Chapter Eight

Later the evening, Marissa slyly chose to put aside her homework, and do some off-mission missioning. She took her cell phone, and punched in Summer's cell phone number. She waited as the phone rang endlessly, imagining that on the other line, Summer could clearly hear her witty ring tone.

"Hello?" Summer answered the phone, in an irritated voice.

"Hey Summer," Marissa replied, wondering what was bugging her dear friend. "What's new?"

"Hasn't Cohen told you yet? You're so close to him, I wouldn't be surprised if he did the same to you." Summer said offensively.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Marissa asked, understanding her friend was upset, but seeing no reason why she had to bestow her anger on Marissa. "It's not my fault Cohen did what he did, he had good intentions."

"I bet he did," Summer said quickly, with great sarcasm. "I bet his pencil drew the picture while he was sleeping, right?"

"You know what Summer, I can't answer you- I don't know what's going on…" Marissa confessed. "Elaborate! What picture?"

"Cartoon. Me. And Him. On ground- sand. Kissing." Summer spat, in fragments, hoping Marissa would understand.

"Are you sure it was you?" Marissa asked doubtedly, instead of understanding her best friend.

"Of course it was ME, Coop! It looked exactly like me!" Summer was getting angry, as her best friend had disbelieved her. Summer sighed, trying to cool off, before she pulled a kitty cat, with metre long nails on her best friend too.

"Well sorry, Sum. Cohen's not really into that kinda stuff… I couldn't imagine him doing something like that." Marissa hesitated, knowing her opinion would be resented in the moody Summer's eyes.

"Well he did. And I am so pissed. Every guy I try to stay away from, I have a reason. Then when I try to take down this wall, and get to see for myself, I am ALWAYS right- well my gut feeling is ALWAYS right. The people I judge from the beginning, are judge-worthy in the end." Summer said, proud that her very own Spider-sence tingled aroung a supposed wrong set of a crowd.

"First impression- Summer, it's practically the first time you've said a word to Cohen. He screwed up, he's not like that." Marissa tried to defend Seth's honour, and at the same time put in a good word for him.

"But he DID screw up, Coop. Ew," Summer thought for a second. "Imagine total dorks drawing their fantasies, on paper, for PEOPLE to see." Summer shuddered, as she thought, and Marissa considered it for a second, and flinched as she too, was a little frightened.

"If you only let Seth explain, he'll give you an explanation. Otherwise, you'll never know, Sum." Marissa suggested.

"Then I guess I'll never know." Summer said as a final statement, before hanging up her telephone. Marissa sat stunned- Marissa knew Summer could be a b…. but she had never actually hung up on her. Marissa scrunched her eyes in confusion, but knew in her heart, that Summer would come through. Even though at times, Marissa's advice came to her like a discovery of America (unbelievable), she would listen to it in the end. Marissa decided to call Seth.

"Hy-ello?" Seth's familiar voice was blurry behind the surge of heavy rock music, and more videogame sound effects.

"Hey Cohen," Marissa said, recognizing the fact that the guys were still playing videogames. "Be prepared. Summer's going to be ready, someday, to hear you through about the cartoon. Make an excuse, a decent, believable excuse, or she's never, ever going to speak to you again. Seth stayed silent for a few seconds.

"Score! A second chance from the Goddess," Seth said unintentionally. "Crap! I mean Summer." Marissa laughed.

"I'll keep it on the the down low for you, Seth." She laughed, and repeated. "Ahaha, 'the Goddess'" She tried to mimic the seriousness, and excitement in Seth's voice, as he cheered about a second chance from Summer. "She'll come through. Don't rush it." With that, Marissa clicked off her phone, and bit her lip, as she was grinning. She truly hoped Summer would give Seth another chance, he was a great guy.

"Seth," Ryan said constantly concentrating on the television screen. "Do you wanna talk about what happened with Summer?"

"Noise. Mistake. Anger," Seth rambled quietly. "You know, Summer looks hot when she's mad?" Seth said, only to hear Luke and Ryan laugh contentedly. Ryan stood up, and turned off the videogame, and turned to face Seth.

"You're in for lesson number one, from the men, Seth." Ryan announced. "Summer's a tough chick, so you have to slightly outsmart her. Be clever, and make sure she doesn't walk all over you. And that's it. That's all you gotta know. You're the man Seth- don't let her take your power."

"Do you like think, Marissa brainwashed me or something? It looks like your advice is going to give me a decent a$s kicking. I'd prefer to follow the pro- besides who knows her best?"

"Marissa…" Ryan said dully. "Hey, we were only offering you some help."

"Why, thank you. Keep it. I'm going up to my room to think of a classic." Seth said dreamily. He marched proudly up the stairs, and plopped down on his bed. He turned on some inspirational music, so he could think of something wonderful.

Not being able to think of anything, he sat down by his computer, opening the file he meant to show Summer, earlier that evening. He looked at it sadly, knowing the only chance that his sensitivity could be revealed was through this. He read his Summer poetry, and gulped. He was positive that if he incorporated some of this bliss, Summer, the "tough chick" would soften. He added a line to his poem:

Even with anger, shuddering in her eyes

Her voice is like heaven's angels powdering the clouds

As she screams angry goodbyes,

I can't let her go-

I love her so.

He knew he wasn't quite the poet, but he felt that only poetry could let his feelings for Summer truly escape. He saved his stanza, and thought constantly about what his plan were to be. He knew Summer wouldn't give him a second in the day, but perhaps, anonimously, she would do that, and more…

As a lightbulb suddenly appeared over Seth's head, he grinned impatiently, ready to plan his idea carefully. If Summer didn't love him, after all this, then he would simply, have to give up on her.

Marissa sat bored on her bed, constantly thinking about the potential relationship between Seth and Summer. Before she knew it, she was entangled in thoughts about her own gorgeous boyfriend, that was probably still warped into the videogame. Marissa boldly thought of a surprise visit, that would certainly end off her night well.