chap 5

Summer Roberts just stood in the doorway, with a dazed look on her face. Eventually she snapped her self out of it and forced a smile on her face.

She made herself walk down the hallway towards Anna and Seth.

"Wow, Anna...it's so good to see you again," Summer offered in her friendliest voice, although it did sound strained.

Both girls hugged each other, although the reception felt unbelievably frosty.

They pulled back and smiled at each other.

Summer's eyes darted to Seth's.

"So," she started, "you're back in Newport!"

"Yeah that's right! Well, I guess you guys are wondering why I'm back in Newport...wellas you guys know my dad's on the Board of Physicians, and he got a call last month from none other than your altruistic father, Mr Sandy Cohen, for an offer on the construction project of the new hospital!" Anna finished with a perky smile.

Summer felt like grabbing the iron legged chair in the hallway, just barely within reach and using it smack Anna across the face.

But somehow, she refrained.

"Wow! Anna, that's great!" Seth said enthusiastically, with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, great," Summer said through gritted teeth, although Seth and Anna did not notice. Summer could feel the rage inside her start to build up. Woah, calm down Roberts, you haven't had a rage blackout in years, just let the Stern pass, and everything will be much more calm.

"But what are you doing back here, Anna?" Summer asked her politely.

Seth cringed on the emphasis on you.

"Um, well...when I heard that my dad would be coming back here, well, I guess I realised I missed you guys and I jumped at the chance to see you again."

"Hhmmm. Fas-cin-ating," Summer managed to came out with. Just get lost already!

Seth gave Summer his what-are-you-on? look, when he heard the last bit.

As if on cue, Anna said, "Well I gotta go now, my dad wants to meet with some guy called Matt for the project, and he wants me to meet him to. You know what my dad's like always trying to get me involved with his work.

So I'll see you guys around, ok?" with that Anna turned around and walked down the hallway.

Seth called out after her, "Hey, Anna, we should all do something later!"

"Yeah, ok! Call me!" She waved and walked out the front doors.

Seth turned around to face Summer with a silly smile still on his face.

But he was once again met with another mandatory bag slap.

"Hey!" Seth brought his hand up to his face protectively, with a slightly annoyed look.

"What the hell was that for? I didn't even do anything!" Seth exclaimed.

Summer crossed her arms and just as she was about to speak, Seth decided to talk again.

"You know, if this is gonna be a normal, every day thing necessity, I should really know so I can get some metal plate engraved in to my jaw, this really isn't healthy for me you know, Sum-"

"Cohen!" Summer was becoming increasingly frustrated. "I cant believe she's back in Newport! I mean its not enough there's that crazy psychopath trying to get her claws on you, but now her too?" Seth could see from looking at her face how genuinely upset she was about his.

Seth immediately felt bad. He brought his arms around her hugged her. She reluctantly hugged him back.

"This isn't fair!" Summer wailed.

"Hey, Summer just calm down ok? Look, you know you're being just a little paranoid, don't you? I mean we both know Anna isn't the kind of person to break up a happy couple, right?"

"We wont be happy much longer if this keeps up," Summer replied stubbornly.

Seth pulled back and looked in to her eyes, "Look, Sum, don't worry ok? Were gonna be fine," Seth said

"You promise?" Summer looked up at him.

"Promise.She wont come between us."

Seth said it with such certainty, Summer almost believed him.

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The next day, Anna, Seth and Summer were walking down the hallways of Harbour High, just chatting about past goodtimes.

"Remember when Luke was standing right next to the speakers and Rooney concert," Anna tried to suppress her laugh, "and then he came home and kept shouting cos he couldn't hear himself!"

They all laughed at the reminiscent memory. It was hard to believe it had actually been three years ago. So much had changed,...they had changed. Summer was no longer bitchy (much), Seth wasn't as held back (probably not such a good thing)...and Anna...she had grown more sure of her path in life. Before it was all questioning powerful authorities and standing up for a not so much a lost cause, but she had become more sure of herself in the past three years as she had ever been in her entire life...and frankly, she decided that Seth and Summer had done some growing up themselves. She looked at them in wonder now...they definitely seemed older. Summer was actually polite and seemed more elegant( she had actually expected her to throw a fit when she first saw Anna, but since she proved her wrong, perhaps miracles could happen). And Seth was actually not as shy when she first met him. He had definitely grown some confidence.

She wouldn't be sure where their lives would head after high school.

Summer interrupted her thoughts, " So Anna, are back here for good, or just temporarily?"

"Well, not in Newport, no. I applied to Brown College a while ago, so with any hope I'll be going there."

Summer almost spat out her double black and white frappachino.

"Wow, really? Anna that's great! Me and Summer applied to Brown, too!" Seth replied excitedly. Seth was oblivious to Summer's reaction.

"No way! You guys, that's amazing! Then we might still see each other next year!" Anna replied.

"Yeah, amazing..." Summer said wearily.

"You know, I just remembered, they're putting out list on the notice board of how many places there'll be available for students from this school. I could go get a copy!" Anna said quickly.

"Yeah sure we can find out if we'll all be together next year," Seth replied.

With that Anna walked towards the reception hallway while Summer and Seth waited patiently.

"I cant believe she's going to Brown, too," Summer said, seemingly in a daze.

"Hey, it wont be so bad, ok? Don't worry." Seth gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

"Plus, you know, she might not get accepted, or she might even change her mind."

"Might being the keyword," Summer mumbled.

"Look, Sum, I promise we'll get in to Brown, ok?" Seth tried.

"How can you promise that? You dont know for sure!" Summer exclaimed.

"If we don't both get in to Brown, we'll still be a couple, I'll promise that at least ok?" Seth gave her a serious look. Although he meant well, Summer could see uncertainty in his face.

Anna came back with a sheet of paper, smiling as she walked up to them.

"Well, this is gonna be weird," she said uncertainly.

"Why? What is it?" Seth asked. He peered at the sheet.

"It says 'out of the four applicants of Harbour High School for Brown, there are only 3 offers of places at the college.' "

Anna looked up with a sad smile.

Seth and Summer both exchanged glances.

Slowly and quietly, Seth said, "that means one of us wont get in…"

There was silence between the three.

They were all thinking the same thing.

What now?

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I'm soooooooooooooo sorry that it always takes me forever to upd8 but I finally got this done in about an hour and a half! Lol! When I wasn't snoozing that is! Hope this chap was satisfying enough, despite the fact there wasn't much violence or screaming (Summer can't be slapping Seth all the time now, can she!)

Oh, and in case you're confused about the fourth applicant, that was Taylor, remember?

And remember: the more reviews I get, the quicker I update!

zZz mozu the bored angel