He looked her up and down; her face told the story of heartbreak and truth. He listened to her tell the story of his girlfriend running away because a man tore her insides out. Nothing made sense to him while she spoke. A confusion he had never felt before and he was getting anger at every passing moment. When she finished speaking he watched her take another shot.

Time had stood still while she was speaking and when reality came back he noticed the once quite bar was now alive with tons of people. He placed a twenty on the bar, nodding to the bartender and stood up. Summer followed him outside.

"Ryan, I told you more then I should have, but I am not sorry. She is my best friend and I watched her try to put the pieces of her life back together the last three years but she isn't even close to being whole yet."

"You're telling me that the woman who walked away from me all those years ago, did it because she was afraid of what I would think of her?"

"No, I think she was just afraid general. She kept saying it was her fault, she thinks she asked for it, by the way she was dressed and how she was acting."

"Taylor is too smart to think that, this makes no sense."

"Ryan, you could never understand how it feels to have your body violated like that, you have no right to judge her."

The walked in silence the four blocks to Ryan's apartment. He knew he had to study but tonight there was no way that would happen. He heard her call Seth and ask to be picked up. Neither were ok to drive, alcohol or not; to many emotions were flying though both of their heads at the moment.

"So much for dinner and two-buck Chuck, huh?" she said looking at her feet then to his face.

He cracked a smile, "And so much for studying either."

"You should wait for her, Ryan. Let her come to you. My birthday party is in four days, and I want you there no matter what happens."

"Summer, I can't keep waiting for her. You don't get it. She left me, she walked away; I just can't do this, then last night she did it again. She needs to grow up and deal with her past before even the thought of me can come into play again, tattoo or not," he said as the veins in his neck erupted.

Car lights blinked at them as Ryan continued to yell, "I was in love with her, Summer. I could have helped her but she had to make that decision on her own. We were a team, and then suddenly there is an I in team."

Seth had pulled the Range Rover over when he saw Ryan's demeanor. He could see the Chino part of his brother coming out and he was taking it out on his girlfriend. He left the car running as he jumped out, running to her side.

"You can't expect me to stop my life for her again." he was cut off by Seth.

"Dude what are you doing? Stop yelling at Summer," he said, putting a protective arm around her.

The rain had started pouring down as he finally stopped looking at his friends. Summer was in tears listening to him yell at her, and Seth was about to try to break him in half.

'What I am doing, he thought. He turned to walk away from his friends when Summer's hand stopped him.

"Ryan," she whispered.

He took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling, "Just let me go, I need to sober up so I can study. I will call you both in the morning," and he was gone.

Seth opened his arms as she walked into them, "Baby, he knows."

He stood holding his tipsy girlfriend till she let go. She looked up to his face smiling, "Let's go home."

Taylor sat alone in the Cohen's guestroom watching the rain start to fall outside.

'It was perfect end to a horrible twenty-four hours, she thought as she turned her Ipod on to her favorite song. A song that reminded her of Ryan, she hit repeat one, as the door opened slowly.

"Taylor, sweetie, are you in here? Dinner is ready," Kirsten said looking at the room. Her eyes stopped on Taylor sitting in a chair with her eyes closed listening to headphones. She walked over touching her leg.

As her hand touched Taylor's skin, her eyes flew open, "Oh my, Kirsten you scared me."

"Dinner is ready, it's just Sandy, you and I. Seth had to go pick up Summer. I think her dinner with Ryan went arye."

"Did you just say Ryan was having dinner with Summer?" she said in a shocked tone.

"Oh, she didn't tell you? He makes her dinner every at least one time were she comes home, they go and visit Marissa together."

"She never told me they do that together," she said looking at her hands, "I guess he doesn't want to go alone, huh?"

"No, I think it's more then that. Can I tell you something only a mom would say?"

Taylor nodded yes.

"He loves Summer like a sister, she is his connection to his past love and his present."

Kirsten leaned into Taylor as she realized what was just said. The two women sat hugging until Sandy walked in.

"Ladies, the mushu pork is getting cold and Seth called, he will be home soon with Summer."

The two women stood up walking towards Sandy, "Way to ruin a girly moment there, Mr. Cohen."

"Well, I do what I can."

The three of them were laughing as Seth walked in with Summer at his side. The room fell silent at the sight of a drunken Summer. She was giggling to herself as she tripped.

"OW, Seth you let go of me, Hey Mr. C, you're looking lovely tonight," she said laughing stumbling towards the table.

Taylor watched as her friend sat down, or attempted to sit down as she fell to the floor.

"Summer, are you drunk?" she said helping her up.

"Oh ya, really drunk. We drank to much while we talked about you, then he yelled at me and then Seth saved me from Kid Chino, cause he was soooo mad at you," she said pointing at Taylor's face but she missed, touching her ear.

Sandy and Kirsten silently left the table, leaving the three alone.

"Taylor, don't listen to her, she is drunk and verging on disorderly."

"Oh no you don't Seth, you don't get to defend her, Summer Roberts what did you do?" she said standing up. Taylor stood in front of Summer towering over her with anger in her eyes.
"I told him, Tay. I told him everything," she said standing up and taking off to the nearest bathroom.

Seth followed her to the bathroom but stopped turning back to Taylor.

"Taylor, you should talk to him, he deserves that much."

She watched him walk away as her emotions took over again. The tears were flooding down her face as she walked outside into the rain. She stood in the pouring rain crying, she just wanted to go home.

Thanks for all your fantastic reviews, you're all blowing my mind, so thanks. Please review...

Lindsay