Bridges of Time

Neil had finally agreed that Summer could stay with the Cohen's - to calm down and collect her thoughts, but insisted that he would be back for her first thing in the morning.

After having a tense dinner with the whole Cohen family, Summer indicated that she would like to be by herself, being around Seth was hard enough without the drama from the day whirling in her mind.

Kirsten had made up the guest room and found a night gown for her to borrow which she left on the bed with some clean towels.

Summer disappeared away in to the room, and Seth and Ryan decided to hang out in the pool house whilst Sandy and Kirsten chose to watch TV.

"Shit, man," Seth said shaking his head, "I can't believe the timing of this - just as I have to go and break her heart so she can have a better life - her mother comes back and breaks her heart even more!" Seth paced up and down at the end of the bed.

Ryan looked at him incredulously from his position lying on his bed, "you didn't have to break her heart Seth, you didn't have to break up with her - you could have been honest with her about Brown."

"She wouldn't go without me! I did it for her!" He sat down and peered at Ryan anxiously, "you think I should sneak up to see her?"

Ryan didn't hesitate with his answer, "no. You, as you said yourself, are one of the reasons behind her heartache right now."

Ryan pulled himself up from the bed, "I'll go and see her."

Seth looked surprised, "you don't have to take care of her for me, dude -"

"I'm not. She happens to be my friend, y'know."

Seth shrugged, "OK, go ahead, I don't think she should be alone, despite what she says."

Seth distracted Sandy and Kirsten as Ryan crept passed them towards the stairs, both boys knowing that they would want Summer's wishes of being alone to be upheld, but also both knowing she shouldn't be alone.

When he reached the guest room, he knocked gently and waited for her to call him in.

"Hey," he said quietly, entering with a gentle smile.

"Thank god you are here!" Summer exclaimed, jumping up from where she sat on the bed to rush forward, ushering him further into the room and shutting the door behind him.

Ryan must have looked confused, because Summer rolled her eyes, "yes I know I said I wanted to be alone, but that was more because spending the evening with my ex and his parents talking about donating organs; so not what I need right now!"

Ryan nodded, "I thought you might like some company."

Summer grinned, "you thought right, Chino, I was contemplating sneaking down to the pool house myself once the Cohen's went to bed. - Not that I don't appreciate you being here, but what exactly what we are going to entertain ourselves doing in here is beyond me!"

Ryan suddenly let out a laugh, looking at the bed and shaking his head.

"Care to share?" Summer asked with a pointed glare.

Ryan grinned, "sorry, you just made me have a really inappropriate thought..." he gestured to the bed, "about what we could be doing in here."

Summer looked horrified, "eeew, Chino!" But then she laughed, "god could you imagine Cohen's face! That's almost worth doing for a little break-up revenge!"

Ryan rolled his eyes, "even you are not that cruel to break his heart."

"Why not! He broke mine," Summer said, hurt, "- and anyway, he doesn't love me anymore, apparently."

"See, even you don't sound convinced."

"Let's not talk about Seth, OK?" She cast her eyes over the bed, "come on, push those inappropriate thoughts aside and sit down with me."

Ryan did as he was told, "so does that mean you want to talk about your mom?"

"Not really - I'll only get upset and cry, and I've spent more than enough hours crying over that woman - I mean what right does she have to come and act all concerned about leaving those kids motherless - er, hello!?"

Ryan grimaced, "it was a shit thing for her to say."

"Anyway," Summer pronounced loudly, "let's not talk about that either," she reached to the floor and grabbed her oversized bag, pulling out a magazine, she smiled at Ryan mischievously, "let's do a quiz."

Ryan looked at her blankly, "you want me to do a quiz out of a girly magazine?"

Summer roller her eyes, "it's that or your suggestion," she gave him a wink and Ryan blushed, "magazine quiz it is!"

She flicked through to find one appropriate, "oooh, 'how sexy are you' quiz!"

Ryan let out a groan, and Summer giggled. It was a nice sound to hear after the day she had had, and Ryan relented within himself that this probably would mean he'd have to do the stupid quiz to help her take her mind off stuff.

Surprisingly she flicked past it, catching Ryan's look, she shrugged, "we know we are both sexy," she informed him.

Sighing, she tossed the magazine back in her bag.

"What's your favourite ice cream?" She asked him suddenly.

Ryan's brow creased as he thought about his answer, "strawberry." He answered honestly.

"Ooooh," Summer smiled, "me too!"

"Not chocolate?"

"Well I like chocolate too, but strawberry just tips it," she pursed her lips for a second as she thought, "favourite pizza topping?"

"Hawaiian," Ryan answered instantly, "yours?"

Summer frowned, "I like the pineapple but not so much the ham... I'd have to say pineapple, peppers and onion."

"Favourite drink?" Ryan asked.

Summer closed her eyes and groaned, "oh, what I wouldn't do for a cocktail right now."

Her words sprung an idea in Ryan's head, "then let's go get you one."

Summer opened her eyes, and shot him a strange look, "you want to go out drinking?"

Ryan glanced at the clock, "Kirsten and Sandy usually head up to bed about now, so we just need to get around Seth and -"

"Ryan, the Cohen's are letting me stay here so I don't have to deal with matters at home, I can't sneak out on them!"

Ryan was about to reply when there was a knock at the door; Summer pushed Ryan off the bed, so he landed on the other side of it on the floor with a thud, where he would be unseen from the doorway.

Kirsten head appeared around the door, "hi honey, just wanted to let you know that Sandy and I are going to bed now. I hope you manage to get some sleep - try not to worry too much OK? Help yourself to anything you need from downstairs."

"Thanks, Mrs Cohen," Summer replied gratefully.

"Kirsten," Kirsten corrected, and gently shut the door.

Ryan popped up from behind the bed, "what the hell was that for?" He hissed.

"You're not supposed to be in here!" Summer hissed back, "what if she had jumped to conclusions!"

Ryan pulled himself to stand, "we weren't doing anything but talking! Now if they catch me sneaking out it's going to make it look far worse!"

Summer rolled her eyes, "oh for God's sake, they know we aren't going to be doing anything together, ever, because of Seth!"

Ryan swung his arms out in exasperation, "then why shove me off the bed?!"

Summer shrugged and looked at him sheepishly, "sorry, I panicked."

Ryan offered her his hand to pull her off the bed, "so, coming the pool house to watch TV or something - or do you want to go get that cocktail?"