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[indent][indent]Summer was not impressed with the stupid display these boys were putting up. She certainly wasn't used to Carson standing up to her like he was - no matter what they both had felt about each other, they had always at least pretended to like each other for the sake of Alice throughout their years at Goldcrest. Summer had always known that Alice could do better than this scum, and had told her countless times, but it had seemed as if Carson had dealt with the problem for her. But now, he was back. And was calling Summer, of all people, a bitch.

[color=F08080][b]"You must have amnesia, Carson, since you've seemed to forget that there's a pecking order around here."[/b][/color] She took a second to run her eyes over him venomously, knowing that it was this glare of hers that could make anyone feel tiny beneath her.[color=F08080][b] "Which means," [/b][/color]she elongated her words, practically spelling it out for him, [color=F08080][b]"that we, your ex and I, are at the top. And you, with whoever this is, are at the [i]very [/i]bottom."[/b][/color]

Summer felt a gentle hand on her arm.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Summer, quit it. You know they're hardly even worth it." [/b][/color]Alice was right, of course, but Summer had her pride to uphold. She had to give it to this Paul, though, he was brave. She did not, however, appreciate being called 'little girl'. No one had dared speak to her like that in years. She was painfully aware of how short she was, even in her 6-inch heels, compared to the guys towering before her. It did not help the fact that Paul was standing only inches away from her, and she still had to look up to meet his eye. Her jaw set and she put her hands on her hips.

[color=F08080][b]"Ohh, I'm so glad that you'd choose your shitty combat boots over my Louis Vuittons." [/b][/color]She was aware of the fact that she sounded like a shallow cow, but [i]he [/i]was the one that had touched her skirt. And no one was allowed to do that - except Nate, of course. Who, as per usual, was nowhere to be seen. As if she needed him anyway.

She returned Paul's glare as he made his closing remark before storming off. Raising a brow, she turned her icy glare back to Carson, who seemed to be gazing intently at Alice.

[color=F08080][b]"Nice friends you have now, Carson. I see that you've really made an upgrade." [/b][/color]She nodded her head towards the group of Eastcrest kids Paul had settled himself into, returning their dirty looks with a flick of her hair and a pouty face. She was actually enjoying herself. That was until Carson brought up her dad. [i]Now [/i]she was angry. Alice managed to speak up before her, though.

[color=6ecff6][b]"There's no need for that, Car." [/b][/color]Summer almost visibly cringed at the nickname that had seemed to accidentally slip out of Alice's mouth. Alice, too, was clearly embarrassed, for her cheeks flushed pink. [color=6ecff6][b]"...son."[/b][/color]

Alice's interjection didn't help Summer feel any less angry however, as she scoffed.[color=F08080][b] "I don't think you should be the one judging people's family life. Why was it you left again, huh?"[/b][/color] She smirked, [color=F08080][b]"I'm sure things at home were just absolutely gr-" Alice cut her off before she could say anything else.[/b][/color]

[color=6ecff6][b]"Summer! Jesus, that is [i]enough.[/i]"[/b][/color]

Summer raised a brow, but said nothing else, tapping her foot against the floor as she watched with daggers as Carson asked Alice if she would talk privately with him. She already knew what Alice was going to say, so hardly even bothered to interject. She was far too worked up at Carson's comment about her dad to even bother trying to stop them as they both left, heading for the pool. She managed to catch Alice's eye one last time before they disappeared out of sight completely, and shot her a small smile. She knew that her best friend could stick up for herself, but she was there for her if she needed it.

Summer didn't even consider Carson's suggestion of apologising to that Paul guy - she had never apologised to anyone but Alice in her life, and she wasn't planning on it anytime soon. Instead, shooting him one last look of contempt, she turned on her heel, red hair flipping out behind her, and went off in search of her boyfriend.

It did not take her long to find him. Unfortunately, he was not in the state she was hoping him to be by the looks of things - his eyes were heavy-lidded, and he was stumbling about, drink in hand. She was just beginning to roll her eyes, hovering in the doorway, when she watched him grab a hold of a passing girl - blonde and nothing special - and plant a kiss right on her lips. Summer blinked. As if she had just seen him do that. As if she had just watched Nate, her [i]boyfriend[/i], kiss some random girl. 

Pushing herself off of the door frame, tight lipped and furious, Summer pain no notice as Nate's eyes caught onto hers and widened in surprise. She turned to leave, her heels clicking on the expensive wooden floor as her face hardened. She had never cried in front of anyone apart from Alice and her father, and tonight was no exception. She was just nearing the front door of the house when she felt a harsh grip pull her arm back, stopping her in her tracks. Whipping round furiously, she met the guilty gaze of none other than Nate. She pulled away from him once, twice, but it was no use. He was captain of the water polo team, after all.

[b]"C'mon, Summer. I was only fooling around."[/b] His words were slurred, his eyes slightly unfocused as he smirked down at her. She curled her lip up in disgust at her boyfriend - no, ex-boyfriend.

[color=F08080][b]"I don't care. Let [i]go[/i] of me, Nate."[/b][/color]

[b]"What, you scared of me causing a scene? You need me, sweetheart. Admit it."[/b] He was leaning into her, just inches away from her face. Too close. She glared back, still trying to pull away. [b]"I didn't mean it - it was only a kiss, Summer. Calm down." [/b]

[color=F08080][b]"Do not tell me to calm down, Nathaniel." [/b][/color]She hissed, narrowing her eyes. Raising her voice, she made sure everyone surrounding them could here her as she retorted. [color=F08080][b]"I know it was only a kiss, [i]sweetheart.[/i] You don't have much else to offer."[/b][/color] Her gaze flickered down to his crotch as she heard a few laughs from around about them, before returning to his, which was now sparked in anger. She did not cringe away, though, instead meeting his fury with her own. She was no victim.[/indent][/indent]
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[indent][indent]Alice, meanwhile, had followed Carson outside to the quietness of the pool - refusing to touch his outstretched hand. She was willing to let him explain himself - but she was not ready to forgive him. Not yet, anyway. She also made no effort in returning that charming smile he kept on shooting her. She had grown much stronger than his charms over the past six months, so found no problem in resisting them. She recalled a time when that smile was enough to make her melt into his arms. But now it only made her sad - angry, even.

Stopping next to the pool, she stared down at the lit-up water, the reflections of the pool lights dancing across her face. She did not smile. Not once, instead letting out a smile sigh and hugging her arms around herself.

[color=6ecff6][b]"You shouldn't have said that to Summer, you know." [/b][/color]She finally spoke into the silence of the night air; although she spoke quietly, her voice seemed loud. [color=6ecff6][b]"About her dad. She didn't deserve it. She's only sticking up for me." [/b][/color]She fell into silence again, before adding:

[color=6ecff6][b]"Which is more than you've done." She turned away from the water to face Carson, her expression now one of anger. [/b][/color]

[color=6ecff6][b]"Why did you leave without telling me, Carson? And don't you dare spout some bullshit about us judging you, because you know [i]I [/i]would never do that." [/b][/color]Her voice increased into a shout without her meaning it to, so she took a deep breath and let out another sigh, fury melting away into sadness once more.

[center][color=6ecff6][b]"Why did you leave me without saying goodbye?"[/b][/color][/center] [/indent][/indent][b][/b]