The sun was high in the sky. It beat down mercilessly on the desert landscape causing the horizon to shimmer. The heat was almost warm enough to melt the road surface. In the distance a vehicle came into view, the only sign of life in the desolate landscape.

Ryan looked out over at the map, another 20 minutes and he should be there.

Summer could resist no longer. She stood up and dived into the pool. The water rushed over her toned body, the current whipping her hair out behind her. Resurfacing she began to swim laps. Time passed, she had no idea how long. She paused at the end of the pool. In the distance she heard a high pitched female voice. It had to be Julie. With that thought Summer sank under the water.

"Summer!"

Taylor was puzzled. There was a towel on the lounger, an iced tea, sunglasses and an Ipod. But where was Summer. Out the corner of her eye she noticed a shadow in the pool. Taylor crossed her arms and waited.

Summer's body was screaming for air. How easy it would be just to breathe in the water, but she decided to surface since Julie had obviously retreated into the house in the July heat.

"So flipper how's it going?" demanded Taylor.

Ryan pulled up outside the diner. He strode powerfully across the parking lot and into the deserted diner.

"Hello!" he called

From the back he heard footsteps, "Ryan! Hey you came back!" said a petite blonde he recognised. It was Chloe. This was not what he needed. Especially when she threw herself round his neck. Once she disentangled herself he asked, "Hey I'm looking for Dawn, she said she'd be here,"

Chloe replied, "She was meant to be but she's been flakey recently…"

Ryan raised his eyebrows. "Try her place, but Ryan don't give her a hard time," Chloe said.

With that Ryan was back on the road to Dawn's place.

"Taylor, I do not need a haircut or a manicure," Summer's voice echoed from the bathroom.

"Summer!" Taylor's tone said it all, there was no way Summer was getting out of this one.

"Mom!…Dawn!" Ryan pounded the door with his fist. Giving up he peered in the window. Cupping his eyes he saw something lying on the floor. This did not look good. With one blow he broke down the door.

The apartment smelled of stale cigarette smoke and alcohol. He moved into the living area. Dawn lay on the floor. Her left eye was black and blue, in her hand lay and empty vodka bottle. Ryan felt disgusted, disappointed. He had come here to get away from everything and here he was straight back in the middle of it. Gently he shook Dawn's limp body, she woke up.

"Hey… honey what you doing here?" she said shakily

Ryan sighed and said, "Mom, don't you remember, I phoned you, I wanted to get away from everything."

Dawn looked confused, "Away from what? I thought you loved Newport and then there's college."

"Mom remember Marissa, what happened…"

Dawn's confusion grew, she suddenly remembered as she noticed how unhappy her son looked.

Seth bounded out his room and down the stairs. He and Anna were going to the comic book store today. On the kitchen island he noticed an envelope for him. The logo on it said RISD. Seth stopped, a lump formed in his throat, a sense of panic began to rise. He ripped open the envelope. As he read a smile spread over his face.

Summer felt that at any moment she may start to receive radio signals because of the amount of foil in her hair. Why had she let Taylor convince her that highlights were a good idea? At least the steamer device which hovered over her blocked out Taylor's babble.

Ryan slumped over a table in the diner. He was tired and upset and angry to the point that all the emotions merged and he felt nothing. Chloe came over.

"Hey you ok?" she inquired. The glint in her eye suggested to Ryan she was up for a rematch of his last visit.

Ryan looked her in the eye and rolled out his life. He finished with, "…so I guess you could say I'm not ok."

With that he left.

"You get to go to RISD in the fall! That's great! Especially since I'll be at Brown in the fall!" Anna squealed. She bent over and kissed him. As much as Seth wanted to make out with her he felt he had to clarify the situation. He broke away.

"Yeah but I have to leave in 2 days to go to summer school," he said cautiously.

Anna replied "Not a problem, I have family in Rhode Island, I can come too." With that she continued kissing him. As Seth drew her close he realised that Anna was the least of his problems. He had 2 days to sort things out with Ryan and Summer.

Summer looked at her manicure. Black satin wasn't her normal choice, then again nothing about her life was normal at the moment. She sucked her straw. The Bait Shop was busy tonight but somehow she felt alone. Probably because there was no Seth or Marissa or Ryan. Taylor was locked in an embrace with some guy. Summer decided to bail. The night was too balmy to be cooped up in a club alone.

The stars sparkled in the sky above New Mexico. Ryan sat on the step outside his motel room. Even though it was dark the heat had not gone. He stretched out his legs and considered life. Where to go next? Back to Newport? Stay here? Neither really appealed. Neither was the easier choice.

Summer leant on the barrier of the pier. The soft breeze blew her hair round her face. She looked up at the stars.

The shrill tone of Ryan's cell broke the still night air. He smiled when he looked at the caller ID.

"Summer,"

"Ryan,"

"Why'd you call…."

Ryan lay out on the step and listened to her voice. He found himself laughing at something she said.

Summer had never realised how manly Ryan's voice was nor how his laugh came from the heart. This wasn't good, what was even worse was Taylor heading in her direction.

"Ryan I've gotta go, Taylor is coming to get me,"

Ryan replied, "Sure…." He hesitated, "Summer take care." He clicked off the call.

Summer whispered, "You too," into the static.