Chapter 4: The Trip

Marissa sat in her kitchen eating a bowl of Peanut Butter Crunch as her mom read the paper at the counter. The two of them hadn't talked since the night before, Julie wasn't sure if the journal was a good idea, she couldn't tell if her daughter resented it or not. She smiled and sat down next to Marissa. She knew her daughter just needed a break. She stated, "I am going to send you away for a week. Now before you speak, I just want to say that I am sending you on a vacation. It's a little spot in a Hawaii. It's actually really beautiful. I think that you need to just get away and forget everything."

"You're not serious are you?"

"Of course, I am."

"I have school…"

"Take a week off. You and whoever you want to bring, just tell me how many tickets ill need."

"What are you trying to bribe me into?"

"I just don't want you to go and die on me. I'm supposed to die before you do."

Marissa smiled and ran up to her room to get ready for school. She was going to invite everyone she could think of. This was going to be week of spending her mom and Caleb's money that she would never forget. She wore a baby pink dress top over a pair of white jeans and white high heels.

Marissa ran outside to see Summer waiting for her. She waved to her friend and they started to walk to the school together. It was their new plan. They were trying to use their broken down cars as an excuse for Ryan and Seth to come over.

"I was thinking, I don't think Seth knows a single thing about cars."

"The least he could do is drop you off."

"Cohen isn't that smart. Don't give him credit he hasn't earned."

"I have a new plan."

"Tell me it isn't something stupid."

"Me, you, Seth, Ryan, and Hawaii sound good?"

"Like we can go to Hawaii."

"We can if my mom is paying."

"How are we going to get Cohen and Chino to come without their little pets?"

"I guess we'll have to invite them too, maybe they'll cancel."

"Right. They'd never let the boys come." Summer said as they enter the school. The two girls walked to their lockers, which they had especially ordered to be next to one another.

"Well, it's worth a try. You ask Seth. I'll ask Ryan."

"If it doesn't work, we go back to the old plan."

Marissa nodded and ran off to her English class. It was the only time she got to see Ryan all day. Luckily she got to sit behind him. All she had to do was get his attention for a second to ask him. She sighed as she walked past him. She tough maybe if he knew she was upset, he'd be tempted to ask why.

"I know that sigh. What do you want?" Ryan asked as he turned around. He hated it when she tried hard to get his attention. All she had to do was ask.

"I was wondering if maybe you could use a day or two off."

"Why?"

"I'm going to Hawaii and I want you and Lindsay to come with me."

"You want me and Lindsay to come with?"

"Yeah, it will be fun."

"Fine. I'll ask her. But I have to ask Sandy and Kirsten first. Remember Tijuana?"

"No, actually I just blacked all of that out."

"I'm sure you did."

"I'm glad you were there."

"Ms. Cooper is there something you would like to share with the rest of the class?" Mrs. Price asked as she stopped her lecture on "A Tale of Two Cities for the two whispering in the back. She was looking at Marissa with a deadly stare; if looks could kill she'd be dead.

"Nope," Marisa said as she shrunk in her seat. She always hated it when teacher called her out. Fail her, do whatever, just makes sure it's not in front of the whole class. Mrs. Price always made her look bad. She swore she had it out for her.

"Ok, now, as I was saying. Today we will be getting in small group discussion. I want you to get in teams to do your final project and you will start that today. Are there any questions? You may begin." Mrs. Price said as she went back down to her desk to correct tests.

"Thanks a lot you got me in trouble."

"Your welcome."

Marissa rolled her eyes as she joined a group of girls for their projects. She just hoped and prayed that for some small reason Lindsay couldn't make it. At the same time, she hoped the Ryan could. She just wanted to have him back in her arms.

"Summer, why are you standing in front of my locker, and how long have you been there?"

"I need to talk to you. It's an emergency."

"Am I going to die?"

"Nope. But we are going to Hawaii."

"We?"

"Me, you, Alex, Ryan, Lindsay, Marissa c'mon it'll be fun."

"Right."

"So and call me?"

"Does that mean you'll get out of my way?"

"Maybe."

Seth pushed Summer aside and opened his locker before saying, "Fine. I'll call you when I see Alex next." Cohen grabbed the books he needed looked at Summer and took off.

Summer did a victory dance. She knew he would come, but then she also knew that Alex would come. She always had to fight for Cohen. This was one battle she wasn't going to lose to some blonde bimbo.

Lindsay sat on Ryan bed doing her Science homework as he paced in front of her. She could tell he was nervous around hr now. She knew she should have never started going out with him. She packed up all her homework and stood up. She looked at him and stated, "This isn't going to work out. I have a friend who I can be a lab partner with us. I can see things are weird between us. Look I really like you Ryan, but you have to figure out if you like me before we go any further. I know that you have mixed feelings for Marissa. I'm not blind. It was part of the reason I said no to you in the first place."

"Lindsay…"

"I should have known better than to think I could compete with her. You told me that you were over her and you are clearly not. I came over here to try and be your friend. I know now that isn't possible."

"I don't want to be your friend, I want to be your boyfriend, and I want you to come to Hawaii with me."

"We don't all get what we want," She said as she headed towards the door with Ryan chasing after her. She really wanted to believe that he wanted to be with her, but she knew the only way for that to happen was for him to close off all ties he had to Marissa and that wasn't happening anytime soon.

"Hey there! I thought I told you not to come down here."

"I know you call me. I'm not here to see my competition although that wouldn't be a problem."

Alex put her hands on her hips as she stared at Seth across the bar she worked at. She was getting ready because they were having a local band tonight. She knew it was going to be a big night. The last thing she needed was a fight between her boyfriend and her girlfriend.

"You, Me, Hawaii?"

"Can't. This place would be dead without me. Hey go with your friends have a good time. I'll still be here when you get back. Then I won't have to worry about any complaints from dad."

"I wanted you to come."

"I can't, I am so sorry."

"You owe me then and I collect interest."

"Fine," She said as she kissed him. "I owe you, but go have fun." She went back to work as Seth walked out a little upset. She knew he wanted her to go. She just had a lot to figure out in her life.