- PART TWO -

Chapter One

Summer looked in the mirror, face soaked with tears. She was dressed in black- needless to say, for Seth Cohen's funeral. She didn't bother to apply any make-up; she knew her face would be dripping with the dark, creamy, substance by the end of the day. She was shivering- shivering intensely. She couldn't muster the understanding that the only boy she loved, was now, dead. Suddenly, the world around her started to turn, random colours started to dance around her eyes. She could not touch, feel anything. She started to scream, but no one could hear her.

"She's waking up!" A throng of doctors were leaning over her, after she started to open her eyes. She looked around nervously; what was going on? She started to breathe heavily, "Miss, it was a dream."

"A dream?" She was breathing extremely roughly, her chest hurt. She felt as if she had been running for hours at a time. "Is Seth dead? Is he dead?" Summer pressed frantically.

"No. He is not. He is not dead. He recovered almost immediately after you passed out. We rushed you to a the emergency room so we could make sure you were okay." An older, gray-haired doctor replied.

"How is Seth doing? Is he going to be okay?" Summer's eyes were wide, and afraid. She was still shivering.

"Since you passed out, which was about four hours already, he is doing radical healing. He's doing very well. We've removed the bullet. We believe he's going to be okay- perfect in a few months given rehabilitation and therapy."

"Oh God," Summer smiled, as tears filled her eyes. She was too happy to speak, "Thank you, Doctor. Thank you, so much!" Summer couldn't breath, but this time it wasn't due to panic and fear, but happiness, relief and excitement. Summer would jump out of the hospital bed, but she felt crappy. Her head killed- it was worse than a hangover.

"Miss, I know you must want to visit Mr. Cohen, but you hit your head pretty bad when you passed out. You're going to have to stay here for a little while, until we can safely say you'll be okay." The same, elderly doctor spoke slowly, and consistently.

"But I have to see him." Summer whispered worriedly. The doctor shook his head.

"He's not ready for visitation. I'm very sorry Miss." The doctor replied frankly. "If you need anything, please, please call any doctor or nurse on duty. We will provide you with the utmost hospital care."

Summer didn't answer- she was angered by the fact that she was secluded from her boyfriend. She felt locked up in a box, without an exit. She started to feel dizzy, as if she was claustrophobic, but she shook her head- she shook her self out of the phobia. Seth was going to be okay, and that was all that mattered. Summer sniffled to herself- she hadn't even realised how much she was crying, sweating during her nightmare. She wiped her moist face, as she absolved it from all liquid. She exhaled, relieved, finally after a entire night of worry, about three billion pounds were lifted of her heart and soul.

Marissa came walking into the room. She smiled a feeble smile to Summer, "I was worried about you." She gulped, after speaking delicately. "But I'm glad you're okay. I'm glad Seth's going to be okay too. Did the doctors tell you?" Summer nodded excitedly.

"I'm so relieved. I don't know what I'd do if he, you know," Summer said uneasily. She couldn't muster enough courage to even speak of the word- she was so petrified of it. Thoughts tramped all across her mind, what life without Seth would look like, however faster than she knew, she would be crying acid tears that burned, and stung her face. She decided that she would no longer cry, as she imagined her face was red, bulgy, and extremely unattractive. She had to be beautiful when she saw Seth, so he wouldn't have another injury- possibly terminal eye injuries due to Summer's grossness.

Marissa sighed, "God, you guys have had such a tough night." Marissa said worriedly, "Do you have a vague idea who shot Seth?" Summer figured the police sent Marissa to question Summer, considering she was in no state to recall the night in such official manner. Summer looked at Marissa gravely, as she willed her mind to forget. "You remember, don't you." Marissa imagined just how difficult this all was for Summer. She didn't pressure her into saying anything. Relentlessly, unwillingly, Summer started to cry. Marissa rushed to her side; as she quietly reassured her best friend. "Honey, it's okay. Don't cry. It's all better now." Summer tried to gather her shattered pieces- this would forever stain and scar her mind, her memory.

"It was so perfect," Summer said through her tears, "There hadn't been a night better than this. There couldn't have been. Then," Summer started to cry unbearably hard, which made it impossible for her to speak, "Then Tray came from nowhere, and he told Seth that he hated him, and he would take away everything from him that he loved. I tried to call the police, but Tray caught me. The bullet was meant for me. For me, Marissa!" Summer broke down, "If Seth died, I would never forgive myself! He jumped in front of the bullet. He saved my life," Summer broke her faithful promise of not crying. It was impossible not to cry, while speaking of such a tragedy.

"Tray did this?" Marissa asked in shock, "Tray? Tray Atwood? Ryan's brother?" Marissa's skin was crawling. This was way too creepy. What did Tray have against innocent old Seth? Marissa started to shed tiny beads of sweat; she could hardly contain her shock. First, he raped Marissa, then he attacked Seth? This was to severe for words. But what would she tell Ryan? Ryan would die… twice, knowing he was half the cause of Seth's accident. Marissa fumbled with her fingers.

"You're not going to tell anyone are you?" Summer asked quickly, seeing Marissa's painful worry. "Please don't. It's hard enough knowing it; facing him in court would be like a suicide note. I couldn't possibly take it- emotionally nor physically. I couldn't do it. I'm not that strong. Marissa, please." Summer begged. It broke Marissa's heart, seeing the inevitable pain Summer was going through. Summer had had a difficult night, Marissa had to at least respect one of her decisions, until a further date.

"I won't, today, Summer. I know you've been through a lot, but Tray has to be put in jail, Sweet Heart. He has to. You can't live in paranoia all your life, fearing that he'll be back. You just can't. You have to live a peaceful, beautiful life- the life you deserve." Marissa tried to reassure her, but she was shivering down to the bone. She was so scared for Summer; never could she lead a peaceful life with this memory haunting her like a dark quilt suffocating her every joy, and success.

Summer looked out the window. The California sun was just wakening from the East end. Never had she seen such a beautiful sunrise. She probably hadn't dared to look at it before- she didn't care. Never had she almost worn death's silvery coat- she had just missed the bullet, and instead she had given Seth the look at the afterlife.

"Marissa," Summer said after a moment of void, "Sometimes I wish I was the one that caught the bullet, so Seth didn't have to suffer for me like he is right now. I don't think I can forgive myself- even if he is alive. His life is going to be forever impacted, all at my fault. I don't think I can be the same, carefree person. I don't think I'm going to be the same, loveable Summer. I feel different, and I don't want to be at all different. It's so hard, Marissa. Why didn't I catch that bullet? Why couldn't Seth have gotten a longer concussion so I would be the one in pain, nearing death? He doesn't deserve that!" Summer thought out loud, as she looked at the lacy clouds that filled the sky. They looked so scrumptious, like wads of cotton candy sailing through the divine sky like eternally lost sailboats. Summer realised, that Marissa would never look at the sky that way and actually notice that the sky contained such wonders.

"You can't think like that. If you do, you'll drag yourself down faster than anything you can imagine. Summer, he took that bullet for you, because he loves you! He'd rather suffer for you! Summer, you're the luckiest girl in the world for having a guy like that who would rather risk his own life, for yours." Marissa said maturely.

"But why!" Summer burst out into tears, her stomach churned uncomfortably. She couldn't wait to see Seth; she needed to thank him eternally. It was at moments like these, where Summer truly realised what love really was. Love is feeling like you can't live without your second half. Love is missing the person you love, even though they're right beside you. Love is taking the bullet for someone else.