Thanks for the amazing reviews! Sorry this took some time.
I'd planned on waiting to post this, writing ahead some, but then I was like 'who am I to not post an already finished chapter to you guys?' So, here it is!
"So, you slept together." Marissa said with a smile, summing up what Summer just had told her.
"I guess," the brunette answered with a blush. Marissa nodded curiously and smiled even wider. "Oh, no! Not slept together like that." Summer quickly explained as she realised what Marissa was thinking, feeling her cheeks getting warm. God, this was embarrassing. "I mean, we just shared bed. That's all,"
"Okay. I believe you,"
"Good." The whole thought of it, that Marissa thought they had done that, was kind of strange. They'd just met. Maybe not just met but at least they hadn't been dating for long. Were they even dating now? Summer had no idea how these things worked; how did you know?
Could she ask Marissa about it? No! That was to embarrass herself even more, which wasn't necessary at all. No. She wouldn't talk to Marissa about it.
"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Marissa asked as if she'd read Summer's mind. She placed the magazine she'd been holding onto the coffee table and gave Summer her full attention.
"No! Well, kind of," she coyly said and began to play with a ring on her finger.
"What then?"
Summer shook her head. "No, it's nothing."
"Come on. You can tell me,"
"It's embarrassing!"
Marissa placed her hand on Summer's knee, forcing her friend to look at her. "I won't laugh, or whatever you're afraid of."
Summer took a deep breath. "Well, you know…um," she looked at the blonde nervously but only received an encouraging smile. "Seth's…Seth's my first, you know,"
"Boyfriend?"
Summer frowned. "Is that what he is? My boyfriend?"
"I don't know. From what you've told me it sure seems like it."
"God, this is pathetic. I don't even know what he is." She placed her head into her hand.
"Summer, consider him your boyfriend and if you're not sure, ask him,"
"Is that what you do? Ask? Did you do that with Ryan?"
"Um, no. It just happened naturally I guess. I just knew,"
"Oh," Summer felt so stupid, like a little girl curious about her elder sister's exciting experiences.
"Seth's your first boyfriend? Or first guy?"
"I've been with guys before. But nothing serious," Summer quickly explained, feeling like that was an area she wanted to keep to herself.
"Okay."
"Yeah,"
"Your date was good and you spent a night in the same bed."
"I guess so,"
vvvvvvvvv
Knocking on the door Summer straightened her skirt and placed her hair behind her ears.
"Summer! You don't have to knock," Seth said and pulled her into a hug, making sure to have all of her into his embrace. "I've missed you."
Summer grinned and immediately felt like this was a ten times better day than it had been just minutes ago. "I've missed you, too."
"You brought the ice cream?"
"Yes, I did." Summer laughed at his awkward move and held up the bag with ice cream. "But I think it's about to melt,"
"Then we better start eatin', my little Summer." Grabbing her hand and the bag he walked into the living room and gently pushed her down to sit on the sofa. "I'll go get spoons." Summer smiled and turned the TV on, flicking through the channels. "By the way, Ryan called just before you came. He invited us for dinner!" Seth yelled from the kitchen and seconds later sat down next to her, passing her a spoon and placing the ice cream between their bodies.
vvvvvvvvv
With flowers in one hand and the cake in his other Seth walked in a rather slow pace over the square. The wind was light and the sun stood high in the sky, which made a perfect combination since the temperature was adequate. Next to him Summer walked in a yellow dress, her thick, brown hair hanging over her shoulders. "You sure that I can't help you with that?" she asked for the third time, feeling slightly useless as she walked carrying nothing as Seth had his arms full.
"No, I've got it," he smirked.
Ryan and Marissa had asked them to buy a cake; which was the reason of why they were walking from the bakery.
"Alright. Hey, Seth?" Summer looked up at him, pulling some hair behind her ear.
"Yeah,"
"You're really amazing,"
Seth smiled, squinting his eyes slightly and showing his adorable dimples. "I'd kiss you if I didn't have my arms full."
"Hey," she slapped his arm but couldn't help letting a giggle out. "I've offered to help you with those,"
"I'm a gentleman,"
"Right."
"I am. Don't I always carry your things and hold doors open for you?"
"Not really, no."
"Well, in my mind I am."
"So, you're a gentleman in your mind? I'm afraid that that doesn't even make any sense."
"Sure it does. It makes perfect sense,"
"Alright, you baby. At least I'm not carrying anything."
"See? I am a gentleman."
Summer didn't even bother to say anything; she let him walk with a huge grin on his face carrying the cake and the flowers. As they'd continued to walk for maybe a minute or so she felt how Seth's arm wrapped itself around her shoulders, drawing her near.
"Hey, what did you do with-" Summer abruptly stopped walking, her feet stuck in the ground.
This couldn't be.
"Summer?" Seth had stopped walking as well and still had his arm over her shoulders. "You coming?"
She quickly slid under his arm and placed herself behind his body, gripping his shirt with her hands. "Please, go." Her voice was so quiet, that he almost didn't hear her through all the noise around them.
"What's wrong?" he worriedly asked and made an attempt to turn around. She forced him to remain where he stood though, only causing his concern to grow. "Summer?"
"Seth, please just go."
Slightly afraid of her strange and sudden behaviour Seth did as he was told; he started to walk again with her gripping his shirt, almost as if she was glued onto his back.
As they neared the black Toyota Seth could feel how Summer loosened her grip and finally let go of him, walking up to the car with quick steps. She impatiently waited for him to unlock the car and as he became more worried seeing how she acted he tried to hurry, seeing how badly she wanted in the car. It was almost as if the car would be her sanctuary. From what, he did not know.
"Hey," Seth gently said after having placed the flowers and the cake in the backseat and sat down in his seat. "What happened?"
"Nothing. Please just drive." Summer sighed and met his gaze for a moment before quickly breaking their eye-contact. With a smile on her face she said, "We don't want to be late."
vvvvvvvvv
As Marissa opened the door Summer smiled the brightest smile of all, pushing Seth forward as he was the one holding the flowers. He awkwardly kissed the blonde's cheek and walked inside after having been told to give Ryan the cake and the flowers.
Summer gave her friend a long hug, thanking her for inviting them over.
"My pleasure, Summer. It's so great to see you again and this will be our first couple dinner together," Marissa excitedly beamed. Wrapping an arm around Summer she led her inside the apartment.
"Summer, hi!" Ryan said as they came into the living room and gave her a hug. Seth stood beside him and tried to meet Summer's eyes. "You hungry?"
"Ryan's cooked." Marissa told Seth and Summer proudly, staring up at her boyfriend lovingly. Did they have the perfect relationship, too? The four of them made their way into the dining room; which was quite simple and modern, the table set with green china.
Seth placed himself behind a chair and pulled it out, gesturing for Summer to sit. She smiled and sat down, letting him pull the chair in and sit down next to her.
"You're such a gentleman, Seth. Maybe you should teach Ryan some romance," Marissa said and nudged Ryan's shoulder.
"Don't listen to her, bro. She has no idea what she's talking about."
"Right," Seth said with a grin, enjoying seeing the two of them disagree about something. Even if he enjoyed their company and loved them, he belonged to one of those who thought that they were a little too perfect together, maybe even a little boring.
"This looks delicious, you guys." Summer smiled, interrupting the little scene that was taking place in front of her.
Seth grinned. "It really does, Ryan."
They all started to eat while the conversation went on, mostly including everybody except Summer. She remained silent throughout most of the meal, once and a while giving a nod or agreeing to something. Much to Seth's concern.
"It will just be a small party according to Kirsten so it's held at your house," Marissa explained later as they'd started with the cake Seth and summer had bought.
"Cool." Seth replied, still not very enthusiastic about his father's birthday party.
Marissa didn't seem to care though, about everyone's lack of interest. She turned to Seth, "Yeah and Kirsten told me to tell you Seth, that she wants Summer to come."
"Yeah? Summer, you heard that?" Seth asked, smiling and hoping for Summer to become a little more interested in the conversation. He carefully touched her knee, trying to get her attention. "Summer?"
"Huh?" she said and looked up from her plate. This time it wasn't just Seth whose eyes went to search her face, Ryan and Marissa also seemed to be curious of what was going on in Summer's mind tonight.
"Mom and dad want you to come for his birthday," Seth slowly explained.
Again, trying to act fine, she smiled. "Oh, great!"
"Yeah, great." Seth sighed, looking over the table at Ryan and Marissa who looked equally concerned.
vvvvvvvvv
The minute they stepped into the car Seth turned the engine on and steered his car out onto the road. He kept the speed down though and glanced over at Summer who sat in her seat quiet and with a frown on her face, as if she was thinking of something unpleasant. Seth knew that she didn't want to talk about it, whatever it was.
He wondered what had happened, what had changed her. She'd changed so sudden that something big must have happened. Could it be him? Had he said something and forgot about it? She was back to where she'd been a couple of months ago, where she wouldn't talk to him, where she wouldn't let him in.
"Summer?" he gently said and turned his gaze toward her. She actually let her eyes fall on him, still looking the blank same though. "Is everything okay?"
She nodded and forced a smile, the tiniest though. Just like those times she'd tried to please him before. "You know that you can tell me," he gently placed his hand on her arm and started to rub it softly. "Whatever it is."
"Yeah, I know."
Seth decided not to push her. "Okay. Do you want to come to my place for a while? I know there's some ice cream left."
She apologetically smiled again. "Another time, Seth. I'm tired."
"You could stay over,"
"I just want to go home. Please?"
"Yeah, okay."
And then the silence came back; both of them turning to look onto the road. It was traffic time and took forever to get to Summer's building it seemed, but finally Seth slowed down, stopping just outside of the door. Through the door window he spotted people, they were always there. He'd gotten used to them.
"Are you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, of course. Thanks for the ride,"
"Sure." Seth said and waited for her to give him a hug or a kiss; a goodbye. Nothing came though; she just stepped out of the car and made a little wave before disappearing.
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