Author's Note: No reviews? You guys are wimping out on me. Anyways, after this one, I'm skipping to Thanksgiving...Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 29: Tradition and Transition
Jimmy, Kelly and Rick stood in a familiar scene, lined up in age order in front of their mother's grave.
"I wrote a letter this year," Kelly sighed and put the paper down. Jimmy shuffled his feet quietly.
"I have a game," He mumbled, "Trey hurt his hand, he doesn't know how bad it is and I might get actually playing time."
"Jimmy," Rick looked at him, why hadn't he noticed how thin Kelly'd gotten the last time he was home?
"Go ahead Jimmy," Kelly nodded, "It's fine."
"I love you Mom," He said quietly, kissed his fingers and touched the top of the stone, "Wish me luck OK?" He ran in the other direction.
"You OK?" Rick said, putting his arm around Kelly. She shook her head. "Kelly." He whispered as she hugged him and cried.
"I just want her back," She said softly. "I want him back."
"Come on," He said, "Let's go get something to eat." He realized that what she was upset about had very little to do with their mother. They walked into a diner that was near the cemetery and sat down at a booth table. "What's going on?"
"It's not important." She said softly.
"Yeah it is," He looked at her. "Is it Scooter?"
"No," She shook her head, "Not really."
"No or not really?" He said, "Because those are two different things."
"I think he's restless," She sighed, "And it's not like there's anything I can do about it because we're so far away and it's frustrating. It's really not a big deal."
"Do you think he's fooling around?" He said seriously. He loved Scooter like a brother, but he was not above getting on a plane and beating his ass if he did anything to hurt Kelly.
"No, it's not like that," She sighed, "I mean, I think he's thought about it. And Janet keeps making these little comments," She shook her head.
"You can't listen to Janet," He said, "She's insane, you know that."
"Then of course there's this whole Portman and Ellie thing," She rolled her eyes. He looked at her. "It's stupid I know, but I liked that he was in love with me. It was comforting."
"And a fall back," Rick nodded, "In case the floor fell out."
"Exactly," She whispered. "I feel like there's this part of him that just doesn't want Little Kelly Riley anymore, because the fun of it's gone."
"He wants you Kelly," He looked at her, "When was the last time you talked to him?"
"A few days ago," She shrugged, "That's the other thing, we used to talk every day, now," She sighed, "I just feel like he's holding back."
"You sound like Cassie," He laughed.
"Cassie puts up with a lot," She pointed out. "Keep that in mind." He smiled.
"Where's Jimmy today?" Connie said, as Julie sat on her bed.
"He's with Kelly and Rick," Julie shrugged, "Then he has a game."
"You gonna go to this one?" Connie asked. She shrugged again.
"He never plays," She sighed, "He gets frustrated when I go and watch him sit on the bench."
"You should go," Connie looked at him, "I'll come with you."
"You have time for me," Julie put her hand to her chest aghast, "Why Connie Moreau!"
"I know I've been distracted," Connie sighed. "Come on we'll call Tammy, it'll be fun."
"Tammy is averred to all things Riley at the moment," Julie shook her head.
"Right," Connie nodded, "God, she must be freaked!"
"She's super hyped up," Julie nodded. "I think she and Fulton are finally going to do it, just to piss off her mom."
"Well as long as she's doing it for the right reason," Connie laughed. "God, I couldn't imagine."
"It's really not so bad," Julie shrugged, "I mean, I know that Mr. Riley seems horrible. But Jimmy seems really OK about all of it."
"Jimmy's not the one I'm worried about," Connie raised her eyebrows, "It's a certain raven haired queen bee."
"Kelly?" Julie laughed, "I wouldn't be worried about that. Tammy's not in Kelly's social world."
"She's getting to be," Connie shrugged, "Linda asked her to be on dance committee. You know how artistic she is." Julie nodded. "I don't want Kelly to go after her, the way she did Janet Lane."
"Janet was going after Scooter," Julie said, "That's why Kelly went on the offensive."
"Yeah, and you're the one who always says that the Rileys take family more seriously than anything," Connie pointed out. Julie nodded.
"I should go, watch Jimmy," Julie sighed and stood up and walked out.
"I'm telling you," Rick sighed on the phone with Scooter, "She's bad."
"She's fine," Scooter said. "She was fine two weeks ago."
"You were here two weeks ago," Rick pointed out, "We both were. She's always been good at covering up. You didn't notice how thin she's gotten?"
"I guess," Scooter shrugged. "She's always been little. I figured she was just stressed. She's really upset?"
"She thinks she's losing you," Rick said. "If she is, then say good bye buddy, before she moves her life to New Haven, before she plans her future around you, because she doesn't deserve that."
"Rick, come on," Scooter sighed, "You know that's not what's happening. I'm busy, so are you. She understands that."
"Maybe," Rick sighed, "Doesn't help that our dad's dating."
"Tom's dating?" Scooter laughed.
"Yup," Rick said, "Ana Duncan, she's blonde and lovely and,"
"Tammy Duncan's mother?" Scooter said. "And Tommy's?"
"The same," Rick sighed.
"Well, Brad thinks Tommy's a great guy," Scooter said, "And Tammy's Julie's best friend, so,"
"Ringing testimonial there," Rick said sarcastically.
"You know if you let her in a little bit," Scooter said, "You'd see how great she is. How good for Jimmy she is."
"Yeah, look," Rick sighed, "Just talk to Kelly OK?" He hung up. Scooter sighed and stared at the phone. If Kelly really was that upset he couldn't solve it with a phone call. He sighed and dialed.
"Hey, Logan," He said hearing his brother answer, "Yeah, I need to get to Minnesota."
The next day Julie took a deep breath and walked over to Kelly's locker.
"Kelly?" She said quietly, almost shyly.
"Hm," Kelly looked quickly over, "Oh hi Julie. How are you?"
"Um, fine," Julie whispered. "I need to ask you for a favor."
"Of course," Kelly nodded, "Anything, you know that."
"I need you to promise not to go after Tammy," Julie said. Kelly looked at her. "I mean, you know what I mean right?"
"Oh!" Kelly laughed, "Julie, no, I wouldn't. It's not Tammy's fault."
"Really?" Julie looked at her, "She said that you seemed mad at her."
"No," Kelly sighed, "I've been in a horrible mood lately. You'll apologize to her for me, won't you?"
"Kelly, I," Julie sighed as she walked away. At least part of that had helped.
"Hey you," Jimmy walked over to her and kissed her. "Thanks for coming yesterday!"
"Well, you Mr. Save the game," She giggled, "You were fantastic. How are you feeling?"
"I'm good," He nodded, she looked at him, "Really, Julie, I'm fine."
"I just talked to your sister," She said, "She seems distracted."
"That would be because she is." He sighed, "I'm worried about her."
"I love that you are," She smiled. He smiled, "Do you think Mikey will get worried about me?"
"I hope he does," He smiled. "Won't be much of a little brother if he doesn't." She smiled and he kissed her.
Scooter sat on the steps of the girls dorm. He'd been on a plane all morning. He had to see her, see if she was as bad Rick said, he needed to assure her that everything would be OK.
"Scooter!" Janet smiled seeing him, he sighed and stood up. She walked over and put her arms around his neck, "I figured you'd come." He sighed.
"I didn't come for you," He said gently moving them. She looked at him, "Look, I know we've been talking, which I appreciate but,"
"Scooter?" Kelly walked over, she stopped seeing them together. "I think I get it now. This is the direction my life's going lately so,"
"Kelly," Scooter sighed, "No, it's not like that! I'm here to see you."
"I'm just going to go inside," Janet smiled, "Maybe I'll see you later," She winked at Kelly and walked in.
"You know if you're going to cheat on me," She sighed, "You should probably do it with someone at your school."
"Kelly, I'm not cheating on you," He shook his head, "I've been talking to Janet, we're trying to be friends."
"She doesn't want to be friends with you!" Kelly stared at him, "She wants to take you away from me!"
"I have a little bit of a say in that," He looked at her. Kelly looked down, "I came here to see you. Rick said he was worried."
"What are you two?" She looked up at him, "My mental health tag team?" He laughed and kissed her, "I just miss you. And not having you around makes everything seem worse."
"I hate not being with you," He looked at her, "I really hate it." They kissed again, "You know, last week was our anniversary." He smirked.
"I remembered." She giggled. He kissed her. "There's a Duck's game tonight, so Linda will be out," She murmured.
"Good," He smiled and picked her up, she giggled. He had to do this more often. Surprising her was turning out to be incredibly pleasant.
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