Chapter 4 - The Painful Shape

The sun beat down brilliantly on Habor high school. Marissa and Summer made their way into the school courtyard. Ryan and Seth were just arriving having been driven to school by Sandy. After taking a couple of paces pass a palm tree Marissa looked to her left and spotted Ryan getting out of Sandy's car. "I'll see you in class." She said to Summer before making her way over. Summer stared after her for a minute but shrugged her shoulders and walked into the school building.

Seth had a skateboard in his hand ready to drop it on the ground and Ryan was adjusting the strap on his shoulder. Marissa approached them from the side. They stopped as they saw her. She pushed a stray strand of hair behind her left ear. "Hey." She said.

"Hey." Ryan responded while Seth just raised his hand.

"So, there's this party..." Marissa said leaving the last word trailing in the air.

"Party, huh?" Seth said deep in thought. "I have to go." He stood for a moment before quickly walking off.

"Is he always that strange?" Marissa asked.

"Pretty much." Ryan answered.

Marissa smiled. "So, what do you think?"

"Are you asking me to the party?" Ryan asked.

"Are you coming?" Marissa asked.

Ryan thought for a moment. "Sure."

"Great." Marissa said with a large grin.

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Inside the school corridor students busily went to and fro. Summer's legs could be seen beneath an open locker door. Seth took a minute to appreciate the view. After making sure he had the visual stored in his mind that he slowly walked up to her.

"Oh, hey Summer. Seth Cohen." Seth said pointing to himself.

Summer's shoulders slumped.

"Remember me? Record store? Overwhelming ... tension?" Seth asked knowingly.

Summer slammed her locked door shut. "Nope."

Seth looked uncomfortable. "Really?" He asked nervously.

Summer looked up and saw the desperation in his eyes. Her features softened. "I may perhaps possibly know what you're talking about."

A huge smile crossed Seth's face. "Seared on your memory, huh?"

"Oh, God." Summer said with regret.

"Yeah, I get that a lot. Well, not a lot but, actually not at all." Seth mumbled.

"There's a surprise." Summer commented.

"Anyway, I hear there's a party this weekend." He said.

"There is?" She asked with fake surprise.

"Uh-huh. I was wondering if you were going." He asked nervously.

"I might be." She said reluctantly.

"See you there?" He asked.

"Hopefully not." She replied sharply.

"You can pretend all you want but we both know the truth." He said.

"What truth would that be?" She asked.

"That you find me irresistible." He said with a grin.

"Uh-huh. Well, let's put that theory to the test." She said walking away.

"Summer, you can't fight science! Resistance is futile!" Seth shouted earning him several suspicious looks from passers-by.

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Ryan took a book out of his locker, shut the door and started to head off to class when a large muscular water polo player blocked his path.

"I hear Marissa invited you to Holly's party?" Luke asked.

"Yeah." Ryan replied.

"You two seem to be getting on very well." Luke said.

"Err...yeah." Ryan said not knowing where this was leading.

"A little too well." Luke said.

"Look, man. Nothing is going on." Ryan answered

"Oh, I know. Marissa would never sully herself with w... t... like you." Luke sneered

"What did you say?" Ryan said clenching his fist and squaring up to Luke.

"You heard me, Chino." Luke said aggressively.

Ryan relaxed his fist. "I'm not going to fight you."

"Then I better not see you at the party. Because if I do the water polo team is going to give you an OC welcome you'll never forgive." Luke said threateningly before walking away.

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Ryan was through the courtyard when Marissa saw him. She stopped talking to her friends and made her way over.

"Ryan?" She said.

"Oh, hi." Ryan said. "I need to talk to you."

"Err...okay." Marissa said wondering where this was leading.

"Yeah. About the party..." Ryan paused. "I'm not going."

"You're not?" Marissa asked surprised. "Why?"

"Well, I have a big test to study for..." Ryan trailed away on the last word.

"In the first week?" Marissa asked.

"Yeah. Plus I promised Sandy and Kirsten I wouldn't get into any trouble." Ryan said.

"You won't get in trouble." Marissa replied quickly.

"That's not what your boyfriend said." Ryan commented.

"What?" Marissa asked.

"Nothing." Ryan dismissed.

"No, what's Luke been saying to you?" Marissa demanded.

"Just that I should stay away." Ryan answered

"From me?" Marissa asked.

Ryan nodded.

"I can't believe him. Who does he think he is to tell me who I can and can't hang out with?" Marissa exploded.

"Look, he was just being protective." Ryan said calmly.

"Untrusting more like. You have to come to the party now." Marissa replied.

Ryan smiled. "And get in the middle of you and Luke? No, thanks."

He walked away before Marissa could say anything leaving her standing alone regretting what she had just said.

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Ryan lay on the bed in his pool house reading a comic book. The sudden opening of the pool house door interrupted him. Seth stepped in.

"You're not going to the party?" He asked.

"Nope." Ryan said turning the page.

"You have to go." Seth replied

"No, I don't." Ryan said.

"Dude, Summer will be there." Seth said.

"So?" Ryan asked,

"I need a wing-man. You're Goose to my Maverick." Seth said.

"You can still go." Ryan replied

"Oh, I'm still going I just want some back-up. You know, we're brothers now. This is what brothers do." Seth said.

"Help you hook-up with some girl?" Ryan asked.

Seth remained silent for a few seconds. "Not just some girl. I named my boat after her!"

"Yeah, I wouldn't tell her that. It might sound a little creepy." Ryan said.

"You see? This is the kind of wing-man advice I need." Seth said.

"I'm not going." Ryan stated flatly.

Seth thought for a moment. "Fine, I understand. It's okay to be scared."

"I'm not scared." Ryan said defiantly.

"No, Luke is a big strong man with big strong muscles..." Seth said.

"Are you trying to hook-up with Summer or Luke?" Ryan asked.

"Very funny. You'll need a sense of humour after everyone starts going you Cowardly McCoward." Seth said.

Ryan put down the comic book. "Look, your parents letting me in is, like, the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I don't want to risk that or punching some punk water polo player."

"Okay." Seth paused for a moment. "I'll bring you the new Legion. It's really good."

"Thanks, man." Ryan said with a smile.