Authors Note:

Hey everyone, I hope there's people who read weekenders fanfics, because I want to get some feedback on this. I started writing a normal comedic weekenders fanfic (in screenplay format, no less) but I got stuck and just started writing this one day. This fic is a bit dark, but it wont stay that way, I assure you. Don't forget to review! If there are still readers I might even give a normal episode a try.

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Tish was a bit put out by the worm from hell currently taking up residence in her apartment, spacious though it was. She was able to get around her apartment just fine, being that the worm didn't disturb her in particular. At least not physically. The worm stared at her as she moved across the room, not speaking a word since the first day it arrived. Tish demanded an explanation from the worm as to why he was there. Her bossy and elitist nature had increased to a level not even a worm from hell would be safe from. Does that sound insulting? I don't mean it that way. Most 27-year-old magazine writers in New York City are the same way, and that kind of attitude sure isn't as cute as it was in seventh grade. Any shock she may have felt about her unwelcome guest had faded and been replaced by simple irritation. She persisted in questioning the worm forgetting that she was promised an explanation in due time. The worm from hell sat still.

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Tish phoned me and Lor a few weeks ago. She checks up on us from time to time, which she says is something she really enjoys, but I think she just does it mostly out of habit at this point. I really look forward to her calls, I've missed her so much since she left for New York. Carver's departure came as no surprise, since he had started drifting away from the group well before we even finished high school. At least I still have Lor here to talk to, but its not so easy to hang out with her anymore.

Carver made his intentions pretty clear during high school and I knew he would stop at nothing to achieve his dream of becoming a famous shoe designer. He started to hang out with the fashion freaks and popular kids in high school and made less time for us. After high school he went to a design school and ran with some different crowds. I don't mean different from our group, I mean DIFFERENT. I thought it was bad when he practically killed himself to hang out with Colby and Bree in high school, but his college friends were killing ME. Yeah, every time I saw him with those beatniks and art freaks I died a little inside. The lengths he was willing to go to achieve his dreams would shock even the most jaded. He became a shoe designer alright, but obviously, his fame leaves something to be desired. How do I know this? Even though we haven't heard from him in eight years? Because we haven't heard from him in eight years. The last time we heard from him was when he finally got a job in the shoe industry. A low-level position to be sure, but he called it a stepping stone and assured us he would call with news of his imminent promotion within the year. He never did call, but you already knew that. That reminds me. Tino here. But you already knew that too.

Around the time Carver left, Tish told us she too had landed a cushy new gig. She would be writing for a major academic magazine in New York City. The news came as a great shock to me and made me depressed for a long time, of course I never did let Tish know that. If Tish knew it made me so sad then she might have been guilted into staying, but I wouldn't do that to her. As sad as I was, the news hit Lor like a ton of bricks. She and Tish had become like sisters since the beginning of high school and even through college, despite going to schools 40 miles apart. I think part of Tish's decision to look for out-of-state work had something to do with her and Lor's disagreements. Tish was mad at Lor, for something that wasn't even her fault. I think Tish's pride was hurt because Lor didn't take her advice all those years ago. Rather than facing Lor with her concerns, Tish turned tail and ran away. At this point in Lor's life, when Tish should be sympathetic, she still holds Lor's bad decision-making over her head. That kind of behavior makes Tish's absence a bit more bearable.

Which brings us to Lor. Despite carver's fading from our group, my slight social difficulties, and Tish's mounting pressure and diminished free time from trying to get into a good school, Lor had a very happy high school life. She participated in many varsity sporting events and her intellect really blossomed as she lost her childhood. But the clincher in her exultant adolescence was that her long-time crush, Thompson Oberman, finally asked her out in the beginning of her junior year. What a joyous start to this sad story. --Did that sound corny? Forgive me, I've developed a bit of a taste for the dramatic. Anyway, she and Thompson had a healthy relationship, I had no objections. Lor still made plenty of time to hang out with us, so I really had no reason not to support them. Tish on the other hand, she kept a close eye on Thompson. I don't blame her. As I said before, she and Lor were like sisters. Tish would be damned before Lor ruined her life over some guy right in front of her. All of Tish's efforts didn't pay off in high school. Thompson was the model boyfriend and made sure tish took notice. He wanted his rep as a good guy solidified infallibly.

After high school Lor went on to college while Thompson landed a mundane yet well-paying job at the phone company. Lor's field of study was– not important. She never finished college, and even if she had finished, her intentions there was completely focused on sports. She got in with a sports scholarship after all. Until the day she left college she gave everything she had and had much to show for it, not only in medals and trophies, but in pride as well. They had been living together since the end of high school and, well, I don't think I have to tell you what happened next. The shocking thing was, it happened a lot later than we thought it would.

Eight months before the baby, Nell, was born, they had a wedding, right here in Bahia Bay, on Lor's 22nd birthday. Yeah, me and Lor still live in Bahia Bay. It just feels like home. Tish says it's because we don't want to leave our comfort zone, but it just feels right. Or maybe she's right. Anyway, Lor now had plenty of time on her hands and called me all the time, even at work, one of the perks of my job; I don't have anyone to tell me not to talk on the phone while I'm on the clock. Thompson was able to support both of them just fine, their home was small but comfortable enough. This nuclear dream lasted all of six months. Thompson began to cheat on Lor. Me and Tish found out before she did. At least we think so. Tish took it upon herself to follow Thompson to prove what she had suspected to be true. Tish confronted Lor with the news and they had a big argument about what she should do. Tish made it clear: leave Thompson now. Lor couldn't do that so easily of course, how would she support the baby? Or herself for that matter? Tish knew that was going nowhere so she took it to Thompson in the form of an anonymous phone call. Tish's intentions were good, and I supported the idea as well, but it was a big mistake. After that, Thompson changed for the worse. He accused Lor of cheating on him, even though he knew very well that she stayed at home with the baby all day long. All you junior psychologists know this defense mechanism: projection. His accusations were his way of negating his disgraceful behavior. I cant really condemn Lor's inaction. I had no way of knowing how she was feeling. Her whole world was crashing down around her.

Things never improved for Lor. They calmed down a bit but they still have the same problems. The problem I mentioned about not being to hang out with Lor, the thing is, Thompson doesn't even let her see me half the time. He wants to keep her on a tight leash and any refusal by Lor is thwarted by her fear of a messy divorce that would result in the loss of her little Nell. Tish and me are the only comfort she finds nowadays, but all that would soon change. A certain worm from hell would have changes in store for all of us.