Chapter Two
Summer sat placidly on her hospital bed, rebelling to her doctor's wishes. She was thinking about all the 'what-ifs'. What if this had happened, what if that? She made herself sick to the pit just thinking about Seth, and his experience. As hard as she tried to let her emotions flee, her heart was racing, and her mind was going ahead and making her think thoughts she would much rather ignore. Summer constantly recalled the exact second where the bullet had pierced through Seth's chest- as she let out a bloodcurdling shriek. She would never forget that moment- the moment that almost ruined her life. Summer shuddered as she continued to think about it. She didn't care that she had many visitors since she passed out- she barely spoke to them. She was warped in her own thoughts, that she scarcely remembered who came to wish her well. But there were actually very little things that she could remember since the accident. She didn't know whether she herself was okay- she honestly didn't care. The thing that stood out in her mind like a neon, bright light, was that she was feeling miserably- and she didn't understand whether this was from worry or from impact of the accident. She didn't care; she couldn't care. All her worries were bestowed on Seth's behalf. She wished more than anything that he would recover perfectly, to lead a successful, happy life with Summer. That's what she wanted.
It scared her to death how she was thinking about marrying Seth, but right now she could not see a single fault in him. She smiled to herself, thinking- He really does love me, and I really do love him. She nodded. It was official; if Seth ever asked Summer to marry him, she would say yes, faster than the speed of light.
She dreamed about the perfect life- 2 perfect, popular kids; A huge, Newport mansion; Two, successful careers; and above all, two people that truly love each other more than anything else. It was the perfect life, nevertheless skilfully planned out.
Summer couldn't wait.
All of a sudden, she got excited. All she could think about was Seth asking to marry her. It was the perfect solution to everything.
Then, she got scared. Random what about this, what if that, came sewing traitorously across her mind. Marrying Seth now seemed like the stupidest idea she had ever come up with- but then again, she figured she was on a high dose of pain killers- that's probably what gave her these foolish thoughts. She knew how well marriages turned out- just as well as she got the most part in a divorce, the marriage was worthy. She felt stupid for even suggesting such a painful road in life. Marriages, barely ever, had a happy ending. That's why, even with Seth on her mind, she was scared to death of marriage. Hah; Marriage- she thought, how ridiculous.
Ryan knocked on her hospital door, and she felt ultimately special that he remembered about her. She smiled at his presence, "Hey." She said feebly, as she looked at Ryan. He seemed awkward- who wouldn't be after having their brother shoot at someone, and almost kill someone else?
"Hey Summer," Ryan said slowly, "Marissa told me who did it." Ryan looked away. He couldn't bare to look at Summer's pale, weak face. Summer rolled her eyes, as she smiled,
"I knew she would." Summer smiled, "You know, Ryan. You shouldn't beat yourself up for this. Tray is responsible for his own actions, and you can't blame yourself for all this."
"How did you know that was something that I meant to talk to you about? Apologize to you for?" Ryan asked, his body tense, and his eyes full of shock. He hoped this entire predicament would soon vanish- everything seemed to useless with his friends in the hospital wing- no, not useless, hopeless. A hospital usually gives an almost official, frightening connotation- lots of blood, grey halls, depression and pain. Ryan hated it here; he wished his friends would better themselves and just, leave.
"Ryan, I see it in your eyes. It's not that hard. Even when you're serious, your eyes have this perky glow to them. When you're sad, they're droopy. When you're guilty, it just shows. So don't be, ok? I'm fine, Seth will be too. Just give him time, and me- a doctor so I can get out of here. One step at a time, Ryan. Don't beat yourself up for this." Summer said gently. Ryan smiled, "Now that's the perky look I've been waiting for all day." He grinned harder.
"Thanks, Summer." Ryan said. He didn't realise the door was closed, but such a moment washed over them that a serene, awkward silence filled the room. Summer gazed at him- hungrily. Ryan looked at her- confused. What did this moment call for? Did Ryan really NEED to say such an extensive thank you for her kindness? It was completely absurd how Ryan's body voluntarily almost magnetized toward Summer. Ryan wished he could stay back, stay planted, but something inside of him was conjuring trouble. Without knowing, Ryan was leaning over Summer- kissing her. KISSING HER! Ryan pulled away a second too late; the kiss had happened. Summer looked at him, afraid. What were they going to do? Ryan gulped, as he started to walk backwards, as if afraid Summer would attack him- call him, at his weakest moment. He was so stressed- THERE! That was the excuse for kissing his girlfriend's best friend. He had a lot of mess going on in his head.
Summer buried her head in her hands. The tips of her fingers wiped away a few tears. What had she done? What had Ryan done? But no- more so, what had she done? Why had she kissed Ryan? Why couldn't he just leave? Why did he have to come to her? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why! Summer broke down, as if every sane bone in her body disintegrated under the stimulating kiss. She was shaking- what about Marissa? Then, her heart stopped beating- what about Seth . . .
Summer couldn't understand, why she was being swamped with a dark quilt of shame, and silence. Her eyes could no longer see clearly, she couldn't hear right. Echoes of sound hollered into her ears, but they came as wails, and shrieks.
The shriek.
It was like a time machine- swirls of colour, and noise, until finally she plopped right down into the night; into the tenseness.
"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.
Summer realised where she was. She was in a flashback of the night before- the most perfect night gone horribly wrong. Summer gulped, as she tried to get out of it. She screamed, but it went on. It went on mercilessly gnawing at her brain, like leeches- sucking out the most torturing of all memories.
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't 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.
And then it stopped. It just stopped like that. After what seemed a forever long time of torture, it stopped in one second. When she opened her eyes, she was still screaming- a mob of doctors were scurrying around making a tornado of a mess. Everything was going so fast. Summer just needed to stop for one second. She needed to breath.
But how could she breath without Seth Cohen by her side?
She didn't know. She didn't know how.