Chap 1 - The Flashback

"You're beautiful," he said softly, "I love you." He then leaned down and kissed Summer gently but passionately. He was a good kisser, but definitely not as good as Seth. Summer pulled away quickly. She looked at her feet, a feeling of guilt creeping up her. She couldn't tell James she loved him because she would be lying. And if there was one thing Summer wasn't it was a liar.

"I'm tired James, I need to go to bed." Summer whispered still looking at her feet. She walked into her room and feel onto her bed tears filling her eyes. She stopped herself from crying, determined James wouldn't find out about how much she missed Seth. She slipped under the covers and lay in bed for what seemed like an eternity before she heard the door creak open. She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep when her husband crept into the room and got into bed.

When she was sure James was asleep Summer climbed out of bed and slipped into her dressing gown. She silently tiptoed out through the door and stood in the hallway. She has never done this alone before, usually when she was going into the loft James went with her. Summer pulled the long leather strap hanging from the hole in the ceiling. She pulled it and the ladder fell down quickly. She caught it before it hit the ground and made a sound. She gently placed it onto the ground being as quiet as possible. She then wrapped her hands around the wooden ladder and put her foot on the first step.

She pulled herself up and climbed into the attic. It was cold and dark but Summer fumbled around and soon found what she was looking for. She lowered one of her feet down until it touched the step. She took the box under one arm and grabbed the ladder with the other. She slowly climbed down being very careful. She then grabbed the ladder and with all her might she threw it up. It made a large bang that would wake the dead. She cringed as she thought about what would happen.

She stood there waiting. She waited for a minute, nothing happened. She waited for a while longer, nothing happened. She opened the door a bit and stuck her head round James was sleeping just as deeply as ever. That's weird, Summer thought. She pulled her head back and bent down to the box she had got out of the attic. A tear fell down her cheek as she flipped through the contents of the box. She found a pile of photos strung together with an elastic band. She took the band off and looked at the photo on the top, it was of the 4 of them, Marissa, Ryan, Seth and her. They all looked so happy, like they had no care in the world. Summer wished everything would go back to how it was, Theresa never getting pregnant, Ryan never going away, Seth never going away, Marissa never becoming a alcoholic and her never getting married to James.

She looked at another photo of her and Seth kissing on the beach, another of Ryan and Marissa laughing and playing. Tears poured down her cheek as she looked at the photos. She couldn't remember what it felt like to be young, to be free, to be happy! She looked at Seth beautiful face, his soft skin and his 'Jew fro', she loved him so much and all she wanted to do was hold him tight and never let go. But she didn't know where he was or what the hell he was doing. Probably sleeping, unless he was in Europe. God she missed his rambling and sarcasm so much at that moment.

She looked through the rest of the box. She had named it 'the Cohen box' and kept things in it that had something to do with Seth. She flicked through some comic books and found a piece of paper at the bottom of the box. A piece of paper that brought back so many memories. She picked up the letter with trembling hands, It had 7 years ago that she had 1st read it but she remembered it like it only happened yesterday.

Flashback

Summer flicked her long brown hair out of her eyes as she strolled down the driveway towards the Cohen household. She straightened her new pink minidress and rung the doorbell. A beautiful woman with long blonde hair answered.

"Hi Kirsten!" said Summer cheerfully before she realized Kirsten's eyes were red from crying, "What's wrong?"

"Oh Summer I can't believe it's happened!" Kirsten wailed, "Just when things were bad enough, with Ryan moving out, this has to happen!"

"What are talking about?" Summer was so confused. Kirsten waved a hand to the stairs and, with one last look at Kirsten, Summer ran up them.

She pushed the door to Seth's room open and stepped inside. Where was he? When she looked around the room everything seemed so empty. There were no comic books scattered everywhere, no captain oats sitting on his bed next to a Jenga Tower. She had never seen Seths room like this.

She walked over to his desk and saw an envelope lying on it. In big letters it said 'SUMMER'. Summer opened it and pulled out the piece of paper inside. She read it slowly over and over again.

Dear Summer,

Sorry if my mum made you sit through a takeout to get this, but I couldn't see you. I had to go. I've left on the Summer Breeze and I don't know where I'm going, but I've got my Sextant and a compass. I don't belong in Newport. The only thing that's ever kept me here (besides my parents) is you. Since the third grade I've had a plan to leave this City. That on day you and I would set sail on this boat. Together we'd get out of here. And believe me when I say this, if I could, I would've taken you away with me today. But I couldn't. I had to do this on my own. One day we'll go sailing. But for now, It's goodbye.I love you, Summer. I always have and I always will.

Love Seth xxx

Summer felt her eyes filling with tears as she read the letter over and over again. He had left. Without even saying goodbye! She folded the piece of paper up and stuffed it in her pocket. She ran downstairs and ran into Kirsten.

"Oh Summer!" Kirsten cried as she saw the tears falling down Summers face. Summer threw her arms around Kirsten and hugged her tight.

"I wanna go home now," Summer said to Kirsten, "I want to be alone." And with that she ran out through the door and jumped in her car. She drove home in silence and when she got home she flung herself on her bed and cried and cried. She couldn't remember how long she cried for but for her it felt like she never stopped crying.

End

A/N Please Review so i can carry on!