Homecoming Scandal
By: CNJ
PG-13
8: Time To Grow Up
Melanie:
It felt weird not to be rushing off to school. I missed Connecticut U., not really sitting in class, but the whole social scene...the great parties, being away from home and having no rules, and most of all, the great times Logan and I had together. I wished I had the courage to call him, but I wasn't sure how he'd react. God, I can't believe Jana Morgan snuck around with him throughout this whole mess.
Bored nearly out of my mind one afternoon in mid-September, I flipped on the tube and watched the afternoon soaps. On Interns and Lovers, Chad and Cynthia are about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary with a huge party, but a fight ruins their party. It was fun watching scandals on soap operas, but now my whole life felt like a huge soap opera and I wasn't enjoying it.
Just then, Mom and Jeff came home and headed into the kitchen with huge bags of groceries. They fiddled around in the kitchen while I tried to tune out their babbling.
Mom's not acting as miserable these days and now she was talking up a storm with my brother. Well, good. At least she's now off my back about me getting a job. I'm going back to college in January, even though I was stuck here at home, so what was the point?
"Melanie..." Mom called. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"What?"
"Can you help me with the salad?"
"Sure, in a minute," I called back. I guessed Mom was making dinner now. I hoped she'd make something good like lasagna, but so far I hadn't smelled that.
I heard a plop in the microwave and suspected that Mom was taking a shortcut and making those rice mix microwave dinners. I groaned and rolled my eyes.
She's been doing that a lot lately. Great. Maybe one of these days she'll just head off to the salad bar at Food Mart or Giant and pick up a ready-made and cooked little salad and chicken meal.
"Melanie...I could use some help here," Mom called.
"Coming..." I muttered.
I tentatively got up when I saw Jeff putting plates on the table. Mom fooled around with the glasses and I edged toward the kitchen. I did that every time Mom headed toward the living room, so she wouldn't nag me anymore. She's getting to be a real pain lately, even though now she isn't moping around about my alleged "immaturity."
I guess Mom got my message, because she pulled lettuce, radishes, carrots, and tomatoes out of the fridge, thunked them on the counter, and put together a salad herself with a gusty sigh. I stifled a grin and settled back into the living room.
By the time Mom called us to dinner, the last soap of the day was over and Dad had come home. I fought back a groan as we sat. Frozen dinners again!
It's not like Mom had some twelve-hour a day job; all she does is run that teen taxi for the middle school. This rice and chicken mix...ick, it's for the birds. I diddled around with it with my fork while Jeff, Mom and Dad practically inhaled the food.
"What a wonderful dinner, Mom," I rolled my eyes, taking a few bites of the tasteless rice and washing it down with water.
"Thank you..." Mom started to smile at me, then I guess saw my expression because her smile faded.
"Where do you dig up these bland recipes for these pre-packaged gourmet cuisines?" I said sarcastically. Mom actually winced, then she looked down a minute. Then her face flushed and she looked up at me.
"You know, Melanie, she said sharply. "Instead of sitting around watching those ridiculous soap operas, you could've been in the kitchen helping me with the salad, so maybe you wouldn't have an excuse to complain about that!" Uhhhh-ohhh, I'd made Mom mad, I realized.
"Hey, sorry," I tried to placate her.
"I work my butt off for a lot of things, then come home and really don't feel like cooking," Mom ranted on as she stood up.
"Kathy..." Dad started, then glanced at me, then at her.
"No, I want my daughter to understand that I spend half the day driving the van, that most of that money was going for her college tuition, but she doesn't appreciate it. She's twenty years old, but hasn't lifted a finger to help me around the house or contribute to the expenses of this household! Instead, she criticizes my cooking and I'm getting tired of it!"
"I didn't ask you to start that stupid teen taxi business back then..." I started.
"Melanie!" my dad said sternly.
"That's what she thinks of my work...stupid," Mom went on as she picked up her plate and dumped the rest of her meal down the drain and ground it down the disposal.
"Larry, I don't know how I failed with my daughter..." Mom stood at the sink, her breath coming fast. "You remember, Larry, how I started that business so we could have more financial security and we could have a college fund for the kids...but Melanie, you complained about how it was an embarrassment to you socially and now you're complaining about dinner. Well, fine, maybe tomorrow you can put something together for yourself!" With that, Mom stalked upstairs.
"Wow, didn't you blow it," Jeff whistled. "Mom's probably upstairs now bawling her eyes shut."
"Stay out of this, Jeff!" I snapped at him, then threw the rest of my food away and headed upstairs.
Okay, maybe I shouldn't have made that comment about dinner; it was probably a dumb thing to say, but that was no reason for Mom to get bent out of shape into a pretzel!
I'd thought she was getting over this mess, but maybe she isn't completely over this. You'd think she was the one whose life was ruined! Well, don't worry, Mom, I'll be moving out of here after college at Stamford U., so I won't be around much longer to complain and make you miserable.
A knock on my door woke me up the next morning. I heaved a gusty sigh when I saw the time...eight-thirty. The knock sounded again. "Coming..." I groaned and heaved myself out of bed and opened the door. It was Mom. Ohhh.
"Time to grow up," she stated, handing a newspaper.
"What's this?" I demanded. The classified ads, I realized.
"It's time to look for a job," Mom announced.
"But I'll be back in school..."
"Yes, I know that, but meanwhile, you're going to work and earn your keep around here," Mom told me. "So get going and I expect you to have called at least five of these places today."
With that, she left my room and headed downstairs. Oh, God. Mom really was... I realized that unless I at least called around, Mom was going to be on my back again, interrogating me about my job hunt and beefing endlessly about how hard she worked and how I just lazed around doing nothing, yada, yada.
I slowly got dressed with a sigh and got ready to face an icky day of job-hunting. And probably once I got a job, I was in for a grand time of hauling myself out of bed every morning to go follow some boss's orders and miss my favorite soaps and worst of all, not have much time for any kind of social life. Thrilling.
Jana:
"Heyyy..." someone called into Tanninger's. I looked up.
"Parker!" I gasped in surprise. "Hi."
"Hi, there," Parker wandered in. I wasn't very busy on this Monday afternoon in early October. The weather was still warm, but the leaves were starting to change outside. "When d'you start working here?"
"In July," I told him as I hung up a few leggings that had fallen to the floor. "Sooo, what have you been doing these days?" I always thought Parker was still a bit immature, especially after he and Matt carried on about Logan's part in this Homecoming fiasco.
"I work at Lexington Tires," Parker leaned on the counter and grinned at me with that mischievous smile he always had. "Good thing too, because my parents were on my case big time to start working for a living, even though I'm only suspended. Hey, still hanging around that Bruno loser?"
"Actually not," I told him about the fight Logan and I had had in the car on the way home. "...that's when I found out how sooo self-centered he is. He's more of a match for Melanie Edwards, his other half of a selfish brat." Parker laughed, but I sensed he understood.
"Well, Bruno's not worth a rat's butt and both of them are always out for themselves."
"Yeah...but to make matters worse, Melanie is hanging around Randy." I lifted a lip in disgust. "I never thought Randy would fall for an airhead like Melanie, but apparently he has. I was coming home from here one night in August and ran into them in the parking lot draped all over each other. It was soooo disgusting!"
"Ooooh, that must have not felt too good, even though Kirwan's not worth losing sleep over either," Parker actually sounded sympathetic as he leaned further on the counter and studied me more intensely.
I remembered that once in seventh grade, Randy and I had broken up briefly and I suggested that we date other people. I'd gone out with Parker then and back then Parker had been part of this rock band at Wakeman Middle School.
He'd embarrassed me to death with antics right in this fast-food eatery called Bumpers. A lot of Wakeman kids used to hang out there and had looked at Parker and laughed, thinking he was so funny.
Fortunately, even though he's still a little bit immature, he seems to have come a way since back then, when he'd REALLY been immature. He isn't into the rock band business anymore. "Sooo, are you seeing anyone or are you...unattached?" Parker asked.
"I guess...no one," I stared at him, wondering if he was still interested in me after all these years.
Parker really isn't my idea of a boyfriend for me, but I really missed going out with guys and being part of a couple. It was getting depressing either working or sitting at home on weekend nights staring at the TV. So, I figured Parker would do for now...
"Psssst..." someone interrupted. I looked over and sighed, annoyed at the interruption. Customer. "Can you just take a second from your hot romance and tell me where the jewelry is?" she sniped sarcastically.
"Sure, down the aisle on the right," I snapped.
The woman glared at me a minute and I hoped she wouldn't have another stupid smart-alecky remark, but I guess she thought the better of it and turned on her heel and headed down there.
Luckily the manager wasn't around. I was getting sick of dealing with customers like that and the manager whenever she was around, could be nosy and picky. Parker hid a grin and I sighed again.
"Customers..." I muttered.
"Yeah, I know about that," Parker said sympathetically. "I've had to deal with a few stupid idiots myself in the tire industry."
Parker hung around and we socialized some while I straightened up some of the fitting rooms. Thank God, there were hardly any customers to interrupt us.
After the store closed up for the night, Parker offered me a ride home and that's when he asked if I was free Friday night. I was off on Friday, so I accepted.
So, for the first time since I'd come back home, I had a date. Maybe I'd have a good time with Parker, especially if he remembers I don't like root beer.
It was almost like old times back in middle and high school standing in line at the movie theater. The thought made me feel pleasantly nostalgic at first, then a little depressed.
Here our group or what used to be our group is stuck at home in Bridgeport while everyone else is in college and all over the world starting careers, living where they feel like and just being independent of the 'rents.
I looked around for anyone else I knew, but not surprisingly, I didn't see anyone. I thought I spotted Tammy Lucero with a guy I didn't know down the line. I pulled closer to Parker, so she wouldn't see me. Gross. It was more depressing seeing her. I'd heard that she'd been suspended too.
I was glad when Parker bought the tickets and we went into theater number four. After the movie, we decided to head to Chia's, which has some of the greatest Mexican food in Bridgeport. It's just across the street form the theater and fortunately Parker remembered that I preferred Coke, not root beer.
This time, he seemed quieter, more settled and we were able to have a more mature conversation than before. He talked about the latest sports controversy, some football coach getting into a fight with some members of the team, I think the Los Angeles Rams. It felt so good being out on a date again and having someone to talk to.
"Heeeeey, Parker! Hey, Jana!" Matt Zeboski, Gene Actbin, and Derek Travelstead wandered up.
"Hi..." Parker and I greeted them and Parker pulled up some chairs so the three of them could sit with us.
I've always liked Matt; he's got a great sense of humor. Gene's all right; he was one of the guys Melanie used to string along for a while back in high school before she started dating Logan. Derek is fun to hang out with too. I just hoped neither Melanie or Logan had come to the movies tonight, so they wouldn't be around here tonight.
The five of us talked for the next couple of hours. Being back here was depressing, but having these guys around made it bearable. Guys are so easy to be with, I thought as we talked about whether the our NFL team would make the playoffs this year and which team was likely to make the super bowl.
Several times, Matt and I exchanged looks of understanding when the others went off into a conversation on what they planned to do when they returned to Connecticut U. in January. I knew Matt was bummed out as I was since he too had been expelled. Matt told us that he was now working at Lechter's in Washington Mall.
"The housewarming party store!" Gene, Parker, and Derek whooped and Matt gave them each a playful punch on the arm. We all laughed and the two remaining customers turned to look at us.
"I think the waitresses are beginning to give us LOOKS, so we should scram out of here," Gene announced, standing up.
"Me too," Matt stood also and Derek followed suit. They put on their jackets, waved goodbye and left before Parker and me. Parker and I took our time leaving, then headed out to his car. The night was a bit chilly, so on the way home, Parker turned on the heater.
Randy:
I'd just gotten off work on a cool Saturday night in mid-October. As I headed to my car when I heard laughter in the parking lot.
Boy, was I surprised to see Jana Morgan clinging on to Parker Donovan! And she was laughing as if he'd just told her the funniest joke in the world. So, Parker didn't hesitate to move in on MY girlfriend!
At that minute, they saw me because Jana sort of gasped and Parker's eyes widened. I must have been glaring at them because Parker glared back while Jana sort of shrank into him.
"Hello," I said in a chilly voice. "Sorry to interrupt your little liaison, but I'll be out of here in one minute."
"Hey, Randy..." Jana stepped forward hesitantly. "Don't go away like this..."
"Like what?"
"Well, think about last summer when I ran into you and Melanie," Jana's chin came up. "Don't tell me Melanie's dumped you for yet another fling." I winced a little.
"Actually not," I stated. "I dumped her."
"Oh, that's good. I mean, she wasn't right for you anyway, so it's good you're not with her anymore."
"Hey, Randy, she's not your girlfriend anymore, so butt out!" Parker barked, balling his fists.
"Well, she's not YOURS either!" I snarled back.
"Hey, you guys, cut it out!" Jana stepped between us. "Let's just...go home." Looking at Jana, I realized one of the main reasons we'd been together so long.
"Randy, I don't want us to end up hating each other. Parker and I had a few dates, that's all. Nothing serious."
"Nothing serious..." Parker muttered. "Well, Jesus H. Roosevelt Rehoboth, was I just...?" he hesitated a few minutes, then I guess he got the picture at the same time I did. "...so I was just a way to fill the time," he finished in a quiet voice. Yep, you were, Donovan, I thought smugly.
"No, you weren't..." Jana tried to explain. "I like you, but..." she looked between us, then at me the longest.
"I was just a poor second to your ever-devoted Randy," Parker finished in a low, hurt voice, then quickly turned and headed toward his car.
"Parker, wait..." Jana called, but it was too late.
Parker had started his car and peeled out of the parking lot. I stifled a grin, glad to be rid of Parker. Parker's always been an immature moron and I never understood what Jana ever saw in him. But I figured Jana needed a guy in her life to fill in...
"Oh, God, Randy, why did you have to go into a jealous fit?" Jana wailed, leaning on my car.
"Because I guess I still care for you," I said softly. "The same reason it upset you to see me with Melanie."
"So, Melanie was a fill-in too?" Jana looked at me closely, running her hand through her medium-brown wavy hair.
"I don't know," I told her. "But I guess seeing you with Parker made me realize that I guess I was hoping Melanie would 'replace' you. But she can't and..."
"Neither can Parker," Jana told me. "I guess that's what draws us back to each other again...we have a lot in common."
"Including getting jealous," I laughed a little. Jana joined in and that broke the tension. It felt good laughing with her again. I realized that I'd missed her so much in all these months apart. I never wanted us to ever drift apart like that again.
"I missed you," Jana said softly.
Before we knew it, we kissed right there in the October evening. Getting back together with her made being stuck at home in Bridgeport more tolerable. It we could just be sure to be together always...hey, why not? We'd both be twenty-one by June.
"Will you marry me?" I asked softly.
"What?" she whispered as we stroked each others' hair.
"Will you marry me in June?" I asked again.
"Sure..." Jana's face widened into a smile. "Yes! Oh, that would definitely mark us as adults!"
"It sure will," I grinned. "We'll be miles ahead of those other losers, especially Bruno and Melanie! C'mon, I'll give you a ride home."
We got into my car and I took Jana home. Oh, it would be great having Jana was my wife. Wow. I was going to have to get a ring to make it official, announce it to our parents, then start planning the wedding.
I knew Jana wanted a traditional wedding; I remembered her telling me about her ideal dream wedding several times, starting when her mom married her stepdad back when we were in seventh grade. So, I'd make her dream come true.
I'd eventually get a better job than the one I had and soon we'd get our first house. Then we'll REALLY be adults and no one would be able to tell us what to do and treat us like irresponsible kids anymore.
Coolboy aol (Logan) to Cheerlder67 aol (Melanie) Guess who's engaged...none other than Jana Morgan and Randy Kirwan...
Logan:
Ooops, I didn't just send an e-mail to Melanie...oh, I did...
Cheerlder67 aol to Coolboy aol: Hey, Logan! Hello, stranger. So, Randy and Jana are getting married, huh. Where'd you hear this from? Don't tell me they bragged to the whole world and Jana had a ring the size of the Statue of Liberty's nose to show it off.
Coolboy to Cheerlder67: Close to it. It's in the Bridgeport Post.
Cheerlder67 to Coolboy: Uhhh-huhhh. Puh-LEEEZE. Those two always did give themselves airs. They're so pompous and phony, both of them. Logan...did you really mean to e-mail or was that just a wrong button?
Coolboy to Cheerlder67: I almost did, but now...oh, I don't know, but I'm glad I did e-mail you because I missed you. Jana was fun for a while, but she is stuck-up and phony. Well, I guess Randy has her back and they're the Siamese couple again. And they're having a...ta-da, big surprise, June wedding naturally with a white gown, all the flowers, the church and minister...the whole nine yards. I bet her stepdad paid for the announcement so they could put all the details in there.
Cheerlder67 to Coolboy: Snicka. It figures. Hey, Logan, I missed you too, but just didn't have the courage to call and tell you. I work at Hecht's now. Been there for three weeks. Back sometime in September, I made some dumb comment about Mom's lousy cooking and she blew up at me about how allegedly irresponsible I am. And another stupid thing, maybe you've heard...my 'rents are making me live at home and commute to Stamford U. in January.
Coolboy: You're not kidding...oh, what a bummer! Well, my 'rents have cooled down a bit since I started working at the movie theater in the mall. It's not a great job, but I suppose once I go back and finish college, I'll be able to get something better. Oh, I'm so glad we were only suspended and not expelled.
Cheerlder67: Yeah. Randy and Jana may think they're ahead of us, probably figuring that getting married will make them adults, but hey, how'll they support themselves without college, right? I heard Jana's working at a crappy sales job at Tanninger's and Randy's some clerk at a Sports USA.
Coolboy: Oh, they'll probably mooch off their parents until they're fifty or something just like some couples in those old movies used to do...live with their parents, who drive them up a tree and then when they have kids, the parents will be telling them how to raise the kids. Unlike us, who'll be more mature and wait until we get through college, then get away from the 'rents' control.
Cheerlder67: So, this means we're re-united?
Coolboy: Yeah. I missed you so much. I'm so sorry I blamed you for this whole mess.
Cheerlder67: Me too. I'm sorry, I guess I did act like a selfish twit about this whole wreck. I love you, Logan. We'll get through this.
Coolboy: With us together again, it'll be more bearable. So want to go out Friday night?
Cheerlder67: Yeah, I'd love to.
