too lazy to write a disclaimer...

too lazy to write any notes...

"Nana!" Jett swung around the banister of the staircase. "I'm going out!"

"All right!" Miz Corretta called back. "Just be back before dinner, you hear?"

"You got it!" Jett sprinted out the door and down the street, heading in the direction of JB's store. Riley had just come back from visiting her grandparents in Charlotte, and they were giving her a small welcome-back party. It wasn't really a party, just the four of them hanging out at JB's. As was per custom, everyone knew. There was no better hangout. Kayla had said it once.

"Chips, soda, ice cream, and a TV, all in one place. Nothing better than that."

Jett smiled as he thought of his friends. JB had started to come to terms with the fact that Jett and Kayla were dating, and he had even started writing to Riley lately.

Of course, now that she was back, it was time to put that plan into effect that he and Kay had been hinting about for ages, but neither Riley nor JB seemed to get the clue.

They had laughed about it the night before, sitting on the porch swing at Jett's house, watching the sunset. It had been a spontaneous thing, but special nonetheless.

As for their plan... well, that was for tomorrow.

* * * *

Halliburton's opened late and closed early on Sundays. It opened late because the entire town was in church in the morning, and closed early because Sunday dinner was a big event in Wilsted.

But this Sunday Halliburton's was closed the entire day. Jett, Kayla, and JB were waiting inside for Riley, who had been told nothing of the gathering.

The little bell tinkled over the door, and the three of them crouched down behind the counter.

"Guys?" Riley's voice came from near the door. "Hello?" Her footsteps came closer to the counter. "That's not funny, JB." She sounded a little annoyed.

"Three.. two.. one..." Jett whispered, and... "SURPRISE!" Jett, Kayla, and JB jumped out from behind and cash register and grinned. Riley's smile blossomed quickly once she got over being startled.

"I thought we were just going to hang out," Riley said as JB got chips, soda and ice cream from various parts of the store, and switched on the big radio to the local Top 40 station.

"Talk, Riley," Kayla leaned over the counter and looked at her friend. "How was the big city?"

Riley's smile dropped. "It was nice... you know, the basic big sidewalks and roads and stuff... But I don't think my grandmother's going to make it."

Kayla sat back. "Why? What's wrong?"

Riley sighed. "They think her Alzheimer's is getting worse. I mean, she didn't even recognize us when we came. My mother was so upset. My grandma kept calling her Leona, and that was my aunt's name."

"Was your aunt there?"

"Leona was my mom's twin sister. She... she died when I was ten, in a car accident," Riley took a drink of soda and blinked hard.

Kayla put a hand on her friend's arm. "I'm really sorry, Riles."

Riley smiled a little at this use of her pet name. She took a deep breath and let it out. "Thanks, Kay."

"So, ladies!" JB pulled up a chair, Jett right behind him. Jett, however, plunked himself down in the available chair right next to Kayla, and pecked her on the cheek. "Did we miss anything?" JB asked.

"Not really," Riley said, her sadness vanishing under a calm exterior. Well, she was an actress, Kayla thought wryly.

"We were discussing 'girl things'," Kayla said jokingly, sending Jett into peals of laughter as she wobbled her head like a valley girl.

"Anyway." JB took a sip of his soda. "Don't do that, Kay. It freaks me out to see you acting feminine."

Kayla smacked him on the arm, only half-playfully. "Shut up, Halliburton."

JB grimaced, rubbing the red spot on his arm. "I was kidding, Kay."

Kayla smiled, but his comment had left her angrier than she expected. She had this crazy desire suddenly, not to be embarrassed in front of Jett. Oh, stop it, Kayla, she thought, irritated at her newfound vulnerability. You never cared before.

He wasn't your boyfriend before, her mind argued.

"Kayla?" Riley snapped her fingers in her friend's face.

"Oh." Kayla snapped out of her thoughts. "Sorry."

"Thought we lost you there for a minute." JB tossed a piece of popcorn up into the air and caught it in his mouth. Riley applauded jokingly.

Jett nudged Kayla as JB offered Riley a drink of his soda. They smiled knowingly at each other. Riley accepted the cup with a grin of thanks, and turned back to the conversation.

As usual, they rallied around her in support, each offering their own brand of comfort. This little gathering was one of the best things about being friends. Nothing mattered but each other.

It was well past five when the little party broke up, each of them heading in a different direction. JB and Riley stood for a moment longer in the doorway, watching as Jett pulled Kayla into a long kiss before they went their separate ways.

"It's nice to finally see them together, isn't it?" Riley said. "I don't know about you, but I was about to throw them a surprise wedding."

JB laughed. "Yeah, it's about time." He turned to his friend. "Doesn't it make you wish?"

"Wish what?"

"That you had someone too?"

Riley sat down on the steps. "Not really. I mean, I've had boyfriends. And as far as I'm concerned, it can wait. I have a life."

JB knew she was right, and he was beginning to agree.

Whatever was in store for him, he was sure it was on the way.