Kirsten woke up in a great mood. It was the first of July. Seth would probably be home soon. She just knew. She thought she did. Mother instict? Maybe.

The sun was shining and it was warm outside. On top of it all, a bunch of stores were having sales. And that just put the cherry on top.

She needed to shop. Not one of those quick shopping trips when she drags one of the boys along or a lengthy-all-day shopping exploration with some Newpsies. She knew just who to call.

Summer woke up in a grumpy state. She was tangled in her sheets and on the floor. How she had gotten there she wasn't sure. July had officially began. That meant her both was in about a month and Seth had to be back by then. Or she would kick his ass.

She picked herself off the ground and slowly walked to the shower. The water was cold. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a yellow piece of paper on her bathroom mirror. "Hot water's out. It'll be fixed by 3:00-Lauren,"

Summer eyed the clock on the wall. 12:30. Damn.

Only one thing could cheer her up. Shopping. Just then, the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Summer, do you have plans today?"

"Kirsten, if you could see my face right now..."

"Got it. Want to go shopping? It's a great way to spend the great day,"

"Sure. What great day are we talking about?"

Summer and Kirsten strolled through the shopping center side by side, excitedly yelping every time there was a cute item in the window, and just having to go inside the store, always emerging with at least one new item. By the time they got to Betsey Johnson, Kirsten was sitting on one of the pink couches in the store instead of browsing the racks.

Summer swung around to face Kirsten, her bags nearly hitting her in the face.

"What are you doing? Don't you see these shoes? And dresses? Look at the frills, Kirsten!" Summer exclaimed, with more energy then Kirsten had ever seen her with before.

"I'm tired. Frappacinos do nothing," Kirsten sighed. She leaned on her shopping bags tiredly.

Summer shrugged. "Yeah. I guess I'll just try on a dress and then we can go. Oh! I know! We can go to a spa!" she yelped, still jumpy. Her burst of liveliness was really made from two things. Her shopping, and the coffee and sweets she had earlier that day.

"Sure. That'd be nice, I know a great pla--"

Summer cut Kirsten off before she could finish with a shriek of, "Oh my God! It's the solid blue satin dress with the white lace trim!"

Kirsten laughed a little at the way Summer just knew the name of the dress like she knew her name. The girl was a true shop-a-holic.

The click-clack of the girls' heels echoed through the room. "I'm pretty sure you have to call before to get in," Summer whispered in Kirsten's ear, "It's supposed to be exlclusive,"

"I know what to do," Kirsten whispered back.

"Hi," Kirsten said loudly with a smile to the person at the front behind the counter, "I'm Meg Ryan's sister, this is her daughter. She should be coming in about an hour because of her flight, she said for us to go in first,"

"Sure, what's the appoitment under?"

Summer looked at Kirsten nervously. "Ryan," Kirsten stated confidently.

The woman shook her head 'no'. "There's no appoitment in here under the name Ryan or Meg that's scedualed for any time soon,"

Kirsten sighed falsely. "Oh, Meg! She must've forgotten. Do you think we could just get in anyway?"

The woman shook her head.

Kirsten stomped her foot and walked out of the spa in a huff, an embarrassed Summer trailed behind her.

"It worked before,"

"I's okay. I wanna go hang up all my new clothes anyway,"

Kirsten nodded. "I have this stupid 'Girls' Night Out' thing for all these Newpsie wives. I was invited. We're just going to go out to dinner or something,"

"Why do you go to those things anyway?"

Kirsten started the car. "I don't know. I guess I just don't like being the topic of people gossiping. I've had that plenty of times. Like when Julie Cooper missed one event, everyone starts saying she's sleeping with some high school boy, Luke or Lennie," she explained.

Summer tightened up a little and pinched her leg to make sure she wouldn't let herself blurt anything out.

"You okay?"

"Secrets are no fun,"

Summer ate another bite of her salad while her father at the foriegn dish that Yvonne, the maid and cook, had conjured up.

Lauren was out at some "Girls' Night Out" thing while Neil and Summer ate and shared a rather silent conversation.

"You should really have some of this, Summer," Neil said after a sip of his wine. Red. Summer's mother hated white wine. He never drank white wine any more.

"I called her. We talked,"

Neil looked up from his plate with a look of confusion on his face. "Who?"

"Mom. My mom, Christine. She lives in New York. She's married. She has a son,"

Neither of them knew what to say next. It was evident Neil was upset. He hadn't wanted his daughter to talk to Christine, he didn't know what she was like now. He was still protective of his little girl and didn't want anyone to hurt her.

"I told you not to ever talk to her,"

"She's my mother, I have a right to,"

"I'm your father, I have a right to tell you what to do. I raised you, not her,"

Summer began to get upset. She looked him dead in the eye. "Really? Because you seemed to be too busy screwing girls, marrying druggies, giving people lipo, and going away on trips to actually be my dad or raise me," she shot back icily.

With that it was silent. Summer said quietly, "I'm full," and went up to her room, leaving Neil to think about what she said.

A/N: I don't know anything about shopping centers or spas in Newport, so that's purely fiction based on no knowledge. I also presumed Kirsten still doesn't know about Luke & Julie. One more chapter, kids! A lot of storylines won't be completely wrapped up in this story. They won't be completely wrapped up in the sequel either, so use your imaginations! I'll try to get the final chapter up by...hm, Monday at the latest. I already have about a quarter of it written. The first chapter of the sequel might be up by any time next week, considering I already have it all written, I just need to edit. Tell me how I did with this chapter, how can I improve without feedback? Besfore I wrap this up, please (self-pimping, so bad!) read my new story "Maybe", if you'll into Seth/Summer, it's for you. =)