Ryan and Seth picked the girls up for school in the morning, early enough for them to grab a quick breakfast in the cafe. By 8:30 the gang all travelled off in separate directions for their classes.
Seth entered his class and sat down just before the teacher began class.
"Ok today we're going to start with our projects. It will be worth 40 of your grade as you all know and this year I will be be in charge of assigning your partners instead of picking your own." Mr. Tensen said.
The entire class moaned, no one liked it when the teachers forced partners onto eachother.
He started calling out the partners, Seth was partnered up with a girl named Paige. Seth used to talk to her a while back. She was smart and pretty and she was also on Summer's hate list. She was Summer's complete opposite. Paige worked hard at school and was really good at it, she didn't like large groups of people and she never drank, she was confident but quiet and she tried to blend in instead of stand out at school.
Seth looked across the room and gave Paige a slight smile once their names were called out, Paige returned his smile.
After the partners were finished being called out, Mr. Tensen suggested the partners meet before class the next day to go over what they wanted to do their paper on. As soon as class was finished Seth waited for Paige outside the classroom.
"I guess we're partners." Seth said as she exited the classroom.
"Yeah, so when should we meet to discuss it?" Paige asked as they walked down the hall.
"Maybe we could stay after school for a little while, is that ok with you?" Seth asked.
"Sure, I've already thought about it and I have a couple of ideas we could go over." Paige informed.
"Cool, see you around 3 in the library?" Seth asked.
"3." Paige accepted and walked off.
Seth smiled and walked off towards his next class.
At lunch time, Seth met up with Ryan. Marissa and Summer didn't have lunch with the boys.
"Hey man." Seth said sitting down at Ryan's table.
"Hey." Ryan said looking up from his book.
"Put that book away, lunch time is for eating not reading." Seth demanded.
Ryan put his book down and stared at Seth.
"Ok I have a problem." Seth said.
"Yeah I already knew that." Ryan hinted and bit into his lunch.
"No we were put into partners in history class today and my partner is Paige Freeman." Seth informed.
"And why is that a problem?" Ryan asked confused.
"Paige Freeman is number one on Summer's hate list." Seth said.
"Summer has a hate list?" Ryan asked not so surprised.
"Well not an actually hate list but if Summer did have one she would be number one. Summer and Pagie do not like eachother, not one bit." Seth replied.
"Well it's not your fault, Summer shouldn't care." Ryan said taking another bite of food.
"It's Summer we're talking about, you know the one with rage blackouts. Summer Roberts my girlfriend." Seth said.
"Yeah you're right. She's probably going to break up with you over it but that's all you can do about it." Ryan joked.
"Ryan this isn't a joking matter, what should I do? Should I tell Summer or just try to avoid telling her." Seth asked.
"Tell her man, she's not going to do anything. Besides you didn't choose her." Ryan said.
"Yeah, Summer will understand." Seth tried to convince himself.
"Well I have to meet Paige after school so can you pick me up later on after it's over?" Seth asked.
"Sure, what should I tell Summer when she asks why you aren't going home?" Ryan asked.
"Just tell her that I'm working with my partner in history and that you're picking me up later." Seth answered.
"And if she asks who your partner is what do I say?" Ryan asked.
"Just say I didn't tell you." Seth replied.
Ryan met the girls out by the jeep after school.
"You two ready to go?" Ryan asked unlocking the doors.
"Yeah, where is Cohen?" Summer asked confused but still jumping into the backseat, letting Marissa take the front since Seth wasn't around.
"He had to meet with his history partner I have to pick him up when he calls later." Ryan replied.
"His history partner, do you know who it is?" Summer asked curious who he was working with.
"Nah, he didn't mention that. All he said was that he had to meet after school." Ryan lied.
"He's working with Paige, I was talking to her earlier." Marissa informed her best friend.
"Paige? Why did he choose to work with her, EWWW." Summer said in the backseat.
"They were paired together by the teacher." Marissa replied but noticed Ryan's facial expression and realized she shouldn't have said anything.
"Oh." Summer simply said.
"Sum why is it that you two don't like eachother, I forget." Marissa said looking back at Summer.
"Coop you don't remember? Remember Jamie?" Summer said trying not to say to much.
"Oh yeah, Jamie. Right!" Marissa said remembering that Paige and Summer both dated Jamie at the same time. Jamie was with Paige first but started dating Summer without Summer knowing about Paige. Things ended on a very bad point. Paige found Jamie and Summer making out in his room. Summer was head over heals for Jamie before everything was exposed but still wanted to be with him after she found out about Paige, Jamie on the other hand wanted to stay with Paige. Since then Summer hated Paige.
Ryan didn't bother to ask what the girls were talking about, instead he continued to drive towards Summer's house.
"Sum I'm going to stop by later if that is ok?" Marissa said knowing that her best friend may need to have her there to vent with.
"That would be great Coop, thanks." Summer smiled, "Thanks Chino for the ride. Tell Cohen I'll call him later."
"No problem." Ryan said looking back at Summer as she got out of the car.
Ryan pulled out of her driveway, "You want to come over till I pick Seth up?"
"Ryan I'd love to but I have a bunch of homework to do and I want to get it done before I go to Summers. Is that ok?" Marissa replied.
"Yeah no problem." Ryan replied turning towards Marissa's house instead of towards his.
"Maybe I can stop by after I go to Summers, if I'm not there too long." Marissa said.
Ryan smiled at her, "If you have a chance, sure. How was school today, I didn't see you around at all."
"Busy, we had a meeting for the kick off carnival. It's going to be a blast I think." Marissa said.
"When is the carnival?" Ryan asked.
"It's always on the 20th of September." Marissa informed.
"And you have to be there for it?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah, I'm the one running it." Marissa replied.
Ryan pulled up to Marissa's house and stopped the car.
"Thanks Ryan." Marissa said picking up her bag.
Ryan leaned over and gave her a kiss, "Hopefully I'll see you later."
Marissa nodded and got out of the car. Ryan waited until she opened the door and turned around to wave to him.
Instead of going home, Ryan decided to go to the mall. He only realized once Marissa mentioned the kick off carnival that their one year anniversary was on that night, the 20th.
He wanted to surprise her, he knew that she wouldn't think he'd remember or bother to buy her a gift and he wanted to prove her wrong.
When Ryan got to the mall he wandered around not really knowing where to start looking for a gift. He avoided all clothing store cause he knew there was no way he'd be able to pick out clothing for Marissa. He walked past the first jewellry store he scene determined he wasn't going to get anything in there. He walked around the entire mall once and didn't even go into one store. He stopped at the same spot he started and looked at his watch, he had only been there for 15 minutes so he started walking again.
This time he stopped in front of the jewellry store he past earlier, just to look at the display case. As he was looking the sales person approached him.
"Hi Sir, is there anything you're looking for specifically?" The sales person asked.
"No, I was just looking." Ryan replied and walked off. He walked down past a few stores and stopped and returned to the jewellry store.
"Oh I see you're back. Did you change your mind?" The salesperson said confronting him again.
"Maybe, I just want to browse around for now." Ryan said and the salesperson nodded and walked away.
Ryan looked around the store and stopped in front of the necklaces. He admired them and looked up for the sales person. She noticed and returned to his side.
"There are some very beautiful pieces there." She said unlocking the case to take them out for a closer look.
Ryan nodded and stood there while she pulled the necklaces out.
"Do you know what you're looking for or would you like some help?" She asked.
Ryan raised his hand up to his forhead and gave her a smile.
"Don't worry I can help. There are lots of guys who come in not knowing why there in her and not knowing what to look for." She laughed.
"Yeah." Ryan said slightly laughing.
"I'm assuming this is for your girlfriend?" She asked.
Ryan nodded.
"Birthday?" She asked.
Ryan shook his head no.
"Anniversary?" She asked.
"Yeah." Ryan replied.
"Ok, is she the type to wear jewellry or not?" She asked.
"Uh, she doesn't really wear a whole lot, simple nothing too bold or anything like that." Ryan replied trying to remember whether he's ever seen her wear jewellry.
"Ok that narrows it down a bit. Do you want to buy silver or gold?" She asked.
"Definitely gold." Ryan replied.
"White or Yellow?" She asked.
"Umm I don't know." Ryan answered, "What do you think?"
"I personally like white gold, it goes with everything." She answered.
"Let's go with white gold then." Ryan said.
"OK, let me just pick out the ones I think you're girlfriend will like." She offered and started going through the necklaces.
A couple minutes later the salesperson started showing Ryan the ones she thought Marissa would love. Ryan admired the necklaces and picked out one he thought Marissa would fall in love with.
"I think she'll like this one." Ryan said pointing to a necklace with a diamond solitiare pendant in white gold.
"That was my favourite too, she'll love it." The salesperson smiled and pulled it away from the rest and put the others back into the case.
"Would you like it gift wrapped?" She asked.
"Yeah thanks." Ryan replied and waited for it to be rang through to pay for it.
About 5 minutes later Ryan was heading out to the parking lot when his cell phone rang.
"Hello?" Ryan answered.
"Ryan, can you pick me up now?" Seth asked.
"Yeah, I'm on my way." Ryan replied and hung the phone up.
Ryan arrived at the school and Seth jumped into the car with Paige.
"I offered Paige a ride home." Seth said.
"Paige this is Ryan, Ryan..Paige" Seth introduced them.
Both said hi and Paige gave Ryan directions to her house.
After Paige was out of the car Ryan decided to let Seth know about Marissa informing Summer on who his partner was.
"Was Summer curious who my partner is?" Seth asked.
"Actually Paige told Marissa today and she told Summer when I was driving them home." Ryan informed.
"Really, did she freak out?" Seth asked.
"Actually she went kind of quiet." Ryan replied.
"Really and then Marissa asked why they didn't get along and a guy named Jamie was brought up. Besides that I don't know much else." Ryan replied.
"Oh." Seth said.
"Summer said she will call you later." Ryan said.
"Maybe I should go over there." Seth said.
"Marissa is going over there, maybe you shouldn't. Just wait till she calls you." Ryan suggested.