A/N: I read some of the previous chapters and they were riddled with typos. This will probably be the same. I just want to finish. Aaaaargh.

Chapter 25: This Sort Of Makes Sense

Ren: NYU somewhere: 3:32pm: March 24

"So it was your cocaine in her pants?" I pointed at Maddie, "And you," I pointed to London, "Didn't incriminate her?" I pointed back at Maddie. "Then, after she paid for your college, you two stopped talking?"

"I couldn't take it back," London cleared her throat, "After I told her never to speak to me again."

"All of the charges were dropped though." I pointed out.

"But everyone still remembers when London Tipton got arrested for having cocaine in her pocket that she said wasn't hers, but couldn't say whose it was."

"London…why?" Maddie asked her, "Why? Why didn't you just hand me over? Why didn't you have your dad take his money back?" She pressed a bag of ice to her face that I had acquired for her.

"Because," she began, "It would have ruined you. You're going to do things with your life."

"Maybe not…because my boyfriend…err…ex-boyfriend punched me in the face and stole my essay for the internship I wanted over the summer." She sighed, "I was looking forward to going out to California to work with Senator-"

"Stevens?" I interrupted. I was aware of the little competition my mom had going on. She had a few friends that were law professors at NYU and made the arrangement with them to send her a new promising intern.

"Yeah." She answered.

"That's my mom."

"Wait…what?" She looked confused.

"I'm Ren Stevens. Senator Stevens is my mom." I told her. "I can call her right now."

She stared at me with her mouth hanging out and her swollen face.

"What?" I pulled out my cell, "Who's the professor you turned your essay in to? If I call her, she has the final say."

"Seriously? You just met me…" She looked shocked and confused.

"Just let her do it, Maddie," London commanded, "What's the point of connections if you don't use them?"

"Look, I like London. She's spoiled and rich," I looked at her and she glared, "But she's a good person. She likes you, and holy shit if I didn't just see you get punched in the face by some guy who obviously is a piece of shit. Now you say he stole your essay and your internship with my mom. Hell no."

"Hanging out with me has done you some good. Look at your asserting yourself," London said proudly, forgetting quickly that I just called her spoiled.

"Do it. Dr. Setzer is my professor."

"Done." I dialed my mom's number and got up to go talk to her as two officers approached to get Maddie and London's statements. London had already texted her dad that she might need the lawyer and he was on his way. I hoped Maddie was pressing charges.

"Hey, mom," I said as soon as she picked up.

"Hi, honey. What's up?"

"Dr. Setzer at NYU-"

"Oh! Did you run into her?" She interrupted me excitedly.

"No, but the competition to be your intern this summer…you need to talk to her about it. I just met a girl named Madeline Fitzpatrick, who was one of the front-runners, and it's a long story, but the other front-runner, a guy named Adrian, is an asshole."

"Ren!" She was taken aback by my language.

"Sorry, mom…but seriously. Pick Fitzpatrick."

"You know I value your opinion, Ren…"

"He stole her essay and punched her in the face."

"Do what?"

"I'll tell you the whole story tonight. The police need to get my statement soon. Call Dr. Setzer and pick Fitzpatrick."

"Alright, honey. You go talk to the police and call me later."

"I will. Thanks, mom!"

…

Maddie did press charges and also refused transport to the ER – she stuck with the ice. Then London took us shopping. We dodged the paparazzi and then retreated to her hotel.

London sat down at her computer and checked the celebrity gossip sites, "Well…rumor has it that I was arrested today and not that douche."

I laughed, "London, they'll clear it up soon. Tons of pictures were taken of your shopping."

"They think I bribed my way out of it and then went shopping to celebrate," she sighed. "I don't know why I read this shit."

"Want me to order some room service? Need a drink?" I asked.

"God, yes."

"Yes, please." Maddie seconded it.

London closed her computer and then turned to Maddie, "You let a boy hit you more than once?"

"I did. He also broke a bunch of my stuff."

"Do you want me to replace it?"

"What do you two want?" I asked them.

"Champagne. The most expensive bottle they have." The heiress answered and then went right back to Maddie.

Maddie shook her head, "No, London. Please just stop. You've done more than enough for me and I didn't even deserve it after what happened to you."

"I don't care. I can do more. It's not like I have a shortage of funds. What did he break?" She pulled out a pad of post-its from her purse, "Tell me what you need."

"London, please."

I called down and asked for them to send up the most expensive bottle of champagne and then realized that I was basically the third wheel. My phone began to vibrate and I saw that it was my mom. I picked up and then took it out into the hall to answer.

"Hello?"

"Hi, honey. I made some calls and verified your always impeccable judge of character. Miss Fitzpatrick will be coming out to Sacramento this summer. Don't tell her though because Dr. Setzer is about to call her."

"Thanks, mom."

"Oh, and I also called up the Tipton's lawyer and made some calls to the DA's office there. This Adrian character is not getting off this time, and his father is likely to be censured, if not disbarred."

"Are you serious?" I asked.

"Yes. Today was a slow day at the office, so I called in some favors. Dr. Setzer said that Miss Fitzpatrick wouldn't disappoint me in the slightest, and since you seemed to think highly of her…well…that's all I needed."

"Thanks so much, mom!" I felt I had played a little part in doing something good today.

"I'm not done. I'm also in the process of crushing all of the horrible gossip mongers saying that your little friend London got away with assault because she's rich."

"How are you doing this?"

"Ren, honey, I don't know if you realized this, but I know a lot of people."

"You're the best, mom," I told her and then said, "I have to go. We just ordered some room service." I saw the attendant approaching from the elevator down the hall, heading for our suite with glasses and a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket on his cart.