Chapter 9

"Sorry I'm late. I had some social chair thing." Chloe said as she arrived in Sandy and Kirsten's dining room, she seemed out of breath.

"It's ok, we haven't started yet." Kirsten said, gesturing for Chloe to sit down. She sat down in the empty seat next to Marissa, smiling at us all apologetically. I couldn't decide which girl looked better. My niece with her dark brown hair pulled up in a neat ponytail, with her fringe just covering the corner of one of her emerald eyes or Marissa. Marissa looked stunning. Her golden brown hair was left to hang down her back; her eyes were so...so...just mesmerising. She was beautiful. I knew this person and I knew she wasn't just beautiful on the outside.

"So, how much fun did you have? I wish I could have experienced planning a Newport party. I'm so jealous they didn't let boys be social chair." Seth said, sarcastic as usual.

"You know if you really want to, you could do the baby shower when it arrives." Summer said teasing her husband. She referred to the unborn as baby as it because they didn't now 'its' gender. They wanted a surprise, though it really annoyed me at first. How the hell was I expected to paint the nursery if I didn't know what colour to use?

"It was alright." Chloe said, getting back to Seth's original question. "We're planning the Christmas ball so everything is kinda hectic. Oh, Ryan I can't make it on Wednesday, I've got a date." Chloe had a date. The little girl was growing up. Even though she was the same age I was when I started dating Marissa I felt slightly uncomfortable with her having a boyfriend.

"You have a date?" I asked, curious as to whom the boy was. It better be a boy I thought to myself.

"Yep. With Tom."

"Tom as in perfect Tom? Clever, sporty, kind Tom? Hot Tom?" Summer seemed to just be merging a whole loud of words into a simple question. Chloe nodded. "Well done girl!" Summer cheered, a huge grin appeared across both their faces.

"Wait, I've never heard of Tom."I said, interrupting the celebrations that were taking place between Summer and Chloe, it also seemed Kirsten was joining in.

"Girls only!" Kirsten said as she took a sip of wine.

"Right, so that's what you talk about when you're locked up in a room somewhere." I had never thought about the possibility that there were things Chloe didn't tell me. Though I wasn't too worried about this, I was quite glad I didn't have to deal with boys. I wasn't even worried that she wouldn't tell me something that did matter, if it was important I would know. She was a good girl.

"Hey, it's better than playing video games all day long!" Chloe said, making everyone apart from Ben laugh. Ben didn't seem to laugh much.

The maid came in with the food, I wasn't quite sure of her name. She was new. We thanked her and tucked in. It tasted good. We talked about routine things, work or school, the baby, what was in the news. When we finished we all went into the lounge, just fitting on the two sofas. Seth suggested playing something on the Wii, but everyone just groaned at him. I sat thinking about the past 2 weeks, ignoring the chatter going on around me. Marissa had recovered, Summer's bump had grown, Seth had spent most of his time thinking of baby names. Whenever he thought of one he had to make sure he thought of one he liked for the opposite sexr, wanting to make sure it didn't seem like he favoured either outcome of gender. Sandy and Kirsten were the happiest I'd seen them and Chloe...Chloe had a date! What did I have? I was never one for self pity, so what I write, I do not write pitying myself, I write it because it was how I felt. I could not pity myself when I had all I had. An amazing family, a great job, money-lots of money, but I was sad. I could not show I loved her. She was engaged, I couldn't ruin that for her. Even if she wasn't I would always be too scared to say anything, scared of being reject or of being hurt further along down the line. Every moment I had I thought about her, I couldn't help it. I wished I didn't. And every moment I knew that she might be gone soon; back to London, to her lovely life, soon to be married.

"So, when do you think you'll be leaving?" Sandy asked, expecting an answer from either Ben or Marissa. They were both silent as they looked at each other. I got out of my own thoughts, I needed to hear this. I need to know when I would be free again, free from the pain of seeing her.

"We haven't really..." Marissa began.

"Well, as soon as possible really. I want to..." Ben interrupted.

"Will you let her speak?" Summer interrupted him just like he had done before to Marissa. Summer was trying to stay calm; I knew exactly what she was thinking. No rage blackout. Ben looked toward Marissa.

"I was hoping to stay a little longer, I mean I've still got so much to do with my Mom and you guys." Marissa said.

"That's all well and good, but I do have work to get back to." Ben replied.

"Are you sure you mean work? Not a slutty secetary?" Marissa stood up as she said this, turning on the offensive. She went red with rage.

"What?" Ben was trying to look innocent. He saw it wasn't working as Marissa was still stood up. "Honey, can we talk about this later? Somewhere more...private?"

"Whatever Ben, I need to go. Sorry guys." With that she walked out, Ben followed after her.

"Just go away." I heard her say, before the slam of a car door and the sound of engine driving off down the driveway. We sat in silence for a few minutes then Ben came back in.

"Do you really cheat on her?" Seth asked accusingly. It seemed like he already knew the answer.

"What's the number for a taxi company?" Ben said, ignoring Seth's question.

"I'll answer your question if you answer mine." Seth walked up to Ben, they were face to face, staring into each other's eyes. Ben seemed genuinely scared, I had never seen anyone scared of Seth before. He was just too...loveable. If the situation had been different I think I would have laughed.

"The local company's leaflet is pinned up on the corkboard in the kitchen. The number's on it somewhere." I said, trying to douse the flames of the fiery situation that was starting up. Why had I helped that twat? I had no idea.

"Rya..." Seth looked at me shocked, I gave him my sideways glare, making him instantly silent.

Ben retreated into the kitchen and phoned for a taxi. He walked out the door without a goodbye. Not that any of us wanted one.

"Should I go after her?" Summer said, I pulled my head up from looking at the floor and looked at her. "Where do you think she'll be?"

"I don't know. Julie's?" Kirsten said. Sandy and Seth simultaneously gave her a 'seriously?' look. "Ok, maybe not. Hotel?" We all gave her the 'seriously?' look this time. "Right, he'd be there. What places did you guys hang out at?"

"I dunno. The Crab Shack, but it'll be closed." Seth said.

"Well we always used to hang around by the beach." Summer added. I knew where she'd be. I knew exactly where she'd be, where she always went in Newport when she was upset.

"Go to the lifeguard station. She'll be there." I said simply.

"How do you know?" Seth asked. Could he never just accept things, instead of having to know the why and the how?

"I just do. Summer go." Summer got up, grabbed her purse and car keys, walking out the same way Marissa and Ben had done previously.