After Detention

Marissa looked herself over in the mirror for what seemed like the twentieth time. Groaning, she pulled her shirt off and stomped back into her closet.

"Why is this so hard?" She asked out loud.

"Hanging up shirts? I dunno I can never get it right." Marissa turned to see Ryan standing at the doorway holding up a shirt. She smiled slightly and turned back to grab a different shirt. She slipped it on and walked out to meet Ryan.

"So is there a big Newport party I didn't hear about?" He asked, laughing slightly as he looked at all the clothes scattered around her room. Marissa laughed and turned to her mirror.

"No I'm going to..." She stopped suddenly, her smile faltering. Hadn't she broken up with Alex to be with Ryan? Surely that's what he thought. She turned round to face him. He looked at her questioningly.

"Is...something wrong?" He asked. Marissa looked away, she closed her eyes and sighed before looking back to him.

"Ryan...I'm going somewhere." She said slowly. He smiled, unsure of himself.

"Ok, where?" He asked. She met his gaze.

"I'm going to get Alex back." She said finally. She watched as his smile fell and his eyebrows furrowed.

"I thought..." He started. "I thought that since you two broke up...that we..."

"I know." She interrupted gently. "I know, and I'm sorry Ryan...but..." She trailed off, not really knowing how to explain.

"You love her...don't you?" It was more of a statement than a question. She smiled sadly.

"I don't know. I really don't. I mean...I loved you...I love you...it's just...so much different with her." She looked away. Ryan was quiet but nodded.

"I get it." He said starting for the door.

"No Ryan wait." Marissa said grabbing his arm. "It's not like that. I don't want us to be strangers. I don't want to lose you." She said frantically. Her eyes stung with tears, for what reason, she didn't know. He smiled and took her hand from his arm holding it in his own.

"I'm not mad." He said smiling slightly. "But I get it. I understand."

"How can you understand when I don't even understand?" She said, breaking into a sob. Ryan's face fell seeing her start to cry. He took her in his arms comfortingly, rubbing her back.

"Maybe because I'm not in it...I have a different point of view." He said slowly. She nodded and sniffed, looking up to him questioningly.

"I love you Marissa, and you love me...but...you're in love with Alex...I understand." Marissa looked at him, her face blank. He watched as slowly she smiled, it spread to her eyes, making them glow with happiness.

"I'm in love with her." She said, mostly to herself. "I'm...in love...with Alex." She repeated, a little louder. Suddenly she hugged Ryan tightly. "Thank you." She whispered. He nodded and released her. She smiled as he made his way to the door. He stopped and picked up a shirt on the floor.

"I've never seen you wear this before." He said looking at it.

"Oh, that's because it's Alex's..." She answered, trailing off, her eyes lighting up even more. Ryan smiled and tossed it to her.

"Wear this one." He said, before turning and leaving.

Marissa caught the shirt and unconsciously brought it to her nose to smell it.

"It still smells like her." She whispered, before slipping it over her head. She checked herself over in the mirror one last time before grabbing her purse and rushing downstairs. She stopped suddenly as Julie appeared in front of her.

"Mom, I don't have time for this." Marissa started. Julie held up her hand to silence her.

"Now hang on just one second. I know what you're hurrying off to do and though I don't support it...someone..." as she said this, Ryan appeared behind her smiling, "has convinced me that maybe this will make you happy...and although we disagree on a lot of things...I really do want you to be happy." Marissa stared dumbfounded at her mother before smiling and taking her into a hug.

"Thanks mom...you really don't know how much this means to me." She said. Julie smiled for the first time in quite a while and let go of her daughter. Marissa walked past her, and smile at Ryan. "Thank you...again." He smiled back and opened the door for her. She rushed to her car and drove off towards The Bait Shop.

At The Bait Shop

Marissa parked her car and got out. She stopped hearing someone run up behind her. She turned and narrowly avoided Nicki careening into her.

"Whoa." Marissa said, steadying the other girl. "What's the rush?" Nicki laughed, catching her breath.

"You're the rush." She said nonchalantly. Marissa blushed slightly but smiled as they continued walking. As they approached The Bait Shop, Nicki saw Marissa's face fall. She turned to the door.

"Closed!" She said angrily, kicking the door slightly. Marissa who had trailed behind turned and started making her way back to the car.

"I guess that's it then." She said quietly.

"Marissa wait." She heard Nicki say. "There's a notice or something...it says...um hang on...closed on account of a new club opening in LA." Marissa turned suddenly.

"A new club...in LA?...Alex will be there." Nicki turned to face her questioningly.

"And just how do you know that?" She asked.

"I don't know...I just...do." She replied. "Is there anything else?" Nicki turned back to the door.

"Yeah, it says...join us at The Shark Pit for a special opening night masquerade dance party. There's an address!" She said excitedly. Marissa smiled and nearly jumped for joy.

"Ok can you copy it down?" She said, pulling out her cell phone.

"Sure thing. What are you gonna do?" She replied.

"I'm calling Summer, she'll have everything we need for a masquerade party." Nicki finished putting the address in her cell phone.

"Wait what do you mean we...I don't do masquerades...or parties...or dances for that matter." She said hastily. Marissa smiled.

"You do now." She said grabbing the other girls arm. "Come on I'll drive. Oh hey Sum, can you get out your costumes, we've got a masquerade to go to."

Summer's House

"Masquerade? I love masquerades!" Summer said, as she opened the door. She frowned slightly as she noticed Nicki by Marissa's side. Summer pulled Marissa inside, whispering hastily, "Coop, what is she doing here?" Marissa rolled her eyes.

"She's my friend Sum, she's here with me." She said firmly. Summer looked slightly abashed and invited Nicki in.

"Nice place." She said, looking around. Summer nodded.

"Mmhmm." She said absentmindedly. "So Coop, what's the deal with this masquerade?"

"It's where Alex is." Marissa replied quickly, trying to escape up to Summer's room.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Summer said, grabbing Marissa's arm. "Alex? As in girl Alex? As in madly in love with you Alex?" Marissa turned suddenly.

"How do you know she was madly in love with me?" She asked. Summer rolled her eyes.

"Please Coop, any idiot could see it." She said. Nicki snapped her fingers and laughed.

"Well that explains that." She said motioning at Summer. Summer glared at her before following Marissa up the stairs.

"So seriously, Alex?" She asked again.

"Yeah Sum...I'm going to get her back." Marissa replied quietly. Summer smiled.

"Well it's about damn time girl. Let's get ready for that party." She noticed Nicki looking up the stairs uncertainly. Sighing she grabbed the girls arm and pulled her up with them. "Come on...as your new friend, it's my mission to beautify you."

"You really don't have to do that." Nicki replied. Summer turned to look at her smugly.

"I know...that's what makes me so nice." Marissa laughed as the girls made their way into Summer's room.

Half an Hour Later

Marissa adjusted the mask on her face and turned to Summer.

"Ok, can you tell who I am?" She asked.

"Coop duh...you're like my best friend. I'd recognize you if you were wearing something from Ross."

"Hey!" Nicki interrupted. "I happen to like Ross." Summer turned to her, a look of false pity on her face.

"Oh honey."

"Enough you two." Marissa said. "Anyways, that's not the point. Do you think she'll recognize me?"

"Why?" The two girls said in unison.

"I just...have an idea." Marissa replied. Meanwhile Summer was applying some make-up to a very reluctant Nicki.

"Look you already got me in this ridiculous outfit-" She started.

"Hey that's one of my favorite ones!" Summer interjected. Nicki rolled her eyes.

"Do you have to do the make-up?"

"Nicki, one of these days you will realize that make-up is essential for survival. It's right up there with food, water and shopping."

"I think you mean clothes." Nicki said, amused. Summer thought for a moment.

"Yeah...same basic principal." She replied. "Ok done. Coop, what do you think?" Marissa turned to look at Nicki and almost gasped.

"Wow...you're..." She trailed off.

"Hot." Summer finished, matter-of-factly. Both Marissa and Nicki glanced suspiciously at her. "What?" She said. "I mean...she's like my own little creation. I'm totally taking credit." The other girls laughed and started to gather their things.

"So you're sure you don't want to come?" Marissa asked Summer, giving her a hug.

"No thanks...you two girls go do...whatever it is you girls do." She said. Marissa smiled.

"Alright, thanks again Sum." She replied.

"Yeah, thanks Summer." Nicki chorused as they made their way out the door.

"No problem, oh and Coop?"

"Yeah?" Marissa said, turning to her.

"Go get your girl back." Marissa smiled.

"I will."