DISCLAIMER: The people of RTT are not mine. Not even Ryan Hurst! Or Kip Pardue. Sad, but true! I'm glad Kip's not gay, but I don't know why he's dating Jennifer Love Hewitt. :-( Of course he could be dating J. Lo. Which is like automatic suicide for your heart. Poor Ben. Oops This is supposed to be a disclaimer, not a who's dating who... So Chevrolet owns Camaros and Pontiac owns Firebirds. Ford owns F-150's. I don't own the song, "What I Really Meant to Say." I don't know who owns it, but I know Cyndi Thompson sang it. And I know that it wasn't around in 1971, I just really think the song suits the chappie. So please, no flames telling me what an idiot I am for putting it in here. John Fogherty owns "Lodi." It's a great song! "Surfer Girl" is a Beach Boys song, so it was most likely written by Brian Wilson. But his dad sold his songs, so I don't know who owns it now. Anyway, the point is, I don't own it. No money is being made from this, yadda yadda yadda, and so on and so forth...

MY NOTES: Thanks for the reviews thus far! I'm gonna finish this story! I really am! Because, I, too, hate it when RTT fics just stop! It sucks:-( But any way... Here goes nothing! Remember this all important phrase: "Reviews are everything!"

But please, no flames. If you HATE it, tell me you hate it, but don't say I suck or something just say my writing skills suck! Constructive criticism is always welcome, just not useless flames! To all the reviewers thus far, y'all ROCK!

Chapter 4: What I Really Meant to Say: Part Two

(Homecoming Night)

Ronnie Bass adjusted his tie and headed out the door. "See ya, mom!" he called.

"'Bye, Ronnie!" she called back.

He walked outside, grateful that his dad was letting him borrow his red Camaro. Ronnie really didn't want to drive his old beat up F-150 to Homecoming. Of course, come to think of it, he didn't really like driving his F-150 to school...

When he pulled into Julie's driveway, he hesitated just a second. Then he grabbed her corsage and went to the door, and knocked.

The door was answered by Julie's dad, who said, "Hey, Ronnie."

Ronnie smiled and said, "Hello, Mr. Bertier." He offered his hand and the older man shook it firmly. "Is Julie ready?"

"Almost," Mr. Bertier replied. "She looks absolutely beautiful."

"I'm sure she is, sir," Ronnie replied.

Less than five minutes later, Julie walked downstairs. She looked beautiful all right. Her blue evening gown fit neatly and flared at the bottom. The color brought out the blue in her eyes. Ronnie stood up and walked over to her, nervously pinning her corsage on.

"It's so pretty, Ronnie," she said a pretty smile on her face.

Ronnie smiled, "Umm...I was going to say,'not as pretty as you,' but that's kinda cliché."

Julie laughed lightly. They walked out to the Camaro together, and Ronnie opened her door for her. They drove off together.

Rachel was putting on a pair of dangly black earrings. She wanted to have a good time. She wanted Ronnie to see her having a good time. With Ray. She wanted alot of things, but from the looks of things, she wouldn't be getting them.

She heard Ray's Firebird in the driveway, so she hurried down the stairs. She put on her best smile for Ray as he came over to pin her corsage on.

He couldn't believe how good she looked. Her dress was red with a high collar, but it left her back and arms bare. When she caught a glimpse of the look in Ray's eyes, she wished she'd covered up more. She was glad for the silk shawl that she'd purchased to go along with her dress. She thought Ray let his hands linger a little too long when he was pinning her corsage, but she put on a smile again and followed him out the door. They got into his car, and he cranked it. Rachel smiled as she heard her one of her favorite songs, "Just My Imagination," floating off the airwaves. She could've smacked Ray when he changed the station, muttering under his breath about "that stupid 'colored' music." But she had to admit that Ray's music wasn't bad. His station was playing "Lodi" by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Ray said, "so, uh...Tell me more about yourself, Rache."

Rachel cringed. Only Ronnie called her Rache. "Well, uh, I'm 16. I'm a junior, and up until just a little while ago, I was going to Huntington Beach High School. I just moved from California, which suck in the middle of a school year. I know Ronnie from California, but I wish I didn't."

Ray laughed at the last comment, which made Rachel mad, despite the fact that she had said it. "Oh. So, do you like football?"

"Yeah! I used to play some. I'm not very good at it though."

Ray put his arm around her. "I could teach you if you wanted to learn."

"Uh, yeah. That'd be nice of you," she said. In all reality, she knew she'd never play football with Ray. She had a disturbingly graphic picture in her mind. Ray would tackle her, and refuse to get up. Trouble would ensue.

She didn't like the idea at all. So she changed the subject.

That evening was miserable for both Ronnie and Rachel. Ray wasn't exactly a gentleman, and his hands were irritating to Rachel. And Ronnie didn't miss it.

Just when Rachel was ready to amputate Ray's hands forcefully, he said, "I'm gonna go get some punch. You want some?"

"Nah," she replied. "Punch is kinda gross."

Ray shrugged then went off to get some punch. Afterward, he told Rachel that she could rest a little while. So she sat down in a chair to rest her feet. She cursed her heels, which were killing her feet.

"Poor kid," she thought when she saw Ray dancing with Julie.

She smiled when she saw Ronnie standing in front of her, his hand extended toward her. "You wanna dance?" he asked.

"Sure, Ronnie," she replied, planning to make him think she was having the time of her life.

He led her onto the floor to the opening notes of "Surfer Girl." Rachel felt all of her walls and defenses crumbling when Ronnie took her in his arms, so gently and lovingly. She put her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. The difference in Ronnie's arms and Ray's was unmistakeable. When Ronnie held her, she felt safe, and didn't want him to let go. But when Ray did, she couldn't wait to escape.

Just as she began to relax, Rachel looked at Ronnie, and he asked, "How are things going with Ray?" Instantly, her defenses flew back into place.

"Fine," she replied, biting back the urge to say, "How the heck do you think, Bass?"

Ronnie looked sad. "Oh, that's good."

"Why do you ask?"

"Uh... Because I care about you. And I don't want him to hurt you."

"I'm not a little girl, Ronnie!" she snapped.

"I know... I just..."

"Shut up!" She cut him off and pulled away from the safety of his arms. She returned to Ray's side, trying not to cry. "Hey, baby," she said to Ray, "Let's ditch this place."

"Where do you want to go?"

"'The Hill' OK with you."

He raised one eyebrow wickedly. "Yeah!" He thought to himself, "Gah! I'm good. 'The Hill' on the first date."

They went out to the car and drove off.

Ronnie danced with Julie the rest of the night, which, luckily, wasn't much longer. He took her home. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he needed to think. He decided to go to 'the Hill.' It was a perfect thinking spot. Especially when it was deserted. Which it would be on Homecoming night. Or so he thought.

When he pulled in, his heart skipped a beat. Wasn't that Ray's car?

Rachel was making out with Ray. Which, thus far, had not been any fun. As she felt Ray's fingers trying to unbutton the buttons on her collar, she snapped, "Whoa, Ray? Where the heck do you think you're going."

Ray didn't answer, he just kept fumbling with the buttons. He was going way outside his boundaries, and it was too much for Rachel. She broke, and slapped him as hard as she could. He screamed an unrepeatable exclamation. His angry first response was to return the blow. Rachel screamed something unflattering about Ray's ancestry. Her eye stung where he'd struck her.

Before she had time to think, Ronnie was pulling her out of the car, and then he was on top of Ray, throwing punches left and right. He stood up after he'd beaten Ray, and said, "You better get out of here, Budds. Before I change my mind."

Rachel stood up from where Ronnie had laid her, and watched Ray drive away, screeching his tires as he went.

Ronnie took Rachel in his arms. "Are you OK?"

She nodded, but couldn't hold back the tears. "Ronnie, he almost..."

"I know," he said, letting her cry on his chest. "Let's get you home, Rache."

"No! Ronnie, no. I can't go home."

"Why?" he asked, stroking her hair, which had fallen from the updo she'd had it in.

"Look, Ronnie, you have to swear you won't say anything."

"About what?"

"Swear, Ronnie."

"Yeah. I guess so..." he replied, still holding her close, as if he were afraid to let her go.

"My dad will beat me up. He'll blame me for putting myself in a compromising situation with Ray."

"No," Ronnie gasped, looking down at her tear-stained face. "No. What happened was NOT your fault."

"Well, try telling that to my dad. But... Well he is going on a two-week trip tomorrow morning. So, maybe... Do you think your parents will mind if I spend the night with JoAnna? The he won't see me for two weeks. Maybe my eye will be OK by then."

"Yeah. That should be cool with them. But we need to get you somewhere where we can look at your eye."

She let him lead her to his car, then drive her to his house. His parents weren't there, so he unlocked the door and helped her to the couch. He brought her an icepack for her eye, which was rapidly swelling up. She called her dad and told him that she was spending the night with JoAnna, Ronnie's younger sister.

Ronnie kept a close watch on her eye. It was going to leave a bad bruise. He wanted to kill Ray Budds.

Ronnie went into the livingroom and sat with Rachel.

"Rache, you've got to get away from your old man. He's going to really hurt you someday. It's only a matter of time."

"Pour on the encouragement, Bass," she said angrily.

"I'm sorry. But I can't let you go home. Not to him."

"Ronnie, it's OK..." she began.

"No!" he said angrily. "Your dad has no right to hit you. Ever. For any reason."

"Ronnie..." she broke down and cried. She couldn't hold it back anymore. Ronnie laid beside her and put his arms around her.

"It's OK. Shhh..." he said.

She sniffled a little, then said, "Ronnie, I don't think I'd wanna be you if your parents walked in right now."

Ronnie laughed. "Ah, what the heck. It could be worse."

"True," she replied, letting her cheek rest on Ronnie's chest. She knew that it was a little clichéd, but she never felt safer than she did in Ronnie's arms. She knew that she didn't have to be afraid of Ray. Or her dad.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a voice. She started crying because it had scared her so badly. But she felt stupid when she saw Colonel Bass standing over them. "Ronald, what's going on here?"

Rachel quickly jumped to Ronnie's defense. "Colonel, I had an accident tonight. Ronnie was just being my knight in shining armor."

"Accident? What happened?"

"Ray Budds, Dad," Ronnie said.

"That boy is no good," Colonel Bass said. "But what are you doing here, Miss Shannon?"

"Um...my dad's leaving early, so I'm staying with JoAnna. If it's OK with you."

"That's fine. But why are you two lying on the sofa together?"

"I just needed a crying shoulder," Rachel said. "And Ronnie here fit the bill perfectly."

"Well, would you please get up, Ronald."

"Sure, Dad," he replied, grudgingly releasing Rachel and standing up.

"I think JoAnna's going to be here in a few minutes," Mrs. Bass said.

"I'll deal with you later, Ronald," Colonel Bass said, a warning in his voice.

"Yes, sir," Ronnie replied in a subdued tone.

Ronnie had just realized how badly he was hurt. Ray had done a heck of a job. Ronnie's chin was bruised, and he had some dried blood on his upper lip where his nose had been bleeding. His ribs and back hurt from hitting the ground and... And he was hungry. Ronnie laughed. "A time like this and all I can think about is food." He stopped laughing pretty quickly, because it hurt his ribs.

He scooped himself a bowl of butter pecan ice cream, then asked if anybody else wanted some. Rachle did, so he scooped her a bowl and took it to her. She thanked him and tasted the ice cream. It was so cool and smooth and it just soothed their nerves.

Ronnie wanted to talk to Rachel, but his parents were keeping a pretty close eye on them now. And when she finished her ice cream, she laid the bowl aside and dozed off. She slept on the couch, so Ronnie guessed he'd have to wait until morning. Or later in the morning. He looked at his watch, and it was 2 AM.

The next morning, Ronnie fixed breakfast. He loved to cook. He made regular pancakes for his parents, blueberry for JoAnna and chocolate chip for himself and Rachel.

"Uh, Rache," he began as she ate. "I'd like for us to get back together."

"What about Julie?" she asked cooly.

"We weren't really dating. We just... We didn't have alot in common. So we decided not to persue anything."

"Oh. So you think we can just get back together? You think we can just pick back up like that?"

"No. Yes. I mean..."

"What is it, Ronnie? Do you really want to go out with me, or are you just feeling sorry for me?"

"I want to get back together with you. I've missed you. I... I love you."

"Love me? Oh, really? Then why was it so easy for you to ask Julie out?"

"I didn't want to go to Homecoming alone. And if you'd been here, I never would've asked."

"Oh, Ronnie..."

Ronnie's eyes pleaded with her. "I love you, Rachel. I always have."

"Yeah," she replied, tears filling her eyes as she recalled how he'd held her so lovingly and gently. He had fought Ray for her. And she saw the battle scars from that battle. And they made her care for him even more. "I love you, too, Ronnie."

Ronnie smiled. He knew that he and Rachel had a long hard road ahead. But they loved each other. And for the moment, that was enough.

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Well, now comes the hard part. I have to figure out how to deal with Ray and Rachel's dad...