Chapter 7

The party was in full swing when Seth and Ryan arrived. Holly's beach house was overflowing with polo players, football jocks and their cheerleader girlfriends, and Seth and Ryan stuck out like a sore thumb.
"I hate these parties" Ryan groaned.
"Remind me why we come to these?" Seth asked.
"Beats me. Marissa likes them so I guess I have to come."
Seth looked down at his feet, uncomfortable at the sound of Marissa's name.
Then a voice came from behind them. "Hey guys." It was Marissa. She was standing by the bar with Summer and both were making their way over to them.
"Hey." they both replied.
There was an awkward moment as both pairs tried to think of things to say.
"So," Summer said "Who wants to dance?"
"I do." Marissa answered. "Ryan, dance with me?"
"If you want. You commin' Seth?"
"No thanks, I'm not in the mood. I'm just gonna get a drink."
Seth headed towards the bar on his own.
"What's up with him?" Summer inquized.
"I dunno. He's been like that for about four days." Ryan informed her.
A voice suddenly boomed across the room, it was Holly's boyfriend.
"Holly says it time for spin the bottle so everyone, sit in a circle."
"Spin the bottle? " Marissa laughed. "I haven't played that since I was thirteen."
"I've never played it." Ryan told her.
"Really?"
"Nope."
"Wanna play it?" Marissa asked.
"If you do."
"Actually I kinda do. It might be fun."
"OK. Let me go and get Seth."
As Ryan walked off Summer said "I hope it lands on Me and Seth. I see what you mean about his cuteness."
Marissa flinched.
"What?" Summer asked.
"Nothing. Let's go and sit down."
As Marissa and Summer went to sit down, they saw Ryan dragging Seth towards the circle of people.
"Please Ryan, I really don't want to." he protested.
"Come on man." Ryan tried to persuade Seth "You've been in a mood for days. It might cheer you up if you get to make out with a hot girl."
"Alright."
"Wow, that was easier than I thought it would be." Ryan let out.
They sat down across from Marissa and Summer, and Holly stood in the middle announcing the rules.
"OK." she started. "The rules are, 1. When it lands on you you have to kiss the other person for ten seconds, 2. Tongue is allowed and
3. You have to kiss the person it lands on. Oh, and no same sex kisses."
Boos and laughter raised up from the circle.
"Ok, ok, they are allowed if both are concenting."
"Oh, good!" Seth whispered to Ryan.

It took about seven minutes before the bottle finally landed on one of the four, the lucky person being Marissa. She looked across at Ryan, and smiled before leaning forward to spin it for her lucky guy. It landed on Andrew, a member of the water polo team. After the kiss , she wrinkled her nose in disgust. The bottle then landed on Summer. "Yey! Finally!" she exclaimed.
She leant forward and spun the bottle. It seemed like it took forever to stop but when it finally did, it was pointed at Ryan. She looked at Marissa for acceptance. "All part of the game." Marissa said.
As Ryan and Summer stood up, Marissa and Seth caught each other's gaze. She tried to smile at him but he looked away, all the time not even noticing the kiss that was happening between her best friend and her boyfriend. After the ten seconds, the bottle was spun again. It landed on Seth who tried to get out of it. "No thanks you guys. I don't want to have a go."
"Don't be a spoil-sport." Summer jeered. "Just spin it."
Reluctantly, Seth took his turn but the worst thing that could've happened to him did. It landed on Marissa.
"I can't do it." he said to Ryan. "That's your girlfriend and I'd feel weird."
"I don't mind." Ryan replied. "It's only a game"
Seth tried to avoid it as much as he could. But he could see everyone staring at him. "Just get it over with, Seth." he thought to himself. He stood up and walked over to Marissa. The tension was unbearable. The sound of everyone else was blocked out as they met each other's gaze. Marissa's hand started shaking.
"Are you OK with this?" Seth asked Marissa.
"Why wouldn't I be?" she snapped back.
"OK then." As they leant in for their kiss, goosebumps started to develop on their arms.
The kiss started off light, but grow more and more passionate. As they continued their kiss, people began counting the seconds down.
8..7..6, they had started to use tongues.
5..4..3, people started to whisper at the intensity of the kiss.
2...1, They carried on kissing past one.
"Uh, you guys you can stop now." Ryan called out, but Seth and Marissa didn't hear.
"You guys!" Ryan just stared in amazement. He stood up and pulled them apart. "What's going on!"
Marissa and Seth just looked at Ryan, in a state of shock.
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry, Ryan." Marissa apoligized. "I was just into it, it meant nothing."
"Yeah, man. I'm sorry. It's just a game." Seth added.
Ryan just stood in silence, not answering to Seth and Marissa. Everyone was whispering about what had just happened.
Confused, Summer stood up "Coop?"
"I've got to go." she said, embarassed. She started for the door, followed by Ryan. He called out to her " We need to talk about this."
"There's nothing to talk about. It was a kiss in a game."
"No. I think there was more to it than that."
"Listen Ryan, I need to tell you something but we can't talk here. Meet me in my poolhouse in ten minutes. Bye."