"You seem to be down one passenger, Atwood", Summer said, leaning on her car as Ryan and Anna got out of Kirsten's Land Rover.
"Good morning Roberts, I tried but I couldn't find him", Ryan said, closing the door behind him. "He wasn't at breakfast or in his room this morning. I assumed it was something to do with you and Zach".
"I mean, it probably is", Summer rolled her eyes, matching his exasperated sigh. "But that doesn't mean I'm aware of it". Summer took her sunglasses off, peering into the tree line of the Harbor School car park. "Maybe he is out there like the Terminator, scanning us all with his nerd eyes, plotting his next coffee cart love declaration".
"Given how much he complained at the idea of going camping with Oliver, I'm going to say it's unlikely". Ryan smiled down at Summer before looking out to the trees, just in case.
"Maybe he was at The Bait Shop again? He mentioned Alex while we were making dinner last night…" Anna added after getting out of the car.
"Cohen made dinner last night?" Summer asked in disbelief, pointedly ignoring the Bait Shop.
"No, me and Anna made dinner last night, Seth…sat on the kitchen counter and talked about himself", Ryan smirked.
"Ahh, it all makes sense now…Anyway, let's not spend our precious Cohen free moments discussing the whereabouts of Cohen" Summer said triumphantly.
"Yeah, I should probably head off. I've got to check in with the doctor". The look that spread across Summer's face made Ryan feel he had to continue. "Nothing bad, just when I got out of the hospital…She wanted to schedule these check-ins, I don't think it'll last".
Swinging around the side of the car, Ryan wrapped one arm around Anna, pulling her gently into a quick kiss.
"Can't wait for lunch, see you soon". Another kiss punctuated the sentence. Anna was taken aback, not only by the kisses but once again that it was in front of someone. What had gotten into Ryan this week.
"Later Summer! Seeya at lunch" Ryan said, waving out as he started his jog across the car park.
"You've got it bad, Rose", Summer said, laughing as Anna lent dazed against the car, smiling and red-faced.
"I've got what bad?" She said reflexively.
"A case of the Atwoods"
"No, no, I've got a very reasonable case of the Atwoods. Stabilised…Under control…" She trailed off, realising her words were only increasing the size of Summer's smile.
"I might believe you if that kiss hadn't made you glitch out…Oh and if your eyes didn't double in size every time he reaches out for you".
"They do not!" Anna said as Summer nodded her head towards the main school building.
"Please Rose, I'm not sure I even saw your eyes at full size before seeing you and Atwood in public. It's not a bad thing. It's really cute".
Anna didn't respond, for a moment they walked across the car park in silence.
"I just…I'm not used to it. For the first five months we had to keep it hidden. And then when word got out, he ended up in the hospital…" She trailed off for a moment, debating her next words. "So we've gone from one extreme to another. This whole affectionate boyfriend in public thing…It's terra incognita". Anna caught her nervous laugh chasing her words, but pushed on.
"I mean, when I was with Seth, there wasn't much public time he didn't spend just chasing after you. Which is entirely on him by the way. Not you". Anna had hoped her smile would reassure Summer, but her reaction indicated otherwise.
"I mean, give yourself some credit, girl". Summer said, failing to hide the concern from her voice.
"It is okay", Anna said quickly, "I didn't mean it like woe is me, more like…This is new to me. Don't get me wrong. I like it. A lot". She paused, wondering whether to tell Summer. "...Also he kissed me in front of Seth yesterday, just on the cheek, but still!"
"I'm sorry he did what?! And Cohen is still in this hemisphere? On the planet known as earth? Rose, tell me more". Linking her arm with Anna, Summer pressed for more information.
Anna didn't get very far into her recollection of 'the pool house kiss' before hearing a voice calling their names.
"Summer, Anna, hey", Lindsay said, approaching and smiling nervously at each of them in turn. The baggy jumper she was wearing reminded Anna of her friends from Pittsburgh. "I know this is out of the blue but are you going to the Water Polo game tonight? Zach said you might be there".
"I mean I'll be there because my boyfriend will be there, but why do you want to go? You don't exactly strike me as the Water Polo type" Summer replied, feigning simple curiosity.
"Oh well, I'm not, not at all. Nor Water Polo players…But I thought maybe I'd try to fit into 'the Harbor life' a bit. Maybe a win over the Newport Union Lions or whatever will fill me with patriotic fervour". Anna was not convinced.
"Right, and not at all due to any particular member of either team?" Summer said, smiling innocently.
Anna knew Summer was teasing her. Luke had told them on Monday about his 'casual, super smooth invitation' to the game on Wednesday. The plan had been to show Lindsay 'the best version of himself'.
"I mean I'm not going because of Luke, he is just my lab partner…But I do kinda know you and Zach and Ryan…" Lindsay was drowning and Summer's expression displayed very little intention of saving her.
"I didn't mention Luk-'' Summer started but didn't finish.
"I think it is a great idea. I'll be there, so we can all go together". Anna interjected.
"I thought you said you were busy doing 'literally anything else'". Summer shot back.
"Ahh well…I said that before I knew Ryan's busy tonight, so go Anchors!" Anna said, lightly punching the air.
"We are called the Sharks, sportsfan" Summer said, bemusement shifting to amusement.
"I'm sorry, the Harbor Sharks?" Anna said in pretend disbelief, happy to be buying Lindsay time to think. "Our logo is an anchor, Sharks aren't found in harbours".
Shaking her head, Summer turned to a slightly confused and still nervous Lindsay.
"Then it is settled, we will see you there Lins, meet you by the pool after last period".
"The three musketeers", Anna said, still feeling a little silly. "Go team!"
Lindsay's face turned from confusion at their back and forth to relief when it was over.
"Ahh, well that's great. Thank you both so much. It'll be fun! I'll bring snacks!"
A few moments after Lindsay had left, Summer was shaking her head.
"I mean what are the odds? Yet another misfit nerd girl is enthralled by yet another outwardly tough, secretly cute, emotionally vulnerable hunk. Yawn. At least this one doesn't have a pixie cut", Summer said as they continued their walk across the car park, ruffling Anna's short dyed hair as she finished.
"What's got into you Summer, you are aiming to kill this morning".
"And you are blocking my shots. I was like the robot in Star Wars. I had her in my sights. I was this close to getting her to admit she liked Ward".
"Be nice, Harbor is intimidating enough for us 'nerd girls' without Darth Summer chasing us down". Anna knew something was wrong.
"It is for her own good. Luke is a catch…Well new Luke. Old Luke was a jerk". They walked for a moment, Anna found herself thinking about Luke as she'd first met him at the Cotillion practice.
What a difference a year makes, Anna thought.
"And you are sure this aggressive world view has nothing to do with your own particular water polo player?" Anna asked after a few moments of internal debate.
"Am I really that obvious?" Summer conceded after a moment, sighing.
"I mean, a little? It is all a little Summer: Year One in here", Anna said softly, trying to reassure. "I know I kinda monopolised sympathy for the last few months, and I really appreciate how much you are always here for me but…You know, I'm always here for you as well Blanche". After Anna finished, she watched Summer fight the urge to brush the comments off.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to let you two be happy for a bit…You deserve some peace". Summer let her bravado dissipate, waving her hand dismissively as if willing it away.
Sensing there was more to discuss, Anna led Summer away from the stream of morning students near the palladium stairs.
"I mean, you didn't have the best summer either. At least I knew where Ryan was. Give yourself some credit as well. As we both know, Seth is a lot to deal with…Even at the best of times. Add Marissa and Zach on top, it would be okay to say you are off balance". Anna watched cautiously as Summer sighed again, deeper.
"You are right, Rose. Thank you".
"I mean Ryan is a great listener, and he knows Seth. And I'm not terrible either…Maybe we could meet at yours some time, or go for coffee. It'll make you feel better than forcing a confession out of Lindsay". Anna was relieved to see Summer's facial features soften.
"That sounds good…Once I know where things lie with Cohen and Coop, things will be easier", Summer said earnestly, pulling Anna into a hug. "Thank you Rose".
Since Ryan had been discharged from the hospital and Seth had returned, Anna hadn't been entirely sure where the boundary lay with Summer in this new era. She knew she loved her friend dearly, but with the constant ripples of Newport Beach feeding into one another, it was sometimes hard to tell what conversations were off limits.
"Anyway, enough emotions. War faces on. Another Harbor day awaits us". Summer said, psyching herself up.
"Go Anchors", Anna said meekly, raising her arm for comic effect..
"Anchors Rose! Anchors! You have to pretend to be into sports for one sentence and you invent the Harbor Anchors. Anchors that famously only sink and weigh people down!" Summer said through laughter as they started walking back up the ramp.
"Hey, Anchors are useful. They are sturdy and they stop ships drifting away" Anna said, attempting, and failing, to keep a straight face.