Title: The Consequences
Author: In Fair Verona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Seth and Summer engender a 'rumor' which travels around Newport and learn the consequences of their actions when the unexpected happens.
Shipper: Seth x Summer
Disclaimer: It is all property of FOX, every last bit of it. I don't own anything in this story or related to it.
A/N: I hope you'll all like this chapter, since I enjoyed writing it.
And thanks to the reviewer who helped me out w/ pregnancy appearances, etc...
-
Summer and Seth both looked at each other with a worried and confused expression. Seth took Summer's hand and held it tightly, reassuringly. Taking a deep breath, Summer turned back to face Donnie. Donnie glanced at Summer expectantly, as if he thought the baby would just magically appear in her hand and she'd hand it over, or anything else equally weird.
"Eew. Your baby?" Summer chortled. "Right. What disgusting and twisted fantasy are you trying to live?"
"Those snide remarks are gonna get you into big trouble one day, baby." Donnie replied, clicking his tongue. "Tsk. Tsk. Newport, you haven't taught your girl a lesson about denial?" Donnie asked, looking up at Seth.
"His name's Seth, not Newport. Nick-naming people after where they're from is so last summer." Summer retorted. Upon hearing that, Ryan glanced up at Summer in confusion, wondering if he would finally be free of the name 'Chino', but knowing it wasn't likely. "And I'm not Seth's girl." Summer added.
"Feisty." Donnie muttered, looking away innocently. "Just like you are in bed."
"Excuse me? Like you'd know." Summer narrowed her dark gaze at him, placing a hand on each hip.
"You don't remember, do ya? Well, I'm here to remind you. Blondie's pool-house. You're one to know that a party doesn't end just because a guy got shot."
"Either I'm not following, or all that pyscho-babble was you saying how much of a hallucinating freak you are." Summer replied cockily, tilting her head to the side.
"Don't worry, Summer. I didn't expect you to remember. You were too drunk. With all of that stress over Abercrombie getting shot, you just had to unwind. You went to the mini-bar, got yourself a little something, half an hour later after the authorities left, I found you totally wasted and we went upstairs. You know the rest, you rejected me at first, but after you loosened up, well babe, you wanted me. Bad."
"Wow. You've just proved what a horrible liar you are." Summer scoffed. "I'm not impressed."
"You were that night." Donnie grinned. "Do you really think 'Seth' had it in him to get you pregnant? I did it, sweet-cheeks."
"First of all, leave him out of it." Summer demanded, looking at Seth. "And secondly, we did not do anything that night. There isn't even a 'we'. You're just delusional, and you missed your turn, the insane asylum's a block back." Summer added. She turned to Seth. "Seth, let's go, we've wasted enough time. I'm hungry." She turned around, linking her arm with Seth's and beginning to lead him away.
"Deny it all you want Summer, but why would I come all the way here if it wasn't the truth?" Donnie called after her.
"Because you're a bastard." Summer muttered in reply, pushing past the large crowd of people gathered around them, all talking in hushed voices, a whispering wind that float amongst the entire cafeteria. Summer turned to look at them all. "Do you have nothing better to do than talk about my life? Should I be flattered?" She asked. "I'm pregnant, Seth's the father, nobody else. Get over it, and move on people. Nothing to look at here." Spinning around briskly, Seth and her walked away from the crowd.
"I thought Mischa got pregnant?" A random voice murmured after they left.
-
Ryan, Seth, Summer and Kirsten Cohen were all looking about around the Gucci Marternity store. The posh shop what located in a white and pink striped building, with posters of beautiful, perfect-looking, estactic mothers-to-be plasted onto the walls. Kirsten and Summer were looking through various racks of maternity dresses while Ryan and Seth sat moping by the lingerie department (oddly at disinterest), and all three teenagers were feeling completely out of it, especially Seth. Every good thing that had happened in past three months had been shot down, and all by Donnie. The future-father sighed, running a hand through his dark curly hair. He should've figured that it was too good to be true. Summer pregnant with his child, the close possiblity of them having a family together... too perfect. It didn't add up, and Donnie had been the missing variable. In the story of Seth's life, there had always been a catch, and now he had brought that irony into Summer's pregnancy too.
"The three of you look a bit crestfallen." Kirsten observed, handing a cherry-hued winter-maternity dress to Summer, who stared at it in disgust. "Any reason why?" Kirsten inquired.
"Everyone's been depressed since Joey left Dawson for Pacey." Summer mumbled under her breath, taking the dress and walking to the other end of the maternity store. Kirsten watched the young girl walk away from them briskly before turning back to Seth and Ryan.
"Who are-?" Seth interrupted his mother by standing up adruptly and walking past her, following after Summer. The remaining teenager, Ryan, looked up at Kirsten, who blinked twice in return.
"I think we need to let them be alone." Ryan told her, standing up. "School... drama." He nodded. Ryan then turned away to look at a pair of socks and said no more, living by his tactiturn nature. Kirsten nodded and decided to heed Ryan's advice, sensing that he knew more about what was going on than she, and thus she went back to looking at a few lacey maternity dresses, trying to avoid anything that would make Summer go 'eww'.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the store, Summer feigned admiration for a pair of simple black hose while Seth approached her from behind. He lifted his hand to his mouth, force-faking a cough and clearing his throat in order to extract her attention. It didn't take much for him to suceed. Summer twirled around, her dark hair swinging over her tanned shoulder. She was holding the pair of hose gingerly in her hands, the repulsive red dress hung on the miscellaneous rack behind her.
"Did you want something, Seth?" Summer asked, apparent strain to avoid sounding dismal was obvious in her voice, but the feigned cheery tone didn't help Seth's mood much either.
"I, um... Summer, I thought that maybe we should talk... about what happened today." He suggested, stuffing his shaking hands in his pockets. Summer turned around, putting away the hose before revolving back to face him.
"Well, we're alone. Talk. Although I don't think that there's anything to talk about." She told him dismissively, crossing her arms underneath her chest, acentuating it even more. Seth took a deep breath, taking a cursory glance around the store before beginning to speak.
"But... I do, Summer. Um, The baby... aren't you worried that it could be Donnie's?" He asked, furrowing his brow. Summer's jaw dropped, the girl looked as though she had just been slapped in the face.
"You're worried?" She asked accusingly.
"Yeah, shouldn't I be?"
"No! Didn't you hear anything I told him earlier? Case closed, Cohen!"
"Yeah, but, Summer, you denied kissing me at my Grandfather's birthday party too." Seth pointed out.
"You actually think I slept with him?" Summer asked softly, a tense edge shaking through her voice. Her dark eyes bore a cross between anger, disappointment, and pain. "I can't believe you actually think that I did, after everything that I said today!"
"Donnie said you were drunk, Summer! Anything can happen when you're drunk, and you might not have had any idea!"
"I knew what I was doing with you." Summer muttered softly, turning away from him. "And we were both drunk. Really drunk."
"What?" Seth blinked, scratching the back of his head. "You said you had no idea what you were doing that night..." Seth trailed off.
"I did, Cohen. I just didn't want you to know that. But I remember that night like it happened last night. Oh that's right, it did. It practically haunts my dreams, Seth! I was well aware of what was happening. I didn't do anything to stop it, because I didn't want to, and now look where I am. But I know, I know that nothing happened between me and that pyscho, but if you'd rather believe him than me, be that way." Summer snapped, turning on her heels and adrupltly storming away, leaving an echo of clickity-clacking on the tiled floor.
"But... if you lied to me about that... then... how...?" Seth shook his head, deciding not to waste his energy on that incoherent question, since Summer had already left him standing there infront of the panty-hose display with a few middle-aged pregnant women shooting him rather wary glances. Quickly, Seth retreated back over towards his mother and a mute Ryan, both looking occupied by random articles of maternity clothing. "I'm walking home." He muttered to them both, not waiting for a response before striding past them with head held high, and walking out of the Gucci Maternity store.
-
A couple of hours later, Summer, Ryan and Kirsten returned home to the Cohen house, several shopping bags filled to the brim of the latest fashion. At least, the latest fashion that somebody pregnant could be bothered with, though for Summer, looking down still remained a priority.
"Summer, I don't think we have enough room for it all." Kirsten commented, dragging about 6 shopping bags in, two on each hand, and one on each foot. She looked up at Ryan, who was holding over 8 bags with extreme ease. "Ryan, honey, why don't we stash some of this in the poolhouse, allright?" She asked, picking the bags off of her feet and adding them to Ryan's load. Ryan nodded and quickly walked away, carrying the clothing as if he were the Incredibly Hulk, gifted with extreme strength.
Ryan reached a hand to the doorknob of the poolhouse, gripping it tightly and revolving it and pushing it open. He stepped inside and set down the shopping bags gently on the floor before standing up and turning the lights on. What Ryan saw caught him by surprise, and he quickly closed the door behind him, tentatively stepping forward towards his bed.
"Seth?" Ryan called out in an usually timid voice. The figure huddled up in his bed, with his knees curled up to his chest, arms wrapped around it tightly and head buried inbetween knees, rocked back and forth, his shoulders shaking from convulsed sobs. "Seth, what happened?" Ryan repeated, walking over to his bed and kneeling at the foot of it, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Don't tell anyone about this." Seth mumbled, looking up at Ryan. His cheeks burned crimson, stained with tears that dripped and rolled from his glazed eyes in which pain was visibly expressed. Ryan blinked twice, taking in the unusual sight infront of him. Seth, light-hearted, never-get-me-down Seth, was actually crying. It seemed too surreal. Seth never let stuff get to him. But Ryan knew this had to have something to do with Summer.
"I won't tell anybody." Ryan told him, easing himself into a more comfortable position beside Seth. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked.
"Yeah." Seth nodded, sniffing and wiping his bloodshot eyes with the back of his hand. "That's why I came here. Right when I got home. I came and I waited for you, because you're the only one I could talk to, and I don't know... I just started... breaking down." He finished softly. "I must seem really pathetic. I mean, even more pathetic than before." Seth added in.
"You're not pathetic." Ryan told him. "This is about Summer, isn't it?" He asked uneasily. Seth nodded.
"No, it's about Captain Oates." He told Ryan sarcastically, a short smirk brimming through the tears. Ryan felt relieved. At least Seth was still himself.
"Seth, you're not pathetic. If you were, you would've left Summer to get an abortion, or to have the baby herself, but you're not. You're fighting for a life. There's nothing pathetic about that." Ryan told him.
"I'm crying, Ryan. I'm crying like a little boy." Seth told him. "I'm supposed to be taking care of her, but instead I'm here, being selfish and crying because... " He paused, as if unsure whether or not to continue.
"Ryan, you blind idiot, you forgot one..." Summer mumbled, approaching the poolhouse with one more shopping bag grasped in both of her hands. She set it down right outside the door and moved her hand to knock, but the sound of conversing from within the poolhouse made her think twice and she lowered her hand, placing it gently on the door. Ryan was talking to someone. Not just anyone. Seth. But something was wrong. She could hear it in the quiver on his voice, it rolled out as a tremble, not the usual way that Seth smoothly spoke. Summer had had enough of eavesdropping lately (Holly), but even though she knew she shouldn't have been standing there, listening in on them, she couldn't find it in herself to keep her feet planted firmly on the ground, and hear what he had to say.
"Seth, you can talk to me." Ryan reassured him. "We'll talk, just the way we used to when I first came here. You know I'll listen." He added thoughtfully. Ryan wasn't necessarily the best at being comforting, he certainly wasn't a temple of advice either, but for Seth, he would try his best.
"Ryan, lately, I've just been getting really stressed," Seth began, "On the surface, I try to seem collected, like I've got everything under control, like everything's going to be allright, but I have all these fears that something is going to go wrong, and I'm under all this pressure to do good for her, and I'm really happy, but... I just... can't hold out much longer." Seth breathed. "The constant worry, it's eating away inside of me. And you know how fickle Summer is. When something better than this comes along, she'll go. She doesn't even want to have a family with me, I know she's only here because it's better than being alone in her own empty house." He mumbled.
"We all really believed you were happy... it seemed a little odd." Ryan commented. "Seth, this is normal. I think you're supposed to feel overwhelmed with something this big." He told him, "And... I don't think Summer can find anything better than this, because there is nothing better. Give her some credit, Seth. You know her more than anybody else, you wouldn't be in love with her if she were really like that." Ryan added.
"I know." Seth breathed, dropping his head into his hands. "I know, and I was so angry at myself because of earlier today, at the mall." He shook his head. "She really took it as an insult, that I thought I she slept with Donnie. I was so stupid. She wouldn't have acted like that infront of all those people unless it was the truth." He mumbled. "It's not that I didn't believe her... I just found it hard too. First I lose all my trust in Anna, and find out Summer lied about not knowing what was happening when we slept together, and now... now this." He shook his head. "I don't know what to do anymore, Ryan. I want to believe her, I want to just let go and have faith in her, but this is a bigger situation than I thought." He choked out. "I don't think love is enough to keep her here, or to keep the family that we will have together."
"Seth, you're being paranoid." Ryan told him. "Summer realizes how lucky she is to be here. She's never been treated like this before in her life, remember? She practically lives all alone. She's happy to be a part of something, a part of your family, and if she's stupid enough to leave... then she wasn't the girl you're in love with." Ryan shrugged. "Just keep doing the right thing, Seth. It'll work out."
"Ryan, I think this is the most I've ever heard you talk in one conversation." Seth told him, smiling slightly past his tears. Ryan shrugged, hunching his shoulders. "You're not that bad with advice, either."
"I've been in counseling way too many times." Ryan admitted.
"Yeah, I believe you." Seth replied with a true grin. Ryan stood up, walking over to his shelf and grabbing the tissue box, bringing it back for Seth.
"So, you'll be okay now?" Ryan asked.
"I think I will." Seth nodded, grabbing a tissue and wiping his eyes, as well as his nose. "Thanks." He added.
"No problem." Ryan responded, looking up at Seth. After everything Seth and the Cohens had done for him, Ryan knew that he would do anything for them in return. "I'll be right back." He told Seth, standing up and walking to the door. As he opened it, he blinked in surprise to find a shopping bag sitting on the ground infront of him. "Hmm. I thought I got them all in." He murmured quietly.
-
Summer lay on top of her bed, her hands resting on top of her belly, which was curving a little bit more each day. She could barely fit into her old jeans anymore, the reason today's shopping trip had been necessary. But her favourite pair of denim fitting her or not wasn't her biggest worry anymore. Right now, Summer felt a mixture of regret, sadness, and compassion which swelled inside of her. Letting out a deep breath, she rolled onto her side.
Why didn't she figure it out before? Seth couldn't have been that happy the entire time. She knew that seemed a little disturbing and odd, but she had shrugged it off, dismissing it because it seemed exactly like Seth- disturbing and odd. But he was so much more than that! He was caring, thoughtful, concerned, passionate, intelligent, witty, chilvalrous, and surprising. He was more real than anyone else she'd ever met. Of course he felt emotions too. Maybe because what other people said never seemed to bother him, maybe that's when she got the idea he might've been some robot programmed to only feel apathy. No matter how many times Summer rejected him, he acted like it didn't affect him and kept trying. But she had forgotten that because of that, he did feel something. He loved her. With each growing day, Summer took that fact more and more seriously. There was something precious about that statement, which couldn't be regarded as a joke anymore.
Summer felt guilty, for earlier today, and for all those years from earlier when she didn't take him seriously. If she did, if she had just been herself, maybe he wouldn't have doubted her today. She couldn't blame him now, and felt bad for getting mad, although the fact that he, Seth, of all people didn't believe her, that had really hurt. But she understood now. She wasn't going to leave either. Not for anything. Ryan had been right, there was nothing better than this. This was a real family, and while not everybody was related by blood, it didn't matter. Look at the Coopers, all blood-related and a total wreck. Summer liked it here. She liked the feeling she got when she and Kirsten bonded, and when she'd help Sandy prepare dinner, since the guys didn't want Kirsten to, and when Ryan attempted to teach her to play those lame war video games, and she'd always end up killing herself somehow, and most of all, she loved the feeling that Seth gave her when he looked at her with adoration, when he kissed her forehead in the morning, when he'd touch her stomache with that eager smile on his face. It was all the little things that Summer didn't want to leave that kept her here.
Summer was going to prove it to Seth. She was going to erase his worst doubts, and confirm to him that he didn't need to worry about it anymore.
-
Donnie's high school was nothing remotely like Harbor. Summer didn't really feel comfortable there either, but that's why she dragged Ryan and Marissa along with her. The three of them tentatively crossed the school's sad excuse of a courtyard, following the direction in which random students told them they'd be able to find Donnie. Under a chestnut tree. A tall, old knarled tree. Apparently, it was their turf, where they did business. Which, obviously meant drug dealing. Approaching said tree, Summer instantly spotted a large group of people gathered beneath it, and crossing the basketball court, she, Ryan, and Marissa all arrived on the scene... only to find two familiar faces already there.
"Holly and Anna." Summer state blatantly. "I should have known."
"Where's Seth?" Anna asked, looking at her.
"He's not here. He doesn't need to be. This is between me and him." Summer told Anna, narrowing her eyes at Donnie, who had Holly all over him. Marissa scrunched up her nose in disgust. "You can get laid later, I want to talk now." Summer told Donnie sternly.
"Come to admit the truth, babe?" Donnie asked, practically shoving Holly off of him. He walked over, standing infront of Summer, casting a cursory glance to Ryan and Marissa. "Who's your friend?" He asked curiously.
"His boyfriend." Summer replied, nodding at Ryan. Marissa gripped Ryan's arm tighter, feeling at severe un-ease. She was looking at the man who had shot Luke. While she didn't care about Luke anymore, the thought was still discomforting and all she could think of as she looked at Donnie was what a rotten bastard he was.
"Ryan." Donnie nodded. "Good to see ya again."
"The feeling's not mutual." Ryan responded.
"So, what'dya want?" Donnie asked Summer.
"I want you to come back to Newport with us and tell Seth Cohen the truth." Summer demanded. Donnie's posse all exchanged amused looks and began to snicker amongst themselves. Summer sent them all a death glare which shoved them into silence.
"I already did that." Donnie replied honestly.
"No, you lied!" Summer exclaimed. "And now you're going to undo what you did!"
"You have a lot of demands." Donnie clicked his tongue. He stepped forward, sliding an arm around her waist. "I might need something in return..."
"Don't touch me!" With a surprising amount of strength, Summer pushed him off of her, grabbing her arm and twisting it around. Ryan blinked twice, feeling quite un-needed. Marissa looked at him, shrugging her shoulders.
"Rage blackouts." Marissa whispered, and Ryan nodding understandingly.
"I don't have to do anything for you, and if you think I'm just a spoiled Newport brat you can't defend herself, then you're wrong." Summer told him. "Because I can defend myself." She added, looking him square in the eye. "And I am tired of being screwed with, literally and methaphorically, and right now, I'm on the edge, and if you don't do this, I am going to make your life even more of a living hell than it already is!" She shouted. The area surrounding the chestnut tree grew dead silent, everybody looking at each other, not really knowing what to do or say. Donnie looked around at his posse, all of which backed away even farther from Summer. Feeling Summer release her death grip on him, Donnie stepped away slowly, holding up his hands in defense.
"Allright, allright. Look, just don't go getting all pyscho like that on me, aight?" Donnie asked. "I'll go back with you, because, damn, you've a lot more rage than I do in that little body." He told her.
"Good." Summer sighed, grinning in victory. She turned around, beckoning Donnie, Marissa, and Ryan. "Now we can get out of this dump."
"Summer, wait!" Anna called, running to catch up with her. "You're not going to tell Seth... that... we..." She looked back at Holly, "You're not going to tell him..."
"Why would I?" Summer replied, "I'm not interested in upsetting him."
-
Whee. I liked this better than the last chapter, it had more stuff going on and more angst. I like angst.
Author: In Fair Verona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Seth and Summer engender a 'rumor' which travels around Newport and learn the consequences of their actions when the unexpected happens.
Shipper: Seth x Summer
Disclaimer: It is all property of FOX, every last bit of it. I don't own anything in this story or related to it.
A/N: I hope you'll all like this chapter, since I enjoyed writing it.
And thanks to the reviewer who helped me out w/ pregnancy appearances, etc...
-
Summer and Seth both looked at each other with a worried and confused expression. Seth took Summer's hand and held it tightly, reassuringly. Taking a deep breath, Summer turned back to face Donnie. Donnie glanced at Summer expectantly, as if he thought the baby would just magically appear in her hand and she'd hand it over, or anything else equally weird.
"Eew. Your baby?" Summer chortled. "Right. What disgusting and twisted fantasy are you trying to live?"
"Those snide remarks are gonna get you into big trouble one day, baby." Donnie replied, clicking his tongue. "Tsk. Tsk. Newport, you haven't taught your girl a lesson about denial?" Donnie asked, looking up at Seth.
"His name's Seth, not Newport. Nick-naming people after where they're from is so last summer." Summer retorted. Upon hearing that, Ryan glanced up at Summer in confusion, wondering if he would finally be free of the name 'Chino', but knowing it wasn't likely. "And I'm not Seth's girl." Summer added.
"Feisty." Donnie muttered, looking away innocently. "Just like you are in bed."
"Excuse me? Like you'd know." Summer narrowed her dark gaze at him, placing a hand on each hip.
"You don't remember, do ya? Well, I'm here to remind you. Blondie's pool-house. You're one to know that a party doesn't end just because a guy got shot."
"Either I'm not following, or all that pyscho-babble was you saying how much of a hallucinating freak you are." Summer replied cockily, tilting her head to the side.
"Don't worry, Summer. I didn't expect you to remember. You were too drunk. With all of that stress over Abercrombie getting shot, you just had to unwind. You went to the mini-bar, got yourself a little something, half an hour later after the authorities left, I found you totally wasted and we went upstairs. You know the rest, you rejected me at first, but after you loosened up, well babe, you wanted me. Bad."
"Wow. You've just proved what a horrible liar you are." Summer scoffed. "I'm not impressed."
"You were that night." Donnie grinned. "Do you really think 'Seth' had it in him to get you pregnant? I did it, sweet-cheeks."
"First of all, leave him out of it." Summer demanded, looking at Seth. "And secondly, we did not do anything that night. There isn't even a 'we'. You're just delusional, and you missed your turn, the insane asylum's a block back." Summer added. She turned to Seth. "Seth, let's go, we've wasted enough time. I'm hungry." She turned around, linking her arm with Seth's and beginning to lead him away.
"Deny it all you want Summer, but why would I come all the way here if it wasn't the truth?" Donnie called after her.
"Because you're a bastard." Summer muttered in reply, pushing past the large crowd of people gathered around them, all talking in hushed voices, a whispering wind that float amongst the entire cafeteria. Summer turned to look at them all. "Do you have nothing better to do than talk about my life? Should I be flattered?" She asked. "I'm pregnant, Seth's the father, nobody else. Get over it, and move on people. Nothing to look at here." Spinning around briskly, Seth and her walked away from the crowd.
"I thought Mischa got pregnant?" A random voice murmured after they left.
-
Ryan, Seth, Summer and Kirsten Cohen were all looking about around the Gucci Marternity store. The posh shop what located in a white and pink striped building, with posters of beautiful, perfect-looking, estactic mothers-to-be plasted onto the walls. Kirsten and Summer were looking through various racks of maternity dresses while Ryan and Seth sat moping by the lingerie department (oddly at disinterest), and all three teenagers were feeling completely out of it, especially Seth. Every good thing that had happened in past three months had been shot down, and all by Donnie. The future-father sighed, running a hand through his dark curly hair. He should've figured that it was too good to be true. Summer pregnant with his child, the close possiblity of them having a family together... too perfect. It didn't add up, and Donnie had been the missing variable. In the story of Seth's life, there had always been a catch, and now he had brought that irony into Summer's pregnancy too.
"The three of you look a bit crestfallen." Kirsten observed, handing a cherry-hued winter-maternity dress to Summer, who stared at it in disgust. "Any reason why?" Kirsten inquired.
"Everyone's been depressed since Joey left Dawson for Pacey." Summer mumbled under her breath, taking the dress and walking to the other end of the maternity store. Kirsten watched the young girl walk away from them briskly before turning back to Seth and Ryan.
"Who are-?" Seth interrupted his mother by standing up adruptly and walking past her, following after Summer. The remaining teenager, Ryan, looked up at Kirsten, who blinked twice in return.
"I think we need to let them be alone." Ryan told her, standing up. "School... drama." He nodded. Ryan then turned away to look at a pair of socks and said no more, living by his tactiturn nature. Kirsten nodded and decided to heed Ryan's advice, sensing that he knew more about what was going on than she, and thus she went back to looking at a few lacey maternity dresses, trying to avoid anything that would make Summer go 'eww'.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the store, Summer feigned admiration for a pair of simple black hose while Seth approached her from behind. He lifted his hand to his mouth, force-faking a cough and clearing his throat in order to extract her attention. It didn't take much for him to suceed. Summer twirled around, her dark hair swinging over her tanned shoulder. She was holding the pair of hose gingerly in her hands, the repulsive red dress hung on the miscellaneous rack behind her.
"Did you want something, Seth?" Summer asked, apparent strain to avoid sounding dismal was obvious in her voice, but the feigned cheery tone didn't help Seth's mood much either.
"I, um... Summer, I thought that maybe we should talk... about what happened today." He suggested, stuffing his shaking hands in his pockets. Summer turned around, putting away the hose before revolving back to face him.
"Well, we're alone. Talk. Although I don't think that there's anything to talk about." She told him dismissively, crossing her arms underneath her chest, acentuating it even more. Seth took a deep breath, taking a cursory glance around the store before beginning to speak.
"But... I do, Summer. Um, The baby... aren't you worried that it could be Donnie's?" He asked, furrowing his brow. Summer's jaw dropped, the girl looked as though she had just been slapped in the face.
"You're worried?" She asked accusingly.
"Yeah, shouldn't I be?"
"No! Didn't you hear anything I told him earlier? Case closed, Cohen!"
"Yeah, but, Summer, you denied kissing me at my Grandfather's birthday party too." Seth pointed out.
"You actually think I slept with him?" Summer asked softly, a tense edge shaking through her voice. Her dark eyes bore a cross between anger, disappointment, and pain. "I can't believe you actually think that I did, after everything that I said today!"
"Donnie said you were drunk, Summer! Anything can happen when you're drunk, and you might not have had any idea!"
"I knew what I was doing with you." Summer muttered softly, turning away from him. "And we were both drunk. Really drunk."
"What?" Seth blinked, scratching the back of his head. "You said you had no idea what you were doing that night..." Seth trailed off.
"I did, Cohen. I just didn't want you to know that. But I remember that night like it happened last night. Oh that's right, it did. It practically haunts my dreams, Seth! I was well aware of what was happening. I didn't do anything to stop it, because I didn't want to, and now look where I am. But I know, I know that nothing happened between me and that pyscho, but if you'd rather believe him than me, be that way." Summer snapped, turning on her heels and adrupltly storming away, leaving an echo of clickity-clacking on the tiled floor.
"But... if you lied to me about that... then... how...?" Seth shook his head, deciding not to waste his energy on that incoherent question, since Summer had already left him standing there infront of the panty-hose display with a few middle-aged pregnant women shooting him rather wary glances. Quickly, Seth retreated back over towards his mother and a mute Ryan, both looking occupied by random articles of maternity clothing. "I'm walking home." He muttered to them both, not waiting for a response before striding past them with head held high, and walking out of the Gucci Maternity store.
-
A couple of hours later, Summer, Ryan and Kirsten returned home to the Cohen house, several shopping bags filled to the brim of the latest fashion. At least, the latest fashion that somebody pregnant could be bothered with, though for Summer, looking down still remained a priority.
"Summer, I don't think we have enough room for it all." Kirsten commented, dragging about 6 shopping bags in, two on each hand, and one on each foot. She looked up at Ryan, who was holding over 8 bags with extreme ease. "Ryan, honey, why don't we stash some of this in the poolhouse, allright?" She asked, picking the bags off of her feet and adding them to Ryan's load. Ryan nodded and quickly walked away, carrying the clothing as if he were the Incredibly Hulk, gifted with extreme strength.
Ryan reached a hand to the doorknob of the poolhouse, gripping it tightly and revolving it and pushing it open. He stepped inside and set down the shopping bags gently on the floor before standing up and turning the lights on. What Ryan saw caught him by surprise, and he quickly closed the door behind him, tentatively stepping forward towards his bed.
"Seth?" Ryan called out in an usually timid voice. The figure huddled up in his bed, with his knees curled up to his chest, arms wrapped around it tightly and head buried inbetween knees, rocked back and forth, his shoulders shaking from convulsed sobs. "Seth, what happened?" Ryan repeated, walking over to his bed and kneeling at the foot of it, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Don't tell anyone about this." Seth mumbled, looking up at Ryan. His cheeks burned crimson, stained with tears that dripped and rolled from his glazed eyes in which pain was visibly expressed. Ryan blinked twice, taking in the unusual sight infront of him. Seth, light-hearted, never-get-me-down Seth, was actually crying. It seemed too surreal. Seth never let stuff get to him. But Ryan knew this had to have something to do with Summer.
"I won't tell anybody." Ryan told him, easing himself into a more comfortable position beside Seth. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked.
"Yeah." Seth nodded, sniffing and wiping his bloodshot eyes with the back of his hand. "That's why I came here. Right when I got home. I came and I waited for you, because you're the only one I could talk to, and I don't know... I just started... breaking down." He finished softly. "I must seem really pathetic. I mean, even more pathetic than before." Seth added in.
"You're not pathetic." Ryan told him. "This is about Summer, isn't it?" He asked uneasily. Seth nodded.
"No, it's about Captain Oates." He told Ryan sarcastically, a short smirk brimming through the tears. Ryan felt relieved. At least Seth was still himself.
"Seth, you're not pathetic. If you were, you would've left Summer to get an abortion, or to have the baby herself, but you're not. You're fighting for a life. There's nothing pathetic about that." Ryan told him.
"I'm crying, Ryan. I'm crying like a little boy." Seth told him. "I'm supposed to be taking care of her, but instead I'm here, being selfish and crying because... " He paused, as if unsure whether or not to continue.
"Ryan, you blind idiot, you forgot one..." Summer mumbled, approaching the poolhouse with one more shopping bag grasped in both of her hands. She set it down right outside the door and moved her hand to knock, but the sound of conversing from within the poolhouse made her think twice and she lowered her hand, placing it gently on the door. Ryan was talking to someone. Not just anyone. Seth. But something was wrong. She could hear it in the quiver on his voice, it rolled out as a tremble, not the usual way that Seth smoothly spoke. Summer had had enough of eavesdropping lately (Holly), but even though she knew she shouldn't have been standing there, listening in on them, she couldn't find it in herself to keep her feet planted firmly on the ground, and hear what he had to say.
"Seth, you can talk to me." Ryan reassured him. "We'll talk, just the way we used to when I first came here. You know I'll listen." He added thoughtfully. Ryan wasn't necessarily the best at being comforting, he certainly wasn't a temple of advice either, but for Seth, he would try his best.
"Ryan, lately, I've just been getting really stressed," Seth began, "On the surface, I try to seem collected, like I've got everything under control, like everything's going to be allright, but I have all these fears that something is going to go wrong, and I'm under all this pressure to do good for her, and I'm really happy, but... I just... can't hold out much longer." Seth breathed. "The constant worry, it's eating away inside of me. And you know how fickle Summer is. When something better than this comes along, she'll go. She doesn't even want to have a family with me, I know she's only here because it's better than being alone in her own empty house." He mumbled.
"We all really believed you were happy... it seemed a little odd." Ryan commented. "Seth, this is normal. I think you're supposed to feel overwhelmed with something this big." He told him, "And... I don't think Summer can find anything better than this, because there is nothing better. Give her some credit, Seth. You know her more than anybody else, you wouldn't be in love with her if she were really like that." Ryan added.
"I know." Seth breathed, dropping his head into his hands. "I know, and I was so angry at myself because of earlier today, at the mall." He shook his head. "She really took it as an insult, that I thought I she slept with Donnie. I was so stupid. She wouldn't have acted like that infront of all those people unless it was the truth." He mumbled. "It's not that I didn't believe her... I just found it hard too. First I lose all my trust in Anna, and find out Summer lied about not knowing what was happening when we slept together, and now... now this." He shook his head. "I don't know what to do anymore, Ryan. I want to believe her, I want to just let go and have faith in her, but this is a bigger situation than I thought." He choked out. "I don't think love is enough to keep her here, or to keep the family that we will have together."
"Seth, you're being paranoid." Ryan told him. "Summer realizes how lucky she is to be here. She's never been treated like this before in her life, remember? She practically lives all alone. She's happy to be a part of something, a part of your family, and if she's stupid enough to leave... then she wasn't the girl you're in love with." Ryan shrugged. "Just keep doing the right thing, Seth. It'll work out."
"Ryan, I think this is the most I've ever heard you talk in one conversation." Seth told him, smiling slightly past his tears. Ryan shrugged, hunching his shoulders. "You're not that bad with advice, either."
"I've been in counseling way too many times." Ryan admitted.
"Yeah, I believe you." Seth replied with a true grin. Ryan stood up, walking over to his shelf and grabbing the tissue box, bringing it back for Seth.
"So, you'll be okay now?" Ryan asked.
"I think I will." Seth nodded, grabbing a tissue and wiping his eyes, as well as his nose. "Thanks." He added.
"No problem." Ryan responded, looking up at Seth. After everything Seth and the Cohens had done for him, Ryan knew that he would do anything for them in return. "I'll be right back." He told Seth, standing up and walking to the door. As he opened it, he blinked in surprise to find a shopping bag sitting on the ground infront of him. "Hmm. I thought I got them all in." He murmured quietly.
-
Summer lay on top of her bed, her hands resting on top of her belly, which was curving a little bit more each day. She could barely fit into her old jeans anymore, the reason today's shopping trip had been necessary. But her favourite pair of denim fitting her or not wasn't her biggest worry anymore. Right now, Summer felt a mixture of regret, sadness, and compassion which swelled inside of her. Letting out a deep breath, she rolled onto her side.
Why didn't she figure it out before? Seth couldn't have been that happy the entire time. She knew that seemed a little disturbing and odd, but she had shrugged it off, dismissing it because it seemed exactly like Seth- disturbing and odd. But he was so much more than that! He was caring, thoughtful, concerned, passionate, intelligent, witty, chilvalrous, and surprising. He was more real than anyone else she'd ever met. Of course he felt emotions too. Maybe because what other people said never seemed to bother him, maybe that's when she got the idea he might've been some robot programmed to only feel apathy. No matter how many times Summer rejected him, he acted like it didn't affect him and kept trying. But she had forgotten that because of that, he did feel something. He loved her. With each growing day, Summer took that fact more and more seriously. There was something precious about that statement, which couldn't be regarded as a joke anymore.
Summer felt guilty, for earlier today, and for all those years from earlier when she didn't take him seriously. If she did, if she had just been herself, maybe he wouldn't have doubted her today. She couldn't blame him now, and felt bad for getting mad, although the fact that he, Seth, of all people didn't believe her, that had really hurt. But she understood now. She wasn't going to leave either. Not for anything. Ryan had been right, there was nothing better than this. This was a real family, and while not everybody was related by blood, it didn't matter. Look at the Coopers, all blood-related and a total wreck. Summer liked it here. She liked the feeling she got when she and Kirsten bonded, and when she'd help Sandy prepare dinner, since the guys didn't want Kirsten to, and when Ryan attempted to teach her to play those lame war video games, and she'd always end up killing herself somehow, and most of all, she loved the feeling that Seth gave her when he looked at her with adoration, when he kissed her forehead in the morning, when he'd touch her stomache with that eager smile on his face. It was all the little things that Summer didn't want to leave that kept her here.
Summer was going to prove it to Seth. She was going to erase his worst doubts, and confirm to him that he didn't need to worry about it anymore.
-
Donnie's high school was nothing remotely like Harbor. Summer didn't really feel comfortable there either, but that's why she dragged Ryan and Marissa along with her. The three of them tentatively crossed the school's sad excuse of a courtyard, following the direction in which random students told them they'd be able to find Donnie. Under a chestnut tree. A tall, old knarled tree. Apparently, it was their turf, where they did business. Which, obviously meant drug dealing. Approaching said tree, Summer instantly spotted a large group of people gathered beneath it, and crossing the basketball court, she, Ryan, and Marissa all arrived on the scene... only to find two familiar faces already there.
"Holly and Anna." Summer state blatantly. "I should have known."
"Where's Seth?" Anna asked, looking at her.
"He's not here. He doesn't need to be. This is between me and him." Summer told Anna, narrowing her eyes at Donnie, who had Holly all over him. Marissa scrunched up her nose in disgust. "You can get laid later, I want to talk now." Summer told Donnie sternly.
"Come to admit the truth, babe?" Donnie asked, practically shoving Holly off of him. He walked over, standing infront of Summer, casting a cursory glance to Ryan and Marissa. "Who's your friend?" He asked curiously.
"His boyfriend." Summer replied, nodding at Ryan. Marissa gripped Ryan's arm tighter, feeling at severe un-ease. She was looking at the man who had shot Luke. While she didn't care about Luke anymore, the thought was still discomforting and all she could think of as she looked at Donnie was what a rotten bastard he was.
"Ryan." Donnie nodded. "Good to see ya again."
"The feeling's not mutual." Ryan responded.
"So, what'dya want?" Donnie asked Summer.
"I want you to come back to Newport with us and tell Seth Cohen the truth." Summer demanded. Donnie's posse all exchanged amused looks and began to snicker amongst themselves. Summer sent them all a death glare which shoved them into silence.
"I already did that." Donnie replied honestly.
"No, you lied!" Summer exclaimed. "And now you're going to undo what you did!"
"You have a lot of demands." Donnie clicked his tongue. He stepped forward, sliding an arm around her waist. "I might need something in return..."
"Don't touch me!" With a surprising amount of strength, Summer pushed him off of her, grabbing her arm and twisting it around. Ryan blinked twice, feeling quite un-needed. Marissa looked at him, shrugging her shoulders.
"Rage blackouts." Marissa whispered, and Ryan nodding understandingly.
"I don't have to do anything for you, and if you think I'm just a spoiled Newport brat you can't defend herself, then you're wrong." Summer told him. "Because I can defend myself." She added, looking him square in the eye. "And I am tired of being screwed with, literally and methaphorically, and right now, I'm on the edge, and if you don't do this, I am going to make your life even more of a living hell than it already is!" She shouted. The area surrounding the chestnut tree grew dead silent, everybody looking at each other, not really knowing what to do or say. Donnie looked around at his posse, all of which backed away even farther from Summer. Feeling Summer release her death grip on him, Donnie stepped away slowly, holding up his hands in defense.
"Allright, allright. Look, just don't go getting all pyscho like that on me, aight?" Donnie asked. "I'll go back with you, because, damn, you've a lot more rage than I do in that little body." He told her.
"Good." Summer sighed, grinning in victory. She turned around, beckoning Donnie, Marissa, and Ryan. "Now we can get out of this dump."
"Summer, wait!" Anna called, running to catch up with her. "You're not going to tell Seth... that... we..." She looked back at Holly, "You're not going to tell him..."
"Why would I?" Summer replied, "I'm not interested in upsetting him."
-
Whee. I liked this better than the last chapter, it had more stuff going on and more angst. I like angst.