Life After High School. Is It Scary? You Bet.

By Risty Maskell and Silver15

Disclaimer: We own nadda but our own characters

Summary: Stuff it. We dunno.

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I was seething with anger when Mr. Silverblade said he wanted one more thing. But when he said it was something to do with Benny's previous job, I was startled. But Billee, Legolas and Me got up and walked out obediently. Once we got outside, Billee exploded.

"That mongrel!" He said. "That dirty, rotten, lying, mongrel!"

"Billee, settle down. I'm sure Benny will tell us what happened when he comes out." I said, trying hard from punching my other hand. We sat out there for five minutes before Damon came out. His face was sullen.

"Damon, what's going on?" I asked. Damon didn't answer. He just shook his head. Billee and Legolas tried. But he still wouldn't budge.

"It's up to Benny whether he wants to tell you or not." Was all he said. And we were in for another wait. Billee and I were so bored we began a game of thumb war.

"1…2…3…4…I declare a thumb war." I said.

"5…6…7…8…Try to keep your thumb straight." Billee said and we began a half- hearted attempt to knock each down. Legolas watched in amusement. He had been twirling his long blonde hair around his finger, in a bored sort of way.

"Legolas, you know if you do that, you look like a complete ditz?" I asked.

"Hey, you, That's my ditz you're talking too!" Billee said, grinning. Legolas grinned and pretended to sniff.

"Well at least someone here loves me!" He said, faking a sob. That sent me into gales of laughter. The present problem seemed forgotten.

Benny came out then, looking pale in the face and not in the least bit, happy.

"Benny, tell me what happened." I said instantly. Benny shook his head and chewed his bottom lip. I frowned. From what I remembered about Benny, he only chewed his lip when he was afraid, and you didn't often see Benny afraid. I knew it was something big. But if Benny didn't want to tell us now, maybe later. So we began to walk home.

Billee and Legolas were whispering about something, and Damon and Benny were talking quietly. I couldn't hear what they were saying. I had no one to talk to. I sort of, hung back when we reached the front door to Bag End. We were about to open it, when it was opened from the inside, by none other than Bilbo. Dear old Bilbo.

"Bilbo!" I said, in a way, he was like my uncle now, he used to be my drama teacher. I hugged him tight.

"Jamie! You're home! And you have a lot to tell me about, don't you?"

"Yes, when did you arrive?"

"About an hour ago. Frodo said that you had left to go to town, for some thing."

I smiled. The guys had left us in the hall, and had gone into the kitchen. Then all of a sudden, I began to cry. Bilbo, being the gentle hobbit, he was, took my hand and led me out to the low branch. He sat on it and let me cry into his shoulder. He rocked me and spoke to me like I was a baby.

"Do you want to talk?" He finally said. I nodded.

"Yeah, Bilbo, it might help." So I told him of all the things that had happened since the end of high school. Bilbo hadn't been able to make it to the wedding because he had been traveling in the wrong direction. I told him about my baby girl, about Emma, about everything. How Emma was pregnant, and she somehow knew it was a boy. All that, then I told Bilbo about Mr. Silverblade and my parent joining forces and making us pay ten thousand dollars for Emma. When I told him, Bilbo was really shocked.

"That criminal." He said, quietly.

After we had finished talking, Bilbo went inside to play with Colan and Wendy and little Ria. I went over to the Gardeners Quarters and knocked.

The door was opened by Benny. He was alone. I walked in, uninvited and sat in a chair.

"Benny. You are going to have to tell me what this big secret is. After the criminal incident, I don't want any secrets between you and me." I said, carefully.

Benny nodded. "Yeah, I know, but-"

"No buts Benny. Spill the beans."