On the Mend
Wednesday After Thanksgiving: School Band Room
"Joey!" the voice echoed throughout the silent band room. "Joey!" The voice called again, louder, as the small dark haired girl walked into the room. She looked to the right and scanned the risers with no luck.
"I'm over here" Joey said groggily from near the teachers empty desk. She turned to see Joey laying across several stacks of guitar amps, resting his head on a pile of band uniforms.
"Sorry I couldn't see you from the door" she said walking over to him. Joey sat up and swung his legs down. The girl was wearing a very unusual outfit. A bright orange jacket covered a black and white checked top and sweat pants.
"What do you need?" Joey asked, trying to hide his annoyance at being woken from his nap. Joey noticed two things immediately. The first was that he didn't know this girl, and when your graduating class is considered huge with seventy-five students, meeting new people is rare. The second was that she was wearing a lot of make up, and wasn't very skilled at applying it.
"Principle Irons wanted me to come and tell you that Burton says there's no practice tonight since the try outs are tomorrow... He also said you'd probably be asleep in here" the girl added, smiling sheepishly.
"I suppose that makes sense... Why did he send you? Are you one of the office aid's this period?" Joey asked.
"Yeah" The girl said somewhat timidly. Joey noticed that she wouldn't make eye contact and was slightly unnerved by it.
"What's your name?" Joey asked as he stood up and tugged his bandana back into it's proper position.
"Lisa... Lisa Tevor, my parents just moved here from California" Lisa said.
"Oh yeah your Dad's one of the lead researchers at the new plant isn't he or he will be once it opens? Uh George Tevor isn't he?" Joey asked.
"Uh yeah" Lisa seemed to shrink at the sound of her fathers name. She looked to the ground and took a step back. "I need to get back to the office."
"Okay well I'll see you around" Joey said politely, privately thinking that this was a very strange girl indeed. Lisa muttered something Joey couldn't hear and then left the room as quickly as she could without running. Joey laid back down to return to his nap but the door to the band room opened again, this time Steve Burnside walked in.
"Hey Joe you in here?" Steve called before catching sight of him.
"What now?" Joey muttered as he sat back up.
"Heh, sorry to interrupt your nap but Jill wanted me to give this to you to give to Becca the next time you see her" Steve said, holding out a legal envelope with the words "Myrtle Beach SC" written across the front in permanent marker. "It's all the trip stuff, she wants Becca to look over it and make sure all the numbers add up and stuff."
"Yeah sure I'll give it to her" Joey yawned as he stuffed the envelope into his backpack.
"There's something else I wanted to ask you." Steve said in an apprehensive tone.
"And" Joey said impatiently.
"Have your parents ever worked for Umbrella?" Steve asked.
"My Dad was on the board of directors back in the seventies and my Mom was the head of viral research, why?" Joey asked.
"So it is them" Steve said, sounding amused.
"Yeah my Dad broke the tie to renew the first collective bargaining agreement with what is now "The United Umbrella Labor Coalition"." Joey said.
"Hmmm... I was just curious since my Dad is gonna be the new union head" Steve said, he turned to leave and then stopped. "So... are tryouts for the basketball team still tomorrow?" Steve asked sounding nervous.
"As far as I know... You play?" Joey asked.
"I played as a freshman at my old school but I didn't play last year... Too many ass holes on the team." Steve replied.
"What position? Guard or small forward I'd assume" Joey asked, sizing Steve up.
"I can play either but I'm usually a guard" Steve said.
"Well come and try out then, no guarantee you'll make it but it can't hurt." Joey said, checking his watch. It was almost time for his next class and he was trying to remember if he needed to go to it or not.
"Do you think I'll have a chance?" Steve asked.
"I doubt we'll have a lot of people show up so I'd say so." Joey said standing up, he had decided that he should probably go to class for a change. The boys walked out of the band room and into the hall before either spoke again.
"Do your parents still work for Umbrella?" Steve asked.
"Na, after the whole labor dispute the board... Made it worth their while to resign quietly and disappear. They moved out here to be general practitioners and after I got older they started doing research again... Some place called Gen Tech Labs I think... Don't quote me on that though."
"Cool, I just wondered since I know your Dad isn't on the board anymore... Small world" Steve added thoughtfully.
"You got that right" Joey said, the laughed as the bell rang to end the class and the hall flooded with people. .
As it turned out only four people showed up the following evening for try outs. Steve of coarse, and a tall boy named Jake Muler who was new to the town as well. The remaining two were Chris and Billy who, after a long lecture from Burton were allowed to rejoin the team. Burton also made Joey the permanent captain saying that he didn't think Richard would be back any time soon.
The end of the semester came quickly after that. Another week of classes and a week of finals was all that remained. Burton had them practicing nearly every night. Chris and Billy still didn't sync up with the team as they once had, but with the threat of being benched looming over them they did comply well enough for the team to scrape out two more wins before the beginning of the holidays. Rebecca said she thought Jill had the math done right so their trip was well on it's way to being a reality. They had over two thirds of what they needed so far.
As the first days of the break ticked away most of the group stayed away from each other. None of them could remember a time were everyone had been so divided. The only one who seemed to want to see everyone was Rebecca. Her mother had sequestered her in the house after her release and hadn't let her back outside. While Rebecca couldn't deny she liked being waited on hand and foot by her family, she grew restless as the holiday's wore on. Her arm had healed rather quickly and she got the cast off three days before Christmas. Rebecca's leg however was still confined her to crutches.
Christmas Day: The Chambers House
"Are you sure you don't want to come Becca?" Madeline asked, pulling on her coat.
"I haven't been to mass in years Mom... Why would I start now?" Rebecca asked. Her mother tutted disapprovingly.
"I hoped after your accident you would see the light." Madeline said, sounding disappointed. "I thought you might see how much God has done for you, and that he protected you from being hurt any worse, because this is all part of a larger plan." Madeline said, shaking her head. It took all of Rebecca's will power not to snort at the statement.
"The accident happened because of icy roads and my idiot boyfriend, not because of any plan." Rebecca replied, keeping her voice even. Any other day she would have gladly argued with her Mom about religion, but today she wanted to let her have her moment.
"Ex-boyfriend" Madeline said. Rebecca was shocked that this was what her mother was focused on.
"Yeah... ex-boyfriend I suppose." Rebecca said.
"I won't make you go to mass, and I can't make you believe... Just know that the lord sees everything, including your choice to reject him." Madeline said, as she turned and stepped outside. Rebecca watched as she walked down the steps and started the car. Her father came down the hallway, pushing Tommy along in front of him.
"Thanks for not pushing it with your Mom... You know she hasn't been feeling well lately." Mr. Chambers said as he helped Tommy pull on his coat.
"I heard her throwing up again this morning" Rebecca said.
"Why can't I stay here with Becca?" Tommy asked in a whiny voice.
"When you're sixteen you can decide if you want to keep going to church, until then you'll go and you'll behave yourself." Mr. Chambers said sternly. Tommy sulked out to the car.
"Why do you keep going Dad?" Rebecca asked, leaning forward on her crutches. "I get why Mom does with her parents being Catholic and all that but why you?"
"Because I believe" Mr. Chambers said simply. "I don't make you go because it wouldn't matter if I did you still wouldn't believe, and with or without the church you seem to be a good person... So I trust you to make up your own mind." With that he left, slamming the door as a few snow flurry's blew in. It had snowed on and off since the night before, ensuring a white Christmas.
Rebecca went to the living room and flopped onto the couch to watch television. No sooner then she had managed to get comfortable, the doorbell rang. Rebecca swore loudly as she got up and hobbled to the front door. Through the peep hole she could see a young man in a down jacket, with a blue bandana on his head.
"Joey!" Rebecca said happily as she opened the door. Joey stepped inside and shrugged the snow flakes off his shoulders.
"I saw your parents pull out as I was parking." Joey said as eh gave Rebecca a hug. "I figured I hadn't seen you in a few weeks so I should stop by and say hello".
"Your parents gone again?" Rebecca asked shrewdly.
"Of coarse" Joey said, shrugging.
"Are they ever home anymore?" Rebecca asked, feeling a stab of pity.
"Haven't been much the last few months, though that's normal since their drug is moving to a new clinical trial phase" Joey answered as the two sat down in the living room. "Anyway, are you gonna be back at school in the new year?"
"Yeah, I still might be on crutches but I'll be back" Rebecca said.
"Cool" Joey said. "Have you heard from anyone else since the break started?"
"Nope... Jill's out of town with her Dad, no clue what anyone else is doing." Rebecca said.
"Well Richard's home" Joey said casually.
"So that's why you're here" Rebecca said. "Trying to get us back together?"
"Just trying to get the two of you in the same room to talk about the accident" Joey said firmly. "I don't care if you two kiss and make up but I know it's still bothering you... Both of you" he added.
"It's not bothering me" Rebecca said, a little to nonchalantly.
"Uh-huh well, even if that were the case it's bothering everyone else and I think it would go a long way to get us out of this funk if you two had a conversation and decided whether or not you're going to speak to each other again" Joey said, thinking of how irritable everyone had been about this. Rebecca sighed and leaned her head backward.
"I want to talk to him... Just... Not yet, alright?" Rebecca asked, sounding like she was wrestling with the urge to do it now and get it over with.
"Well I can't make you do anything... But it will be worse if you wait until next semester starts." Joey said, sounding disappointed.
"I know" Rebecca said and then in an attempt to change the subject. "So how did you guys finish your non-region schedule?" The two made small talk for a while, until Joey said he'd better go before Rebecca's parents came home. Rebecca wished Joey a merry Christmas as he headed out the door, but just before she shut the door behind him he turned to look at her. Still holding the storm door open with one hand he said.
"You know he's still in love with you right?" Joey grinned as Rebecca's face went scarlet. "And I know you still love him."
"What do you know about this?" Rebecca asked, sounding almost angry.
"If you actually hate him then why haven't you cut your hair off yet?" Joey asked in a shrewd tone. "You never wore it that long before you started dating him. Always said it was too hot and annoying." The two stared at each other for a moment. Rebecca's face a mixture of anger and embarrassment, Joey a composition of triumph and amusement. "Just a simple observation... Merry Christmas Becca." Joey let the storm door slam shut behind him as he headed down the walkway toward the sidewalk. After a moments hesitation Rebecca pushed the door open and limped onto the front porch.
"Hey Joe!" Rebecca called and Joey turned back to the look at her. "Tell Richard and his family... Tell them... Merry Christmas from me... Will you?" Rebecca asked. Joey smiled and gave her a thumbs up before he turned and resumed walking down the street toward Richard's house.
Rebecca limped back inside, shivering as she closed the door. She had been doing her best not to think about Richard or the fact that their relationship had fallen into limbo. Rebecca ran her fingers through her auburn hair. Joey had been right. She hadn't worn it long since she had been tiny, until she started dating Richard and found out how much he liked long hair. Since the accident she had contemplated cutting it several times, but every time she decided against it. Rebecca's was jerked out of her musings by the sound of a car rumbling up the driveway. Rebecca laid down on the couch and pretended to be interested in the stop motion Rudolph, who was talking to Ucon Cornelius on the television, as her family entered the house.
First Day of School: Lunchroom
Rebecca was sitting with Jill, Leon and Forest at one of the long lunch tables. The four of them had been recounting anything interesting that had happened over the winter break. Most of it was the usual uneventful Christmas stuff, but Rebecca got the feeling that Jill had chosen her words very carefully when describing her break. Close to the end of the break Rebecca saw something she hadn't seen in a very long time. Joey was sitting with Richard at a table near one of the vending machines. This wouldn't have been unusual, except that Rebecca was sure that this was the first time all year that Joey had stayed at school long enough for lunch. Rebecca had been thinking hard about what Joey had said and when she saw Joey stand up and head for the door, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, she seized her opportunity.
Rebecca muttered to the other that she'd see them all later, and began trying to traverse the packed lunch room without falling on her crutches. Richard was either so engrossed in the book he was taring at, or trying so hard to block out the world around him that he didn't seem to notice Rebecca until she spoke.
"Afternoon, stranger" Rebecca said, trying to sound friendly but not managing to conceal all the nervousness she felt.
"Uhhh... Hey" Richard said lamely. The two stared at each other for a moment and the fact that it had been two months since they'd spoken to each other dawned on them. "You uh... Feeling better?" Richard asked.
"Yeah, I should get the cast of in a week or two... I see you're back to full speed" Rebecca said. Richard had no sign of cast or remaining injury.
"Well I'm still in physical therapy but I'm getting better" Richard said not wanting to sound to happy about.
"Listen... Do you... Wanna go get something to eat after school?" Rebecca blurted out. She had expected this to be a bit awkward, but this was starting to feel a lot like asking someone out on a first date. "I think... I think we should talk."
"That sounds great" Richard said, and there was a hopefully tone to his voice. "So uh... See you then" Richard said as the bell rang and everyone began to move for the door. Richard departed with the rest of the students, but Rebecca, who was only a teachers aid now headed for the cafeteria exit. Joey was standing under the overhang outside, smoking a cigarette and staring at the snow flurries that were falling.
"Since when do you eat lunch at school?" Rebecca asked jokingly.
"You think I actually ate in there?" Joey asked, laughing. "I just wanted to keep Richard company.
"Well he and I are gonna have a little chat after school" Rebecca said watching Joey exhale a large cloud of smoke mixed with vapor from his breathe.
"Oh?" Joey questioned.
"I'm gonna tell him that we're all still friends, but that for now, he and I are on hiatus" Rebecca said promptly. Joey laughed heartily.
"Only you could talk about a relationship like that" Joey said, crushing out his smoke and turning to Rebecca. "But I'm glad to hear you all are working things out."
"Just one thing" Rebecca said as Joey was showing sings of wanting to leave. "At what point did you become my conscience?"
"At the point when my best friends started fighting over your affections." Joey said, and they both laughed slightly.
"Be careful out there Joe... I hear the roads are getting bad" Rebecca joked as Joey walked toward the student parking lot.
"Thank you Lady Obvious" Joey shouted back.
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews I have received and let me know what you think of this chapter. Now that I've gotten to this point the story is going to go much faster pacing wise, but the chapters will become longer so I can't promise I will update more often. The good news is though unless I change my mind there will only be 6 more chapters to wait for in this story plus a prologue to the next story. As always no matter how you felt, read and review!