Author's Note: Wow, I am saddened by the no reviews, but as it was only a few hours between the chapters I forgive you. Hope you like this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 9: Best Friends and Family
"So do you want a tour of your new house?" Jimmy said as they pulled up in the Mustang, "Or do you want me to take you right to your dad's?"
"I can stay here, if that's OK with you," She sighed, "I don't want to be around my step mom tonight."
"Sure," He said, "Poolhouse is open."
"Thanks," She smiled. He nodded, "It's gonna be OK Jimmy." He nodded. "What was she like?"
"Who?" Jimmy asked.
"Your mom," She whispered. "I mean, that's why you guys are so upset right? I mean, me it's because your dad is pure evil." He laughed.
"She was," He smiled, "She was amazing. She looked just like Kelly, but you know, more mom like," Tammy nodded, "She always called me James, no matter what, it drove me crazy. She um, couldn't cook to save her life, but she had this really great caterer who she would always call," Tammy laughed. "Um, she smiled a lot, laughed even more. She was very big into keeping everyone in the house happy, no matter who it was, Cassie or the Coles, or Scooter." He laughed, "She loved Cassie and Ellie, loved them. But she would have liked Julie too, she enjoyed any girl who would speak and think for herself."
"See, that's good," She smiled, as they opened the doors and walked out, "You never talk about her."
"It gets too hard," He shrugged. They walked inside.
"Hey you two," Kelly smiled lightly.
"Hi," Tommy shouted from the living room.
"He's here?" Tammy said walking in, "Tommy what are you,"
"I couldn't handle dad and Pauline right now," He shook his head. She nodded and sat down, "Same for you?"
"Mm hm," She put her head on his shoulder. "Do you think they'll let me live at school now?" Tommy laughed. "I can't live with Dad, Tommy, and I can't live here."
"I know," He sighed, "I think Mom'll get that."
"Hey," Kelly said, hugging Jimmy, "I missed you."
"I missed you too," Jimmy whispered. "I'm beat, I'm just going to go up and sleep for a while."
"Sure," She nodded, "Listen, um, we'll do this, alright?"
"Yeah," He said, "I know, we'll talk later." She nodded as he walked upstairs. He opened his door and smiled.
"Hey," Ellie said sheepishly sitting on his bed.
"Hey," He smiled. She stood up and hugged him, "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."
"Yeah?" She whispered.
"Yeah," He nodded. "I missed you Ellie."
"I missed you too James," She whispered. "You OK?"
"Yeah," He said, "I will be." She nodded and sat down. "He didn't call me."
"Sounds like Tom," She nodded. "I brought cookie dough," She held up the cylinder.
"Great," He laughed and sat down next to her. "How are you doing?"
"I made out with Brad," She shrugged, "Called him Dean, and we haven't talked since."
"Wow," He nodded, "That's damn slutty of you Ellie." He smirked.
"Hey," She kicked him playfully. "Saw that new car. It's sexy."
"Yeah," He laughed. "Julie liked it." Ellie nodded quietly. "Elle,"
"Hm," She looked at him. He leaned in and kissed her. "Jimmy?"
"I love you," He said, "And I'm always going to. I want you to know that, OK?"
"OK," She nodded. "I love you too." He smiled. "So did you pop your cherry Riley?"
"Yet another thing my father took from me," He shrugged. She laughed. "It wasn't the right time."
"I think it's really cool," She said. He looked at her, "That you guys are waiting."
"I guess it is," He shrugged.
"What are you doing?" Julie leaned against the door seeing Steve crouched over his bed.
"Going home," He said.
"Steve," She sighed.
"What do you want Cat?" He asked looking at her. "Because it's not me, and I'm starting to think it's not him either."
"I don't know what I want Steve," She swallowed, "I do know how I feel about Jimmy and how I feel about you."
"And that's what?" He sighed.
"I love you both," She said softly, "But it's different. You're my best friend, but he's," She shook her head, "He's much more than that." He moved close to her, "Don't, OK? Don't kiss me again, don't tell me that you're in love with me, just don't." She sighed, "I wish you'd stay, just a few more days until I meet Josh." He looked at her.
"You wanna know what my favorite part about being out here this summer was?" He said. She shook her head. "Made me realize that you belong in what you've always dreamed about. Living in California, going to USC, it's for real," She smiled, "And for the first time in a while, I saw myself as a part of that dream."
"You've always been a part of that dream though," She said, "It killed me, the first time I came out here, that you weren't with me. We were supposed to do it together, you think I don't hate sometimes that it didn't work out that way?"
"Sometimes?" He smiled.
"A lot of the time," She hit him in the chest. "But I mean, I have Jimmy, and Tammy and the Ducks. I'm happy, I wish I knew that you were."
"I am happy Cat," He said, "Just, I miss you, that's all." She nodded. "Got an email from Taylor today."
"Ooh, there's a blast from the past," Julie laughed as they walked towards the house, "What did the airhead have to say for herself?"
"She misses me," He smirked. "It was a year ago that we um, you know, she just wanted me to know that she was thinking of me."
"That's sweet," Julie whispered. "I wish I had gotten to know her better."
"No you don't," He laughed. They walked into the kitchen. Jaime was sitting at the kitchen table across from a man about her age, dark haired. They stopped.
"Um, Julie," Jaime said, "This is Josh."
"Hi," Julie stood stunned, "Um, it's nice to meet you."
"We were about to go pick up dinner right Cat?" Steve said. Julie smiled and then nodded. "Do you two want anything?"
"No," Jaime said, "We're OK."
"OK," Julie said, "Come on Steve," She pulled him.
"That could have been worse," Josh laughed.
"It could have been better too," Jaime sighed, "I should probably have warned her huh?"
"Might have helped," He smirked.
"Are you out of your mind?" Tom Riley said looking at his oldest son, "You're nineteen years old!"
"Tom," Cassie said.
"You stay out of it," He pointed at her.
"Don't talk to Cass like that!" Rick said, "It's not your decision."
"How exactly do you plan to live Richard?" He said. Rick looked down, "You're in college, last I checked neither of you have ever worked a day in your life."
"We have our trust funds, until graduation," Cassie said.
"Are you pregnant Cassandra?" He asked, "Is that was this is about?"
"No, Dad!" Rick said, "It's not like that. We just love each other."
"Tom," Cassie whispered, "Mr. Riley, please," He looked at her, "I've always considered you all my family. I just want to make it official."
"I can't support you two on this," He shook his head, "And Rick, read the fine print, you can't touch that money, there was a clause. No marriage until 25, that's how your mother wanted it."
"Come on Cass," Rick sighed, "Thought you might be happy for me Dad. I should get used to the disappointment though."
"Rick," Cassie said, back in their hotel room as he packed, "Maybe we should wait a while. I mean, it's just six years, that's nothing."
"I don't want to wait six years," He looked at her, she smiled. He took her hands, "I don't want to wait six minutes. The only reason I didn't suggest we run right off and get married here is because I know Kelly would kill us," She laughed. "We'll go home, and then we'll figure it out."
"Rick I know you were counting on that money," She sighed, "I mean, you still want to go to law school right?" He sighed. "I want to marry you, I do, but give him time to cool off OK?"
"No," He said softly, "We'll go home, we'll talk to Kelly and Jimmy, they'll be happy for us."
"Are you doing this to get back at him?" She said. He sighed, "Rick, I need to know."
"I'm doing this because I love you," He said, "Because I want you to be my family." She kissed him and pulled him down.
"Who's going to be your best man?" She asked, brushing his hair off of his forehead, "Scooter or Jimmy?"
"Well," He said, "I guess that depends on their reactions." They kissed again. "I love you so much Cassie."
"I love you too," She whispered. "And I want you to be my family too." He smiled, they were starting a new family anyway, he might as well have some of it on his own terms.
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