After pulling Edward Crawford to the bathroom to brush his teeth, Bradley Fulton talks to Edward about why he has come to see him. “I’ll talk while you brush; so I don’t have to smell your breath until you’re finished. Anyway, the management team called me the other day. They want to have a phone conference with both of us,” he explains to Edward.

Putting his toothbrush towards one side of his mouth, “When?” Edward sounds apathetic.

Bradley ignores his tone, but answers him, “In two days. Think you can pull yourself together by then? You’re really in a bad funk.”

“Is that what this is? Wow, I’m glad it has a name. A bad funk, whose job is it to come up with the names of these things?” Edward becomes sarcastic. “Why do they want a phone conference?” he asks half interested.

“They finally had time to discuss the particulars that happened in the fall.” Bradley tries to make it seem like he’s upset at the management team in New York to make Edward feel better.

Edward becomes alert and full of emotion, “Oh, goodie! That’s my favorite conversation topic as of late. I’ve been meaning to talk to them for quite a while now. Finally it’s going to happen.” His arms go up in the air then come down. He spits into the sink, “Like I care what those idiots have to say anymore.”

Bradley looks at him the way a mother would look at her offspring whom she’s ashamed of. “We need to talk about it and get it off your chest. You’re still upset; I can tell.”

“Good for you,” Edward says as he scoots past Bradley in the doorway. He then walks down the hallway and into his bedroom.

Bradley stands in the doorway and puts his palm to his forehead, “I didn’t realize he’d be this difficult.”

Elizabeth Blair opens the old police chief’s envelope that was sitting on her desk. She gets a paper cut on her index finger while opening the flap, “Damn! That hurts.” She puts her finger to her lips. After a few seconds she continues to open it.

I wish you the best in your promotion. You have proven yourself worthy of such a position in this department. Do not let anyone tell you different.

I just wanted to remind you that you have a few duties that we haven’t touched base on. Most importantly is the report to the newspaper of the progress you’re making on a monthly basis. You’ll also have to prepare a report for the council meetings.

Elizabeth folds the note back into the envelope, “Yeah, right, I got a paper cut opening this darn thing.” She sets the note aside and looks through the folders she was carrying to her office. “Shoot, these are the wrong forms.”

She gets up from her desk and goes to the front desk when the two other male officers come in through the door. With a bang, the file drawer falls to the floor. It spills the folders and papers like a spilt liquid.

One of the officers chuckles to himself while lightly tapping the other. Elizabeth notices and tells the other two to help.

Although she is having a rough day, she is determined to have high spirits.

Jamie Crawford and his best friend, Oliver Diffendale, have just finished their gym class. They walk back to the locker room. “This is going to be the best gym class in the world. I’m so glad you’re in this class. I’m not friends with anyone else,” Jamie tells Oliver.

Overhearing this conversation is Jared Huntingdon, a stereotypical jock. He runs past them and laughs. “You sound so gay,” he says and then notices Oliver. “Yeah, Oliver, what was that phrase you taught me? Oh yeah, soy un homosexual!” He continues to run ahead of them into the locker room.

Jamie shouts after him, “Es cierto, Jared, usted es un homosexual.” He turns to Oliver as they walk into the locker room, “Even if he doesn’t understand it, at least it’s funny to me.”

They take a few steps when they hear Jared’s voice, “What did you say band geek?” Jamie looks at Oliver, who is looking back at him.

Oliver and Jamie quickly change and head back into the gymnasium before the bell rings. “Boy, that was intense. I thought for sure you were going to get pummeled,” Oliver tells Jamie.

“Oh please,” Jamie responds, “No one gets beat up. That only happens on television shows and movies. Have a little faith in our school system. No tolerance for harassment.”

Jared comes in through the gym doors and walks over to Jamie. Oliver stands there, watching with eyes bulging after Jared taps Jamie on the shoulder and gut-checks him.

“I just wanted to make sure you were telling the truth. Thanks for the reassurance.” Jared taps him a few times on the back and then walks away as the bell rings to signal the end of the block period.

At the Montgomery household, Irwin Armstrong and Myles Montgomery continue to think of ways to make Edward’s life hell because of Myles’ jealousy towards his cousin. While alone in the house they are left to their thoughts.

Myles looks around his room for inspiration. He sees his stereo system. “What if we get some of his cds and scratch them and throw them in his yard!” Myles says excitedly.

“You’re new at this game, aren’t you? You’ve got to come up with something more evil than that.” Irwin glares at Myles in disbelief.

Myles shoots a look at Irwin, “Fine, I’ll think of something better.” Myles looks around the room as he whispers, “I don’t hear you coming up with any ideas.” Finally Myles spots his computer. “I’ve got it this time!” Myles exclaims.

“What if we go to a ton of porn sites and register his e-mail address? No one likes spam! Right?” he explains to Irwin, who is shocked this is the best he could come up with.

“Well, it’s not the best idea in the world, but you’re on to something. What if we were to send a virus that sends us information on his surfing?” Irwin asks Myles.

“We’re not in California anymore, Irwin. No one here surfs.” Myles becomes disappointed.

“Myles, during the plastic surgery did part of your brain fall out?” Irwin asks. “What I mean is his online, web surfing. We could get a virus that tracks where he goes and what he does on certain websites. We could get banking information, e-mails, anything really.”

“It has to be. MacGyver made a bomb out of a gum wrapper and dental floss, there has to be a virus that can do that,” Irwin hopes.

Outside of their room there is some noise. Myles peeks out of the doorway to see what it is. It is his mother who is home early from work.

“Hey, my mom is home. We’ll have to finish this discussion later. What would you need to do something like that?” Myles asks Irwin quickly and quietly so his mother won’t hear.

“All I’d need is his e-mail address,” Irwin smiles happily.

Bradley has left the Kane Manor. He arrives at his motel room. Relieved from the stressful situation Edward is causing, he hopes to relax the rest of the night. He opens his room with his key to find Derek Bedford watching the television.

“It’s about time your back. I’m so bored. There’s nothing to do. Basic cable is the worst. You don’t suppose you could get an upgrade?” Derek rambles to Bradley.

“You’re just going to have to make the most of what we have,” he says as he puts his messenger bag on the floor. “Kane doesn’t have much, but I’m used to it. You’ll get used to it too.”

Derek begins to put on a pouting face in hopes that Bradley will see his side, “I don’t like this town. It’s too small. I want to do something. I want us to do something, please.”

Bradley looks at Derek, “I’m exhausted. I’d rather just take a nap. Edward’s being stubborn and it’s frustrating me to the point where I don’t know what to do.”

“Oh, who cares about him? He’s a has-been. Don’t worry about him and just relax. Come sit on the bed,” Derek instructs Bradley.

Bradley does what he is told thinking Derek will try and console him. Derek climbs up on the bed behind Bradley and starts to rub his shoulders. “He’s not so bad. He’s a really great guy. I couldn’t see myself managing anyone else at this point, even Katy Perry. You just have to get to know him. Maybe you should meet him,” Bradley suggests.

Derek stops rubbing his shoulders for a moment, “Are you kidding me? I don’t want to meet him. I want us to leave this town and have a romantic get-away. What do you say?”

Bradley does not want to hear another word about leaving Kane, “I am not going to leave Kane, end of story. I have a job to do here and I’m here for a friend who’s going through a difficult time right now. So you can just get that idea out of your mind.”

Derek cannot believe that Bradley is not even considering his idea of leaving and being alone together, “Oh, I see. You’d rather stay here with him. Forget your boyfriend who’s helped you get to this point in your career. I’ve loved you and supported you. You can’t even think about leaving this town all because of him! This is ridiculous.”

Derek gets off the bed and grabs his coat. “If you don’t want to be with me, I’ll just find someone who does,” he says as he storms out of the motel.

School is now over for the day and Jamie attends Quiz Bowl practice. Some of his friends are also in Quiz Bowl, but have yet to arrive. Mrs. Huntingdon is at her desk grading papers.

Jamie walks in quietly, but is noticed by Mrs. Huntingdon, “Hello, Jamie. How’s your brain feeling? I hope it’s warm and ready to go.” She stands up and has to take some papers to the copying machine. “I’ll be right back; I just have to take this down the hall to get copied. If the others get back before I do, you can get started.” She smiles at him.

Oliver and Holly come into the classroom soon after the teacher leaves. Oliver has told Holly about what happened in gym class earlier in the day. She feels bad for Jamie, but knows he’s very mature and wouldn’t want to talk about it. Oliver, on the other hand, cannot stop talking about what happened.

“I still can’t believe that happened after you were just preaching to me about having faith in the school system. It was kinda funny, when you think about it,” Oliver tells Jamie.

“I think we should just let it go. It’s no big deal and besides it’s just Jared. I only have to see him once a day and Oliver, if things get really bad, you’ll be able to take him,” Jamie tells them both as Oliver’s eyes get big once again.

“I don’t want to take him. He’s all yours. I don’t want anything to do with it, but I will be your eyes and ears,” Oliver reassures Jamie. “You might have to see him twice a day if he decides to come up here after school.”

Holly pipes in, “He’ll be at basketball practice anyway, guys. Let’s forget about him. Oh, by the way, did either of you register for the SATs? The deadline is coming and I don’t want to forget. Do you think we can register together or something?”

Both of the boys nod their heads. “As if we didn’t have enough to worry about,” Jamie comments.

Quiz Bowl practice officially starts as one person takes a turn asking the others questions. Jamie will have his hands full this term.