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"Cohen residence," Kirsten's feminine voice sung into the phone.

"Hi, Kirsten. It's Linda Roberts."

"Oh, hello Linda. How are you?"

"I'm fine," she started, hesitating before she spoke her next words, "it's Summer I'm worried about."

"Oh," Kirsten replied, immediately concerned for the young girl.

"We got a call from her school today, apparently she can't miss another class or she won't pass this semester, and all her grades are very low C's. Not to mention attitude problems. I didn't even have a clue she wasn't doing her homework or ditching her classes. And then, last night," the older women took a raged breath, "she didn't come home at all. She came back this afternoon, but I don't even know what where she was. One minute she admits to being depressed and angry, the next she denies it. I don't know what to do Kirsten. I guess I just don't know her, and you were the only one I could think of that might have some sort of idea of what I should do," Linda cried.

"That doesn't seem like something Summer would do."

"I don't even know my own granddaughter well enough to say that."

"If you want my advice, talk to her. Summer has been through so much in such a short amount of time. And now with this last blow of her friend moving away, she's given up. She needs to know that you are there for her, she needs to know someone cares about her."

"How do I even begin that conversation? She doesn't seem upset when she's at home."

"What does she do?" Kirsten asked, concerned for Summer's well being.

"I don't know, she eats with us, makes conversation. She's gotten very into books, has a new one every time I see her. Which I have to admit is only about once a day, besides her back going out the door; I thought it was a good thing."

"Where does she go when she leaves?"

"I don't even know. But she never comes home drunk or disheveled."

"Just because your child isn't doing the things that are obviously bad for her doesn't mean she's okay. Summer is usually a social person, loosing herself in books isn't good for her, she's hiding from something, so she find shelter in books."

"How do you know so much? I raised a son, he turned out pretty good." Linda asked.

"Well for starters my mom was a therapist," both women let out a small laugh, "but I also know my boys, and Summer."

"Maybe I should have taken the time to get to know her before dragging her out here."

"If it's any consolation," Kirsten reassured, "I think I would have done the same thing."

Linda smiled and there was a moment of silence before she spoke again.

"One more thing Kirsten, has Seth maybe said anything, anything Summer might have mentioned to him."

"Seth and Summer aren't exactly on speaking terms. She isn't answering his calls and when she does it ends badly."

"That's not good, is it?"

"Linda," Kirsten began, "If Seth is worried about Summer, and I mean really, really worried about her. You should be too."


"Summer, this phone has rung six times in a row! I don't care if you don't want to talk to him, at least tell him to stop calling, he isn't listening to me!" Greg Roberts huffed at his granddaughter.

"Can't you just unplug the phone?" She asked shrilly.

"No!" He yelled, thrusting the cordless into her hands.

"Seth, you're giving my grandfather grey hair." Summer looked at he grandfather's angry face, "More grey hair."

She padded her way down the stairs and closed the door of her room behind her.

"What do you want Seth?" She growled.

"Your grandma called my mom earlier." He stated simply.

"What! Why?"

"Apparently you're the devil child now, and she doesn't know how to deal with you without driving a steak through your heart."

"Isn't that vampires, Seth?"

"It doesn't matter," Seth said, getting serious. "What matters is that the fact that your grandmother is worried about you, make me even more worried about you."

"Seth, I don't need anyone to be worried about me, I'm fine," Summer said softly.

"Not according to your grandmother."

"She's just paranoid."

"And your school is just paranoid too? Skipping school? Failing classes? That isn't you Sum."

"Yeah, because school is so enjoyable with all my friends. I can do the work they give me in a second; I pass the tests without even studying. This isn't Harbor Seth, it's easy."

"Not according to your grades."

"I'm not stupid Seth and you of all people should know that. I have three weeks left of school, I won't ditch anymore and I'll pass with C's. I was never going to fail. I know what I'm doing so you don't have to worry."

"But I am worried, and not just about your grades. I'm worried about you. You didn't come home last night Summer! What was that about, were you okay, did something happen, I can help, I care Summer, and I'm worried."

"Well don't be. Just go fret about Anna or something." She sounded annoyed, but her voice was still soft with sadness.

"You are not bringing Anna up again are you?" Seth huffed.

"Why shouldn't I, she's probably right there next to you."

"Try in Pittsburg."

"What?"

"Maybe if you had listened to me instead of accusing me of cheating on you, or not cheating on you, depending on what mood you're in, you would have known she was here for a week, to visit her parents, nothing more. You know this not talking to me is causing more problems than its worth. Please can we go back to talking to each other everyday? Maybe it would help you get through school and stuff. "

"I don't need you telling me what's wrong in my life or how I can fix it."

"Maybe you do Summer!"

"Don't talk to me like that!"

"Like what, like I care about you more than you even know."

"No! Like I'm some poor soul that needs your saving, I can take care of myself!"

"Well, no offense Summer but you're not doing a very good job!"

"I'm doing an incredible job," she shrieked into the receiver, "for everything I've been through I think I'm just fine and dandy."

"Yeah! Well I don't!"

"And why do you think that you matter so much!"

"Because I love you!" Seth screamed. "And I know you deserve so much better!"

"Yeah, well what I deserve and what I have are two totally different things! Everything in my life has fallen apart! And I think I'm doing a swell job of keeping myself together!"

"Once again, I don't!"

"Am I dead yet Seth, am I a drunk, or a drug addict? Am I in jail? I'm not a prostitute or a runaway! So what if I don't want to go to school or what if I love driving around to random places just to get my mind off how incredibly fucked up my life is!"

"This isn't you Summer! You're scaring the living hell out of me and I don't know what else to do! I'm so fucking scared for you!" Seth cried at her.

"Good! Good because you should be!" she yelled. Summer took a deep breath and let out a hard sob before saying her next words very softly, "you should be because I'm so scared for me too."

There was a long pause as the two young lives let Summer's words sink in.

"Summer," Seth cooed.

"I wanna come home Cohen," she sobbed. "Please take me home."

"Summer, I don't know what to say to that."

They were both quiet for a long while. Summer began to let the soft rhythm of Seth's breath steady her own. Her tears slowed just as a small knock was heard at her door.

"I have to call you back Cohen," she whispered solemnly.

"Please don't Sum, I don't want to hang up with you."

"No, it's okay, there is just something I have to do," her voice was raspy with more tears.

"Okay," he said, preparing to hang up.

"Wait Cohen!" she said quickly.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"You have no idea how amazing it is to hear you say that."

As she softly closed her phone Summer tried to take deep breaths to slow her tears, but nothing worked, so she gave up, and made her way to her door.

As she opened it slowly and looked up she found her grandmother standing there with a face ready to cry.

"I heard everything Summer," she stated.

Summer stood looking deeply into her grandmothers eyes before she shook her head, working up the courage to speak.

"Then please let me go home," Summer begged softly. "Please."

As a fresh wave of tears hit both women Summer collapsed into her grandmothers arms. Softly Linda stroked Summer's head, whispering into her ear.

"I will."


OMG I cannot believe I am so close to being done with this story.

Please Please Please review, in memory of out beloved OC!