Summer Flu

Disclaimer- not mine, I'm too poor to own something as great as the O.C.

A/N- I know I haven't written in a while, I went away for Christmas and forgot about this totally! Anyway for the few people that actually like this, here you go!

A/N2 okay ppl, I found this in my folder and was like 'wow, I don't remember writing this, but anyway, here ya go, enjoy

Part 6

"Are you ready to talk?" I asked, gently rubbing circles into Summer's palm with my thumb.

"What do you want to talk about?" she replied, wiping away the few stray tears on her cheeks, and wiping her nose on the sleeve of her jacket.

"Summer…." I sighed. "Why do you do this?" She looked up a little confused.

"Do what?"

"Do this, you show up, act all buddy-buddy, then take off, and totally ignore me, until the next time you want to do something on whim." I answered dropping her hand. "Seriously, what the hell are you playing?"

She simply shrugged "I like to escape." Whispered Summer.

"From? You don't make sense, okay, I'm tired, and it doesn't help that I'm sitting on my boat deck at 3am, trying to figure out what the hell is going on in your head." I rubbed my temples feeling a headache coming on "I should be sleeping right now" I mumbled, slumping against the bench, no longer facing Summer.

"I'm sorry" Summer whimpered. Turning around I saw the new batch of silent tears glistening in her eyes and on her cheeks.

"I don't get it, why are you crying?" I demanded, my voice came out sounding a lot harsher that I intended.

Biting her lip she sent me an evil glare "because I'm a girl, and I want to".

I turned away again and rolled my eyes, only to be hit over the head by a very violent Summer.

"OUCH! What was that for?" I cried rubbing my already pounding head.

"Because you're a jackass" sniffled Summer "and you have no clue how to make someone feel better" she finished.

"Whatever, I don't even care anymore" I announced, closing my eyes again.

"You said you wanted to talk, Cohen, and I intend to do so" she laughed.

"I do not understand how two seconds ago you were balling your eyes out for no reason, and now your laughing your head off, hitting me with your purse." I ducked just in time to miss a swing she made with her purse at my head.

"You could be a little sympathetic, Cohen," she said kicking me in the back.

"Oh, poor you, I feel absolutely horrible for you. Better?" I snapped. She slid off the bench down next to me. "Yes." I gave her a sideways glance to see her pulling her jacket tighter around her body. "Here." I handed her the spare sweater I'd brought with me.

"Thanks." She replied and pulled it over her head, and cuddled into my side.

I couldn't help but feel bad for her now. If I weren't so in love with her maybe I would realize she is an evil bitch, that ignored me my whole life until Ryan came, or see that she was using me for my boat at this moment.

"Summer, why are you here?" I inquired, my arm slipping around her shoulders.

"I already told you" she whispered.

"Does your dad know you're here?" I pried again.

"No, really, do your parents know you're here?" I shrugged seeing her point.

"If you really want to know my dad left already."

I turned around to face her. "So you're home alone?" I asked, a little confused.

"Duh, I'm a little to old to have a babysitter." Summer hissed back.

"Sorry, but my parents don't usually pick up and leave me alone for long stretches of time, like your parents." I coughed and let my head rest on the bench.

"Whatev, I don't exactly consider them my parents anyway. I'm used to it now anyway, it was sort of fun when I was younger too." she smiled taking a breath. "Me and Coop used to have sleepovers, when we like ten, and we'd have the whole house, and we'd stay up all night, it was great." Summer went quiet again and let her head drop to my shoulder.

"Wait, your parents left you alone when you were ten?" I breathed, not believing what I heard.

"Like usually only for a week at a time though, so it was all good." Summer replied.

"That's sort of not cool, ten year olds can't take care of themselves for that long, did you ever call child services?" I questioned.

"No way! I wasn't going to be taken away from my home, to live with someone that would make me cook and clean!" I bit my lip wanting to say something else.

"Not all places are like that, why don't you stay with Marissa, or a relative when they're gone?" I suggested. "Because I don't have any family in Newport, and like I would stay with Coop, her dad's place is gross." I shook my head. "You shouldn't be on your own, you can stay at my place for all I care, but honestly, I don't want to think about you being all alone for weeks on end, in a big old house."

She looked up and smiled. "I'm fine, but thanks for caring" I nodded. *Anything for you* I thought to myself as I stared at the calm water, several ripples coming from the boat, as we rocked back and forth.

Around 4am, I was still leaning against the hard wooded bench with Summer snuggled tightly into my arm. I shifted slightly and slid her onto the boat deck and started steering the boat back to the shore.

It took a good half-hour but when I'd docked and packed all my crap up again, I shook Summer slightly. "Summer, we have to go now" I whispered.

Her eyelashes fluttered and opened. Her head was resting on her arm and she slowly stretched, getting into a sitting position. "I don't want to get up" she wined. "Tough luck, princess" I smiled and helped her stand up. "I have to get home before my parents wake up, so are you ready?" I asked slinging my bag onto my shoulder. "Whatev, see you at school" Summer replied and walked off into the early morning fog.