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Chapter 53: Get Away

Kelly wandered into the gallery and smiled, smelling the familiar scent of cigarettes. She'd always felt kind of odd and out of place when they visited Dave and Emily. She was so preppy and buttoned up. Liam had declined the invitation to come, saying that the whole thing made him feel weird, but the place was full. She heard Janet's familiar giggle from the center of the room. She put her hands in her pockets and walked over to where she was.

"Hi," Kelly said. Janet was sitting on the counter with a drink her hand, looking impossibly beautiful and New York-ish, she was wearing a white spaghetti strap tank top and a long blue peasant skirt. Her hair was tied up in some sort of weird black scarf and she looked totally bohemian and at home. "Um, I just thought I'd stop by."

"You have a lot of nerve," Janet kicked off the counter. "You're here with your boyfriend right?"

"Liam's not here, and he's not my boyfriend," Kelly sighed. "I just wanted to see Dave's series."

"It's mostly me naked," Janet shrugged. "Do you want to see that?" Kelly sighed. "Do you want to see the ones of me on the boat? I'm clothed in those and they're pretty awesome."

"Sure," Kelly laughed. They walked over.

"These modeling people keep asking me to come for an interview," Janet rolled her eyes. Kelly looked at her. She could tell that Janet was nervous and unhappy about her being there. Kelly was nervous to be here with her. "He was crushed you know. He came right to Dave's and we got high, and he was devastated."

"The first thing that he did after we broke up was get high with you?" Kelly raised her eyebrows, "That really makes me regret my decision."

"I'd never seen him like that," Janet shook her head, "He didn't make a move on me or anything, which he always used to do when you guys were having issues."

"Yeah, I remember," Kelly snorted. "I slept with Portman." Janet looked at her. "I went home, a couple weeks ago, and I ran into him and I don't know."

"Holy shit!" Janet said, "God! Please don't sleep with Dave, I'm begging you." Kelly laughed. "I mean, it's obvious that you're very into picking up my trash Riley, but honestly, Dave might be the love of my life."

"Don't worry about that," Kelly shook her head, "Clearly he's madly in love with you."

"So how was Portman?" Janet asked. Kelly blushed, "Good right?"

"Unbelievably good," Kelly nodded.

"And the new guy?" Janet looked at her.

"We haven't had sex," Kelly shook her head, "We probably won't, I couldn't even get him to come here. He wants to go into advertising, live in LA."

"With Julie Gaffney and your brother?" Janet snorted. Kelly sighed and looked down. "Oh God, have all of the great Riley romances gone up in flames?"

"Cassie's pregnant," Kelly said, "So just two of them."

"Pregnant?" Janet said. Kelly nodded, "Cassie Turner? Do a line of coke and then yell at the rest of the cheerleading squad for eating carbs Cassie Turner is having a baby?"

"In two months," Kelly held up her fingers. "Naming her after my mom." Janet nodded.

"Janet!" Two girls dressed similarly to her came running in. "The pictures are stunning we're so glad that you aren't selling out and signing with those modeling agents!" They each squealed in turn.

"Thanks," Janet said, "Annabeth, Carolina, this is Kelly."

"Oh," Annabeth said. "This is Kelly?"

"Yeah," Kelly said, "Have we met?"

"No," Annabeth shook her head, "I've heard about you. From Scott."

"Dave introduced them when he came down that weekend," Janet explained. Kelly nodded. "Um, let's get you a drink." She guided Kelly away. "He didn't fuck her."

"What?" Kelly said.

"She wanted to, she was all over him," Janet rolled her eyes, "But he didn't want to. He said he was going to get you back. And now you're with this guy."

"It's simple with Liam," Kelly said, "We have fun, and he's sexy, and he's smart and we have so much in common."

"Scooter's in love with you," Janet said, "He's in love with you. He wrote a book about you." Kelly sighed. "What else do you want from him?"


Julie wandered down main street in Bangor, looking for something to do. Elyse had practically banned her from the house, because there was vacuuming to be done, and her forty eight hour couch marathon was ended. The words, "Why don't you call Steve?" had barely escaped Elyse's lips.

"Cat!" She looked up, "Um, hi."

"Hi," She smiled, seeing Steve outside of the supermarket.

"When'd you get home?" He asked.

"The other day," She said, "I wanted to see you but, I didn't know if should call, or just come over, or if you even wanted to see me."

"Come on," He sighed, "I always want to see you." She nodded. "How's school?"

"Good," She said.

"How are you?" He said. "I mean, you look better."

"I am," She said, "I mean, things are still weird with Jaime and everything, but other than that, I'm good."

"Good," He said. "How's Jimmy?"

"Actually I wanted to talk to you about that," She said nervously.

"Steve," Alicia came out and hugged him, "Julie! Hi."

"Alicia," Julie said, "Um hey."

"You're on spring break?" Alicia asked. Julie nodded. "I should go, um, my parents want me home for dinner."

"Oh, I'll give you a ride," Steve said.

"I'll walk," Alicia kissed him. "It was good to see you again Julie." She waved and walked away.

"So you're with her?" Julie asked.

"Yeah," He nodded, "It's been good." She nodded. "What did you want to say about Jimmy?"

"Oh, we had some problems," She shrugged, "But we worked it out. Things are good."

"Good," He nodded. "I want to apologize, for Christmas."

"Yeah, me too," She whispered. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I know that," He said softly. "What are you up to?"

"Not a whole lot," She shrugged, "I'm really getting into Blue's Clue's. Mikey goes crazy when it's on." He laughed.

"Well, take a break from skadooing tonight," He said, "Brett's having a party. It's going to be fun."

"It sounds fun," She nodded and smiled. "Will Alicia mind?"

"Alicia's not like Taylor," He shook his head, "She's cool with us being friends."

"Oh," Julie said, "Sure. Great. Well, see you." She waved and walked off. That was not how that was supposed to go.


"Mm," Tammy giggled. She was curled up in a ball, Fulton's arms around her shoulders, on the floor in his living room. "I missed that."

"I missed it too." He smiled. "What brought on the change?"

"I had a long talk with my mom," She shrugged. He pulled away.

"About, this?" He swallowed, "About what we just did?"

"Yes," She nodded, "About this, about everything." He nodded, "Fulton, what if we end up like my parents?"

"Are you planning on getting pregnant sometime in the next three years?" He asked. She laughed and shook her head. "Then, no, we won't. You're going to do amazing things." He kissed her, "And I'm going to be right there with you." She pulled herself close. "I love you."

"I love you too." She smiled.


Jimmy and Elena sat on the floor of his room with a movie going. They'd been spending most of their time together since their respective breakups. They were both too sad, and too scared of loneliness not to.

"Hey," She looked at him. He looked at her. "Do you wonder what would have happened on Christmas?"

"When?" He asked. She sighed, "Oh yeah. All the time actually."

"Me too," She said softly. "I lied."

"When?" He asked.

"When I said I didn't love you anymore," She whispered. "I thought that," She brushed his hair out of his face, "I thought that you'd fix things with Julie if you thought that I didn't want you."

"Oh Ellie," He sighed, "If it were that simple."

"I know, I simplify things," She whispered, "But I do love you, I always have and I always will." He kissed her.

"Do you want to be with me?" He asked softly.

"Tonight I do," She nodded. "Is that enough?"

"Yeah," He said lowering her underneath him. "It is."


Julie walked in and plopped on the couch. Elyse walked in and sighed.

"I thought we got past this," She said and sat down. Julie crossed her arms. "Honey, I know you're upset about Jimmy, but really, this is a little ridiculous."

"Steve has a girlfriend," She whispered. Elyse looked at her.

"Oh baby," She hugged her step daughter. "I'm so sorry."

"Do you think it's too late for me to go to California?" Julie wiped her eyes.

"Absolutely not," Elyse said softly, "I'll go call Jaime now." Julie nodded and Elyse stood up and walked into the kitchen. She picked up the phone and dialed.

"Jaime Bloom's office," Gail said on the other side.

"Hi Gail," Elyse said, "It's Elyse. Is she there? It's about Julie."

"I'll put you right through," Gail said softly.

"Thanks," Elyse nodded patiently. "Hi, Jaime. Yeah, she needs to get away."


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