Splintered Reflections Chapter Seven: Standing In The Crowd, a rugrats/all grown up! fanfic

Disclaimer: This chapter has the B word in it as well as a small reference to people doing sexual and illegal activities at a concert. If this might upset you, please do not read. (Lol, I just feel like I have to warn people! I don't want to be the reason some poor child is corrupted ok!) Please let me know if you think I should raise the rating or not if you have an issue with it ok and I'll have no problem doing so. I still think its mild enough for PG-13 but this could change, not sure. Just let me know and I'll change the rating in a heartbeat!

Splintered Reflections

By Heather [TinySweetHeart]

Chapter Seven: Standing In The Crowd

I am lost in the crowd
I'm standing in line
I'm feeling so down
And I am full of doubt
She's not the one take notice
Hear me out
And I want her, need her

-- "And I" -- Boxcar Racer --

Tommy walked down the Freshman hallway; it was practically empty except for a few kids hurrying to shove stuff in their lockers. He really needed to start getting to school earlier, especially since it was still pretty much the beginning of the year. He was dressed in jeans and a dark brown tee shirt, his hair damp still from jumping in the shower not too long ago.

Up ahead he saw Lillian at her locker, she must have been late too. The idea that maybe she had been busy with Brett in the parking lot before school didn't settle well in his stomach. She was wearing a pale blue long sleeved shirt and jeans, her hair wavy and down. He wasn't sure where exactly they were at after what had happened a few days ago after school and they really hadn't talked since. Lillian heard him walking and turned. She smiled when she realized it was him and closed her locker. "Hey, Tommy. Can I talk to you for a minute?" she called, approaching him.

Tommy just nodded and raised his backpack on his shoulder. "Uh sure. What about?" he questioned.

She glanced down at the ground before meeting his eyes. "About Tuesday, after school. That's not like me and I'm sorry," she admitted.

Tommy really didn't want her to say that, because she'd told him stuff and trusted him and they'd hugged and it had felt... like he was seeing the real her for awhile, not the act she put on in school. "It's ok, really," he replied and shrugged.

Lillian shook her head and went on, "No, it wasn't ok. I don't know what the matter was with me; it must be from the new school year or something. Still I unloaded all my crap on you and that wasn't right."

Tommy tried to act like he didn't care when he responded casually, "It wasn't that big of a deal."

The girl smiled, relieved. "Ok, great. Cool. How's Chemistry going?" she asked.

Tommy raised his shoulders again and replied, "Uh fine, I guess. I'm passing."

She nodded and said sincerely, "That's great, Tommy."

Tommy chuckled slightly and added, "You know, Phil's still complaining about how his shirt is ruined now. Like he'll never be able to wear it again." He remembered how Phil was whining to him online about Lillian dumping water on him like his life was over. Seriously Phil could be dramatic when he wanted to be.

Lillian broke with laughter and exclaimed, "Clothes are washed in water! God, I feel like I have a sister, not a brother. We sure he hasn't switched teams yet?"

The boy raised his eyebrows and smiled. "I dunno. You know how those basketball guys are, all into their clothes. Those shorts they wear are a little too short, if you know what I mean," he joked.

The girl was shaking her head and giggling when they heard the warning bell go off through the classrooms. "See you around, Tommy," Lillian said as she turned around, starting down the hall to her homeroom.

Tommy thought about something else suddenly and called after her, "You're going to the concert right?"

Lillian glanced back over her shoulder distractedly and responded, "Sure." Then she continued down the hall and into her homeroom door.

Tommy decided he didn't have time to go to his locker; he'd be better off just going to it before the first class of the day. His homeroom was farther down then Lillian's and he started running to it. He slipped into the door just as the bell went off to signify homeroom's start and the cranky old woman, Ms. McDouglas, glared at him over her glasses. Tommy quickly sat in the only available seat and pretended to listen to the roll call.

He was doing just that when he heard a soft whisper, "Psss." He looked around slowly, after all it probably wasn't for him, he didn't know many people in this homeroom since they were all upperclassmen. "Psss, idiot!" the voice hissed.

Now Tommy definitely knew who that was and he moved slightly around in his chair to stare at his cousin, sitting two seats back in the row over. Still she never talked to him in school, which he was thankful of, so he asked, "What? You talking to me?"

Angelica's blue eyes swelled and searched around to see if anyone was looking at them, thankfully they were all too busy acting like they were paying attention or sleeping. "No, I believe I was whispering to you so keep it down, big mouth," she huffed in a low voice. She was dressed in a pink off-the-shoulder top and jeans, her hair tied back in a low ponytail.

Tommy rolled his eyes and commented coldly, "Can we make this quick? I'm allergic to bitches." Tommy was one person Angelica couldn't step on and that really annoyed her to no end. Him and well... Chuckie now too. God, that was way too many people! If she didn't watch out soon she'd have no power over these lower students.

She glared at him sharply and snapped quietly, "You are so lucky we're related or I could kill you for that."

The boy just sighed and replied wearily, "Sure. So what is it, Angelica?"

She lowered her head down farther and scanned around nervously. Then she blurted in a rushed whisper, "IjustwantedtoknowhowisChuckie?"

Tommy scrunched his brow and asked, "What?"

Angelica lowered her head even farther so that her cheek was almost pressed to the desk. "I said, how is Chuckie?" she replied slower this time, her face flushing red.

Tommy looked a little shocked and he replied in confusion, "He's fine, I guess. Why do you care?"

The girl's tidal eyes were wide now when she exclaimed, "I don't!" Whoops, a little too loud. Thankfully, everyone was too dazed from a lack of sleep to pay attention to her and she went on in a hushed tone, "I don't. I was just wondering for reasons that are not any of your business and now I will turn around and let you vanish back to your life among the geeks and losers. Continue on, twerp."

Tommy just cocked an eyebrow and stared back at their teacher as she read off people on her list. Angelica twirled around, swinging her pink pen in the air to check off some girl's magazine quiz and acted like nothing had even happened. If Tommy didn't know any better he'd think Angelica, the Ice Princess, actually cared about Chuckie Finister. Of course, if he didn't know any better.

Angelica despised Spanish class. It was hard, like when would you ever need to know how to speak Spanish anyway unless you were in a foreign country and most people knew English nowadays. Still that wasn't the reason. It was filled with underclassman, Sophomores, because Angelica had made the mistake of taking French the first year of school and then switching to Spanish later on. So now she was stuck with all these immature tacky losers who threw wades of paper at each other and wrote their names on the board when no one was looking. Still, not the reason. There were only two words to explain why she hated this class – Chuckie Finister. This was the only class they had together; thankfully he sat up one seat from her in a row over so she didn't really have to interact with him. But now, he didn't even look at her or try to steal glances, he didn't care about her. And she didn't know why that bothered her so much.

Their teacher, Senora Velasquez, stood lecturing by the chalkboard. "Ok, can someone tell me how to say milk in Spanish? Por favor? Fine, since I can tell you all didn't do your homework I'll just pick on someone. Angelica, please answer the question," she said.

Angelica snapped her head up from her own thoughts, glancing around uncertain. Of course she hadn't done the homework, as if she had time between cheerleading and hanging out with friends. "Uh right. The homework, yea I did that. Milk is... vaca," she covered weakly. She was wearing a plaid button up dress that reached above her knees and pink platform sandals, her hair styled into waves.

The teacher winced and shook her head. "No, Angelica. Vaca is the word for cow, same vicinity I guess. Care to tell me the real answer now?" Senora Velasquez corrected.

Angelica nodded and hurriedly explained, "O yea I knew that. I was just going to lead up to it yea know. Like vaca is cow and a cow totally like makes milk. And the word for milk is..."

"Leche," Chuckie suddenly finished for her, still staring ahead. He was wearing khaki pants and a white tee shirt, his hair as wild as ever.

Senora Velasquez grinned and exclaimed, "Muy bien, Senor Chuckie! I see someone pays attention when I speak." The teacher went on to cover vocabulary for a test and drone on.

Angelica glared at the back of Chuckie's head and remarked under her breath, "I didn't ask for your help, Finister." Ok, so that wasn't necessary, but there was a part of her that just wanted him to notice her again, to worship her like before.

Chuckie sighed and didn't even turn to look at her. "I wasn't helping you, Angelica. I just didn't want to have to wait here while you sounded like an idiot for a half hour," he whispered in return. A few students around them laughed and this only made the girl more furious.

The blonde scoffed a little louder, "You know what, Finister, I'd be a super brain too if I didn't have a life."

The teacher noticed the side conversation then and faced Angelica. "Angelica! Really, do I need to see you after school?" she said sternly.

Angelica shook her head, looking down. She was a pro at getting out of trouble, she knew how to wrap people around her finger and teachers were no different. "No, Senora Velasquez," she responded obediently.

Senora Velasquez gestured to the students as she replied, "Well then since it was so important, please share what you were talking about with the class."

"It was nothing..." Angelica started to say.

Chuckie stated loudly, for everyone to hear, "O come on, Angelica, everyone deserves to know. See, she was just telling me how she stuffs her bra and gets this weird foot thing, like a fungus. Right, Angelica?" The entire class filled with laughter and Angelica could feel her face flushing.

The girl arced an eyebrow and snapped evenly, "You're life is over, Finister."

The teacher interjected, "Do I have to send you both to the principal's?"

Both students looked down and responded in unison, "No."

Senora Velasquez went on with the class lecture and everyone pretended to listen. Angelica strummed her nails against the desk and kept shooting glares in Chuckie's direction. So this was how they were going to play it huh? He wanted to try and embarrass her in front of people? Well two could so play this game.

They were at their usually hang out, the arcade in the mall. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, a week away from the concert. Kids played around them on loud, glowing games. Kimmi stood by Phil, sipping at a big Slushie, dressed in faded jeans and a dark blue tee shirt, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. "What game you wanna play now?" she questioned from around her straw.

Phil was wearing a red tee shirt and jeans with a backwards baseball cap. "I like that one where I get to be a big fat crime boss and shoot people. Since that is my aspiration in life, you know," he replied matter-of-factly.

Kimmi laughed and shot him a flat look. "Right. Phillip DeVille the godfather. It doesn't have a ring, Phil," she remarked.

The boy squinted his eyes and tried to impersonate a mob guy, "What's that you say? You dare to disrespect me in my own place of rest? No one goes against the family. Tony, make her sleep with the fishes."

Kimmi rolled her eyes and replied, "Ok, you've been watching "The Sopranos" too much."

Phil laughed and took the drink from her hand, taking a sip. He did that often so she was use to it by now, still she gave him an annoyed glare and crossed her arms. He pretended not to notice as he said, "Hey, I heard about Izaac."

Kimmi looked a little alarmed as she quickly spluttered, "What about him?"

Phil pretended to fiddle with the straw as he replied, "He asked you out. I heard all about it, Kimmi."

The girl sighed and exclaimed, "God, I tried to keep that to myself, Phil, it's not something I want the whole school to know! I mean, Izaac, gross. He's such a jerk and a chauvinist pig." It was so strange; one minute Izaac was telling her off and the next he wanted to date her. Obviously he still thought he was in the third grade and the only way to get a girl's attention was to be mean to them.

Phil seemed relieved for some reason, he tried to tell himself it wasn't because Kimmi had turned down Izaac. "But jerk and chauvinist pig are your pet names for me. And here I thought I was special, I bet you call all the boys that," he teased with a smile.

Kimmi laughed and shook her head. "Not all. Just you and Izaac are the special few," she replied mock sweetly. Then she glanced downward, remembering the obligatory best friend small talk you had to make. She should be able to talk about Abbey right? If it really doesn't affect her she should be fine with it. "So, uh how are things going with Abbey?" she questioned softly.

Phil looked down as well and said, "Pretty ok. She seems really into me and I like her a lot, sometimes I feel like she's too good for me you know."

Kimmi forced on a smile and cracked, "Wow. That's big coming from your over-sized ego."

Phil chuckled and responded, "I know. So, I was thinking of asking her to go steady at the concert. I'm pretty sure she'll say yes, I mean she's been hinting at it like crazy all week and we've been going out for a while. It's just one little word anyway, its not like I'm dating anyone else or any -"

Kimmi had stopped listening when he said he was bringing her to the concert. She suddenly interrupted, "You're inviting her to the concert?"

Phil paused and nodded. "Yea. Well, I already did. She tried to act like she knew who they are when I know she doesn't, it was cute," he informed.

There was this underlying sinking feeling, like she knew everything she was trying to tell herself was untrue. "I thought you said you weren't inviting her," she said, eyes catching a slight glint.

The boy looked a little puzzled as he raised an eyebrow and explained, "Yea but that was before, you know, I really started liking her. I thought you guys wouldn't mind, I mean, you said you wouldn't."

Kimmi felt a little breathless but she responded flatly, "And we don't, of course not. Mob Boss: Rags To Riches."

Phil seemed really confused now as he knitted his brow. "What?" he asked.

Kimmi pointed past him, to an arcade game. "The game you wanted to play, Mob Boss: Rags To Riches," she went on blankly.

Phil nodded slowly and smiled, turning around. "Oh right. Time to take out the trash, my friends. Put some squealers in cement shoes, you know what I mean?" he joked as he walked away. Kimmi stayed in place for a moment, reeling with too many thoughts. Then she blinked away the sheen and followed him, willing herself not to care.

Chuckie drove down the road smudged with orange streetlamps, grinning to himself. He was dressed in a zip up blue hoodie and jeans. "I am so excited! Seriously, I brought my inhaler if I end up getting an asthma attack," he gushed.

Tommy sat in the back, wearing jeans and a gray sweatshirt. "Yea, me too. This is my first concert," he admitted.

Kimmi was by Chuckie in the passenger seat, tapping along to the radio music. "Where's Phil?" she questioned. Kimmi was dressed in black pants and a black zip up sweatshirt, her dark hair down.

Her brother kept his eyes ahead as he replied, "He called and said Abbey's dad's gonna give them a ride. Its kinda a good thing, you guys don't have to be packed in the back."

Kimmi nodded slightly and looked out the side window, at the fuzzy outline of an ashen moon. Then she smiled hollowly and remarked, "I'm so excited too. I think I wanna try that crowd surfing thing."

Chuckie glanced over at her with an arched eyebrow. He responded protectively, "And have guys grope you? Yea, that's not happening, little sis. You're staying by my side at all times. I mean, who knows what people do at these things! There could be like... drug use or sex going on or..." At the idea of all those corrupting activities his sister would be exposed to, he started to wheeze for air.

Tommy leaned over to pat Chuckie on the shoulder. "Breathe, buddy," he said.

Chuckie pulled out his inhaler from his pocket and took a deep breath in. He could be known to overreact about all the "dangerous" of parties and other things. That's probably why he didn't go to many, that or he just wasn't invited. Usually the latter.

Kimmi tilted her head towards her brother and shot sarcastically, "Hey, I have an idea. Why don't I wear a leash and you can keep track of me at all hours of the day?"

Chuckie nodded and responded, "I like the way you think." To this Kimmi merely rolled her eyes and turned to the window again.

There was a pause of silence in the car before Tommy reminded, "Don't forget to pick up Lil."

Chuckie stared ahead but he knew what would happen, what always happened. Lillian would do something to hurt Tommy. Girls like her only cared about one thing, themselves, Chuckie had found that out the hard way and he'd never forget it. "Right," he replied unreadably.

Finally they got to the DeVille residence and Chuckie parked in the driveway. Tommy left the car and walked up to the dark porch, smiling slightly. Ok, so he was happy, what was so wrong with that? He was going to an awesome concert... And yea, Lillian was going too. He knocked on the door before shoving his hands in his pockets. He waited for a moment and there were muffled voices before the door swung open, parting cream light.

Lillian stood in the door way and she looked a little surprised. She was dressed in a tan long sleeved shirt and white corduroy pants, her chestnut hair collapsing down her shoulders. "Oh..." she slipped out.

Tommy crinkled his brow but laughed slightly. "That's a weird way to greet people. Is that cheerleader for "hello" now?" he questioned.

Lillian's face remained grave as she replied, "I was just... I meant, hey Tommy."

By now Tommy could tell something was wrong but he was hoping there wasn't, that she wouldn't disappoint him this last time. "So you ready to go?" he asked.

The girl winced faintly as she began, "About that Tommy."

Suddenly a boy's voice barged from inside, "You're missing the movie, Lillian! It's at the scariest part. O man, that girl is totally shredded!" Lillian looked downward, not wanting to meet Tommy's stare, unable to breathe.

Tommy recognized the voice and he searched Lillian's face. "He's over," he stated.

She nodded and replied sincerely, "Yea. I forgot about the concert. I'm sorry, Tommy."

Tommy couldn't believe it, couldn't believe he'd set himself up for this and she really could be so selfish. He stepped back once, moonlight reflecting in his dark eyes. "Yea well, I am too," he said cold and hurt.

Lillian took a deep breath and looked regretful. She stared at him and added, "Have a good time." Then she stepped back as well and closed the door slowly, golden light disappearing.

Tommy just stood for a moment, feeling like an idiot. He couldn't do this anymore, he couldn't just always be putting himself out there for Lillian and then whenever she felt like it she could turn around and act like he didn't even matter. And now he knew, the old Lillian wasn't there any longer. She was gone. Tommy turned and walked back to the car, slamming the door closed behind him.

Chuckie turned his head slightly, questioning, "She bailed?"

Tommy stared out the window and replied icily, "Who cares? I don't. We're gonna have a better time without her anyway." Then Chuckie put the gear in reverse and they were on their way to the concert. Except everyone in the car was trying to pretend they weren't missing someone, no matter how wrong it was in the end.

End Note: Themes, themes, themes! Yay! ::Throws confetti: Chuckie has given up on Angelica, Tommy has given up on Lillian, and Kimmi is trying to give up on Phil. I'm not going to foreshadow the next chapter, I'm just gonna say it's the party chapter! Wooo, I love party plot chapters! P-A-R-T-Y! By the way, Lil was a major biotch! But, wait until the next chapter to judge her ok? Pretty please? Thanks. And you reviewers are all the best people in the world! I had no idea there were so many C/A lovers like myself, that was a little surprising. Ok and I will be getting this next chapter out lickity split, in a few days I swear!