Chapter 16 – Born To Run

The school day had begun.

Summer walked down the corridor. She brushed her hair out of her eyes. She adjusted the small bag hanging off her shoulder. She smiled the nervous smile of recognition at a classmate walking past her. Her eyes drifted up from her feet. She stopped dead in her tracks; coming down the corridor was Seth. He hadn't seen her yet. She didn't know whether to stay or run.

Seth walked down the corridor. He brought his hand up to his head and gave it a good scratch. He looked around to see if anyone was watching him then slowly moved his hand southward until it reached his ass upon he gave it a good scratching. He turned a corner in the corridor. He smiled the nervous smile of recognition at a classmate walking past only for it to be returned by a dismissive look of distain. He shook his head and smiled to himself. He stopped dead in his tracks; coming down the corridor was Summer. She was looking straight at him. He turned and ran, well, walked very quickly.

She saw him walk very quickly away from her down the corridor. Before she could react he was round the corner and out of sight. She shook herself. He'd run away. Seth Cohen had run away from her. No one runs away from her! Definitely not Seth Cohen! This was so not the way to deal with it. They should handle the situation as mature adults with calm and constructive conversation. Next time, thought Summer, she'll make sure she ran away first.

Ryan had met Marissa coming out of his class. She had been standing talking to her friends about the next big social thing she was organising. She explained what it was but Ryan didn't pay that much attention. Her words washed over him and soon his attention was draw to the group of friends Marissa had left to talk to him. They were whispering amongst themselves and glancing over at him. He swore he heard one of them say Chino. He put it out of his mind. Let them talk, he thought. He turned his attention back to Marissa who had noticed his lack of focus. "And I was thinking of getting a dragon, you know, to heat the hot dogs."

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea." Then the word dragon drifted through Ryan's head. "Wait, what?"

"I know it's boring but these social events don't organise themselves."

"No, it's not boring." Marissa gave Ryan a look. "Okay, it's a little boring but boring can be good." He said with a smile.

She returned the smile. Just then Seth came racing round the corner and almost knocked Ryan over. "Oh, hey Ryan." He looked over a Marissa and nodded. "Marissa. What's up? How's the whole carnival social thing going?" He asked looking frantically behind him.

"It's going good. I think you'll be able to get the big wheel after all and…" Marissa answered.

Seth interrupted her. "That's great." He looked behind at the corner he came round again.

"In a hurry?" Ryan asked.

"Err…" Seth hesitated as he had another look at the corner. "Yeah. Late assignment. Hate those deadlines." He pretended to look at his watch. "Oh, would you look at the time. I got to go. See you two later. Hey Ryan, did you tell Marissa about the dinner thing at our house?"

"What dinner thing?" Marissa asked intrigued.

"My mom is cooking dinner, well, ordering it, to celebrate Ryan's first week at school. She wanted him to invite some of his new school friends." Seth explained.

Marissa looked at Ryan and smiled. "Aww, that's so cute."

"Yeah, isn't it?" Seth said. Ryan looked furiously at him but he just ignored him. "Okay, got to go." Seth said walking quickly down the corridor and round the corner.

Marissa crossed her arms and looked at Ryan. "Dinner, huh?" She asked.

"Yeah, so, it's not a big deal or anything. It's Kirsten's idea." Ryan paused. "You wouldn't want to, you know, come, would you?" He asked cautiously.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Marissa said smiling. "Will Bozo the clown be there or are you more of a Magnificento the Magician kind of guy?" She asked laughing.

"Very funny." Ryan said dryly.

Just then Summer came crashing round the corner. "Have you guys seen Seth?" She asked.

"Err, yeah." Marissa said slightly confused. "He was just here."

"Which way did that asshat go?" Summer asked the anger dripping from her voice.

Marissa pointed in the direction Seth had gone. "That way."

Summer started to walk off before Ryan stopped her. "Summer? How do you feel about dinner?" He asked with a sly smile.