Author's note: The much-delayed return to my episodes. Thank you to everybody who has retained an interest despite the grossly long hiatus I took, and I hope this new episode does not disappoint.
Part 1
Teaser
The day dawned bright and clear, leaving only a slight fog shimmering over the lake like a fine white veil. Through the thin mist the crew team's boat emerged, back from yet another morning practice. Like a mirage that grew more substantial with each passing moment, the boat sped toward shore, propelled by the powerful strokes that its occupiers exerted upon the oars with what strength they had left, after the tiring hours of practice.
The Regatta was coming up this weekend, though no one was really worried about winning it. They knew they were the best, after all: the team worked hard and Finn trained them to the very limits to which they could be pushed; They were confident that all these hours of gruelling practice are going to pay off.
*Will�s voiceover starts*
�It�s almost a fact that we�re going to win the Regatta this year. Moreover, we�re also going to break the record that none had surpassed since the 1977 team set it. We know this because we�ve been told this; we know this because we believe what we have been told. External, physical factors have all but ceased to be obstacles; last year we proved that we are able to surpass our internal selves and our fears. In short, we feel invincible.�
Finn called the practice to an end and the rowers dispersed after taking the boat back to the boathouse, heading back to the dorms for hot showers and breakfast before school began for the day.
Jake Pratt walked along with the other guys, pausing as she saw Hamilton Fleming stop and check his watch. "What�s up?" She asked.
"I have to show some new girl around over at the girls' school," he explained, "and I�m running late already. I'll catch up with you later, okay?"
"Okay," she replied and watched him sprint off in the direction of the Girls' Academy. Smiling, she followed the other guys into the dorms. �Do you think we really have a shot at breaking the �77 record this time?� She asked Scout Calhoun.
�Oh, no doubt about it,� he said confidently, mopping sweat from his brow, �I mean, did you see us out there? We freaking rule.�
She laughed as they entered the entrance hall, �I hope you�re right.�
* * *
Rawley Girls' Academy
�Over there by the side of the lake is the Dining Hall," Hamilton ran on auto-pilot as he took the new girl on the tour of the grounds, the words and directions pouring out of him without so much as a check before they were vocalised. He had done this so many times that he felt he could lead the tour in his sleep. �And this takes us back to the Girls' dorms." He concluded, coming to a stop in front of the girls' dormitory. �Any questions?"
The girl he was leading around, whose nondescript name he had temporarily forgotten, nodded and thanked him. " No problem," he replied, stifling a yawn. Watching as she ascended the steps to the dorms, he noticed idly the blue banner which stretched across the top of the main entrance, announcing the upcoming Regatta and as always, the accompanying Parents' Weekend.
He found it rather ironic that he never saw his own father during Parents� Weekend. Being the Dean inevitably meant that some sacrifices had to be made, mostly on the part of family.
He shrugged to himself mentally, not in the mood to get worked up about it or even to think about it in greater detail, really. He yawned again, turned, and came face to face with Monica Pratt.
It was as though a ten-pound block of ice had just been dropped directly into his stomach. �Uh�� he said.
�Hello, Hamilton!" Monica said brightly, evidently not noticing that he had suddenly gone mute with what could only be described as sheer terror, " I didn't expect to see you here. You're here to visit Jacqueline, I suppose.�
�Uh�� said Hamilton, thinking the block of ice in his stomach was probably made out of acid, because his insides certainly felt like they were being fast corroded.
�She�s not expecting me,� Monica said happily, �I was on my way back to New York when I realised it�s Parents� Weekend, so I came here to give her a little surprise.�
�Oh,� Hamilton finally managed to croak, �She�s gonna be surprised.�
�Excellent,� Monica said, but gave him a funny little look. She was sure that her daughter�s charming boyfriend had turned a little green, for some reason. �Why don't you show me to her room?"
Part 2
*Opening credits and theme song*
Jake�s room
�What?� demanded Jake, snapping shut her laptop, �What do you mean my mom�s here?�
�What do you mean �what do I mean�?� Hamilton sputtered, �How many things could it mean? Your mom, a.k.a. Monica Pratt? She�s outside the girls� dorms. Like, now. I told her you had a class and she said she�ll wait until you get back.�
�What? Why? How? What? Who? I mean, what?� Jake evidently had trouble getting her mind around the whys and the wherefores, �Why is she here? At Rawley? And how did you manage to find her?�
�There�s no time to explain,� he yelled, � just get changed into something a little more� girly!� Gesturing wildly at her boy outfit, he waved his arms in the vague direction of her closet where he knew at least a couple of sundresses and a cute pair of pumps were hidden away.
�How the hell are we going to get to the girls� school without me being seen?� She exclaimed, full-scale panic beginning to sink in.
�Let me worry about that,� he commanded, �just get dressed.�
* * *
Rawley Computer Workrooms
Will Krudski was pissed off.
He wasn�t sure how exactly it was, that he always managed to get stuck with the most amount of work people were able to load onto him as though they hadn�t one responsibility in this whole wide world, whereas he seemed to shoulder the whole lot all at once.
True, this Summer Book had been his idea. But also true was the fact that he had recruited about twenty other students for the express purpose of helping him out. So no wonder he was pissed off, now, that none of the aforementioned twenty were anywhere in sight, whereas the Summer Book was only a few weeks away from the printer�s, and right now resembled shambles of the worst kind.
He sighed as he looked back towards the computer screen, where pages and pages of material sat waiting for meticulous editing and formatting before they were even remotely fit for inclusion in the Summer Book. And it looked like he was going to be doing it all. Alone.
Maria Ishizuka, guilty expression set firmly on her face, peeked around the door. When she saw that Will was alone and rather fixated on the computer screen, she grimaced and withdrew into the hallway. Just as she began to tiptoe away from the door, Will spoke.
His voice comprising a quiet but dangerous edge, Will spat out her name syllable by syllable, �Ma-ria, I-shi-zu-ka.�
�Uh,� she poked her head back in the doorway and grinned sheepishly, �Hi.�
�I hope you�re here to help.� He looked up, his light blue eyes scanning over her ripped jeans and Korn T-shirt.
She grimaced again, �Well, you see, it�s like this�� She trailed off, and a guy�s impatient voice issued from the doorway, �Come on, Maria, we�ve got to go or we�ll be late.�
Will raised an eyebrow, �New boyfriend? Must be the third one this month or something.�
She started, turned quickly to the door then back again, glowering at him, �Want to say it just a bit louder?�
He glared back defiantly, and she deflated, �Given your current state of mind, you probably will. Look, I�m sorry okay? I didn�t mean to leave you here by yourself. Where�s everybody else?�
�Probably out with their respective boyfriend-slash-girlfriends too.� His voice was thick with sarcasm, �That�s right, pile all the work on the single guy. He won�t mind because he has no life.�
�Well, it�s good that you�re so accepting about it.� She took the easy way out, conspicuously slithering out the door, � I�ll see you later.�
�Hey, hey! Maria, you get back here!� Will yelled, jumping up. The sound of running footsteps echoed down the hall. �Great,� he muttered, sitting down again sullenly, contemplating the computer screen. �Just great.�
* * *
Rawley Girls� Academy
Monica Pratt shielded her eyes against the sun, trying to look across the lake and see if she could make out her daughter. It was taking a long time for Hamilton to find her. She wondered why Jacqueline�s boyfriend, usually the very picture of courtesy where the school was involved, didn�t invite her into the common room for a cup of tea.
�Mom!� Jake called, hurrying across the short strip of lawn that separated the dormitory from the lake. Clad in a silky blouse and knee-length skirt, she had tidied up remarkably in the ten or so minutes she had to transform from boy to girl. Hamilton followed at close range, keeping a careful eye out for anyone who might blow her cover. Watching Jake hug her mother quickly and Monica pulling back to kiss her daughter - rather European of her - on both cheeks, he hastily advised, � How about we go for a drive, huh? It�s such a nice day.�
�Oh, but I never got to see your room last time, Jacqueline.� Monica pointed out, �And I�m a little tired from the drive up here. Why don�t we go up to your room and catch up?�
�Um� well,� Jake stuttered, sharing a complete look of panic with Hamilton, �well, you see, my roommate, she, uh, doesn�t like strangers. No offence, but she�s like, um, really shy.�
�Oh, nonsense.� Monica waved a carefully-manicured hand in the air, � I�m sure she wouldn�t mind a short visit from her roommate�s mother.� Chuckling at the look on Jake�s face, she added, �I promise you I won�t be embarrassing, okay? I�ll be the very picture of a perfect mom.�
***
Faye and Paige�s room
Considering she didn�t have classes in the morning, Faye Archer was feeling particularly proud of the fact that she managed to roll out of bed before eleven o�clock (and had gotten dressed and everything!). She was about to head out the door for brunch when it burst open and Jake practically fell through the doorway. �Omphh,� groaned the brunette, tripping over her high heels.
�Jake?� Faye demanded, taking in the strange sight of Jacqueline Pratt sprawled on her floor, skirt splayed out around her in a silky lilac-coloured circle. �What are you doing?�
�Shut up and just listen,� Jake groaned again and sat up, massaging her ankle. �My mom�s here.�
�Here?� Faye raised her eyebrows, �at Rawley?�
�No, here at Hogwarts, the magical school of witchcraft and wizardry.� Jake retorted sarcastically, �Of course she�s here at Rawley! And god help me, she thinks I live in this dorm. Like, girl dorm. Like, non-boy dorm! I�m so totally screwed! Help!�
�Wow,� Faye whistled through her teeth, �So where is she?�
�Hamilton�s keeping her distracted, but he can�t hold on forever so you have to help me,� Jake replied, �Please, Faye, I think you�re the only one who can save the situation from being a complete disaster.�
Faye groaned, �And by helping you, you mean �pretend you live here�, right?�
�Please?� Jake repeated, making sad puppy-dog eyes.
�Yeah, I�m always up for a trick or two,� Faye shrugged, �but remember it could potentially end up a war zone if she finds out. And once that happens, even I can�t save you.�
�I know, I know,� Jake wailed, climbing onto her feet, �but what else am I supposed to do? She�ll have me out of Rawley faster than you can say �cross-dresser�. Is your roommate going to come back anytime soon?�
�Nope, she�s gone to Carson for the day.� Faye answered, �What do you need me to do?�
�Act like I live here,� Jake suggested meekly, �and pray very hard.�
* * *
The gas station
�What are you doing here?�
Not the most welcoming of greetings, but Bella Banks was baffled. Scout Calhoun stood in the doorway to the shop, looking miserable. She understood that he had it tough lately, but so had she, and most of it had something to do with each other and she really didn�t understand why he kept turning up on her doorstep.
�Can I come in?� He asked dejectedly. Not that it was much of a change from his usual demeanour of late.
�I think,� she said slowly, �given recent events, it�s best that you don�t.�
He sighed, �Look, I just need someone to talk to, that�s all.�
�Yeah, that�s where the trouble started in the first place.� She pointed out, but stepped aside nevertheless with a sigh.
He followed her into the living room, and before they had even sat down, he had already started on his self-pitying tirade that was fast becoming an everyday occurrence. � Everyone hates me.�
�They do not,� she replied automatically, wondering why was it that she always became his agony aunt.
He looked up at her, �Have you even seen the way Ryder�s looking at me lately?�
�Ryder hates everyone, Scout,� she pointed out sensibly.
�But he hates me more than he hates other people.� he stubbornly asserted, �He doesn�t think Faye should be together with me at all. I�m just glad Josh isn�t here for the summer��
�Josh?� She asked, �What does he have to do with it?�
�In case you haven�t noticed, he hasn�t exactly been fond of me either.� He sighed.
�That�s because you always think he�s out to steal your girlfriend.� She said, rather astutely. �You are the one who�s acting all suspicious, of course Josh isn�t going to count you along his best buddies if you look like you�re plotting his gruesome murder every time he sees you.�
�No sympathy for my pain, Bella,� he exclaimed, only half-joking. �My point is, if Josh and Ryder got together and heard about what happened at the Cotillion��
She pursed her lips, not voicing anything but feeling just a little displeased with the way he had said �What happened��
What did happen? The two of them, together again, if only for mere moments. The way he said it� well, she didn�t really understand the way he had said it. It wasn�t as though he was referring to an event at all but merely a thing, neither a good thing or a bad thing but just some random item in some random day that he managed to pass by.
She didn�t obsess over what had happened, because she understood that sometimes things like that do happen and a kiss didn�t mean anything more than whatever past emotion that may have resurfaced for a second or two. But she wouldn�t refer to it, not in a million years, like a bargaining chip that could be put on or taken off the table. If Josh and Ryder knew� if Josh and Ryder knew. What then?
�� They�d skin me alive.� He finished with another huge sigh.
She simply looked at him, unable to reach any words that she thought were worth saying. Lately she felt so drained, so empty. There wasn�t much in this town - this life - that she could still hold on to.
* * *
Faye and Paige�s room
� So, here�s my room.� Jake opened the door with self-conscious exaggeration, � uh, voil�.�
Faye and Hamilton stood at attention, grinning - like idiots, both of them coincidentally thought - at Monica, who stepped in from the hallway, her four-inch heels sinking into the plush carpet. She looked around, and everyone held their breaths.
Did Jake�s various girl clothing items - spread over Paige�s bed - look like authentic mess? Did her laptop - arranged artfully by Paige�s desk - look like it had always been there? Did her old Sarah McLachlan poster - hastily tacked up above Paige�s bed - look like it�s been up for ages, instead of sitting in a dark drawer gathering dust?
Monica didn�t really look at all those things. Instead she walked over to Faye with an extended hand and a smile, �Hello, you must be Jacqueline�s roommate.�
�I�m Faye Archer,� the blonde smiled back, exuding friendliness. She shook hands with Monica, who failed to notice - unlike Jake - that she didn�t actually affirm Monica�s assumption.
Jake crossed her fingers behind her back and hoped fervently that this charade wasn�t about to blow up in their faces.
Part 3
The gas station
� Is no one single around here?� Bella asked out loud, looking out the window of the gas station. She could see Maria and her latest boy walking down Main Street hand in hand, and they were by no means the only ones. In fact, the whole of New Rawley seemed to be teeming with couples.
Sometimes she did wonder if, in breaking up with Will, they had turned themselves into the only two single teens in the whole town. She didn�t believe that seriously, of course; but it certainly felt true, looking out at the town from behind these windows, feeling weirdly estranged from the little town that she had lived in all her life.
�What did you say?� Grace Banks giggled, walking down the stairs.
Bella glanced back at her sister, blushing slightly now that she had been accidentally overheard, �Nothing.�
�I heard you,� Grace teased, evidently in one of her more easygoing, sisterly moods. �And to answer your question, no, I don�t think so.�
�Are you going out with anyone now?� Bella asked, and immediately wanted to retract the question. �Going out� wasn�t usually the term used by - or for - girls like Grace. But she was never alone, Bella knew that too.
Grace shrugged, � Yeah, random guys, you know.�
Bella did know. And she didn�t want to think about it. Turning back to the window, she stared out again blankly and started chewing on her lower lip.
�Don�t you have something to do?� Grace asked, looking at her with a puzzled expression, �Or somewhere to be? You�ve been sitting there all morning.�
Bella shrugged, �Not really.�
* * *
Faye and Paige�s room
�Well, it was lovely to meet you, Faye.� Monica smiled approvingly at her daughter�s �roommate�, �an absolute pleasure.�
�You too, Monica.� Faye grinned. She was in her element, being caught up in the growing web of deception. It was quite the thrill. � She speaks so little of you that it�s nice to finally put a person to the entity she keeps referring to as �mom�.�
Monica laughed, � Well, yes, I guess. It�s a shame she hadn�t spoken of you before and I can�t think of why she didn�t!� She looked at Jake with an expression halfway between disapproval and playful indulgence. Jake shrugged sheepishly.
�Listen, why don�t you come join us for the school luncheon tomorrow?� Monica turned back to Faye with a bright smile, �that is, if you don�t have any plans.�
�Um,� Faye glanced quickly at Hamilton and Jake, whose expressions had suddenly gone sour, � I think I�m free.�
�Great! It�s a date!� Monica said happily, �Jacqueline and I will see you then. And then perhaps after the luncheon we can all go and watch Hamilton row in the Regatta final, hmm?�
Hamilton laughed weakly, �Sure, Monica, that�d be great��
�Well, that�s tomorrow all planned out.� Monica had the pleased look on her face of a busy mother who had accomplished her goal of spending quality time with her daughter. Damn, she felt proud. She grinned broadly at Jake, once again kissing her on the cheek, � I�ll see you tomorrow, darling. I�m sure you�ve got things to do, so I�ll find my own way out.�
Jake and Hamilton grinned and smiled and said their goodbyes until the door closed behind Monica, which was the exact moment when they both slumped back against the door, burying their heads in their hands. �Not again,� Jake moaned, �why do they always have to hold a luncheon at that exact time?�
�What? What�s going on?� Faye asked, baffled.
�The luncheon�s on at the same time as the Regatta.� Hamilton told her, �This happened last year as well. I had to drive Jake across the lake in a speedboat just so we could compete on time.�
�Sounds like fun.� Faye commented mildly.
�Hardly,� sighed Jake, sinking to the floor. She ran a hand over her silk skirt and tugged wearily at the material, �I don�t remember this lying stuff ever being so hard.�
Faye looked at them and grinned, � Don�t worry, guys. I�m on board now, remember? I�ll do whatever it takes to help you out.�
* * *
Scout and Hamilton�s room
�Come in,� called Scout as somebody knocked on the door. It opened, and Finn poked his head through, � Hey.�
�What�s up, Finn?� Scout acknowledged his English teacher, sitting up straight. With the exception of Will - otherwise known as �English Lit Teacher�s Pet Student Philosopher-Poet�, Finn hardly ever made house calls.
�Somebody�s here to see you.� Finn winked, opening the door wider. � Thought I�d check to see you�re decent, though.�
�And seeing that he is, I think I�ll take it from here,� came a woman�s laughter from behind the teacher before she emerged in the doorway, blue eyes twinkling. Dressed sharply in a navy blue blazer and skirt, blonde hair framing her face in a softly feathered bob, she looked mature and vivacious at the same time.
�Mom!� Scout jumped up from the bed, � What are you doing here?�
�So much for a welcome greeting from my only son,� Cynthia Calhoun sighed dramatically, � Don�t they teach you manners at this school?�
�I must object to that, Mrs Calhoun,� Finn laughed, not in the least offended. Given the Calhouns� strong ties with Rawley, this was not the first time that he and Cynthia Calhoun had met, and he knew equally well that she adored the school every bit as much as him. �I�ll leave you two to it. Have fun catching up.�
�It was good seeing you again,� she called to Finn�s retreating back. Turning back to her son, she smiled, � Glad to see me?�
�Yeah,� Scout sputtered, � but� I thought dad was coming to the Regatta tomorrow. You guys didn�t tell me you�d be coming as well.�
�Actually, your father isn�t going to be able to make it,� Cynthia corrected him, rolling her eyes skyward, �so I�m really here �on his behalf�. Thank god they didn�t pile his speech-making duties on me because we all know what sort of mess I�d make of it, in front of so many people.�
�Dad�s not coming?� Scout asked, �Damn, I was looking forward to hanging out with him.�
Cynthia pretended to pout, �And I�m just not good enough for the Calhoun man-to-man conversations?�
Scout laughed, �Don�t be ridiculous, you know I love seeing you. Come on, why don�t I show you around?�
�I�d like to see where you hang out,� Cynthia followed him, the two of them heading down the hallway, � and you�ll introduce me to some of your friends later?�
Scout glanced at her with a smile, �If you promise not to embarrass me in front of them.�
�Have I ever?� She tried to sound indignant. �So tell me, who do you get on with around here? Any�� she glanced around at the boys� dormitory and wriggled her eyebrows at her son, � � girls?�
�Stop, mom, you�re embarrassing me already and we�re not even out the front door.� He groaned, laughing. �As a matter of fact��
She perked up, �I�m listening.�
He grinned bashfully, and was just about to tell her about Faye when three figures emerged from the main entrance hall, walking toward them at a rapid pace. Speaking of the devil herself in a lilac sundress, Faye was in step with Jake - back in boy gear - and Hamilton, sufficiently absorbed into the conversation as not to even see Scout and Cynthia as they walked past.
�The key to tricking your parents is, of course,� Faye was announcing confidently, �that you play on their basic delusions. They don�t want to know that you�ve been doing anything bad, so as long as you indulge that delusional part of them, you should be sweet. They are really quite easy to manipulate, if you know the right buttons to push.�
A frown crossed Cynthia�s face, which Scout unfortunately caught before he reached out and called, �Hey, Faye.�
The blonde looked up distractedly, �Oh, hey. What�s up?�
�Uh, Faye,� Scout cleared his throat uncomfortably, well aware that Cynthia was looking at his girlfriend with something a lot less than friendliness in her eyes, �meet my mother. Mom, this is Faye Archer, my girlfriend.�
Cynthia glanced at him sharply, her blue eyes issuing forth a hint of disbelief just enough for him to catch. Without missing a beat she extended a hand towards Faye, smiling thinly. � Charmed, I�m sure.�
Scout groaned inwardly. Charmed I�m sure? Whoever says that nowadays?
His mother, evidently. The derisiveness was so plainly couched that she might as well said �Who the hell are you and why the hell are you corrupting my only son?�
Faye narrowed her eyes at the blond woman and seriously contemplated shooting back an icy �likewise�, but she sighed inwardly when she caught the crestfallen look on Scout�s face, and decided to play nice� no matter what it took. �It�s great to meet you, Mrs Calhoun,� she shook the other woman�s hand warmly, �Scout�s told me so much about you.�
Cynthia raised an eyebrow and looked back at Scout with an air of amused disdain, �He has?�
�Uh�� Faye was cursing in her head. This woman seems to have it in for her, despite the fact that they have only met for all of two seconds. �Of course, I�ve been dying to meet you� um.� She trailed off.
Jake and Hamilton glanced at each other and raised their eyebrows. Their intentions were clear: now this is something they best not get muddled in. With that in mind, the two of them smiled quickly at Cynthia, did not wait for introductions, and promptly waved goodbye to Faye and Scout and disappeared down the hallway.
� Sneaky little bastards,� Scout muttered under his breath, watching his friends make the hastiest exit he�d ever seen them make, half expecting cartoon clouds to dissipate behind them. Turning back to his mother, who was sizing Faye up and down with a frosty smirk firmly in place, he rolled his eyes skyward. He had forgotten that lovely as his mother usually was, first impressions was something in which she vested a lot more meaning than most people. It was going to be some task.
* * *
Computer workrooms
�Guys, we have three freaking weeks to go!� Will thundered, half jumping up and down on the spot in aggravation, � None of you are doing a single damned thing to help me out here and we�re supposed to be putting out three hundred copies of this stupid Summer Book how?�
�At least we bothered to show up,� said Anita Simons, flicking her dark hair over her shoulders, �which is more than can be said for half your sub-editors.� She glanced pointedly about the computer suite, with only a few bored-looking students lounging about with disinterest, slumped atop various computer chairs. About a third of the Summer Book staff in total, despite the fact that Will had called a full staff meeting.
Will scowled at her, turning to Thomas Greenwood, �How are your articles coming?�
The other boy blinked, snapping himself out of whatever reverie he happened to be having, �Uh� articles?�
�The articles you are supposed to have written about three days ago!� Will spat out through gritted teeth, �The ones that are supposed to introduce the clubs and societies at Summer Session!�
�Oh, yeah.� Thomas said, sheepish. �I�ll get on them.�
Will slumped against a computer desk, emitting a huge sigh, �Somebody remind me why do I put myself through this?�
�Because you�re an ambitious little tosser who can�t stand relaxing for one second and always bite off more than you can chew.� Anita popped her gum loudly.
Will glared daggers. �That was a rhetorical question� Oh, never mind. Let�s just go on with the progress reports.�
* * *
Rawley Academy
�So tell me, Faye,� Cynthia Calhoun�s voice was syrupy but detached, like frozen treacle. �What do you like to do in your spare time?�
Scout, Cynthia and Faye were sauntering across the grounds, heading toward Calhoun Hall. All the way from the dorms, Cynthia and Faye had been engaging in none-too-friendly banter, with Scout trying to act as some sort of mediator but evidently not doing a very good job. With a heavy feeling of dread, he also saw a distasteful talking to from his mother, once Faye was out of earshot. This wasn�t going to be pretty.
Scout tightened his hold on Faye�s hand, trying to send a silent signal for her to try and play nice. She glanced at him, shadows flickering in her violet eyes. It was clear that Scout�s mother did not like her, and she didn�t like people who didn�t give someone they�d first meet even a chance. But she was Scout�s mom, after all.
Turning back to Cynthia, she tried to inject some warmth into her voice. �Um,� she said, �I like to act, and��
�Faye was Juliet in our school production last semester,� Scout jumped in, eager to show off some of Faye�s finer points, �You should have seen her��
�Really.� Cynthia raised an eyebrow, �That must have been fun. Now if I remember correctly, Scout played Lord Capulet, is that right?�
Faye grinned, �Yeah, there�s actually a very funny story attached to the casting��
�Oh my,� Cynthia suddenly interrupted Faye without a moment�s hesitation, peering across the grounds, �Is that Paige Bennett over there?�
Faye frowned. Scout smiled apologetically at her before turning toward the direction his mother was pointing at, �Oh yeah, that�s Paige all right. Didn�t you know she came here?�
�I must have forgotten,� murmured Cynthia, �Lord, it must have been at least two years since I saw that girl. She has turned into quite a beauty, hadn�t she?�
�Um�� Scout glanced at Faye again, looking puzzled, �Yeah, I guess. It�s been a while.�
�We should invite her to join us,� suggested Cynthia, waving just as Paige looked up, �Paige!�
�Oh my god,� Paige exclaimed, walking toward them with a smile, �Mrs Calhoun? It�s great to see you!�
�It�s great to see you, Paige,� Cynthia replied warmly, �how are you?�
�Fine, thanks,� Paige grinned, �Oh, hi Scout, hi Faye.�
�Hey,� Scout and Faye chorused, the latter�s voice significantly lacking in enthusiasm. It was bordering on humiliating: Cynthia Calhoun wasn�t merely snubbing her, she was doing it in direct contrast to her charming reception of Paige.
�I�d love to catch up sometime,� Cynthia said, looking Paige up and down with approval, �are your parents coming this weekend?�
�No,� Paige replied, �They wanted to, but there were some events that they couldn�t get out of, unfortunately.�
�That�s a shame,� sympathised Cynthia, �I hear there�s a luncheon on at the Girls� Academy tomorrow, why don�t you join us there? If you are not doing anything, that is.�
�Luncheon?� Faye interrupted, thinking of the prior engagement she had already agreed to with Jake�s mom. Scout gave her hand a sharp squeeze and she looked at him, startled. He shook his head, indicating that she should just follow Cynthia�s lead.
Paige looked from Cynthia to Scout then back again. �I�d love to,� she said, smiling a little, �that is, if I�m not intruding��
�Not at all!� Cynthia exclaimed, �We�d love for you to come. Scout and I�� as an afterthought she added, �And Faye, will be expecting you tomorrow.�
Paige looked at Faye, �Um, great,� she said, a little uncertain at the inclusion of herself and Scout�s girlfriend, �I�ll see you then.�
�Wait,� Scout interjected, �Is this the luncheon that�s on during the Regatta? The finals will be on.�
�We�ll come see you afterwards,� Cynthia was unfazed, �I would very much like to catch up with Paige.�
Faye gritted her teeth, �Actually, a friend�s mom asked me to�� She trailed off, noticing that Scout�s hand was squeezing hers tightly again. �It would be good for you to talk to my mom some more,� he said, pointedly.
Faye fought the urge to sigh, �I�ll see what I can do.�
Part 4
The docks
Despite the fact that it was only the first heat of the Regatta, there were quite a few spectators scattered around the audience stands by the docks, waiting for the race to get underway.
Rawley was to be racing against the team from St. Andrews, another private boys� school halfway across the state. Nobody was really worried about getting past this heat, as it was well known that the Rawley Crew was averaging far more speedy times than the other team had ever got around to achieving. With that in mind, most of the Rawley guys were thinking of the first heat not in terms of winning and losing, but simply as a warm-up for the finals, where they would concentrate on breaking the legendary record of 1977.
Will walked past the throng of teammates warming up for the race, heading straight for Chris Hansen, who stood talking to Jake. �Chris,� he commanded, �Where were you yesterday?�
The taller guy blinked at him. �Hanging out around here, I guess. Why?�
�We had a summer book staff meeting, remember?� Will�s tone of voice suggested that he was very far from happy with his teammate forgetting, �God, Chris, can�t I count on you guys to do anything around here?�
�Hey man,� Chris raised his voice defensively, �Sorry I forgot, okay? You didn�t have to bite my head off.�
�I think I�m entitled to,� Will barked, �as editor of the goddamn Summer Book, to berate the staff when they fail to show up for their job!�
Chris scowled, �Chill out, Will, it�s just a stupid project.�
�I can�t believe you�re treating this so casually,� Will fumed, �do you know how long I�ve spent slaving over this thing over the summer��
�Hey, no one forced you to, all right?� Chris pointed out, �It was your own choice to take this job on so don�t go around whining about something you brought on yourself!�
Will gritted his teeth, �You�re not making this out to be my fault when it�s yours!�
�Guys, guys, break it up,� Jake interrupted, crossing her arms over her chest, �We�ve got a race in five minutes, okay? Let�s not do this now.�
Will glared at Chris, �Just turn up for the next meeting, all right?�
Chris made no answer, the expression on his face sour as he turned and stalked off.
�Calm down,� Jake told Will, �We�ve got a race to get to.� Looking around, she furrowed her brows, �Where is Scout?�
�I don�t know, but I sure as hell hope he shows up soon,� said Hamilton from behind them, slightly out of breath, �Jake, can I talk to you for a sec?�
�What�s going on?� She asked, following him a little way away from Will, who was preoccupied with glowering at the back of Chris� head. ��Stupid project� my ass,� he muttered angrily.
�Your mom turned up at the dorms just before I left,� Hamilton said to Jake, lowering his voice, �thank god you left before me.�
�What did she want?� Jake asked, running a hand through her hair. The simple fact of having her mother around the school made her unbelievably edgy - the thought that her charade could very well be exposed any second wasn�t exactly an appealing one.
Hamilton shook his head, �She didn�t suspect anything, if that�s what you mean. She just wanted to wish me good luck and come watch the heats, and, she was trying to find you.�
She sighed, �Well, what did you tell her?�
�What could I tell her?� he stuck his hands in his pockets, �I said I didn�t know and you�re probably not interested in the Regatta or something like that, I was running late anyway.�
She shot him a panicked look, �So you�re saying my mom is somewhere here right this moment?�
�Yeah�� he said slowly, �but I don�t think she�s gonna spot you in the crowd��
�Hamilton, focus!� She tried not to shriek, �This is my life you�re gambling here! If we slip up once it would be too much! Do you know where she is?�
�Look, it�ll be all right!� he tried to reassure her, �Even if she is here, she�ll have to be over there in the audience stands, and that�s way too far off to see anything.�
She peered at the audience stands anxiously, �How can you be sure?�
�Jake,� he sighed, �I�ve been to a lot of Regattas here, remember? I know these things. Just trust me on this one, okay?�
She wasn�t comforted. �But what if��
�Scout!� Finn�s voice interrupted their discussion, Jake and Hamilton turning to see a very red-faced Scout racing up to the boat. Finn looked at his watch and sighed heavily, �A few more seconds and we were going to have to send your replacement on.�
�Well, I�m here,� Scout panted, �I tried to get here earlier but I got held up��
�Mr Calhoun,� Finn shot him a warning look, �need I remind you that being on the Crew team is considered an honour and not to be taken for granted? We have no room for slip-ups here.�
�Take it easy, Finn!� Scout snapped, his sudden discomposure startling all those around him. �I�m here, aren�t I?�
�What�s up your ass, Calhoun?� Chris commented, �It�s not like Finn said anything wrong.�
�I�m just stressed out.� Scout sighed, contrite. �Sorry, Finn. I didn�t mean to. It�s just��
�Everybody�s stressed, Scout,� Will crossed his arms, not forgetting to give Chris the evil eye.
�All right, all right,� Finn muttered, �just get yourselves over to the boat, we�ll talk more later.�
Jake was still looking nervously over at the audience stand. Hamilton stood to her side, his voice sullen, �Just believe me, okay? I�ve been here for longer than you have, I know these things.�
�Well, I can�t just sit there and believe everything you tell me!� She retorted, �What sort of person would I be if I did that all the time?�
�What�s all the time?� He demanded, �You never listen to me anyway! Just this one time would be good enough.�
She ignored him and instead called to Scout, �Took you long enough,�
�Lay off,� he grumbled as he took his place beside them on the docks, �If you guys didn�t walk around with Faye earlier talking about all this parent-baiting crap, I think she might�ve still had a chance with my mom.�
�Hey, how is it our fault that your girlfriend isn�t getting on with your mom?� Hamilton demanded.
Scout pouted. �Just� drop it,� he muttered, �we�ve got a race to win.�
�All right teams,� Finn�s voice blasted out of the loudspeaker he held in his hand, �welcome to the Regatta heats.�
He stopped in order to step into his speedboat, then raised the loudspeaker again, �The teams for the first heat are Rawley Boys� and St. Andrew�s College, gentlemen, please take your places.�
�Here we go,� Will breathed out heavily as he stepped into the boat along with the rest of his teammates. Feeling Chris breathe heavily behind him, he turned around and snapped quietly, �Could you not breathe so loud, Hansen?�
�Shut the hell up, Krudski,� Chris shot back, his brows furrowing in distaste. They took their seats, a moment later the starting gun went off, and the boats shot off across the lake.
This was Rawley�s time. The team was, as it were, a team that was born to kick ass. The St Andrew�s team was considered easy fodder for them, and this heat was supposed to not take much effort at all. As it were, things were very different.
�Hansen!� Jake yelled over her headset, �Follow Krudski�s lead! Don�t get out of the rhythm!� Chris grunted in reply. �And Scout!� Jake shouted, �Your left oar is dipping too much!� The boat was steering a little off track. Scout seemed to be in a daze and although he was rowing just as hard as everybody else, he was obviously not concentrating. �SNAP OUT OF IT, CALHOUN!� Jake shrieked into her headset, making everybody wince from the sudden wave of feedback. Beside them, the St. Andrew�s boat edged past.
Scout, still looking bemused, managed to right his oar, but Rawley were already lagging behind. �Come on, come on!� Jake urged, �Dammit, Krudski, keep with the freaking rhythm!�
�I�m trying to!� Will yelled back, temporarily forgetting to row, �You guys aren�t in rhythm!�
�Hey, WATCH IT!� Scout shouted as one of his oars nearly collided with Will�s.
�We�re fucking falling behind!� Hamilton bellowed at Jake, �Do something!�
�JUST EVERYBODY SHUT UP AND CONCENTRATE!� Jake screamed, �On my count! One! Two! One! Two!��
Over on the shore Monica Pratt craned her neck to see what was going on. �Is the Rawley team usually this uncoordinated?� She asked the woman sitting next to her. �I remember them being much better last year.�
On the boat Jake was still counting, her voice hoarse. The oars have settled back into rhythm and the boat was slowly catching up to St Andrew�s again. �Keep it up, keep it up!� She yelled, �We�re getting there!�
With one final effort the Crew overtook the other team in the last few metres, crossing the finish line mere milliseconds ahead. The whistle blew, and the voice over the loudspeakers announced that Rawley was going through to the finals. But one look at the boat, and none of the usual hearty congratulations were present. The guys were all hunched over their seats, faces scarlet and their breaths ragged. Jake took off her headset slowly, clearing her throat with a painful look on her face.
They wearily pulled up to shore, and before they could even get out of the boat, they saw Finn jump off the docks, into the water, heading straight for them. Hamilton groaned under his breath, �Here we go.�
�What the hell went on out there?� Finn demanded, not caring that his entire lower half was immersed in the lake. �That was one of the worst races I�ve seen in my entire time at Rawley! Is this supposed to be the team that beats the �77 record this year? I�d sure as hell like to see you try with that sort of teamwork!�
The guys did not answer. Finn sighed, running both hands through his hair.
�What is going on?� He asked, surveying his team that now looked up at him with their gazes full of defeat and worry, �You barely made it past the heats. The heats. How on earth are you supposed to present a threat to anybody, let alone yourself?�
�We just�� Jake began to say, her throat feeling raw and parched as though she had swallowed a lump of sandpaper, �I don�t know what happened out there��
�I know there are intra-team strife right now, and I know it�s not easy,� Finn acknowledged, �but you know what? Out there you just have to forget about it, okay? Otherwise we have no team. And if we have no team, we have no hope.�
He sighed, �Look, guys, the objective here is not to win, it�s to rise above yourself. It�s to forget the individual and become a whole. Only in that you will realise your full power.� Sighing again, he waved a hand at them, �you all look shot. All right, everyone�s dismissed. Go back, take some hot showers and try sort things out before tomorrow�s final, okay?�
* * *
Faye and Paige�s room
�Okay, um,� Scout paced up and down the room, �She likes reading. That�s like, her thing. If you could strike up a conversation about one of the books she enjoys, you�re in.�
�What sort of books does she like?� Faye asked, hugging her knees to her chest.
�The Bront� sisters - not Wuthering Heights though. Jane Austen��
Faye groaned, �Anybody that I might have bothered to read?�
�Amy Tan?� He suggested, �Mom loved The Joy Luck Club.�
She sighed, �Read it� didn�t find it particularly illuminating.�
�Well, talk about something else then, movies.� He suggested, �Kate and Leopold, she really liked that one� uh, Notting Hill.�
�Romantic comedies, I should�ve known.� she sighed, �Is she capable of liking anything that�s a little less generic?�
�Faye, I�m trying to help you.� He sighed in exasperation, �And all you�re doing is shooting down all of my ideas.�
�Because your mother and I evidently have nothing in common!� She replied, sighing, �Look, I�ll just go along to the luncheon and say whatever. It�s not like she�s going to eat me.�
�Yeah, but I want you to make a good impression!� He was adamant, �I want her to know you�re better than you first appear and you need to score points with her, make some contact!�
�Score points?� She narrowed her eyes at him, �So all I�m trying to do now, is to try and score points with your mother? I don�t know, five points if we can go for five minutes� conversation on some boring-ass book and ten points if I get her to laugh at one of my jokes?�
He sighed. �You know I didn�t mean it like that.�
�Well, it sure as hell sounded like it,� she spat out, �You know, maybe you should just get Paige to do this whole thing. Your mom hates me but she loves her.�
�What on earth has this got anything to do with anything?� He demanded, �You�re not even making sense.�
�Fine, I�m not making sense. You make all the sense,� she said bitterly, �Since when was I required to do all this crap? Your mother hates me. I don�t know why exactly she hates me and I think I�ve done a pretty decent job so far providing a smile to every nasty snub she throws at me, but it�s wearing thin. Get Paige to do it, because I don�t do this.�
�Faye�� he started to say, then deflated visibly. Sitting down beside her, he covered her hand with his own, interlacing their fingers. �Please?� He asked softly, �for both our sakes.�
She looked at him, the resent in her eyes gradually softening. �Fine, fine,� she murmured, �I don�t know why I�m putting up with all this stuff, but I�ll try.�
* * *
The Gas Station
Yet another day.
Bella watched the morning sunlight creep slowly through the blinds, casting upon the wooden floor strips of glowing amber. She watched as the sun moved higher in the sky and the strips of light thinned, sometimes flaring into fierce gold and sometimes fading away. There was so much loveliness in that, and so much� ordinariness. Everything was beautiful and mundane, and each day was passing her by.
�God!� A sudden exclamation made her turn around. Grace stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips. �How long have you been sitting there?�
Bella blinked, �What?�
�You get up, fix yourself a cup of coffee, then you just sit. All day. Charlie gives you a few days off work and all you do is waste the free time.� Grace complained, �I know you broke up with Will and everything, but please, this is getting beyond pathetic.�
�It�s nothing to do with Will,� Bella corrected her slowly, �I don�t know� I just can�t seem to do anything these days.�
�Well, get up, go get some fresh air or something,� Grace rolled her eyes, �it�s not like you�re going to do anything useful just by sitting there.�
�What is there to do?� murmured Bella, more for her own ears than Grace.
�God, I don�t know,� Grace sighed in exasperation, �go� hang out. Ball park, maybe catch a movie.�
Bella considered the options. �� I don�t feel like it.�
Grace looked at her, �Did I tell you look pathetic, sitting there all the time?�
�A few times, yeah,� Bella tugged on her long blonde hair. �I just don�t feel like doing anything, that�s all.�
�Which is exactly why you should get up and move,� her sister said, �get a change of scenery. You�re not going to get yourself any less bored by not doing anything.�
�Change of scenery?� Bella murmured, �Maybe��
�Hey, isn�t the Rawley Regatta on today?� Grace asked, �Go check that out. It�ll give you something to do.�
�Yeah,� Bella replied distractedly, �Maybe��
She turned toward the window and looked out once more. It was near noon, and Main Street was bustling with activity. Save for the people who obviously appeared to be parents of Rawley kids, they were the people that she knew. All the people from this small town, just wandering around like every other day, living their lives in a state of� she did not know what it was. But she had only come to be aware of its presence. The feel of it was dense, almost suffocating. Small-town claustrophobia.
* * *
Rawley Girls� Academy
�It�s a shame she can�t sit with us,� Monica commented, turning to look at Faye, who was a few tables over with a blonde woman and brunette student. �Who did she say that was? Her boyfriend�s mom?�
�Yeah,� Jake glanced over at Faye�s table nervously, and shifted her chair. She had English with Paige last year and wasn�t sure if the girl would remember her enough to connect her and �English Class Jake� together. Tugging on her hair, she shifted her chair again.
�So, what have you been doing lately?� Monica asked, taking a sip of coffee and wrinkling her nose, �Ugh, this stuff tastes like cement.�
�Oh, a little bit of everything,� Jake replied, not really knowing where to start.
�How was staying with Hamilton over the break?� Monica wanted to know, �I was surprised when you told me you didn�t want to leave Rawley.�
Jake shrugged, absently running her finger over the spaghetti strap of her floral-patterned dress. �It just felt like the right thing to do,� she said, �I didn�t really want to travel all the way to Paris just for a couple of weeks��
Monica�s cell phone interrupted her mid-sentence. �Sorry dear,� she said hurriedly, flipping open her handbag, �I�ll just take this call. Hello?� she said into the phone, �ah, salut Raul, �a va?�
�Fine,� sighed Jake, taking a large gulp of coffee. She made a face as the horrible brew assaulted her senses: in taste and texture it was indeed surprisingly like cement. Glancing surreptitiously back towards Faye�s table, she shifted again so that her back faced Paige. Having luncheon at the Girls� school made her feel so much like a fraud, and all her energies were directed towards not seeing people who knew her as �Jake�. It certainly did not make life easy.
* * *
Rawley Computer Rooms
�DAMN IT!�
Maria jumped in the doorway. Before she had even headed into the workrooms, Will�s enraged shout had stopped her in her tracks. Put it this way: it wasn�t exactly the sound of a Happy Little Toaster. �Will?� She asked, peering around the door tentatively.
�Oh goody, look, someone bothered to show up,� came the sarcastic reply. Will swivelled around on his computer chair, thumping a fist down on the table. �The stupid thing just crashed. Again.�
�Look, you really need to take it easy�� she began to say, and promptly got her head bitten off, �I�m trying to take it easy, Maria! It�s not exactly the best thing to do when I�m the only fucking person on a twenty-man job!�
�I�m sorry,� she said quietly, �I know it�s hard.�
�You think you know,� he corrected her irritably, �but nobody really knows. How the hell can they know if they don�t even show up? No one�s working except me.�
�You�re in a really bad mood,� she said.
�Oh, fifty points for your astute observation,� he replied, the sarcasm so thick in his voice that he thought he could taste it. �Did you know we nearly lost the heats for the Regatta today? The heats. You think I�m in a bad mood? I should really chill out and maybe have a nap or something, right? Well, my idiotic roommate has just brought a girl back into our room and I don�t even want to think about what they are getting up to and I certainly can�t go back in there right now!�
Maria wrinkled her nose, �That does sound bad.�
�You don�t know the half of it,� he sighed.
* * *
Rawley Girls� Academy
It�s been half an hour, and Monica was still talking on her cell phone. Jake sat opposite her, taking miniscule bites out of her smoked salmon bagel. Glancing at her mother, she sighed and pushed the plate away.
�� je le verrai quand je retourne chez moi,� Monica sighed, �alors, c�est tout. � bient�t.� Flipping her phone down, she rolled her eyes at Jake, �Honestly, that man can�t do anything on his own. I don�t know how on earth he managed to get into PR in the first place.�
�So fire him,� Jake offered sullenly, �There are more PR companies in Paris.�
�Yeah, but they are affiliates with the good one in Germany,� Monica said thoughtfully, �I don�t want to lose that business�� Trailing off mid-sentence, she trained her eyes on Jake as though suddenly realising that she was spending alone time with her daughter. �Oh, let�s not talk about that now honey. Tell me about what you�ve been up to.�
Jake stabbed at her half-eaten bagel with a fork, �Nothing much.�
�I hear Rawley puts on a Shakespearean production every two years,� Monica said happily, �Did you end up trying out?�
Jake was cast as Benvolio, one of the male leads, in Romeo And Juliet. Not something her mother should know. �Uh,� she said, her mind reeling, �I was an extra.�
Monica�s face fell, �Really? You didn�t want a bigger role?�
Jake shrugged. She could see that her mom was disappointed that she wasn�t showing more of an interest in acting - but the irony, of course, was that she had an interest, and she did land a big part in the production. But again, all this cannot be told to Monica, who still thought that Jake was a normal girl going to a normal girls� school and who, when trying out for productions, went for the girls� roles.
�It�s just,� she said, �it was sort of at the time for Finals and I didn�t want too much��
She was again interrupted by the shrill ringing of Monica�s cell phone. Monica picked it up and glanced at Jake, contrite. �Honey, I�ve got to take this call.�
"Go ahead,� sighed Jake, glancing at her watch, �I gotta pee anyway, and, uh, return a book.�
�Hello? Oh, hi Jerry,� Monica took no notice as Jake stood up and left in the direction of the lake. �What? He didn�t tell you? I swear, I�m going to fire that imbecile as soon as I get to Bordeaux��
Part 5
Rawley Girls�Academy
�So, What do you like to do in your spare time, Paige?� Cynthia asked, pouring the brunette another cup of tea, �It�s been so long since we last caught up.�
�Well�� Paige accepted the cup with a smile, �I like to take a trip out on the powerboat whenever I get the chance.�
�Getting some fresh air is always good, there�s nothing better than exercise,� Cynthia agreed warmly. �And you, Faye?�
�Well� uh� I like to read.� Faye said slowly, deciding to go with one of Scout�s suggestions. As much as she hated the thought, she really did need to score more points with Cynthia.
�Oh really?� Cynthia raised an eyebrow, �What sort of books, in particular?�
Faye contemplated answering Charlotte Bront� but decided it was way, way, way too much off the mark. When she was made to read it in English she kept falling asleep in class. �Um, I quite enjoy some contemporary authors,� she said carefully, �Douglas Coupland, for example.�
�Coupland?� Cynthia sipped her tea, �I don�t believe I�ve heard of him. What sort of books does he write?�
�Well, he�s an amazing author.� Faye couldn�t conceal her enthusiasm, �Mainly he focuses on dealing with how the middle class are lost without some form of spirituality to hold on to. My favourite book, Life After God��
�Oh yes, how very interesting.� Cynthia interrupted with a smile, her gaze seeming to pass right through Faye, �But that�s rather a dated subject matter, don�t you think? Everybody deals with spiritual struggles, but we do find ourselves in the end. If you ask me, existentialism is a bit pass�.�
�Well, that�s not exactly what he tries to say there, and he�s no existentialist.� Faye tried to explain, �He�s trying to point out it�s not that simple. Maybe we are beyond redemption on a personal level and we need the grace of some sort of god� to rescue us� from a total lack� of profound morality��
She spoke slower and slower and finally trailed off in the end, noticing that Cynthia was no longer listening to her and was, in fact, already engaged in another conversation with Paige.
* * *
The Docks
�Where the hell is everybody?� Finn demanded, surveying the three guys in front of him that constituted half of Rawley�s Crew Team. �Where are Jake and Hamilton? And Will?�
�Do you want me to go find them, Finn?� Scout volunteered, midway through his calf muscle stretches.
�No, you stay put,� Finn told him, glancing around anxiously, �I can�t have you guys disappear as well. I�m going to go check in the dorms.� The guys nodded and he set off, sprinting across the lawns toward the boys� dormitories.
Scout looked at his teammates, Chris and Damon, and sighed. Beside them, the St Joseph�s team - the whole, complete one - was doing their warm-up exercises, and smirking in a none too friendly way at the lack of members on Rawley�s side.
�This is getting ridiculous,� Chris scoffed, �Are we still a team or what? No one bothers to show up on time, when we do get together we just fight and we can�t even row like a proper team anymore. This is the grand final of the Regatta, for Pete�s sake.�
�Don�t think like that, you�ve gotta be positive here, okay?� Scout instructed him, despite his own misgivings on the matter. �Just think, really hard, we�re going to win this, and we will. It�s all about believing in it.� Glancing at the St. Joseph�s team again, he added, �Remember we kicked their butts last year.�
Just then Jake and Hamilton sprinted up to the boat, wheezing and puffing. �Sorry, sorry,� Jake bent over double, resting her hands on her knees, �Had some� parent� business� to attend to��
�Well, being here now is better than not being here at all,� Chris� voice sounded as though it was lined with barbed wire, �Which is more than what could be said for some other people.�
Hamilton glanced at him, and back at the guys. �Where�s Will?�
The others shrugged, turning back to their stretches. Jake adjusted her headset and peered over to the audience stand, �It�s packed!� She whispered to Hamilton, �I can�t see her.�
�Well, of course it�s packed.� He answered, stretching his hamstrings, �We�re supposed to have the best chance of beating the �77 record this year.�
�Not if we row like yesterday we won�t,� she replied darkly.
�Hey, don�t think like that.� He consoled her, �That was just bad luck. We�re going to win by a mile today, I just know it. Hey,� he shielded his eyes against the afternoon sun and asked, �is that Will?�
It was, and Finn was with him. �Seriously,� Will was trying to explain, �I just lost track of time, that�s all. I thought the Regatta wasn�t until� well, later.�
�Will,� Finn sighed, �Why can�t you get some of your staff to help you with that Summer Book? You can�t finish it by yourself, it�s not humanly possible. Where are all your sub-editors?�
�Out, doing their own things.� Will said sullenly, giving Chris a sideways scowl.
Finn gazed at him for a moment before moving away, planting himself before the team. �Guys, gather around.�
The boys obeyed. Looking around at the faces that he knew so well, Finn sighed deeply. �This is no longer the time for discord. You guys are a team of champions, all of you; but most importantly you are a champion team. Don�t worry about beating anybody but concentrate on beating yourself. I know you guys are disheartened by what happened yesterday, but that�s not what you�re usually like, and you know that too. Just concentrate on being part of the team and the unity that exists, I have great faith in you. As a team, you can truly be invincible if you would only believe in it.�
Solemnly he looked at each in turn, and suddenly broke into a grin. �So come on, let�s go kick some ass.�
* * *
Rawley Girls� Academy luncheon
Faye was falling asleep to the inane conversation that Paige and Cynthia were having. It was quite, quite horrible: they�d spent the last twenty minutes talking about nothing but shoe shopping in New Orleans.
Now she had quite a soft spot for shoes, shopping, and New Orleans, but she could see no way that she could hold a conversation entirely about the subject for this long. And the fact that the other two could do this, and were happily in the midst of, it wasn�t exactly the most illuminating experience.
�Excuse me,� a woman�s voice interrupted the stiletto versus kitten-heel debate, and Faye looked up from her near-asleep stupor.
It was Monica Pratt. �Excuse me,� she said again to Cynthia, �may I speak to Faye for a moment?�
�Oh,� the blonde woman smiled, glancing at Faye, �of course.�
�Hi Monica,� Faye acknowledged, �what�s up?�
�Hello dear,� Monica answered, looking curiously about the luncheon tables, �I was wondering if you knew where Jacqueline has disappeared off to?�
�Um�� Faye glanced around, her mind working furiously, �I�d probably say she�s at the Regatta. It�s nearly time to start and you know how she has to be there to support Hamilton.�
�Hamilton, of course!� Monica laughed, �How silly of me. He is her boyfriend after all, of course she will be at the Regatta to support him, thank you dear.�
�No problem�� Faye had not yet finished speaking when a startled Paige, overhearing the conversation, asked, �Hamilton? You mean Hamilton Fleming has a girlfriend? But he�s gay, isn�t he? He�s going out with J��
Monica blinked, �Excuse me?�
�Uh�� Faye exclaimed with an abrupt laugh, �Oh Paige, don�t be silly, you know the Josh and Hamilton was all a rumour, those boys at the Academy are nasty like that. Erm, Monica, I think the Regatta is to start anytime soon.�
�Yes, of course,� Monica answered, throwing a puzzled glance over her shoulder as she left the table. �I�ll see you later, Faye.�
�Bye,� Faye waved. Paige was staring at her with a confused expression, �But� what about Jake?�
Faye ignored her, and turned back to Cynthia, �Sorry about that.�
�That�s quite all right,� the woman replied in a voice that said she really didn�t give a damn what Faye got up to, as long as it didn�t involve her. �So, Faye,� she began again, evidently considering it was time to perhaps have another couple of token sentences with the girl, �you like reading� Coupman, was it?�
�Well, it was actually Coupland�� Faye started to say, but Cynthia smiled, shrugging, �Whatever. What other authors do you prefer?�
Faye looked at her, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly. Nevertheless she smiled, �Jeffery Eugenides. He wrote The Virgin Suicides.�
�Oh!� Cynthia was startled, �That is quite a title. Is it any good?�
�Absolutely brilliant, actually.� Faye said, �Terribly dysfunctional, quite true to life in many respects, though the plot itself doesn�t follow what can be named �natural�, the characters make it so.� Smiling thinly, she added, �It�s a very human book.�
�Oh, really?� Cynthia frowned, �Dysfunctional? That hardly sounds pleasant.�
�Well, it�s not supposed to be pleasant,� Faye didn�t know why she was even bothering to explain, �It is just trying to show the humanity and the fragility that exists beyond a normal, suburban exterior��
�Of course,� Cynthia answered as though she would a five year old, glancing at Paige and sharing a smile as though they, of course, knew of a better world where things were never dysfunctional, spouses were always faithful, and children were always picture-perfect.
�It�s like American Beauty in many respects,� Faye fought the urge to sigh. �Which is possibly one of the best films I�ve ever seen.�
�Oh dear,� Cynthia sighed, �I never quite caught the attraction of that movie.�
�Really?� Faye widened her eyes. Although in hindsight, she didn�t know why she was so surprised. Everything that the film tried to portray was, in essence, what Cynthia appeared making an effort not to grasp.
�Don�t get me wrong,� Cynthia said with a little laugh, �I am quite aware of Sam Mendes� tremendous directorial skills. Yet I am not particularly enamoured with the story itself.�
�I found it very enlightening,� Faye said cautiously, �It�s sort of like Blue Velvet for the nineties. The perversity that exists behind those calm suburban exteriors� it�s unbelievably brutal.�
Cynthia darted a quick, alarmed glance at her, �Oh, my dear, you must try not to talk like that. It�s all quite� vulgar.�
Faye�s jaw fell open without her realising it. �Excuse me?�
�I do believe it�s taking the subject matter a little too sensationally,� sniffed Cynthia, taking a sip of tea. �Take our families, for example, � hardly think the scenarios in American Beauty mirror anything really, in the society that we find ourselves living in. I can confidently assure you that the my life, and that of those close and dear to me, are perfectly content.� Fixing her gaze on Faye, she added pointedly, �With no perversity whatsoever.�
For the first time in absolutely ages, Faye was completely speechless. She wasn�t simply surprised or even shocked, but completely bowled over by what Cynthia had said. Could this be a woman who married a senator and spent her life flitting from political circle to political circle? It hardly seemed possible.
Cynthia took no notice of the silence and turned back to Paige, asking with a wide smile, �What sort of films do you prefer, Paige?�
Faye watched the brunette, who in turn watched Cynthia with a bashful smile. �Well, romantic comedies are great,� she grinned, �Especially English ones.�
"Oh, absolutely!� Cynthia chuckled, delighted, �Aren�t they just absolutely darling? And what about period dramas? Pride and Prejudice?�
�Oh, I absolutely adore Colin Firth!� Paige squealed. Cynthia smiled and leaned in, whispering as if confidentially in her ear, �Me too, as a matter of fact.�
Faye sunk back into her chair, and discreetly rolled her eyes skyward.
* * *
Docks
Finn shielded his eyes with one hand and looked out across the lake. Gold and silver fire danced across the transparent waters, cast down by the sun and scattered by the ripples. His team waited behind him, and they too, looked out.
�So just get out here, and row in the way you know you could do.� Finn concluded, �Row in the way that would win. Because you all know you can.�
*Placebo�s �I Know� starts to play*
The team glanced around at each other, the faces that they had grown accustomed to, a team who wanted the best, who accepted nothing but the best. They looked back at Finn, and started off toward the boat, their footsteps ringing out in unison across the hollow wooden panels that lined the docks. Beside them, the St. Joseph�s team marched forward with equal determination.
The starting gun went off just as Bella approached the lake, traversing quickly the warm, dry lawns. She stood apart from the other supporters who congregated around the stands, most of them already on their feet and cheering. Rawley had pulled ahead early on.
*The sound to the scene cuts, leaving only the music*
--�I know, you love the song but not the singer / I know, you�ve got me wrapped around your finger / I know, you want the sin without the sinner / I know, I know��
Bella watched them, both the people in the boats and the people who cheered for them. The odd navy Rawley insignia emblazoned onto a white shirt or two, the girls in their gauzy sundresses that the balmy breeze made brush around their knees.
In their eyes they saw only the boats and the people in them, straining themselves in every effort to pull ahead; but Bella looked up and saw the sunlight pour down, making the lake glare in ways so cruel yet beautiful that it could not be rendered, only accepted. It was so bright that she could hardly open her eyes. She barely heard the low murmur arising from the spectators as the Saint Joseph�s boat picked up a little speed, and now ran neck and neck with the Rawley team. Overhead, the sky shone a brilliant jewel blue.
--�I know, the past will catch you up as you run faster, I know / the last in line is always called a bastard, I know / the past will catch you up as you run faster, I know / I know��
Not far from Bella, Monica Pratt narrowed her eyes at the Rawley coxswain who was now leaning forward, yelling out at his team to get a move on. There was something vaguely familiar about that boy, though she was too far off to see what it was, or who he was.
--�I know, you cut me loose in contradiction / I know, I�m all wrapped up in sweet attrition / I know, it�s asking for your benediction / I know, I know��
The Rawley team felt the spray of water sent up in their faces as the St Joseph�s team picked up speed, slowly but surely bypassing them. � Keep it steady!� Jake yelled into her microphone, her eyes widening as she saw the other boat overtake them inch by inch. Hamilton sat directly opposite her, his face screwed up in concentration and exertion, as with everybody else behind him. The oars flitted in and out of the water, push, pull, push, pull� they willed themselves to become machines. Machines that will work harder than humans ever could, machines that would, above all else, win this race.
They felt the sun on their faces but could not take time to look up into the light. And later, when they looked back, this summer would forever stand out in their memories, compressed into this one day and this one race. And all they could remember afterwards were the aching muscles, the rasping breaths, and the slow-building despair.
--�I know, the past will catch you up as you run faster, I know / the last in line is always called a bastard, I know / the past will catch you up as you run faster, I know / I know��
Jake could not see with her back to the finish line; but she knew from experience that it was not far off. And St Joseph�s boat was by now almost half a length ahead of their own. The feeling of inevitability crept up even as she shouted at her team to get a move on.
They strained to the very peak of their abilities; the most of what they were able to give to the race. But the whistle blew for the first boat that crossed the finish line, and they knew it wasn�t them.
* * *
Bella watched, her face impassive, as the St. Joseph�s boat erupted in cheers. She watched the Rawley team pull in past the finish line, the team members trudging out of the boat, each face looking more dejected than the one before. Will and Scout glanced at each other, expressions dark and footsteps heavy; Hamilton walked in step with Jake, trying to shield her from her mother�s line of view. They passed Finn silently, and the older man put his hand on their shoulders in a quick gesture of consolation. They nodded briefly, and headed on.
Bella gazed at them for a moment longer, before she too, turned and departed.
--�I know, the past will catch you up as you run faster, I know / the last in line is always called a bastard, I know / the past will catch you up as you run faster, I know / I know��
* * *
Rawley Girls� Academy Luncheon
�This place has changed quite a lot since I was here last,� Cynthia Calhoun looked thoughtfully at the luncheon-goers, �There are certainly a lot more people.�
�Rawley has a great reputation,� Paige agreed, �People are sending their children in from everywhere.�
�There are allsorts here nowadays, I guess,� Cynthia said, glancing at Faye, �I remember when the school was still quite a tight circle. Everybody knew each other from their family connections, of course. We as children played together and naturally all went to the same schools. Now there are students being flown in from obscure countries and of course the nouveau riche are sending their kids here� tell me, Faye, what does your father do?�
Nouveau riche indeed, Faye fumed inwardly. Through the course of the luncheon the older woman�s hostility had not worn off at all as she had hoped, but has grown more and more barbed and obvious. She felt like a rubber band that was being stretched way too taut, and could snap at any moment. And god knows what she�d say to Scout�s mother then. �My father runs Forrest Enterprises over in Britain, Mrs Calhoun.�
�Oh, I have heard of them,� Cynthia was surprised, �Quite a powerful media group, in fact. Your father is Edward Forrest? I never would have guessed. But your name� you don�t take his name?�
�No,� Faye said simply, �I gave it up as soon as my mother divorced him.�
�Oh, dear,� Cynthia sighed, �I hope you�re not going to start on another of those �perversity in families� things again. My dear, you do have to realise that, even if your family may have created your somewhat bitter outlook on life, not all families are like that.�
�Somewhat bitter?� Faye repeated, her face growing white, �Excuse me, I��
�Perhaps you�d do well to learn something from Paige,� Cynthia turned away and smiled at the brunette, �She is simply the most well-adjusted young woman I have had the pleasure of meeting. Ever since she was little she had always shown perfect mannerisms and is quite a pleasure to be around��
�Please, Mrs Calhoun,� said Paige, genuinely embarrassed, �don�t��
�I think it wouldn�t hurt to adapt some of Paige�s outlook on life, Miss Forrest,� Cynthia continued, dispensing with Faye�s first name altogether. �I genuinely hope that any of Scout�s serious girlfriends are worthy of upholding the Calhoun name.� As an afterthought she added, without so much as a sideways glance, ��like Paige could.�
Faye looked down at her untouched dessert plate. She folded her napkin in half, then in half again. Setting the small tissue square down on the table, she looked up, her violet eyes bright and hard.
�Mrs Calhoun,� she began, �It�s been a long time since I�d met anyone like you.�
�Like me?� Cynthia smiled coolly, �how so?�
�Someone who completely chooses not to acknowledge that there can be a baser side to all of us.� Faye said, grinning suddenly. �Someone who truly, even in this time, turns a blind eye to all that's going on in the world��
�Hold on a minute,� Cynthia began to turn red, �I�m perfectly aware of the situations in the world��
�You are aware of them, Mrs Calhoun, but you don't understand them.� Faye replied, �You say you are aware of our thin spirituality in this world dominated by materialism, but you follow that immediately with �we find ourselves in the end�. We don't do that, it�s not that simple. Life isn't merely another story in Chicken Soup for the Soul, nor is it exemplified through the bland scandals you find in Jane Austen and the warm fuzzy romance of Notting Hill.�
Faye was still smiling, the look in her eyes tinted with what was best called malice. If she was going to blow all her chances with Scout�s mom, she just might as well take the woman down while she was at it.
�You watch American Beauty but you don't understand it. You see the conflicts but you close yourself to the motives because you cannot stand that there lies something more ugly in our natures that you can envisage. You don�t listen to what you don�t like hearing, and you make snap judgments on people. You shut them out when they make a single statement that you can�t cope with, like you did me the first time you met me. You have no idea who I really am yet you manage to pin all of myself onto this one fact that I am estranged from my father.
Although your opinions may touch on some sort of truth, it is by no means the whole truth because you fail to take into account that I am a person. Any person is much too complex to be classified in theories and broad sweeps of psychoanalysis. Your son is also a person like that and you don�t even seem to realise that. All through this luncheon you have been deliberately rude to me because you seem to think I don�t deserve him. Well, I think I speak for both of us that you don�t know what our relationship is based on, or how we fit in ways that you can�t seem to see beyond this exterior. How do you know Scout is all sunshine and bunnies inside like you seem to think? Or have you blocked out all of his human perversity out with everybody else�s, especially that of your own?
I don�t mind that you don�t like me or understand me, I really don�t. But what gets me is that you didn�t even bother to get to know me, or try to accept my views without assuming that they are wrong, right from the outset.�
Cynthia and Paige were speechless. Faye pushed her chair back and stood up, the sunlight catching her eyes, making them look as though they were being set on fire. Light filtered from behind, casting her shadow onto the table. She leaned forward, and smiled at Cynthia. The woman looked back with wide, disbelieving eyes.
�I�m sorry for saying all this, and I don�t expect you to change your ways.� Faye said, quite understatedly. �But I�d like to let you know that you have acted way outside of your station today due to your personal dislike of me, and you have offended me in ways that no person should be offended. I would like an apology from you, although that is bloody unlikely. What I now say is only things that I feel I need to get off my chest, and now that it is done I do believe we have nothing else to say to each other. Good day.�
And with that she stood up straight, turned, and walked away, leaving Cynthia and Paige staring behind her.
Part 6
The docks
Monica Pratt peered over the multitude of people, scanning the unfamiliar faces for her daughter. Past the exuberant crowds supporting the St. Joseph�s team, and the disappointed bunch of Rawley parents who had turned up for the thwarted purpose of seeing their sons win the Regatta, she readjusted her sunglasses, and looked around.
Sauntering slowly away from the crowds, past the St. Joseph�s team, who were taking team photos holding their hard-earned trophy, she walked toward the docks. Spotting a very dejected-looking Hamilton talking to the tall skinny boy whom she half-recognised as the coxwain, she walked closer and called, �Hamilton!�
Jake paused mid-sentence. Hamilton looked at her, his blue eyes suddenly very, very wide, betraying a fear that she had not seen for � well, forever.
�Oh my god,� she muttered, her blood running cold, �oh my god.� In all the misery that ensued their surprise defeat, they had forgotten that her mother was even present at the school.
�Oh my god,� she murmured again, and wondered what she could do. Monica walked closer. Jake shook involuntarily and in an act of almost blind attempt, flipped the hood of her sweatshirt up and turned to face the lake with her head bowed.
Hamilton�s heart was beating maybe 200 beats per minute. Not even during the Regatta had he felt so charged, it was an acutely uncomfortable experience - as though he wasn�t even himself anymore but merely an animated corpse running on adrenaline being pumped through him by a machine. He stepped discreetly in front of Jake and forced - although he did not know how the hell he ever managed to, given the circumstances - a smile. �Oh, hi, Monica.�
�Hello.� Monica�s glance slid past Hamilton to the boy behind him, a strange sense of confusion and uneasiness settling in her eyes. There was something about him� he seemed so familiar. If only he could turn around so that she could see his face, perhaps she would be able to place him�
�Oh, uh,� Hamilton saw her gaze travel to Jake, and hastily took hold of Monica�s arm, �Why don�t we head back?�
�Hmm?� Monica shook her head and smiled at him, embarrassed at her discomposure, �Oh, of course.�
Jake�s heart was pounding in her chest so loudly that she thought her mother would have been able to hear it and recognise it was her. And she didn�t dare turn around, not even when she heard her mother�s voice retreating, �I�m sorry about the Regatta, Hamilton��
�That�s all right,� his voice came from even further away as the two of them walked toward the Boys� Academy, �I think it jolted us out of whatever arrogant state of mind we had earlier��
Only when their voices have completely disappeared that Jake dared to turn around. Even then, she could see the figures of Hamilton and Monica, not quite out of her field of vision, the two of them walking along the lawns in front of the Academy.
She placed a hand over her chest, trying to slow her panicked breathing. Her binder felt way too tight and hot under her layers of clothing. A bead of sweat ran down the side of her face, but even then she didn�t dare take down the hood of her sweatshirt.
That was how close her mother had come to finding out her secret. Two mere steps away, with only Hamilton standing between her and the truth� and all the changes to their world that would only be consequence. They had grown too careless� the lies were getting too complicated to hold up. How on earth could they keep this up, and even if they could, for how long?
* * *
Rawley Academy
Finn and Will walked across the lawn, heading for the dorms. Will had taken his shoes off, feeling the warm and springy grass under his feet. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he glanced at Finn, �Weren�t you going to say something? We were waiting for you to yell at us.�
�What�s the point?� Finn asked back, �What�s done is done.�
�I don�t know what happened out there,� Will mused, �it was like, suddenly just having this will, this belief in ourselves, it�s not enough any more. We tried - honestly, we tried - but it was like, this time it�s just�� he sighed, �It�s just not good enough, Finn.�
Finn nodded slowly, �Why do you think that is?�
�I don�t know,� Will sighed, �I know some of it is because the team had a lot of problems, you know, between us. But I don�t think that�s the whole problem, either. A lot more is something to do with our state of mind.�
�What do you mean?� Finn asked, looking up at the Rawley buildings now looming before them. It was early afternoon, the sun casting only the shortest of shadows from the tall stone building.
The two of them stood at the shadow�s edge, and Will turned back toward the lake, his blue eyes pensive. �Maybe we�ve gotten too used to things going our way,� he said simply, before turning again and walking into the dormitory.
Finn stared after him for a moment, and then followed him through those tall doors, the two of them disappearing around the bend in the entrance hall.
* * *
Rawley Girls� Academy
Jake stood alone by the side of the lake, rubbing her hands up and down her bare arms. She had again donned the dress that she wore earlier, and a slight breeze made the filmy material quiver around her knees.
�Jacqueline!� Her mother called, teetering across the bank, nearly tripping over her four-inch heels. She was followed closely by Hamilton. �Where on earth were you? I was looking all over the place!�
Jake smiled, looking down, �I�m sorry, I went to see the Regatta and you were talking on the phone��
�But I didn�t see you at the Regatta,� Monica said, confused, �Where were you standing?�
�Oh�� Jake shrugged lightly, exchanging a glance with Hamilton, �I wasn�t in the audience stands.�
�That explains why I couldn�t find you earlier,� Monica sighed, �Honestly, Jacqueline, you should know better than to just slink off like that. Where was I supposed to find you afterwards? Anyway, it was nice to see you again, even though I must dash off this instant because Raul just called saying he�s got an absolutely brilliant script that I�ve got to see.�
�Of course,� Jake smiled again, lowering her eyes, �Go.�
Monica looked at her daughter, a hint of remorse touching her eyes, �I�m sorry I didn�t get to spend more time alone with you.�
�That�s all right mom, there�s always the end of summer.� Jake suggested, twisting her hands.
�Of course, we�ll catch up then,� Monica agreed, enveloping her daughter in a giant hug. She turned back to Hamilton and smiled gently, �Take care of her?�
He smiled back, �Always.�
�All right sweetie, I have to be off,� Monica kissed Jake�s forehead, �take care.�
�Bye,� they chorused as the woman hurried off in the direction of the parking lot, climbing over and across the sloping bank.
Hamilton turned back to Jake and raised his eyebrows, �Well?�
�Considering all that went down today,� Jake sighed, �It�s a miracle she hadn�t discovered anything.�
�I know what you mean,� he nodded, �We�ll have to be a lot more careful from now on.�
She looked up at him, her hazel eyes made a golden green by the light, �But it�s getting so hard. All these lies to cover up� I�m exhausted, Hamilton.�
�So am I,� he sighed, �but what can we do except to carry on?� Turning an alarmed look her way, he asked, �You�re not thinking of coming clean or anything like that, are you?�
�No,� she smiled, �I wouldn�t dream of it. But��
�But we�ll have to be so much more careful than we�ve been,� he finished the sentence for her, �I know.�
*Elbow�s �Red� begins to play*
She did not look comforted, but nodded and took his hand in hers. Silently they watched Monica�s red Jaguar drive out of the parking lot, tooting its horn in farewell. Jake waved her hand feebly, probably a movement too vague and far away for her mother to see.
*Will�s voiceover begins*
�When did we lose our way? I do not know. All I know is that somewhere along the path, we had gotten too complacent. We thought that we could achieve whatever that we set our hopes upon, and one by one we have been proven wrong. We had so much belief in the status quo that we forgot it could be changed, much less challenged. I guess this weekend taught all of us something about how much we have come to take for granted. We thought we were invincible, but being invincible is merely a state of mind.�
--�Come as you are sweetheart, come as you are / you know you've got nothing to prove / I'll put you to bed, you can let it all go / you've been playing too rough lately��
* * *
Faye and Paige�s room
Faye sat on her bed, listening to her stereo. Elbow was fast becoming one of her more preferred bands, and she adored the melancholic song �Red�. There was a lot of thinking room left within the music. In her lap lay a copy of Douglas Coupland�s Life After God, but she had long since given up trying to read it, and was now staring blankly out the window. A knock sounded on the door. �Yeah,� she said in a listless voice.
--�You burn too bright / you live too fast / This can't go on too long / You're a tragedy starting to happen��
Scout walked into the room, a bemused expression on his face. Faye glanced at him and sighed softly, putting her book back on the nightstand. He sighed as well, sticking one hand in his pocket, �I just talked to my mom.�
She inhaled and let her breath out slowly, �What did she say?�
He didn�t answer until he took a seat on her blow-up armchair, �Firstly� she wanted me to give you her apologies.�
She looked up, her eyes widening in disbelief, �She what?�
�Give you her apologies,� he affirmed what she thought she could only have heard wrong, �she said that she was out of line and what you said to her� she said she�d think about it carefully.�
�Oh,� Faye didn�t know what to make of that at all. She had expected nastiness, anger, perhaps even some tears� but not this, not from Scout�s mother. �Oh,� she said again, which was about the extent of her vocabulary right about now.
�I don�t know what exactly you ended up saying to her,� he continued, �and given your track record, I really don�t think I want to know either. Let�s just say my mom was a little - very, actually - shocked by you, which is, of course,� he smiled, �not always a bad thing.�
She looked up at him, �Why do I feel like there is a �but� coming?�
�But�� he said slowly, �She did say one thing to me before she left.�
�And that is?� She asked, her brows furrowing.
�She made it very clear that she doesn�t want to interfere with my love life, but she�� he paused, mulling over the words. Then, shaking his head, he decided to say it anyway, �she said she just couldn�t understand why the two of us ended up together.�
�Neither do I, sometimes.� Faye chuckled. But her eyes remained pensive, even miserable, �Neither do I.�
--�Just as you are perfect / just as you are / I'll give you the time you deserve / Don't make those promises / don't tell me again / That dust is gonna settle your nerves��
* * *
Carson
Dusk was approaching, the streetlights in Carson beginning to flicker into life, illuminating the quiet roads where small suburban houses nestled. Inside one of them lived Donna Banks, a woman most of the locals recognised as the friendly owner of a local florist in town.
This evening, like most nights, she had settled down to a comfortable dinner in front of the TV. The doorbell rang and she got up, setting her plate down on the coffee table. �Did anyone say they�d be coming over?� She asked Bob, her partner. He shrugged, his attention focused on the game show that lay flickering onscreen in the darkened living room.
Donna went out into the entrance hall and turned on the porch light. �Who is it?� She called, as she opened the door.
Bella stood on the porch, the yellow light glancing off her long hair. A backpack was slung over her shoulder, and beside her sat a small suitcase. �Hi mom,� she said tentatively.
�Bella?� Donna murmured, widening her eyes. �You didn�t tell me you were coming. Is anything wrong?�
�No,� Bella shook her head and smiled a little, more of a grimace, in actual fact. �Not really. I just felt like a visit.�
�Well, come on in,� Donna opened the door a little wider, �come in. I�ll fix you something to eat, you look hungry�� The door closed behind them, and a moment later, the porch light clicked off, leaving again the outside of the house in complete darkness. Somewhere in the surrounding trees, an evening bird began to chirp its lonesome melody.
--�You burn too bright / you live too fast / This can't go on too long / You're a tragedy starting to happen� You burn too bright / you live too fast / This can�t go on too long��
The End
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