Ryan loved soccer. There was something so satisfying about running, dodging and then finally scoring a goal, despite the best efforts of the other team to stop you. The coach's whistle blew and the team jogged back to the sidelines, slipping off their blue jersey they wore for practice.
Luke sat next to Ryan on the bench. After his father came out, Luke had become much quieter, more introspective – more like me, Ryan thought. The idea surprised him.
"Hey," Luke began to untie his cleats. "How's Marissa doing?"
Ryan caught his eye and shook his head slightly. Luke nodded in understanding. The truth was that Marissa hadn't been doing so well. The rehab center seemed to have quelled her drinking for now, but Marissa was harsher, angrier and moodier than ever before.
Luke hesitated for a moment. "You want a ride home?"
Ryan was surprised, but decided to grab hold of the olive branch. "Sure."
The two boys made their way to Luke's truck. They drove in silence for a moment, and then Luke began to speak.
"I know that I did a really terrible thing to Marissa," Luke admitted. "And I'm not making excuses-"
"Good." Ryan's temper flared. He took a deep breath. "Sorry."
"The thing is, man, is that Marissa has always had troubles. Episodes of eating disorder, mood swings like you wouldn't believe. She holds grudges – she has a way of making you feel like you're the only one who could save her, and when you can't, you're a failure. I just couldn't deal with it – it made me feel old, tired."
Luke cut the engine as her pulled up in front of the Cohen's house. "I know you care about her – she's easy to fall for. But just be careful – Marissa… what's going on now isn't just a temporary situation."
Ryan stepped out of the truck and looked at Luke carefully, searching his face for ulterior motives. But his face was open, and showed his genuine concern.
"Thanks." Ryan spoke slowly, raising his hand to wave goodbye before he turned and went into the house.
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Seth rounded the corner outside the literary magazine office and caught his breath. Finally, a moment alone. The paper he'd taken from Summer's folder had been taunting him all day. He held it in his hands, wanting to ignore it. But he couldn't take the possibility of not knowing, and he unfolded the document as his curiosity overtook him.
Summer's looping scrawl filled the page.
Rosemary for Remembrance: A Sonnet for Ophelia
Her loden eyes were blind with seaweed's haze
The river claimed her citron sparkle flash
Yet still I slipped and drowned within her gaze.
They claim her liquid smile will soon be ash
That time and dust will dull her rippling glow.
Yet oceans never end, for memories
Of swimming pools will hold me even now.
Her lifeless stare possessed a knowing tease,
And anger seized me, razors sliced my soul.
Around me shallow weeping scorned my pain.
I searched her lips for secrets never told
They laughed and called this lovely girl insane.
They said that she alone caused her watery death
But with this as her life, what other choice was left?
Seth couldn't believe what he was reading. Summer had written this? The sonnet was in nearly flawless iambic pentameter, and the references to Hamlet were perfectly executed. She must have been inspired to write it after their English class, since they were studying Shakespeare's sonnets.
Suddenly, a light bulb went on in his mind. The next issue of the literary magazine was supposed to go to the printers tonight – it was an issue dedicated to the homage, and Seth had wanted to print a portion of one of the featured pieces on the cover. The sonnet would fit perfectly.
He dashed into the lit mag room, almost crashing into Anna.
"Hey there!" she spoke playfully. "I really don't need to fall down twice in a day."
"I've got the cover." Seth handed Anna the sonnet, and watched as she read it, her eyes widening as she took in the words.
"This is incredible," she breathed, still looking at the paper. "Did you write this?"
"Nope." Seth smiled proudly. "It's Summer's."
"You know," Anna said thoughtfully, "that girl has a lot more to her than one would think." She looked up at Seth. "Cover?"
"You're reading my mind, Madame Cleo."
The two hurried typed the sonnet, formatting the front page crisply. Anna typed the final stanza with a florish. She hit the enter bar twice to add a space, inserting "Author: Summer Roberts" after the sonnet. Seth bit his lip. His original impulse to showcase the poem now seemed wrong, at least not without talking to Summer about it first.
"Hi guys!" Summer bounded into the room, and Anna stood from the computer to greet her. Seth quickly reaching for the keyboard and deleted the author credit on the screen, so the final design was just the sonnet.
"Hey Sum," Seth waved, grabbing his bag to leave. "You're done with your meeting?"
"Yup." Summer turned to explain to Anna. "Independent study."
"You're such a talented writer," Anna complimented. "I think it really suits you."
Summer glanced at her, confused. "It's really more about the financial world."
Anna's brow burrowed. Sonnets and the financial world? "I was actually-"
"Hey!" Seth interrupted, stepping in between the two girls. "Who wants ice cream?"
The girls looked at him, confused.
"Um," Summer bit her lip. "I guess we're going for ice cream. Do you want to come?" she asked Anna.
"No thanks." Anna smiled. "I'm actually supposed to meet up with Marissa later on. I'll call you later about it."
"Great." Summer grinned. "Thanks."
Summer and Seth left the room as Anna sat back down at the lit mag computer. That's strange, she thought as she looked at the screen. She quickly retyped a line, and hit "send" – making sure that the cover got to the printers right in the nick of time.