It was Friday night and Marissa was driving Ryan and Summer to the carnival. Marissa hoped this would help Summer get through Seth in a coma. They were ten minutes away, and Summer was sitting in the backseat, feeling like a little girl. She didn't say anything, she barely wanted to come. But Marissa had been so persistent, so here she was. Lately, Summer hated going outside, she liked to stay in her room. It got messier and messier by the day, Summer cried more and more often.

Marissa pulled into the parking lot, they were there. Summer sighed as she opened the door and got out. A Ferris wheel loomed off in the distance, other less popular rides surrounded Summer as they walked in. Little kids and adults alike screamed while they spun around on rides. Colored lights lit the whole way place up. To most people they could call this fun, but to Summer, it didn't seem very fun.

"How about some games?" Marissa asked and Ryan and Summer followed her as she looked at the games. Marissa chose Whack-A-Mole and paid for all three of them to play. Summer grabbed the mallet and felt a surge of power. When the buzzer went off, she hit the moles with all her might. She let out all her anger out on them. Too bad there was too much anger. The buzzer went off again. The game had stopped. Summer had won. But she wasn't paying attention, she didn't care. All she cared about was Seth. Marissa's plan wasn't working.

Next they decided to get some food. Summer wasn't hungry, but Marissa didn't care. She was desperately trying to make Summer feel better. Summer was falling apart, you could tell. As much as she tried to hide it, you could see it clearly. Marissa felt bad. Everything Marissa tried to help Summer was failing. This was Marissa's last attempt at saving her friend. Marissa needed Seth to wake up.

The three bought a large bucket of fries to share, but Summer ate none. Summer always was thin, but she looked a little too thin. It made Marissa too worried.

They ate in silence, Summer stared away. She wondered if Seth liked carnivals, would he be going on every ride? Would Summer be pulled onto them, could she scream in delight if she was having fun? Would Seth hold her if she was scared? She hugged her stuffed animal. They wouldn't know. He wasn't there.

"Sum, you all right? You want some food?" Marissa asked, offering Summer some french fries. She wanted Summer to eat, to be okay.

"Hmm? Me? No, I'm fine." Summer answered, desponding Marissa.

"Come on, just one fry. Please?" Marissa tried.

"I'm not really hungry." Summer looked over to the fries. They looked disgusting. How could anyone eat those?

"Okay." Marissa gave up. Hopefully, the rest of the night would be better than it was now.

They finished eating and decided to walk around. Which was a little difficult, since people crowded the walkway. People were bumping into Summer, who was behind Ryan and Marissa, but she didn't care. She didn't notice them, she wasn't noticing anything. She was just amongst all the people, no one special. She was being tossed around like a doll, but all she thought of was Seth. She couldn't get him off her mind, as hard as she and Marissa tried.

Marissa was trying to have a good time, and she was, but Summer kept looming in mind. She looked back at her friend, who was barely visible amidst the crowd. Marissa stopped, waiting for her. Summer wasn't looking up, she didn't care where she was headed. Luckily, Marissa called her name, or Summer would've walked right into her. They then continued on, Marissa next to Ryan, Summer behind them. She wasn't having a good time.

They played a few more games, Summer wasn't playing with as much vigor as she had been and Marissa won a couple, as did Ryan. Most of the time, they lost to the other people. They were carrying around too many stuffed animals, so Ryan took them all back to the car. He left Summer and Marissa alone, maybe they would talk. But they didn't, an awkward silence around them, with screams and laughter in the distance. Ryan came back, no stuffed animals in hand, and they continued on.

Marissa and Ryan sometimes talked, trying to pass the time. Summer was silent, she didn't want to talk. Usually Ryan was the one who didn't talk, but he wanted to talk. Seth usually held most conversations, Ryan didn't, but without Seth, Ryan felt a need to talk. He had to fill a void.

The carnival was bigger than they had assumed. They hadn't even reached the rides, but there was still a bit more to see. Summer could hear the Pacific in the background. Somehow, she could still hear it throughout all the screams, laughs, and just plain talking. Games and food stands were everywhere, the rides were nowhere in sight.

"Let's play bingo." Marissa announced. Not that far away was the bingo area. Neither Ryan now Summer said anything, they just followed. All three of them sat down and took a triple board. Every game cost 50 cents, and Marissa paid for them all. And then the game began. O72. Summer had it on two boards, she put little chips on the space. B6. She didn't have that one, but she saw Marissa put chips on her board. People walking by always thought it was funny to scream, "Bingo," while they walked by. Most people looked by, but Summer didn't. She just stared at the board, laying chips on the numbers, thinking about Seth. N39. She couldn't not think about him. What else was there to think about? Bingo wasn't very exciting, it just passed the time. I19. No one had called bingo yet, Summer almost had it. Multiple times. G54. Another chip. Summer only really focused on one board, the others she just put the chips on, she didn't look at those. The one she focused on had barely any chips on it, it was the least popular. Nothing good seemed to come its was, none of its numbers were ever picked.

B13. Summer put chips down, but continued to stare at the lonely board. One of its numbers had been called. The unlucky number. Marissa looked over.

"Sum, you have bingo. Like, three times." Marissa pointed out to Summer and shoed her where she had bingo. It was one of the other cards, the not lonely one. "Um, we have bingo over here!" Marissa told the number caller and someone came over. As they checked the numbers, Summer once again, felt like a little girl. She couldn't even notice bingo.

When all the numbers had been checked and Summer had won, she was given a money prize. Marissa thought that maybe Summer would feel a little better. But no. Summer barely acknowledged her prize, she was horribly spaced out.

"Sum, do you wanna continue playing?" Marissa asked.

"What?" Summer wasn't paying attention.

"Do you want to play again?" Marissa reiterated.

"I don't care." Summer answered. Marissa sighed and they left. They headed to where the rides were, and Marissa bought tickets for them and came back over.

"Okay. So what do you want to go on? I was thinking the Ferris wheel." Marissa looked to Ryan as he and Summer looked up to the top of it.

"That one?" Ryan asked, skeptical.

"Yes, that one. Are you afraid?" Marissa teased.

"Is it safe?" Ryan was afraid.

"Yeah. We'll go on the one that seats more than two. It'll be safer." Marissa remembered the last time she went on a Ferris wheel. It was last year, and Ryan had jumped on in front of Summer. They had shared their first kiss, so it was pretty memorable. "Will you go on?"

"Yeah, I guess so." Ryan and Summer followed Marissa to the Ferris wheel. His fear was much higher, as was the Ferris wheel. This time, Ryan had an opportunity to think about what he was doing. Before, Ryan just jumped on, not thinking. This time, he was thinking. Thinking about if it broke, they'd be up high. Really high.

The three paid their tickets and got on. Ryan wished he was on solid ground.

Summer could see the fear on Ryan's face. She felt bad that he was so scared. But she had Seth in her mind, she couldn't help either guy. She stared out into the carnival. Little kids were running around, screaming, having fun, not caring about the world. They were so carefree, nothing mattered. Summer and Marissa used to be like those kids. Happy, free. Nothing mattered to them, they lived in a different world. Summer wondered what Seth and Ryan were like when they were little. Were they as carefree as Summer and Marissa had been?

"Ryan, what's wrong?" Marissa asked, almost oblivious to his fear.

"Oh, I don't know, we're gonna be stopping soon. At the top." The Ferris wheel stopped. "Oh God."

"Ryan, it'll be fine. The only time you should be afraid is when I do this." And then Marissa rocked the cart.

"Please.....do not....do that." Ryan begged.

"Okay, I'm sorry. You just shouldn't be afraid. The ride is safe, you won't die." Marissa tried to reassure him.

"I hadn't even thought of dying." Ryan wanted to get off.

"Ryan, calm down. Sum, you're not afraid, are you?" Marissa saw that Summer was staring out. Summer looked over.

"No." Summer shook her head slowly. It was strange, Ryan seemed like such a tough guy, but yet he was afraid of heights. Being too high made him bug-eyed, jittery, nervous. He always beat up people, but if you get him on a Ferris wheel, he's scared to death.

"Look it, you can see the ocean. It's so beautiful from here." Summer looked over to where Marissa was staring. There was a beautiful view of the ocean.

"I'd rather not." Ryan objected, not very keen on looking out or down.

"But it's really pretty. Just look out, you're not looking down. Just...look." Marissa tried to get Ryan to look out. Maybe he wouldn't be so afraid if he did see there was something worth looking at from so high up.

"No. Not worth it." Ryan didn't look up.

"Then why did you come on?" Marissa asked.

"I really don't know." Ryan answered.

"Whatever." Marissa continued to look out. Summer did too. She stared out at the glittering ocean. The waves crashed onto the empty beach. Summer had never seen the ocean so gorgeous. But it reminded her of Seth, everything did.

When they had finally reached the bottom, Ryan was ready to jump off the ride. He never was gladder to have his feet on solid ground. They again began walking around looking for a ride. Cotton candy caught Marissa's eye, and they chose to get some. Marissa and Ryan shared it, Summer was still not hungry. The truth was all that Summer had to eat was a tiny pack of crackers. That's what she usually ate now.

After Ryan and Marissa had found a place to wash their hands, they then found a ride that looked relatively safe. It was a ride that bared a resemblance to the scrambler, but it had less carts, but bigger places to sit. They sat in one, the green one, and buckled up. Marissa and Ryan sat next to each other, Summer sat a seat away from Marissa.

"Now, pull on the bar to spin." The one conductor told them. They each held onto it, not pulling, waiting for the ride to commence. It was slow when it started, they were just spinning around. But then it picked up speed. A lot of speed. And then they were spinning around like crazy. Both Marissa and Ryan were pulling on the bar. Summer looked out into the carnival. She tried to see the people, but they were moving too fast. All she could see was the colored lights twirling around, doing a little dance.

The ride was spinning violently fast, but only Summer seemed to notice. Ryan was still pulling, Marissa had stopped. She was now trying to loosen Ryan's grip on the bar, but he was too strong. It was if Summer didn't exist, like Ryan and Marissa were the only ones on the ride. It was as if they didn't know Seth was in a coma. Summer was invisible, watching Ryan and Marissa falling in love again.

All Summer could think of was Seth. How could she have fun while he lie on a bed, paralyzed? Summer could feel the tears coming, but she couldn't let them fall. No, she couldn't let them see her cry. They were having fun, how could she ruin that? Or was she already? It didn't seem like she was. Marissa was smiling, she was happy with Ryan. Her face seemed to glow when she was with him. Summer hadn't seen her glow like she was in months. Summer had bee so afraid for Marissa over the summer. She had known Marissa was drinking, but she had kept her friend's secret. No, she watched over Marissa, took care of her, lied for her. Marissa couldn't go to Rehab. Summer would have no one, nothing to live for. If Marissa went, so would Summer.

But they didn't. Marissa wasn't drinking nearly as much as she had been. Marissa was safe with her drinking. She only drank when she was really upset. But with Ryan back in the picture, she'd be okay. He was the one who saved her. Summer wouldn't have been able to stop her, only Ryan could. The person Marissa was meant to be with.

The ride slowed down to a stop, and Summer thought the ride was over. She wanted her corner. She was near her breaking point. But the ride started up again, backwards, going faster. Summer didn't know how much longer she would last, she was sick. Not from the ride, herself. The tears would be coming soon, there was no doubt about it.

Seth, Seth, Seth... her mind kept thinking. Summer thought of nothing else, and as she thought of him, her pain increased. She was losing it. She couldn't take it. Summer forced the tears back. She couldn't break down. Not here, not now.

Marissa let out a shriek of delight as the ride was at its fastest. Summer had zoned out, and looked over. Marissa wasn't fighting it anymore, she just went for the ride Ryan was helping. She was smiling, laughing, having a great time. Summer thought about not fighting it, letting it take over. She'd fight this until she could fight it no longer.

On and on, faster and faster the ride went. How long had they been on this ride? Shouldn't it be stopping soon? They seemed to be on the ride forever, it never stopped. It just kept spinning and spinning, spiraling Summer towards her breaking point. Finally, the ride stopped. Summer made it. She was free.

"We have six tickets. One of us will have to sit the next ride out." Ryan announced, stumbling a little. Summer was the only one not dizzy.

"I will." Summer said all too eagerly.

"No, Sum. Don't. They had a really big fun house here. It's only two tickets. They have a huge room of mirrors, everything." Marissa was ahead of them.

"How do you know? I didn't see anything about it." Ryan committed.

"I used to go here when I was little. It's like practically hidden. Not really super hidden, but you don't notice it right away." Marissa explained to them.

"How do you know they still have it?" Ryan wasn't sure.

"I just...do. Come on." Marissa began walking and Ryan and Summer followed like usual. Summer supposed she could make it through the fun house. It would just have to be quick, she didn't know how much longer she'd make it. After a bit of walking, they finally found it.

"Wow, it really is big." Ryan said upon seeing it.

"It's a little kid's dream," Marissa paused. "Well, it was when I was a little kid. Come on." Marissa lead them to it, but made Ryan go first, Summer was last. Ryan and Summer were a little too serious for it, but Marissa was letting her imagination run wild. It was as if she was a little kid. When everything was okay in Newport. When her parents were still together, when her father was the greatest person in the world. The first few times she went in the fun house, he dad helped her, while Julie waited outside holding Kaitlin. Jimmy and Marissa had such a great time in there, she never wanted to leave. For a while, every year they went, and Marissa dreaded the year when she would be big enough to go through the fun house alone. It was no fun without anyone else. She didn't want to go in there alone, that meant growing up. So Marissa faked it. She would start off alone, but as soon as her father couldn't see her, she'd sit on the floor and scream for him as loud as she could. He would come running, glad to see her safe, and then they would battle the fun house together.

Those times were gone, she was older, she could get through the fun house alone. But going in made her feel like a little kid, without a care in the world. She hoped Summer would feel the same way.

But she wasn't. Summer was slowly slipping to her breaking point, she couldn't stop it anymore. Her pain was too much, the sadness she felt for Seth was too overwhelming. Summer didn't know how much longer she would hold. She just knew she wouldn't make it through the fun house.

All three had been holding hands in a line, but as they got further and further into the fun house, Summer lost grip with Marissa. She was losing grip with everything around her, she was breaking.

They had finally reached it. The room of mirrors. Summer was falling farther and farther behind, barely breathing. Ryan and Marissa were almost through all the mirrors, Summer had hardly started. Everywhere she saw herself, the pitiful person she was. She was freezing, her insides were ice cold. Her pain was unbearable, she was falling. Her tears rolled down her face, she had lost her fight. Breathing was difficult for Summer, she was choking. She couldn't stand up anymore, and slid into a little corner, a replacement for her real corner.

Summer let out a scream and slammed the mirrors, breaking them. She had cracked.

"What was that?" Ryan asked, stopping on the stairs that led to outside. They had heard a scream and something breaking.

"I have no clue." Marissa looked back. "Where's Sum? She was right behind us."

"I don't know." Both were getting worried. Marissa looked at Ryan.

"Coop......" A barely audible voice came from behind them.

"That has to be Sum. I'll go get her, you go ahead." Marissa told Ryan.

"Okay." He nodded. They went their separate ways, Marissa went to the room of mirrors again, finding her way quite easily. She felt like her father, rushing to the scene, afraid of what to find. Marissa found Summer by looking in the mirrors, but it wasn't a pretty sight.

"Sum!" Marissa yelled as she went over to her friend. She had never seen Summer like this. Her hands were covered in blood, tears rolled down her face, and mirror shards lie everywhere. Obviously Summer had broken about three mirrors. With her own hands. "Sum?" Marissa asked her friend, who had been staring at her bloody hands. Tears formed behind Marissa's eyes as she looked at Summer. Summer looked up, tears still rolling down her face. Her face held a terrified look, yet it also held sadness and confusion. "Oh God, Sum. What did you do?" Summer just stared at Marissa blankly, she had no words. Her voice was gone. She was gone. "Sum, come on. Let's get out of here." Marissa choked on her words. She was crying. She didn't know how to help her friend. Summer had always helped Marissa, she had always known what to do. Marissa had tried to help Summer, what could she do now? There wasn't much to help Summer. She was lost. But Marissa wouldn't lose her. She'd keep her secret. Summer couldn't go away. Not now. "Sum, come on. Get up, let's go." Both girls were crying. Marissa harder than Summer. Marissa had been through so much rough stuff for a while, Summer hadn't. Marissa should be breaking, not Summer. Summer was too strong, she couldn't break. "Sum, please. Just, let's go. Let's get out of here." Marissa was afraid for Summer. What would happen to her? "Oh God, Summer. We have to go. We have to get you out of here. I let you stay longer in the shooting, I'm not letting you stay longer here." Marissa was trembling. Mirror shards were digging into her. She needed to get out. "Please Sum." Summer stared at Marissa for a bit, then looked back to her hands, meaning she would go. Marissa assisted Summer up. They began walking, but they walked into a mirror. "Damn it!" It was harder to get out than get in. They kept going, Summer was no help. They again walked into a mirror. "Fuck!" Marissa screamed angrily. She couldn't stop crying, while Summer shed silent tears.

They finally made their way out of the room of mirrors, Marissa's tears were slowing up. The two tripped up the stairs, Marissa was practically pulling Summer, who just stared at her cut up hands. Marissa had never thought this would happen, but then again, she never thought she would be involved in a school shooting, plus she never thought Seth would fall into a coma. But she should've thought of this. Summer was not visiting Seth, the car incident. All clues to what would come. Why hadn't Marissa seen?

Marissa and Summer reached the exit, colored lights welcomed them out. Ryan came running towards them, fear plastered on his face.

"What happened?" He asked, looking at Summer's hands.

"I don't know. She just....freaked or something." Marissa answered, calming down.

"We should take her to a hospital." They talked as though Summer wasn't right next to them.

"Okay, but I wanna go tell the worker what happened. Just so he knows." Ryan understood and Marissa walked over to the person she had given their tickets to. "Excuse me, sir?" She tried to get the man's attention.

"Yeah?" He said, looking over.

"Um, I don't really know how to say this, but my friend, she had a little breakdown in your fun house. More specifically, the room of mirrors." Marissa tried to explain.

"Uh-huh..."

"Well, she broke a couple of your mirrors. We're really, really sorry and we'll pay for them if you want..." The guy looked over Marissa's shoulder and saw Summer. Ryan had sat her on a bench, she was still staring at her hands.

"Nah, it's okay." His eyes were transfixed on Summer.

"Thank you, thank you so much." Marissa began to walk back to Ryan and Summer.

"The bad luck'll get her."

"What?" Marissa turned to look at the man again.

"Don't you know? Every mirror you break is seven years bad luck." Marissa turned back to Ryan and Summer.

"I don't think things could any worse."