Hey guys! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, I really appreciate it! I know this chapter is pretty long, but I got started on it and I couldn't seem to stop. I hope everyone enjoys it! If you have any suggestions of things you'd like to see happen then feel free to put them in your review!
Faulty Cameras: Thanks so much for reading, glad you liked it :D I looove writing little Seth and Summer, it's a lot of fun.
surferellegirl: Thanks for the review, hope you like this chapter!
SketchyCord: Hey!! Ohhh my yes don't worry about Dancing and Speeding Cars, I am almost done both chapters.. I think there's something the matter with me :P I have two stories on the go and then I go and start up another one.
tines: Haha same SS fluff is the best. Yeah, I'm most excited to write the ending which is weird, but it will be fun writing them for four years old to grown up with kids.
Lt. Garry: Haha thanks!! Yeah I was hoping Summer was fairly in character. I know the torture of Chuck E. Cheese well, I was there last weekend for a birthday party :S
kursk: Thanks a lot for the review! Like I said, I'm excited to write them with kids.. just so you know, if you've read my other story Speeding Cars, they'll have the same children in that (Tiffany, Tory and Jackson.) Just 'cause I love those three so much and it would be weird to give them new children.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
It was library time. Summer had never been a big fan of library time. Even when she was little and the librarian used to gather all the kids on the carpet and read to them from colorful picture books, Summer had never enjoyed it. She was always squirming, trying to fix her hair or wonder what Rosie was making for dinner.
Now, at eight years old, the children were no longer read to. They were supposed to sit at the long tables in silence, for thirty five minutes and read. Today though, things looked a little different. Their teacher was standing on the carpeted area, a big smile plastered on her face, hands clasped behing her back. Summer was pretty sure that she was the only girl, the only person for that matter, in the third grade that liked Ms. Sherum. The girls liked her because she was nice and always wore nice clothes. She listened to good music and talked to them like they were grown ups. The boys liked her because she was pretty and always played soccer with them at recess.
In theory, Ms. Sherum was the perfect teacher. One day, in September Summer had come home from school to find her Daddy was home from work a lot earlier than usual. Rosie wasn't there and neither was her car. Someone's car was there though, a red convertible. Summer had kicked off her shoes, put her backpack in the closet and went inside. When she got to the kitchen, her Daddy was sitting on the couch with a very pretty lady. When Summer looked closely she saw that the lady was Ms. Sherum. Her Daddy and Ms. Sherum were kissing, just like in the movies.
So that was why Summer hated Ms. Sherum. "Alright guys, if everybody could sit on the carpet. I know normally in the library we read quietly but today we're going to do things a little different today. You know that we're starting to do book talks in class. I decided it would be more fun if you were with a partner for the first one, it will make things easier on you." Everyone started looking around the room, grasping for eye contact with one of their friends. Summer looked to Marissa and she nodded. "However, the last time we did partners a lot of people got hurt, so I've already partnered you up." Everyone rolled their eyes and sighed.
"But Ms. Sherum, that isn't fair!" Holly's voice piped up. "What if we get partnered up with someone we don't like?"
"We like everybody here Holly." Ms. Sherum glanced down at the paper in front of her and began reading off names. Marissa was stuck with Taylor Townsed, the creepy new girl, Holly got to be with Luke. Summer scanned the room, trying to find someone who wasn't too bad. There was Hannah or Victoria. She wouldn't mind being with them. "Summer you'll be with..." Ms. Sherum's finger went down the list, her eyes glancing over each name, "Seth Cohen."
Summer's hand shot up into the air. She waved it around, the way some of the kids did when they had a good answer. "Ms. Sherum, I'm sorry but I can't be with Seth."
"Why not Summer?"
"I'm allergic to him."
The remainder of the class laughed, Holly mouthed, "Nice one," to her. Summer hadn't meant to be funny, not really. She thought she might be kind of allergic to Seth. When she had to sit next to him in December, she got a really bad cold. "Summer, that isn't a positive thing to say. You wouldn't like it if someone said they were allergic to you." Ms. Sherum read off the rest of the kids names. "If everyone could pick a spot and talk quietly about what book they'd like to do. We have an extended period in the library so we have nearly an hour before we have to return to class."
"Good luck Summer. Just cover your ears when he talks," Holly suggested as Summer dragged herself over to Seth.
"You know, it's actually possible to be allergic to someone." That was the first thing Seth told Summer. "Because if you're allergic to cotton or somethin' and then they wear a cotton sweater, then you would be allergic to them.. or their sweater. I don't really know."
"Whatever... it was just an excuse." Summer twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.
"You can pick the book if you want.. the book we have to do."
"Ugh, I hate books. They're so stupid. They make my eyes hurt. Except for the Mary Kate and Ashley books. Those are good."
"So you wanna do a Mary Kate and Ashley book?" Seth said, trying to sound happy.
"No stupid. I just said they were good. Do you got any ideas?"
"Well we could do Star Wars, they just made the book version and it-"
"You've gotta be kidding me. Nuh-uh. I won't do Star Wars."
"What about Charlotte's Web?"
Summer thought for a moment, her lip sticking out in concentration. "Okay. I like the name Charlotte," she said simply.
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As the week went on, Summer did everything to avoid working on the project with Seth. When they had class time, she went to the bathroom and took a really long time washing her hands. When Seth tried to talk to her about it, she would rush off and pretend like Ms. Sherum needed her for something. But it was a Tuesday and the stupid thing was due on Thursday. So Seth was coming to her house.
Rosie was sitting with her on the couch, French braiding her hair. "Oo Summer, you gettin' all dressed up for this little boy?" Rosie teased, running the brush through Summer's hair.
"Noo Rosie. No way. But tomorrow we're goin' to the Science Centre and I want my hair to be all pretty. 'Sides Seth's hardly a boy. He's more like a... fly or something." Summer giggled. Rosie finished off the second braid.
"Summer," Rosie reprimanded, smiling none the less.
"It's true!" Summer exclaimed. "I mean like.. you know how Christabell looks like, if she were an animal, she'd be a really pretty dog? Well Seth would be a fly."
"What would you be then? A monkey?"
Summer laughed, but when the door bell rang seconds later, all traces of happiness left her face. Summer walked to the door, like she was about to walk off the plank or to death itself. She swung the door open. "Hello Seth,"
"Hey Summer." Seth said, his face going beet red. Rosie came to the door, wiping her hands on her pants.
"Hey! You must be Seth?"
"Yeah."
"I've heard a lot about you." Rosie smiled at him and recieved a jab from Summer. "Alright, there's cheese and crackers in the kitchen.. I bought some Sprite, so you kids can help yourself to that. I'll stay in here, make myself invisible." She winked at Summer and directed Seth towards the kitchen.
"It's this way," Summer called. Seth followed her into the large kitchen. "Here," she gestured towards the cheese and crackers and poured a glass of Sprite for each of them. "Go nuts."
"Thanks." Seth took a sip of his Sprite and a large bite of a cracker. He immediately began coughing, pounding his own back as he choked. "Oh I'm fine," he said sarcastically to Summer, as she stared down at her nails that Rosie had just painted a baby blue.
"Great. So I guess we should probably start or whatever."
"Yeah. So did you finish the book?"
Summer laughed. "Yeah right. I didn't even start it. I just like.. I don't know. I was busy and I don't read a lot."
Seth bit his lip. "Ookay well I guess I'll explain it to you because we're going to get up in front of the class and we have to talk about it. So you have to know some stuff."
"Fine."
"Okay so the book is about this girl named Fern-"
"Wait I thought her name was Charlotte?"
"No, that's the name of the spider-"
"Ew! There's spiders in this book?"
"Yeah, well Charlotte lives in a barn so there's a lot of animals and she's one of-"
"Ew! A barn?" Summer said in disgust. "Barns are totally gross. I went with my uncle one time and it smelled like pigs and hay."
"I like barns."
"You would."
"Anyway. So one day Fern gets up really early and sees-"
"But seriously. What kind of a name is Fern?"
"Summer please! We'll be here until midnight if you keep going like this."
"You're lucky you're here at all," Summer retorted.
"So Fern wakes up early one morning and sees that her dad has this axe. So she asks him where he's going and he tells her that he's going to kill the runt of the litter. Fern doesn't want that to happen so she convinces her dad to.."
They went on like this for nearly two hours, Seth explaining the book, Summer interrupting to ask a question or make a snide remark. By the end of Seth's explanation, Summer had her hands dramatically clasped to her heart. "Ohmigod. That's so sad. So Charlotte dies?"
"Yeah, but it's a happy ending because-"
"Seth! She DIES. There's nothing happy about that."
"Sorry."
"That sounds like such a good book."
"I know. You should have read it, you'd probably really like it."
"Yeah well I'm just.. not a very good reader." Summer shrugged.
"You mean you can't read?"
"No you idiot. Of course I can read.. I'm just not very good. I just.. I don't sound words out very well."
"Is that why you didn't read the book?"
"No... I mean I don't know. I guess kinda."
"I could teach you. To read." Seth offered.
"Stop saying it like that! I know HOW to read. I'm not stupid or anything."
"I know. I think you're smart. But I could help you. And we wouldn't have to tell anyone."
"You swear? Because if you tell anyone I swear Seth.. I'll kill you. No joke. My daddy said that I have rage blackouts which means I get like really mad and can't control my anger. Whatever. But I will."
"Yeah. I promise! I won't tell anyone."
"Okay. Fine. And I'm not paying you."
"Yep. I don't want you to."
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"Hey Sum," Marissa waved her hand around in the air as Summer went to step into Rosie's car. "Summer!"
"One sec Rosie," Summer said, running over to Marissa. "Hey Coop. What's up?"
"You wanna come over tonight? My mom bought me this really awesome nail polish kit so we could give each other manicures?"
"Sorry I can't.. I have to.. study."
Marissa laughed. "Since when do you study?"
"I dunno.. my Daddy said if I didn't pull my grades up we wouldn't go to Disneyworld," she improvised.
"What a nerd."
"I know right. But tomorrow?"
"Definitely. Friday's better 'cause you can sleep over."
"Alright. See you tomorrow!" Summer smiled, waved and jumped into Rosie's car.
"Summer? Why did you tell Marissa your dad was making you stay home?"
"Because if she knows Seth is coming over then she might not want to be my friend anymore.. and then she might think I was a nerd for hanging out with him."
"But Summer she's your best friend."
"Exactly! But she might not be anymore if she knows Seth is coming over."
"Summer do you really think Marissa would do that?"
Summer thought for a minute. "I dunno.. but it's not work the risk." She said wisely.
"Oo look at you Miss. Smarty Pants," Rosie said, crinkling her nose at Summer and laughing.
"I know. I'm practically a genuis."
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"Okay Seth so what are you gonna teach me? I mean I know my alphabet, I know how to spell.. most words anyway."
"Well, I made a list of words and I thought.. maybe you could go over them and just read them out loud? And there's lists, one for the first week that you can look at and memorize..." Seth handed Summer the first list. There was probably twenty five words on the piece of paper.
"Wow Seth.. this must have tooken you a long time."
"Yeah.. it did."
"Well then why did you do it?"
"Because.. I wanted to help you."
"Really?" Summer asked in disbelief.
"Yeah."
"Well.. y'know. Thanks."
"Yeah. No problem."
Summer took the list of words from Seth, studying them carefully. "Seth?"
"Yeah?"
"These are hard words," she said sadly.
"I know. But I'll help you, y'see first you have to just sound it out and break it down. Try. It's not hard, I promise."
"Frus-tr-ating."
"Good."
"Well geez. A monkey could do that." Summer giggled, throwing her hands up in the air.
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The next week the third grade had a spelling test. The third word on the test, after amazing and martian was frustrating. Summer closed her eyes and the flash card Seth had made for her instantly entered into her head. She held her HB pencil in her hand and spelled it out on the paper. She finished the test five minutes early and took out a piece of pink paper.
Hey Seth,
Thank you for helping me with my reading. I guess if you want you can come back again tomorrow.. my Daddy said he'd order us pizza. But it's not like a play date or anything. Ew. And remember what I said, if you tell anyone you better learn to sleep with your eyes open. So anyway, thanks for everything. If it wasn't for you I'd probably flunk out of the third grade.
XO
Summer