REVISED as of 12/2011. I have revised much of this chapter from its original posting so the characters are not so overdramatic.

Disclaimer: Have I done this lately?


Antoinette Birch had always loved sports when she was young, volleyball being her favorite. It was why the woman had become coach of the Wolves nearly six years ago, but the job came with a price. She had no issue training her girls to be amazing players; it was the social lives that some of them brought onto the court that worried her. She tried her best to teach her girls to leave personal problems in the locker room, unless they could use the focused energy to better their game. It was obvious that whatever was bothering Suzie Crabgrass could not.

"Crabgrass, pay attention," Mrs. Birch called as the brunette let another perfectly set volleyball fall to the floor beside her.

"Sorry, Mrs. Birch. Can I just take five?" The middle-aged woman sighed before waving her hand to the bleachers. Suzie had been missing hits all practice, which had not gone unnoticed by anyone, especially Jennifer.

Distraction seemed contagious as several other girls kept turning their gaze to Suzie rather than playing their position. "Let's just call it a day," Mrs. Birch gave with an exhausted sigh. The crowd of upperclassmen females herded into the locker rooms more quietly than was normal of them.

"Suzie, are you alright?" Jennifer questioned taking a seat on the third row bleacher near Suzie. The shorter brunette nodded. Truly, her mind was a million places and she hadn't the slightest clue as to how to collect it.

"It's been a long two weeks, Jen. I just wish finals weren't coming up so fast." Jennifer stared absently at the gym floor. Her co-captain was right; the group was to compete that very weekend for the state title.

"Yeah, I know. Better to get it over with though, right?" Jennifer said as Suzie merely shrugged. The taller brunette sighed. " Hey, so…um, how's Billy?" Jennifer kept her eyes on the floor as she didn't want to see the questioning look she expected from her friend.

"He's doing a lot better, he even got his stitches out the other day," she heard Suzie respond, even the girl's tone half-questioning. "Why do you ask, Jen?"

"N-no reason, you just hear a lot of things in this school. I should go change, see you around." With that Jennifer quickly went into the locker room leaving Suzie to ponder her many thoughts.


The school was a mere two weeks from Thanksgiving Break and Suzie had been wondering whether or not she should invite Billy to the joint supper her, Cookie's, and Ned's families held the day after the national day of thanks. She figured Ned would be inviting Jennifer as the two had become an official couple only that past weekend. She had been unintentionally avoiding Ned as whenever she saw her former closest friend, his girlfriend was at his side.

"Cookie, my dad wants you to come over for Thanksgiving. Can you make it?" Lisa asked on the other end of her boyfriend's phone. It was just a week until the national holiday set aside to overeat and watch football. For that reason alone, Ned was avoiding his house while his mother began her preparation for the large feast.

"Yeah, yeah, sure I can, I'll just let my mom know." Cookie ran over to Ned who was seated in a beanbag chair, reading a comic. "Guess what?" he whispered tapping Ned on the shoulder as he covered the mouthpiece of the phone. "I'm having Thanksgiving dinner with Lisa's family." Ned gave a thumbs up and returned to the comic. "I find your lack of enthusiasm…very…unenthusiastic."

"Very poetic Vader," Ned whispered back shielding his view of Cookie with the comic book. It wasn't that Ned wasn't happy for his friend, he just hated the idea that he would be celebrating uncomfortably with his relatives. For the past three years it was the same: what were his plans for college, how were things with Suzie, how was Cookie, who was he currently dating, and all sorts of other questions that just made him shovel food into his mouth faster.

"Five, yeah, sounds great, I'll see you then. Bye." Cookie smiled as he set the phone on his dresser before falling onto his bed.

"Do you want me to leave?" Ned asked as he brought the comic down and gave his friend a sarcastic smile.

"Think what you want, but I think I've found the girl I could spend more than just high school with." Cookie sat up and grabbed the comic from his blue-eyed friend. "The Hulk? Not one of my favorites, he's too little brain too much brawn."

"I'm a seventeen-year-old boy not allowed to drive his car while the relatives are in town, I'll need the entertainment of something," Ned replied snatching back the colorful book.

"Dude, it's called TV, or just invite Jennifer over to your house for Thanksgiving," Cookie suggested lying back against his pillow. Ned shook his head closing the comic book.

"No way am I going to have my entire family telling her about my baby years and all that. Besides, what do I do if they mention Suzie like I know they will?"

"Seriously man, what's your issue? I know things haven't been the greatest between you and Suzie, but come on; it's been like a month since you guys talked. I can only offer you one shred of advice, talk to her." Cookie grabbed his best friend by the shoulder and pulled him from the chair before pushing him towards the door.

Ned gradually obeyed, slowly making his way down the stairs, calling out goodbye to Mrs. Cook, and finally going to his car. His short drive back to his house passed much too quickly as he pulled into the driveway; however, he was able to see that Suzie was on her balcony.

"A little chilly today, don't you think?" Suzie nearly jumped at the sound of Ned's voice.

"Yeah, a bit," she replied casting her gaze from the sky to her friend. He gave an awkward smile running a hand through his hair. "I figured Jen told you we sort of lost at state. I sort of blame myself; I mean I was out of focus every time I was on the court." Suzie returned her gaze to the passing clouds.

"I'm sure no one else blames you. I know Jennifer doesn't; she said you guys will just bring back the title next year," Ned hopefully suggested. Suzie just shrugged as a cool breeze brushed across her bare arms. She gave a slight shiver and hugged her arms around her.

"Next year, huh, Jen is always hopeful, but I guess you'd already know that wouldn't you, Ned? Ned?" As she looked down, he was gone from the red, orange, and yellow leaf blanket on the grass.

"I told you it was chilly," Ned casually replied from his balcony. She gave him a small smile and watched as he joined her on her balcony and wrapped the jacket he had been wearing around her. "Warmer?" she nodded.

The awkward tension was still evident but not nearly as thick as the two friends watched the clouds float by on a chilly Saturday afternoon. They were soon lying back on the wooden boards pointing out random shapes in the puffy white masses.

"Ned, can I tell you something?" Suzie propped herself up on her elbow facing Ned. The brown-haired boy shrugged.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" he gave meeting her gaze. She was silent for a few minutes before he heard her mutter a curse word or two under her breath. "Is that directed at me?"

"No, no, I just, I've felt so confused these past few weeks. Ever since Halloween I've just been mentally and…emotionally torn. I know I should be happy for you and Jen, but I can't get the idea out of my head that I should've just told you the truth when I first realized it."

Ned sat up facing Suzie with a confused stare. He prayed she wasn't going to tell him something she'd regret saying if he didn't say it back. Everything had just become way more complicated than he had intended. "Suzie, what are you talking about?"

She shook her head. "I can't," she said in a voice choked by tears. Her eyes were downcast again and she quickly sat up against the railing. "It's not important…I just…please leave," she said with a choked sob turning away from him and clutching to the railing for dear life.

"Suzie, I-," she shook her head and quickly removed the jacket from her shoulders laying it across the railing. Whatever was happening with Suzie, Ned knew it had a lot more to do with him than Suzie would ever be willing to admit.


Thanksgiving Day began with a calm wind blowing the massive balloons of the Macy's Parade. The Bigby's were all gathered in front of the TV listening to the commentators comment on this creature or that performer. For Ned, his only concern was what his relatives were going to be saying to Jennifer who currently sat beside him on the couch while his parents occupied the love seat near them.

"Oh look, Snoopy. I once asked my parents for a beagle but they said it would never behave as well as Snoopy, but I never stopped asking," Jennifer cheerily said as the black and white dog's balloon floated above the New York crowd on the TV screen.

"Adam, remember when you promised me we'd go to New York sometime?" Mrs. Bigby asked her husband.

"Was that our first date because I promised to take you a lot of places," Mr. Bigby replied as his wife gave him a playful punch.

"I wish my parents joked as much as you Mr. and Mrs. Bigby, they're always so serious, absorbed in work," Jennifer commented as she took Ned's hand in her own. The contact startled Ned out of his long reverie and he practically jumped from the couch.

"Sweetie, are you alright?" Mrs. Bigby asked in a concerned tone. Her son just nodded. The incident was soon forgotten as Grandma Emma Bigby arrived several minutes later.

The elderly woman shared her grandson's eye color, but her once sandy-blonde hair was now nearly white. She smiled at Jennifer upon introductions and luckily didn't insinuate anymore about who the girl was until later in the afternoon.

"Neddie, what happened with that sweet, young lady next door?" Grandma Emma asked as Ned and his grandmother entered the guest room.

"She's seeing someone else. Besides, I'm happy with Jennifer, Grandma." The elderly woman crossed her arms.

"You're not over her, you love her," Emma whispered heading back to the family gathering.

"Only as a friend," Ned muttered to the empty room as he heard his younger cousins laughing down the hall. "You're over her, Bigby, despite what your grandma says. You are over Suzie Crabgrass."

"I didn't know that was ever an issue," came a very familiar voice. Ned spun back to the doorway to see Jennifer standing with her arms crossed. "Though it would explain why Suize has been so distracted lately," Jennifer commented as she looked to her boyfriend. "She did say you guys haven't talked much since Halloween. Plus, she always comes up with an excuse to leave when I mention your name. Any clue why, Ned?"

He was at a lack for words. He stood there as if he'd been punched in the stomach and by Jennifer's 'you will tell me Ned' glare, it seemed an almost likely coincidence.

"Ned, honey, will you bring up another case of pop?" Mrs. Bigby called from the kitchen.

"I-I'll be right back," Ned answered Jennifer brushing past her as he made his way to the cellar pantry. She grabbed his arm as he headed down the hall, but Ned gently pulled away.

"Why haven't you talked to your best friend? The one you've known since you were, what, two or three?" Jennifer asked as she followed the brunette to the downstairs pantry."It's like you guys decided you can't be friends anymore and I'd like to know why. Does this have to do with me? Did I make you guys think that?" Ned shook his head. "Please, don't lie to me," Jennifer pleaded looking into her boyfriend's eyes.

"I'm not lying, Jen. I promise you, this isn't because of you, it's…I don't know anymore, Jennifer. I-I just don't know." Jennifer just nodded and headed back upstairs. Ned sighed before going back up as well, one case of Coca-Cola in hand. The brunette paled as he noticed that Jennifer was not back in the living room speaking with his parents and watching the parade, but sitting at the kitchen counter talking to his grandmother. His girlfriend only briefly glanced at him before turning back to the old woman's talking.


Jennifer was polite throughout the meal, speaking enough to answer questions but never being the one to initiate a conversation. Ned had been unable to ask her just what Grandma Emma had told her as just after the parade finished, one of his aunts had said that the turkey was done so they needed to set the table. He could tell from her posture that she was not happy, but she didn't want his family to get the wrong impression. She did, however, dismiss herself just after dessert thanking his mother for the meal along with his other relatives who'd brought a side-dish or dessert. When Ned offered to drive her home, Jennifer simply stated that it wasn't that cold and she would enjoy the fresh air.

It was just as the pre-game show ended that Ned was able to at least talk with his Grandma. She told Ned that Jennifer had merely asked what she'd meant about Suzie. "You've just been close a long time I told her, dear. Nothing to try to end your relationship, I wouldn't do that. If she feels unsure of your feelings, it's up to you to show her where they lie."

Ned frowned and offered to help with cleaning up, not having the spirit to cheer or 'comment' on the game. Emma Bigby hugged her grandson and told him things would work out, he'd see. Ned just nodded, he hoped they would.


Jennifer was greeted by her mother as she entered her home nearly an hour after she had left the Bigby's. Her mom seemed confused. "Sweetie, I thought you wanted to spend some time getting to know your boyfriend's family?" June Mosely asked as her daughter shrugged off her coat. Jennifer sighed and more or less dropped herself onto the couch beside her mom.

"Who's winning?" she asked hugging one of the couch pillows to her chest. She didn't care really, but any distraction was welcome. Her mom told her only a moment before wrapping her daughter in a hug. She didn't ask what was wrong or if something had happened, she actually seemed to know something was off. "Mom, do you think it's possible to meet your 'one' when you're my age?" Jen asked.

"Sometimes it happens sweetie, it all depends on the people. Why, do you think this Ned Bigby is your 'one?' You've barely been dating a month," June replied combing back Jennifer's dark hair. Her daughter shrugged. Things felt different with Ned, good different.

"You're right, Mom. I guess, I just need to give it time, huh?" June shrugged and placed a kiss at the crown of Jennifer's head.

"Just wait for the right moment sweetie. If he is, you'll know." Jennifer nodded. A moment later she was smiling as her mom began whooping as her team reached the end-zone. "Ha, your father has to cook tonight. I knew my boys would score first," June bragged.


Well, the chapter is shorter now than it-I think, but I hope that's no issue. I will likely be adding a new chapter once I have changed the flow of this fic. I plan to finish this fic before the end of 2011.