Chapter Forty Eight & Forty Nine

Marissa pulled away slowly, her eyes fixed closed. Ryan started to slowly open his eyes, as it dwelled on him how long they had been kissing for. He grinned at Marissa, who was for some reason stunned; as if she hadn't kissed Ryan before. She felt enveloped by the kiss completely- as if her whole body, mind and soul were still shivering in pleasure. Marissa had a silly, gentle smile across her lips, as she blinked slowly, and broadly. Ryan took Marissa by the hand, as they wordlessly agreed on a walk. As Ryan touched her hand, he felt a part of the girl- joined by only their palms. It felt so miraculously great, not one word could possibly describe the sensation. Marissa was constantly beaming ahead of her, as she reflected on how she felt towards Ryan. Then, Marissa turned reluctantly towards Ryan.

"Ryan," Marissa gulped, as the smile vanished from her face. It was replaced with a sort of indescribable anguish, "I know it should be 'a moment' thing, but I, I," She stuttered, "I really think we're ready. My body aches when I'm not with you, not a part of you. I think this should be our night…" Marissa said softly.

"You want this?" Ryan asked. On the outside, he was trying to remain cool; on the inside, he was dancing with glee. He loved his girlfriend, and to hear that she was 'ready' made him ecstatic.

"More than anything." Marissa said coolly, as she leaned in to kiss Ryan, "Pool house?" Ryan nodded as he held the girl tightly in his arms. They walked quickly, occasionally looking at where they were going. When they finally made it to the pool house, Ryan jerked with the door a bit, still locked with Marissa's lips. He finally opened it. Once they were inside, he locked the door from the inside so they would not get any intruders. Ryan didn't turn on the light- he was busy fidgeting with Marissa's clothing.

"Seth," Summer said slowly, as she sat in the living room inside the Cohen house, "These nights just don't work for us," Summer laughed peculiarly; Seth smiled.

"Maybe we should go elsewhere. You know, because it gets embarrassing by the second time." Seth said slowly.

"Well, Seth, Marissa and Ryan are 'out'." Summer hinted, but Seth had no idea what she was talking about.

"My room, again?" Seth blurted quickly, stupidly.

"No, you doorknob." Summer said as she giggled, "Does the word pool house mean anything to you?" Summer raised her eyebrow; Seth looked at her blankly.

"No? Is it supposed to mean something to me?" Seth asked. Summer hit him over the head, lightly of course.

"Oh my God. You're an idiot!" Summer said, as she grinned, "We can go," Summer cleared her throat, "There?" Summer said deviously; Seth stared at her, as she grinned adorably.

"Why do you want to go to the pool house?" Seth asked, as he paused to think for a long while. He looked at Summer, who was in turn giving him a death glare, saying something like 'You are too dumb to function, Sweetheart'.

"Seth! We can 'continue' what was rudely interrupted earlier." Summer suggested slowly, so slow that Seth was bound to understand. And he did.

"Oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Seth gave the longest OOH, as if a light bulb miraculously appeared (a while too late) above his head. Summer shook her head, as she avoided his eyes. "So let's go!"

"Where?" Summer said dumbly, purposely imitating Seth.

"Hey. You're not being very nice!" Seth said in a whiny, school girl voice.

"Seth." This was all Summer needed to say. She was getting fed up with Seth's stupidity, "Come on." She said, annoyed. Seth couldn't imagine how a creature so irritated would want something so special. It almost ruined the point. Her quick step seemed to rattled the ground; of course she tried not to seem ditheringly angry, but Seth saw the resentment in her big eyes. She wore a glossy smile over this, so she could half-cover what her eyes hid. She turned to Seth expectantly, her eyes yearning for redemption. She walked over to his weak body- weak compared to her superiority. It was the first time, in a long time, where Seth truly felt like an ant stuck to the bottom of one's shoe- he always felt Summer was an equal when they kissed, talked, touched. Now, almost all over again, her tender kiss was strange, and unfamiliar. He was newly amazed by her hair, and oddly surprised that she was kissing him. He couldn't understand what happening- was he reliving the horrible, degrading, despicable, atrocious, ghastly beginning? The beginning where he was nothing. The beginning where he was only something with Summer by his side.

"Seth," Summer said slowly, "Is everything okay? You look a little a pale… what's going on? You're not even kissing me…" Summer's eyes looked hurt. A bead of sweat emerged from Seth's forehead.

"I'm fine." Seth said quickly, as he looked around- afraid. Summer stared at him- each second seemed like days, years, lifetimes. Usually, he would melt underneath her immaculate gaze, but this evening- he wished nothing more than to avoid it. He replied to her shiny, tear filled eyes, by saying, "Really. I'm fine." A sort of calm washed over him- He looked at Summer. The girl that he loved, and he had no anxieties any longer. He walked over to Summer, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, "I'm sorry- I was being stupid." Summer smiled overtly, as she kissed Seth slowly.

"Now where were we?" She asked with the most glorious smile wound on her face. The night breeze sang a song so deep, and memorable. The moon, a perfect circle shone accenting each perfect light in the sky. Stars enlightened the whole environment, and Seth felt like only he and Summer existed. Summer smiled, "Do you wanna go?" Summer Asked doubtedly, as her head turned toward the pool house.

"You know what?" Summer looked up, as Seth started to speak, "I just want to stand here with you- as long as forever." Summer beamed- her smile was like the golden rays of the sun, elapsing from the morning sky. Seth placed his chin, comfortably on her head as she cuddled into Seth's chest. "I love you Summer, more than anything in the world you could possibly name. There's nothing- absolutely nothing- that I want more." Seth confided.

"I love you, too, Seth." Summer whispered slowly. "I love you, too." She repeated unnecessarily, but Seth appreciated her every word. He loved her soft voice, how it bloomed into the air. He loved her eyelashes, which with pure innocence effortlessly caressed her cheek. He loved her fingers, which manipulated his face, neck, and wallet. He loved this girl, and words could not describe the feeling.

He was convinced that if Summer told him to jump off a cliff for her- he would. If Summer had a gun to her head, he would die himself to save her. If she was lost, no matter where she was Seth would follow through to the ends of the earth to find her. If she needed an organ, blood, a limb- he would donate even his heart to save her life. Summer was the most invaluable person he knew- and he would do anything to please her.

"Summer," She looked up, and nodded giving Seth her full attention, "Words can describe how I feel when I'm around you. I wish they could. All I can say, is that you're my goddess, my angel, my life. I would do anything for you. Anything." Seth confessed to his love.

"Seth," Summer smiled, as she giggled, "You're going to make me cry. You're talking as if we're never going to see each other again. It's not over, sweetie. It will never be." Summer said, as she smiled.

"Oh yeah?" They heard a grim rustling behind the bushes. Tray Atwood's voice reluctantly echoed through the night. Seth fearfully looked at Tray, as he doubted his sanity. He moved in front of Summer to cover her. The small brunette hid behind Seth's powerful silhouette. "Long time no see, buddy." Tray said in a joyful voice, as he extended his hand to shake Seth's. Seth took a step back- so did Summer, the two avoiding collision. Summer gulped behind Seth. Tears of fright enveloped her eyes, but she kept absolutely silent. When Tray looked at Seth, who was skilfully hiding his own hands, he spat at Seth in disgust. "You son of a," Tray ended before he could finished. He paced around Seth and Summer, grinning a vile grin. Seth didn't know how to react. He couldn't beat him, because what if he was armed. But the thought was interrupted, when Tray threw the punch. Seth's nose started to bleed almost immediately. He looked at Tray not trying to hit back. Instead he touched his nose, wiping some of the blood that was oozing from his nose. Summer was now crying roughly hard from behind Seth, when she saw some dark liquid on Tray's knuckles- her imagination did not have to run too far to understand what that was.

"Tray, please. Relax. You wanna come in? Talk?" Seth offered.

"Fck no!" Tray exclaimed, "I'm enjoying this. I despise you. You took my brother away. You fcking took my little bro away! You ruined my fcked up life. I'm here to ruin yours- I'm going to take away every fcking thing that's means anything to you. You'll regret your sht." Tray said, anger piercing through his lungs.

"Tray, please, relax, please." Seth begged quietly.

"Shut the fck up!" Tray hollered as he through another punched, and another, and another. Seth's body ached- he didn't want Ryan to be disappointed in him- he didn't fight back. He stood there; stomach in horrendous pain, nose bleeding excessively, eye throbbing. Seth felt Summer fidgeting in his back pocket, getting a cell phone out of it- she tried desperately to gain power in the situation. Seth wanted to warn her, but it was too late. When she turned the phone on, it made the loudest noise- someone across the world could hear. Summer replaced the phone in Seth's pocket. "What the fck was that?" Tray asked.

"Nothing. I got a call. I'm not going to pick it up." Seth assured.

"What's the whore doing over there? Calling for help?" Tray tried to look behind but Seth blocked Summer from his view.

"Get the hell out of my way, Cohen." Tray warned. Seth didn't budge. Tray charged over to move Seth- Seth fell to the ground, as he hit his head. He tried to get up, but his head was aching ever so painfully. When he saw Tray fidgeting with something in his own pocket, Seth got worried. Tray pulled out a gun, and he pointed it exactly at Summer.

"OH MY GOD!" Summer shrieked.

At this point, everything was going in undeniable slow motion in Seth's mind. Summer couldn't react- she was frozen in her spot. Seth start to get up. Tray had pulled the trigger. Seth gasped at the bullet that was flying through the air, and somehow he managed to get up. When he was up, the bullet was about three metres away from Summer. He jumped in the way of the bullet- everything returned to the original speed.

Summer screamed when Seth caught the bullet that was aimed for her. She started to cry- she didn't even notice Tray running away.

Seth felt the bullet, at the exact second, penetrating his skin- mercilessly going deeper and deeper into his flesh. His chest felt like it was exploding- his heart, already broken, shattered. His legs had already given out, and he wheezed as he saw the blurry image of Summer, soaking him with tears.

"I," Seth tried to breathe- instead, he coughed up blood, "love you." Seth said as he started to close his eyes. Summer yelled into the night- She prayed that someone would hear her.

"HELP!" Summer moaned, "HELPPP!" She cried again. She heard footsteps running towards her. She didn't realise she was drenched in Seth's blood- her hands touching his chest where the bullet had hit. "HELP!" She felt two hands lifting her. She heard someone calling somewhere, but her whole body could not hear- she was deaf. She could only stare blankly at Seth's lifeless body, as she unknowingly shrieked his name into the night. She was crying harder than she had ever before. Her whole body ached, as she imagined the feeling of the bullet. She was crying harder, hoping her tears would save his life. Summer couldn't feel anything, see anything anymore, hear anything. Lights surrounded her body, as she was enclosed within her body. She could no longer breathe, and everything around her seemed to moan. She didn't understand what was happening- but nothing mattered. Seth was dead. Her life was useless. Her life was dead.