Hey guys, this chapter is up a little earlier than i anticipated as i had a creative rush :)

To all the people who reviewed the last chapter, thanks for the encouragement and i'm glad you like the story so far. In total this will have seven chapters. So here goes the second one.

--

"Atwood!"

Summers distinctive yell echoed across to the poolhouse as Ryan gazed at his watch. Twenty minutes late, oh well, better than her usual hour and a half.

Ryan put his cell phone in his pocket and locked the poolhouse door before walking round the side of the house. There she was. The roof of her car was up and she was sat fiddling with her freshly curled hair which lightly brushed her shoulders. She looked gorgeous, the sun was setting now and the dim light brought out her brown eyes. She turned to see Ryan.

"Jeez, finally. Well don't just stand there, my hair will get flat" she said pushing her sunglasses down onto her face as Ryan swung his legs over the side of the car.

"Cute shirt, where's Seth?" asked Summer backing out of the driveway.

"Grounded. But i'm pretty sure he'll be sneaking out later. He still pissed, his mom made him miss his last match of the season." said Ryan fastening his seatbelt and leaning out the side of the car.

"Well, he would be. All that guy thinks about is waterpolo." Summer rolled her eyes as she said this. True, Seth played alot of waterpolo. He was a jock and sometimes a jerk. But they put up with him, mostly because he was Ryans brother, well, kind of.

"So, seeing as how we're not drinking tonight. I take it you can stay at your own house? Not that my step monster would mind you staying at mine, but we won't be drunk so theres no need for sneaking round." said Summer shrugging.

"Right well Kirsten wants me back by one." said Ryan, holding onto the seat as Summer swerved round a corner. Talk about reckless driving.

"Aww does Ry-ry have a bedtime to stick to?" said Summer grinning and hitting him playfully on the arm, at which point the whole car moved with her.

"Summer, eyes, road." said Ryan putting one hand on the wheel.

"Right."

--

It was only nine o'clock but the party was beginning to enter full swing. Luke had set up the beer funnel and it had almost started to smell like sex. Summer sat perched on a stool at the breakfast bar, this had to be the stupidest deal ever, drinking was half the fun. The prospect of the limo didn't seem so bad now. She looked around, seeing Marissa wrapped around Luke as he took a long toke of what Summer could be sure wasn't just marlboro straights.

"Drink?" came a voice from behind her, she spun round to see a tall pale boy, with black spiky hair.

She smiled.

"Designated driver." she said with slight malice. "But i could go for a cola."

"One cola coming up" replied the guy pouring out a glass of cola.

A loud crash pointed out that the vase on the window had broken and Summer turned to see Seth had arrived, causing yet another eye-roll to occur.

"Here." said the boy and she turned around again.

"Thanks..."

"Oliver" he said smirking a little "Oliver Trask."

"Summer Roberts." she said sipping her cola. "So how come i've never seen you? Home schooled?"

"Nah i go to pacific." he said slipping his wallet into his jeans. "You?"

"Harbour. Joy." she said dowing the rest of the cola, she needed some kind of rush. Caffeine would have to do.

--

Ryan had never had less fun at a party. He'd stuck to the water all night and hadn't even got a little stoned. He heard a large crash but didn't turn to look. Probably just some drunken nut.

"Hey man" said Seth hittng Ryan on the back. "How's it going?"

"Not great. See you managed to escape then." said Ryan standing up.

"You know me, nothing stops the Seth. Now if you'll excuse me, i've got some business to be attending to." he said signalling to two blonde girls who were eyeing him from the corner of the room.

"Good luck with that." said Ryan walking towards the door, fumbling in his pocket for a lighter.

Ryan opened the door, breathing in the fresh air sat on the bottom step. Lighting the ciggarette he took a long drag. He needed it.

Sometimes he wondered why he came to the parties. It made more sense when you were drunk. Another drag. He heard the door open behind him and a girls drunken slur followed by a shhh.

Great. Now he'd get to listen to some randoms hook up. Shaking his head he stood up, stamping out the ciggarette. Making his way back inside, the girls slur got louder. And all of a sudden sounded all too familiar.

The word "Don't" came out, however unrecognisable. He turned and looked around the corner to see Summer, slumped onto a guys shoulder. Her eyes were unfocused, almost closed.

"Just shut the hell up." said the guy fumbling with her skirt.

Ryan moved quicker than he remembered having done in years. One blow and the guy was down, he caught Summer, her eyes were now completely closed and slumped into his chest.

Ryan couldn't feel anything except anger. He kicked the guy once, twice, three times until he knew he wouldn't get up.

"What have you given her?" he shouted, before lifting Summer up.

"I don't.. she.. just a couple of pills."

"Your sick." shouted Ryan kicking the guy square in the gut again.

Then he ran inside, Summer laying still in his arms.

"Luke!" He shouted, over the crowd. "Quick, i need to put Summer in the spare room. Unlock it."

Luke got up from under Marissa, his eyes hazy. He was clearly baked.

"What's up Holmes?"

"Someones spiked her drink, i need to put her somewhere.. just... hurry up.!" said Ryan, his words coming out a hundred miles an hour. He was panicking. He could feel his heart beating in his throat.

"It's open dude" said Luke with a smile before joinging Marissa again.

Ryan raced up the stairs, kicking the door open and lying Summer on the bed. He filled a glass with water and began to dab it on her her face.

"Come on.. Roberts.. Roberts, wake up, come on."

Summer stirred a little and her eyes slowly opened. "Ryan." she said with a smile.

"That's right, it's Ryan, you got spiked okay Sum but it's okay. It's okay." he wasn't sure whether he said it to calm Summer or himself. "I'm gonna go get you some food or something.."

He began to get up but Summer grabbed his hand.

"Stay with me." she said slurring again slightly. "So i won't be scared?"

"I think..." he looked down at her. She looked so helpless. Delicate, fragile, Summer. "Okay."

He lead next to her, sidling up behind her and wrapping his arms around her front.

She smiled to herself. She knew Ryans arms were the safest place to be.

--

Summer woke up the next morning with no memory of the night before, just two strong arms pulling her close to the warm body that lay behind her, she breathed in, knowing at once that it was Ryan from the scent she knew so well.

A few minutes passed where she just lay the, trying to remember the night before. But eventually, due to being extremely hungry, she prised Ryans arms from around her, kissed his wrist and sat up.

Ryan stirred as she moved, his eyes flickering open.

"Hey." he said smiling up at her. "How're you feeling?"

"I.. well. I guess i got drunk last night, huh?" she said fluffing her hair up and pulling her skirt down to the correct length.

"Not exactly... some guy..dark hair, striped blue shirt? He put something in your drink.." said Ryan sitting up, rubbing his eyes. "It's okay, i took care of him."

"He didn't... i mean.. me and him.. we didn't-"

"No." said Ryan cutting her off. "And i'm pretty sure his nose'll be broken so badly now that's never gonna happen to him again."

Summer smiled and lead down to look at Ryan.

"You're my hero. You know that right?" she said stroking his cheek with her thumb.

"I have my moments" said Ryan with a small laugh. "Anyway, c'mon. You owe me a ride home."

--

About a half hour after Ryan arrived home, Seth stumbled in.

"Dude i am so hungover right now." he said collapsing onto the nearby chair.

"Rough night?" asked Ryan putting down the book he was reading.

"You could say that. I do like it rough." said Seth with a slight smirk,

"Jeez thanks for that disturbing visual."

"Anytime, so what's all the fuzz about Summers brush with death?" asked Seth picking up a hand mirror from Ryans bed side tabled and admiring his teeth in it.

"Some guy spiked her drink, but she's fine. I stayed with her, checked she was okay." Ryan said whilst shrugging.

"Sure, that's why you stayed." said Seth sarcastically. "Summer Roberts, hot piece of ass if i do say so mys-"

"Don't talk about her like that." said Ryan sharply.

"I'm messing with you man, well not about her being hot, that's true. But you two? Jeez if it was gonna happen, would of happened by now right? You've only been inseparable the last 12 years." said Seth rubbing his bloodshot eyes.

"Right, anyway. Any luck with the blondes?" asked Ryan.

"Yep." said Seth walking over to the full length mirror.

"Which one?" sked Ryan.

"Both, of course." said Seth as though it were the most obvious answer. "It amazes me how i even look good hungover. Amazing right?"

Ryan rolled his eyes.