Chapter Forty Six

"Seth I never knew you could cook!" Summer exclaimed as she gulped down a meal that Seth had prepared on his own. She looked at him in delight seeing that her boyfriend could prepare a decent meal.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, princess." Seth said, slowly. Summer stopped chewing her food, and glared at him vilely.

"Seth, what's up with these corny nicknames lately? First Summy-boo, now princess? Come on now, you know my real name fits fine, right?" Summer said, annoyed. Seth blushed.

"I'm only putting some pizzazz on the relationship." Seth smiled. Summer groaned,

"Pizzazz meaning what?" Summer asked intolerantly.

"Pizzazz as in slight humour. Relax, Summer." Seth tried to cool her down. She nodded.

"You're right. I am freaking out a bit, aren't I?" Summer said slowly, confessing what was bothering her. "I guess Cooper's got me running up a wall. I don't know where she is, how she's doing. Honestly, I haven't talked to her in like forever. I'm worried about her; I don't even know if she's alive or not. Usually she'd be the first to call- now each time I pick up the phone, it's you." Summer said in shock, as she looked down at the food, playing around with her fork.

"Call her. Wouldn't kill you." Seth commented to his girlfriend's honest stress.

"Just like that? Out of nowhere? So uncalled for?" Summer asked.

"You are her best friend, are you not? Don't chicks just call each other out of boredom?"

"Seth, you dunno jack about women." Summer smiled, and took up the offer as she started to dial Marissa's cell phone number. Seconds later, Marissa Cooper replied in a giggly tone.

"Hey Marissa," Summer was still worried, but a tonne had been lifted off her heart, "I haven't heard from you in forever. Is everything alright?" Summer asked.

"Yeah, of course, Summer. You know when I'm not at school I'm possibly hungover." Marissa laughed; Summer followed this wave with a slightly fake laugh.

"How many times did you have a hangover this week, Coop?" Summer asked.

"I dunno, a few?" Marissa eye-balled it with such a general word.

"I haven't seen you in school for so long. I was worried about you. Especially since the hype about you with Kelly, I was especially afraid for you. Out of all people, this person means trouble; so I was scared you were digging deeper then neck-high." Summer said. Marissa was slightly confused by her use of metaphors.

"Mmkay, I'm just going to pretend I understood everything you said- quite the mouthful- I'm not with Kelly; I'm with Ryan. Actually I'm with him right now. I had a week's worth of hangovers. So what. You never freaked out before. So just relax Summer. You're way too uptight. It's like you're responsible for me, or something. Well, newsflash honey, you're not. I'm quite capable of living my own life- I find you're too busy to live mine for me, no? What's going on with you- you seem so…" Marissa didn't bother finishing her sentence. She spoke in a friendly, yet harshly defensive tone.

"So old, right?" Summer finished, as she nodded, "Sorry. I guess you mean a lot to me Marissa," Summer said quietly realising nothing had changed- only she was freaking out a little too much, "We should catch up. Not tonight, though. See you around school tomorrow. Don't get hungover again, please." Summer said as she clicked off the phone. She felt even worse now that she had called Marissa. For some reason, she had a lump in her heart. Seth touched her shoulder, as Summer held the phone close to her heart.

"Everything okay?" Seth asked, as he rubbed her shoulder gently.

"Yeah, definitely. Not with me though." Summer admitted, "Am I acting," Summer stopped for a second as she shook her head. She buried her head in her hands, and when she finally finished it was muffled and almost incomprehensible, "Over-dramatically?"

"No, no, no," Seth said quickly, reassuringly, "It's normal for you to freak out for a friend; Marissa's like your sister, Sum. You have a right to worry." Seth said.

"Do I really? Because I somehow think I'm abusing this right- at least that's what Marissa is making it look like. It seems though she's this independent woman, with no needs of friends." Summer said quietly.

"Summer, maybe that's what she wants everyone to think. Hasn't it always been that way? You guys have always needed each other in the end though. So just relax, Summer. We're supposed to spend a fantastic evening tonight, without worries. Alright?" Seth pressed, as he touched Summer's cheek. She looked at him thoughtfully,

"I know you did a lot to put this together, but I'm not really in the mood, sorry Seth.." Summer confessed slowly. Seth tried to narrow his eyes, from the wide expression they were in at the moment, but unsuccessfully he just stared at Summer blankly, his eyes like attentive beads studying Summer thoroughly.

"Sht!" Seth mumbled to himself, "Why'd I give her the phone?" He questioned himself, ignoring the frightened look on Summer. She gulped,

"You know it gets really bad, when your boyfriend starts to talk to himself." Seth shot a glance at her,

"Ha Ha." He said sarcastically. Summer smiled.

"Seth, you know I'm sorry, and what's the point of doing it today if I'm just not in the mood? Hmm?" Summer asked, but it wasn't sufficient enough for Seth, who continued to combat.

"Because Summer, I love you that every second, whether you are sad, happy or pissed off, is beautiful." Seth said in a sweet, romantic voice. He slid his hands slowly around Summer's waist, and started to peck her lips gently with his own. Soon, the small, meaningless kisses turned into long, blissful ones. Summer put her palms on Seth's cheek, as she massaged his temples with her fingertips. Later, she moved one hand onto Seth's neck, where she began to toy with the little hairs that resided there. She grinned, allowing Seth a touch at her teeth. Summer started to pull away, and Seth saw something sparkle near her face; the earrings he had given her. He smiled when he saw his gift neatly dancing with her ears. He was proud at the moment.

"Only you can change my mood with a single kiss." Summer whispered into Seth's ears.

"So does that mean…" Seth didn't bother finish his sentence. Summer smiled, as she nodded.

"It means that tonight can be the night." Summer said, and with every slow-motioned word, she tortured Seth.

"Are you sure you're ready?" Seth asked, doubting the moment for a split-second.

"Well, are you?" Summer rebounded.

"Hell yes." Seth confided.

"I second that." Summer raised her eyebrow, as she grabbed a hold of Seth's hand. She placed her fingers in between his and they waddled off into Seth's bedroom…