Part II- 5 Years Later

There Aren't Many Memories I'm Comfortable To Keep

' A lot changes in a year.' Summer 'The Proposal'

If you think a lot changes in a year, think about what changes in five

Summer

She pushed her dark hair off of her face. The air conditioning was supposed to be fixed last Monday.

All those damn contractors have done is drink my coffee, disturb everyone and make this place look a mess.

She sighed and leaned back in her large leather chair, spinning it around slightly and taking deep breaths. She loved her job, it was just stressful sometimes. She got up and walked over to the huge glass window which looked out onto the bustling New York street below. She loved New York. When she first got here, she hated it, she was homesick. All she wanted was a beach, heat and space. You don't get that here. There are so many people, you can't move on the streets, and she wasn't exactly the tallest person on earth, but she could get angry easily. Plus the plummeting temperatures from September didn't help.

Most nights she'd stay at home, behind a locked door, pining to return to Newport. After four months of endless sadness, she'd changed her mind. Things were going to change. So she got her 'ass in gear', as she liked to say, and set out to make her new life awesome. And, five years later, it was. It had taken a lot of work, no question there, but finally, she was happy. Summer Roberts was living life to the fullest. No more sad, weak homesick Summer. Nope, she was new and improved, strong, sassy and independent. Of course, she still suffered from the odd rage blackout and a pang of guilt at being reminded of Newport but they were much less frequent nowadays.

She sighed contentedly and sat back at her large mahogany desk. She did love her office though. Her best friend Grace had done it for her. Summer had known Grace for nearly four years. She was short like Summer with shiny light brown hair and bright blue eyes. She was quite fair skinned, Summer had managed to keep her California glow with fake tan and regular trips to the Bahamas. Grace was an interior designer but she wasn't really well known, despite her raw talent. Summer had attended college with Grace but only went for two years. She dropped out early but she was more successful than any of her classmates. They were inseparable and even lived near each other now.

Over time, Summer had lost touch with Marissa, she did regret it but both were so busy, it was hard to keep up. The last time they'd spoken was Summer's birthday in August. Marissa was checking if the blue pashmina and jade beads had made it to her unscathed. They had. All she knew was that Marissa was in fashion and still happily with Ryan.

She jumped from her reminiscing trance as her assistant's voice rang through the speaker on her desk.

"Ms Roberts, Mr Greene is on line 2," her assistant said.

"Thanks April," Summer replied. She had a huge smile on her face as she set the phone onto line 2 and speaker.

"Hey honey, what's going on?" she said.

"Thinking about my gorgeous girlfriend," a smooth voice swept out of the speaker. Summer smiled widely, placing some papers in a drawer.

"God Spencer, are you cheating on me again?" Summer joked.

"Oh Summer, I was hoping you wouldn't find out again," he laughed.

"Ha, ha, so, how's LA?"

"Its okay, but its not that fun. I can't wait to get back."

"Oh, you miss me?"

"Of course I do. Are you okay on your own?" Spencer sounded genuinely concerned and Summer loved it.

"Aw, Spence I can cope on my own for a week. Besides, Grace's practically living at our place."

"Oh, I should've known. Say hey to her for me. Oh, jeez, I gotta go. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Sure, see you Spencer."

"I love you."

"I love you too," Summer said softly. She heard the dialling tone as he hung up and smiled to herself.

She never thought she'd move on from Seth. Never. It broke her heart to move away from him. The countless nights she'd picked up the phone and dialled his number then hung up at the last moment. But just to hear his voice was like being punched in the stomach. It hurt like hell. So, she decided that this couldn't go on and she gently eased herself back into being Summer. She met Spencer when she was nineteen. He'd moved into the apartment above Summer and her Dad's. They hit it off straight away. Summer had been reluctant to move on but Spencer was a gentleman and waited for her. When they got together, it was amazing. They'd been together ever since, nearly four years and were living together. She loved him so much, but secretly, she knew she didn't love him as much as she loved Seth. He would always have a place in her heart, she just had to lock it up.

Spencer was an actor. He was on his way to the top too. He was away in LA for a week for an audition. This new film company was making a movie and they were looking for a male lead. If he got this job, Summer would be so happy. After seeing him return from dud auditions, she willed him to do well. The fact that he was extremely good looking would also help. He had dark, straight hair, but not too dark and hazel eyes. He was totally different to Seth, but Summer didn't dream of comparing them. Grace kept telling Summer that he was on the verge of proposing but Summer didn't believe her. But, in her heart, she knew what she'd say if he did.

Summer glanced down at the scattered sheets on her desk and tried to order them. April buzzed through again so she picked up her phone, hitting a button while glancing at a sheet of paper.

"Summer Roberts, what can I do for you?" she nodded as a voice babbled out to her. After she had put down the phone, it rang again seconds later.

"Les échantillons doivent être avec vous mardi," Summer repeated for the third time today.

Man, the French don't listen. Good job I paid attention when in was in high school.

"Bon, merci. Au revoir." Summer put down the phone and sighed. She glanced at her clock.

Thank god. 4pm. I can finally go home and eat!

Summer got up, collecting all her belongings she'd need, placed her laptop, blackberry and cell phone in her purse and exited the room.

"See ya April!" She called as she exited the office. She loved going home after a hard day at work. She loved her job but it was tedious sometimes.

At only 23, Summer was the youngest female CEO of a cosmetics company in America. A fact she was very proud of. Her business was very close to her heart. It was one of the things which got her back on her feet. After a lifetime of being surrounded by cosmetics, Summer had a very wide knowledge of the best and the worst. So this market was one she felt comfortable in. She'd dropped out of college to start it and two hard years later, Heure D'ete was fast becoming one of the most popular brands in the country. Not only for its products, but its strong advertising campaigns, connections overseas and large celebrity fan-base. Summer was living a dream, well it was a dream when the company took flight. She was raking in the cash, rubbing shoulders with celebrity clients and fast becoming a celebrity herself.

Yes, it was certainly good to be Summer Roberts these days. But no matter how hard she wished, when she went to sleep, her dreams still took place in Newport with Ryan, Marissa and Seth. She could control nearly everything in her life, except her dreams and memories.

As soon as her head touched the pillow, it was like a movie playing in her head. She saw her life. High school, fighting with Anna over Seth, Oliver, Theresa, losing her virginity, Seth leaving, Zach, Trey, Taylor, Graduation, Leaving Newport. And the movie replayed every night.

There weren't many memories Summer was comfortable keeping.

Seth

He sat on the balcony, his skin glowing in the warm sunshine. The air conditioning in the house had just been fixed but he didn't like it. It was too cold, he preferred to sit out in the sun for an hour or so after work. It helped him relax and forget his troubles, not that he had any. Lately, his life had been more stress free, not completely but a big improvement on how it used to be. Sometimes though, he liked a bit of action and drama.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, the soft pillows allowing him to sink further. He sipped the cool beer in his hand. He always had a beer after he returned from work, but he never got drunk. He hated drunks, an unwelcome throwback to his Mom's phase. The cool liquid slid down his throat and he gazed at the view. The beach was really close by and at night, when it was quiet, you could hear the waves lapping at the shore- sometimes, even while you were in bed, if you left the window open slightly. He silently thanked his Mom for finding this place for him.

The Kirsten knows a good place when she sees it.

His peaceful trance was interrupted by a knock on the door. Seth sighed, getting up to see who dared disturb him. Outside, stood Ryan.

"Hey man," Ryan greeted his friend, walking into the house.

"Ryan, you know between 5 and 7pm is my time, you're disturbing it."

"Sorry, I'll remember that for future notice. I was just on my way back from the office and thought I'd stop by." Seth nodded and swigged out of the beer bottle.

"Oh, sorry, you want one?"

"No, better not, Marissa'll kill me, she's strict about drinking and driving." Seth laughed to himself. How ironic. Marissa, the drunken teenager suddenly strict about an innocent beer.

"So, you want to come over for dinner tonight? We could order in some Thai," Ryan offered.

"Yeah okay, I'm alone again tonight so why not."

"Great. Well you enjoy 'your time' and we'll see you at eight?"

"Sure buddy." Ryan nodded and walked out, calling a goodbye.

After four years of college, Seth had decided to stay in Newport. Ryan and Marissa had done the same. Ryan was now working for the Newport Group, in the architecture department and Marissa was working as a fashion designer, but wasn't really getting far. They were still together, stronger than ever even. Seth figured that being away from high school where a manic-pill-popping-psycho or surfer-with-girl-issues could be lurking around any corner, was a good thing for their relationship. Plus, many male fashion designers had swapped sides.

Seth sat on the large corner couch and looked at the bright room around him. The living room was one of his favourite rooms. It was bright, but not too in-your-face and it was very modern. She even let him have his Playstation in here. She'd never really been a fan of video games but Seth didn't care, he'd wind her up by playing them when she was in the room, she'd glare and he'd laugh and then they'd play fight. That's what he loved about her, she cared about her appearance but wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. He glanced across at the coffee table and looked affectionately at the photo of the two at graduation at Berkeley. Her long light brown hair shimmered in the sun and her dusky blue eyes sparkled. Seth smiled, his dimples appearing in his cheeks. He loved Shelley a lot, she was so genuine and sweet. Her Dad was a lawyer just like Sandy and her Mom ran a successful restaurant in LA. She was well off but not stinking rich. They were so alike.

Seth had been dating Shelley for almost two years. She was Marissa's friend from college, they'd been on the same fashion design course and grown close. Marissa had noticed how perfect she'd be for him, but Seth was reluctant. The day Summer walked out of his life, Seth locked up his heart and threw away the key. He swore he'd never love again, never mind date. But Shelley was special. She touched him in a way no-one ever had before. She was so funny, sweet and so smart. After college, Shelley had launched 'Aisle', her fashion design company that specialised in wedding attire. She'd shot up when Helena Grayson, the newly famous country singer, got married in one of her creations. Since then, she's been climbing higher and higher, slightly infuriating Marissa who seemed to be getting nowhere.

Seth smiled to himself and leaned back, staring at the white ceiling. Shelley was currently in Paris, it was fall fashion week so she'd gone for research. Seth missed her sorely. They'd been living together for just over a year now and he'd grown so accustomed to her being around. Suddenly, a shrill ring rang through the room as the phone began to ring. Seth sighed heavily and reached across to pick it up.

"Hello?" he asked, a slight tone of annoyance in his voice.

"Seth?" He sighed as he heard her voice. The sound of her voice meant work. They rarely went out with each other anymore. She was always at work or out with her boyfriend of the day.

"What's going on Taylor?" he asked.

"I was just wondering where you put the expenses spreadsheet for August," Taylor replied.

"Uh, have you checked the filing cabinet on the first floor?" Seth answered, rubbing his forehead.

"Yeah, I'll check there."

"Are you still working Taylor?"

"Yeah, one of us has to!" she laughed.

"You've been working your ass off all week long, have a break!" Seth said.

"No, I'm fine. Id rather stay here than go home anyways."

"I thought you had a date tonight?"

"Uh, nope, Sean cancelled…" Taylor replied quietly.

"Oh I'm sorry, are you okay?"

"Ill be fine, I'll get stuck into those expenses spreadsheets…"

"I'm going to Ryan and Marissa's for dinner, you want to join us?" Seth asked.

"Really?" Taylor sounded hopeful.

"Of course! I'll pick you up at eight. Thai okay?"

"Its sounds great! See you then."

"See you." Seth was about to hang up when she said his name again.

"Thanks Seth."

"No problem." He hung up and placed the phone down and drained his beer. Seth and Taylor Townsend had become reacquainted just short of three years ago. Her Mom got sick so she returned to California from Yale and they met up. Both became really close friends and made plans to set up their own company, a filmmaking company. Both had studied writing for the screen, filmmaking and both had business qualifications so it seemed like the perfect thing. So, less than a year later, they set up Atomic Productions. It was just beginning to get off of the ground and they had their first feature film lined up. But it meant more work for both. Seth and Taylor were like brother and sister, they argued and fought but could never fall out, they had the same interests and sometimes, it was like they shared a brain. Seth felt protective of her, he hated to see her get stood up, especially this 'Sean' character who was playing with her these days. Shelley even loved Taylor and the two had also become close.

Seth felt like his life was so perfect right now, it was finally coming together. Shelley would be back in two days, Atomic was currently holding auditions and he had the best friends in the world. After enduring all the years of trauma and stress, he deserved to be finally happy. And, he was even thinking about her less. She still cropped up in his mind every now and again, but it hurt less. He still couldn't think about it, about her. How she just left. He still didn't know how he kept it together after she left. Seth felt like his life just fell apart. It was Ryan, Marissa and his family that helped him through it and he'd be eternally grateful to them. But he couldn't help thinking sometimes.

Where is she? Is she in a relationship? Does she still think about me?

But thoughts like that are dangerous. So Seth changes the subject and tries to forget. He has to. But its hard. But he's stronger than he used to be, has thicker skin. He wont let a girl get to him like she did ever again. She destroyed him when she walked away. And he hoped she knew that.

But all the negativity he forced himself to believe didn't stop the dreams. Every night, he revisited the past. A mini-movie of his life played over in his head.

Life as an outsider, Ryan, kissing Summer for the first time, going to TJ, leaving Newport, winning Summer back, their upside down kiss, prom, Hawaii, their last night together, her leaving.

Every night, it replayed.

There weren't many memories Seth was comfortable in keeping.

A/N Thanks loads for the sweet reviews left! Please leave some comments regarding this chapter, it'd be great if you could. And I know some of the stuff in this chapter are slightly 'whatever!' but please for the sake of the story, go with it. Thanks again for reading! xoxox