Where are you going?" Seth asked warily.

"Anywhere… I just.." Her voice caught in her throat as a few tears escaped. "I don't know what to do. What would you do? I don't know how to feel," she rambled. "I just… I'm lost."

"Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live
Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live"