Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter ten of "Conflicts of the Heart." I'm glad it took just six days to get out. This chapter has some Tommy/Kim and Jason/Trini. Smuttiness involving both couples is coming in the next chapter or two. Stay tuned for chapter eleven.
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Chapter 10: Any Way It's Wanted
Jason was talking to a Pizza Hut employee on the kitchen phone four minutes later. Tommy, Kim, Billy, Zack, and Trini watched him closely while sitting at the table. Tommy sat at the head with Kim and Trini on his left. Billy and Zack were on his right. Tommy clasped his hands together and twirled his thumbs around. He clicked his tongue twice.
"That's four pizzas, one cheese, one sausage, one pepperoni, and one supreme," Jason said. "I want them sent to 155 Pleasant St."
"I've got that written down," the woman answered and cleared her throat. "Do you want any breadsticks or cheesesticks?"
"No, thank you," Jason said while shaking his head. "I want just the pizzas."
"Okay. Your pizzas should be ready in twenty minutes. They cost twenty-three dollars and thirty-eight cents in total," the woman explained.
"That sounds great," Jason responded in happiness. "Thank you so much, ma'am."
"You're welcome, sir," the woman said and giggled softly. "Bye."
Jason hung up the phone and approached the table. His friends and girlfriend had big smiles on their faces.
"I can't wait for the pizza to get here," Zack said with much eagerness.
"Me neither," Billy agreed. "Pizza history is very interesting. I found on the internet the actual word was first documented in 997 AD in Gaeta, Italy. Pizza had been eaten in Italy for centuries before it became popular in America after World War II. It became really popular in Italy by that time."
Tommy smiled. "That's interesting."
"The word pizza is believed to be from an Old Italian word meaning 'a point.' This became the Italian word 'pizzicare' meaning 'to pinch' or 'pluck.' It has been a basic part of the Italian diet since the Stone Age. This earliest form of pizza was a crude bread that was baked beneath the stones of the fire. It was seasoned with a variety of different toppings after it finished cooking. It was used instead of plates and utensils to sop up broth or gravies. The idea of using bread as a plate seems to have come from the Greeks who ate flat round bread baked with an assortment of toppings. The working man and his family ate it because it was a thrifty and convenient food," Billy explained.
"I read that pizza actually could have been invented by anyone who learned the secret of mixing flour with water and heating it on a hot stone," Jason added and headed over to the chair to sit down.
"The stationing of American soldiers in Italy during World War II produced growing appreciation of pizza. They brought a taste for it when they returned home. 1948 was the year the first commercial pizza-pie mix 'Roman Pizza Mix' came about. Frank A. Fiorello produced it in Worcester, Massachusetts. The 1950s was when Americans really started noticing pizza. Celebrities of Italian origin ate pizzas. Frozen pizzas were found in local grocery stores by 1957. The Celentano Brothers marketed the first one. Pizza became the most popular of all frozen food very quickly," Billy commented.
Trini expressed much awe. "Talk about incredible."
"Who would've thought pizza would date back to the Stone Age?" Zack asked quietly. "It sounds so unreal."
"It does, but it's true, guys. Pizza is an ancient food," Jason responded matter-of-factly.
Tommy ran his hand over his hair three times. He cupped his chin in it and tapped his fingers on the table.
"In Home Alone, Little Nero's was its version of Pizza Hut. A single pizza cost twelve bucks. That's a bit expensive," Tommy said, rubbing his nose.
"Buzz ordered ten pizzas totaling one hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents. That's incredible," Zack exclaimed.
"He ate Kevin's cheese pizza on purpose to get him to jump him, so he'd get in trouble," Jason said, his voice showing hints of annoyance. "He also pulled an immature prank during Kevin's solo in the Christmas pageant in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."
"Buzz apologized to Kevin for his behavior, but he didn't mean it because he called him a trout sniffer," Kim muttered and rolled her eyes.
"Something tells me Buzz would likely end up working at a fast-food restaurant when he became an adult," Tommy suggested.
"It'd be karma for treating Kevin like crap," Zack said with much bluntness.
The others voiced their agreement. Tommy took Kim's hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze. He felt her do the same to his.
"I wonder how much pizza that Trini will manage to eat," Zack said, chuckling softly. "After all, increased hunger is normal in a pregnancy."
"I don't know, Zack. What I do know is that I can't wait to dip it into ranch dressing," Trini answered with a bit of excitement.
"At least Jason has the lite version of ranch dressing. It has six grams of fat. The normal version has fourteen," Billy pointed out.
"Mom and Dad won't risk ruining their salads. Lite dressing is the right way to go," Jason commented with pride.
"I've heard the fat-free version tastes like crap," Zack muttered with disgust.
"It's so funny when people claim they are eating healthy salads, but they have tons of dressing on it, even if it is the lite version," Kim muttered irritatingly. "Hello! You're not eating a healthy salad when you have high-fat dressing on top of it. It doesn't matter what kind it is." She acted as if she were spitting at the floor.
"The only people who could eat lots of high-fat dressing are those who have a high metabolism," Zack said.
"Like you, buddy," Tommy said, motioning toward his friend.
"Yep," Zack answered, sitting tall and proud. "I hope you guys put quarters in me and get chips."
"As well as drinks," Trini teased.
"I do know that my high metabolism won't last forever," Zack mumbled dejectedly. "I will have to start watching what I eat eventually."
"I remember when Gregory was taking all the cookies during last year's spring dance at the Youth Center. I told him to save some for everyone else. He gave me a very dirty look," Jason explained, shaking his head in disbelief as he remembered that day.
"You had every right to tell him that, Jason," Trini said, eyeing him. "He was being very greedy."
"Not even Bulk has ever displayed such greedy behavior. He'd take a couple of treats and share them with Skull," Billy whispered, warmth echoing from his voice. "He's even shared them with other people on occasion."
"One thing is clear. Greed eventually gets the best of people," Kim said, giving a sharp nod.
"You got that right, Beautiful," Tommy said, ruffling his girlfriend's hair. They and their friends started talking about high school graduation.
00000
In the living room an hour later, Tommy, Kim, Jason, Trini, and Zack watched Billy sweep his hands underneath his armpits as if he were a chimpanzee while standing in front of the coffee table. The first two sat in the armchairs. The last three were seated on the couch. A foldable chair was next to Kim. Jason put his hands behind his head as Trini leaned against him. He slipped his arm around her.
Billy chittered softly before clapping twice. He pretended to pick a stick up off the floor. He started screeching and acting as if he were hitting the coffee table. He became quiet and still. He scratched his head after pretending to put his stick down. He let out a quiet chitter. Tommy, Kim, Jason, Trini, and Zack cheered loudly.
"Great job at being a chimp, Billy," Zack said and chuckled lightly.
"Thanks," Billy said while standing tall and proud.
"If you were a real chimp, I bet you could break that coffee table in half by beating it with your fists," Jason commented.
Billy smiled widely. "I'll do that as long as Zack does it along with me."
Zack shook his head. "I don't think so."
"I do think so," Billy said, nodding rapidly.
Tommy rose to his feet and patted his stomach. "While you two argue, I'm going to get some pizza."
Kim stood up. "Me too."
Tommy and Kim went into the kitchen. They approached the table, where four boxes of pizza lay. All the boxes were marked with the Pizza Hut logo. He opened the first box, which contained pepperoni pizza. They grabbed plates and got one slice each. They heard laughter and looked toward the doorway. They could see Jason giving Zack a noogie.
"Those two are so silly," Tommy said warmly.
"They can't get enough of goofing around with each other. Neither can they will Billy," Kim said, taking a bite out of her pizza and chewing it up. She swallowed with a loud gulp. "All three of them have been doing that since they were very young."
"It's cool they do that," Tommy said, chuckling to himself.
"They have knocked over lamps occasionally, but they have always caught them before they hit the floor," Kim pointed out.
"Doing karate gave them those fast reflexes," Tommy said and took a bite out of his pizza. He chewed quickly before swallowing with a loud gulp. "It gave you, Trini, and me them as well."
"I can say that Jason, Zack, and Billy goof around with you just as much as they do with each other now," Kim commented.
"Yeah, but they usually start it," Tommy responded and snorted softly. "Anyway, I feel so bad for Trini. She was hoping to confess everything to her and Jason's parents alongside him tomorrow night."
"Then Mr. and Mrs. Kwan sprung the news they had found her a husband," Kim mumbled, rolling her eyes. "She couldn't take it anymore and confessed what she had been doing to them. They reacted with anger."
"Her father demanded she get an abortion," Tommy growled in some anger. "Then he told her to get out of the house when she refused."
Tommy mumbled inaudible words and clenched his teeth. Kim tried to hold back a yawn, but she couldn't help herself.
"Parents who try to force abortions or adoptions on their pregnant daughters in order to preserve their picture-perfect images are the most selfish people ever. Their parental rights should be terminated if they do that," Kim hissed bluntly.
"I agree, but I doubt a judge would terminate parents' parental rights over trying to force abortions or adoptions on their daughters. It is actually illegal for them do either," Tommy explained.
"Thank God," Kim whispered with much relief. "I know my parents would never force an abortion on me if I told them I was pregnant with your baby. If they did, it would make me so mad. I would pack my things and get out of the house as quickly as possible."
"My parents would have no problem letting you move in with us," Tommy answered truthfully. "They told you were welcome to live with us if something happened to your family." He winked at her.
"Jason was more than willing to let Trini stay with him," Kim said, sniffling. She put her pizza on the plate. "I hope his parents accept his relationship with her and the baby." She wiped a tear from her eye.
"I hope so too. Parents never think their children would do what Jason and Trini did. Secret affairs do happen. They happen a lot more often than most people think," Tommy whispered in seriousness.
"Parents don't think their children would help their friends hide affairs. The children do that. It happens more often than they think," Kim responded.
Tommy was about to take another bite of his pizza when the phone rang. He put it on his plate. He made his way toward the living room with her right behind him.
"Who could be calling this afternoon?" Kim wondered as she took another bite of her pizza. She laid it on her plate.
"I don't know, Beautiful. It could be a prank call or a wrong number," Tommy suggested, looking over his shoulder at her.
She chewed and swallowed with a loud gulp. "Let's hope for the latter."
He nodded in agreement. "There's nothing more annoying than a prank call."
Tommy and Kim entered the living room as Jason, Trini, Billy, and Zack gathered around the cordless phone on the end table. They went to Jason's side. All six of them focused their attention on the caller ID, which had the number 615-892-4486.
"That number is from Nashville," Billy said.
"Who would be calling this house from there?" Zack wondered.
Jason shrugged. "I have no idea."
The phone clicked in the middle of the third ring. The entire group sighed in relief. Jason placed his hand on his neck.
"Whoever has that number must have realized they had dialed the wrong house," Jason suggested.
"It's really annoying when you get a wrong number," Zack grumbled with a roll of his eyes. He and their friends returned to their respective seats and sat down. "Sometimes, you get the same number several times in a row. It's like the caller decided it'd be fun to annoy you."
"Some kids play on the phone and accidentally dial 911. That's dangerous because it takes time away from real emergencies," Trini whispered sadly.
"I know. By the time EMTs arrive at the emergencies, it may be too late," Jason added.
"Even more annoying is people using the ER for minor things such as cuts and bruises. That wastes the doctors' time when they could be tending to real emergencies," Zack hissed angrily.
"Unfortunately, I don't think they care in the least bit, Zack," Billy mumbled, shaking his head in disbelief. "They believe they have the right to use the ER for anything."
"I wouldn't be surprised if those people don't think rules apply to them," Tommy pointed out and laid his plate in his lap.
"You said it, Tommy," Kim agreed while laying her plate in her lap.
"Waiting time to get into the ER varies. Sometimes, it takes several hours. Other times, it takes just minutes, especially if you are suffering from a series condition," Jason explained.
"Everyone knows the ER isn't pleasant at all," Kim commented.
"It may not be, but thank God it's there when we need it," Jason commented, his voice showing relief. "This is especially true for pregnant women who suffer complications." He looked down at his girlfriend.
"I hope that doesn't happen, but you never know," Trini said, looking up at her boyfriend. "At least we wouldn't have to go through the main entrance. We can go through the emergency one."
Jason put his arm around Trini to give her a hug. He kissed her forehead before rubbing it very gently. They looked at the others, whom all cleared their throats.
"Back in the old days, it wasn't unusual to see parents as young as sixteen years old. Marrying during your teen years was common because many children died during childhood. Young parenthood was widely celebrated in most communities," Kim said.
"Nowadays, young parenthood is frowned upon. People are told they are selfish and irresponsible if they have their first children when they are young," Tommy whispered, tensing somewhat.
Zack rolled his eyes. "They are told the same thing if they have their first children when they are older."
"You're damned if you do. You're damned if you don't," Billy commented bitterly.
Jason nodded in agreement. "Exactly, Billy. Trini and I don't care if people judge us for becoming parents so young. We are determined to raise our baby."
"I hope you and Trini don't faint from smelly diapers, Jase," Tommy teased.
"I won't be fainting because my girlfriend will be doing all the diaper-changing," Jason said, turning to Trini with a smirk.
Trini turned to him and narrowed her eyes at him. "That's what you think."
Jason tickled Trini's nose before kissing the tip of it. She grabbed his chin and moved his head from side to side three times. She let go of him and placed her hand on her knee.
"How about we watch some TV?" Zack suggested. He smiled at the others voicing their agreement. "Great."
Zack grabbed the remote off the coffee table and turned on the TV. He flipped through the channels until he stopped on one playing The Terminator. He returned it to its spot.
"I love how Arnold Schwanzennager made the Terminator come to life in this movie," Tommy commented in awe.
"Tell me about it. He spoke only eighteen lines throughout the movie. He let his body and movements do the acting," Kim added.
"Too many actors and actresses underact or overact in emotionally-charged scenes," Tommy grumbled and rolled his eyes. "That reduces the impact they are trying to have on moviegoers."
"I can't argue with that, Tommy," Trini agreed. "Anyway, the Terminator is an incredible character. He would stop at nothing until he achieved his goal. Moreover, I see this movie as a warning of what could happen if machines gained intelligence."
"I don't know if we will ever have to worry about machines trying to exterminate humanity," Billy whispered in some fear.
"It could happen. You never know," Jason said. He and the others continued watching the movie.