Chapter 4

The Curse of Comfort

Seth had always said how lame the idea of seeing your entire life flash before your eyes just shortly before you die. It all just seemed to cliche to him. He never would imagine that it could actually be true.

He got destroyed by the water polo team. This one was worse then all the other times, because he thought surely it was the last time. Which wouldn't be a problem, because if he did die, he wouldn't have to see those jerks ever again. But on the other side of the spectrum, he couldn't bare the thought of not having his daily dose of Summer Roberts. Even though it was from afar usually behind a tree or staring from his locker.

Every so often, he was pulled out of his life flashbacks by distant shrieks and screams. He could just barely make out one voice. It was Summer. He could pick out her voice out anywhere. The other was Marissa, it appeared she was yelling into her phone, presumably to Luke. He hoped that she wouldn't be too mad, since it was Seth who punched him first.

But he was drunk and all Seth was trying to do was make sure Summer was okay. Instead he end's up in a hospital fighting for his life. He wanted Marissa to start calming down and reasoning with Luke, this way, if Seth did make it to school again, there would be damage control.

Seth slipped off back into deep thought and soon his entire mind shut down also.

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Summer couldn't stop the tears. They just kept flooding out of her nonstop. She had no control over herself since they carted Seth into surgery. She could tell it was serious, as they never even stopped to ask her more about what happened. Her guess was, broken ribs, probably broken nose, and broken arm.

Suddenly, Summer was awoken from her thinking by Sandy and Kirsten. Summer instantly wiped her eyes and any remaining tears. She didn't want to seem weak in front of the Cohens. After all, it was THEIR son who was in critical condition. She was just the girl who he saved. Nothing more.

Before today, she never even knew his first name. Seth that was it.( See she wasn't completely useless) She hoped that they didn't know who she was...The girl who ignored their son, then was rescued by him.

"Hello. Are you here to see Seth?" Kirsten said, putting on a fake smile for this girl.

"Oh yeah, yeah, I was with him at the party so I figured it was the least I could do.."Summer rambled on. Shit. She basically just said she was only there because she was the last one with him.

SHIT!

"Oh..." Kirsten replied shockingly. " Well, I'm sure he'll be glad to see you, no matter the circumstance." Kirsten felt a shiver through her spine, at the mention of her son actually waking up to see this girl.

"Friend or not, we're happy you're here...I'm Sandy Cohen, Seth's dad." Sandy said then offered his hand, which Summer shook.

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The Cohen's and Summer had been silent ever since they first arrived. Summer felt that Kirsten was angry with her, but Sandy kept attempting to make small talk with Summer. Showing that he was okay with her.

Their grieving silence was interrupted by a doctor who had a small frown on his face. He clearly looked flustered, as his eyes were baggy, and his brown hair was tangled everywhere. The doctor sighed then began to speak.

" Is there a Sandy or Kirsten Cohen here?" he asked while looking around the tiny waiting room.

"Yes, we're both here..." Sandy answered after seeing his wife to scared to even utter a response.

" Could I speak to the two of you over here please? It will only be a moment." the doctor said, then walked back towards the nurse corridor.

Sandy and Kirsten both followed slowly behind, Kirsten already began crying again. Sandy could only do his best to comfort her, as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"It appears that your son's body injuries aren't nearly as bad as we first suspected." The doctor noted Kirsten's sudden happiness, then dejectedly continued. " But, he did suffer damage to his brain which caused his body to shut down.." The doctor gulped and he too began to feel sad. Seeing Kirsten bawl into Sandy's arms.

" I'm terribly sorry, we don't know when he will wake up, he's currently hooked up to life support.." The doctor muttered. Trying to make sure only Sandy could hear, he couldn't bare to see Kirsten's reaction to this news.

" I'm so sorry, we'll notify you on any changes on his conditions." The doctor said and walked away with sorrow.

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Summer was anxious to hear news on how Seth was doing. She badly wanted to go and see him, and thank him more for his bravery. Even though he was probably in serious condition, she still wanted him to know that it wasn't for nothing. Chivalry clearly wasn't dead.

Just then, Kirsten and Sandy came back from their talk, with sad faces. Sandy clearly was trying to be strong and encouraging, but it was obvious he was on the brink of breaking down. Kirsten didn't even acknowledge Summer at all. She just walked through the hospital doors, not before shooting Sandy and Summer teary eyed glares.

Great. Now she knew that it was her fault. Sandy placed a hand on Summer's shoulder, trying to cheer her up.

"Don't worry about it Summer...it's Summer right?" Sandy asked. Summer just nodded for him to continue.

" She's just a little shaken up, that's all." Sandy explained. " She just needs to process all of this."

Sandy was about to follow his wife out toward the door, but was stopped by Summer's voice.

" Mr. Cohen! Wait!" She yelled while attracting attention towards herself from the on-looking nurses and patients.

"You never told me how Seth is"

"Oh that's right I'm sorry." Sandy forced an encouraging smile, then continued. " He's...a...umm..." Sandy choked out, she saw small tears form in the corner of his eyes.

"His body injuries aren't as severe as they originally thought, but he did suffer some brain damage and he's now in a coma." Sandy spat out, now with tears everywhere.

Summer felt her heart sink deep down into her chest. She couldn't believe that the only boy who had ever stuck up for her, was unconscious and may never wake up. She just slumped back into her chair and began to cry into her hands.

She really needed Marissa right now, but of course she was out either yelling at Luke or making out with him. It never dawned on Marissa that Luke was a prick who was only out for sex. Yet, even though he and his croonies sent an innocent kid to the hospital, Marissa was still able to forgive him. She was so clueless.

"You should go home Summer, there's nothing you can do here" Sandy said, breaking Summer's deep train of thought. "Go get some rest...Or go do whatever kids your age do." Sandy gave her a sad, encouraging smile then took off for the parking lot.

Both Kirsten and Sandy couldn't bare to be there anymore, since they both knew that they'd be there constantly in the coming weeks.

But how could Summer just go out and have fun. Pretend like nothing happened. Go back to her old ways of ignoring his existence. She couldn't do that now even if she tried. This kid risked his life for her. That was the fact.

And now she may have lost him before he was even hers. If even that. He probably was a really cool person. He seemed funny, judging from his sarcasm in front of the water polo players. She even admitted that he was kinda cute, underneath all of the bruises. The sweetest boy she had ever met( even though she only met him for about an hour) was lying in the hospital and would probably die, just for her...

"No, Stop that! He won't die, don't think like that Summer!" Summer thought

She was beginning to cry even more, at the thought of losing Seth before she ever knew him. She didn't like to think about him dying. She knew that if he did, it would be her fault, and nothing anyone could say would change that.

Her tears were now slowly started to cease, as she slipped into a much needed sleep.