A few weeks later, Jeanette was in her mother's car driving someplace unknown to her. She didn't know what to expect.

"Why are we doing this again?" Jeanette asked, slumping down into the back seat.

"You know why! Your behavior is out of control!" Her mother said, keeping her focus on the road ahead.

"What behavior? I don't know what you're talking about."

"That! Ever since that night at the pier, you haven't been yourself."

"Oh? Like how?"

"You hardly talk anymore and when you do, you always yell and that's usually mixed with an enraged scowl that makes my blood run cold every time you stare at me like that."

"You're point…?"

"I just worry about you, honey, and I only want you to get better. Just try and get over this, please."

"Logan cheated on me, I was arrested for assault and climbing onto a moving carnival ride, I was suspended from school, and now I'm probably gonna get dropped off at some kind prison. How can I get over all that?"

"I know you're going through a lot right now and the stress is a little too much, but I know this will blow over; trust me. I just think you need some time away from the city to blow off some steam. This will be good for you, I promise."

Soon, the car stopped at a house in the middle of the forest by the lake. Jeanette looked out the window, saw the house, and she realized something.

"Mom? This isn't prison. Where are we?" She asked.

"I was never going to send you to jail." Jeanette's mother said. "This is your Uncle Mort's house."

"Uncle Mort? Are you sure? Looks pretty remote."

"So?"

"So, the last I checked, Uncle Mort lived in Riverdale with Aunt Amy."

"Not anymore. They split a while ago and Amy disappeared; people think that she was murdered."

"What!?"

"Yeah, pretty nasty."

"What happened?"

"I don't think you should be hearing this stuff right now."

"Why?"

"While he may seem good now, it's been pretty rough for him since he and Amy split and I don't want you to go and hassle him with questions about it."

"Oh, okay. I get it. Sorry, mom."

"It's alright. Okay, stay out here while I go in and talk to him."

"Fine, sure… I'm kinda scared to see him anyway."

"Don't be, he's harmless. Now when you're inside, I want you to be polite. Please don't be tiresome around him. He can get really stressed out."

"Okay, okay. I won't."

"Good. I won't be long."

Jeanette's mom climbed out of the car, walked over to the house, and saw the door wide open; she raised an eyebrow at this. Not knowing what to do, she invited herself in and looked around. On the second floor, Mort Rainey was sitting at his desk working hard on a brand new story, only he had headphone in and he didn't hear his sister enter.

"Hello! Mort?" She called out; that immediately caught Mort's attention.

He smiled down at her and said, "Carmen? Hi, come on up!"

Confused by her brother's happy tone, she walked up the stars and met him at his desk. He had braces, his hair was a different color, and he looked much happier.

"Hi, Mort." She said in an uneasy tone.

"So, what brings you here?" Mort asked; Carmen facepalmed.

"You forgot that you're supposed to look after Jeanette. Surprise, surprise." She frowned.

"Jeanette? Your daughter? She's here?! Oh my god! I'm so sorry, sis!" Mort cried as he stood from his desk chair and went down the stairs.

"You are?"

"Of course! I completely forgot her visit was today! I was so caught up in my work that is must've slipped my mind."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy, Mort; easy. It's no big deal, really."

"…Would you like some coffee?"

"Sure."

They walked into Mort's kitchen. She turned to her brother who was already pouring himself a steaming cup of coffee.

"I'm really sorry about what happened between you and Amy." She apologized, lowering her voice to a sympathetic murmur.

She put her hand tenderly on his arm. Mort waved off the comment sullenly.

"Don't worry about it, it's not your fault." He replied before slurping another small mouthful of coffee.

"I'll come back to pick up Jeanette some time by the end of August." Carmen changed the subject.

"Wait—August?" Her brother echoed, nearly choking on his drink.

"Ugh! Mort, I thought we went over this three days ago." Carmen groaned. "I said over the phone that Jeanette would have to spend some time at your house for a while. She's going through a lot of stressful stuff right now and I don't think she can handle any more thanks to the city."

"Why? What happened to her?"

"Well… She was suspended from school, she was arrested, and she dumped her boyfriend… all in one night."

"Hold up—she was arrested? And she has a boyfriend?"

"You're missing the point."

"Which is?"

"The point is that I really think that this will be good for her. She needs to get out of the city more often and she also needs to spend time with more family… other than me. Get it now? She is your niece, after all. You haven't seen each other in years." Carmen asked, rubbing her forehead in frustration.

"And whose fault is that?" Mort asked sarcastically under his breath.

"Don't push it…" His sister growled at him.

Mort ran a hand through his hair, exhaling softly. "I'm sorry. It just… slipped my mind."

"It's okay. But honestly, Mort; don't act like it's such a big deal. I'm pretty sure you can handle a teenage girl." She grumbled, hitching her purse over her shoulder and standing up.

"What do you wanna bet?" He asked in a sarcastic tone.

Carmen looked back at her big brother with a stern look in her eyes; he cringed a little in fright.

"Don't start, please." She said.

Mort sighed. "Where is she now?"

"She's waiting in the car. I'll go get her." She said, standing up and giving Mort a look of encouragement as she passed out the door.

"Okay." He replied, setting his mug down and heading back up to his desk.

Jeanette waited and waited for her mom to return and soon, she did.

"Get your things outta the trunk, dear. He's waiting for you inside." Carmen said to her daughter.

"Okay." She said as she unbuckled her seat belt.

Soon, Jeanette had all of her things taken out of the trunk of her mother's car and by the time she had all her stuff, she was standing outside the car and staring at the house before her.