Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, someone else does. I'm just having fun. Also, this story is based loosely on characters and situations in The Growing Pains Movie...but I only saw the movie once and I don't remember the names of some of the minor characters and some of the other specifics, so I made them up. And now.....
A GROWING PAINS STORY
"Growing Up Is Hard To Do"
Chapter Two
The next morning we were sitting around the table for our "mandatory breakfast" again, but this time there was an air of excitement in the Seaver kitchen because of our guest. My brother Ben had spent the last 12 hours filling Luke in on the events of the past few years of his life. And this morning, he still wasn't finished. I sat slumped in my chair again, listening to Ben.
"...So after the cops finally managed to corner me, and I realized what was going on...dude, they had been broadcasting the whole chase live on TV!"
Mom interrupted him. "But what Ben didn't realize was that his police chase interrupted my live city council debate."
Ben continued. "Mom almost dropped out of the campaign because of what happened, but she changed her mind and now she's a Long Island city councilor!"
"Wow, Mrs. Seaver, that's awesome. That must be a pretty tough job, though, trying to keep all different kinds of people happy, not to mention running a whole city." Luke had been listening intently throughout the entire conversation, bright-eyed and looking genuinely happy to be here with my family. The night before we had all sat around the living room, letting Luke fill us in on what exactly had happened to him once he had left Long Island all those years ago. Apparently, he stayed with his dad for awhile, bouncing from city to city in his dad's big rig, looking for ways of making money, with nothing being too successful. And although he loved his dad, Luke realized that if he was ever going to make anything of himself, he needed roots and a real education. So his dad arranged for Luke to stay with his Aunt Winona in Florida. Luke finished high school, and went on to finish college. And now here he was.
"Oh, it's not so hard, Luke, and I love helping people with their problems. Just a few weeks ago I managed to get the council to form a committee to look into allegations that the waste water plant has been allowing toxins to seep into the stream that runs though Chesepeke Park. One of the residents called me about that after her daughter had been playing in the stream and found a crawfish with three eyes." My mom looked extremely pleased with herself.
My dad, Ben, Luke and I just sat there, looking at mom and at each other. Everyone pushed their plates away, not wanting to eat another bite. Ewww.
I decided to change the subject. "My science fair is today. You guys are going, right?"
Mom and dad's faces fell. "Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie, I can't. I have an important meeting with the mayor today. I can't reschedule." Mom stood and began to gather her things. "But good luck. I really wish I could be there." She kissed me on the forehead, and left.
I looked at my father expectantly. "Dad?"
"Sorry kiddo, I have a meeting with my publisher today. I'd cancel but I'm afraid there may be a problem with my manuscript that they need to see. I'll be home later on though."
Ben snickered. "Looks like you got the shaft...OW!" My boot slammed into his leg, almost causing him to spill his orange juice.
"Kids..." my dad absentmindedly began.
"I'll go to the science fair, Chrissy." Luke said. "When is it?"
Sort of caught by surprise, I smiled. "It's at two o'clock, in the gym."
"Well, would it be ok if I drop you off at school, Ben, so I can use your car to get to the science fair?" Luke asked.
Ben looked disappointed. "I thought we could hang out together on campus today...some of the girls in my Introduction to Film class are hot. I'd like to make a film starring them, if you know what I mean." He winked and nudged Luke.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, Ben." My dad got up from the table and began to clear his dishes.
Luke snickered. "We can do that tomorrow...it's not every day your sister is entered in a science fair." He smiled at me. I smiled back, but I felt strange. Did he mean "your sister" as in Ben's sister, or as in his own sister? I shrugged it off. It doesn't really matter...does it? In the corner of my mind, a thought occurred to me - I hoped that he didn't think of me as his sister. I shrugged that off too.
"Well, alright," Ben handed Luke the keys to his little blue Accord. "Today Chris gets you but tomorrow you're all mine."
Luke and I looked at Ben, mischievous grins on our faces.
Ben stopped and gunned his index finger at us. "You know what I mean."
The Dewey High cafeteria was abuzz with the idle chatter of eighty-something juniors. My table was no different. But as I sat and ate lunch with several of my nearest and dearest, I just couldn't keep my thoughts on the conversation going on around me. For some reason, I was really looking forward to the science fair, but it had nothing to do with scholastic excellence, and everything to do with Luke Brower. Oh, God, why am I doing this to myself? This guy was practically my brother...well, sort of. I guess. Not really. I mean, what am I supposed to do? This gorgeous guy shows up on my doorstep one day after being out of my life for nine years and I'm not allowed to be attracted to him?
"No," I distinctly heard my mother's voice. "You're not."
I shivered. I could see this entire situation was going to turn into one big suckfest.
"So what's the deal with this Luke?"
I jumped in my seat. "Huh?"
My best friend Angelina Moore, was staring at me across a brown-paper-bag strewn lunch table. "Helloooooo? Earth to Chrissy...come in please. I want dirt. What's he like?"
Angie certainly could be straight to the point when she wanted to be.
"There is no dirt..." I began, feeling uneasy about the turn this conversation seemed to be taking. "...he's just a friend of the family who's staying with us, that's all."
"Please," Angie rolled her eyes. "For the last two weeks you've been complaining about this total stranger waltzing back into your family after nine years and how you're pissed because your parents expect you to welcome him with open arms. The day finally comes...the mysterious Luke arrives...and you haven't said one lousy word about it. What's going on?" She stared at me, her jewel green eyes piercing through me. Ouch. I knew I may as well just give up right now.
"Nothing, just...I don't know." I ran my hand through my short red hair. "He's...cute." I looked down and pretended to be messing with my bookbag. "It's no big deal..."
"You know..." My other lunchmate, Becca, spoke up. "I think something's up. I've never seen you like this." She peered at me through her glasses, brushing a long brown curl away from her eyes.
"Yeah, usually guys don't phase you in the slightest! Either you date 'em or you don't." Angie looked me up and down. "You're practically unglued, Seaver."
Now, normally, I would spill anything to Angie and Becca. And if this had been some regular high school guy, I would've been dishing it readily. But there was something different about this. I mean, I didn't even know how I felt yet. I certainly wasn't ready to go around telling other people about it. Besides, I had a feeling they wouldn't understand.
"It's no big deal...really." I stood and began to gather my belongings. "I gotta go. See you guys later." I ran out of the cafeteria, leaving my friends silent and open-mouthed. What is with me? Normally I'm as cool as they come. Angie was right. I AM coming unglued.
Later that afternoon, I stood at my booth in the school gym, finishing up my display for the science fair. I have to say, I think this solar powered camera was my best idea yet. I thought of it last year when I was going through my "reporter" phase. At one point I was following my sister around with my video camera, and my battery died. We were at the park, and I could feel the hot sun beating down on my back. I remember thinking to myself...too bad I couldn't use the suns energy to power my camera instead of burning my shoulder. The rest is history. My parents think it's absolutely amazing...the ideas I come up with and stuff. It's so nice they could come and support me, I thought bitterly to myself. My brothers didn't really notice anything I did, and my sister was always criticizing me, telling me that I was so brilliant but if I kept acting "like Mike" I'd never get anywhere in life.
"Hey! Chrissy!"
I looked up from my project and saw Luke coming toward me. There were those damn butterflies again. I smiled, despite myself. I thought I felt my cheeks turn red, which was a first. He looked so cute...he was wearing jeans, a FloridaU t-shirt, and a leather jacket. I love leather jackets. I could've sworn my heart skipped a beat. Control yourself, Seaver.
"Hey." Luke came up to my table and inspected the display. His eyes grew with disbelief. "Wait a second...you MADE this?" He picked up the camera and inspected it.
"Sure...it wasn't that hard. The only hard part was actually finding a small enough motor to power the zoom control, but configuring the rest..." I quickly stopped myself before I started sounding TOO much like Carol. Luke looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to finish. "...um, didn't suck as much..." I trailed off, feeling like a flake.
"This is so cool Chrissy." He put the camera down. "You're really smart. You must've gotten that from Carol." He looked at me and grinned.
I couldn't help but scowl. "I'm not anything like Carol." I quickly turned away, pretending to look for something, realizing how stupid I'd just sounded.
"Well, no, I didn't mean you're like her. You're just smart like her. You seem a lot more...I don't know. You're very...different. More of a people person. More...outgoing. Hip."
Now I started to smile, because I knew he was pulling my leg.
"In fact," he continued, "I would even say that you are one groovy chick. Like, far out. You're right up there with Marcia Brady. In fact, if there was a contest for being cool, you'd kick The Fonz's butt!" As Luke joked around, his blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Are you done?" I asked with mock sarcasm.
Luke stopped, and smiled. "You know, you haven't changed much since you were a kid. You're still fun to hang out with."
I smiled back at him.
"Do you remember the time we went to the park and you lost Mr. Blowhole?"
"Yeah...I thought that was Ben who took me that day..." I trailed off, trying to remember.
Luke's face fell. "No. That was me. You asked me to take you because Ben was teasing you about a picture you had drawn in school...it was a pink elephant wearing a bikini. You started to cry because Ben told you the elephant was supposed to be gray. So you asked me to take you to the park, and I did. I bought you ice cream and you told me that you had a dream about pink elephants at the beach. That's why you left Mr. Blowhole there...you put him down on the bench while you were eating the ice cream, and we forgot all about him."
I just listened, surprised. "Wow...you have a good memory."
"I remember everything that ever happened while I was living in your house Chrissy. It was the only time I truly felt like I had a family."
I smiled, and a realization hit me. "I gave you that picture of the pink elephant, didn't I?"
Luke pulled out his wallet and opened it. He took out a piece of while paper, unfolded it and handed it to me. Sure enough, it was the pink elephant, wearing a bikini, lying on the beach under an umbrella. At the bottom, scribbled in crayon, it said.
TO LUKE: I LOVE YOU! YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND!
LOVE, CHRISSY E. SEAVER
Before I could react, Becca Walsh appeared out of nowhere, holding a yellow ribbon. "Look, Chris, I got second place!" My friend seemed truly pleased with herself.
"Huh," I looked up, still a little disoriented. "We got judged already?" I turned and looked back at my booth. Hanging on my display was a red ribbon. "Oh! I won! I got first place!"
"Congratulations, Chrissy!" Luke patted me on the shoulder, smiling.
"Thanks!" I noticed Becca looking at Luke, then giving me the eye. "Oh! Luke this is my good friend Becca...Becca this is Luke."
Becca smiled her typical polite, demure smile. "Nice to meet you." She turned and noticed people crowded around her display. "Ooh...gotta go!" She waved then ran off.
"So..." I said, carefully folding the picture back up and handing it to Luke. "That's pretty cool that you kept that all these years."
"Well...I have all the stuff you ever gave me. Drawings, assorted macaroni art work..." He laughed.
I grabbed my camera. "I'm pretty much done here...want to go to the park?"
"Sure...wait! Is that the one with the three-eyed crawfish?" Luke asked wearly.
"We'll stay away from the stream." I laughed. "Besides, the ice cream man usually hangs out on the other side of the park. And I do believe I owe you an ice cream cone."
A GROWING PAINS STORY
"Growing Up Is Hard To Do"
Chapter Two
The next morning we were sitting around the table for our "mandatory breakfast" again, but this time there was an air of excitement in the Seaver kitchen because of our guest. My brother Ben had spent the last 12 hours filling Luke in on the events of the past few years of his life. And this morning, he still wasn't finished. I sat slumped in my chair again, listening to Ben.
"...So after the cops finally managed to corner me, and I realized what was going on...dude, they had been broadcasting the whole chase live on TV!"
Mom interrupted him. "But what Ben didn't realize was that his police chase interrupted my live city council debate."
Ben continued. "Mom almost dropped out of the campaign because of what happened, but she changed her mind and now she's a Long Island city councilor!"
"Wow, Mrs. Seaver, that's awesome. That must be a pretty tough job, though, trying to keep all different kinds of people happy, not to mention running a whole city." Luke had been listening intently throughout the entire conversation, bright-eyed and looking genuinely happy to be here with my family. The night before we had all sat around the living room, letting Luke fill us in on what exactly had happened to him once he had left Long Island all those years ago. Apparently, he stayed with his dad for awhile, bouncing from city to city in his dad's big rig, looking for ways of making money, with nothing being too successful. And although he loved his dad, Luke realized that if he was ever going to make anything of himself, he needed roots and a real education. So his dad arranged for Luke to stay with his Aunt Winona in Florida. Luke finished high school, and went on to finish college. And now here he was.
"Oh, it's not so hard, Luke, and I love helping people with their problems. Just a few weeks ago I managed to get the council to form a committee to look into allegations that the waste water plant has been allowing toxins to seep into the stream that runs though Chesepeke Park. One of the residents called me about that after her daughter had been playing in the stream and found a crawfish with three eyes." My mom looked extremely pleased with herself.
My dad, Ben, Luke and I just sat there, looking at mom and at each other. Everyone pushed their plates away, not wanting to eat another bite. Ewww.
I decided to change the subject. "My science fair is today. You guys are going, right?"
Mom and dad's faces fell. "Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie, I can't. I have an important meeting with the mayor today. I can't reschedule." Mom stood and began to gather her things. "But good luck. I really wish I could be there." She kissed me on the forehead, and left.
I looked at my father expectantly. "Dad?"
"Sorry kiddo, I have a meeting with my publisher today. I'd cancel but I'm afraid there may be a problem with my manuscript that they need to see. I'll be home later on though."
Ben snickered. "Looks like you got the shaft...OW!" My boot slammed into his leg, almost causing him to spill his orange juice.
"Kids..." my dad absentmindedly began.
"I'll go to the science fair, Chrissy." Luke said. "When is it?"
Sort of caught by surprise, I smiled. "It's at two o'clock, in the gym."
"Well, would it be ok if I drop you off at school, Ben, so I can use your car to get to the science fair?" Luke asked.
Ben looked disappointed. "I thought we could hang out together on campus today...some of the girls in my Introduction to Film class are hot. I'd like to make a film starring them, if you know what I mean." He winked and nudged Luke.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, Ben." My dad got up from the table and began to clear his dishes.
Luke snickered. "We can do that tomorrow...it's not every day your sister is entered in a science fair." He smiled at me. I smiled back, but I felt strange. Did he mean "your sister" as in Ben's sister, or as in his own sister? I shrugged it off. It doesn't really matter...does it? In the corner of my mind, a thought occurred to me - I hoped that he didn't think of me as his sister. I shrugged that off too.
"Well, alright," Ben handed Luke the keys to his little blue Accord. "Today Chris gets you but tomorrow you're all mine."
Luke and I looked at Ben, mischievous grins on our faces.
Ben stopped and gunned his index finger at us. "You know what I mean."
The Dewey High cafeteria was abuzz with the idle chatter of eighty-something juniors. My table was no different. But as I sat and ate lunch with several of my nearest and dearest, I just couldn't keep my thoughts on the conversation going on around me. For some reason, I was really looking forward to the science fair, but it had nothing to do with scholastic excellence, and everything to do with Luke Brower. Oh, God, why am I doing this to myself? This guy was practically my brother...well, sort of. I guess. Not really. I mean, what am I supposed to do? This gorgeous guy shows up on my doorstep one day after being out of my life for nine years and I'm not allowed to be attracted to him?
"No," I distinctly heard my mother's voice. "You're not."
I shivered. I could see this entire situation was going to turn into one big suckfest.
"So what's the deal with this Luke?"
I jumped in my seat. "Huh?"
My best friend Angelina Moore, was staring at me across a brown-paper-bag strewn lunch table. "Helloooooo? Earth to Chrissy...come in please. I want dirt. What's he like?"
Angie certainly could be straight to the point when she wanted to be.
"There is no dirt..." I began, feeling uneasy about the turn this conversation seemed to be taking. "...he's just a friend of the family who's staying with us, that's all."
"Please," Angie rolled her eyes. "For the last two weeks you've been complaining about this total stranger waltzing back into your family after nine years and how you're pissed because your parents expect you to welcome him with open arms. The day finally comes...the mysterious Luke arrives...and you haven't said one lousy word about it. What's going on?" She stared at me, her jewel green eyes piercing through me. Ouch. I knew I may as well just give up right now.
"Nothing, just...I don't know." I ran my hand through my short red hair. "He's...cute." I looked down and pretended to be messing with my bookbag. "It's no big deal..."
"You know..." My other lunchmate, Becca, spoke up. "I think something's up. I've never seen you like this." She peered at me through her glasses, brushing a long brown curl away from her eyes.
"Yeah, usually guys don't phase you in the slightest! Either you date 'em or you don't." Angie looked me up and down. "You're practically unglued, Seaver."
Now, normally, I would spill anything to Angie and Becca. And if this had been some regular high school guy, I would've been dishing it readily. But there was something different about this. I mean, I didn't even know how I felt yet. I certainly wasn't ready to go around telling other people about it. Besides, I had a feeling they wouldn't understand.
"It's no big deal...really." I stood and began to gather my belongings. "I gotta go. See you guys later." I ran out of the cafeteria, leaving my friends silent and open-mouthed. What is with me? Normally I'm as cool as they come. Angie was right. I AM coming unglued.
Later that afternoon, I stood at my booth in the school gym, finishing up my display for the science fair. I have to say, I think this solar powered camera was my best idea yet. I thought of it last year when I was going through my "reporter" phase. At one point I was following my sister around with my video camera, and my battery died. We were at the park, and I could feel the hot sun beating down on my back. I remember thinking to myself...too bad I couldn't use the suns energy to power my camera instead of burning my shoulder. The rest is history. My parents think it's absolutely amazing...the ideas I come up with and stuff. It's so nice they could come and support me, I thought bitterly to myself. My brothers didn't really notice anything I did, and my sister was always criticizing me, telling me that I was so brilliant but if I kept acting "like Mike" I'd never get anywhere in life.
"Hey! Chrissy!"
I looked up from my project and saw Luke coming toward me. There were those damn butterflies again. I smiled, despite myself. I thought I felt my cheeks turn red, which was a first. He looked so cute...he was wearing jeans, a FloridaU t-shirt, and a leather jacket. I love leather jackets. I could've sworn my heart skipped a beat. Control yourself, Seaver.
"Hey." Luke came up to my table and inspected the display. His eyes grew with disbelief. "Wait a second...you MADE this?" He picked up the camera and inspected it.
"Sure...it wasn't that hard. The only hard part was actually finding a small enough motor to power the zoom control, but configuring the rest..." I quickly stopped myself before I started sounding TOO much like Carol. Luke looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to finish. "...um, didn't suck as much..." I trailed off, feeling like a flake.
"This is so cool Chrissy." He put the camera down. "You're really smart. You must've gotten that from Carol." He looked at me and grinned.
I couldn't help but scowl. "I'm not anything like Carol." I quickly turned away, pretending to look for something, realizing how stupid I'd just sounded.
"Well, no, I didn't mean you're like her. You're just smart like her. You seem a lot more...I don't know. You're very...different. More of a people person. More...outgoing. Hip."
Now I started to smile, because I knew he was pulling my leg.
"In fact," he continued, "I would even say that you are one groovy chick. Like, far out. You're right up there with Marcia Brady. In fact, if there was a contest for being cool, you'd kick The Fonz's butt!" As Luke joked around, his blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Are you done?" I asked with mock sarcasm.
Luke stopped, and smiled. "You know, you haven't changed much since you were a kid. You're still fun to hang out with."
I smiled back at him.
"Do you remember the time we went to the park and you lost Mr. Blowhole?"
"Yeah...I thought that was Ben who took me that day..." I trailed off, trying to remember.
Luke's face fell. "No. That was me. You asked me to take you because Ben was teasing you about a picture you had drawn in school...it was a pink elephant wearing a bikini. You started to cry because Ben told you the elephant was supposed to be gray. So you asked me to take you to the park, and I did. I bought you ice cream and you told me that you had a dream about pink elephants at the beach. That's why you left Mr. Blowhole there...you put him down on the bench while you were eating the ice cream, and we forgot all about him."
I just listened, surprised. "Wow...you have a good memory."
"I remember everything that ever happened while I was living in your house Chrissy. It was the only time I truly felt like I had a family."
I smiled, and a realization hit me. "I gave you that picture of the pink elephant, didn't I?"
Luke pulled out his wallet and opened it. He took out a piece of while paper, unfolded it and handed it to me. Sure enough, it was the pink elephant, wearing a bikini, lying on the beach under an umbrella. At the bottom, scribbled in crayon, it said.
TO LUKE: I LOVE YOU! YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND!
LOVE, CHRISSY E. SEAVER
Before I could react, Becca Walsh appeared out of nowhere, holding a yellow ribbon. "Look, Chris, I got second place!" My friend seemed truly pleased with herself.
"Huh," I looked up, still a little disoriented. "We got judged already?" I turned and looked back at my booth. Hanging on my display was a red ribbon. "Oh! I won! I got first place!"
"Congratulations, Chrissy!" Luke patted me on the shoulder, smiling.
"Thanks!" I noticed Becca looking at Luke, then giving me the eye. "Oh! Luke this is my good friend Becca...Becca this is Luke."
Becca smiled her typical polite, demure smile. "Nice to meet you." She turned and noticed people crowded around her display. "Ooh...gotta go!" She waved then ran off.
"So..." I said, carefully folding the picture back up and handing it to Luke. "That's pretty cool that you kept that all these years."
"Well...I have all the stuff you ever gave me. Drawings, assorted macaroni art work..." He laughed.
I grabbed my camera. "I'm pretty much done here...want to go to the park?"
"Sure...wait! Is that the one with the three-eyed crawfish?" Luke asked wearly.
"We'll stay away from the stream." I laughed. "Besides, the ice cream man usually hangs out on the other side of the park. And I do believe I owe you an ice cream cone."