Chapter One
Summer gallantly paraded down the school halls. Her dark smoky hair bounced with her poised step. Through this mad crowd of people, she was searching for Marissa Cooper, another one of the most popular girls in school. As she walked down the throng of students, strolling down the hustle, she finally spotted Marissa walking side-by-side Ryan Atwood. Marissa was gleefully laughing in the distance, as she playfully punched a smiling Ryan in the arm. Summer wondered if she should interrupt this moment that she hadn't seen in quite a while. The idea of Ryan and Marissa was already quite abstract, as they were no longer the school's hottest item. Instead, Summer dodged in excitedly, and joined the two-person, going on three, line.
"Hey Ryan," She paused grinning. "Hey Coop." Marissa nervously smiled, hoping Summer wouldn't dramatize the fact that she and Ryan were actually hanging out. Marissa herself tried to be cool about it, without scaring Ryan away with her excitement.
"Hey Summer." Ryan smiled his friendly, toothy smile. His eyes were glittering from an enormous laugh he had shared with his x-girlfriend, Marissa.
"Hey Sum." Marissa then said routinely, giving her a quick smile. When Ryan had taken his eyes off the slim girl, Marissa widened her eyes as if pleading Summer to keep quiet for at least a little bit. Summer smiled and nodded understanding what Marissa was trying to telepathically transmit.
Summer sighed, half bored, but nevertheless not forgetting the soothing sight of her best friend finally happy once more. "So, where have you been guys?" Summer asked curiously, with a devious glow powdering her face.
Marissa laughed at Summer's wicked attempt to know what Ryan and Marissa had been up to. "Well you know, the usual." Marissa stopped, and shot a quick look at Ryan. With that, the two exploded with laughter, and were interrupted in time to hear Summer's voice, that was itching with slight annoyance.
"Ha ha ha," Summer raised her eyebrow, after trying to be as sarcastic as she possibly could. "I'll find out eventually," Summer carefully threatened. "And when I do,"
"If you do." Marissa interrupted slyly.
"When I do, you'll regret that you didn't tell me right away. Because I'm Summer. Geez you guys, haven't you figured out, that I have connections? Like, a lot?" Summer continued on with a serious glare. Then she turned on her four inch heal, of her stunning rosy pink shoe and left, leaving Marissa and Ryan to laugh once more.
"So…" After the laughing had ceased, Ryan attempted to calm the silence, however he wasn't much of a conversation starter. Marissa nodded, as she too tried to think of something that would stop the awkward silence. Thankfully, Seth Cohen appeared as if right on cue. He waved giddily from down the hall.
"Hey guys." He raised his eyebrow in confusion, as he noticed the same wave that Summer had recently- Marissa… and Ryan? Laughing, and hanging out? Was there something completely wrong with the picture?
"Get over it Seth. It might be weird," Marissa paused for a second, then quickly added. "For you. But it's actually quite nice to be with familiar territory." Ryan then swept the role, and punched Seth lightly on the shoulder, as if warning him to keep his mouth shut. Ryan was too, rejoicing inside that he and Marissa were on a speaking level once more, that wasn't at all awkward.
"I'm always the one who gets punched!" Seth pointed out, while walking with the small group of friends.
"You wouldn't get punched, if you didn't act stupid Seth." Ryan replied, obviously joking. Seth, in order to protect his own dignity asked.
"Hey! When do I act stupid?" Seth obviously wondering, stopped and paused, as he watched at the silent awe-stricken expressions on Marissa and Ryan's faces. He decided to answer, nodding. "Okay. Okay," Seth slowly admitted. "When don't I act stupid?" Marissa smiled taking the lead with Ryan, leaving Seth standing confused by the water fountain. He then started murmuring to himself.
"I act stupid?" He pondered this question, alone as floods of students constantly flew by, until the feirce bell hollered in his ears. He then smiled excitedly- this was the class he shared with Summer, his Goddess.