Disclaimer: I do not own any Higher Ground characters. I made up the plot, and several characters (Toby, Jenny, Sarah, and Styner). I also don't own the song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by the Beatles. But it is a groovy song and one of my favorites.

"Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on. Fa-la-la how the life goes on."

Scott reached across the gearshift and slapped at the car radio, turning it off. Stupid oldies. The driver glared at him, tightening his fingers on the steering wheel.

"That was the Beatles, man. You just don't turn the radio off on the Beatles."

"Shut up, Toby," Scott said. He lit up a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth, sucking absentmindedly. "Who cares what you think. Besides, aren't all them dead, anyway?"

"No!" Toby changed lanes without using his turn signal. A car honked. "Not all…ah, just screw it, man. You don't care." He took the cigarette out of Scott's hand and took a drag. "You wanna go home?"

"No," Scott said sharply.

"Sorry," Toby replied. "Just a question. Jeez. You get so worked up over everything." Scott snatched the cigarette back.

"Let's go get the girls," Scott said. "Jenny should be off work by now, and what's-her-name—that stupid girlfriend of yours is too lazy to have a job—or a life."

"Her name's Sarah. And look who's talking," Toby retorted. "When have you ever worked?"

"I have football."

"Yeah, uh huh." Toby frowned and honked at a car in the lane next to them. "Don't you have practice, like, now?"

"Whatever." Scott leaned his head back at chewed on the end of the cigarette. He did have practice, but it didn't matter so much. Football was just a game. Life was what was real. And it was a pain in the butt. "Are we going to get the girls or what?"

"Fine, fine." Toby pulled a u-turn in the next intersection and sped in the other direction.

"And then we'll all go get stoned." Scott laughed. "Perfect end to a freakin' perfect day, eh Tobe?"

"Sure, Scott, whatever."

"Thought so." Scott leaned over the side of Toby's convertible and tossed his cigarette butt onto the street.

They got to Jenny's house in a few minutes. Sarah, Toby's girlfriend, was lounging on the front step, headphones on, filing her nails. Jenny was out on the front lawn, screaming at her neighbor. Scott hopped out of the car and jogged over to her.

"Just shut your fat mouth!" Jenny yelled, her pretty face contorted into a look of anger. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about!"

"I live here!" the neighbor screeched back. She was an ancient woman, indignant and seriously angry. "And I have every right to tell you to keep the noise down! Every night—every night—you have those terrible parties, and you all make so much noise—"

"I like those parties," Scott interrupted. "And if you have a problem with my girl here, then you can move your grumpy old ass out of this neighborhood."

Shocked, the woman stared at him, her mouth opening and closing several times. Finally, she turned around and stalked back into her house, slamming the door shut.

Jenny laughed aloud and turned, flinging her arms around Scott enthusiastically. "Hey, hottie," she said. "Got plans for tonight?"

"You bet," Scott answered. "Wanna go flying?"

She traced a finger down his lips. "How high?"

"Oh, very high. Very high indeed."

"Count me in."

"Scott!" Toby called from the car. "You guys joining us?"

"Yeah, Toby," Scott called back. "Keep your shirt on."

"Life awaits," Jenny said, taking Scott's hand. "Or some distortion of life."

"That it does," he replied quietly. They walked back to Toby's car and got into the backseat. Toby started the car and pulled away from the curb. Scott couldn't help but think that Sarah looked like a sloth, half-dead, draped over her seat and Toby's shoulder. He snorted and pulled Jenny closer.

"Getting frisky?" she asked.

"Not in my car, he's not," Toby said without turning around. "What were you carrying on about, Jen?"

"Stupid neighbor doesn't like my parties," she said.

"I do," Toby and Scott said at the same time. Sarah shifted slightly and melted back into her seat.

"Where to?" Toby asked.

"Your place," Scott responded.

"It's always my place," he complained, putting an arm around Sarah's uncaring form. Scott wondered how she had gotten into the car. She didn't seem alive.

"My parents are home tonight," Jenny explained. "And Scott's mom and dad are always around."

"Step-mom," Scott corrected.

"Whatever," Jenny said. "And Sarah's house is crawling with her little brothers and sisters, isn't it, Sare?" Sarah might have grunted. Scott couldn't tell for sure. "And that leaves your place."

"I know, I know," Toby said. "As long as Scott brought the stuff."

"We're good," Scott assured him. "Jenny has the stuff, and I brought some beer." Toby nodded and turned on the radio. More oldies. "Change the station, man."

"Idiotic basta…" Toby's voice trailed off as he changed the station to some kind of heavy metal music. Scott bobbed his head. This was more acceptable.