Headlights on dark roads- Snowpatrol

For once I want to be the car crash

Not always just the traffic jam

Hit me hard enough to wake me

And lead me wild to your dark roads

Headlights show it all before me

So beautiful and clear

I will reach out and take it

Cause I'm so tired of all this fear

My tongue is so lost I can't tell you

Please just see it in my eyes

I'll pull the thorns from our ripped bodies

And let the blood fall into my mouth.

This song is over the scene. No noise from the actual scene is heard.

Ryan swings for Volchok, his punch connecting with Volchok's jaw sending his head jolting side ways. Volchok stands staring at Ryan for a second before going for him. Ryan ducks. Volchok pulls Ryan to the ground and pins him. Volchok headbutts Ryan. Ryan is momentarily stunned before unloading an uppercut on Volchok, his head snapping back again. Volchok returns the favour with a punch across the jaw and heaves himself upright. Ryan is sprawled on the ground. Volchok looks menancingly at Summer

Volchok: How the mighty are fallen. You fancy a bit of rough sunshine. Afterall if I was good enough for Marissa I'm good enough for you.

Summer walks toward him. (Ryan is standing behind Volchok now)

Summer: Well Marissa certainly didn't date you for your charm

Volchok: Hmmm I wouldn't say we dated….more fucked and partied and fucked and got high (He is tucking bits of hair behind Summer's ear)

Why don't you give it a try (He runs a finger down the side of her face and across her lips)

Even princesses like you need to get dirty (His finger traces down her sternum getting closer to her breasts, Ryan now more compus mentus is raising a fist.)

Summer: Unlike Marissa I'm not blinded by sex

Ryans fist lands on Volchok's head as Summer's knee connects with his groin. Volchok falls to the ground.

Ryan looks at Summer

Volchok grabs Summer's ankle pulling her down. He pins her to the ground.

Volchok: It was because of you and Marissa's bitch of a mom that she left me. Why couldn't you leave her alone.

Ryan is punching at Volchok trying to make him get off Summer.

Ryan: Fucking get off her man

Volchok: You want a piece of the action man. You not had any since Marissa. No wait there was Sadie but she's a crap fuck. ( Volchok is grabbing at Summer's jeans)

Ryan kicks Volchok and pushes him off Summer. Ryan hammers Volchok with punches.

Volchok: Or you jealous I got Marissa? She dumped her prince for the pauper.

Volchok punches Ryan in the jaw sending him reeling.

Volchok: Marissa Cooper. Pity your driving killed her dude so many other men could have experienced that pussy. So willing. She was the best fuck. Though you should know that. A right little tiger. Rar

Ryan's eyes are glowing menacingly. He shifts his body weight then lands a punch on Volchok. Knocking him out cold.

Summer is sitting on the sand. Unable to get up. Tears stream down her face.

Ryan walks over to her and holds out his hand. Summer pulls herself up.

Summer: The bastard. The sex must have been good…

Ryan smiles

Summer: Sorry. Badly timed humour. Picked it up from Seth

Ryan: You ok…He just tried to

Summer: He didn't though. I wouldn't have let him and neither would you.

They walk for a bit hand in hand silently

Summer: You hungry?

Ryan looks at her

Summer: Well beating up the bad guys is hungry work and if you are anything like me your last decent meal was après graduation but pre-accident.

Ryan: Diner….

Ryan puts his arm round her

The Diner

Summer: Chilli fries and milk shakes. So high school

Ryan looks wistful but amused.

Ryan: So how about black coffee and salad. A lot more grown up.

Summer: I prefer high school- laughs

They are both finished. Ryan wipes some blood off his face with a napkin.

Summer: You look bad

Ryan: So do you

Silence

Summer: Ok you beat the crap out Volchok

Ryan: I did

Ryan looks uncomfortable.

Summer: I miss her.

There is an uncomfortable silence

Summer: Its ok to be angry at her.

Ryan: We should get home.

And with that Ryan Atwood shut down and returned to brooding.

Outside the diner

Summer: I guess bye then

Ryan: Yeah.

Ryan and Summer head in opposite directions.

Ryan stops and looks at her figure getting smaller in the distance. Summer was right he was angry at Marissa and he did miss her. But not enough. Sandy and Kirsten thought he was bottling it up but honestly he wasn't grief stricken.

He was upset she died in his arms

Part of him missed her.

Part of him didn't.

He was angry at her for being her. For being so flawed. But he was flawed too.

Everyone thought he should be crumbling.

He wanted to say they were broken up when she died. He had loved Sadie after her. He had moved on. To Sadie, to college, to his life. They broke up because they didn't work as a couple. After all the longest they had stayed together was 6 months. Their relationship was hard. Too hard for 18 nevermind 16. Ryan stopped walking. Between drugs, depression, crime, drink, lesbianism, drugs again, Volchok. He had saved her so many times. But she had saved him from death. He had loved her. She always loved him. To the end she wanted him but not wanted him enough to overcome her problems. She would always have a piece of his heart.

Thoughts whirled around Ryan's head

What everyone took as grief was anger that she finally sorted herself out and that chance was taken away, anger at himself for not missing her enough, anger that another woman was causing him heartbreak. Between them Dawn and Marissa had left their scars. He wanted to move on and have fun but Marissa…Damn the past…pulling him in…more obligation.

He wasn't the grief stricken boyfriend. That was Volchok. But he'd rather be there. At least he'd have a clear role.

Volchok was the grief stricken boyfriend

Julie the grieving mother

Summer the lonely best friend

What was he?