Summer and Taylor sat quickly at the beach, soaking up the hot early summer sun. It was two weeks since Neil Robert's funeral and Summer had just returned to Providence, Rhode Island the day before. Upon the death of her father, Summer had found herself an extremely wealthy young woman; a bulk of his fortune had gone to her and now Summer Roberts did not have to worry about living in the dorms for the next three years. She had a large amount of spending money and a growing trust in the banks that would make her fairly set for life.

"What do you want to do today?"

"This is fine." Ever since her late night meltdown, Taylor had been feeling low and depressed; life seemed cruel and mean to her, and as she sat, baking in the sun, she felt little interest in doing anything except stewing in her own thoughts. Ryan didn't understand of course; he tried to listen to her but when she spoke of her own tremblings and insecurities, he had looked at her as if she was being unduly morbid. Maybe she was being morbid, however. Maybe she had just hit a snag, a bump in the road? Whatever it was, the last two weeks had been sad and tiring ones and she felt powerless to lift herself out of it.

"I think Cohen wants to do something." Yes, no doubt Seth Cohen wants to do something, Taylor thought to herself. Seth had returned to Providence and was renting out a spare room in one of his RISD friend's apartment. He had come, he had told Taylor, to be closer to Cordelia because he missed her; Taylor, and she was sure, Cordelia, believed that Summer Roberts also played a part in his decision.

"He's going out to the movies with Cordelia I think; she seemed pretty excited about it." If there was one thing that Taylor thought about besides her own depression, was the relationship between Seth, Summer and Cordelia. The night of the funeral had been a calm one, Taylor had learnt from Cordelia. Summer had gone to bed early and Cordelia had spent a quiet evening watching television with Seth; Cordelia had tried to pry a little that evening and the next day about Seth's feelings about Summer, but had not learnt much beyond his feelings of friendship for the girl.

"Oh he didn't tell me that." The girls lapsed back into silence and they both watched tourists and bathers move in and out of the water.

"He seems pretty happy with her, doesn't he?" Summer had been vague about Seth for a long time, especially about his relationship with Cordelia.

"I think he could be happier."

"Oh really?" Taylor had noticed a shake of jealousy in Summer's voice; certainly that had not been there five, six months earlier. Had Summer fallen for Seth again so soon? "He acts pretty happy about her to me."

"When does Seth talk to you about Cordelia?" There was a cold fire that quickly flared in Summer's eyes.

"I don't know, once or twice a week—I mean-- I talk to Seth almost every day." They didn't really talk every day, and for the most part Seth was mum about Cordelia now, but Taylor wanted to see what type of rise she could get out of Summer. They had all been keeping things from each other for so long that Taylor, in the hotness of the afternoon, felt a madness come over her. Her mind was hot in desire for knowledge and no matter how twisted things had become between Summer and Seth, she was determined to find out.

"Well he must tell you different things."

"What does he tell you then? That's he's miserable with her?"

"No—not miserable, just that sometimes he thinks he could find someone better."

"She's pretty wonderful—he'd have to look really hard then."

"Not that hard." Summer looked over at Taylor and her eyes were hard with a sudden anger.

"Oh? Does Cohen have someone lined up already?" Taylor was sure to twinge her words with sarcasm. "If I didn't know any better, it would seem like you've gotten Cohen in mind yourself."

"We've gone through a lot together."

"I know you have—you've gone through a lot and you've both been very good about supporting one another; but Summer, I thought you were over all of this?"

"Over what?" She tossed out the question, as if she knew already the answer that Taylor was going to provide her.

"Over you and Seth—didn't you say that you just wanted to be friends."

"Things change."

"Summer." Taylor was up now and her mouth was twisted in anger and frustration. "You promised me."

"I know—I just can't help it."

"So what, you want him back now?" Summer didn't say anything and Taylor's voice grew louder. "You want him back? Damn it, I knew it."

"Taylor—I messed up all right; I didn't appreciate what I had."

"And now you think you can make it work again? Didn't you tell me he was too cynical for you, that he didn't believe in anything? I don't think he's changed that much."

"I know—but I miss him Taylor and I think I love"

"Don't say" Taylor tried to cut her off…

"Him"

"Summer." There it was; all her worries and fears had been confirmed. Taylor hadn't gotten anything out of Seth, neither had Ryan. Cordelia seemed to suspect something but had no solid proof; Seth was mum and so had been Summer. Now, however, the words came pouring out of the girl. Her intentions had been honest at first; she had just missed him and had wanted to be friends. Slowly though, Summer told Taylor, she had realized how great of a guy he had been and that it was possible that she had blown the relationship and her future happiness.

"I always thought Seth would be the one to make a mess of it all; turned out it was me." Her father's death and the sweetness and devotion Seth had shown her finished Summer Roberts off for good. "When he left with Cordelia I realized that I loved him again. You know what that's like, to realize that you shouldn't be alone and the right person is standing right in front of you."

"Ryan was honest about Sadie."

"You weren't honest about Ryan though." Her words struck Taylor silent. No, she hadn't actually been honest about Ryan; she had made Ryan cheat on his girlfriend.

"No." They sat facing each other, trying to find the right words to continue. "Has something happened between you two?"

"No" Summer looked at her friend earnestly, as if trying to gauge her feelings "Not yet."

"Does he want something to happen?"

"I think so—I hope so."

"Poor Cordelia." The words slipped without her thinking.

"You're going to tell her, aren't you?"

"Summer—she's my friend."

"I'm your best friend—your oldest friend."

"I know—it's just that"

"You think I'm a bitch." Summer rose from the sand and looked down on Taylor. "I was there for you back in high school when no one else was."

"Summer—that's mean." Taylor too stood; she felt like she was on the verge of tears. She couldn't remember the last time she had fought with Summer.

"You should be on my side—you're my friend. I supported you about Ryan no matter what, I didn't pass any judgments; Atwood is my friend too and you hurt him and I was there for you."

"It's different Summer."

"It's not different—you'd rather go off and tell Cordelia then be my friend." Summer started to gather her things.

"I'm not going to go and tell Cordelia—I just want you guys to be honest with everyone before anything happens."

"How do you know we won't?"

"Because I know Seth."

"And you know me—Summer Roberts who can't stay out of Cohen's bed. Forget it Taylor—I see how good of a friend you are."

"Summer." She tried to stop her but there was nothing to be done. As she watched her best friend walk away, Anna's prediction ran coldly through her mind.