A/N: Thanks to all of you who reviewed! I noticed a few new names as well so welcome to any new readers, really hope you enjoy the story!
Summer strode into school with a decidedly determined air about her on Monday morning. She had spent a significant part of Sunday afternoon deliberating about how exactly to solve her dilemma and believed she had finally come to the best conclusion possible.
Firstly, she definitely wasn't going to Jen's party. Seth clearly wasn't welcome and she had no intention of going with anybody else. Admittedly, a small part of her did miss the Newport party scene, but if any thing was going to cause the old Summer to rear her ugly head, it was hanging around with those kinds of people. And she was adamant that it wasn't worth the risk.
But secondly, and possibly more crucially, she still wasn't going to mention any of it to Seth. This was the part that she had agonised over. She was well aware that she wasn't great at keeping secrets at the best of times, and Seth read her thoughts like nobody else. But on the other hand, if he knew, he would get hurt. Fair enough he may not admit that their rejection had any effect on him, but she knew him better than that, it would simply reopen old wounds. And she aimed to avoid that at all costs.
"Hey Coop" Summer began brightly, spotting her friend by their lockers and hurrying over to speak to her.
Marissa turned at the sound of Summer's voice and smiled when she saw that the distracted look that had been settling in her eyes over the past couple of days seemed to have subsided "Hey…you seem in a better mood"
Summer nodded "Well it's simple really Coop…" She began with a satisfied smile "Like somebody famous once said 'Don't let the Btches grind you down'"
"Well that's very wise Sum" Marissa replied, unable to hide the amusement from her voice.
"I know!" Summer agreed with a grin "But still…no need to mention this whole thing to Seth"
Marissa shrugged in indifferent agreement but after a moments thought narrowed her eyes slightly at her friend "Wait…You're not thinking of going with Zach are you?"
"Ewww God no Coop! I couldn't do that to Cohen. Besides, Zach…well…he's a little bland, and his hair…" She widened her eyes at Marissa and left the sentence hanging
"Oh yes… " Marissa agreed, nodding ardently "His hair…it really is somethin…"
"Cohen!"
Marissa looked around confused before spotting Seth's lanky figure lolloping towards them and finally noticing the warning look that Summer was shooting her.
"Hello my Darling…and Marissa" Seth greeted them, planting a kiss on Summer's lips and nodding at Marissa.
There was a briefly awkward silence and Seth looked enquiringly between the 2 girls, picking up on the slight tension that hung in the air "Everything ok?" he checked, raising an eyebrow at his girlfriend.
"Yes…Yes" Summer began, just a shade too brightly "Everything is just fine…" She continued, giving him another quick kiss for emphasis. "In fact, I was wondering, do you want to do something this Saturday night, just the two of us?"
Seth broke into a grin; he had been so preoccupied lately with thinking that everything between himself and Summer was going wrong, that he was relieved to see her genuine enthusiasm for him again. "Sounds great" he nodded, tousling the top of her head slightly and laughing as she wrinkled her nose in distaste.
At that moment, Summer spotted Katie and Jen over Seth's shoulder, no doubt engaged in some deep discussion about the most effective Hair Straighteners currently available at South Coast Plaza.
Summer panicked. If they saw her, they were bound to mention something about the party this weekend and that would lead to questions that she just didn't want to answer right now.
"Listen…" She began, distancing herself slightly from Seth and adjusting her bag onto her shoulder "I have to go…I'm sorry…" She added seeing Seth's downcast face "I have…you know…an appointment." And with that illuminating comment she turned on her heel and hurried off down the corridor without a backward glance.
Seth stared after her with a perplexed look on his face "Ok…" he said turning to Marissa and fixing her with a pleading smile "Can you please explain to me what the hell is going on with her at the moment?"
Marissa shook her head in sincere confusion "I honestly do not know what that was about…" She began, when out of the corner of her eye she spotted a bounce of peroxide blonde and finally clocked Jen and Katie's presence "Ahhh…"She murmured softly, as comprehension dawned.
Seth looking at her with a mixture of enquiry and desperation "Ahhh what?" he demanded "C'mon you said 'Ahhh' what is it Marissa…please just…" He broke off and took a deep breath "Listen, I'm just worried Ok…whatever it is that's bothering her has something to do with me and I can't put it right if I don't know what I've done."
Marissa smiled at the earnest look on his face, she hoped that Summer appreciated how much he cared about her "Honestly Seth, don't worry. There's nothing you need to fix…I promise" She assured him when she noticed the doubtful look on his face.
Seth shrugged and shook his head, clearly there was nothing more that Marissa could, or was willing, to say. But it had done nothing to loosen the knot of unease that was becoming a permanent fixture in his stomach.
A/N: Ok, so it was a bit of a filler chapter, but I wanted to establish exactly what Summer was thinking at this point, anyways thanks for reading-please review!