"So, I'll pick you up at, 8?" Ryan said. "Is that okay?" Ryan and Marissa sat outside eating their lunch, discussing Jimmy's birthday.

"Yep, that's great." Marissa replied. "I hope he has a good time. I mean, after Hailey and everything."

"Yeah." Ryan answered. "So who's actually coming?"

"Well, my dad wanted it to be a small party, but you know that's never gonna happen while we're still living in Newport." Ryan smiled, and nodded his head. "Um, well, me, obviously, you, Seth, Kirsten, Sandy, I invited Summer, but I don't know whether she would want to go seeing as Seth's gonna be there, and Aunt Cindy. Dad took a liking to her at the shower; she really pissed my mom off."

"I remember that." Ryan said, laughing. "Aunt Cindy is, well, very entertaining."

"I know what you mean." Marissa replied. "I hope my mom doesn't come, she ruins every party."

"Don't count on anything." Ryan said. "Sandy and Kirsten were telling me the other day about Thanksgiving. She just invited herself over."

"She's so rude, it gets embarrassing." Marissa shook her head. "I wish she would just . . ."

"Hey guys! Is anyone sitting here? Great!" Lindsay cut in, talking over Marissa, and placed her tray right next to Ryan's, sitting down next to him. Marissa raised her eyebrows, and sighed underneath her breath. "So what are you guys talking about?" Lindsay was smiling over-enthusiastically, and looked at Ryan.

"Oh, my dad's birthday party." Marissa answered, drawing Lindsay's eyes away from Ryan.

"Oh, wow!" Lindsay replied. "So he's having a party?"

"Yeah." Marissa responded uncomfortable that she had to spend her lunch with someone she didn't particularly like.

"Hi all." Seth slid into the chair beside Marissa. "So, you excited about your dad's birthday party? Hey Lindsay, why don't you come along too?" Seth smiled at Lindsay, who looked at Marissa.

"Well, I mean, if it's ok?" Lindsay asked, getting her planner out of her bag. "I can't just barge in."

"No, no. Sure, you can come." Marissa replied, smiling falsely.

"Well, okay, that would be great." Lindsay said writing it down in her planner. "Oh, I just remembered, I have to catch up on my extra tutoring, so I'll see you guys later." She got up and grabbed her tray, leaving Marissa angry, and Seth triumphant.

"Thanks a lot, Seth." Marissa said, sarcastically. "You know I hate her! Why did you have to invite her?"

"Payback." Seth replied, matter-of-factly.

"Um, for what exactly?" Marissa answered, looking at Ryan for help.

"Well, you did invite Summer to the concert." Ryan said, shrugging his shoulders, looking at Marissa sympathetically.

"But I thought you liked her!" Marissa replied, shaking her head. "I honestly do not know what goes on inside boys' heads."

"Trust me, Ris; you would not want to know what goes on inside his head." Ryan said, smiling. "Too weird for even me to figure out."

"Look, all I'm saying is, maybe I do need to get over her, I mean she's with Zach now right?" Seth replied, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, but she still likes you." Marissa said. "She's told me."

"Then, why is she still with Zach?" Seth answered. "Got an answer for that, Aunt Marissa?"

"Do not call me that." Marissa said, glaring at Seth, who smiled sarcastically back at her.

"You know what? I've just realised something! Ryan you're dating Marissa…"

"Yeah? And?" Ryan answered, looking up at Seth.

"Well, she's kinda your aunt!" Seth replied, looking at the both of them, who were staring back at him despairingly. "Don't you find that weird?"

"No, not really." Ryan responded. "The only thing I find weird is the fact that you talk to a plastic horse."

"There is nothing wrong with talking to a plastic horse!" Seth answered, indignantly. "At least I don't have a Care Bear!"
"Excuse me, but I didn't say anything." Marissa said, exasperated. "It's Ryan you should be insulting."

"There's nothing to insult Ryan about." Seth thought for a moment. "Apart from the fact he owns way too many wife beaters than any normal person."

"Well, it's not his fault he looks good in them." Marissa shrugged, smiling at Ryan, who looked up.

"You think I look good in them?" Ryan asked, edging his chair closer to Marissa's.

"Uh huh." Marissa replied, leaning in to kiss him. "In fact, I think you look very good in a wife beater."

"Thank you." Ryan smiled, deepening the kiss as Seth looked on, revolted.

"Okay, at lunch, I prefer for my food to actually stay in my stomach." Seth said, getting up. "And also, watching you guys get your mack on is something I would rather avoid." Ryan and Marissa totally ignored him, and continued making out, Marissa's hands running through Ryan's hair, Ryan's hands round her waist. "Come on…guys! Keep it PG-13! We're at school!" Seeing as he was getting no reply, he threw his hands in the air, and walked away. "God, kids these days!" He muttered sarcastically underneath his breath.

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Ryan jogged up the steps to the Nichol mansion, and rang the doorbell. He waited for a minute, before it was opened by the Dragon-Lady.

"Oh, Ryan." Julie greeted him, widening the door. "Come in." Ryan nodded, and walked into the huge foyer. He looked around the room, taken back by its luxurious appearance, before noticing her maternity top.

"So, how far along are you?" Ryan asked. "Isn't it a bit early for you to be wearing a maternity top?"

"Oh, yeah, well I'm only a month ahead, but I like to get into the clothes beforehand." Julie replied, kind of embarrassed Ryan noticed, and placed a hand over her stomach. "You know what; I'll just go get Marissa." Ryan nodded, as Julie went back upstairs.

"Marissa?" Julie called through Marissa's bedroom door, before opening it. "Ryan's here."

Marissa was seated at her dressing table, Summer fixing her hair. Marissa looked up. "Oh, O.K. I'm just coming." Marissa grabbed her purse. "Are you sure you don't need a ride, Sum?"

"Oh, yeah. Zach's picking me up in like half an hour." Summer replied, filing her nails. "Is it okay if I wait here?"

"Yeah sure." Marissa answered. "I'll see you later, right?"

"Yep. See ya." Summer replied, going back to her hair. Marissa exited the room, walking down the stairs to Ryan. Julie looked at Marissa's retreating back, sighed, smiled at Summer and closed the door. She followed Marissa back down the stairs.

"Hey." Marissa greeted Ryan with a smile and a kiss on the cheek.

"You look beautiful." Ryan replied truthfully, placing his hand gently around her neck. Marissa was wearing a soft pink Vera Wang dress semi-casual dress, and white ballet flats.

"Thank you, you look great too." Marissa smiled again as she looked at Ryan. "Shall we go?"

"Um, yeah." Ryan smiled back at Marissa, and moved his arm from her neck down to her waist. "Well, bye, Mrs Cooper, I mean, Nichol." Julie laughed.

"Don't worry, Ryan." Julie replied. "Now, you kids have fun, okay?"

"Yeah, okay, Mom." Marissa answered, sarcastically, before walking the door. "Come on, Ryan." Ryan caught up with Marissa, as Julie shut the door. He found Marissa's hand, and took it in his.

"So, what's up with your Mom, she's acting kind of, well, kind of nice." Ryan asked, as they walked down the long driveway.

"Yeah, I know." Marissa replied. "So unlike her normal self." Ryan laughed, and they both climbed into the car. "I just feel really sorry for the baby."

"So do I." Ryan replied. "But, hey, don't worry, its' gonna have you as a sister. That's gotta be a plus right?" Marissa smiled at Ryan, taking his hand that was on the gear stick.

"And you as a brother in law." Marissa answered, looking at Ryan whiles he was driving. "So, I guess it will be pretty well off, don't you agree?"

"Yes, I think I do agree." Ryan smiled, and squeezed Marissa's hand gently, as they made their way down to the dock.

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"Hey kiddo!" Jimmy greeted Marissa as she walked onto the boat. He gave her a fatherly hug, and shook Ryan's hand. "Hi Ryan, how are you?"

"I'm good, thanks, Mr Cooper." Ryan replied.

"Oh, come on, Ryan, call me Jimmy." Jimmy answered, replying. "Now, Marissa, how many people have you been inviting, because there's a lot more people than I thought I wrote down on the guest list."

"Um, well, maybe just a few extra people." Marissa responded, nervously, and they all walked into the huge lounge, which was crammed with people, laughing, shouting, dancing and generally having drunken fun. "Okay, I didn't invite that many people."

"Hey Ryan!" Lindsay bounded up to them, drink in hand, face flushed from dancing. "I hope you don't mind, but I brought a few friends from my old school." She looked at Marissa and smiled.

"Actually, I . . ." Marissa answered, glancing at Ryan who looked astounded that Lindsay even knew that many people, before being cut off.

"Come on, Ryan, let's dance!" Lindsay said, grabbing Ryan's hand and dragging him to the makeshift dance floor, leaving Marissa open mouthed. Ryan turned back, and looked apologetically at her. He mouthed 'I'm sorry' at her, and she shrugged her shoulders, turning away, coming face-to-face with her mother. Julie looked wind-swept for once in her life, and was looking over the boat as if she needed to find someone.

"Mom?!" Marissa asked. "What the hell are you doing here? You weren't invited! And where's Summer?"

"Where's your father?" Julie replied, ignoring Marissa's question, looking tenser by the minute. "I need to talk to him."

"I don't think he would want to talk to you." Marissa answered, looking at her mother bitterly.

"Oh, I think he will when he hears what I have to tell him." Julie said, pushing past her daughter, on the warpath. Marissa looked at her mothers retreating back, shaking her head. That woman just got more and more unbelievable every day. Marissa sighed, and walked out onto the deck.

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Summer looked at her new watch her father had bought her a week ago, and groaned. She was supposed to be at Coop's dad's place half an hour ago. Where the hell was Zach? He was always doing this lately. Bailing out of their dates, and showing up late when he bothered to go on one. Sure, she liked him, a lot, but she didn't know if she could be bothered to carry on the relationship anymore. It was the guy who was supposed to do all the chasing, not the girl! Well, that's what she had read in Stuff anyway, and she had also read in there that purple was the best colour to wear to someone's birthday party. So there she was, standing at the bottom of Marissa's driveway waiting for Zach to show up, all dolled up in a dark purple strapless Calvin Klein dress, her best vintage Manolo Blahniks on her feet, Gucci clutch held tightly because of the cold. And she was angry. She'd been stood up one too many times. She gave up waiting, and opened her purse, searching for her phone. She found it and rung up Zach. The phone rung several times before it was picked up.

"Zach?" Summer practically shouted down the phone. "Where the hell are you?! I've been waiting here for ages!"

"Summer?" Zach replied. "Oh, God. Look, I'm really sorry, babe, but I'm not gonna be able to make it tonight. You see, I forgot about this thing that I had to do. . ."

"Cut the crap, Zach. You either come, or you don't come." Summer answered, frustrated. "What am I supposed to do? Walk home? I live 4 miles from here, and I'm wearing my BEST shoes!"

"Can't you catch a ride with Marissa?" Zach suggested, apologetically. "I'm really sorry, I really am. But I've gotta go, okay? Love you!"

"But Coop's already . . ." Summer began, before hearing Zach hang up. "Great, just great!" She scowled, and sat down on the curb, head in hands. She looked up as she heard the sounds of voices. She scrambled up, and squinted through the darkness to make out who it was. Cohen? How could she forget that he lived next door to Coop? Summer smacked herself on the head, and composed herself.

"Hey, Seth!" She called as she ran as fast as she could across the street. "Cohen!" Seth looked up, and saw Summer frantically running towards him.

"Summer?!" Seth smiled, looking at her outfit. "All dressed up, and nowhere to go, huh?"

"Could say the same thing to you." Summer replied, coming to a stop at their doorstep.

"Actually I have somewhere to go." Seth answered, looking at his feet. "So why aren't you at Jimmy's party?"

Summer thought for a moment. "Long story." She said, gesturing towards to their car. "So, can I hitch a ride with you?" She smiled sweetly. "Please?" She added as an afterthought.

"Nope, sorry." Seth shrugged his shoulders. "Cars full." He shook his head regretfully, as Summer's face fell.

"Cohen, you cannot be serious, you have a seven-seater!" Summer replied, looking at Seth as if he was mad.

"I know, I was joking." Seth answered, laughing slightly, opening the door to get in.

"Funny." Summer replied sarcastically, getting in front of him, and getting in the car.

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"This place looks really great, Jimmy." Kirsten looked around the boat, which was decorated in the typical birthday fashion, and was full of people. Jimmy smiled; glad everyone was at least having fun.

"Well, I don't even know who half these people are, to be honest." Jimmy replied, hands on his hips. "I think they are mostly Marissa's friends."

"Oh, well, at least they are having fun." Kirsten replied, taking the glass of champagne she was offered.

"My thoughts exactly." Jimmy answered, smiling. "By the way, you look great." Kirsten looked up, and took a good look at Jimmy.

"Thank you." Kirsten replied. "Jimmy, I've been meaning to talk to you about something . . ." Kirsten was interrupted by Julie, who came in between them.

"Jimmy. Outside. Now." Julie said, almost fiercely, pushing his past him, grabbing hold of his shirt on the way. She flounced off, red hair flying, Jimmy behind her.

"Um, I'll talk later . . ." He apologised to Kirsten, and followed Julie outdoors. "Julie, what are you doing here?" He looked at her outfit, her maternity top. "Wait, no, wait. You're not pregnant are you?!" Jimmy looked up, eyes locking with Julies.
"No, I'm just piling on the pounds for the sake of it!" Julie replied. "Of course I'm pregnant, Jimmy!" She scrabbled around in her purse, pulling out a black flimsy sheet. "I went to the doctors earlier today for a scan." She held out the picture of the tiny foetus expectantly. He took it, staring at the tiny blurry image.

"Reminds me of when we had the girls." He answered, shaking his head. "It all seems like ages ago." He sighed, reminiscing. "Well, congratulations, Julie."

"Jimmy!" Julie said, frustrated. "Just listen to me! For god's sake!"

"O.K., O.K, I'm listening!" Jimmy held his hands up in defeat. "What do you want to say?" Julie sighed.

"Jimmy. There's no easy way to say this." Julie said, hands tightly clutching the rail on the side of the boat. "But, yes, I am pregnant, . . . with your baby." Jimmy stared at her, before answering.

"You know, for a minute there, I could've sworn you said you were pregnant with my child." Jimmy replied, looking carefully at the picture again. "I really need to get my ears checked . . ."

"Your ears are fine, Jimmy!" Julie said, almost shouting. "Whereas, I am not! What am I supposed to do?!"

"Wait, how is this even possible?" Jimmy asked, slowing her down. "I mean, I don't remember . . ." He thought for a minute, before remembering. "Oh, crap . . . crap, crap, crap!"

"Yep. I'm glad you remember that truly magical night with such fondest memories." Julie replied, sarcastically. "I don't know what the hell to do here!"

"Does Caleb know?" Jimmy asked, surprisingly calm considering he had just been told his ex-wife was pregnant with his baby.

"Jimmy, you really have gotten thicker over the years!" Julie answered. "Caleb does not know! If he does, well, no, he can't."

"So, you're just going to pretend this baby is his?"

"That's the plan so far." Julie said, leaning on the boat. "Well, have you got any other ideas? Preferably ones that don't involve stealing money."

"Oh, very funny, Julie! Considering you were the on who got yourself into this mess!" Jimmy answered, getting a little bit angrier. "You could have just said it was Caleb's baby, and everything would be just fine!"

"So, you're saying I would have had to lie?" Julie replied, aggravated. "You know I don't lie."

"Oh, sure you don't Julie!" Jimmy answered. "You lie all the time! In fact you're whole life is one big lie! After I married you, you just turned into one big fake! You're living a fake life, Julie, and you know it. Hell, even your boobs are fake!"

"Jimmy. I am just telling you the truth, because I think it is the right thing to do." Julie responded quietly angry. "And right now, I'm starting to regret that. So why don't you just go back in there, pretend this never happened, and leave me, and our baby alone." Julie walked off, out into the darkness, while Jimmy stood there, thinking about what Julie had just said. He sighed. Life was always full of surprises.

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