A/N: Okay… so I couldn't start the New & Year without another installment of the Seth/Summer saga. And I don't mean to spill but next chapter is much juicier… all the more reason for you to review!

Thanks to all who have been reviewing… although I've been missing hearing from Mrs. Cohen.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Summer froze when she saw him. True, she had just had lunch with him earlier in the day, and he hadn't even changed his outfit, but this was the first time in years when they were actually meeting on purpose – not a chance run-in. Summer bit her lip.

"Why don't you get us a table and I'll order," he said.

"Sure, just get me a…"

"Grande soy chai latte… right?" Damn, he had remembered back from sophomore year.

"Um, yeah." She found a table against the wall and sat down. Breathe, Summer, she told herself. It's just Cohen. Nothing to be afraid of. He returned with their drinks and sat down. After some awkward silence he spoke.

"So, have you been in Newport much lately?"

"Considering that I go to school in New York, no."

"I mean, I haven't seen you at any of the parties over the past two years."

"It's just not my thing anymore," she replied, shrugging. It wasn't time to tell him that she had avoided several trips to Newport and – when there – all of the Newpsie events in order to make sure that she wouldn't run into Seth.

"It's never my thing, either," he replied. "I guess my mother is just more persuasive than your dad. By the way – did you know that our parents have become really close?"

"Is that so?" Summer responded, deadpan. Seth ignored her lack of interest.

"Actually, yes. Every time I've come back to visit he's at my house, talking about you. What you've been up to, where you're working, your apartment. And some Jed guy, which shocks me since you said Nick…"

"Jed's my friend."

"With benefits?" Seth asked, facetiously.

"No. He's gay. We live together," she said, a smile creeping from her face, which Seth noticed.

"So, tell me about him," Seth said. Maybe it would loosen up the conversation, he thought.

"He's studying film at NYU, is kind of obsessed with Asian pop culture – I mean, he watches Korean cinema for fun and reads graphic novels, cooks a mean fritatta, and is an overall good guy," Summer responded with a smile.

"Continue…" Seth urged her.

"And he's very cuddleable. And he talks a lot, and is good at getting gossip from me."

"So he's a gay me," Seth said, smirking.

"Ew! No!" Summer shrieked. She calmed herself down, immediately. "I mean, don't expect me to cuddle with you, Cohen."

"Now that's more like the old Summer. Old dry wit mixed with the girly exclamations."

"I'm trying to be civil, here, Cohen."

"Well, if you don't mind me asking, why are you so mean to me? I mean, I could understand if we had gone out and it ended horribly. But we never did. And then once Ryan left, you just ignored me all over again." If we had gone out. But we never did. The words reverberated in Summer's head. She bit her lip, thinking, pensively.

"I didn't ignore you. I just had other friends to attend to. And with Ryan gone, it's not like I was playing third wheel to Ryrissa anymore, needing you and Anna as an escape. So, tell me, what exactly happened with you and Anna?" Summer sweetened her voice, disguising her happiness that the couple was over.

"Well, um, she's in Portland at Reed, and I'm at Brown, and it just wasn't working. I mean, we would visit each other from time to time, and of course see each other in Newport, but…" Seth drifted off.

"But what?" Summer said, curiously.

"It's kind of embarrassing."

"Spill, you've already dragged me here for coffee."

"Actually, you were the one who asked me."

"Whatever," Summer retorted, enjoying the bickering between them.

"Fine…erggh… so I um, didn't want to put out," Seth blurted.

"You turned down sex!" Summer nearly screamed. She wasn't sure if she was more shocked because Seth had been in a relationship for years without losing his virginity, or because she listened to Jed and assumed that Seth was getting it on, her only reason for having sex with Nick in the first place.

"Shhh! I said, I'm embarrassed about it," Seth replied, his face turning beet red as he looked around, making sure none of the other Starbucks customers heard him.

"You have to explain," Summer said, as the two regained their composure.

"I don't know… I guess I always thought that I would lose it to someone I loved. And I didn't love Anna… yet. I think the breaking point was when she flew cross country to see me, and when she asked why I wasn't willing to, you know, I responded that I wanted to lose it to someone I love. Of course, it wasn't meant to come out that way, I thought that in a few years we would love each other. But she didn't take it so well."

"You guys were going out, for, like, ever," Summer responded.

"I know. But basically she goes back to Portland and sends me this e-mail being like, I can get all this ass in college, and I'm not waiting up for a baby like you. So, it ended. But, I guess it's all for the best." Seth said, shrugging.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure that the long-distance thing will work marvelously for you and Nick this summer. Really. He'd be an idiot for giving up someone like you." Summer was ready to melt. Then she stiffened, quickly. How dare he compliment her. He could have had her years ago. And instead he chose Anna. Anna, the one he didn't even love! Summer grew mad, thinking about all of these years, the practical sham of a relationship Seth must have been involved in.

"You know, I actually got to go," Summer said, giving off a fake smile. "But it was great seeing you again, and maybe you'll call." She couldn't believe she let that slip. Seth was shocked as he watched Summer throw out her coffee cup and leave the store. Maybe he had to get used to her sudden exits.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Okay, next chapter heats up so please review and I'll post as soon as I get 5!