FYI: The title of this fic is from the song, "Undertow" by Ivy. If you read the lyrics, it kind of goes with this story.
**
The night had been just what Marissa needed; four hours drooling over Brad Pitt in a suit and Johnny Depp's dark brown eyes. The carton of ice cream seemed to do wonders too.
Summer walked out of the Cooper's house and down the driveway to her car. She caught a whiff of cigarette smoke in the air.
Ryan was standing at the end of the Cohen's driveway. He had on a gray hooded sweatshirt with the ends of his white T-shirt sticking out from underneath. He turned his eyes towards her as he took in a long drag of his cigarette.
"Hey," he said, letting out the smoke in one breath.
Summer waved her hand in front of her face. "Excuse you."
Her annoyed expression spread a slow smile across his face. For once, someone was irritating her and not the other way around. "So, you and Marissa hung out tonight?"
"Yeah, we watched movies and stuff," she said. "She probably needs some company." Ryan's face lit up at the suggestion. "That's why Luke's coming over later." Oh, she was evil.
Ryan shrugged off the revelation. "Cool."
"Well, I have to go," Summer said nonchalantly. She swung her bags with her hips. "See ya."
Ryan watched her get in her expensive fancy car and drive away. "Bitch." He tossed his cigarette butt to the ground just as Luke's black truck came into view.
**
Last night with Summer was fun and easygoing, but tonight was another story. Marissa hesitated before she entered Holly's beach house. There were too many people. Too many people who knew what her family was going through. Too many preying eyes.
"You okay?" Luke Ward said as he grabbed her hand. "We can leave if you want."
"No, let's just have some fun tonight," she said, even though she doubted it.
They walked into the kitchen where the keg was.
"I'll go get us some beers," Luke said.
He left her side and Marissa turned to the crowds of teenagers. She felt like everyone was staring at her, judging her.
"Hey, Coop." Summer placed a hand on Marissa's shoulder. "I'm so glad you came." She twirled in her green bikini top and jean shorts. "So?"
"The green looks great on you," Marissa said.
Luke came back with the beers. "Here you go." He handed her the clear plastic cup. "Hey, Summer."
Summer smiled at him just as she noticed the latest arrivals to the party. "What are they doing here?"
Luke and Marissa turned to see Seth and Ryan walk inside.
**
"Are you sure you want to be here?" Ryan asked. He scanned the party and saw Marissa with Luke and Summer.
"Absolutely," Seth said. He also spotted Marissa, but his eyes lingered more on Summer. "Wow. She has on a new bikini." He felt his cheeks grow warm and turned his face.
"So, go get your game on and report back to me," Ryan said with a nudge.
"Oh, right, my game." Seth straightened his shoulders and made his way to Summer, who was now alone. "Hey, Summer." His voice came out squeaky.
"Hey." She took a drink of her beer and waved to someone across the room. "Hi, Becca!" She brushed past Seth.
"Yeah, it was nice talking to you too," Seth said to himself.
**
Ryan watched Seth's shoulders slump again; it was obvious Summer had ignored him. She left him and went up to a group of girls on the other side of the room. Again, he had to wonder what Seth saw in her. How many times would she have to diss him to make him realize she wasn't interested? She looked up at him suddenly, making eye contact. Maybe it was because he was a sixteen-year-old guy, or maybe it was because he hadn't had any action in awhile, but a sense of electricity seemed to surge through his body as he watched her watching him watching her. It was if as they were having their own private conversation with their eyes.
"Hey, Ryan," Marissa said from behind him.
He turned, startled.
"Sorry," she said.
"Oh, um—" He ran a hand through his hair. "How are you?"
Marissa smiled at his nervousness. "Fine. You?"
"Good," he said. "So, do you want a drink? Can I get you a drink?"
Marissa raised the cup she was holding in her hand.
"Right," Ryan said. "Well, I'm going to get a drink then." He walked over to the keg and grabbed a plastic cup from the counter.
"Mission impossible," Seth said coming up to him.
"What?" Ryan handed his cup to the keg guy.
"Summer," Seth said. "It was another hit and run."
"You must be pretty tough," Ryan said. He took his cup of beer from the guy. "You put up with crap from this girl. She doesn't give you anything in return, Seth."
They watched Summer from across the room as she danced with the group of girls to the hip-hop song on the sound system. She laughed and tossed her dark hair over her tan shoulders. She ran her hands over her jean shorts and her green bikini top.
"Ryan, my man," Seth leaned against the counter as if admiring a piece of art, "that is what she gives me."
**
Summer woke up to the sound of people shouting. Her father and stepmother were home. She put her pillow over her face to drown out the noise—it didn't help. She got off her bed just as her bedroom door opened.
Gloria Roberts placed her hands on her hips at the sight of her stepdaughter still in her pajamas. Gloria was all set to start her day dressed in a black top and matching slacks with her dark hair in a bun. "Do you know what time it is, Summer?"
"When did you and Dad get home?" Summer asked. She put her hair up in loose ponytail.
"Early this morning," Gloria said. "I got in at around seven, Jack at nine."
"How was your cruise?" Summer looked through her clothes for an outfit.
"It was so relaxing. The ship had a spa on board and everything," Gloria said. "I'll have to take you with me on my next one."
It wasn't the first time Summer had heard that promise from her stepmother. She continued looking through her closet.
"Do you need some new clothes for school, Summer?" Gloria walked over to her. "Maybe we can go on a shopping spree. When does school start anyway?"
"In three weeks." Summer took a white shirt off a hanger. "And no, I don't need any clothes."
"You sure?" Gloria touched a pink tank-top and wrinkled her nose. "This material is so from last season."
Summer snatched it from her hand. "Do you mind? I need to get dressed."
"Well, hurry, then," Gloria said, "your father is downstairs and he wants to talk to you."
**
Jack Roberts typed furiously on his computer laptop. He had to redo figures, send e-mails, read the latest reports—all before the day's end.
A soft knock came from his office door. "Daddy?"
Jack looked up as his daughter walked in. "Come in, Summer."
She closed the door and stepped inside her father's office. When she was little, she used to hide under the desk and pretend it was a fort. Her teddy bear and stuffed animals kept her company under the construction made of blankets and pillows. Being an only child had made her very imaginative. Now her father's office seemed intimidating to her, full of books and papers.
"How was London?" Summer asked, sitting down in a chair.
"Damn computer." Jack slammed his hand on the keyboard. He glanced at her. "What was that, sweetie?"
"Nothing," she said. "Gloria said you wanted to see me?"
"Oh, yes." He turned to her. "Are you still friends with that Marissa Cooper girl?"
"Why?"
"I want you to stop hanging out with her," he said.
Summer sat up in her seat. "Are you serious? She's been my best friend since, like, kindergarten."
"I heard about her father, Summer," Jack said sternly. "That is not the kind of family I want you to be associated with."
Summer crossed her arms in front of her chest. "And like we're 'Family of the Year?'"
"Don't start," Jack said. He softened his voice. "Please, Summer, I'm just looking out for you, you know that, right, sweetie?"
She looked into his green eyes, wondering if he was being sincere or not. He probably meant that he was looking out for his own reputation. What would the guys at the office think knowing that Jack Roberts's daughter was friends with Jimmy Cooper's girl?
"Can I go now?" she said.
Jack nodded.
Summer quickly left her father's office.