Part 3: Chapter 1

Chuck walked into Red Bedroom Records. Once inside, he saw Chase sitting at the desk.

"Hey Chase," Chuck said.

"Hey Chuck," Chase said. "Chris wasn't lying about your new look."

"What did you want to see me about?" Chuck asked.

"Chris told me about the whole Beth/Lily thing," Chase said.

"I didn't mean for Lily's heart to get broken," Chuck said. "I really do love Beth, but I wasn't trying to break Lily's heart."

"I know," Chase said.

"I'm happy with Beth," Chuck said. "I really am. But I just wish it didn't come at the expense of losing my best friend. Lily told me she forgives me and that she always sort of knew I'd go back to Beth. But Jamie won't even talk to me."

"I know you feel bad," Chase said. "And I know you're happy about being with Beth and that's okay. But Chuck, dyeing your hair green and getting nose rings is not a step in the right direction."

"It's all fake," Chuck said. "I just wanted to test out this new look, and I hate it. The green hair is a wig."

Chuck took off his wig.

"And these nose rings are plastic clip-ons," Chuck said taking the rings out of his nose. "I went into an arcade and put a quarter into one of those twist machines. And the leather jacket is fake too. It's artificial leather. The only thing that's real is the mascara and I cannot wait to wash it off."

"Well I'm glad you didn't really change your look," Chase said. "Now come here."

Chuck walked over to the desk and sat down facing Chase.

"I know Jamie's mad at you," Chase said. "Eventually he will get over it and I know you will be best friends again."

"I sure hope you're right," Chuck said.

"Trust me," Chase said. "You and Jamie will be the best of friends again by the end of the school year. Oh, and no more dressing up like you're in a grunge band."

"You're not my guardian," Chuck said.

"No I'm not," Chase said. "But as you said on Thanksgiving, I'm like your big brother."

"Okay," Chuck said. "Now the area around my eyelashes is burning. I think I'm having an allergic reaction to this mascara. I'm going to go wash it off."

"Okay," Chase said.

Later, Chuck arrived home and Chris was waiting for him on the couch.

"You don't have green hair or anymore," Chris said as Chuck sat down. "And your nose rings are gone."

"The green hair was a wig, and the nose rings were plastic clip-ons," Chuck explained. "That wasn't a good look for me was it?"

"No," Chris said.

"I'm sorry I got myself suspended before Christmas and that you had to come and get me," Chuck said.

"It's okay," Chris said.

"Am I still grounded?" Chuck asked.

"Yes," Chris said. "Just for the weekend."

"That seems fair," Chuck said.