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**
Marissa listened to the sounds of her footsteps as she walked down the Cohen's driveway. She couldn't believe how time flew by while playing a video game with Seth. She fingered the ten dollar bill in her pocket and smiled to herself. She actually had a fun time with Seth tonight.
As Marissa continued walking, she heard the sound of someone coming towards her. Ryan appeared from the shadows riding on his bike. He stopped in front of her.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey." She glanced back at the house. "I was just, um, you know, visiting and…" She felt her cheeks grow warm, afraid that Ryan would know she had come over to see him.
"Are you leaving already?" he said.
"I should," she said. "It's getting late."
Ryan lowered his eyes. "Okay."
They turned to go their separate ways when Marissa turned back.
"Hey, Ryan," she said, "where were you tonight?"
He cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?"
"Seth said you were supposed to get out of work at ten," she said. "It's almost midnight."
"I, um, I took the long way," he said.
Marissa looked at him questionably, but accepted the answer. She waved at him and turned the corner at the end of the driveway.
**
"Hey, man." Seth came out of the living room as Ryan stepped inside the house. "Where have you been? Marissa was just here."
"Yeah, I saw her," Ryan said. He placed his bookbag on the ground. "How long was she here?"
"A couple of hours," Seth said. "We hung out, played some Ninja Masters, and let me just say she whooped my ass."
"Guys don't really admit it when a girl whoops their ass," Ryan said smiling.
"But, it was a good whooping, if you know what I mean," Seth said as they walked into the living room. "So, where were you all night?"
"I, uh, I walked Summer home," Ryan said.
"Whoa, there, buddy." Seth stared at him in disbelief. "Summer? Summer Roberts? My Summer?"
Ryan nodded.
"Did she say anything about me?" Seth said. "Does she want the goods on me? Come on, Ryan, you have to tell me something."
"It was nothing," Ryan said. "She was at the Crab Shack and it was late so I walked her home."
Seth fell back in the couch. "What I wouldn't give to be in your shoes right now."
Ryan couldn't help but feel guilty though for spending time with Summer, time that Seth wanted so badly. He opened the patio door to the pool. "I'm pretty tired. I think I'm going to bed."
"Wait," Seth said. "You can't just leave me like that. Tell me that you spent the night with Summer and not give any details."
"Well, you spent the night with Marissa, so I guess we're even," Ryan said.
"Oh, yeah," Seth said. He stood up to leave. "Good night."
**
Summer looked at her bedroom ceiling through her lavender blanket. She had been awake for a few hours now, but she dreaded to get out of bed. Another day with her father and stepmother. Another day of misery. She finally threw the blanket off her and sat up. She ran her hands through her dark hair and let out a long sigh.
Just then, her cell phone rang. She reached for it on her desk.
"Hey, Summer," Marissa said on the other end.
Summer went to her closet and looked through her hangers. "Oh, hey, Coop, what's up?"
"Did you want to do something today?" Marissa asked. "I feel really bad that I cancelled out shopping trip the other day. Let me make it up to you."
"You don't have to do anything like that for me," Summer said.
The sound of Gloria yelling downstairs echoed throughout the house.
"On second thought," Summer said, "I need to get out of this place."
**
Summer had managed to sneak out of the house without her father noticing and asking her where she was going. If she told him she was going to see Marissa, she would have been locked in her room until school started.
On the boardwalk, Summer saw Ryan busing tables at the Crab Shack. His back was facing her as he collected dirty plates and cups. Last night had been an interesting experience, kind of like when Marissa made her try out the new yogurt flavor at the ice cream shop. "You won't know if you like it unless you try it," Marissa had told her. Her words went beyond yogurt though.
Ryan turned suddenly, startling Summer. She recovered with a smile. "Hey."
"Hey." He tucked the cleaning rag in his back pocket. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm meeting Coop," she said. She fiddled with the strap of her purse. Why was she so nervous? "Thanks again for walking me home last night."
"No problem," he said with a shrug.
"Hey, Ryan! We need you back here!" a waiter called from the counter.
"I have to get back," Ryan said. He picked up his tray of dishes and went back inside the restaurant.
A hand touched Summer's shoulder. She turned to see Marissa.
"Was that Ryan?" Marissa asked.
"Yeah."
Summer saw her friend's eyes on Ryan. It was obvious that Marissa had a crush on Ryan. Her own stomach was still doing flip-flops. Ryan was cute, but so what? It didn't mean anything. Besides, Marissa had Luke and there was no way those two would ever break up.
"So, are we ready to hit the stores?" Summer said. "My dad's credit card is just dying to get used and abused."
**
Summer peeked her head through the front door for any sign of her father or Gloria. The coast was clear. As she ran up the stairs to her room, her father's voice stopped her.
"Summer, come back down here," Jack said.
She turned around slowly. She put on her innocent face. "Oh, hi, Daddy."
"Where have you been all day?" he said.
Summer raised her shopping bags.
"And who was your shopping partner?" he asked.
"No one, Daddy," she said.
Jack crossed his arms across his chest. "I don't appreciate being lied to."
"But…"
"I had a business call with Mr. Kramer a few minutes ago and he mentioned that he saw you with Marissa Cooper today," Jack said. "Now, tell me who's lying, Summer, you or Mr. Kramer?"
"Dad, you can't expect me to stop being friends with Marissa," Summer said.
"Yes, I do," he said.
Summer stared at her father in disbelief. She turned and ran up the stairs.
Gloria walked into the lobby just as Summer slammed her door.
"What happened?" she asked Jack.
"She's out of control, Gloria," he said. "She doesn't listen to me. She doesn't follow my rules."
"She's a teenager, Jack. Cut her some slack."
"Cut her some slack?" Jack said frustrated. "I've given her everything and she's been nothing but ungrateful to me."
"I'll go talk to her," Gloria said.
**
"Summer?" Gloria opened the bedroom door to see Summer in bed, her back turned against the door. "Can I come in?" Summer remained still; only the sound of her soft sobbing showed that she was at least listening. Gloria walked in and sat down on the edge of the Summer's bed.
"Come on, sweetie, talk to me," Gloria said. "I know how your father gets sometime. He can be demanding and unfair, but he's looking after you, you know."
"No, he's not," Summer said.
"How do you know that?"
Summer sat up and dabbed her eyes with a tissue. "He doesn't want me to be friends with Marissa anymore because of what her father did. It's not Marissa's fault. It's not like I'm friends with her dad. I'm friends with Marissa."
"I know how close you and Marissa are, but I think your father has a point," Gloria said. She moved closer to Summer. "Marissa and her family are going through a lot right now and maybe she needs to spend some time alone, or even some more time with her family. You understand that, right?"
"I guess so."
"So, are you going to give Marissa come space then?"
"If that's what she needs."
"Good." Gloria patted Summer's hand. "I'll go tell your father you're okay."
Summer laid back down on bed after her stepmother left. She curled up into a ball and closed her eyes, shutting out the world.