"Summer."
"Yeah?"
"What is your problem? You won't even look at me."
"Oh. Sorry. What did you want?"
"Never mind. What has gotten into you?"
"Nothing! I'm fine."
"It's a guy."
"What?"
"It's a guy. Who is he? Do I know him?"
"Holly, just...leave me alone, okay?"
Summer pulled her books up into her arms and walked out of the classroom. She shook off the grins people passed her and pushed anyone aside in the way of her locker. Stupid Greg was standing in front of it.
"Hey Roberts."
"Greg...not today."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Could you...move?"
"Summer, what's..."
"Nothing. Move."
He slid aside and she pulled off her lock and tried to push up the lever to get the damned thing open. It pushed up easily, but bounced back just as easily without showing any sign of opening.
"Open."
She kicked it once and tried pulling the lever again. Nothing.
"Goddammit, open!"
She kicked it harder, but it still didn't budge. She stuck her fingers inside the crack that was her boundary from all of her things inside and pulled as she shoved up the lever. Greg opened his mouth to offer help, but she shook her head.
"Open, you piece of shit! What the hell is your problem? I didn't do anything wrong! I did what I was supposed to and you still won't fucking open! What the hell?"
She kicked it repeatedly while Greg grabbed her waist and pulled her away from the locker.
"Summer! Summer! Stop!"
"Goddammit!"
"Summer."
Marissa slipped through the crowd that was gathering around the girl that was barely a millimeter over 5'2", maybe around 110 pounds, but knives sharpening in her eyes.
"Summer."
She spun her head to look at her best friend and let two tears fall before falling into her. Dr. Rachel Chapman came running in, trying to break apart the kids to get to Summer.
"Children, I am the principal, could you...Ms. Roberts, what's wrong?"
Marissa shook her head, but the tall woman shook her head back.
"Miss Cooper, I am your authority. You don't get to tell me what to..."
Summer pulled her face up from Marissa's shirt and wiped her eyes quickly.
"Nothing's wrong, Ms. Chapman. I'm fine."
"Miss Roberts..."
"Fine. I was just...frustrated...with my...locker."
"All the same, Miss Roberts..."
"I'm fine."
"Maybe you should get an excuse from your next class and you could speak to me..."
"It's fine, Ms. Chapman. Thank you, though."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"All right. Back to class, everyone."
Summer pushed away her tears again and Marissa bent her head down to look at her.
"Summer? What's wrong?"
"It's just...he's getting another...divorce. You remember Lara? Yeah, she's better than Tracy apparently, so...yeah. There goes another one."
"Oh, your dad?"
"Yeah."
"You okay?"
"It's just...if he can't be happy with any of them, can't he just have me instead? Give up on the girlfriends and have...you know, a daughter."
"Summer, that's not it. He loves you. You know that."
"Yeah. Okay. I should...get to class."
"Summer, you want to...come to my house tonight?"
"Um, yeah. Um...yeah, thank you."
"All right? Okay, I'll see you."
"Mm-hmm."
"Bye. Love you."
"Right. L-Love you too."
Marissa smiled weakly at her and Summer tried to return it, but gave up and just walked away. Marissa bit her lip but walked away. She didn't get what Summer was going through and she knew it.
Summer made her way into the Coopers' house but stopped when she saw Julie lounging on the front porch, reading a book.
"Hi Mrs. Cooper."
"Summer. Hi. Are you here for Marissa?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Well, she's at ballet class but she'll be back soon."
"Oh. Okay, is it all right if I wait?"
"Sure. Kaitlyn's inside or...I mean, if you want to, you can stay out here with me."
"Okay, thanks Mrs. Cooper."
She waved her hand and shook her head. "It's nothing."
"Okay."
Summer sat down in the chair next to the woman who she thankfully saw more than her father's fiancée. They sat in silence, Summer watching the people walk by in their matching sweaters and designer jeans. She looked away to Mrs. Cooper. Her hair had gone a bolder red from the dramatic brown, and brief period of very blonde, that Summer had gotten used to. Her cheeks were higher and seemed more relaxed from what she had remembered. But she was still gorgeous.
"Mrs. Cooper? Where did you grow up?"
Julie's eyes flew to Summer; she could see it through the dark shades.
"Why?"
"Just wondering."
"Somewhere far from here, I'm afraid. It's so much better hear, honey, believe me."
"Oh. Do you still...you know, keep in touch with your parents?"
"Not really, honey. They're people that don't really match with people like me."
"Oh. I see. But were your parents...happy with each other?"
"Um, I think so. They weren't completely obsessed with each other but they did love each other."
"That's good, then. So you had a good childhood?"
"Not really 'good' but not that bad."
"That's nice."
"Is something wrong?"
"It's just my dad. He can't find how to be happy, you know?"
"Yeah. He's not satisfied."
"I guess. And I just...I just wish he could see that...I mean, I'm here for-for him if he wanted me. But, I guess he doesn't, right?"
"That's not necessarily true. Maybe he wants something right for you. And everything he finds isn't right."
"But if he doesn't give me a chance to know them, then how can he know that they're not right for me?"
"I dunno, honey. Maybe he's just confused."
"Yeah. I guess. I just wish he'd figure it out so I could too."
"Don't we all?"
Kaitlyn flounced out and sighed.
"Mommy, can I have a pony?"
"What?"
"I want a pony."
"A pony? Really, honey?"
"Yeah. I like horses."
"Sweetie...how about riding lessons instead?"
"But I want a pony."
"Well if you get riding lessons, you can get used to being around horses."
"And then you'll get me a pony?"
"We'll see, honey."
"Okay. Thank you, Mommy."
Kaitlyn shot a look at Summer, who pretended she didn't notice, before leaving. Julie sighed.
"She's gotten so...stubborn lately. Like whatever she wants, she gets, and there shouldn't be any question about it. I don't know what's gotten into her."
"Yeah."
Summer bit her lip and didn't look at her. Julie didn't notice, but pulled her sunglasses off her eyes, glanced at her watch, and stood up.
"Marissa should be just about done. Would you like to come for the ride?"
"Um..." Summer looked past Mrs. Cooper and saw a teenage boy dragging a bag of garbage to the bottom of his driveway. He popped his skateboard up and was about to ride back up when he saw her. She looked away as quickly as she could. "Yeah, Mrs. Cooper. That'd be cool."
Summer stood up and followed Julie to the car. She peeked over her shoulder and saw him disappearing into his house. He didn't even care about her anymore. She wasn't anything but a memory to him. She had to try to forget him too.
Marissa was waiting outside, checking her watch every now and then and letting out a dramatic sigh. She saw Julie pulling up and stood up immediately. She swung her bag around the car and pulled open the passenger's door. She jumped in and opened the window.
"How was practice, honey?"
"Fine."
Marissa glanced around the head rest and saw Summer. She grinned.
"Hey, what're you doing here?"
"I got to your house early."
"Oh. Okay. What did you do? Isn't Kaitlyn still ready to tear your head off?"
"Yeah, she is. I hung out with your mom."
Marissa looked at her mother for a minute but looked away.
"That must've been...fun."
Julie shot a quick look at her but turned away. Marissa rolled her eyes at Summer, who tried to agree. But she didn't get why Marissa was complaining because this woman cared about her. It didn't make sense at all.
It was late when they finally got back to the Coopers'; Julie had decided ice cream was the way to go even though it could ruin their dinners. Summer turned it down, glancing back at her waist, but ended up eating almost all of Marissa's. So they got back at 7-ish and Marissa pulled Summer up to her room right away. The phone Julie had bought her the week before rang. Marissa picked it up and a smile went directly to her face.
"Hi you. Yeah, I think so." She giggled. Summer rolled her eyes. She got sick of Luke really fast. She tapped Marissa's shoulder.
"Hey Coop? I think I'm going to go for a walk."
Marissa nodded and kicked her feet up onto her bed. Summer left after grabbing Marissa's walkman.
"My name is Luka. I live on the second floor. I live upstairs from you. Yes I think you've seen me before."
She had her hands shoved into the thin jacket wrapped around her shoulders and Suzanne Vega crooning in her ear. It never got cold in California. It was always a perfect temperature. Summer shivered anyway.
"I think I'm kind of clumsy. I try not to talk too loud. Maybe I'm a little crazy. I try not to act too proud."
"You have a really good voice."
She spun around to see that damn Seth Cohen walking behind her.
"What, are you stalking me now?"
"Nope."
He pushed by her on his skateboard. She rolled her eyes.
"Then what are the chances you walk right behind me?"
"What are the chances that you are walking at 7:15 on a Thursday?"
"What's at 7:15 on Thursdays?"
"I get to see my lovely grandfather."
"Every Thursday?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Oh."
"Oh."
"Where does he live? Far?"
"Not far. About three miles."
"You go for three miles on a piece of wood?"
"Every Thursday."
"Don't you get tired of it?"
"Don't you get tired of ignoring me?"
"I'm not ignoring you."
"Oh really?"
"Really."
"So if I asked you if you paid me any thought at all since...two weeks ago, you'd say...no?"
"Sure."
"Really?"
"Mm-hmm."
"I don't believe you, beautiful."
"Since when did you get so cocky?"
"Cocky? No, I, Summer Roberts, was never cocky. Some years of shut downs by water polo players taught me to not be cocky."
"But when I first saw you, you were afraid to even talk to me."
"Yeah, well, I feel that once you call me a jackass, we have made a bond."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"So what if I don't? I didn't do anything wrong in the first place."
"Except call my best friend stupid."
"That I did not completely do. Isn't it possible that young Kaitlyn could've been confused?"
"It's possible, but I believe her."
"You do? Okay. Well, I have to go anyway. Hate to be late for the 'most powerful man in Newport Beach.'"
"Who taught you to say that?"
"My dad. Although, I think he possibly uses it with a touch of sarcasm."
"A touch?"
"More than that. More like a dollop."
"Mm-hmm."
"But I really have to go. So you'll have to find your way back without me."
"I'll survive."
"That's good. Good luck, beautiful."
He pushed on ahead and soon was out of sight. Summer sighed and pulled her hands out of her pocket and into her belt loop. She checked her watch. 7:30. She had to go back.
Marissa was still on the phone with Luke; Kaitlyn was still in her room; Julie was still reading. But Jimmy was home too. He sat cross-legged on the couch watching football. He smiled when he saw her walk in.
"Hey, Summer."
"Hi Mr. Cooper."
"Walk?"
She nodded.
"Marissa's on the phone?"
She nodded again. He nodded back.
"You can watch with me if you want. New England against New York."
"Okay."
She sat down next to him and mimicked the Indian cross-legged-ness.
"Who's winning?"
"Patriots."
She sighed and leaned back, stretching her legs out in front of her.
"So, without being rude, can I ask you why you're here tonight? If Marissa had all these things to do, why did you choose tonight to be here? Not that we mind it."
"Um, it's just my dad. He's being difficult."
"I can understand. My dad was never the most understanding. What is it? Curfew, money, or what it usually is about, at least in this house: boys?"
"None of the above."
"Really? I'm impressed. What is it?"
"His girlfriend."
"What about Tracy?"
"They're getting a divorce so he can marry Lara."
"Oh. And you're playing second to her? And all his women?"
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry, kiddo."
"It's not your fault."
Jimmy gave her a reassuring smile and offered his arm. She crawled over and let him hug her. Jimmy always tried to be a father to her, especially when her own decided to be an asshole.
After another half hour, they had to eat dinner. Marissa picked, as usual, at her own plate while Summer tried to eat slower. Kaitlyn wouldn't look at Summer or Marissa, and Jimmy was the only one smiling.
"So, Kaitlyn, your mother tells me you want riding lessons. Could be fun. Marissa, you want to try?"
"No thanks, Daddy."
"You know, you should get a hobby too. Could be good for you."
"Yeah. I'm thinking about running for student council."
"Excellent. I was treasurer for my high school. It really is helpful in your life. What do you want to run for?"
"President."
"Aim high. Good. And you, Summer?"
"Um, well, I had wanted to go for vice president since fourth grade. Wouldn't it be awesome if we both made it, Coop?"
Marissa grinned and nodded.
"That would be so cool."
Jimmy smiled at both of them.
"Good luck, ladies. You both would make good leaders."
Summer grinned at Marissa. The rest of the dinner was more relaxed, especially since Jimmy was doing most of the talking.
After dinner, Marissa and Summer went back upstairs and Summer called her dad.
"Hey, Daddy? Um, I'm going to stay at Marissa's tonight. Yeah, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper said it was okay. Yes, we'll sleep. Okay. Say hi to Tracy. And Lara. Bye."
Summer hung up the phone and walked into Marissa's closet. She found a dark blue peasant top and pulled it over her head. It ended higher on her, and seemed to hug the waist that she kept staring at. But it wasn't bad. It was even almost cute. She spun around for Marissa.
"What do you think?"
"It's cute. You can wear it tomorrow."
She looked back at herself in the mirror and twirled around. Marissa's clothes almost never fit as they fit her, especially since Summer had gotten boobs before Marissa, and they had had time to get a whole lot bigger than Marissa's too. But it was almost right. And she decided it looked like it could've been meant to fit that way. She just had to find something for the bottom.
After an hour of realizing that none of Marissa's jeans would fit her, too small and too long, she found a burgundy skirt that seemed to look right. She pulled them off and slipped into a big tee shirt that she always slept in when she was at Marissa's. She fell into the bed next to Marissa and turned onto her side. Sleep was slow, but inevitable no matter what had happened that day. Surprisingly, her dreams didn't go directly to Lara and her father, but dawdled a little on Seth Cohen trying to make small talk with his grandfather, the most powerful man in Newport Beach.
"Luka" written by Suzanne Vega