Ducking between the flocks of people, Marissa searched the airport for site of Summer.

"Coop!!"

Marissa turned around, and there she stood. Her best friend, Summer Roberts. The 5 foot, brown hair vixen ran directly towards her, wrapping her arms around Marissa waist and burying her in a friendly hug.

"It's so good to see you"

"Oh you have no idea"

Summer stepped back from the hug, grabbing Marissa's hands as he did so.

"I've missed you Coop"

"I've missed you too Sum"

A comfortable silence overcame them as Marissa picked up her shoulder bag and began to follow Summer to the car.

"Thanks for letting me stay on such short notice"

"It's no problem. Anything for my best bud aye"

"Thanks"

The ride home was comfortably silent. When they reached Summers house, Marissa pulled herself slowly from the passenger seat and onto the driveway.

"Nothings changed here" Marissa commented.

"Yeah, it's all the same"

Finally reaching Summers bedroom, Marissa fell back on her bed and let out a deep breath.

"I've missed this place so much. You have no idea how boring New York is"

"Come on Coop, New York, boring, think of all those shops"

"Yeah, but shopping by yourself isn't very fun"

"Haven't you made any friends?"

Looking to her hands, She shook her head.

"Not one?"

Once again, she shook her head. It hurt her a lot that she hadn't made a single friend. It hurt so bad that she was so lonely in New York, when so many people cared for back in Newport. She took a deep breath, trying to keep the tears in, but she just couldn't hold back any longer. They came tumbling from her eyes like rivers. Summer reached an arm around her and pulled her into a hug.

"Coop. I hate seeing you like this. What's happened to make things so bad you had to leave?"

"I can't stand it there. I live in a huge house, basically all by myself. I have no friends, no one to talk to. I spend 3 hours after school each day at those god damn ballet lessons that mum makes me take, and then I get driven home by a driver I've never seen. I come home, go to my room and cry myself to sleep. I can't stop thinking about how much I miss you and Ryan and even Seth. How much I miss having friends, having a life. How much I hate my mum, and how she's screwed my life up. I stopped going to school and ballet lessons when mum went over to Paris for one of her work things. There was no point. I was failing school, and ballet bored the heck out of me. I've spoken to Ryan 3 times since I moved. That's 3 times in 7 months. I miss him so bad Sum. And you know the worst part. Even though I'm here, I still can't see him, coz we'll get caught. And I miss not having you around"

"Aww Coop, cheer up. It can't be that bad"

"Your right Sum, it's worse"

--

"Come on, call. She's gotta be here by now"

Pacing around the pool house, Ryan couldn't stop himself from starring at his phone, waiting for Summer to call. As if she could read his thoughts, the phone started to ring. He ran towards it immediately, and picked it up.

"Summer!"

"Chino, calm down..."

"I'll be right over!!"

"No Ryan, just wait. I'm not sure if now's the right time. She's really upset And I can just see those busy bodies across the street, peeking through their windows, their fingers ready to dial the cops if you turn up."
"I don't care, she's in Newport, I can't just pretend she's not here."

"Look, how about I see if she wants to talk to you on the phone and we'll go from there?"

"Ok"

There were a few moments of silence, before a softer voice flowed through the speakers on Ryan's phone.

"Ry?"

"Riss, are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine"

"Really?"

An awkward silence overcame the pair, only to be broken by the faint sound of sobbing coming from Marissa's end.

"Marissa?"

"Why did she have to make me move? I hate it there!!"

"Have you not made any friends?"

"It's not exactly easy to make friends at St. Margaret's in the beginning, let alone being the kid from Orange County who shot someone. Everyone's too bothered about the way they look to even give me a chance. There's only been like 1 person who has actually spoken to me at school, and that was someone trying to get me to shoot someone for them"

Another awkward silence overcame the pair.

"Can I come see you?"

Ryan was shocked. He didn't expect her to be so forward.

"I thought I'd come see you"

"I don't want Summer to get in trouble for hosting criminals. Maybe we can meet some place mutual?"

"How about you just come to the pool house? You can sneak around the back; Sandy and Kirsten don't even have to know you're here"

"Are you sure?"

"Certain"

"Okay, I'll be there soon"