I promised you a new chapter before the year ends and here it is. Unfortunately I haven't been able to reply to all reviews (some problems with the site) and I'm sorry. I don't usually post before responding to you all but a promise is a promise and for once I wanted to keep one.

Enjoy and please review. I'll respond to you all! If the problem will be fixed that will say...

The rays from the sun shone onto Summer's head, creating dancing sparkles in her hair. She was squinting slightly to the sun and opened a few buttons of her pink cardigan.

"Nice weather we have today, huh," Seth said, he too squinting his eyes.

"It's a little too hot for my taste, but sure it's nice." Summer pulled the shirt off of her and was left in a white, thin top. Seth couldn't help but notice how her skin seemed to glow; a little more tanned then when he'd first met her. He watched how she continued to walk by his side, watched her profile. She really had a cute nose, nice skin and perfect lips. Her lips felt good, too. "Cohen? Are you checking me out?" She was smiling but still not caring to turn her head; she just kept walking.

"Maybe," Seth replied with a grin. "You're nice to look at."

Summer giggled and slipped her small fingers into his hand, intertwining them with his. "If you want you can buy me ice cream."

"If I want?"

"Yes," she answered innocently, giving him a smile impossible to turn down. He laughed and dragged her toward the ice cream stand.

While eating the dripping ice cream they stood leaning against the railing, their sides touching. "You seem happy today," Seth stated while he licked some of his strawberry ice cream that had rolled down the cone.

Summer seemed to think for a while before answering in a bright tone, "I feel really good today." Seth grinned and turned to look at her, letting his ice cream continue to melt as he leaned over to eat some of Summer's. "Hey! That's mine."

"I bought it so technically, it's mine. And besides I only took a small bite. You can have some of my strawberry if you want." He offered her his melting one which she surprisingly licked on. Seth moved his hand though so that Summer's nose tip got covered in ice cream.

"Seth!"

"Sorry." He quickly kissed away the ice cream and made sure that her nose was back to being perfect. Placing his forefinger on it and giving her a smile he planted a kiss on her wet lips. "Wanna know something?"

Summer nodded while giggling. "Yes."

Seth kissed her again. "It's a secret."

Summer pulled away slightly, taking another lick of his ice cream. "I can keep a secret."

"Really," he said and pecked her lips.

Nodding against him, causing their noses to meet in an Eskimo kiss, she decisively spoke. "Tell me."

"Alright," Seth carefully said and turned serious. In a whisper he finally said, "I love you, Summer." And just like that Summer dropped her ice cream and gripped the railing. She began to breathe hard and had to focus on not forgetting about her breathing. "Sum? You okay?" Seth watched how she gasped for air and held the railing so hard that her hands whitened. He threw his ice cream away and panicked. "Oh my God, I'm calling 911."

He reached for his cell but as he was about to dial the number Summer flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He felt how she pressed her face into his neck and after checking if she was breathing properly he lifted her up just a few inches from the ground and kissed the side of her face. "You scared me."

She nodded and a few seconds later looked up at him with her big brown eyes. Seth could see traces of tears in the corners but as she smiled he leaned down for a kiss. She responded eagerly and smiled into his mouth. "Sorry, you just caught me by surprise."

"Then I'm the one who's sorry." Starting to laugh he looked down at her. "You asked me though, and I told you it was a secret."

Summer giggled and replaced her feet on the ground. "I'm glad you told me. I have a secret as well."

"Yeah?"

"I can't tell you yet though."

"I can wait," Seth smirked and kissed her for the hundredth time this morning.

vvvvvvvvv

"I cancelled my apartment yesterday," Summer said as she painted her toe nails in a light green colour. "So now I officially have to start working more. To afford a new place."

Seth looked up from the paper he was reading where he lay on the sofa. "You can stay here."

She nodded. "I know, but if so I want to help you with the rent. I know you don't need it and I can't offer much but-"

"I'll let you help me if you want to," he quickly said, accepting that she had her pride. "But you hate your work."

She did hate her work and her boss. Sighing she continued to paint her nails. "I know. What choice do I have though?"

"You could quit and try something else," Seth suggested from the couch.

Summer thought about it for a moment, holding the small brush in her hand. "I don't have anything else. But I guess I could look."

"That's what I'm talking about."

Summer smiled and held up her feet for him to look. "Do you like the colour?"

"Sure." He then got up from the couch, leaving the paper. "Hey, you want something to eat? I'm kind of hungry."

"Yeah. Let me help you." She started to get up as well.

"No, you stay there doing…that thing with your toes. Or whatever. I can do it."

Defeated, Summer sank down into the armchair again. "Alright. But you have to let me make you breakfast or something tomorrow. And dinner."

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to. For once I want to do something for you."

"Okay. But tomorrow." Seth smirked and disappeared from Summer's sight.

Leaning back into the armchair and pulling a pillow into her lap she, not for the first time this day, thought about everything that had happened. Today, this week, the past months and her whole life. Everything was pretty crazy.

The depression, Seth showing up, meeting a therapist, getting actual friends, seeing her father again. And of course, Seth dropping those three words. The three words no one had uttered in her presence for a long time. Even if she tried really hard to remember, the last time didn't exist in her memory. Never had she spoken them herself either, not to anyone.

In movies, most movies, all the people found it so easy to say it; show that kind of affection towards another human being. They always said it so casually, like it was the most natural words existing. Summer had, many times, shivered and got that knot in her throat that she so often had while watching those scenes. Because hearing those words never ceased to make her emotional and wonder how it felt like; to hear it, to say it.

One time Summer had promised herself that sometime she would say them, someone would hear her voice utter an 'I love you'. And someone would say it back. Though that promise had quickly turned into a new one; to never let anyone come that close, not to let another person show her what love was.

Now, she wasn't sure what to do or what to say. She knew that Seth made her happy, the happiest she'd ever been. He made her laugh and feel confident. Seth made her be a person she had only dreamt about; someone who had been hiding inside of her for so many years.

"Summer, why are you and Seth friends again?" Marissa asked as the two girls stood in the Cohen's kitchen.

"We've always been friends, Coop."

"You know what I mean. What changed?"

Summer glanced over at her friend, thinking hard of a way to get out of this. Though Marissa's blue eyes were so sincere and calming that she felt like she could tell her anything. "I pushed him away. Like I always do."

"But you two really like each other."

"I know. It's just that…" Summer interrupter herself.

"What?"

"I don't even know. I guess I don't want to disappoint him any more."

"If you've disappointed him, would he still try this hard?"

Could he really love her? Like actually love her? Love was a big word, at least in Summer's world. How could he love her and how could he know that he did? Maybe he just thought he loved her.

The moment he'd said it, she'd been so taken aback, so surprised. She hadn't known how to react, or respond. Though what she had known was that him saying that to her made her warm inside and after a while she had felt butterflies in her stomach. That had to be a sign, a sign that it made her happy. If she could have, if she'd been able to, Summer would have said it back. She wanted to say it back to Seth. And she almost had, before she realised that it wasn't as easy as she'd always thought and imagined.

Checking that her nails had dried Summer rose and walked with quick steps to the kitchen where Seth was. "Summer! I was just about to ask you if you want-"

Summer pressed her lips against his and took the pack of spaghetti from his hand, placing it on the counter. Her warm tongue pushed itself into his mouth and she kissed him with such force, and pressed her body against him so hard that he had to walk them to the wall not to fall backwards. She had a handful of his shirt and was tugging at it eagerly. Seth smiled into her kiss and leaned forward a bit, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her effortlessly so that she could wrap her legs around his torso.

She, not so carefully, drew her fingers through his thick hair while continuing to kiss him as Seth walked them to his bedroom. He was about to ask her if she really wanted to do this but her lips never left his if not only for a short moment to get some air, making it impossible for him to speak a single word. As Seth put her down onto the bed, she standing on her knees, Summer took the opportunity to pull his shirt off. She threw it on the floor and immediately brought her hands to his chest, touching him like she'd never done before.

He was about to take her top off when she stopped him, shyly meeting his eyes. "I'm not very good at this," she whispered breathing awfully hard. "I mean, I haven't-"

Seth silenced her with a kiss. "Don't worry about it. Don't think." He laughed and continued to tug at her top.

"I haven't shaved my legs and I should shower first," Summer weakly tried, feeling embarrassed. She gently traced her fingers over Seth's chest, fallowing her finger with her eyes.

"Look at me, Sum." Seth forced her gaze up to him. "You're perfect. Don't worry so much. I haven't shaved my legs either," he said and smiled. That caused Summer to laugh and she felt even more comfortable as he lay down with her on the bed, caressing her upper arm. "Okay?"

She nodded and smiled. "Okay."

vvvvvvvvv

Summer opened her eyes, trying to figure out why she was in bed while it was still light outside. And why she was naked; sleeping naked was weird.

An arm lay over her stomach and turning her head to the side she saw a sleeping Seth laying next to her, he naked too. Summer almost began yelling as she realized what they'd done. This day was just crazy. He'd told her that he loved her and then made love to her. Could this be a dream? It certainly seemed like it; nothing ever went this well for Summer Roberts.

Everything had been perfect. Absolutely perfect. Seth had been so loving and gentle, always making sure that she was comfortable.

"Seth Cohen, what are you doing with me?"

End of chapter. I have lots of idea for upcoming chapters so don't see this as a happy ending. :)

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