"A woman who'll wait for the third time around, head in the clouds, feet on the ground

She's girl he's glad he's found, she's his shipoopi."

---Shipoopi, The Music Man

Summer sat at the lunch table trying to finish up her science homework when Kristi and Becca came up to her.
"Now why aren't you in class?" Becca asked with a stern look on her face
"Homework." Summer said not taking her eyes off of the page
"Isn't that supposed to of been done at home?" Kristi asked taking a seat.
"I was up all night filling out my application to Stanford."
"You applied to Stanford?" Becca asked excited
"It's not like I'm going to get in, but I thought I'd at least try."
"Come on Summer, think positive."
"Positive, okay. I am positive that I am going to get an 'F' on science test if I don't finish this paper. And If I fail this test then I'll fail my history test, and if I fail my history test then I won't get into any good colleges and if I don't get into any good colleges I'll end up being a poor lady on the street asking people for quarters to feed my pet sock. So could you please leave me alone?" Summer asked with a pout on her face. "Please?"
"Okay." Kristi said standing up. "By the way, Katherine is having a big Valley marathon tonight starting after school tomorrow, incase you want to do something besides go to the winter dance."
"Okay."

The girls walked off and Summer went back to working on her paper. Fifteen minutes went by and a blonde took a seat at her table.
"You've got Elkin's after lunch, right?" He asked
"What's it matter to you?" She asked with a sigh.
"Well, I'm just trying to figure out where I've seen you before. I'm Pat Wood."
"Pat Wood?"
"I know sucks to be me don't it."
"Just ask me already, Pat."
"What do you mean?"
"Drop the sweet talk and ask me whatever it is you want to ask me."
"I was just wondering if you would want to attend the winter dance with me tomorrow."
"No." She said and went back to working.
"That was harsh. Kind of bruised my ego. Can't I at least get an explanation as to why you don't want to go?"
"You want an explanation?" She asked slamming her book. "Okay, how about this I don't know you. And, honestly,I don't really want to get to know you. Okay? Oh, poor baby, don't like that one? How about this: you're not Seth Cohen."
"Who's Seth Cohen?"
"The only guy I could ever see myself going to a stupid high school dance with, okay? So will you please leave me the hell alone?"

That afternoon Summer sat in Mr. Elkins class doodling in her notebook while Mr. Elkins went on about something she was barely listening to.
"Who's the governor of California?" Mr. Elkins asked, "Pat?"
"That Arnold guy?" Pat asked
"That Arnold guy...well that's not his actual title but I guess someone has called him that once upon a time, yes."
Just then the bell rang and everyone started to gather their belongings and leave.
"I strongly recommend that you all study over the chapter, who knows there maybe a quiz over it tomorrow." Mr. Elkins called out.
"There's not going to be a test tomorrow."Niki whispered into Summer's ear.
"How do you figure?"
"Well, now we know that he's going to give us a test tomorrow, so he won't give us a test tomorrow. Unless that's what he wants us to think. But now we know that he knows that we know about him giving us a test tomorrow. And now he knows that we know that he knows that we know about the test tomorrow."
"You've lost me." Summer said

"Wait just one minute! Meg Ryan is a really hot actress, given she's gotten a little old lately, who was in such under-rated 'eat an entire box of chocolate because you're home alone on a Saturday night' movies as When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You've got Mail." Jackson said as he, Counterman, and Wasman walked up to them.
"I loved When Harry Met Sally! With the orgasm scene, 'OH OH, OH, YES, YES, YES.'... What? That's what they do in the movie. 'I'll have what she's having.' You know..." Counterman said trying to re-enact the orgasm scene.
"What about City of Angels?" Wasman asked
"I loved City of Angels." Counterman exclaimed
"City of Angel's sucked!" Jackson said.

"Hey baby." Niki said putting her arms around Counterman's waste
"Hey Niki."
"Are we going to go to the Dance tomorrow night because if we are then there's only one more day left to buy tickets."
"Ooohh, the winter dance." Jackson and Wasman teased.
"Hey now, isn't Kristi making you go to it?" Counterman asked
"No. She knows that it's just a waste of time. I mean, who wants to come back to school after they've already been let out on break?"
"Come on Andy, this is the last dance of the year."
"Yeah, but it's not the last dance of the school year. We've still got Loyalty and Prom."
"I can't believe this! I can't believe you!" Niki whimpered before stomping away.
"You better go after her." Wasman said pushing Counterman. "Come on Summer, let's get to class."
"Actually I need to go talk to someone so if Ms. Iye asks tell her I'll be late."
"Okay."

Summer started walking away in the opposite direction of her class and as soon as she was sure that Wasman couldn't see her anymore she ducked into the nearest bathroom.
She pulled out her phone and quickly dialed her father's office number and waited for an answer.
"Hello Dr. Roberts Office. How may I help you?" Janna, her father's secretary asked answering the phone.
"Hi, it's Summer. I was wondering if my father was available..."

That night Summer sat in the kitchen feeding Sam her bottle while Meg cooked dinner.
"So, are you doing anything big for the holidays?" Summer asked
"I don't think so why?"
"I'm thinking' about taking Sam on her first trip."
"You are?" Meg asked turning off the burner.
"Yeah. My dad's going to Maui and he said that he'd pay for my ticket there or wherever I want to go."
"Where ever you want to go? Such as..."
"South America or..."
"Newport?"
"I just have to decide where I want to go."

The next morning Summer sat in her drama class as every one ran around getting ready for the winter assembly that was happening at nine.
"I hate old people!" Jackson exclaimed as he came into class ten minutes late followed by Wasman and Kristi, "They drive like ten miles an hour."
"Well I bet if you would have left earlier you could have made it on time." Ms. Casey said from her desk.
"We did leave earlier. And we would have made it earlier, but unfortunately we had to pick up short-stuff over here." Jackson said pointing at Kristi who was digging through her bag for something.
"Excuse me!" She said looking over her shoulder, "You could have taken your own car."
"No I couldn't have because my car is in the shop."
"Whose fault is that?" Kristi said returning to searching through her bag.
"Okay you two." Wasman said putting his arms out.
"Ooh I found it!" Kristi said pulling out a video tape from her bag, "Casey! I brought that Beverly Hills tape for you to watch."
"Oh my god!"Ms. Casey exclaimed, "Today is the best day ever! I got a cd, and Caitlin gave me chocolates, and Becca gave me cookies, and you gave me a Beverly Hills tape!"
"Uh-hum." Ariel coughed, crossing his arms
"And Ariel gave me a piece of gum! And I got ponies. This is the best day ever!"

Kristi took a seat next to Summer "So what are you doing during the break? 'Cause I was thinking..."
"I'm going out of town." Summer said cutting her off.
"Are you going to Newport?" Ms. Casey asked in shock.
"Maybe. My dad said he'd pay for my ticket I just have to have someone to stay with."

That afternoon right before lunch, Summer stood in the lobby watching the snow begin to fall as she waited for the rest of the gang to show up.

"You scared the 'F' out of Me." she heard a girl behind her say when a guy yelled boo behind her.
"Oh, not the 'F'" he mocked
"That's it! I will cut you!"

"Man with hand down his pants will all day feel cocky." Counterman said trying to sound profound.
"God Andy, you're so deep." Niki said rolling her eyes.
"You want deep?"Counterman asked, "How about this: Jesus would be a lot easier to find if he was made of metal and I had a big magnet."
"Now you just sound stupid." Kristi said as she buttoned her jacket up.
"I've got to say man, you really do." Wasman agreed
"Are we ready to go?" Summer asked turning around
"Totally ready." Kristi said.

They began walking out the doors when Summer's phone went off.
"Urg." She groaned and answered it, "Hello?"
"Summer, its Kirsten."
"Hi! Could you hold on a minute?"
"Of course." Summer put her hand over the mouthpiece and told the rest of the group to go on ahead and she'll catch up with them later.
"Sorry about that." She said getting back on the line.
"It's no problem."
"So, I was starting to think that you weren't going to return my call."
"Sorry, things have been chaotic lately. Christmukkah and all. So what's wrong?"
"I was wondering what's going on at your house after Christmukkah is over."
"The boys are going on a bonding trip with Jimmy. Why?"
"My dad's offering to pay for my ticket's wherever I want to go. Only problem is I have to know someone and they have to agree to let me stay with them."
"Isn't your dad going to Maui?"
"Yeah he is, and if it was last year I'd be all for going with him, but ever since Sam came things have been all weird between us."
"I understand..."

Ten minutes later Summer caught up with the group at a coffee house not to far away from school.
"Hey you guys." She said walking up to the gang who were all seated on a bright orange couch.
"There you are Sum. We started to get worried about you. Take a seat." Kristi said motioning to an empty yellow chair.
"I feel like we should be reenacting a scene from 'Friends' or something." She joked as she sat down.
"So what was the phone call all about?" Niki asked taking a sip off her ice coffee
"That was about my post Christmas plans."
"And?" Counterman asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'm going to Newport."