Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in a while, things have been really out of control. As most of you at TWoP know, I've been admitted into an outpatient program right now. Plus, the pressure of college is bearing down on me as well. Sorry again. Thanks for your patience.
Chapter 1 - November 18, 2001
Chapter 2 - May 29, 2001
Chapter 3 - December 1, 2001
Chapter 4 - June 6, 2001
Chapter 5 - December 12, 2001June 19, 2001
"Marissa, would you like some more chicken?" Janet Fisher asked, smiling at Holly's friend.
"No thanks," she replied, setting her fork down on her plate.
"Are you sure? You hardly touched it. If you don't like it, I can get you something else. How about I order a pizza for you girls?"
"Mom!" Holly snapped. "She's fine. She's obviously not hungry. Lay off."
Janet nodded while Marissa turned to Holly, mouthing 'thanks'.
"Summer, would you like some more chicken?" Holly's mom smiled when Summer nodded then heaped a chicken wing onto her plate.
After dinner the girls headed up to Holly's room.
"I'm going in the shower," Holly announced, opening the door to her bathroom and going in. Soon after, Summer and Marissa heard the water running.
Marissa flopped onto the bed and picked up the latest issue of Seventeen that had been lying on Holly's night table. Summer lay down on the floor.
"Brad Pitt is so hot." Marissa sighed and turned the page, looking at Summer from the corner of her eye. "Sum, d'you wanna see the Fast and the Furious on Friday?"
"Yeah, definitely!" She groaned and pulled herself onto the bed. "Where's Holly's remote? Let's order a movie."
Marissa picked up the remote from the night table and tossed it at Summer. Then she picked up the magazine, scribbling in it every now and then.
"Guess what? I'm a Queen Bee!" she exclaimed.
"What are you talking about?"
"This quiz I took - it was like, where do you fit in with your friends? And I'm the queen bee. Here, you try it."
"That's okay, really."
"Fine, I'll read you the questions. One - you and your friends go to an amusement park. There's five of you and only four seats on the coaster. Do you a) volunteer to stay behind - you say you don't really like roller coasters that much anyway; b) suggest that you play rock, paper, scissors...it's the only fair way, or c) choose your least favorite friend of the group and say, "Erica, why don't you sit this one out?", and stare her down until she agrees. I know what I think you are, but what's your choice?"
Summer switched on the TV and tuned Marissa out. She loved her but she could be pretty annoying sometimes. Especially with these quizzes, which Summer always seemed to do poorly on.
"Summer! A, B, or C?" Marissa asked, thwacking her with the magazine.
"Oh, I don't know...B, I guess." Summer clicked on the 'guide' button and began to flip through the available movies.
"Really? I would've picked A for you. I was C, of course, but we're totally different people, you know?"
"Yeah. Sure. How about Save the Last Dance?"
"Whatev. Two -"
"Marissa! I don't want to take your stupid quiz!" Summer sighed, pressing the appropriate buttons on the remote to order the movie. She turned up the volume as the FBI warning came on. "Shut up - the movie's starting."
"Jesus, Summer, all you had to do was say something. Don't get your panties in a bunch." Marissa smiled a little, her eyes sparkling at her own wit.
"You're not funny, you know that, Coop?"
"Ha. Can you turn off the light?" She kicked off her shoes and lay down on her stomach.
"You," Summer responded.
"Please? Sum, come on. I'm already comfortable and all."
Sighing, Summer rolled off the bed and flicked off the lights. Marissa smiled. She had won; she always won, and it was nothing new. She really was a queen bee.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Holly, are you girls up? I made chocolate chip pancakes," Janet called from downstairs.
Marissa yawned and opened her eyes. Holly's leg was on top of hers and Summer's hand was on her face.
"You guys, get up," she said, hitting Holly gently and squeezing Summer's hand. Both girls groaned. "Holly! Summer!"
Marissa got out of the bed and went into Holly's bathroom, turning on the faucet and washing her face. She took the toothbrush she kept at Holly's house and squeezed some Crest onto it, and brushed her teeth. Not bothering to shut the door, she went to the bathroom, and then washed her hands.
Once she was done, she shook Holly and Summer. When that didn't get a response from either of them, she sighed and said, "Fine. You'll be sorry when there aren't any pancakes left."
With that, she turned on the lights and left the room.
Janet Fisher was in the kitchen pouring glasses of orange juice. She looked up when Marissa entered. "Have a good night's sleep?" she asked Marissa.
"Yeah, thanks. Summer and Holly won't get up," she told her.
"That's okay. You were always the early riser." Janet smiled and gestured towards the table. "Help yourself, sweetheart. I'm going to get my hair done."
"Thanks," she answered, sitting down at the table. A plate piled high with pancakes oozing chocolate was in the center of the table. Marissa took the top pancake, still steaming, and set it on her plate. She stared at it, enticed by the smell, and then began to cut it up into six pieces. After four, though, she stopped herself. This is ridiculous, she thought, I can eat a pancake without cutting it up into precise measurements.
No, you can't.
I can, if I think I can, at least I think, Marissa argued with herself, but a moment later she found herself dividing the next piece into two. I'll just have four pieces, that's two thirds of a pancake, and Holly and Summer will never know that I only had one pancake, she said to herself.
She stabbed a piece with her fork and lifted it to her mouth, chewing slowly and deliberately.
Pouring the orange juice down the drain, Marissa set her plate in the sink. She went into the living room and turned on the TV, flipping through the channels until she found something to watch.
Marissa heard footsteps over an hour later.
"Mom?" Holly called. "Marissa?"
"In here," Marissa yelled, and Holly and Summer came running into the room.
"Is my mom home?" Holly asked, her eyes focused questioningly on Marissa. "And why didn't you wake us up?"
"She's at the salon," Marissa told her, "And I tried to wake you guys up but..."
Summer rubbed her stomach. "Did you eat yet? I'm starved."
"Yeah, I had some pancakes. Your mom made so many, Holly. I had, like, five pancakes but I barely made a dent in the stack."
"Let's go eat," Summer said to Holly, pulling her by the arm. The two of them disappeared into the kitchen.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"God, it's like, such perfect beach weather." Holly spread her towel on the sand. She kicked off her Juicy Couture sandals and shimmied out of her shorts.
"It's always perfect beach weather, Hol," Marissa reminded her, lowering her sunglasses from her hair to her eyes and laying her towel on the sand as well. Summer put her towel on the other side of Marissa's. Marissa took off her terrycloth tube dress and lay on her back.
"God, Marissa, you're so skinny," Holly said, sitting cross-legged on her towel.
"So are you," Summer pointed out. Holly looked down at her flat, tan stomach and sighed.
"But not like Marissa. She's like, naturally that skinny."
Marissa smiled. Holly was on the cross country team and cheerleading and she ran ten miles a week, while she herself played 'princess' tennis twice a week, and if you could call that a real workout...
"Shut up, Sum. You're so tiny. I'd kill to be like you." Holly took her iPod out of her peach tote bag and inserted the earpieces.
"I still don't get how you got an iPod when they haven't even come out yet," Summer said.
"Sum, are you kidding me? Holly's dad is like, second in command to that Apple guy, Steve I think his name is...of course she gets one a few months early!" Marissa hit Summer playfully on the arm.
She then lay down on her towel and closed her eyes, determined to soak up a few rays on her lean body.
All three girls were soon half-asleep and didn't notice two boys sneak up to their towels.
Luke turned toward Chip and nodded, "One, two, three!" They dumped two buckets of water on the girls, who immediately squealed and jumped up.
"Who did that?" Marissa screeched, taking off her sunglasses and turning around. Her expression softened. "Oh, hey Luke."
Luke bent down to kiss her. "Hey babe. You looked hot, what can I say...?"
Marissa shook her head, but couldn't help but laugh. "You're so sweet," she said, and kissed him again.
"Wow, you guys, this is like, a public place," Chip chided them.
"Who the hell cares?" Summer asked coyly. She'd had a crush on Chip for the longest time, but he was into Marissa. Everyone knew it but Luke didn't seem to care because Marissa was his. If only Chip would see her in the same light as he saw Marissa.
Chip sat down on Summer's legs, kicking off his Air Force Ones.
"Get off!" Summer said halfheartedly. As much as Chip was cutting off her circulation, she welcomed any contact with him.
Holly took her earpieces out. "Shut up, you guys. I can't hear my music!"
Marissa rolled her eyes. "Ignore her," she said to the boys, "she's just PMS-ing."
"Am not!" Holly insisted, blushing. She poked Marissa warningly.
"She totally is," Summer agreed, giggling and exchanging a knowing glance with Marissa.
"We're gonna go get Balboa Bars. You guys want anything?" Luke asked, pointing to the ice cream stand, about sixty yards from their spot.
"Sure," Marissa answered, nodding and looking at her friends for their approval. When she was satisfied, she smiled at the boys and waved her hand to shoo them away. "Thanks. I love you."
Luke smiled tightly and hurried away with Chip. Marissa propped up on her side so she was facing Summer.
"You so like Chip," she accused. It was sad, really; everyone knew that Chip had a crush on her, not Summer.
"What? What are you talking about?" Summer felt her face grow warm. Why the hell did Marissa care anyways?
"Come on, Sum, we're best friends. You can tell me," Marissa said confidentially, patting Summer on the arm so she knew she was serious.
"Okay, okay...God, yeah I like him, okay?" Summer rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, it's fine, don't get pissed at me. It's not my fault he likes me and not you..."
Summer's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me?"
"Everyone knows it, Summer, it's not like I care, I've got Luke. I was just telling you...I wouldn't waste your time on him because he doesn't like you. Chill!" Marissa lowered her sunglasses to cover her eyes and flipped over so she was laying on her stomach.
"Bitch," Summer muttered under her breath, tears choking her. She blinked furiously and then shut her eyes. How dare she say that to her? Sure, she was her best friend, but sometimes Marissa was such a bitch that Summer wanted to hurt her...badly. Just because guys liked her more didn't give her the right to be obnoxious.
"Hmm?" Marissa murmured, "Did you say something, Sum?"
"No...I think I'm gonna call my dad and have him pick me up..."
"Why? It's a perfect day for tanning. And I thought we were going to the movies later? Are you still sleeping over?"
"I don't know...I'll call you later." Summer shook out her towel, accidentally on purpose getting some sand in Marissa's hair. She picked up her sandals and threw them into her beach bag, along with her shorts.
"Love ya," Marissa called, as Summer walked away, fuming. She stomped her feet in the hot sand. She grabbed her cell phone out of her bag and dialed her home number, praying for someone to pick up.
She'd just gotten the answering machine and was planning to leave an angry message for her father when someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"Where are you going?" Chip asked, holding two Balboa Bars. His curly dark brown hair just covered his eyes. God. He was so adorable. Too bad he didn't like her.
"Home...well, I can't get in touch with my dad, so I guess nowhere," Summer said.
Chip held out the Balboa Bar. "I live five minutes away. You want to walk to my house?"
Summer accepted the ice cream and nodded. "Are you sure...you wouldn't rather be with Marissa...and Luke?"
He scoffed and began to walk. Summer followed him. "Those two are annoying together. They're so sickeningly sweet...if you know what I mean."
"Well, that's not really what I meant..." Summer took her sandals out of her bag and slid them on. Chip raised an eyebrow. "Everybody knows that you like Marissa. Okay. That's it."
She quickened her pace and Chip hurried to catch up with her. "Hey, wait a minute! I don't even like her...I mean, she's hot, duh, but like, I'm into a different type of girl..."
"And what type would that be?" Summer felt her heart quicken but kept her voice level and bored.
"Your type," Chip answered honestly, placing a hand on her shoulder. He tilted his head downwards and Summer closed her eyes, as his lips met hers. She opened her mouth and felt Chip's tongue wiggle around a bit. He obviously hadn't had much experience, but then again neither had she. She wrapped her arms around the back of his head and pulled him in closer...
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The phone rang as soon as Summer walked in the door. She ran to the kitchen and grabbed the phone out of its cradle.
"Hello?"
"Summer! Where have you been all day? I've been trying to reach you," Marissa said.
Summer didn't bother to ask Marissa why she hadn't tried her cell phone. "I was out."
"Where? Ohmigosh Sum, I was sooo worried."
"Really?" Summer asked nonchalantly, though she was quite interested. Marissa had been worried about her? Marissa had taken enough time to think of someone other than herself, or Luke?
"Yeah. So what's this I hear about you hooking up with Chip?"
So that was it. "Where'd you hear that?"
Marissa sighed. Summer had no reason to get snippy with her. "Chip told Luke, who told me, of course. I thought you didn't like him!"
No, Summer thought, annoyed, you said that he didn't like me, that I didn't stand a chance with him. "Well I do," she said coolly, "Do you have a problem with that?"
"God, sorry I asked. Are you coming over or not?"
"Do you want me to?" Summer wasn't really in the mood for Marissa's constant chatter about Luke and herself, but she had nothing else to do...
"Of course! You're my best friend, Sum. Do you need a ride?"
"Yeah, my dad's not home. Thanks." Summer set the phone down and ran up the stairs to her bedroom to pack her overnight bag.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Daddy? We have to go pick Summer up," Marissa yelled.
Jimmy appeared in the living room a moment later, keys in hand. "You ready, kiddo?"
"Don't call me kiddo." Marissa said, stomping out of the room. She went outside and got into the car. So Summer and Chip had hooked up, she thought. Chip liked her, though. Or he was supposed to. What did he see in Summer in the first place? Summer was her best friend but she was so small and...young looking.
Chip would get bored soon enough and move on. Marissa smiled knowingly. She would always have Luke, the best looking guy at Harbor, while Summer's heart would constantly be broken. And even if there were better looking guys, which there wouldn't be, Marissa thought, at least she had something.