The Whip Lash

[Thanks to everyone for reviews! I really appreciate them, thanks for reading. Please review if you're reading. Do you guys want angst, fluff, humor...? Tell me in your review if you can.

Summer and Marissa walked up to the Roberts house. Summer was extremely nervous, she looked as though she was going to puke. She was flushed and her hands were sweaty, which Marissa had observed, seeing as Summer's small hand was holding hers in a death grip. Seth and Ryan had offered to come along and help, but Summer and Marissa suspected it would go better if they stayed in the car, at least for the time being. Especially when the girls noticed a certain Julie Cooper's car in the driveway. They didn't say anything to the boys, not wanting to make them nervous. Marissa was seething underneath the surface, but she tried to hold it together, because Summer was freaking out. She hadn't spoken to her father since the night they'd gotten back and she'd collected her clothes and all other personal items she could carry out of the house in her arms. To be telling him now that she was permanently moving out was terrifying for her. The girls walked up the hideously steep stairs to the Roberts mansion's front door. Summer stumbled over and fell on her hands, and groaned as she struggled to get up, and profusely apologized to Marissa, who she'd pulled down with her.

"Sum...it's ok, I just can't seem to get up though." Marissa told her friend. Seth and Ryan saw the spectacle and ran over to help them along.

"Thanks," Summer breathed as Seth helped her to her feet.

"No problem," Seth said, taking Summer's scraped hands in his and kissing them gently. Summer smiled at her boyfriend's overwhelming sweetness.

"Thanks Ry," said Marissa as she smiled at her own boyfriend's chivalry.

"Any day," Ryan told her, earning a peck on the cheek. Now, the four of them headed into the Roberts house, the door was conveniently open so Summer didn't have to fish around in her purse.

"Ah...Summer, Marissa!" Dr. Roberts called. Then, with some annoyance, added, "And Ryan and Seth."

"Such a pleasure seeing you, too." Seth remarked under his breath sarcastically. Summer would've laughed and punched him or something, under normal circumstances. But, there was nothing normal about the circumstances, so instead, she stared at the floor timidly.

"We have an announcement," came Julie's voice. She was standing at the top of the stairs along side Neil now. She sounded happy, until she saw that boy. Her expression took a sharp turn at that moment; she went from a euphoric state to one of...guilt, or was it outright repulsion? It was impossible to tell.

"I can't wait to hear what you have to say," Marissa spat. She looked thoughtful for a moment, and added, "Why aren't you in a cell, mother?"

"Oh, Marissa, those silly charges got dropped." Julie stated, seemingly unaffected. She waved her hand as though dismissing the matter on the whole, but deep down, there may have been a semblance of sorrow and guilt. She gave an expression that clearly meant, "But I see you haven't dropped that boy." But no words accompanied the look. Marissa crossed her arms over her chest defiantly and Ryan wrapped an arm around Marissa in a protective gesture. Seth and Summer stood quietly, hands entwined. Julie Cooper's latest stunt was between Marissa and Julie, and for the time being, there was no reason for them to get involved. Little did they know, her latest stunt did involve them.

"So, about that announcement. While you four went away," Julie said, her use of the euphemism "went away" was dully noted. "Neil and I here began dating, and we're...engaged!" Julie exclaimed. Summer looked positively floored. Marissa's face wore a similar expression. If the two of them had not been in fragile mental states before, they certainly were now. Seth shook his head in disbelief while Ryan looked as though this was the worse news he'd heard in ages. You would've thought he was at a funeral. That's just how terrible he felt about this whole thing.

"Is anyone going to say anything?" Julie asked, looking pointedly at Summer and Marissa.

"This sucks," Marissa scoffed. Summer nodded, and finally opened her mouth.

"Good to know someone was having fun while we were 'away.' And why did we have to run? Because this skank right here had to go trying to frame Ryan for attempted murder. That's what I have to say," Summer spat in disgust. Neil and Julie looked mortified at her words, so Summer smirked. "Oh, also, I'm moving out, permanently." Summer added.

"Oh yeah, me too, have a nice life bitch," Marissa flippantly walked out the door behind Summer, closely followed by Seth and Ryan.

"That went well," Julie muttered as she rushed down the stairs to follow them.

"Maybe we should let them go," Neil sighed as he followed Julie and promptly took hold of her arm.

"What, and have them end up god-knows-where with those boys?" Julie cried in despair. Neil shook his head.

"I mean for now dear. We'll see what we can do because of our parental rights later on. They need time to cool off and adjust," Neil told Julie knowingly, struggling to calm her.

"Ah...well, fine, for now. But things cannot stay this way," Julie firmly asserted, and Neil nodded, and walked off to his office wearily. "Call the lawyer," Julie called loudly after him. Marissa slammed the door shut. Julie collapsed on the stairs in a heap.

"They're gonna make us come home," Summer muttered, fuming. "I can't believe my dad hooked up with that skank!" Summer growled. And then she looked up, and remembered that Julie was Marissa's mom. "Uh...no offense Coop." She added.

"Believe me, I totally agree." Marissa muttered, her anger at her mom equal to or greater than Summer's at her father. All the while, Seth and Ryan stayed pretty quiet, but Seth couldn't stay too quiet for too long.

"They can legally force you to come back." Seth told the girls in a low voice. Summer groaned in exasperation.

"Damn." Summer huffed, and Marissa squeezed Ryan's hand really hard, like it was the only thing keeping her sane.

"You could just get emancipated," said Ryan. Marissa smiled widely.

"Good idea Ryan!" Marissa cried as she threw all her weight at Ryan, hugging him and then kissing him hard.

"Woah, ok, do you that would happen to me if I gave an excellent idea like that?" Seth asked Summer.

"Uh, no ass hat. Now, here's what we gotta..." She was cut off by Seth's lips on hers.

"Still no?" Seth asked Summer.

"Uh...um..." Summer was perfectly breathless.

"Thought so." Seth smirked, but before Summer could retaliate, Seth jumped into the front seat of the car.

"Ok, so, what's the plan?" Marissa inquired of the group.

"Here's the thing. They may have legal rights and stuff, but we have...each-other, and the litigator's skills at our disposal." Seth told the group.

"Good point Cohen." Summer grinned, and the kids fell into a comfortable silence.

"So, what now," Marissa wondered aloud 5 minutes later.

"We bide our time, talk to my dad, and maybe go to the pier and work on our college apps," Seth suggested.

"Mmm...yeah, I'm in the mood for pancakes!" Marissa declared. Summer's stomach growled in agreement.

"To the pier!" Seth stated jovially.

The question at the back of their minds was: just how long could a good thing last when Julie Cooper is hot on the trail to making you miserable? The answer was, not very.