" You know, Marissa, this is kind of like a date for you with Alex tonight," said Summer while they were getting ready.

" No it's not. It's just a friends thing."

" Okay then," said Summer, looking like she believed the opposite.

Marissa looked at her.

" Seriously, Sum, if it's like a date, then what are you doing with Jodie?"

Summer's teasing expression left her face, as she said,

" Right, it's definitely not anything like a date."

" You wouldn't mind if it was, though. Remember your little bet?"

" Please. Like Jodie can actually win."

" But if she does…?"

" She won't," said Summer. " But…if she does, I will stick to what I said."

" Really? This was all just an excuse to date her, wasn't it, Sum? Make it look like you're not interested, and then go on a date with her."

" I can't believe you just said that, Coop!" Summer exclaimed indignantly.

Ignoring her, Marissa said,

" But it's not like she would have turned you down if you just asked her."

" I could say the same for you and Alex," retorted Summer.

" Okay, shutting up now," replied Marissa. Summer had a point there, much as she hated to admit it.

" Damn!" exclaimed Jodie.

" What?" asked Alex, walking back towards Jodie.

" This is a bad day to be doing this bet."

" Jodie, any day would be a bad day for you to do this bet."

" That's not true. I could do it on…. okay, any day would be a bad day. But The Bait Shop, with Summer? What was I thinking, agreeing to this?"

" You overestimated your ability, as usual."

Jodie was about to reply, when she was cut off by Alex's cell phone ringing.

" Hi, Marissa," she said, having checked the caller before answering. Last time she didn't check, hadn't been a pleasant experience.

" Yeah, that's fine," said Alex, grinning slightly at whatever Marissa just said.

" Okay, we'll see you at 8," she said, hanging up.

Jodie was looking at her curiously, " I thought we were meeting them at 7?"

" We were, but, apparently Summer couldn't decide what to wear, and now they need longer."

" I knew she would try and impress me," said Jodie.

" I'm beyond surprised that your head hasn't exploded yet from all that ego expanding it," said Alex, shaking her head.

" I always say, if you've got it, flaunt it."

" You've never said that."

" True, but I could have."

Alex just smiled at Jodie, turning back away from her to go and get ready.

" You're making an effort today. Any particular reason?" Jodie called after Alex. Alex just waved her off dismissively.

Jodie looked around. " Now what am I supposed to do to pass the time?" she wondered.

Later, Summer still wasn't ready, and Marissa was becoming a little impatient.

" Come on, Sum, we rescheduled once already. You need to hurry up."

" Okay, okay, I'm almost done," she said. " What time is it now?"

Marissa looked at her watch.

" 7.30."

" That's okay then, time to change my outfit."

" Summer, don't you dare," said Marissa exasperatedly.

" Relax, Coop, I'm just kidding. I'm done now."

Marissa looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

" Trying to impress Jodie, are you?"

Summer frowned.

" No, I'm just going to make it harder for her to win this bet," she responded.

Marissa picked up her bag and keys, motioning to Summer to do the same.

" Come on, Sum."

" It's okay to be fashionably late, you know Coop."

" Not with these two," said Marissa.

" Fine," said Summer, finally moving from her position.

Jodie had gotten bored while waiting for 8.00, so her and Alex had arrived at The Bait Shop early. Alex had agreed to leave on the understanding that Jodie would shut up, at least for a little while.

" When are they gonna get here?" asked Jodie impatiently.

" We said 8. It's 7.40, Jod."

" They're going to be late, aren't they?"

" Jodie, for the love of God, stop it."

" I can't help it."

" Don't tell me you're actually nervous."

" What? No, of course not. I'd just pref…. and I'm not allowed to say the rest of the sentence. But you wouldn't tell Summer, would you?"

" She'd better," said Summer from behind Jodie.

Jodie turned to look at Summer, visibly restraining herself from saying anything as she saw how Summer looked.

Summer smiled when she saw the effect she was having on Jodie.

" You okay there, Jodie?" enquired Summer.

" I'd be bett…I mean, I'm fine," Jodie choked out.

" Really? You look a little…. flushed," said Summer, her tone obviously teasing.

Jodie just glared.

Alex and Marissa had once again abandoned Summer and Jodie almost immediately. They weren't noticed by either.

" Want to go get a drink?" Alex had asked, leaning close to Marissa so that Summer and Jodie wouldn't hear. She wanted to talk to Marissa alone for a while. Summer and Jodie's banter meant no one else could get a word in.

Marissa had managed to reply, despite being more than a little distracted by Alex's close proximity. "Act normal, act normal," she kept repeating to herself, eventually responding with a soft smile and a simple "yes."

To be honest, as much as she loved Summer, she'd appreciate the chance to talk to Alex away from Jodie and Summer and their endless bickering.

They were now sat by the bar, having gotten their drinks.

" So," began Marissa.

" So what?" Alex asked when Marissa didn't continue.

" No idea. I was just trying to think of something to say." Marissa didn't understand why being around Alex was suddenly making her feel so awkward. This feeling was broken when Alex lightly laughed, easing the tension.

" I know what you mean," she said with a smile. " Most of our conversations so far have revolved around insulting each other. Which, by the way, I'm really sorry for. It's just, you reminded me of someone, and…" she trailed off, unsure of how to explain.

" I'm sorry too," said Marissa. " And I'd like to hear more about that sometime, if you don't mind telling me."

" I don't mind," said Alex. " I just think that we should save that conversation for some other time."

Marissa smiled, and was about to reply, when she heard Summer before she saw her.

" I can't believe you left me alone with her again! What were you two doing?" she asked suspiciously as she saw that they were sitting closer together than necessary. "Oh, never mind what you were doing, this conversation is about me," she said.

"That girl is like a pet following me everywhere. I've only just escaped."

" Hey Summer, there you are," said Jodie from behind Summer. " You don't need to keep avoiding me, I'm not allowed to say anything to you because of our bet, remember?"

" I know, but you just not talking is freaking me out. It's not normal."

" I know that, but it was your idea…. and I hate to lose," said Jodie.

" Do you want a drink?" she asked.

" Jodie, hitting on me is not allowed."

" I asked if you wanted a drink, not whether you wanted to ha…. uh, do something else," said Jodie, catching herself just in time.

" Fine," sighed Summer. " I won't have that count towards the bet. Although I'm sure you would have been leading somewhere with that if you were allowed. Oh, and I do want a drink. Let's go."

Jodie followed Summer, winking at Marissa and Alex as she passed them.