Chapter 7: I need a man who'll take a chance

Ryan and Summer sat on Seth's stripy bed staring into space and wandering what the three of them were going to do. Seth and Sandy had been arguing for the last three hours and no matter how hard they tried, Ryan and Summer couldn't drown out the shouts.

"Dad, it's not about what you want…"

-"Oh it sure is, you have no idea how much I have wanted you to go to college, and now you're going to blow it over some high school sweetheart."

-"What are you talking about? I'm still going to college."

-"So you think, but what happens when it's 8 long weeks without your fiancé what will you do then?"

-"I'll still talk to her on the phone and it's not as if I'll start skipping classes. She's got college too you know?"

-"Don't be smart with me. You want to talk about skipping classes? What about Marissa huh? There was a time in life when she skipped classes to be with Alex, remember her? Marissa is Summer's best friend what makes you think Summer is all that different?"

-"So what if Summer will skip classes? I won't. And if you think I'm being smart with you now; you should wait and see in a month from now how well Summer and I will be doing without you."

-"Do not talk to me that way unless you want to end up like your grandfather."

-"What? Dead? Are you really gonna kill me dad?"

-"Just get out of this house."

-"I would if you gave me my suitcase that you packed for me."

-"Do you really think I'm gonna get that for you? Do you really believe---"

-"JUST STOP IT!" Summer shouted. She stomped through the isle into the scene.

-"Mr C you--"

-"Do not call me Mr C, Summer"

-"Do not call me Summer, Mr C. You lost that right after you insulted me and dug up my past." Summer said, giving Sandy a taste of her bitchy past life (so to speak).

"Look, clearly you're not okay with Seth and I getting married--"

-"Clearly" Seth interrupted.

-"You shut your mouth son!" Sandy yelled.

-"You can't call me son anymore; Sandy." Seth said in a very provoking way.

-"You are really going off edge,"

-"JUST STOP IT!" Summer screamed, getting sick of it once again.

-"Look, you're so not okay with Seth and I getting married - and I truly stress that so. But it's all good because neither was my dad. Mr C, Sandy; when I found out how badly my dad took the news; I realised that he was the biggest son of a bitch I had ever known. Wanna know why?"

-"No Summer I---"

-"It's because he wasn't there for me when I needed him the most. You know he was there for me when I broke up with Seth. He was there for me when Seth sailed away; but he was never there for me when I wanted his encouragement and support." Summer bit her lip and looked at the ground – a lot similar to the time when she saw a child version of Seth at the airport, whilst deciding to leave Zach with his family on there way to Italy. Sandy looked up at Summer and Seth, finally giving a little bit of understanding.

"You have always been there for Seth; Always. Why is it different this time? Just think about it." Summer gave Sandy the faintest smile she could ever give, obviously it contained a hint of hatred, angry and despair in it too.

"Come on Seth, My cars parked outside. We should go." Ryan joined the crowd holding a ton of bags and dragging three suitcases.

"You ready to go?" Ryan asked. Summer and Seth turned around and hugged each other, knowing that they will have to face the world together without any parental support.

"Yeah, let's go." Seth said firmly. The three teenagers walked down the isle and gazed around into a house that they may never see again. Sandy nodded his head slowly and shred a tear of regret. He turned around only to find Kirsten standing by the door of his and hers bedroom. She had the most evil look on her face – but come on can you blame her? She stomped towards him and slapped Sandy with all her might. Alike the time when it was Christmakkah in the Cohen residence and Kirsten couldn't help but slap Caleb after keeping her illegitimate sister from her for so long. She gave a grunt and stamped into the bedroom locking the door so Sandy could not enter.

Back outside Ryan was packing all the bags into Summers car – not that it really fit anyway. Summer and Seth stood on the driveway hugging each other with sympathy. Crying so hard but thankful for opportunity to love one another.

"All set." Ryan confirmed. Summer broke the hug and looked at her car. The boot was already filled up and Ryan was still holding two bags in his hand.

"Where are those gonna go Atwood?" She asked. Ryan looked into the car, realising that Summer's car was a two-seater only.

"We can hold it during the ride." Ryan said, becoming proud of the answer he came up with on the spot.

"Yeah that's great but isn't there only two seats?" Seth asked, pointing at the car.

"What's your point?" Ryan asked, looking a little confused.

"So… there's three of us; meaning we are one seat short." Ryan sighed, finally understanding Seth's point.

"So how are we going to do this?" The three looked at each other blankly, having no idea what so ever to do.

"Well we could---" Seth started choking on nothing, he began gasping for air.

"Seth? SETH!" Summer screamed noticing that something was going on. Seth was reeling back and was heading for the floor. She ran and cupped his head in her hands before letting his head collide with the floor.

"SETH!" Ryan yelled joining the scene. Ryan started shaking Seth's face….

Ryan has a Flashback

Marissa lay in his arms gasping for air on the floor. Her head was cupped into his one right hand whilst he shook her head with his left.

"Marissa?...Marissa?" He kept on trying to make her conscious again but it never seemed to work.

End of Flashback

"Seth?...Seth?" Ryan kept on trying to make him get up but it never seemed to work.

"Oh my God," Ryan mumbled to himself.

"What!" Summer yelled. She was panicking and had no idea what to do.

"Well Atwood don't just stand there do something!" Ryan didn't no what to do, or say. Seth lying on the floor was a splitting image of when Marissa died in his arms.

"I'm sorry Summer, and Seth; But I can't do this." Ryan backed away slowly and ran out of sight.

"RYAN!" Summer screamed.

"No, no, no, no." Summer cried. She was trying her best to keep herself calm. Seth was still breathing. His eyes were closed and he wasn't moving.

"Okay come on Seth." Summer stood up and dragged Seth delicately to her car. She opened the passenger seat door and placed him into the leather chair. Tears streamed down her face running to the other side of her car. She started the engine and turned on her navigator; that would lead her straight to the emergency room.

"No. NO! I've already lost my best friend, I'm not gonna loose you too." She shouted, hoping somewhere inside of him Seth could hear her.

"You're gonna be okay, You're gonna be okay.." She chanted to herself. She couldn't help but gasp for air herself.