Florida, Baby!
"Look, Sum, if we don't get in, we can still do lots of fun stuff here." Marissa Cooper told her best friend. It was the last day of school, and they were heading across campus, towards Dr. Kim's office. Because that was where the list would be posted. The list of who was going on Leadership Convention...a Harbour High School tradition.
"Uh, like what? Going to Holly's beach house? South Coast Plaza? We do that all the time anyway." Summer replied.
"Well, there's the Tijuana trip at the end of summer." Marissa said consolingly. Of course, Marissa was saying this purely for Summer's benefit. A spot on Leadership Convention was highly coveted amongst the to-be-juniors of Harbour every year, especially because only six spots were offered. The other six spots were given to students from Newport Union. The convention was hosted by business partners and former residents of Newport, Sandy Cohen and Jimmy Donovan. Sandy and Jimmy were personal friends of Kirsten Nichol- Marissa's sister in law.
And Kirsten Nichol was the daughter of Caleb Nichol, one of the most powerful men in California. And Caleb Nichol was married to Julie Cooper- Marissa's mother.
Kirsten had already made sure Marissa and her son, Seth, were gaurranteed a place at the Leadership Convention, which was held in Florida. And the list was being posted today.
"Coop, look." Summer pointed at Dr. Kim, who was tacking something up to the bulletin board outside her office. "Is that the list?"
Students practically ran for it, searching for their names. One girl started crying.
"I think so."
"Yes!" Luke Ward yelled out. "Yes! I'm the king! Who's the king? I'm the king!"
"Did you get in?" Marissa asked excitedly.
"Hell yes I did!" Luke yelled. He grabbed Marissa and kissed her on the lips. She giggled and hugged him as Summer ran past them.
"Coop!" Summer screamed. Marissa swung around. "We're in!"
"All right!" Luke cheered. He grabbed the two girls in a hug and lifted them up. "It's gonna be so much fun, babe." he told Marissa.
"Who else is going?" Marissa asked. She looked at the list herself.
"Look, that Zach guy on your water polo team is going." She pointed out the name to Luke.
"So is Seth Nichol." Luke said. He made a strange face. A year ago, he would have made a comment about Seth being a queer. But now, Marissa and him were practically brother and sister. So he refrained.
"Taylor Townsend? Ew!" Summer squealed. She was looking at the list again. "Why doesn't it tell us about the NU kids that are coming?"
"I guess we meet them later." Marissa said. "Let's just go celebrate!"
Summer and Marissa linked arms, and Luke and Marissa held hands. Marissa walked off campus, her best friend and boyfriend in tow. This promised to be the best summer ever.
"Florida, baby!" Summer yelled. Marissa smiled widely. Florida, baby...here they come!
A week and a half later, Summer and Marissa climbed into Kirsten Cohen's Range Rover. She was driving the three of them, including Seth, to Harbour, where they would get on the minibus destined for the Florida house they'd be staying in.
"Have a good summer, kids." Caleb Nichol waved to them from the door as Julie ran out and jumped into the front seat.
"Mariss, honey, you got everything?" Julie asked.
Seth rolled his eyes. "I don't think its possible for her to have any more bags."
"Hey Cohen, here's an idea. Shut up." Summer said grumpily. They'd had to get up at six in the morning, which was definiatly not her favorite time of day.
"I'm so glad you're coming." Seth said sarcastically.
"Oh, like you would be if Kirsten hadn't called in personal favours for you." Summer snapped back.. "No offensive, Kirsten."
"Why is she always here, why!"
"Guys!" Marissa said. "Can you not please?"
"Didn't Luke need a ride?" Julie asked from the front seat.
"No, his parents are taking him." Marissa said.
They drove in silence for about ten minutes, until they reached Harbour. In the parking lot, there was a white minivan, two men standing next to it, talking to the students who were waiting. It looked as though they were the last ones there.
"Kirsten!" One of the men broke away from the group as the Cooper-Nichol party got out of their car and dragged their luggage over. He had dark black hair and kind eyes, and he was smiling widely. He kissed Kirsten on the cheek.
"Sandy! This is my son, Seth." Kirsten introduced. "This is my...well, step-sister, Marissa. And Marissa's friend Summer."
"Pleased to meet you, kids." Sandy said, shaking their hands. "Why don't you come over and meet the group?"
"Babe, you made it!" Luke greeted Marissa. He kissed her, Summer and Seth looking away pointedly. "Guys, this is DJ. He goes to Newport Union. And he's actually, like, cool."
He introduced them to a tall, dark-skinned guy, who looked way too old to be in high school.
"How old are you?" Summer asked.
"I'm sixteen. Like you." DJ said.
"Really." Summer said. "Well, I have like, a tonne of bags...would you help me?"
"Sure." DJ followed Summer back to the Range Rover. Seth stood awkwardly next to Marissa and Luke.
"So..." Seth said conversationally. Luke shot him a look Marissa didn't see. It plainly said, Get lost, nerd. Seth smiled painfully. "I'll just go...over there."
Luke kissed Marissa again. She pushed him away. "Come on, I think we're meant to be talking to the other kids."
"We have all summer to talk to them." Luke groaned. But he followed Marissa over there anyway. Sandy was talking to all the parents, and another guy was addressing the kids.
"So I'm Jimmy." Jimmy called out. "I'm really looking forward to working with you over the next couple of weeks. Can I just say, this program has been hugely successful over the last couple of years, and all the students that participated have always said how much they enjoyed it. I think it is a really valuble learning experience, as well as a chance to have some fun and do something a bit out of the ordinary."
Marissa glanced at the girl standing next to her. She must have gone to Newport Union, because Marissa didn't recognize her. She had a cute, short blonde pixie crop and was wearing a really cool outfit. It was a short black denim skirt with a printed t-shirt, denim vest and a black beaded necklace. She wore black ankle boots on her feet.
"Hi. I'm Marissa." she whispered. The girl turned to her and smiled.
"Hi, I'm Anna." the girl replied. Marissa was about to ask where she got her skirt from when Anna turned back to listen to Jimmy. Marissa smiled anyway. She loved to make new friends.
"So before we leave," Jimmy was saying. "Why don't we all introduce ourselves. Say your name, why you applied to take part in this program, and something you like to do in your free time. I'll start. Hi, I'm Jimmy. I'm taking part in Convention because I run it. I like to plan next year's Convention in my free time."
They laughed. Zach, the guy from Luke's water polo team, stepped forward. "Hi, I'm Zach. I applied for this program because I'd really like to be a school leader in senior year, and I was told this will really help my profile. In my free time, I like to read comic books and go to the beach."
"He sounds like a loser." Summer whispered to Marissa. She'd arrived at her friend's side, DJ behing her lugging two more suitcases.
"I'm Ryan." A tall blonde went next. Marissa studied him carefully. He was dressed simply, and he looked kind of quiet and soulful. He was very, very cute. "I applied because I thought it would be fun, I guess. I like to work out." he said simply.
"I'm Anna." Anna piped up. She was next in line. "I thought this was going to be a great experience, and all the activites listed sounded so interesting. I usually just hang out with friends and see movies in my free time."
It was Marissa's turn. "Hi. I'm Marissa." she said confidently. She'd had lots of practice speaking in public. "I was told Convention was a great place to make friends. In my free time I like to shop, go to the beach, party with my friends and...shop some more."
Summer smiled brightly at everyone. She was already turning on the charm. "I'm Summer Roberts. My teachers recommended I go on Leadership Convention so I'd have some kind of qualifications. I'm failing like, everything."
There was titter of laughter. Marissa tried not to smile.
"I hang out with Marissa most of the time, party with her, go tanning with her...except I shop more than she does."
"I'm Luke." Luke said quickly. "I like to play golf, and surf, and drive, and party, and play water polo, and some other stuff."
"Why did you apply for this program?" Jimmy asked.
Luke looked blank. "I dunno."
"I'm DJ." DJ said. "My brother recommended this convention to me. I work as a yard guy in my free time."
"Ew." Summer hissed quietly. Only Marissa heard her.
"Seth." Seth said. "I applied coz it sounded interesting. In my free time I like to read comic books and sail."
Zach smiled at Seth. Marissa hoped they would become friends, because Seth didn't really have any. As a result he tended to hang around and annoy her.
"I'm Chilli." The guy next to Seth introduced himself. "I applied to make friends. And I like to watch British comedy shows, like The Office."
"The Office is an American show." Summer said loudly. Chilli stared at her.
"No...it's not."
"It is." Summer insisted. Marissa gave her a shut-up nudge. Seth snorted in laughter and turned away.
"Hi, everyone." A tall, pretty girl in a pair of cute jeans and a blouse said perkily. "I'm Taylor Townsend. You guys who go to Harbour will know me. I applied for this program because I aim to be school captain in twelfth grade. In my free time I like to organise charity events and watch Japanimation."
"Freak." Luke whispered. Summer giggled softly. Marissa mock-glared at both of them, but she could see their point. Taylor could be a real pain in the ass.
"Hey, I'm Johnny. I mostly spend my time surfing. And I applied for Convention coz they waves in Florida are meant to be really good." The second-last person in line introduced himself. The whole group turned to face the last girl in line, a blonde in a Ramones T-shirt. By this time all the parents and Sandy were listening too.
"I'm Alex. I applied for this program so I wouldn't have to talk to my parents for six weeks. In my free time I work at The Bait Shop and listen to live music."
"Thats nice." Sandy said awkwardly. "Well, we'll give you ten minutes to get your things in the van and say your goodbyes. Then we'll be heading off."
Marissa hugged her mother and Kirsten goodbye. Then she and Summer hoped in the back of the minibus and claimed the back seat. Luke joined them and slowly the rest of the group filtered in. Alex sat two seats up from them and put her Ipod earphones in. Zach sat next to Luke and they started a discussion about their last water polo match. Anna sat next to Seth and asked him about sailing.
Taylor sat next to DJ and started yapping his ear off. Ryan and Johnny sat next to each other and turned around to talk to Chilli. Sandy sat up the front. Jimmy was driving.
As the bus moved forward, they waved to their parents. Then Summer called out, "Florida, baby! Here we come!"
They cheered. Marissa smiled. It was beginning.