Chapter 3
Duncan finished all his homework and then headed down to the kitchen. His mother was standing at the kitchen sink talking on the phone. He knew that she was talking to her new boss, Eric Schrecter. Eric had kept his mother busy since the day they moved to town three weeks prior. Duncan didn't like that his mother worked so much now, but he knew she was just trying to catch up with the firm so she could be fully effective lawyer. He hoped that soon she would be less busy.
Duncan sniffed the air. Something was cooking in the oven. He wasn't sure what it was or if it was supposed to smell so…burnt? He shrugged it off and sat with his dad at the table.
Jake was reading the paper. Duncan grabbed a section and started reading. However, he couldn't really concentrate with his mother's talking. He sighed and looked at the clock, it was nearing eight pm. Duncan wondered where Quinn had gone to. She hadn't come home after school and he hadn't seen her since they left Mrs. Manson's office.
Jake put his paper down and looked at Duncan. "So, how was school today, Duncan?" he asked.
"Oh, dammit!" Helen exclaimed suddenly.
Duncan and Jake looked over at her, startled.
She was removing a smoking foil tray from the oven and putting it in the sink.
"The lasagna burned," Helen said annoyed. "I was just so busy with Eric. I forgot."
"So, it was burning," Duncan said. "I thought it smelled funny."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Helen asked lightly annoyed.
Duncan shrugged. "I thought that maybe it was supposed to smell that way. I didn't know you were trying to cook lasagna," he said amused.
"Since when does the smell of something burning mean that the food is good?" Helen asked incredulously.
Duncan shrugged. "I don't know. Food is rarely cooked in this house," he answered truthfully.
Helen nodded. "Fine. I'll give you that one," she said reluctantly.
"Don't worry about it," Jake said, "I'll order a pizza," he said grabbing the phone from the sink counter and walked into the living room.
Helen grimaced, "That's all we've eaten since moving here," she complained.
"I don't mind," Duncan said simply.
Helen looked at him amused. "I know you don't. And you probably meant for that lasagna to burn."
"Oh, yeah, mom. I came in here and put the lasagna into an oven that was on full blast and got on the phone with a very talkative boss," Duncan said sarcastically.
"Okay. It was my fault," Helen said as she ran cold water over the burnt lasagna.
"I'm home!" Quinn called from the front hall and then walked into the kitchen. "Hi," she said.
"Hi, honey," Helen said.
"What's going on? And what's that thing in the sink?" Quinn asked Duncan, looking at the burnt lasagna in the sink.
"It was dinner. Mom burned the lasagna," Duncan said. "And now we're getting a pizza."
"Ugh, really?" Quinn said disgusted and looked at her mother, "Mom, all we've eaten since moving here is pizza. I can't take it anymore. All that grease and cheese, it's just so disgusting," she complained.
"Quinn, those are the best parts," Duncan teased.
Quinn glared and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Or we could always have tongue. I'm game," Duncan said smirking at Quinn.
"Oh, Dunny, that's even worse. Mom!" Quinn said annoyed.
"Duncan, leave Quinn alone," Helen said wearily as she put the burnt lasagna in the trash, "What a waste."
"Okay. Pizza will be here in twenty," Jake said coming back into the kitchen and sitting at the table.
"Did you get any tongue on the pizza?" Duncan asked casually, trying to suppress a grin.
"Huh?" Jake said puzzled.
"Dunny!" Quinn said appalled.
"Duncan! I'm warning you," Helen said sharply.
Jake looked at his family curiously. "I must have missed a very important part of this conversation," he said amused.
"It was a legitimate question. I mean some people could like tongue as a topping on their pizza," Duncan said seriously.
"You're so disgusting," Quinn muttered irritated.
"Enough, young man, or we'll be having your tongue for dinner," Helen threatened as she sat at the kitchen table.
"But then how would I taste it," Duncan said quietly to Jake, but answered to his mother, "All right."
Jake chuckled, but stopped when Helen glared at him.
Jake cleared his throat. "Um, well, as I asked, how was your day?" he said to Duncan.
"Think carefully before you speak, Duncan," Helen said sternly. "All you've done since moving here is complain and I've had enough."
Duncan glared at her. "Fine, mom," he said resentfully and then took a moment before he spoke. "Well, today was just so wonderful. Quinn and I met with the very lovely school psychologist so that we could take a psychological test. Which took most of the day," he answered mockingly enthusiastic.
"Psychological test?" Helen questioned.
"Yeah. I'm sure Quinn and I did very well. I mean you and dad did raise us," Duncan said smirking.
"I don't like that tone, Dunny," Helen said lightly, with a small smile.
"What about the classes? Did you go to any?" Jake asked.
"Just the last two classes, History and English Literature," Duncan said. "And they were wonderful, too. The teachers are just so professional and dedicated," Duncan said sarcastically.
"All right. The truth, because sarcasm isn't any better," Helen said exasperated.
"The Psychologist is an idiot. Mr. DeMartino is psychotic. I have no real opinion on Mr. O'Neill. Yet. And the students are all well-meaning, but in the end, they're morons," Duncan said annoyed. "Well, okay, not all the students are morons. I met one who seemed normal," he said honestly.
"Well, at least one person at that school lives up to your standards," Helen sighed. "Is he your friend?"
"She. Jane Lane, and I don't know if we're friends. She talked to me at school and we have most of our classes together, but we didn't, like, make any plans to hang out or anything," Duncan said awkwardly.
"A girl? That's a first for you, Dunny. Most girls avoid you at all costs," Quinn said surprised and then smirked. "Maybe she'll give you some tongue," she said amused.
Duncan blushed lightly. "Shut up," he said and then looked at his mother, "How come you didn't tell Quinn off?" he demanded.
"About what?" Quinn snapped.
"Tongue," Duncan said annoyed.
"Well, she referenced it only once, but okay. No more tongue jokes at this table," Helen said amused, "Anyway, about Jane."
"What about her?" Duncan asked suspiciously.
"Well, in case she does become your friend…if she does come to visit, I would like someone to be home. I don't want you two alone," Helen said seriously.
"Why?" Duncan asked confused.
"Because you two are teenagers and when two teenagers of the opposite sex are alone, things tend to happen," Helen said simply.
"Mom!" Duncan said appalled, "Come on, we just moved here and I have no intention of…you know. With anyone!" he said firmly.
"Okay. I'm just saying, you're a boy and she's a girl," Helen said simply.
"Yeah, and the sky is blue and the grass is green. I'm not up for a game of state-the-obvious," Duncan said dully.
Helen smirked. "All right," she said.
Duncan sighed and then looked at his mother seriously. "Mom, have you heard anything from Grove Hills or Fielding yet?" he asked.
"Um…no," Helen said uncomfortably.
"No rejection or acceptance letters?" Duncan inquired.
"No, Duncan. Nothing," Helen said. "Maybe next month."
Duncan frowned. "Maybe never," he said disappointedly. "It's been a month since I've applied. Obviously, I'm not being accepted, but it's kind of messed up that they don't even find me worth rejecting either," he said miserably.
"Maybe they just forgot," Quinn suggested.
Duncan glared at her. Quinn shrugged.
"Well, it's better than not being worth it at all," Quinn stated.
Duncan smiled slightly. "Sometimes, Quinn, you're really weird," he said amused.
"Just give it until next month. I'm sure they'll respond by then," Jake said confidently. "If not, I'll call," he promised.
"Thanks," Duncan said.
"Duncan, I still think you should just give Lawndale a chance. It's only been one day," Helen said seriously.
"I know. And I will. Besides, it's not as if I have a choice. Lawndale High is the only public high school nearby," Duncan said dryly.
"I wish you wouldn't think of it like that," Helen said amused.
The doorbell rang.
"Pizza," Jake said and went to the door.
Quinn sighed dramatically. "Mother, I really can't eat that disgusting pizza," she complained.
"All right. I'll make a salad for us. I don't think I can eat it either," Helen said getting up and going to the refrigerator.
"Don't burn it," Duncan said, smirking.
Helen gave him a severe look.
Duncan was grateful his father had come back in. "Oh, look it's the pizza," he said innocently.
Dinner was set up and everyone was settled at the table.
"So, Quinn we haven't heard about your day," Helen said.
"Um, well, I met these girls, Sandi, Stacy, and Tiffany. They have this Fashion Club and asked me to join. They made me vice president," Quinn said proudly.
"Well, that's nice. What exactly is the Fashion Club?" Helen asked.
"Expensive," Duncan commented with a grin.
"Dunny, be quiet! And not really," Quinn said looking at her mother innocently, "They, or we, just keep up with what's in vogue," she said simply.
"While the credit card company starts demanding payment for a four hundred dollar pair of pumps," Duncan added.
"Duncan!" Quinn snapped. "You're just jealous because you didn't make any friends."
"I am not! I just don't see why fashion is so important. It's silly," Duncan said scathingly.
"Guys, stop it," Jake said sternly. "You've been at each others throats since this morning."
"Yeah, but Duncan…" Quinn started but the phone rang.
Duncan expected it to go unanswered. His mother didn't permit phone usage during meals. Therefore, he was surprised when his mother and Quinn both ran for the phone. Quinn got to it first.
"Hello?" Quinn said. She paused for a moment to listen to the person, then looked at Duncan. "Yeah. He's here. Hold on," she said walking over to Duncan and smirked. "It's for you. It's a girl," she said amused.
Duncan glared at her and took the phone. "Hello?" Duncan said into the phone.
"Yo, it's Jane," Jane said.
"Hi," Duncan said surprised. "Um, how did you get this number?" he asked, and noticed his whole family was watching him curiously.
"Well, gosh Morgendorffer, you're just so damn irresistible, it's only right that I start stalking you," Jane said seriously.
"Okay?" Duncan said unsurely.
Jane laughed, "411. You're listed," she explained.
"Oh, right. Um, to save myself from further embarrassment, what are you calling for?" Duncan said.
"Well, I figure you must be new in town, so I thought I'd set you up with the Jane Lane tour. What do ya say? Wanna go out tonight, strictly as friends of course," Jane said.
"Um, sure. Where?" Duncan said to Jane and gave his mother a pleading look. Helen frowned slightly.
"The Zon; a club. See ya in fifteen," Jane said quickly and hung up.
"Wait!" Duncan said, but the line was dead. He hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" Jake asked.
"That girl Jane," Duncan said.
"Dunny, it's a school night and it's nearing nine," Helen said reproachfully.
Duncan looked at Helen, "Please, mom. I've already done my homework and I stay up late anyway. I'll be back before…midnight?" he said.
"Midnight is too late. Call her back and tell her some other time," Helen said seriously.
"Well, she's coming over now and I don't know her number, so um…" Duncan said apologetically.
Helen sighed, "All right, fine. Midnight. But I don't want to hear complaints about being tired tomorrow morning," she said sternly.
"I promise, mom," Duncan said.
"So, are we meeting her tonight, then?" Helen asked amused.
Duncan contemplated it. "Another time? I don't want her to be weirded out," he said.
Helen nodded. "Fine. Another time," she said and then looked at him curiously. "And what do you mean 'weirded out'? I feel I should be insulted," she said confused.
"I'm just going to say, you know what I mean," Duncan said simply with a smirk and headed up to his room.