Having eaten, the girls were wondering what to do next.
" Well, what do you all want to do?" asked Summer, who was quickly becoming fed up with the deliberation over something so simple.
" I can think of a few things I'd like to do…and they all involve you, Summer. Isn't that interesting?" said Jodie.
" Um, not really," said Summer.
" Do you want to find out?" asked Jodie, leaning closer to Summer and winking at her.
" That'd be a definite no."
" Why?" asked Marissa, laughing at Summer's expression as she asked her.
" Coop, you are supposed to be on my side!"
" She is, Summer," said Jodie. "She sees that we should be together."
"She does not," said Summer. " She just likes to tease. You know that we shouldn't be together. How would I put up with you long enough to last one date?"
" Easily. Wanna try?"
Summer looked at Jodie as if she were crazy.
Jodie raised an eyebrow.
" Surely you wouldn't turn this down?" she said, gesturing to herself.
Alex looked at Jodie, saying,
" Get over yourself, Jodie, you're not that hot."
" Alex, I'm hurt. All those times I've defended you…"
" What are you talking about?"
" You know…" said Jodie vaguely.
" No, I don't, because that never happened."
" Okay, I lied. But you should still feel bad."
Alex just rolled her eyes and turned to Marissa instead.
" Anything you want to do?"
Marissa, who had zoned out while staring at Alex, looked startled for a second. I'm so glad she doesn't know what I was just thinking," she thought.
" Whatever you want is fine with me," she said, giving Alex a big smile, and trying to block out the thoughts she was having.
" Come on," said Jodie. " We're going to my place. Summer, you can see my bedroom."
" Ew," was Summer's only response, but she turned to follow Jodie anyway.
Alex looked at Marissa questioningly. When she just shrugged noncommittally, they both walked after Jodie and Summer.
" Oh, and we're going to The Bait Shop later, I haven't gotten a chance to dance with you yet Summer," added Jodie.
" You're not going to get one, just because we're in a place with music."
" And alcohol," said Jodie. " We can't forget that part."
" Me, drinking with you? Never gonna happen," said Summer.
" Are you afraid you won't be able to trust yourself around me?" Jodie asked with a grin.
" It's you that I don't trust," Summer said.
" I think it'd be fun," said Marissa.
" Ok, I'll come. But Jodie, you have to stay away from me."
" Okay," Jodie agreed. She didn't have to stick to that, after all. Jodie very rarely stuck to her word when it came to these kinds of situations.
They had arrived at Jodie's apartment, and Marissa realised that she'd never seen any family of Jodie's. Or Alex's for that matter.
" How come you're always home on your own?" asked Marissa.
" I live on my own," shrugged Jodie.
" Mind if I ask why?"
" No, it's not a big deal. My parents are abroad a lot, on business. It's just easier this way."
" Oh, right. Don't you wish they were here sometimes?" asked Summer.
" Nah, they'd spoil all my fun," said Jodie, looking directly into Summer's eyes as she said "all my fun".
Summer looked away, uncomfortable with the intensity of Jodie's gaze. Well, not that so much. Just the way it makes me feel," she thought, immediately followed by, " ew, no, I did not just think that. I don't like her that way. Or at all."
" Earth to Summer," said Jodie. " You were daydreaming," she said as Summer looked at her.
" I was thinking about ways to murder you," said Summer. " And don't think I won't follow through on those thoughts. I might rethink them, though, if you can go a whole day without all that sexual innuendo."
" Is that a bet I hear, Summer?" asked Alex.
" I guess it is."
" So what does Jodie get if she manages to do it?" asked Marissa.
" Hmmm," said Summer. "That's a good question."
" How about, I if do it, you go on a date with me, Summer?"
" Considering the chances of you actually being able to do this are pretty low, I'm actually going to agree to that," said Summer.
Jodie smiled.
" So when does this bet start?"
" From right now, I think. And it also means you can't flirt with me."
" Okay," Jodie said with a smile. " This is gonna be so easy. And Summer, you're not allowed to back out of that deal."
" I won't." said Summer. " I won't need to."
Jodie looked sceptical, but said nothing.
" You know, if we're going out tonight, Coop, we should go get ready", said Summer.
Marissa looked at her watch, " Yeah, you're right."
" You need this much time?" asked Alex, surprised.
" Yeah," said Summer. "We have to look our best."
Jodie bit her tongue to hold back the comment that began to form. "Guess this could be harder than I first thought," she thought to herself.
" Alex, make sure Jodie sticks to the rules of the bet while we're gone," said Summer. " I won't have her cheating."
" Okay," Alex smiled, thinking it might be fun to wind Jodie up a little.
" We'll see you later. Seven okay?" enquired Marissa.
" Seven's great," Alex responded.
After Summer and Marissa left, Jodie looked at Alex, and opened her mouth to speak.
Alex looked at her warningly.
" No sexual comments, Jodie, remember."
Jodie closed her mouth.
Alex laughed.
" Come on, it can't be that hard for you," she said.
" When it comes to Summer, it is really really hard for me," she said. " And please don't tell me you found something wrong with that comment. I need to win this bet."
Alex smiled.
" You actually really like her, don't you? I thought you were just messing around, like usual."
" Definitely not just messing around," said Jodie, smiling as she thought about Summer.