A/N: Anyway… thanks for the reviews… and here is chapter six!
DISCLAIMER: Only own the plot.
Chapter Six: The Letter
Sounds like a plan. See you after the school.
Marissa snapped her phone shut with a smile on her face and ran over to Casey with a smile on her face. Casey looked at her curiously and nudged Chilli beside her.
"Good morning Miss Merry Sunshine," said Chilli, "Why are you so happy? Case told me what happened on the weekend with Summer and Ryan."
"Oh that. Well, you know… I'm getting over it," admitted Marissa, "Actually I have been hanging out with Seth a lot over the weekend."
"Wait, are you going to get it on with Seth?" asked Casey with a raised eyebrow.
"No! Seth and I are just friends. I've known him my whole life. I couldn't imagine dating him. Oh and you both are coming to my house this afternoon. It's nothing much, but hey, it's a home."
Casey and Chilli agreed and all headed off to class. Throughout her History lesson Marissa text Seth, passing jokes both knew and of funny stories that they shared while growing up together. At one point Marissa had to hide her face from her face going red through silent laughter. Casey gave her an odd look but Marissa just ignored her.
By lunch however Marissa had to phone Seth to tell him of her predicament.
OC
"Red faced?" laughed Seth as Ryan, Summer and Anna took their usual table behind him, "I got you red faced?"
"Yes," was Marissa's reply, "Casey you tell him."
"Hey Seth," came Casey's voice, "What's happening at Harbour?"
"Hey Casey. Nothing much. Just the usual, class and gossip."
"Right, sounds thrilling. Yes you did get her red faced. Mr Whitaker was about to ask what was going on with her when the bell sounded. So you are lucky she didn't get her phone taken."
Seth laughed earning looks from Summer, Ryan and Anna, "So are you and Chilli joining Marissa and I at her place?"
"Yes we are."
Seth nodded, "Good, good. Well tell Marissa I'll see her later. Bye."
"See ya Seth."
Seth hung up and bit into his burger and looked up to have Anna taking the seat across from him, "What message have Ryan and Summer asked you to pass onto me?"
"Nothing. I just came over to chat to you," replied Anna, "No, I came to tell you that you are really low. You go at Ryan and Summer for going out but here you are spending all your time with Marissa, which literally makes you two a couple. Seth that is being a hypocrite."
"No it doesn't Anna because you have to be going out with the person to be that and I am not going out with Marissa I am only spending time with Marissa as a friend," replied Seth emphasizing every 'out' and 'friend'.
Anna sighed, "And I bet that by the end of this week you and Marissa are going out."
With that Anna stood and walked over to Summer and Ryan and sat back down. None of the three spoke but just looked at Seth in disgust. It was Summer who stood and walked over to Seth with her tray and sat across from him first before Ryan followed and again by Anna.
"This table isn't for backstabbers," said Seth not looking at them as he ate.
"No, it's for friends," replied Ryan.
"I see a couple with one friend, nothing else."
"Actually Cohen, I see four friends. Two who are going out," said Summer in an annoyed tone, "And will you quit with the sulking? Only two year olds do that."
"No Summer hurt people sulk and I am a hurt person."
"Oh and I wasn't hurt when I saw you kissing Marissa?"
"I'm not saying that."
"Well you may as well be. Just because I didn't sulk around like a total moron does not mean I wasn't hurt!"
Summer stood and stormed off into the school. Ryan sighed at Seth and ran off after his girlfriend. Anna remained seated and looked at Seth pointedly.
"What?" he asked.
"She is your friend Seth. So is Ryan. You should be glad they told you and Marissa and didn't sneak around behind your backs."
"Anna, I would have preferred they'd sneaked around for a while."
"And you would've found out and have been mad that they didn't tell you. It's a no win situation either way. But holding a grudge is only going to lead to Summer hitting you. Believe me, she has been holding back for a long time."
Seth sighed, "I'll talk to her later… can we call a truce or something?"
Anna nodded and Seth smiled at her.
"Did you see Taylor today?" sniggered Seth, "Toilet paper hanging off her shoe…"
OC
"…he has the hide to say that!" finished Summer breathing hard, her vision blurred with angry tears.
Ryan stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her, "Finished?"
Summer laughed and wiped her tears away before looking up at him as he held her, "Yeah… thanks for listening to me rant on."
Ryan smiled before looking at her concerned, "You aren't still hung up on Seth are you?"
"No. But he did hurt me and him saying that just makes me angry. I'm with you now I am totally, totally happy… Atwood… no…"
"No," agreed Ryan with a smile, "Call me Atwood and I'll be calling you Roberts."
Summer laughed, "I can see it now. You walking through the corridor yelling out Roberts."
Ryan chuckled at the image just as the bell for end of lunch rang. The two parted with a kiss inside as Summer headed for her locker and Ryan headed for Maths.
Summer opened her locker as a letter fell out. Frowning she knelt down and picked it up. She opened it up and glanced around her for anyone watching for her to read it. The writing was neat and cursive with loops at the start of every word.
Just a warning for you that Mr Atwood isn't so innocent. Listen to the rumours floating around to save your self from more pain.
Summer frowned. Part of her wanted to throw the letter away and the other wanted her to keep it in case, by chance it was telling the truth. The other half won and Summer slipped the note into her back jeans pocket. She grabbed her book and shut the locker heading to class, unaware of Taylor Townsend watching her with a triumphant grin on her sly face.
OC
"Hey," smiled Seth getting greeted with a friendly hug from Marissa, "How was school?"
"Fun," smiled Marissa linking arms with Seth and leading him into the house, "You?"
"Oh, well I've patched things up with Anna and am going to attempt to do the same with Summer and Ryan."
"Why?" asked Marissa sitting down on the couch beside Seth and across from Casey and Chilli.
"One, I have to live with them both. Two, I go to school with them. Three, at least they told us and didn't hide their relationship from us… anymore reasons for me needed?"
"I guess not," shrugged Marissa with a sigh, "And I guess you have a point."
Seth nodded at her, "So Casey, Chilli. Our last encounter was an awkward one."
Casey and Chilli smiled with a nod.
"Awkwardness is awful," added Seth.
Casey chuckled and so did Chilli. Marissa stood up and grabbed the television remote and flicked the television on.
"Oh look… nothing is on."
"What about a DVD?" suggested Casey, "I brought my copy of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with me. Ever seen it Riss?"
"No… is it good?"
"Yes!" cried Casey, Chilli and Seth in unison.
"Okay," said Marissa slightly shocked at the reply, "Put it on then."
Casey grinned slipped the DVD on and soon the four were engrossed in watching the movie. Throughout it Casey and Chilli moved closer together and at the jumpy parts Marissa grabbed Seth by the arm and cried a little on his shoulder when Sean Connery's character died.
"That ending… sucked," muttered Marissa by the end of the movie as she wiped her eyes, "Are they making a second one?"
"With that ending," said Seth, "They better be."
Seth looked at his watch, "I'd better get going Mum is cooking dinner again."
Marissa stood and walked with Seth to the door, "So, any plans for tomorrow?"
"Homework but I am hoping to get that done tonight. So I'll call you tomorrow at lunch?"
Marissa nodded and hugged Seth goodbye before he climbed into his car and drove back home.
OC
Summer climbed out of the pool refreshed from her swim. She carefully wiped over her injuries and squealed when Ryan came out of nowhere and pulled her back into the pool with him. Summer came up from under the water and splashed Ryan with an evil grin.
"You are so nasty!" she cried as she swam for the edge and pulled herself up to sit on it. Ryan swam over to her and sat beside her.
"I'm sorry," he said before kissing her gently, "But hey, least I got you to swim with me."
"All you had to do was ask," replied Summer before pushing Ryan in and diving in after him.
Ryan came up for air in front of her and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her towards him for a kiss. Summer kissed him back with eager passion, causing Ryan to back up against the pool edge.
Both broke apart smiling and swam around talking, splashing and dunking each other for an hour or so before it became to dark with a slight chill in the air.
Both got out, dried and dressed in proper clothing before heading to the dining room for dinner. Seth joined them and for once without a scowl on his face. The meal was pleasant with chatter and laughter all around. Underneath the table though, Ryan and Summer were having fun with a game of footsies. At one stage Ryan made Summer nearly jump as he slipped his foot up her jeans leg. Summer looked at him surprised and disguised laughter with a cough.
"When you two are done with playing footsies," said Sandy with amusement in his tone as Summer and Ryan looked at him in surprise, "Can you both and Seth clear the table and stack the dishwasher?"
The two nodded and got to action in helping Seth clear and stack the dishwasher.
"Listen, Ryan… Summer," said Seth, "Look I know I have been a real jerk and I just want to say I am sorry and hope we can go back to all being friends."
"I accept and agree," said Ryan slapping Seth on the back in a brotherly manner before looking at Summer.
Summer looked at Seth with narrowed eyes before stepping closer, "I accept… but pull any jerk moves and I will be forced to slap you from here to Timbuktu."
Seth grinned, "Deal."
"I have homework," sighed Summer, "So I'll say night to you both." She kissed Ryan on the cheek and gave Seth a little shove and ran up stairs to her pale pink painted room.
Down stairs Ryan ad Seth were walking out to the pool house where Ryan sat on his bed and Seth sat on the round shaped chair.
"So… how have you been man?" asked Seth.
"Good. You?"
"Fine… it was Anna who talked some sense into me. I really am sorry, man. I was being a total walking awkward jerk."
Ryan laughed, "Yeah, that covers it."
Seth smiled, "So how are you and Summer going?"
"Better then me and Marissa ever did," admitted Ryan, "You and Marissa?"
"Are just friends. So, are you over Marissa?"
"I was over Marissa ages ago Seth. It took Summer saying something for me to realise it."
"She is doing good, just so you know. She is happy."
"Thanks to you."
"We are only friends man."
"I know but Marissa rarely seems happy. Well when we were together."
"You two went through a lot over those two years. Now you've both found different paths... or some mumbo jumbo stuff like that."
"Have you been listening to Anna?" smirked Ryan with amusement.
"No."
"Seth."
"Okay, yeah I have."
"You can't lie."
"Only if I have too."
"But you still fail at that."
Seth shrugged, "I try."
The rest of the night both Seth and Ryan spent it joking around in a brotherly manner like they did before the break up and formation of a new couple.
OC
Summer looked at the letter and sighed. Someone had handwritten it to her and she wanted to know whom. Someone who obviously didn't approve of her and Ryan. She pulled out her yearbook and flipped to the autograph pages. She placed the letter against everyone's signatures. It took her half an hour to do it but by the time she was finished, she had found nothing matching the writing. It seemed too perky and fake to be anyone she knew.
Then it hit her. The one person who fitted that single description of perky and fake, other then Dolly Parton's boobs, Taylor Townsend. She wrote the name down in big letters on the top of her autographs page and underlined it angrily.
Summer stood and changed out of her pyjamas and back into her jeans and singlet top. She slipped on her shoes and ran down stairs and into the lounge room where Kirsten and Sandy were watching the late night news.
"Sandy can I please burrow your car? I need to go get some lady things," fibbed Summer looking innocently at Sandy.
Sandy nodded and reached into his pocket and threw the keys at Summer. Summer caught them, collected her purse off the table and walked out the front door. She ran over to the car climbed in and dialled a number.
"Hi… Wendy it's Summer. What is Taylor Townsend's address?" asked Summer, "Oh I need to confront that little bitch about something… thanks. I'll fill you in tomorrow in Chem… okay. Bye."
Summer looked at the address she had written on her hand. Four blocks from where she used to live. She started the car and drove off unaware that she had dropped the letter on her way out and Seth, who was heading to his room had found it.
OC
"Hey Dad, where has Summer gone?" asked Seth walking into the lounge room.
"To get some lady things," replied Kirsten for Sandy, "Why?"
"Just wondering."
Seth walked out and looked at the letter. He walked out to the pool house and knocked on the closed door. Ryan opened it and few seconds later and Seth handed him the letter.
"I found this on the floor in the foyer. I think Summer got it because she left a few minutes ago."
"This is about that rumour of Anna and me," sighed Ryan, "Who wrote it?"
"I don't know."
"Do you have signatures in your years book?"
"No, but Summer would."
The two boys ran from the pool house, through the house, up the stairs and into Summer's room. Ryan made his way to her desk and grabbed the open year book and read the name is big block, angrily letters with a dark underline.
"Taylor Townsend," he said, "She's gone to confront her."
"Hang on a sec," said Seth turning on Summer's computer. He waited for it to load connected it to the net and typed in a website. He then typed in the Townsend name and state and suburb, "Bingo."
He wrote the address down and ran down stairs, grabbed his mothers car keys with Ryan following him out the front door, not listening to Kirsten's calls or Sandy's.
OC
Summer parked outside the Townsend mansion and got out the car. She locked it and walked up to the front door and rang the bell. A few minutes later it was opened by Taylor's mother, who smiled pleasantly at Summer.
"Hi," said Summer, "I am here to see Taylor."
"Sure."
Taylor's mother left and a few minute's later Taylor appeared dressed in a pink nightgown and white fuzzy slippers. Had Summer not been so angry she would have given Taylor a lot of nasty remarks about her attire.
"Summer! Hi! Are you here about the Dance?" she asked.
"No, nothing to do with the dance. I want to know what that letter meant!"
"What letter?"
Summer gave a frustrated sigh, "That stupid little note about Ryan not being so innocent! I know it was you, your writing is the only one in the entire population of Harbour that is perky and fake. Just like you- perky and completely fake!"
"Summer, I was only warning you."
"About what? What do you have against me and Ryan?"
"Summer I totally saw him go into a classroom alone with Anna and come out half an hour later."
"That doesn't mean they were doing anything wrong!"
"I saw them leave the room," said Taylor with a smirk, "Anna's hair was so messy. And Ryan looked really happy. Happier then what he does with he is wish you."
"You are lying!" snarled Summer.
"Then why did I see them kissing this afternoon during Maths?"
Summer paused. She looked at Taylor and sucked in a deep breath, "I don't believe you."
"Why would I lie about this?"
"Because you are simply weird, fake and a total bitch!" yelled Summer in anger, "No one likes you Taylor. No one cares one bit about you at school. You screwed the Dean of all people and that is totally gross."
"Summer!"
Summer spun around not seeing the tears in Taylor's eyes as she walked back into her house. Ryan and Seth ran over to her holding the note.
"I'm okay," said Summer in a calm tone, "I just had to confront her about it."
Ryan pulled Summer into a hug, "She is lying. Anna and I went to a classroom to talk about you. I had to tell her but didn't want anyone else to know. Anna will tell you the same thing."
"It's okay," replied Summer, "I believe you."
"I'll drive back in Mum's car," said Seth, "You two can go in Dad's."
Summer tossed Ryan the keys and all three went their ways. Seth left first as Summer was occupying Ryan's time with a long kiss before she allowed him to start the car and drive back to the Cohen mansion.
OC
The month's passed with the arrival of the Halloween dance. Seth remained spending a lot of time with Marissa, but both stayed friend's. Things with Summer and Ryan were going along smoothly, despite Taylor's attempt at ruining what they had. These days, Taylor and Summer shot each other looks and muttered things to each other. Everyone was fast becoming known of the war between Summer and Taylor and of course the school was rallying behind Summer.
Summer had her dress organised, a simple pale blue knee length dress with a v-neck line that showed a little cleavage. The straps were thin with white diamonds sewn on top. Her shoes were strappy pale blue shoes with diamond buckles on the side.
It was the night of the dance and Summer was in her room doing her hair with assistance from Kirsten. They had curled it and were trying to scoop half of it up into the white clips. It was working but trendils of curls kept on falling out. After a good hour of working on the hair Summer moved on to the make up. Kirsten frosted on some white and pale blue eye shadow, simple lipgloss, mascara and eyeliner.
"Done," smiled Kirsten looking at her work, "You look so beautiful."
Summer smiled and looked at herself in the mirror. She really did look good with the fitted dress that showed her slight curves.
Kirsten smiled and led Summer out of her room where Ryan was waiting in his tux, black with a black shirt and white tie down stairs. Seth had gone to pick up Anna, they had agreed to go together as friends.
Ryan was busy talking to Sandy and laughing as Summer descended into the foyer. Sandy noticed the arrival of his wife and foster daughter first. He tapped Ryan on the arm and gestured towards Summer. Ryan turned and looked at his girlfriend. A smile come onto his face as he walked over to her.
"You look… magical," said Ryan in a slight breathless tone.
Summer smiled, "Fancy a Chino boy saying that. You scrub up well."
Ryan smiled at her and held out his arm. Summer took it and both walked out of the house to head for the Halloween dance.
A/N: The dance will be next chapter of course along with some drama! Please review!
Bye for now!
Love yas!
Love Coz!