Author's Notes:

Made some edits to previous chapters. Sorry, I really ought to proof read before posting. Just get too excited. :D

Here's the next chapter guys...

Chapter V

That evening...

Brooke and Buckley heard of the Montgomerys' high school sendoff party for one of their sons. The boy reportedly took a gap year to "find himself," which in most cases in their circles was slang for serving time as a juvenile. The boy was rumored to be going to a high school in some foreign land, hence the party this time of year. They were also aware that the Montgomerys' youngest son, CJ, invited their Rhonda over to celebrate. While they would normally allow their daughter to accept such invitations, as it was an opportunity for her to enjoy and revel in the presence of others like her, for her to get the thrill of having many a boy's fleeting attention, and for her to unwittingly boast of what they as parents could easily provide her, the couple felt different about it this time. Was allowing Rhonda to go attend this party and spend time with this CJ the right thing to do as parents? Was allowing Rhonda to attend events that only served to enable her poor character still necessary?

"Buckley, Rhonda's almost done in the restroom. What are we gonna do?" Brooke exasperatingly asked her beloved. In her mind, allowing Rhonda to go there would just show how they were poor parents who learned nothing from their time in the Sunset Arms. "Well, Buckley?"

Buckley Lloyd didn't immediately answer. He knew what the right thing to do was - tell his princess that she cannot attend that party and deal with the expected tantrum. And by deal with it, he musn't promise to buy her a pony or a new expensive accessory. But, knowing Rhonda and how much she loved to get her way, would stopping her dead in her tracks really work? Buckley suspected that she would feign acceptance and return to her door. She would then, with her mind of mischief, sneak out thru the bedroom balcony and rush to that party and to that Montgomery boy.

There was another solution, but...could he trust his daughter's judgment?

"Mother, father, I'll be on my way to the Montgomerys' cabin." Buckley and Brooke turned around to see their daughter with some added mascara and lipstick to complete her look from this afternoon. They knew that if they were going to stop what they thought would be an impending disaster, the time to act was now or never.

"Rhonda dear, I'm afraid your father has something to tell you..." Brooke then motioned for her husband to approach their daughter. Buckley, for his part, was about to take another risk. Only this time, there was no equation or forecasting technique that would guarantee some degree of success. It was all up to his daughter's judgment.

"Rhonda..." Buckley started, almost stammering. "You see..."

Rhonda looked into her father's eyes, just waiting for what he had to say.

"You see...it might be even colder outside. So make sure you bring a pair of earmuffs to be safe, ok darling?"

Upon hearing this, Brooke did her best to not allow shock and anger show on her face. What was her husband thinking!?

"Oh don't worry daddy! I am right ahead of you." Rhonda casually pulled off the earmuffs in her coat's pocket.

"Good, good...," Buckley said as he brought his daughter in for a very warm embrace. The kind of embrace where a father tells his daughter that whether or not she makes the wrong choice, he will love her and be there for her. "Oh and dear, don't forget the usual rules? No kissing boys and curfew at 10. If you're not here by then, I'm afraid I'll have to go to that cabin and fetch you myself."

Rhonda, picking up that there was something different in her dad's tone, gave him a smile of pure appreciation. "I can't guarantee the first part dad, but I'll definitely comply with curfew."

Buckley chuckled while Brooke rolled her eyes. 'Like mother, like daughter,' they both thought. As soon as Rhonda went out and closed the door, Brooke finally had the chance to show her husband how livid she was.

"WHAT. WAS. THAT. BUCKLEY?" Brooke yelled, ready to challenge her husband's decision.

"Love...we know our daughter. Stopping her would have just made her sneak out and possibly not come home within curfew..." Buckey responded.

"Then what would you suggest Buckley? Let our daughter just go to that party and have the spoiled rick kids' time of her life?" Brooke retorted, getting even more frustrated with her husband.

"Something tells me that Rhonda...will get bored." Buckley explained, as he looked at his wife, who calmed down ever so slightly. "And what I mean by that is...I sense a change in our daughter, as if extravagance and riches no longer excite her the way it did. Other than the smile she flashed me just a while ago, I haven't felt anything as sincerely joyous from her all this time in Aspen."

Brooke, out of concern, played devil's advocate. "Oh yeah...and what if you're wrong?

"I can't afford to be." Buckley uttered.

Brooke, seeing the uncertainty in her husband's eyes, sat on his lap and gave him a tender embrace as they sat in front of the fireplace.

On the way to the party...

Rhonda, for the fist time since arriving in Aspen, was giddy. A chance to spend one night in the Montgomerys' cabin party with their youngest son catering to her whims, as other boys would fawn over her and other girls either give her praise or the stink eye. This is what she was really good at doing. She was back to her bread and butter at last.

The anxious feelings of uncertainty weren't as strong, but Rhonda could still feel them. She thought that by the end of the party, she would have completely found herself again. She needed this badly.

After about 15 minutes, she arrived just in front of the Montgomery cabin. It was slightly bigger than their cabin, as she recalled the Montgomerys had about 4 children. She went up the porch stairs and rang the doorbell. Even as she waited for the door to swing open and see CJ, she could tell some of the other boys and girls staying right where she was were already chatting amongst themselves.

"The Lloyd heiress? So they did get their wealth back!"

"Oh great...now she's even prettier than before. Hmph."

"Oh geez, I really wish I had my breathmints right about now!"

The door opened to reveal the person Rhonda's been hoping to see. In that instant, she made sure to immediately lock eyes. She just couldn't get enough of those green luscious eyes and how they looked just like...

"Hey Rhonda. My my, just when I thought you could not look any more gorgeous..." CJ whispered in her ear, feeling the confidence that comes with being in one's home base. "Let me take your coat off..."

Rhonda was really enjoying how she had CJ's compete and unwavering attention. Although, she couldn't help but notice...the warmth he exuded earlier isn't as strong? Rhonda thought that maybe he was just still mentally locked in being formal and complimentary to every guest.

"May I ask you for a drink?" CJ asked Rhonda as he offered his hand to lead her through the small of the other kids, particularly the girls who were also taking a fancy to CJ, were eyeing the would-be pair. Rhonda was thrilled, although surprisingly not elated. This normally brings her a sense of satisfaction that can't be matched...

"Why would I deny such a handsome gentleman..." Rhonda really laid it on that CJ was all hers. But as much as Rhonda was enjoying the attention and the feeling of CJ's hand in hers as they snaked their way to the drinks and dining table, she was also upset that she's not getting the level of happiness she was expecting from this turn of events. She's got the boy, she's got the attention. But still...it wasn't the same! What's going on?

"I figured you'd like a diet Yahoo, just to separate you from the rest of your schoolmates." CJ told her, as if in jest.

"...what do you mean?" Rhonda asked him, perplexed.

"Oh, I simply meant that it's not common for us to enjoy soda. But I suppose being in a public school and all, you gotta make do with what's available, eh?" CJ laughed expecting Rhonda to follow suit. Instead, Rhonda just stared at him, a bit surprised that CJ would say something like that.

"Actually, I also enjoy the regular soda variety." Rhonda told him plainly. CJ immediately stopped laughing.

"Oh come on Rhonda, I was just kidding. You know how we do our banter in our circles." CJ told her as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Rhonda, while annoyed, decided to let it slide. Those eyes just had an effect on her. As she sipped her diet Yahoo, the record player began playing a familiar tune...

"Oh, I know this song! Dino Spumoni actually performed this in our school dance!" Rhonda knew what she could use in that moment. She wanted to dance with CJ as the song was playing.

"Oh...I think someone just put in the wrong record. We don't play that kind of lame music." CJ then motioned to the person operating the record player to change the song, much to Rhonda's disappointment. CJ, noticing this, lifted her chin with his finger and told her that before the night was over, they'll have a little dance. Rhonda forced a smile.

"Come on...let me introduce you to some of my friends from school." With that, CJ grabbed Rhonda by the hand and led her to the couches by the fireplace.

Rhonda didn't recall much of what CJ's friends were saying. The only thing that stood out was that most of them reminded her of her classmates physically, but they were so different once they started talking and showing their true personalities. Rather than bother with their names, she just committed to assigning them by their particular trait and classmate each of them resemble. There was legitimately uncool Gerald, shallow Phoebe, overly girly Nadine, mean Lila, pretentious Stinky, and muscular Sid.

To make things more awkward for Rhonda, all these copy-paste dopplegängers wanted to talk about were their grades, their family properties, the sporting and recreational clubs they attend, and worst of all the annoying things about people who weren't in that party. It was a backstabbing bonanza...

'Oh no...was my Cool Party in any way as lame as this?' Rhonda thought to herself.

"What about you Lloyd, what have you to say?" Mean Lila said with the fakest smile Rhonda's ever seen. And she's seen a lot of fake smiles.

"hmmm...my stories are really different. Outside of finishing school, I've been mostly going on adventures with my friends at PS 118. We captured a boy sneaking in our all-girls' slumber party and made him pay the price, uncovered this penny mutilating operation in Elk Island, broke a world record for most attempts at breaking a record, built a float that won the neighborhood motor float contest, helped a farm girl get comfortable when she was the new kid in school..."

Rhonda wasn't too surprised when she saw bewilderment in their faces. And they were bewildered because in their circles, it was very strange for one to speak about the commoners with excitement and enjoyment. It was basically a no-no to speak about them as if you were one of them. Rhonda didn't know what feeling she was experiencing more - exhaustion, for having to put up a facade that she was enjoying this party (and this Aspen trip), or anger, for being silently judged for what she's found interesting in the past year. She excused herself from the crowd, leaving a confused CJ behind.

Rhonda stared outside the window, as she began to really think hard about the past few days. Could it be, that she just finds all the attention from the rich and glamorous, the extravagance of the high life, suddenly...hollow? Empty?Devoid of actual meaning? And if so, what else is there for her to appreciate? And if that's her own follow up question...has she really been this shallow and foolish all her life?

Before she could really swim in her feelings and tears, she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. Oh how she wished it was a certain someone's assuring touch, but it was just very familiar. It wasn't the same, and she knew it. Still...

"Hey, I'm sorry. You've been alone for sometime, and I know you've been finding this part to be a real bummer." Rhonda could feel it again. That warm, assuring energy that drew her into CJ (other than his beautiful green eyes, that is). CJ continued, "what say you and I...take a stroll in the garden maze nearby? At the center, there's a fountain with some lights, and we can have our dance there."

Rhonda looked at him, and his green eyes, and wanting one last time to just feel something that reminded her of the satisfaction from power walking in a makeshift sundress in PS 118, she took CJ up on his offer. "I thought you'd never ask..."

In the maze...

"You know, it's a good thing I think you're really cute. Otherwise, I'd say you were leading me to the ending of the Shining..." Rhonda quipped as CJ and her got deeper into the maze.

"Haha! A film watcher eh? Don't worry Rhonda, I would never become a Johnny." CJ replied. He managed to get a laugh out of the beauty. "We're here..."

Rhonda stepped to the end of the maze, and...it wasn't what she had in mind. No lights. Fountain seemed old, dingy and not well maintained. Why in the heck did CJ lead her here?

"CJ, I say this with as much kindness as I can muster...why the heck did you bring me out here?"

"I think you know why." CJ told Rhonda as he tried to swoop in and lock lips. Rhonda, with all her past experience with unwarranted kisses (due to the ever insistent Curly Gammelthorpe), expertly avoided that first attempt.

"CJ...stop." Rhonda was ready to cry.

"Hey, come on you can't be upset by this...I knew you were into me the moment we locked eyes in the lobby." CJ continued his pursuit. But to no avail.

"CJ stop! This was a mistake...I was into you, yes, the moment we locked eyes. But what kept me interested was the thought of how warm and caring you are. Or rather, WERE." Rhonda emphasized.

CJ began to laugh. "Oh Lloyd, that is hilarious...isn't this the kind of thing we rich kids do? We mingle, hang out, do some making out, then the next morning we wink at each other while our fathers close business deals during lunch! It's the high life for us! This is what we're all about!"

"unless being rich is all you're about..." Rhonda suddenly remembered those harsh but reality altering words that Arnold dropped on her when she was going crazy. In that instant, Rhonda knew that her time in the Sunset Arms changed everything. Without knowing it at the time, she realized that the joy of riches, fortune and glamour...they can always fade in a day. And no matter how addictive the feelings they entail can be, they just don't last. They're made to tear you down, rather than build you up. But real friends, real companionship, real determination in the face of adversity...it's something she's been craving ever since she got a taste of it without money. And even with money, now that she knows better, this whole trip of trying to find the old Rhonda was a waste. She needed to leave.

"CJ...it is what you're about, and for a long time it was what I was about too..." Rhonda, no longer looking down to the ground, stared at his eyes with conviction. "But I'm not that person anymore. I've tasted desperate, and let me tell you...once you do, you realize that money doesn't buy happiness. At least not real happiness."

CJ only looked at her with sheer confusion. "What the heck are you talking about, Rhonda? Come on, hush, and let's proceed with what we really wanted tonight..."

Rhonda needed to be a bit more firm. "No CJ. You can stay here, while I proceed with what I wanted all along...to get out of this lame party, with lamer people, in the lamest country club."

As Rhonda began walking away, CJ threw a verbal jab for good measure. "And then what, go back to your 'friends' from PS 118? You know how you'll be perceived by our peers if you leave me here Rhonda. You'll be known as the Lloyd girl who was dumb enough to strike out with Chadwick James..."

Rhonda put her foot down. "CJ, your opinion stopped mattering to me the moment you made that stupid joke about Yahoo soda. Why would it start to matter now?"

CJ found that with all his intellect, wit and penchant for mockery, he had no response to Rhonda. She got the last laugh. Well, turned out she wasn't quite done...

"And for the record, your eyes only reminded me of someone else. Someone better in every single way."

With that, Rhonda left the maze, eager to go home...

At the Lloyds' cabin...

Buckley was beginning to get worried. He had originally tried to seduce his wife into another hour or two of adult expressions of love since their dear daughter would not be around until later that night, but Brooke was having none of it. She was too preoccupied that Rhonda will revert back to her habits and interests from before their time in the boarding house. She would not give Buckley any satisfaction of any sort if he didn't bring Rhonda back. While Buckley held on out of belief that his daughter would be able to handle herself, he decided that he may have placed too much faith in the 9-year old girl. He was about to head out and prematurely fetch her from the party until the cabin door opened.

There stood Rhonda, with some mascara running down her cheeks, but the trail of tears seems to have frozen in place. The Lloyds rushed to their daughter.

"Rhonda dear, what happened? Are you alright? Did something bad happen? How did you come here alone?" Brooke and Buckley asked her, not meaning to bombard her with so many questions. But all they got was a sad Rhonda, staring at the wooden floors of the cabin, trying to find the strength to say something...and she finally did.

"I don't want to be here anymore...I wanna go home...I wanna see my friends...I wanna apologize to Arnold...I...I..."

Her parents waited for what else she had to say...

"I...I wanna stop being such a pathetic spoiled girl...I wanna be a better person..."

All of Rhonda's walls crashed down. She cried uncontrollably as she embraced her parents, and for the first time since arriving in Aspen, she felt a real and undeniable warmth.

"Come on Rhonda...sit on the couch by the fireplace, and your mom will make you some hot cocoa." Buckley carried his weeping daughter and placed her softly on the sofa. He was immensely proud of Rhonda.

Rhonda noticed something peculiar, and mentioned it while still having sniffles from crying, "Mommy...Daddy...why are there rose petals leading to your bedroom?"