The Catch-22

Memories consume

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream.

Chapter 5 Sick and Tired

Summer had just finished straightening the last strand of her hair before she heard a car honk. What the hell? It's seven in the morning.

Summer went over to her window and pulled the lacy white curtains to the side. She poked her head out the window and saw a white Escalade with obscene chrome rims. Holly's voice rose above the din the engine of the car was making, "C'mon, you don't want to make all of us late for school."

Okay. The whole honking car under window wasn't exactly working for Summer.

Summer sighed and grabbed her backpack, hoping the elderly couple next door wouldn't have any heart attacks from the sudden beeping. She hopped down the stairs, signaling to her housekeeper that she was going to school.

Opening the front door, she was bombarded by California sunshine and heat. California was beautiful. Sunshine, palm trees, mansions, -

"Hurry your ass up, girl!"

Summer's day dream was broken by Holly's voice. She walked over the large white car that seemed to tower over her. Summer opened the door and saw Luke's face. His arm was around Holly's head rest. They gave each other death glares before Luke shook his head and looked away. Summer climbed into the car and shut the door.

"Hi." Summer smiled sheepishly at Seth who was sitting next to her.

Seth grinned back. "Hey."

Behind them, Ryan and Marissa exchanged glances. Marissa mouthed I-told-you-so while Ryan just pouted

So the three couples rode off in Holly's car to Harbor High.

Summer climbed out of the car a little woozy, suffice to say, Holly was not the best driver in the world. Entering the school parking lot, she had almost hit a group of freshman. Oh, and she also knocked down a stop sign.

Seth took out his skateboard from under his arm started to skate towards the school, while Summer, Marissa, and Holly walked together. Girls looked in awe and guys gawked at the three of them as they walked into the hallway of Harbor. As they walked down the main hallway, Holly tripped another student coming their way. The girl crashed down, her books following her. Everyone stopped what they were doing and started laughing as they watched the girl, embarrassed as hell, pick up her belongings and run away, head bent.

Summer gasped and looked at Marissa's response. But Marissa only rolled her eyes, she had seen Holly do this way too often and how ever much chiding she spent, Holly would do some evil deed again. Not like it wasn't without purpose.

"Holly, what was that for?" Summer exclaimed, horrified.

Holly tossed her hair. "What was what for?" She asked, as though forgetting.

"Tripping that girl. You made her look like a fool."

Holly paused. "She was giving me the evil eye." Holly looked at Marissa and Summer's looks. "Fine, she called me a slut."

Marissa rolled her eyes once again and waved her off before continuing to walking.

Summer snuck out of History class early, old Mr. Snoworth's white nose hair was unnerving her. It was a free period for some students, so there were a few mulling around. She just heard a corner when a girl with really eclectic fashion sense. Her hair was cut really short and dyed blond with brown under layers. She was looking straight out when she walked into a trashcan and tripped. All her books came crashing down and loose papers from her binder fell out.

Summer quickly scurried over to where she was, picking up stray things.

The blonde smiled brightly once Summer handed the remainder of the things that she dropped. "My name is Anna."

"Summer."

The bell rang and Anna shifted uncomfortable with her books in her arms. "It was nice meeting you. I'll see you around."

Summer nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, definitely!"

The students starting filing out of their classroom and into the hallways. Summer had a class to catch so she walked quickly, pushing people out of her way. Nobody dared to yell at her for pushing them into the nerd next to them, they didn't exactly want to have a fist from Ryan Atwood or Luke Ward in their face. She walked across the courtyard to her class that was so conveniently at the opposite side of Harbor.

Before Summer walked into her math class, she turned around and thought she saw a girl intently staring at her, following her every mood. Summer shrugged it off and walked in for a wonderful lesson on graphs.

Marissa sat in Ryan's pool house. "I feel so bad doing this." She whispered. "What if we get caught?"

Ryan took off his over shirt, wearing only a wife beater. "Don't worry, Sandy and Kirsten are at work. You never have any problem when you sneak into the pool house at night."

Marissa wrapped her arms around Ryan's neck and giggled before planting a kiss on Ryan's lips.

Ryan flipped her over onto his bed. He started fumbling with the buttons on her shirt. "Damn it."

Marissa looked him straight in the eye. "Are you cheating on me?"

Ryan sat up and threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. "What the hell?"

Marissa looked slightly bashful. She mumbled something under her breath.

"Hello?" Ryan was fed up with all her mood-changes.

Marissa mustered some more courage. "Fine, I heard some girls talking."

"I wouldn't do that." Ryan defensively said. Marissa had so many faults -- her insecurities, her drinking problems, and now this. But he still stuck with her.

"How do I know?" Marissa countered.

Ryan sighed exasperatedly. He grabbed his shirt and hurriedly put it over his wife beater. Opening the door, he walked out and slammed it shut. Everything in the pool house rattled.

Marissa straightened her self out and angrily followed Ryan. "Son of a bitch." She muttered.

Ryan had started Holly's Escalade backing it out of the driveway. Marissa knew that Ryan wouldn't drive away without her. The screeching of the tires squealed in her ears as the car braked at the very end of the driveway.

Marissa ran towards the car. "Ha. Ha." She said into the open window. She yanked the door opened and pulled herself in. She sulked, looking at the window. The car gently rode on the streets of Newport back to Harbor. Ryan parked in Holly's parking spot and turned off the engine.

"I'm sorry." Marissa told him before she promptly got out of the car.

Ryan just sighed and put his head on the steering wheel, causing it to honk. He was so sick and tired of this.

Summer walked out of her class and into a hall that had few students lingering. She had to stay after to get some notes for the upcoming exam. School had probably ended about a half-hour ago.

A shove came from behind, and Summer was pushed into an empty classroom. In front of her, a taller brunette stood in front of her.

"What the fuck?" Summer asked, staring into the menacing brown eyes. Realization washed over Summer. "You're trying to rape me, aren't you?"

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Look newbie. Maybe you got buddy, buddy with Holly and Marissa and was suddenly in the popular group, but you can't stay there forever."

"Is that a threat?" Summer asked, her bitchiness running strong in her veins.

The brunette tossed her hair. "Of course. In time, you'll be on the outside, with me in the inside chatting casually with Marissa and Holly." With that, she left the room, leaving Summer totally stunned.