Ok, so first of all thank you for keeping your patience with me! I was going to update it this morning but realized I had a few changes I had to make to it, so it tookme a little longer. Of course read and review! I love reviews! Oh, and for the states readers, Happy 4th of July!
Chapter 4
Summer put her sunglasses on as she stepped out of the limo. She hugged Kirsten when she noticed the tears streaming down her face. She hugged Summer, not wanting to let go, and not wanting to face this day. After Kirsten let go of Summer, they shared a sad smile, and then Sandy put his arm back around her. She fell into his body and he just pulled her closer.
Seth and Nicole got out of the limo behind them. Seth had his arm around Nicole, and Nicole, for some reason, had a smile on her face. It's like she was happy to be at a funeral. If that was possible. She walked over towards Seth and Nicole and gave them both a sad smile.
"Hey Cohen." Summer said, she reached out to Seth and gave him a warm hug. Seth put his chin on Summer's shoulder and Summer felt a tear hit her bare shoulder. "It's okay..."
Seth pulled away and he kissed her on the cheek. Summer looked at Nicole and gave her a hug too which didn't last nearly as long as the one with Seth.
They walked into the church and sat down on the hard wooden benches. Summer sat next to Kirsten and Seth and Sandy was on the other side of Kirsten, as Nicole was on the other side of Seth. Kirsten was holding Sandy's hand and she was resting her head on his shoulder, while Seth was just holding Nicole's hand. She kept trying to lay her head on his shoulder but he kept scooting closer to Summer. Eventually he was almost on her lap.
"Cohen, do you just want to sit on my lap?"
Seth looked at her and scooted back over towards Nikki. "Sorry..." Nicole then layed her head down on his shoulder and Seth's face fell and he rolled his eyes.
The priest came out on the stage, which I guess really isn't a stage, and began speaking. He kept talking until it was time for people to read their eulogy's. First, which was a surprise to everybody in our row, was Seth. He stood up and walked up towards the stage, as he began speaking the room grew extremly quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
"Ry-Ryan," He coughed before speaking again. "Ryan was my best friend. My life basically sucked before Ryan came to my house.
I had no friends, and people made fun of me all the time. My life was basically hell." He recieved a sympathetic smile from Summer, then he continued. "But that all changed when Ryan moved in with my family. Actually on his first night here, I got drunk for the first time. And, that was the first time that Summer Robert's actually spoke to me." He took a deep breath and let it out, trying to hold back his tears. "Ryan was always a good guy. Sure, he had a few incidents with his fists, but a lot of the time, it was just because he was protecting people he cared about. He use to punch people out who made fun of me, and I really appreciated everything he did for me. He was an amazing brother, and i can be self-absorbed, I know, but he always listened to what I said, even if it was pointless chatter." That's when he started letting the tears roll down his face freely. "I'm going to miss him, so much. I just wish he didn't have to go so soon. He's my brother and I'll never, ever forget him. I just hope he can keep his fists under control up there." He pointed towards the sky. "Thank you,
and buddy, you better be waiting for me up there." He walked off the stage and when he sat back down, he fell onto Summer's shoudler. She turned around in her seat, and let him fall into her embrace. He cried into Summer's shoulder and Summer whispered to him and told him everything would be okay. After a couple mintues, he finally pulled away and gave Summer a sad smile. "Thanks," He said.
Nicole tried to give Seth a hug but he told her he just needed some space. She leaned over Seth and gave Summer a mean glare. Summer just glared back at her, and then turned back to the priest who was then introducing the next person to speak. Kirsten stood up and made her way up there. She reached it and smiled, she sighed then began.
"Ryan was such a nice young man. When he first came into my home, i'm going to be honest, I wasn't to fond of him. To me, he was a threat to my home and my family. But, Sandy...he convinced me to let him stay the night just until he could contact social services in the morning. Well we had some troubled times, but everything eventually turned out great. Him and Seth became really good friends, and he got a girlfriend, Marissa. I'm going to miss him so much." That's when the tears started coming. "It's just-he was so young. And he had a daughter..." She couldn't continue. "I'm sorry," She ran off the stage and out the door to the church with Sandy following her. The priset stood up and contined talking.
"Please, come up and say your last good-bye's. The burial will be at Chesterwoods Cemetary immeadiatly after. You are all invited for a lunch in after the burial at the Cohen's house." The priset left the stage and people began standing up to go say their last goodbye's to Ryan.
Once Seth reached the casket he put his hand on top and sighed. "I'm going to miss you buddy. I promise i'll take care of Rachel. I love you..." He pulled his hand away and wiped the tears that were rolling down his face. He turned around to walk away when he bumped into Summer. "Sorry Sum," He pushed past her and walked away.
Summer walked up to the casket and frowned. She took off the necklace she was wearing and placed it inside next to Ryan. "Here Chino, it's what I was wearing the first night I met you." She sniffled and wiped the tears that were falling inside his casket. "I'm going to miss you. You shouldn't have gone Ry, you have a daughter you were suppose to take care off. But I promise, I will take care if her. I love you Ryan, keep Marissa company up there." Summer walked away from the casket and on her way to the limo, she passed by Sandy and Kirsten. Sandy now had Kirsten under control and they were on their way to say their last goodbye's.
Summer opened the limo door and found Seth sitting in there by himself. Summer peaked her head in looking out the rest of the limo for Nicole. "Where's Nicole?"
Seth shrugged. "She had to leave, and go to a friends party."
Summer scrunced up her face and shook her head. She got in the limo and sat down next to Seth. "You mind if I ride with you to the Cemetary?"
She shook his head and Summer got comfortable in the limo. "That was a good speech up there."
"Thanks."
Summer sighed and faced Seth. "Cohen, why wont you talk to me?"
Seth wiped the tears away and frowned. "Because Summer. You just left me. It was the day after Marissa's funeral, and you came and said goodbye. We could have worked it out Summer, we could have gotten through it together, but no. You had to leave and 'get through it on your on'."
"Seth, I couldn't stay here. Marissa was my best friend. Actually, if you really want to be tecnical, she was my step-sister. I loved her so much, and she died. I couldn't stay in this town where she and I both grew up."
Seth put his hands up in the air before slapping them down on his knees. "Summer, you could have gone away for a few months, I wouldn't have cared. But you didn't have to break up with me, and then not go to Brown. I got into the lame art school so I could be closer to you, but you go to Minnesota."
Summer sighed and looked down at the floor. "Seth, I'm sorry. I just had to get away, and start a new life. I couldn't do that with you."
Seth rolled his eyes. "So you went to Minnesota, and left me all alone. Summer we could have dealt with this."
"Seth I'm sorry, you don't know what it's like." Summer then realized where they were.
"Yeah, Summer I do. Ryan, he just died. But i'm not going to go running away like a baby. I'm going to stay here and deal with the aftermath and take care of Rachel like I promised him I would."
"I'm leaving tomorrow," Summer whispered. "I have to go back to school."
"Yeah, well you have fun with that." Seth stood up and walked out of the limo. "You can ride by youself, since you seem to like to deal with things all on your on." Seth slammed the limo door shut and Summer fell over on the seat.
He was right, about everything. Summer realized that she just ran away from her problems. She should have stayed in Newport, and solved them with Seth, and Sandy and Kristen, people who care about here. She can't leave now, she has to make things right with Seth. But, she has to go back. She'll go back for a few days, then fly back out to Newport, surprise everybody.
She rode by herself in the limo to the Cemetary. Once they got there, she stepped out and walked to the burial site. She saw the big hole, and Ryan's casket floating just about it. Then everyone else started to arrive. Once everyone was there the priset said his last and final speech. After he was done, everyone starting to place their flowers on top of his cakset. Summer slowly walked up, and placed her white rose on top. She walked away, and eventually the crowd started getting smaller, with everyone heading back to the Cohen's for the lunch in.
Everyone was gone except for Summer and Seth. Kirsten and Sandy had to get back to meet everyone there, so Summer offered to stay, and she could give Seth a ride home. She stood by the limo and watched Seth. He stood there with his hands in his pockets and slouched over. He was watching them lower Ryan into the hole. Once it was about half way down, Seth fell on his knees and started screaming 'no!'. Summer ran towards Seth and sat down next to him. She pulled him into her arms and he held on for dear life crying.
"Summer, please don't leave me. You can't leave me too. Marissa and Ryan have both died, I can't lose you too..."
Summer smiled. "It's okay Cohen. I'm not going anywhere, it's alright..."
Summer could hear Seth sniffling and his tears falling on her shoulder, making a wet spot. She helped him up and grabbed his arm for support.
"Come on Cohen. Let's go home"
-
After Seth and Summer arrived at the Cohen household, a lot of the guests have come and eaten their lunch and left, after, of course, leaving their condolunces. They walked inside and could see Kirsten and Sandy talking with someone who looked familiar. As they got closer, Summer realized it was Theresa.
"Hey Summer," Theresa said. Summer walked towards her, and confused on what to do, they shared an awkward hug.
"I'm sorry Theresa. I know he was your best friend." Summer gave her a sad smile.
"Yeah," She sighed and looked down at the floor. "I just wish I had spent more time with him before he left..." She looked back up and noticed Seth standing behind Summer. She walked past Summer and gave Seth a hug, and they held eachother for a few seconds before pulling away. "Hey Seth,"
"Hey Theresa, it's really good to see you." Theresa smiled at nodded. She then looked between Seth and Summer and pointed at them.
"You guys still...?" Seth and Summer looked at eachother and both shook their heads awkwardly.
"Um...no. I have a fiancee, Andrew." Out of the corner of Summer's eye she could see Seth look down at the mention of the fiancee. Could their be a hint of jealously?
"Congraulations." She looked between the Cohen's and then clapped her hands together. "I guess I should probably get going. It was really great to see you all again, I just wish it was under better circumstances."
They all shared their goodbye hugs and they walked her to the front door before closing it and they all looked at each other.
"So..." Sandy said. "We're going to go lay down and watch a movie, just relax. Would you guys like to join us?"
Summer shook her head. "No thanks Mr.C. I'm just going to go upstairs and get packed, my plane leaves tonight." Again, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Seth's face fall.
"Oh, okay. You tell us when you're leaving Sum, we'll come say goodbye."
Summer nodded her head and watched as Kirsten and Sandy walked away, Sandy with his arm around Kirsten's waist. Summer turned back to Seth who was just turning around to make his way up the stairs. Summer followed his up there and then turned and watched as he opened the room to the door, he closed it then locked it.
Summer went into her bedroom and packed up her clothes. For a few days, she was happy again. She's been happy in Minnesota, of course, she has a finacee and a great job. She just wishes Newport sometime, and the sunshine. She wanted to go home, and see Andrew, but something was making her want to stay. She loved visiting the Cohen's, they were so nice, and she loved them. She hated coming back, because it meant she had to leave it all over again. Leave Seth all over again. She missed Seth everyday, and seeing him sit in his room and mope around doesn't encourage her to leave again.
After she was done packing up her clothes and cleaning the guest bedroom, she walked into the hallway. She was about to walk down the stairs when she turned around to go say goodbye to Seth. She knocked on his door and walked in after he said 'come in'. She saw him lying down on his bed and he looked up at her when she entered the room. He sat up and gave her a small smile, it was a smile though.
"Hey," Summer said sitting down on the chair opposite his bed. "I'm just coming to say goodbye. My plane leaves in an hour."
If there was any hint of a smile before, it was definatly now there anymore. He looked at the ground and sighed. "Sum, please, don't leave. I need you here, I need you to help me through this."
Summer looked at the ground. She never knew it would be this hard to say goodbye. "Cohen..I have too. I need to get back to my job.." She added the last part quietly. "to Andrew."
Seth layed back down on the bed facing away from Summer. "Fine, you go back to your fiancee."
"Seth..." Summer sighed, while saying his name. "I would like to stay, really I would. But I can't. I heed to get back to my job, otherwise I'll get fired."
"Ok, whatever."
Summer stood up and walked towards his bed. "Can I have a hug?" Seth rolled over and looked at her and she gave him a smile. He stood up from the bed and gave her a hug, which lasted way long then a friendship hug should. They pulled away and Seth gave her a smile. She walked towards the door and opened it. "Keep it touch."
"I will," Seth said. "Bye Sum."
"Bye Cohen." She gave him a small wave which he responded with by giving his own wave, then she closed the door. She took her luggage back down the stairs and set it by the door and went looking for Sandy and Kirsten.
She found Sandy sitting on the couch with Kirsten in his arms fast asleep, and Rachel in Kirsten's arms, also fast asleep. She smiled at them and once Sandy noticed her standing there, he gently moved Kirsten and stood up from the couch.
"I guess I'm going to get going," Summer said shrugging her shoulders.
"Ok," Sandy leaned in and gave her a gentle hug. "You call us, okay?"
Summer smiled and nodded her head. "Of course." She looked at Kirsten and Rachel. "Tell her I said goodbye."
"Oh no," Sandy said walking towards Kirsten. "If I don't wake her up for you to say goodbye, she'll make me sleep on the couch tonight." Sandy winked and Summer giggled. "Honey, wake up. Summer's here to say goodbye. Honey..Honey!"
Kirsten woke up with a start and glared at Sandy. "What was that for?" She pushed him and his foot got caught on the leg of the couch making him fall over. Summer and Kirsten started laughing, until Sandy stood up and started ticking Kirsten on her sides.
"Sandy stop!" Kirsten yelled. After Sandy stopped, she stood up and noticed Summer standing there for the first time. "Oh Summer!" She ran towards her and pulled her in for a hug. "I'm going to miss you sweetie. You call me for your wedding, okay? Give me some better information."
Summer nodded her head and they pulled eachother in for another hug before Summer walked up to the front door. Sandy opened it for her and she walked out with her luggage. They taxi cab driver put it in the trunk and Summer gave Sandy one more hug.
"Bye," She said waving at Kirsten and Rachel who were on the front step. They waved back and Sandy joined in on the waving once he reached the front door.
Summer smiled at them through the window of the cab and before they turned the corner to leave their house she saw Seth standing up at the window. Once he saw her looking at him he backed away. But just for a second, Summer swore she saw a tear sitting on his face.