Thank you for all the reviews! I loved hearing your opinions on what Kari should do. Anyway, here is the answer, LOL.

Disclaimer: Same as always.


Keeping it Together, Ch. 11

Meanwhile, while everyone else was talking and listening to music for at least 5 more minutes, Kari could sense that something wasn't right.

She walked over to the door but stopped short. Who cares if she isn't having the best time of her life in there, she thought to herself. She started to walk away when she heard a banging come from the other side of the door.

Theresa tried to break free of Jordan's grasp but he ended up pinning her up against the door. "Let me go," she said as tears began to stream down her face.

He shook his head, "Not until I get what I want," he said as he moved closer to her.

It was at this moment that Kari chose to open the door, "Is this what you want," she asked as she punched him in the face. She knelt down and helped Theresa, who had fallen over when Kari opened the door, up. "Are you okay," she asked.

Theresa nodded, "I think so."

Kari turned to Jordan, "You are such a jerk," she said to him. "Come on," she said to Theresa.

As the two were about to go, Jordan grabbed Kari's shirt, "You're going to pay for that," he sneered.

Just as he was about to grab Kari, Theresa kicked him where the sun doesn't shine (you know where I mean!). "I don't think so," she said, feeling a sudden burst of adrenaline.

Shelly ran over to them, "What on earth did you do in there," she asked, shocked to see Theresa in tears, Kari holding her arm where Jordan had grabbed it, and Jordan holding his nose, where Kari had punched him.

"Just get him out of here," Kari said, glaring at Jordan. She took Theresa's hand and walked up to the main floor. Once over there, the two sat down, "Are you sure you're all right," she asked sincerely.

Theresa wiped her eyes, "Yeah…I didn't think that anyone could hear what was going on, what with the music and all," she said as she took a tissue and placed it on her lip which was bleeding, courtesy of Jordan.

Kari shrugged, "I had this feeling that something wasn't right…"

"Like we used to," Theresa said, looking at the floor.

She sighed, "Theresa I was a jerk for telling him that I'd be his girlfriend. To be honest, he told me that you two had broken up over the summer." She shook her head, "But that still isn't an excuse for what I did to you…that fight I mean…it was just wrong…not to mention stupid." She paused, "I don't blame you for hating me."

Theresa smiled softly, "I don't hate you," she said after a moment. "I mean, we've been best friends ever since you moved here in 4th grade; it's just…seeing you with him…that made me really mad, not to mention jealous. I had a feeling that he was seeing only me while we were dating."

Kari nodded, "Yeah, me too. That is why I started that stupid fight. He alluded to being back with you."

Theresa looked over at Jordan, who was also upstairs. He had been kicked out of the party by Shelly and was waiting for his parents. "He is in big trouble," she said when she saw Shelly's mother come over to him. "I hate him," she said with venom in her voice.

"So do I," Kari said. "He could have really hurt you," she said softly.

"Thanks for opening the door," Theresa said as she moved so she was sitting next to Kari.

"Thanks for getting him away from me," Kari said, turning to Theresa. She paused, "Friends?"

She nodded, "Friends." The two hugged. "I don't know about you but I really want to go home."

"Me too," Kari said. She saw Shelly's mother walk over to them, "Uh oh," she said quietly.

"Shelly told me what happened," she said as she looked at the two. "Are you girls all right?"

They nodded, "Yes, we're fine, thank you," Theresa said.

"Good…Theresa I know you probably didn't want me to do this, but I called your parents…"

"Oh no," she groaned. "They are going to be so…"

"Theresa!" Ryan exclaimed as he walked into the house. He hurried over to her and hugged her as tightly as he could, "Are you okay," he asked once he let go of her.

She nodded, "Yes, thanks to Kari," she said, tilting her head towards her once again best friend.

He smiled, "Thanks Kari," he said as he gave her a hug as well. He turned back to Theresa, "Mom said that she wants you home…now," he said in a completely calm voice. "She's pretty worried about you."

"Okay," she said. She stood up and looked over at Kari, "Um can we give Kari a ride home?"

He nodded, "Yeah, let's go," he said, hugging Theresa once more.


Bolton Home…

After calling Maya to tell her the good news, Larissa came back downstairs and saw her mom sitting at the kitchen table, rubbing her forehead. "Are you okay mom," she asked, sitting beside her.

Sharpay looked up at Larissa, "Yes, I'll be fine honey. I'm just not feeling very…" Before she could finish, she suddenly felt very sick. "Excuse me," she said, hurrying off to the bathroom.

Larissa watched as her mom flew out of the kitchen. "I wonder," she thought aloud to herself.

"You wonder what," Troy asked as he came back into the kitchen after having given Kayleigh a rather stern talking to.

She shook her head, "Nothing."

"Okay," he said, not feeling like pursuing it. He looked around, "Where's your mom?"

"She said she felt sick and then she ran into the bathroom," she said, a worried look on her face. "You said she was okay dad."

He sighed and sat down, "She is honey. The headaches that she sometimes gets cause her to feel sick sometimes," he said as he placed his hand on hers. "She'll be just fine," he said when he saw Sharpay emerge from the bathroom. He walked over to her, "How are you feeling?"

"Ugh," she answered. "But I am kind of hungry," she said as she walked to the fridge.

Larissa made a face, "But you just got sick mom."

"I know," she said, turning back to face Larissa. "I guess I just feel better," she said with a shrug.

"Right," Larissa said.

"Well since you are feeling better, I am going to go outside and see how Ana and Zach are doing," he said. He looked at Larissa, "Want to join us? If I go, there will be an odd number of people out there."

She nodded, "Sure…even though I hate basketball," she said under her breath. She got up and walked outside.

Ana looked up, "You're going to play with us," she asked, shocked.

"Maybe," she said, looking at the sliding door. Troy was still inside talking to Sharpay. She turned to her sister and brother, "We have to be really, really good…mom just got sick from one of those headaches," she said.

"Maybe she's going to have a baby," Zach said as he threw the ball (which went straight into the basket). He hadn't really meant what he said…

"That's what I was thinking," Larissa said, her eyes wide.

Zach stopped dribbling the ball and looked at Ana, "She can't be," he said.

Ana shook her head, "No way."

Larissa shrugged, "Why not? Aunt Gabi had a baby when Theresa was 11."

"But mom was two years younger then," Ana pointed out. "She's too old now," she said, taking the ball from Zach and throwing it into the basket. It too went straight in.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Larissa said. "But we still have to be really good…dad said something about her headaches being from stress…we can't stress her out."

"What do you mean," Zach asked, not completely understanding what his sister was saying.

"I mean we can't fight with each other…at least not in front of her and we should do what she says all the time."

Ana made a face, "But we're not perfect," she pointed out.

"Well duh," Larissa said, rolling her eyes. "We should just try to be nicer to her," she said.

Ana and Zach looked at each other and shrugged, "I guess we can try," Ana said.

"But what about Kayleigh," Zach asked.

Larissa thought for a moment, "I'm not sure…I'll be back," she said, running into the house. She stopped when she saw her mom crying, "Mom, what's wrong now," she asked, walking over to her.

She looked up and wiped her eyes, "Just seeing the three of you together is just so…nice," she said as she smiled at Larissa.

"Okay," she said, now rather skeptical. "I don't think it's just headaches," she said to herself as she walked up the stairs.


Evans Home…

Ryan pulled into the garage and shut the car off and looked at Theresa, who looked rather worried. "Penny for your thoughts," he asked.

"Mom is going to kill me," she said.

He shook his head, "Highly doubtful," he said as he got out of the car. "Come on."

She slowly got out of the car and walked into the house, expecting her mom to come over to her and start yelling. Instead…

"Thank goodness you're okay," she said with relief, wrapping her arms around her daughter.

Theresa, shocked that her mom wasn't about ready to slap her silly hugged her mom back, "I'm okay," she said as she embraced her mom.

Gabi pulled away and wiped her eyes, "I didn't know what to think when I got that call," she said.

"Kari's the one who saved me," she said.

"Kari? Kari Parker was there…as in the girl who you have stated that you hate," Gabi asked.

"That's the one," she said, looking at the floor. "Mom I don't know what would have happened if she hadn't…"

Ryan walked over to Gabi, "Thank goodness she has friends like Kari," he said.

"Friends," Gabi asked, looking rather surprised. "I thought we said that you two weren't allowed…"

"Gabi the girl practically saved our daughter's life. I think that it's safe to say that they aren't going to fight like that again." He looked at Theresa, "Right?"

She nodded, "Right."


"Can I come in," Larissa asked Kayleigh from the doorway.

"What do you want," Kayleigh asked, wiping her eyes.

Larissa walked into the room, "Just to talk."

"You mean make me get into trouble again," she said, kicking Larissa in the leg.

"Ow! And no," she said, rubbing her leg. "I just think that…you should quit being such a…I don't know, jerk around mom," she said.

"I'm not a jerk," she pouted. "You are. And I hope you don't get a part in that show," she said. "Because you're a bad singer."

Clearly she wasn't going to get through to her sister…and that last remark didn't exactly help, "Fine," she said, getting up. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."

"Go away!" Kayleigh yelled as she threw a doll at Larissa.

"Kayleigh!" Troy exclaimed from the door, "We do not throw anything at anyone in this house," he said as he walked into the room. He looked at Larissa, "I need to talk to your sister," he said.

Larissa nodded and started to leave the room when…

"Daddy Larissa called me a jerk!"

She turned around, "I didn't mean that you're a jerk, I meant to stop acting like one, especially around mom," she said, hoping that Troy would believe her.

He looked at Larissa, "Even though you meant well, that wasn't necessary," he said firmly.

She nodded, "Sorry." She turned around and walked out of the room and downstairs. As she walked past her mom, she noticed that she was now chuckling about something, "Now what," she asked.

Sharpay turned around, "Hmm? Oh I'm just admiring how well Zach and Ana get along."

"But you were crying about it a minute ago."

"I was," she asked.

"Yeah," Larissa said. She walked back outside and sat down on the steps, now convinced of her theory.


Gee, what's Larissa's theory? LOL. I think some of you may know what I am getting at here. I hope you liked this chapter! I tried to incorporate a few other ideas into one. Suggestions/ideas are welcome!

P.S. Lipshake – they are 38 years old now, in answer to your question. :-)