Chapter 6

Marissa had just finished explaining what had happened between her and Alex to Summer. Even over the phone, Summer could tell that Marissa was upset about it.

" I hate to say it, but I think the person you need to speak to about this is Jodie. I mean, she probably knows why Alex is so defensive."

" What makes you think she'd want to tell me?"

" Truth is, she probably wouldn't."

" Sum, I've got an idea. And you're not going to like it, but you are going to do it for me because you're such a good friend."

" Uh-uh, no way, Coop. I already told you, I have a list of rules that I'm going to be following from now on.

No associating with Jodie

No associating with Jodie.

And 3. No associating with Jodie!"

" Come on Sum, I'd do it for you."

" What if I wanted you to like, come on to Ryan or something?"

A look of disgust crossed across both girls' features.

" Sum, I'd never ask you to do something like that, and you know better than to ask me to do that. But look, Jodie's hot, and she likes you. It's not exactly a difficult job for you."

" I'm straight. Straight straight straight. I don't know how to act like I like a girl."

" Don't be so ridiculous. One, you're not straight. Two, you've been flirting with Jodie since the moment you met her. Come on, Sum, you might get something out of this too."

" Fine, I'll do it. But only if you take back what you just said."

" Fine," Marissa said. " You're straight and you like Jodie anyway."

" Exactly. I'm straight and I like Jodie…. Coop! That's not right and you know it. OK, so what is it you want me to do exactly?"

" Just talk to Jodie, see what you can find out about Alex. Maybe if I know, I'll have a better chance of getting through to her."

"This seems like a hell of a lot of trouble to go to for a girl you "just want to be friends with", said Summer, the suggestion clear in her tone.

Marissa remained silent for a moment, not quite sure how to answer that. Summer took her silence to mean that she was right, and Marissa did want to be more than friends with Alex.

" I say you go for it with her, Marissa. I mean, it's been a long time. And there's definitely something between you, even the straight girl can see that."

" What straight girl?" responded Marissa teasingly.

" Me!" said Summer, who had completely missed the teasing tone in Marissa's voice and was instead thinking about how slow Marissa could be sometimes. Marissa let it slide, for now. There would be plenty of time to tease Summer later, when she was dealing with Jodie.

" I really appreciate this, Summer."

" You'd better," said Summer in a mock grumpy tone. " Well, I guess I better start by talking to Jodie tomorrow. I'll see you after I've been through the hell that is making conversation with Jodie. You'll be regretting asking me to do this then."

" I'll see you later, Sum," Marissa said, before hanging up the phone.

The next morning, in Spanish, Summer was preparing herself for her personal version of hell. The hell she liked to call Jodie. Or more accurately, whore/ho. It was getting later, and it didn't look like Jodie was going to show up. Summer was just starting to relax; thinking this insane plan of Marissa's could be delayed, when Jodie slid into the seat next to her.

" Why are you late? Too busy whoring?" Summer said. " Damn, Marissa's not going to be pleased," she mentally added. She didn't realise how hard she was going to find it to stop insulting Jodie. It just seemed to happen, it wasn't like Summer intended it, exactly.

" Actually," began Jodie, only to be cut off by Summer.

" No, I don't actually want to know about how many girls you slept with last night."

" Just the one," said Jodie, deciding to tell Summer, for the simple reason that she didn't want to hear it. " Are you jealous now?"

" Yeah, I'm so jealous," said Summer sarcastically. " Having a one night stand with a girl is not on my to do list."

" Who says it was one night, Summer. I'm only a whore in your head, you do realise that, don't you? Cause that girl happened to be my girlfriend."

" You have a girlfriend?" questioned Summer, feeling an irrational surge of jealousy.

" No. But it was fun, seeing your eyes widen like that."

" Bitch," mumbled Summer. " There was no need for that. What I'm going to say next will possibly kill me because it's so painful, but I need to talk to you seriously about Alex."

" Do you want a threesome? Cause I'm sure that can be arranged."

" I said seriously, Jodie."

" I was being serious."

" It's important. Right, what was it I wanted to know again? Oh yeah, why is Alex such a bitch?"

Jodie looked confused. " What the hell are you talking about? Alex hasn't done anything to you. Okay, there was that incident with the water, but that was aimed at Marissa, and you knew that."

" I mean, why won't she talk to Marissa like a normal person. She really hurt her, yesterday, you know."

" I wish you'd explain yourself a little sometimes, Summer, because you are making no sense whatsoever."

" Last night, after we left. Didn't Alex tell you?"

" Didn't you work out the answer to that already? Damn you're slow."

Summer briefly explained what had happened.

" Well, I think it's pretty obvious what happened. Alex freaked out."

" We got that far, thanks," said Summer. " We want to know why."

" What do I get if I tell you?"

" You'll be helping your friend. Isn't that enough?"

" Well, I was hoping for a little more, like you for example, but that'll do for now. But if I tell you, we don't mention this conversation with Alex, right? And Marissa doesn't address any of it directly, as if she knows it, okay?"

" That's fine by me. Now start talking."