She hated this new 'happy family' thing. They ate together, watched t.v. together, went to the movies together, and it wasn't natural. She didn't want to be there.

Picking at yet another meal made by the maid, Summer was trying desperately to ignore the looks her father was giving her. He was trying to smile and pretend they were all having a good time, while everyone else in the room was trying to plan an escape route.

"So, Summer, how was school?"

"Fine."

"That's good."

"Okay."

Her newly bought cell phone rang from underneath the tablecloth. She picked it up, flipped it open, and brought it to her ear.

"Summer, I told you, I didn't want that phone at the t..."

"Hello? Oh, hi. Yeah. Nothing at all. One sec, okay? All right."

She stood up and gave a forced smile to her father and his whore. Her step mother, whatev. Same thing.

"This call simply cannot wait, I'm sorry. I'll be right back."

It was her dad's speech down to the fake smile. She turned around and rolled her eyes before running up the stairs and falling backward onto her bed.

"So, Luke, what do you want?"

"I want to have this party thing for Marissa and I wanted to know if you could help."

"Ummm...I think so. When do you want to have it?"

"Like, on her birthday."

"Oh, who's the smart one, now?"

"I always was the smart one, Summer."

"Aw, that hurts. The jock is putting me in my place."

"Are you going to help me?"

"Okay, yes, but only for two reasons. And neither one is because I'm in love with you."

"Shoot. How will I survive? Okay, let me guess." Luke let his voice skip and octave and Summer wince. "'One is because I love "Coop." And I'd do anything for her. Two is because I hate "Lana" and my father. And I'd do anything to get away from them.'"

"Not bad. So when do you want to do this?"

"Tomorrow? Like after school. Do you know where my house is?"

"No. I told you, I'm not in love with you."

"Okay, relax." He gave her his address and she scribbled it down on some old birthday card her father had given her.

"Okay. I'll be there. But Luke? You have to promise me one thing."

"And what is that?"

"You won't fall in love with me."

"You girls watch too many movies."

"What does that mean?"

"I had to watch that one three times; I'm not stupid."

"What movie is it?"

"A Walk To Remember."

"I'm impressed."

"Good."

"Although, not really, because I was referring to the book. So much better than the movie. And I actually cried during that one. Not the movie crap."

"I always underestimate you, Summer."

"Yes, you do. Now leave me alone with my lovely family, oh-big-strong-jock-man."

"With pleasure. Bye."

"Bye."

She hung up the phone and laughed. She didn't know what kind of a relationship she had with Luke. Sometimes she seemed to almost be flirting with him, and she felt guilty for doing that to Marissa. Other times she didn't trust him. Like he was hiding something. But then she laughed because someone who was that into water sports usually doesn't have more to hide than a purple Speedo. But she liked who Marissa was when he was around. She seemed happier. And Marissa needed happier.

Avoiding her father was getting easier and easier. He was burying himself into the papers spilled across his desk more and more often. And even when they were being the happy family, he didn't want to yell at her so she could do whatever the hell she wanted. She got a ride to school every day with Jack, the French driver her dad had 'given' her who actually wasn't that bad. And he always commented on her outfit. Her dad didn't even have time to notice.

Mondays came and went, and after a while she learned how to deal with them. Detour to the Starbucks around the corner from her school. And it was usually her shock day. She needed some way to keep people awake and remember what they had been missing all weekend.

This Monday in particular, she wore a dark red tube top that actually wasn't a tube top, for skinny strings extended around her neck. But it was so tight, it didn't need the straps. She had black jeans on and a bed head look that really gave the impression that she didn't give a damn. And eyeliner. A lot of it.

As she walked by Jack, she caught his eyes on her waist.

"Yes?"

"Miss Summer, are you sure that this is the message you want to be sending all the desperate young men in your school?"

"What's wrong with my message?"

"It's a little..."

"Slutty?"

"No. Easy."

She bit her cheek and nodded.

"Don't worry about me, Jack."

"But I do, Miss Summer."

"I know. That's why I love you."

She kissed his cheek and slid into the back seat of the limo. He sighed and got into the front. She pushed the window down and leaned her head next to his.

"Give me something loud."

"Yes, Miss Summer."

He turned on the stereo to some old Guns N Roses song that littered Bar Mitzvahs and weddings across the country.

"Take me down to the Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty. Oh, won't you please take me home?"

She opened the sun roof and stood up letting her hair get an even better 'I don't give a damn' look. Jack drove to the Starbucks that they had gotten accustomed to, and bought her grande and his latte, no foam. They sat down on the side walk, sipping their coffee, talking about her father. It sure as hell was a Monday.

"Jack?"

"Yes, Miss Summer."

"Do you ever think about running away?"

"Me?"

"Yeah."

"I have nothing to run to."

"There has to be something. Or, I dunno, someone."

"Are you sure that we are talking about me, Miss Summer?"

"I don't know."

"Well, if there was someone, particularly a young Mr. Cohen, that you don't think you belong with, and you wish you could run away to a place where you could belong with him, would you want my advice?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"No, not really, Miss Summer. I would advise that you remember that you are thirteen and your life is your own and you shouldn't have to run away to get what you want."

"Who said I particularly liked a young Mr. Cohen?"

"Oh, you don't? I must've been mistaken as to the young gentleman you are always muttering about. But we must go, or else you will be late."

"You think you're so smart."

"Sometimes I surprise myself, Miss Summer."

He winked and went around the car to his seat. She rolled her eyes again and slipped behind him. She leaned back against the cool leather and crossed her arms. Everyone thought they knew better about what she was going through. Now, even her driver?

She grabbed her black, beaded Chanel and got out of that car as fast as she could. She got a lot of looks as she walked up the stairs that led to the main courtyard. She saw Marissa's grinning face running towards her before she could really focus on anyone else.

"Omigod, Sum, you know what happened?"

How was there any chance that she knew about something that had obviously just happened to Marissa?

"No, Coop, what?"

"My dad bought me this dress for like an early birthday present, and it's that one we saw in the window at Oscar De La Renta! (41) Omigod, it is soooo gorgeous."

The silver embroidered, chiffon cocktail dress with crystal embroidered mesh that they both had stared at, nearly drooling, but Summer had given up on, knowing it was the kind of dress that only girls like Marissa could wear. Tall, skinny, no curves in the wrong places.

"Oh my god, Coop, that is so awesome. I am so happy for you!"

"This year is going to be so kick ass. I know it."

"Yeah, sure, Coop." Summer's smile was starting to hurt her face.

"Oh, I gotta go. But I'll see you later, okay? Hey, you look hot."

"Oh. Thanks. Bye."

"Bye. Love you."

"Love you too."

Marissa bounced off and Summer ducked her head down to avoid the dilated eyes Chad Muller had sent her. She knew he was now looking at her ass, but it was better than having to look back at him.

She found her locked and dumped her bag into it, her purse scattered on the floor again. She grabbed a book and found her entire locker burying her in crap she mostly had never seen before.

"Holy..."

She tried to get up, but found a dozen books covering her legs. She had first period, dammit. Someone knelt beside her and grabbed all the books off of her and stacked them back into her locker.

"Hey, thanks."

She smiled and looked up to see that curly hair nod and walk away. She blinked a few times and stood up to watch him weave himself through the crowd unnoticed. She let her chest slightly fall as her breath seemed to leave her completely alone. But she snapped out of whatever she had gotten into and walked off to first period.

After class, Chad pulled her arm to stop her.

"Hey, Summer."

"Oh, hi."

"Look, I, uh, this might sound weird, but if you're not doing anything on, say, Saturday..."

"I'm sorry, Chad. I can't."

"Friday?"

"It's not the day that's the problem."

"Oh. Okay. Sorry. Bye."

He pushed past her and she walked off to her second class.

School ended as slowly as it had started and Summer was more than relieved to see Jack waiting for her. She ran over and he opened the door for her.

"Hey, Sum!"

She turned her head to see Marissa running up to her.

"Could you give me a ride? My dad's meeting is running late."

"Oh, yeah, sure. Jack?"

"My pleasure, Miss Cooper."

Marissa slipped into the car next to Summer and they leaned back in their seats.

"Something slow, Jack."

"Yes, Miss Summer."

He turned on 'Fast Car' by Tracy Chapman and Summer turned to Marissa.

"So, what do you want for your birthday that's not designed by Oscar de la Renta?"

"You don't have to get me anything, Sum. You know that."

"You know I'm going to get something for you anyway."

"Sum..."

"Honestly, Coop. You're turning thirteen. That's, like, big. You're a teenager now. And you don't want me to get you anything?"

"Well, I mean, if you have to..."

She broke into giggles and Summer followed easily.

"So, for real. What do you want?"

"I don't know. I have most of the stuff I want. Clothes?"

"Yeah, Coop. For your thirteenth birthday, I'm going to get you something you have way too much of."

"You can never have too many clothes."

"That's shoes, babe. There's always only a few clothes you can put on rotation. The rest is just crap."

Marissa giggled and nodded.

"I dunno. You have good taste, Sum. What do you want?"

Summer considered a dozen answers. Your family. Self assurance. Someone to say no other than my driver.

"I dunno, Coop. That Oscar de la Renta dress was looking pretty damn good."

Marissa nodded knowingly. Summer grinned, a little less real this time. They drove to Marissa's house in giggles again and Summer walked her to the door.

"Hey, can you stay for dinner? We miss you around here. Even Kaitlyn."

"Yeah, right. I dunno, Coop, my dad's got this thing going..."

"Please? I'll personally call your dad and ask him."

"Coop...okay. If you can get him to let me. Yeah, that'd be cool."

"Aight."

She loved how they were all ghetto now, listening to Puff Daddy and bumping and grinding at the dances. Head bop and nod: aight.

Marissa pulled out her phone and pressed a single number. She pulled the phone to her ear and stuck Summer the thumbs up. Summer nodded. She pointed to the limo and mouthed 'going to tell Jack.' Marissa nodded back and half smiled. Yeah, they were all ghetto Katie Holmes-es.

Summer strolled over to Jack and gave her own half smile. It was better than Marissa's. She had practiced longer.

"Hey, um, Marissa's trying to figure out if I can stay here. So, ask her when she's off the phone. I'm going for a walk."

"Okay, Miss Summer."

She smiled with the other side of her mouth and walked off. She walked down the streets she had memorized when she was 'living' here, happy to see they were exactly the same. There might be a new car in the driveway, but these people didn't like change. Most were too uptight. That's probably why when they managed to notice their kids sneaking out they didn't think sex, drugs, or rock n roll could be involved. That was for the t.v. shows they watched on the WB. This was real life. It was also Newport Beach.

She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jeans and pulled her hair out of the ponytail she had worked forever on. She played with the elastic, but stuck it around her wrist in the end, the thin band cutting into her wrist a little. It wouldn't cut into Marissa's wrist. There was nothing to cut into.

"It's been a while."

She spun around and caught the shy grin she had also memorized when she was living here. Forget the quotes.

"Yeah, I guess."

"What brings you back?"

"Marissa."

He nodded.

"What else would? You don't care about anything else here, right?"

"Kaitlyn and I will make up eventually. Then, there will be two things."

He nodded again and pushed by on his skateboard.

"Now I know you're stalking me. It's not even a Thursday."

"Suddenly, you remember what I do better than I do? And I don't do anything than visit my grandfather. Because I, beautiful, don't have a life."

He had slipped in the 'beautiful' apparently without noticing it himself. Summer noticed.

"I never said that."

"But we both know you thought it."

"And you know about me better than I do, right?"

"Sometimes, unfortunately for me, yes.'

"Lucky you."

"That depends on who you ask. And when you do it."

"So what are you doing?"

"Visiting my dad."

"Where is your dad?"

"Work."

"What does he do?"

"Shouldn't matter to you. It doesn't roll in six figures."

"Cause that's all I care about."

"No. There is Marissa. And there is your stomach."

"What the hell?"

"You care about how your stomach looks to other people. Because you think you're..."

"You finish that sentence and I'm going to have to slap you."

He stared back at her, rolled in front of her, kicked it up, and looked even closer.

"You think you're fat. Probably because you hang around people that look like Marissa more than people that think like me."

"You think you're so smart."

"Not always."

"Only when you're around me."

"No. You usually know what to say to make me feel not smart."

"Oh yeah?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Well, lucky me."

"Sure."

"So, do you..."

"Sorry to cut you off, beautifu—wait. That probably doesn't make you feel comfortable, right? Because it's from someone like me and not someone that looks like Chad Muller."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"All right. Fair enough. But what I wanted to say was I have to go. I'm going to be late."

"Sorry I distracted you."

"Don't be."

He slid off without flashing the grin he would've before. She sighed and put her hands on her hips. She took another peek at her waist and walked back to the Coopers' house where Marissa was grinning with the news that Summer could spend another night comparing herself to someone that looked straight out of Marie Claire. Joy.

"Paradise City" written by Unknown, but it's not me

Note: This one was really easy to write, so I hope it's good for you guys too. And obviously, I lied. There's going to be another chapter in seventh grade. And yeah, sorry, I know the ages are off. I know I said earlier that Summer was thirteen, but she's actually twelve here. I messed up and counted wrong and forgot that Summer's birthday is in August. (The Model Home) So yeah, forget what I said before. One more seventh grade chapter, because I obviously couldn't not have fun with Marissa's birthday party. Please leave a review and let me know what you thought, because I actually liked this one. Peace and love...