"So I saw Cohen last night." Summer picked at her salad and paused before eating her tomato. "He looked good—happy."

"Did you talk to him at all?" Taylor, for herself, was glad to be talking about something else. She had been questioned about her and Ryan by everyone the past week, and needed a break from it all.

"A little bit—I was at the video store and I ran into him and his girlfriend."

"She's a sweetheart, isn't she?" Taylor watched as Summer deliberating her words.

"She seems nice." Summer went back to eating her tomato. Taylor laughed silently to herself. Nice wasn't the word she would use to describe Cordelia, and she knew that nice wasn't the word that Summer would necessarily use in describing her. Her words lacked sincerity, and Taylor was determined now to find out why. "I'm surprised that Cohen didn't call you last night to tell you."

"Well he isn't exactly pleased with me—but you know that." No, Seth was not pleased with Taylor at all. It all had to do with Ryan of course, whom she had seriously messed up with. She had called him at least ten times that day, but he had not returned her calls until two days later. She had apologized and he had accepted, but Ryan had been so cold and distant. The conversation had been short and awkward and Taylor had been more than happy to finally get off the phone with him. "Seth doesn't really want to see much of me right now." Once Seth had gotten wind of the situation, he had gotten on Taylor's case as well. He understood that she still had feeling for Ryan, Seth had told her, but she had hurt Ryan badly by getting him to cheat on Sadie and anyone that hurt Ryan was not in his good books.

"You seem better though." Summer smiled at her friend, seemingly glad to see Taylor at least happy and smiling. This had all happened once week prior, and since then Taylor had felt miserable and alone. She had ruined her friendship with Ryan and the fact that she had hurt him and possibly lost him, had made her cry for days. Now, slowly but surely, she was starting to feel better, if she didn't spend too much time talking or thinking about it.

"Yeah—just taking it one day at a time." School kept her busy, and her friendships with Anna and Summer and Cordelia kept her sane. "Seth told me to give Ryan some space—so that is what I'll do—give him some space and hopefully in a couple of weeks or months we can be okay again."

"I think that is very mature of you."

"But enough about me—you wanted to talk about Seth." Honestly, this topic worried Taylor as well. She knew the off again on again history of Summer and Seth; was this Summer's time to turn on again? She would have been thrilled except for the fact that Cordelia was involved.

"Yeah—I saw him and we talked for a little bit—it was nice."

"Okay—I'm glad that you guys got a chance to talk—got some closure."

"Yeah—he's happy, I'm happy. We got closure." Taylor was about to comment on how good closure was when Summer dropped the bomb that Taylor had been dreading to hear "I want to be friends again—seeing him, talking to him, it made me realize how much I miss him."

"Oh Summer." A sinking feeling of despair spread through Taylor; this might be leading to disaster. "I don't know."

"What? You don't think this is a good idea?" Her chocolate eyes grew stormy for a moment. "I promise you, I'm over him."

"How was he when you saw him? Did he seem uncomfortable?"

"No—he seemed like he was happy to see me; come on Taylor, you know I'm with Matt. I just really want to be friends with him."

"But didn't you say that never works?" Summer frowned in disappointment. "I don't know Summer—what do you want me to do?"
"Find out how he feels—if he really wants to be friends—you know Cohen, he's too nice—I don't want to force anything on him."

"Okay—just promise me." Taylor stopped, not sure how to go on. "Just please let it be friendship and nothing else."

"I promise." Her eyes were large and hopeful. "Seeing him, it just made me realize that I want him in my life. I mean, you want Ryan to be in your life."

"I do—seeing him"

"Made you realize that you still want him?"

"I do want him—sometimes I wish I was over him—but I can't help it; he was the first guy I really loved, it wasn't an infatuation with him."

"Maybe it will happen?" Summer reached out and squeezed Taylor's hand. "I don't think you should be with anyone else until you get things sorted out with Ryan; it wouldn't be fair, you know?"

"I know." Thinking of him, thinking of the pain she had caused him, brought a small well of tears to Taylor's eyes. "That's why Gregg never really stole my heart I guess; I was still hung up on Ryan. Deep down inside I still loved him and hoped that he'd love me."

"Do you think you'll get over him now— since you know; you took your chance?"

"And nothing happened? I don't know—I need to work it out." She sighed, feeling low again. It would be one thing if he had flat out rejected her; it would have made her life easier. She would have been sad and embarrassed, but at least she would have known without the shadow of a doubt that he didn't want her. But that kiss, those moments of passion and lust that he had given in to. That was something, wasn't it? Despite the pain she had caused him, it still resonated in her heart that there had been a few moments when he had wanted her as well. "I should just swear off men for a while."

"That always works out well." They fell into that comfortable silence that good friends do. "I'm sorry if I spoiled your good mood."

"I'll be fine—it's still a little raw though."

"You have us girls—we have to look out for each other."

Yes we do, thought Taylor to herself; in her mind she could see a love triangle developing already between Summer, Seth and Cordelia.