Splintered Reflections Chapter Ten: Bittersweet Homecomings, a rugrats/all grown up! fanfic

Disclaimer: Just the usual "yadda yadda yadda". Don't own Rugrats, wish I did. Then there'd be a "Rugrats: Later Years" with real teens, lol. O yea and this is back to PG-13. A few people were kind enough to say what I was thinking too, it's really not that bad to be R. I was just overly paranoid I'd get a flame or something for corrupting some poor kid, with all the underage drinking and stuff. But, hey, not much worse then what you'd see on any television show today so oh well.

I forgot to mention last chapter, I did look up about the injuries Brett received. You do loose complete feeling in your leg at first when you have a crushed pelvis and it takes around 6 hours or more for all the surgeries. So hey, I do my research! Haa. As for the lyrics, I found the sappiest 80s rock song I could think of! It is a dance after all, its pretty funny to me too that there is a techno version of this song.

Just wanted to add a quick message to chuckangie to return his – ok what are you doing reading this? Go write and add to that really great story, you wicked good writer you! =D

Splintered Reflections

By Heather [TinySweetHeart]

Chapter Ten: Bittersweet Homecomings

I've been waiting for so long
For something to arrive
For love to come along

Now our dreams are coming true
Through the good times and the bad
I'll be standing there by you

And baby you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in Heaven

-- "Heaven" -- Brian Adams --

White sunlight pressed in flickering patterns through the large shop windows, outside the downtown street stirred with afternoon activity. Phil and Tommy were at Mr. Gardner's Suits, the store almost every boy in school went to before a dance to grab something to wear. Kimmi was supposed to meet them there, to make sure Phil didn't pick something that would embarrass her, but apparently she was late. So now they were rummaging through racks and shelves, looking for a suit for the Homecoming Dance.

Phil was browsing by the half-off hangers when he yanked one out. "What do you think about this?" he joked, holding up a pale blue jacket and pant set. Phil was dressed in a black coat over a gray shirt and jeans.

Tommy looked over and cringed. He replied, "I don't think powder blue is your color... Or your decade, Phil. My dad wore a suit like that, when he was in high school." He was wearing a dark brown jacket and an olive green shirt underneath with jeans

Phil nodded, grinning. "See, even better! It's vintage. It's a classic," he exclaimed and maybe he wasn't being sarcastic now, which was scary in itself.

Tommy continued flipping through the racks when he responded, "Kimmi wouldn't let you wear that."

"What do you think I am? Whipped?" Phil scoffed back.

Tommy paused to give Phil a deadpan stare and retort, "Yes."

Sighing, Phil shrugged and pushed the suit back on its place with all the other eyesores. "Ok. Maybe just a little," he admitted.

Tommy laughed and went on searching. He didn't actually care what he got, he would have worn the same suits he had in middle school if he hadn't grown out of them. He didn't even have a date yet and he didn't care, it didn't bother him to go alone for a change, without the worry of all the extra things that came along with a date. He had been meaning to ask something so he stated casually, "So you guys are dating huh?" This was the first time they'd really hung out since, well, "the fight". They had never argued like that before, it made him feel like they were a couple of girls or something. It didn't take them that long to get back to normal after anyway, in the back of their minds they both knew it was stupid in the first place so they did the typical guy thing and acted like nothing had happened.

Phil shot an exasperated look and he replied, "Where are you getting your information from? Loose Lips Chuckie Finster? We aren't anyway, not yet. We're just going to the dance. Kimmi doesn't want to rush into anything. I think she's worried I'll screw something up again."

Tommy grinned and added, "Good thinking."

Phil nodded, looking down at some ties before going on, "Yea you're right. I've been screwing a lot up lately. Look, what I said to you at your house, man, I didn't mean it."

Tommy just shook his head, saying, "It's ok, really."

The boy stared straight ahead at him now over the racks and countered, "No. No, Tommy. For once let me cover for my own big mouth." Tommy laughed at this and Phil smirked slightly. Then he continued, "I know you don't need me butting in like some nosy girl. And you're right, even if I've been mad at her I should be willing to let that go if she is, I mean we use to all be so close. I'm just letting my own stupid stubbornness get in the way. Lillian did need someone, and you were there when it really shoulda been her brother. So thanks."

Tommy shrugged and replied sincerely, "Yea well, no problem."

Suddenly Phil spotted another suit and snatched it out as well. "O man! I think I've found the one," he exclaimed.

Tommy glanced over at the jacket and pants set and declared obviously, "It's purple."

Phil shook his head, looking it over. "Its lavender really," he said humorously.

Tommy cocked an eyebrow and retorted, "No, what it really is, is ugly. Besides, I don't think Kimmi is wearing a purple dress. Is she? What color dress is she wearing?"

Shoving the hanger back on the rack, he sighed, "I don't know. I think she told me on the phone, I just wasn't paying attention."

Tommy's eyes swelled in surprise as he countered with a laugh, "Phone? You guys talk on the phone?"

Groaning, Phil exclaimed, "For hours! It's killing me! I would have never figured Kimmi for the phone conversation kind of girl, but nope she is. She talks about sports and cool stuff like that, but still. Talking. For hours." Turning to slide another hanger back on the rack, he shrugged and added, "So I admit, I'll just tune her out while I play video games."

Just then the little bell above the door jangled and a rush of air spluttered out. "Hey, you guys!" a voice called and the two boys looked over to see a pair of girls entering. Kimmi was dressed in a white puffer jacket and faded jeans with sneakers, her hair brushing past her shoulders. She smiled at her friends, the light from the large picture windows making long designs along her face.

Phil immediately threw up his hands and gave an exaggerated smile. "Hey, the most wonderful, beautiful, funny girl in the world!" he exclaimed guiltily, knowing if she had heard the last of what he had been saying she would have killed him.

Kimmi arched an eyebrow and shifted her gaze from Phil to Tommy and back again, questioning jokingly, "Right. Ok, what did he do wrong?" Tommy laughed and then he casually glanced at the girl who came to stand beside Kimmi. Natalie was dressed in a light blue peacoat and black pants with a thick white wool sweater underneath, her dark hair spilling down her back. Kimmi raised a hand to point at her friend and added, "Oh I hope you don't mind, I brought Nat along. We were both starving so we're gonna grab food later, you guys are welcome to join us."

Phil shrugged and replied, "Sure, I'm always hungry."

Natalie did a small awkward wave and smiled nervously. "Hey Tommy," she greeted.

Tommy looked a little surprised but grinned back and responded, "Hey."

Then the pale eyed girl glanced down at Tommy's hands and teased, referring to a past running joke, "I see you skipped the nail polish today."

He nodded and said in a deadpan tone, "O yea, well you know, it chips." Then Tommy shot Phil a look and interjected, "Hey Phil, can you check something out with me for a second?"

Phil knitted his brow together and commented, "Umm sure, buddy. But, you know, we're not chicks, we don't have to do everything together."

Tommy didn't reply as he started walking to the opposite wall of the store, distancing them from the girls who began looking over some suits and giggling about how ridiculous a few were. Finally far enough away he turned to act like he was looking at a rack and accused, "Is this a set up?"

Phil didn't even bother to look busy, jamming his hands in his pockets and giving him a skeptical expression. "Well no, I don't think so, I believe its just hamburgers and fries, not a sting operation last I checked. And don't get your panties in a twist, grandma," he snorted.

The darker haired boy nodded and explained, "No, I know it's not a big deal. I just... I mean, I hope Kimmi's not trying to hook us up."

Phil laughed and shook his head. "Kimmi? She doesn't have a matchmaker bone in her body. But what's so wrong with that? Natalie seems nice enough, she's pretty. What, is she a psycho? Because that whole nail polish thing, creepy," he said.

Tommy was still pretending to look down at some shirts and he replied, "That's just an inside joke. I guess she's cool. I don't know." Really, why was he getting all nervous over this anyway? What was so horrible about the idea? Natalie seemed really nice and she was beautiful, so what was his problem? He hadn't had a girlfriend since... Since the end of middle school, that lasted all of a few months, and there were no other girls he was interested in right now right? So why not Natalie?

Phil shrugged a second time and suggested, "Well, invite her to the dance then. You're not going with anyone and either is she. It's just a dance."

Tommy nodded slowly, remarking, "Yea. How do you know she's not going with anyone..." Then his eyes swelled with realization and he exclaimed, "This is a set up!"

Phil smiled knowingly and then raised his hands in a gesture of innocents before walking off, back towards the girls. Tommy followed, silently cursing his sneaky friends.

Phil went over to join Kimmi as she scrutinized a few suits on hangers. He came to her side and she was holding out a black jacket and a crimson shirt. "Phil, what do you think about this suit and shirt?" she asked.

Phil merely replied uninterested, "Yea, it's nice."

The short girl nodded and went on, "Well, I mean, it matches my dress exactly. But if you don't like it –"

Phil's eyes perked wide and he exclaimed, "No! It's great, I love it. I'm going to try it on." He then headed over to the dressing room where they could have it tailored too, suit and shirt in tow, and thanking his lucky stars he was able to avoid Kimmi finding out he really had forgotten the color of her dress. That just had "not good boyfriend material" written all over it.

Natalie was over at a line of shelves, all brimming with folded pants. Tommy went over by her as she browsed to kill time. "God, dances,"
she groaned to herself, fingering her purse.

Tommy smiled slightly and asked, "What? Not big on them?"

The girl shook her head, replying, "Not exactly. Getting all dressed up to sip punch and watch kids practically dry hump on the dance floor, not my idea of fun. But maybe this school is different."

Tommy sighed and joked, "No, not really." Natalie laughed at this and then nervously tried to act like she was looking through the pants again. Tommy did as well, warm strands of light drifting over them. The silence passed before Tommy, smiling to himself, thought out loud, "At one dance in middle school, I thought I was so cool with all these dance moves and I fell on my face in front of everyone."

Natalie looked over and raised an eyebrow. "I think I can do better. At our last dance I came out of the bathroom and didn't realize the back of my dress was tucked into my pantyhose. Yea, I walked around like that for probably a half an hour before anyone told me," she admitted.

Tommy chuckled and then went on, "Wow. Still, I can top that. Before our Valentine's Dance I was feeling really sick but I couldn't cancel on my date. So we went to pick her up and she was putting the bootinear on me and she ended up stabbing me. There was a lot of blood and well, I musta been really woozy or something because when I looked at the blood... Well, I passed out." Natalie giggled at this and Tommy continued, "Yea, and when I came to it was after a half hour and she'd left."

Natalie mock winced and retorted, "Ouch." Then glancing at Tommy, she informed, "I have you easily beat though. My date for our winter formal, didn't show up. At all."

Tommy's eyes swelled and he shook his head, commenting, "Man."

Natalie just shrugged and looked down, replying, "I know, but he was a jackass. He was kicked out of school like a month later. I always pick the wrong guys; I bet that's why I hate dances."

Tommy shoved his hands in his pockets absently and admitted, "Yea. I mean, dances aren't all bad. They can be sorta cool and anyway, it's funny to make fun of those guys who think they can dance. You know, they bring the glow sticks and everything."

Natalie laughed and chimed in, "Yea or the girls who take Homecoming Queen so seriously."

Wow, it was really easy to talk to her; it felt like they had known each other for awhile at least. She made him actually laugh. Staring down the dark haired boy awkwardly began to say, "So, I mean since you're not going with anyone and either am I, if you want, we could go together."

When he chanced a look up, Natalie was smiling and biting her lip. "Ok. We'll keep each other from getting bored. I don't have a dress yet so whatever suit you get, I'll just buy a dress to match that," she said and tried to sound less excited then she was.

Tommy nodded and swallowed down a little anxiety, replying, "Yea, ok. Cool."

"Note to self – detention really sucks, try not to get it next time," Chuckie sighed to himself as he crossed over the cement parking lot, a white sun pressing into a crisp blue sky overhead. There weren't many students around since school had been over an hour ago. He was dressed in jeans and a dark blue stripped zip up sweatshirt, his scarlet hair as messy as usual.

He slid his key into the car door and sat down, when he heard someone shout, "Hey, Finster! Do you think I can catch a ride?" He glanced into his car's side mirror to see a blonde girl running towards him in a cheering uniform, curls careening up and down. He slumped farther back into his seat and groaned, why did bad things always seem to happen at once?

"Uh why don't you ask one of your groupies?" he shot when he heard her footsteps nearing closer.

Angelica stiffened and propped her pom poms at either hip. "Well fine, if that's how you're gonna be, I will," she sniffed and swiveled around on her sneakers, strutting off back the way she came.

Chuckie sighed a second time and slammed his car door hard to vent some frustration. Then he called after her through his open window, "Alright, Angelica. Hop in."

She swung around and smiled knowingly. "Well if you insist," she commented as she went around the car and opened the door, positioning herself in the passenger seat and buckling up. She didn't even want to question why she had asked him for a ride, she knew the reason and it disgusted her, it really did. But there was also nothing she could do about it and she settled into the chair, adjusting her pom poms and her skirt hem, anything to stop thinking about her reasons.

As the engine hummed to life and they started out of the parking lot, Chuckie questioned, "So what's wrong with your car?"

The girl released an aggravated breath and huffed, "Its back at the garage, they can't figure out what's wrong with it. I told daddy not to have high school dropouts fixing my car but does he listen? No."

Chuckie mockingly nodded and retorted, "Right, that's what the three-dollar an hour hired help are for. You need to get a car like mine, it hasn't broken down in the time I've had this baby. It's a classic." He patted the dashboard to emphasize this.

Angelica crinkled her nose and said, "The last time this hunk was considered a classic was in 1989. Now the term is just 'junk', Finster."

Chuckie raised his eyebrows indignantly and exclaimed, "Don't insult Bessy! She can hear you."

She shook her head and went on to complain, gesturing out the window with a hand, "No wonder this thing hasn't broken down. What do you have in there? A lawnmower motor? We're going thirty-five in a forty-five!"

Chuckie kept his eyes out towards the road ahead and objected, "No, we're going thirty-five in a thirty-five, thank you. I'd like to keep my police record spotless ok."

Angelica's eyes widened and she exclaimed, "You go the speed limit? Who goes the speed limit? My grandma in her wheelchair, that's who. Anyway I don't think you have to worry about breaking any laws there, led foot. It's not like the Chess club will be throwing any raging keggers anytime soon."

Chuckie smiled slightly and joked, "Then you obviously aren't a member. Our pizza party last week got kinda outta control; I drank way too much Snapple and made an illegal move with my Knight."

The girl laughed and grinned in spite of herself. "You're such a geek, Finster. But a funny one," she said softly, shaking her head.

Chuckie was genuinely surprised when he replied, "Well thanks. Wow, was that a compliment? Hold on, I think I need to pull over, I'm in shock."

Angelica rolled her eyes and insisted, "It was not a compliment. It was a nicely put insult." There was a formidable silence that slid around them as they continued down the road, thatches of shade and light passing in patterns over Angelica's face as she gazed out the window. "The trees look so pretty, I can't believe its fall already," she finally commented wistfully.

Chuckie nodded and sighed. "Me either. It feels like summer went by too quick. Did you have a good summer?" he questioned. Wait a minute, was he actually having a real, normal conversation with Angelica? Angelica Pickles? One that didn't involve "screw you" every other word? Well, wow, who knew?

Angelica shrugged and stared ahead. "Uh, I guess. Same as usual. Sleeping late, going to the beach and parties, shopping. Pretty boring actually. You?" she responded distractedly.

Chuckie retorted, "If you think that's boring my summer would seem like a coma to you. I worked at my part-time job to save up for Bessy and I uh, caught up on a lot of television."

The blonde cocked her eyebrows and quipped, "You're right. I almost went into a coma just listening to the lameness."

Just when you thought she was semi-human, she had to go and burst your bubble. Chuckie turned the wheel sharply, bringing the car over the line that separated the road from the curb just slightly. "Ok, trips over, Princess. Say hello to the curb for me," he responded sarcastically.

Angelica reflexively clutched at the dashboard and squeaked, "Finster! You would not leave me stranded!"

Chuckie turned the wheel back towards the road and they coasted to their normal direction as he teased, "I wouldn't? Ok I wouldn't. But that's only because I need you if Bessy broke down, one person can't push a car after all."

Angelica smiled slightly and folded her arms over her chest. "Whatever, Finster. Just admit you enjoy my company already," she retorted.

Looking ahead, at the asphalt, he stated, "Admit you enjoy mine."

There was that awkward quiet again that broke over them and the trees stretched by in a blur of colors. Angelica's gaze softened a little and grew distant, she knew it was true. Finally they came to Angelica's neighborhood and the girl interjected, "This is me. So uh, thanks for the ride, Finster."

Chuckie nodded and replied, "No problem."

Angelica pressed down on the latch and stood to her feet, adjusting her skirt. Looking back, she started to say, "You want to... You want to come in for a second?"

Chuckie's brow shot up and he exclaimed, dully stunned, "Come in? You mean, to your house?"

Angelica gave him a flat stare and snapped, "No the garage. Of course my house, Finster. Just for a drink or something, it's the least I owe you."

Chuckie nodded and responded, " Ok. Sure." Then he pulled the keys from his Bessy and got out of his car. He followed Angelica up the brick walkway to her house and stood behind as she jammed a key into her door. He could hear the muffled yaps of some kind of dog and then he entered her house behind Angelica. A fuzzy standard poodle came hurling at him, jumping at his legs and barking. Chuckie held his hands up helplessly.

Angelica started up her stairs and called over her shoulder, "I'll be right back, I'm going to change out of my uniform. Ignore the dog, she gets excited when there's new people."

Chuckie nodded to himself and chanced to reach a hand down. The white dog made a low growl and glared up at him. Chuckie instantly retracted his hand and shouted, "Uh, your dog's... Uh growling at me. I think it's going to attack me."

He heard Angelica opening and closing drawers and she called out mockingly, "O right, Finster. My poodle is going to attack you. Just pet her or something, make friends. You know, be a man or whatever."

Chuckie nodded a second time to convince himself and soothed in what he hoped was a caring voice, "Ok. Nice doggy, good dog." He tried again to reach down and this time the poodle lunged for his hand, barely missing his skin. Chuckie yanked back his arm and exclaimed, "Woah, bad dog! I think I'm going to need my fingers!"

Angelica came down the stairs now, dressed in light blue track pants and a white baby tee shirt. She rolled her eyes at Chuckie and said, "Princess, come here. Leave the big scaredy cat alone." The poodle instantly wagged its tail and pranced to its owner excitedly, licking at her.

Ok, it must hate guys. Or red heads. Or... just Chuckie. Chuckie followed Angelica as she waltzed into her living room, plopping onto a white leather sofa. He sat down near her, the poodle nudging its plump body between them. "So you stay all alone after school huh?" he questioned as he started to glance around. It was a pretty huge house with high ceilings and wood flooring, everything was very fashionably decorated. There was a big flat screened television in the room, as well as some pictures in frames along a fireplace mantel. There were many of a little girl in curly pig-tails, smiling and doing her poses in her numerous different outfits. He remembered that girl.

Angelica nodded and responded matter of factly, "Oh yea. My parents don't get home until around eight. I don't care, they leave me money for food and stuff. I have Princess here to protect me too." She ran a hand through her dog's fur and the poodle made a little whimpering noise.

Chuckie was still glancing around when he asked, "You want me to stay awhile?"

The girl narrowed her eyes indignantly and exclaimed, "What? Do you think I need you or something? I am perfectly fine on my own, Finster. Despite what you might think, I am very capable of taking care of myself!"

Chuckie shook his head and raised his hands in defense. "Alright, alright. Jeesh. I think I'd rather take my chances with Princess then with you," he commented.

Angelica calmed down a little but still snorted, "You don't have any chance with me, Finster."

Chuckie gave her a deadpan stare and said, "You know what I meant."

The blonde nodded and retorted, "Scarily, I did. I'm starting to understand Geek Speak, someone shoot me."

Chuckie raised a hand in the air and joked, "I call dibs."

Angelica was smiling faintly and rolled her eyes. "God, you're so funny. You must be a hit on 'geometry study night' or whatever you nerds do for fun," she rebutted.

Chuckie nodded and folded his arms over his chest. "Ah, well, I don't like to brag," he said sarcastically.

Angelica laughed slightly and then questioned, "So why'd you stay after school today? Want to get in some extra hours of school?"

Chuckie grew a little more serious as he stared ahead and replied, "I had detention."

Angelica's expression was awash with surprise and she spluttered, "Wait, wait. Detention? You had detention? Chuckie Finster?"

Chuckie rolled his eyes and retorted sarcastically, "No, that new kid, Eye, from Poland. Of course me."

Angelica's eyes were wide when she replied, "I'm shocked." She would never in a million years think Chuckie Finster, king of all geeks, would get detention. It just went to show you couldn't always peg everyone a certain way; they had a way of surprising you if you did.

Chuckie nodded and glanced down. "Yea, I think my parents were too," he said.

"What for?" Angelica asked after a little of the initial disbelief wore off.

Chuckie grimaced and explained, "Mr. Crediant, I hate that guy. I simply pointed out the fact one of his test questions really was subjective and I get an hour worth of after-school detention. He's a Nazi."

Angelica nodded and relinquished, "Wow, Finster. I stand corrected about the whole "never in trouble" thing. You're like some rebel now huh? What's next, a Mohawk and tattoo?"

Chuckie grinned and shrugged. "I was born to be bad, babe," he replied, adding in the last part just because he knew it would really annoy her.

The girl wrinkled her nose and gagged, " Ew. Babe?" Still meeting his gaze, she went on, "You've really changed though huh? You're like a new guy or something..."

Chuckie flushed slightly and shook his head of shaggy hair. Why were people saying that? He hadn't, he was still the same ol' Chuckie Finster. Just with a little more backbone maybe. "What? No. I'm still a nerdo, just one who had an hour detention," he replied in embarrassment.

Angelica turned to look straight ahead and say with the air of nonchalant, probably to make her point further that he really had changed, "So, you're going to the dance with Hillary huh?"

Chuckie shrugged and replied, "Oh yea. I guess. She asked me and she seems really nice anyway."

Angelica nodded to herself and sniffed back passive-aggressive, "I guess. If you like airheads I mean."

Chuckie just laughed, he wasn't going to take Angelica's opinion on someone serious anyway, and joked, "Guess I do then. How about you? Who's the lucky victim?"

Angelica sighed slightly and gazed ahead. "Some guy I met through my friends. He goes to Susie's private school; I guess he's rich or something," she responded absently.

Chuckie didn't want to care so much but he did. He cared she had to come home to an empty house every day and he cared she was going to the dance with some snobby stupid loser. But he did his best to swallow those feelings down because he had already been crushed twice by her, he didn't want to make it three strikes. "Oh well he's rich, that's all that matters. Glad to see you aren't superficial or anything," he commented.

Angelica rolled her eyes at him and remarked, "Look who's talking, Mr. I-Like-The-Bubbly-Girls. At least he has half a brain. Not a lot, but half. I don't care anyway, I hate dances."

Chuckie nodded and sarcastically replied, "Oh yea sure you do." Girls like Angelica lived for dances, he knew that.

Angelica glanced down at the glossy flooring and the white lines of light that splashed across it through the tall windows. She was still petting her dog when she insisted sort of disappointed, "No I do. I mean, get all dressed up only to spend the night comforting a crying friend in the bathroom and listening to my drunk date babble on before passing out on the dance floor. It's always the same story, always lame. Don't tell anyone though ok. I just... Don't want that getting out ok."

Chuckie nodded slowly and replied, "I wouldn't tell anyone." He was starting to realize Angelica's life was a lot less sparkly and perfect then she let on, and she was as well.

Angelica slid up to her feet with a sigh and ran her hands down her pants to press out any wrinkles. "You want popcorn?" she questioned as she started to head for her kitchen.

"Sure," Chuckie replied and then picked up the remote sitting on the coffee table, flicking on the wide TV. He started to flip through some channels and then smiled when a loud, rock music video came up. "O hey, you get MTV2! Nice," he said.

"I don't want to watch that! In your car that may be your radio, but in this house that is my TV!" she shouted from within her kitchen.

Chuckie just rolled his eyes to himself and resumed flipping the channels, hoping for something good and not a "Clueless" rerun. Then smirking slightly, he yelled to her, "Extra butter, sweetie!"

He heard an aluminum bowl clatter to a tiled floor and a very miffed Angelica shriek back, "Sweetie! I'll shove your 'sweetie' right up your -"

Slouching into the couch further, Chuckie interrupted, "Thanks, pumpkin!"

Angelica yelled in anger, "Finster! Unless you want a lap full of popcorn I'd suggest you can it!"

Chuckie shook his head and snickered to himself. "Alright, alright. Jeeze," he finally replied in a defeated tone. The TV settled on HBO and another bloody episode of "The Sopranos". Chuckie glanced over at a resting Princess and commented under his breath as if the dog could hear him, referring to Angelica, "Now I see where you get it from."

The gym actually looked pretty decent for once. The lights were dimmed and streamers hung from walls and rafters. Confetti speckled the ground in shimmering paper designs and balloons all littered the ceiling from where some dumb joker had thought it would be funny to untie them all from the back of everyone's chair. There were a few tables set up for personal belongings and a punch bowl that was guarded by some observant teachers so that there would be no spiking this time around. Loud music blared from a DJ booth, all vintage stuff as usual since their school had had the same forty year old man playing at every dance for ten years.

Phil and Kimmi were heading back from the voting table where they had each written a name down for Homecoming king and queen. Kimmi looked really beautiful and actually pretty "girly" in her red strapless dress over her petite form, that hit just above the knee, and red heels. Her dark hair was drawn back in a French twist that her mother had managed to do for her, after many hours of painful stabbings with bobby pins. Phil for his part appeared pretty pulled-together in his black suit and red shirt. They made a very striking couple, to both of their surprise.

Walking together, Kimmi glanced over at Phil and admitted, "I voted for you."

With a small smile, Phil replied, "I voted for you."

Kimmi questioned, already knowing the answer, "You think we'll win?"

Phil replied without a pause, "No."

Kimmi laughed and nodded, adjusting her rose corsage. "Me either. We're not exactly the poster perfect couple. If we come in dead last I'll be surprised," she admitted.

Phil shrugged. "Oh well, at least that's one less vote for the cheesy popular people. Just one though because I'm, well, really crazy popular," he kidded, smiling as she laughed at him.

"And cheesy," Kimmi added.

They stopped now, a dance floor of couples all swaying to some sappy love song from the 80s. "Hey, did I tell you you look really pretty in that dress?" he asked, glancing at her sincerely. Why was he so nervous? He shouldn't be, it was Kimmi, still he didn't want to make any mistakes, this was still like a 'trial' period anyway.

Kimmi nodded and teased, "Uh yea, I think that's what you were saying when you picked me up. I think you actually said I was "p-p-pretty"."

Phil blushed slightly and scratched at the back of his neck where the collar ended. "Hey, just because I stutter when I'm nervous doesn't mean you can pick on me. You're not supposed to make fun of people with speech impediments ok," he replied mock indignantly.

Kimmi laughed and thought out loud, "You're never nervous."

Phil said, "I know." Then glancing back at all the people dancing, he questioned, "So, you wanna dance?"

Kimmi smiled and replied, "Sure. We should, I mean we'd look a little strange just standing here, swaying." He took her hand and they headed to the middle of the floor. Phil wrapped his arms around her waist, his fingers resting on the hollow of her back, and she lifted her hands to his neck. It felt strange, after all they had been friends for so many years, and yet comfortable all at the same time. She should have been anxious but she wasn't, it was Phil and he made her feel at ease always. They slowly began to circle together and Kimmi could feel his breath lingering on the back of her bare neck.

After a slight pause, Phil questioned, "So is that corsage ok? Because my mom got it, I told her to get a bouquet but she thinks it's the 1950s and girls still like corsages."

What was going on with him lately? It was like everything he did around her he had to second guess; she didn't want him to feel like that, like she was always judging what he did. But she told herself it was nothing, it was just because everything was so new and strange all of a sudden. Still she smiled softly and responded, "No, I like it Phil. I really really like it."

There was a stretch of silence again as the rock song went on and the DJ thought it was brilliant of him to have only blue lights on so everyone was soaked in a pale light, like they were drifting at the bottom of a swimming pool. Finally Phil chuckled and said into Kimmi's ear, "Ok, let's make a wager. I bet you ten bucks they play all music not popular since 1980."

Kimmi laughed at this and challenged, "You're on. 1985 at least." The silence fell over them and Kimmi started smiling faintly as she remembered something. "You look p-p-pretty good yourself you know. It's weird seeing you in a suit. I think the last time was when it was my seventh birthday party," she mused.

Recalling that memory, Phil grinned and exclaimed, "I remember that! It was at that yacht club."

Kimmi rolled her eyes and sighed, "Yea, I was forced to. My mom wanted something formal so she could take pictures of me in a dress since I never wore one. God, it was sea foam colored and puffy. I hated that dress."

Phil laughed and shook his head slightly. "We spent the whole time under the stairs, eating cake and hiding from the adults," he replied.

Kimmi smiled as well and stated, "Yea. That wasn't so bad." It really wasn't, it never was when he was around. The music swelled into some ridiculously long guitar solo and the DJ switched the strobe lights to a mixture of colors, a rainbow splotching the floor. They continued to dance, occasionally laughing over some couple who were taking this whole thing way too seriously.

"So Megan was all like "I love that purse!" And I was like "O my God, you do? It was half off!" Isn't that great? I mean, there are hardly any sales any more in the mall. It was such a good find," Hillary rambled on, using her hands for emphasis. Her long chestnut curls were pulled up in a bun style and she was dressed in a dark navy spaghetti strap dress.

Chuckie sat by her on some chairs, they'd decided to take a break from dancing because Chuckie figured maybe then he'd have a chance of escaping. He slouched into his seat and nodded distractedly, hoping for a dancer to careen out of control and knock him in the eye with an elbow so he could go to the emergency room and leave. "Yea, uh hu. That's great," he mumbled. He was wearing a black suit with a navy blue shirt underneath, although his hair was unstyled and wild.

Finally catching her breath, she grinned wide and stated, "So anyway, that's how I found my purse!" Then she gasped and held a hand to her lips, exclaiming, "O my God, I did it again didn't I? I rambled! O my God, I'm so embarrassed."

Chuckie forced on a smile and shook his head. "No, it's ok, really -" he started to reply.

Hillary interrupted, "Megan is always saying I ramble but I don't know. Like, she does too. In fact all my friends do, they'll sit on the phone for hours and hours and hours and hours and hours. And o yea, last night guess what I heard? Tim is dating Laurence! I know, I couldn't believe it either. Tim and Laurence? Well whatever, it's not my business. But didn't she have a drug problem? That's what I heard; she was a total pothead -"

Chuckie suddenly stated, "Drinks! You want drinks? I'm thirsty. I'll grab you a Coke ok."

Hillary paused mid sentence and smiled. "Oh. Ok, sure. Thanks," she said.

Chuckie stood and started to walk away, sighing to himself as he did. Hillary made sure he was turned away from her when she pulled a compact from her purse and began to powder her face. As Chuckie headed over to the table that had on it a few plastic cups of soda the teachers had already poured for students, he noticed there was a slight scene. Some teenagers had stopped dancing or whatever they were doing to watch and gather. A boy Chuckie could not recognize was pointing his finger at one of the male teachers and blurting drunkenly, "No, buddy, you have the problem! Not me!"

The teacher shook his head and replied tiredly, "Just leave, son." Then he looked over to the boy's date and told her, "Angelica, take this young man home before I have to call his parents."

So it was Angelica's date. Chuckie looked to the girl and she had a stoic expression on, nodding. Her flaxen hair was straight and pulled half back; she looked really beautiful in a pink layered halter dress that reached mid thigh. "Come on, Greg. Stop acting like an idiot," she snapped.

Greg shrugged and staggered, turning around. "Whatever. This dance sucks anyway. Sucks! You hear me, you all suck! Suck!" he trumpeted.

Angelica rolled her eyes and came to the boy's side as he stumbled, holding him up under his arm. "Oh just shut up," she sighed, helping him into the dim corridor.

Chuckie followed the pair, wanting to help her. "Angelica..." he began to say after her.

The girl glanced back and her ocean eyes looked regretful as she spotted Chuckie. She turned her head and let Greg lean on her as she helped him towards the double doors. An ashen moon reflected in the glass and parted over the hallway in metal ribbons. Angelica pushed past the doors and cool air swam around her.

Chuckie passed through the doorway and called, "Angelica! You want help or something? At least with getting him to the car?"

Angelica looked back again and responded solemnly, "No, its fine, Chuckie." Right after she said this, Greg hunkered over, his hands at his knees, and starting throwing up at the curb. Angelica turned around and sighed audibly, folding her arms over her chest. "Great. Just great. Just give me the keys, you drunk fool, and you better hope there is not one drop of anything on this dress or I'll personally kill you myself," she fumed but she didn't sound as spirited as usual. She sounded defeated.

Chuckie approached and questioned, "You sure?" He could feel a knot in his stomach, he'd never seen her like this, so... alone.

She had been reaching over to grab the keys from her date's pocket and looked up then, the pallor light rolling over the curves of her face. Angelica responded bluntly, "It's not the first time." Then she turned and linked an arm around Greg's at the elbow, trying to get him to stand up straight. She helped him stumble along down the parking lot, away from the school and the throbbing dance.

"Well, apparently "we suck"," Natalie observed, taking a sip of her soda. She and Tommy had headed over for a drink and rest after a fast song had started up and had been witness to Angelica's drunk date being thrown out. Natalie was adorned in a shimmery pale blue, thin strapped dress with ruching on the sides, her black hair pulled back in a low ponytail and dangling crystal earrings completing the outfit.

Tommy shrugged and grinned, adding, "Hmmm, guess so. Glad someone told me or else I'd just keep on going, thinking I didn't suck." He looked handsome in his dark suit and blue shirt.

Natalie nodded in agreement and remarked in a deadpan tone, "I know huh. Well someone was thrown out for being drunk; this dance is officially just like every other dance I've been to. But the plus side is they have pretty streamers."

Tommy looked up and laughed, saying, "Huh, they do." The DJ started playing a slower song and the pair tossed their cups in the trash bin and headed towards the left side of the dance floor. As they did, they spotted a familiar looking couple and Tommy led the way, calling, "Oh hey, Phil, Kimmi. What's going on?"

Phil and Kimmi were slow dancing on the outskirts of the floor now and looked over at their approaching friend. Phil unwound his arms from around Kimmi to give Tommy a sort of high five and grin. He exclaimed, "Nothing! I'm glad to see you guys; we were getting a little bored by ourselves."

Natalie rolled her indigo eyes and commented sarcastically, "Oh yea you guys look so bored. You're just another one of those annoyingly cute couples already, admit it."

Kimmi cringed at the idea and spluttered, "God, don't say that! The minute we start looking into each other's eyes longingly and singing the words to each other, then you can slap me ok."

They all laughed at this and then Tommy questioned, "Have you seen Chuckie and his date?"

Phil nodded and replied, "Yea, for barely two minutes. That's all we could take of that Hillary girl, she has more air in her head then a balloon."

Kimmi groaned and added, "Yea, there is only so long you can fake smile and nod before it grows painful. So we said we were getting drinks and never came back. If Chuckie asks, we're dead ok. Double homicide."

Tommy chuckled and said, "Sure thing." He realized the people all around them were dancing in couples and looked over at Natalie, holding out a hand. "You wanna dance, Nat?" he asked.

The girl smiled and nodded, taking his hand. "O yea, sure. They don't call these things a 'dance' for nothing I guess," she commented. Tommy led her to an area where it was a little more open and linked his arms around her. Natalie slipped hers around his neck and leaned in, still they held a little distance apart. The girl flushed faintly and looked down before meeting Tommy's eyes and stating, "So this might be the first dance I actually don't regret going to."

Tommy grinned and replied, "Me too." He was having a great time, she was funny and beautiful and nice. Perfect.

They were circling and the couples parted a little so there was a partial fracture of an opening and he saw her. Sitting alone on some chairs by a table, shadows edging over her face. There was that reflexive part in him again that made him want to go to her and he said, still looking at her, "I'll be... I'll be right back ok. I have to go see a friend."

Natalie seemed a little surprised but nodded and responded, "O sure." She felt his arms slip away from her and he turned, walking off. Then she shouted after him, half kidding, "You better not be ditching me!"

Tommy turned to give her a reassuring smile and wave, saying back, "I'm not! It'll take me a minute." Then he parted through the crowd and was lost from Natalie's sight. She made a soft sigh and glanced down at her heels.

Lillian was sitting on the chair she'd remained in since she arrived at the dance, by her purse slumped on the table. It had been a struggle even to come tonight and now she knew she shouldn't have. Brett was still in the hospital; he had his second smaller surgery that day and would be there for probably the rest of the week, if not longer. She wasn't really in the dancing mood. Lillian hadn't even felt like getting her hair done, it was all down in light brown locks and pin straight; she was dressed in a simple stretchy dark brown halter dress over her slender frame and heels. When she walked in the doors, some of her friends who were not busy with their dates or dancing had said their hello's and then walked off, leaving her alone to sit here in thought. Darkness puddled around her and she wondered when her life had become so wrong.

"So you have my fifty cents yet? You know, for the Reeses? You owe me, DeVille."

She glanced up with questioned hazel eyes to see a familiar figure walking towards her. Smiling slightly, she replied, "Forgot. Next time, I swear."

Tommy came to stand before her and ask, "You aren't here alone are you?"

Lillian nodded gravely and said, "Afraid so. I'm officially pathetic I guess. I should warn you, standing near me might make you a loser too by association."

The boy smiled and shrugged. "I'll risk it. So, you want to dance? I mean, seeing as how we're both losers and all," he questioned.

Lillian shook her head and closed her eyes, fingering her little silver heart necklace that lay against her collar bone. "It's ok. I'm just going to wallow in my misery, thanks," she replied.

"Well then we'll wallow together. We can just dance and wallow at the same time right? That's allowed," Tommy countered.

She laughed and said, "I don't know."

Tommy replied, "Wait, let me check the rulebook. O yea, it is. Come on." He lifted a hand out to her and smiled.

Lillian sighed but took his offered hand anyway. Rolling her eyes, she stood and surrendered, saying, "Fine." She started to follow him out onto the dance floor and she could practically feel the eyes tracing their path. They reached a small clearing and Tommy paused, turning to her. He encircled his arms around her waist and Lillian went to rest hers around his neck. He felt warm; she'd almost forgotten how it felt to be held by him. Almost. "You look really nice," she breathed.

His legs were entwined with her bare ones and he hated how excited he was just by having his arms around her. "You do too. We clean up well," he said with a smile.

Lillian laughed quietly and nodded. "We do," she replied.

The room was floating in blue light again, reflecting like the paper edges of waves. They were silent for a moment before Tommy interjected to break the seriousness, "Ok now Lillian, I know how tempted you might be to reach down and grab my butt, but please don't ok. I am sick of you always trying to cop a feel; I'm not your piece of meat."

Lillian suppressed a laugh and nodded. "I'm sorry, Tommy. It's just so hard you know, but I'll do my best to resist," she said.

Tommy responded mock seriously, "Ok that's all I ask."

There was a break of quiet between them and then Lillian's face flashed with shock and amusement. Pointing over Tommy's shoulder, she chortled, "Oh whoa. Dry humping couple at twelve o'clock. I was not prepared to see that."

Tommy craned his neck to look back and laugh, turning around again. "O ok, me either. I guess they are just really happy to be together or something," he said of the grinding couple who were sloppily making out a few feet away.

"I guess," Lillian replied, making an effort to avoid looking in that direction now. Then she added, "So, my brother and Kimmi huh?"

Tommy nodded, wondering how she felt about that. "Yea. Your brother and Kimmi. Who would have thought it?" he remarked.

The girl shrugged and replied, "Me actually. It was pretty obvious, for a long time. They acted like they didn't care about each other but you could tell. It was always right there. They just had to see it for themselves." And her words clung in the air with dual meaning. Lillian's eyes flickered over Tommy's face before looking off to the side.

Tommy was watching her when he replied, "Yea."

She forced out to change the topic, giving a strained smile, "So how did you do on that exploding moment? I didn't distract you too much did I?"

Tommy shook his head and said, "Oh no. I did it on water pollution, I got an A."

Lillian's face swelled with a genuine smile and she pressed her fingertips lightly into his back. "That's so great, Tommy. See, I knew you could do well if you just had a little faith. Much better then if you tried jamming your pencil in your eye anyway," she exclaimed.

The boy laughed and nodded. "Yea, true," he admitted.

They were silent again and Lillian's eyes caught around her at the faces of friends, who were looking her way with apparent ridicule and disdain. She knew they were whispering things to their dates. "You know what they're all saying don't you? "Why is she dancing with some boy when her boyfriend is in the hospital?"" she commented softly.

Tommy was meeting her gaze when he replied, "I think they're saying, "Why is she dancing with him?""

Lillian looked into his dark eyes and felt guilty for everything, all over again, for how she'd made him feel like he wasn't good enough, like he didn't... matter. She'd been too wrapped up in herself and her own life to even realize it, and she felt horrible now. She pulled herself in closer to him so there wasn't even a fraction of space, hugging onto him so their heads were side by side now. "I don't care what they're saying. I just don't care," she said sincerely.

The music was drowning the world out and that blue light shimmered along the sparkles in girl's dresses, pooling around the room. One of Lillian's hands was at Tommy's neck, where the hair and skin met, and she didn't want to let go, she wanted to apologize for everything she'd done because everything she'd done lately was always so wrong. There was silence before Tommy started to say something he'd been considering for awhile, "Listen, Lillian, I've been thinking and I know before you said that we never noticed you, before everything -"

Lillian wanted to make him stop; because she knew whatever he'd say would be so perfect and sweet, and it would make her feel even more awful. "I know, I was so wrong, Tommy. I don't know why I said that," she interrupted.

Tommy shook his head and went on, "No, wait. I just wanted to say, I did. I noticed you. I always noticed you."

Her eyes grew glassy with tears and she stung with guilt. He was too... right, and she was always too wrong. He and her old friends were where she should be, not wherever the Hell she was now, with people who didn't even matter. "I know," she responded softly.

The song drifted to an end and Lillian pulled away. Her eyes reflected wetly but she put on a smile anyway. "Alright, you need to go back to your date. I hijacked you for long enough," she remarked.

Tommy looked disappointed when he offered, "You sure? She wouldn't mind if you wanted to dance one more song -"

Lillian tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and rambled slightly to cover up her sadness, "No, really, I'm fine. Besides, I'm missing my world among the loners and geeks. I feel strangely at home there. They may even make me their Queen, I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

Tommy smiled slightly and replied, "Well ok if you're sure. See you later, Lillian."

She gave a small wave and said, "Bye, Tommy." She watched him turn and walk away, back through the clusters of people. She felt alone again and this time she knew she deserved it.

He spotted Natalie near the side of the dance floor, watching the students with boredom. When she looked over and saw Tommy approaching, she smiled with relief and said, "I was starting to think you'd climbed out the bathroom window to escape or something."

Tommy grinned back and replied, "Sorry, it took a little longer then I thought."

Natalie shrugged and responded, "It's ok." Tommy slipped his hand into hers and they walked out towards the dance floor, weaving past people to find a good spot. Then Tommy and Natalie resumed dancing, a silence pressing down on them. Tommy was distractedly looking past her shoulder, through the crowd. He was trying to think about where he was and Natalie but his head kept moving elsewhere, somehow making him feel like he was in the wrong place and with the wrong person. Teens drifted out of the way and Tommy saw Lillian's seat was empty, her purse gone from where it had been on the table.

His gaze lingered there a little longer before he said, " Hey, do you mind if I -"

"Go again?" Natalie finished with a slight sad smile. "No, that's fine. I understand," she assured, although her voice was a little regretful.

Tommy nodded and pulled away. "Great. Thanks. I'll be right back, I swear," he said and headed through the crowd, toward the gym twin doors.

A really cheesy rock ballad began to play, Brian Adams' "Heaven". Phil grinned and said into Kimmi's ear, "See, told you."

By now they'd inched closer together so Kimmi was leaning against Phil, the shorter girl tilting her head up towards his. "Wow, you're right. Total 1980s. Do you think the DJ knows they released new music in the last decade or two?" she scoffed.

Phil chuckled and replied, "DJ Dave? He's awesome. I don't think he owns a radio anymore, just eight tracks."

Laughing, Kimmi nodded and reasoned, "That would explain it." They continued to move in slow floating circles and Kimmi commented, "Anyway this dance wasn't so bad."

Phil replied matter-of-factly, "Relatively painless."

Kimmi smiled up at him and couldn't help sniggering, "Yea, Philly." She knew using the name Abbey called him would really freak him out, but it was just too funny.

Phil glanced down with worried dark eyes and objected, "Ok, don't call me that. It's creepy."

Still smiling at him innocently, she said, "Sorry, couldn't resist."

There was a silence as they slowly turned and the music winded on with its guitars and vocals. Phil was trying not to meet her eyes when he questioned, "So, what would you say to going out sometime?" There was too long of a pause for Phil's comfort so he added, smiling slightly, "Just, you know, a meal of food."

Kimmi grinned and exclaimed, "Old School! I love that movie, Will Ferrell cracks me up."

Phil clutched his fingers to her back and rolled his eyes, smiling. "Me too. But stop avoiding the question, Finster. Can we try this whole dating thing? I mean, I haven't even embarrassed myself or you yet at the dance. That has to count for something," he persuaded.

Kimmi raised an eyebrow and chided, "True, DeVille, but the nights still young." Then she glanced off to the side, swimming in doubt, before replying, "I just... I'm worried... You might take it all back, later when you change your mind or something. And I'll be left looking like an idiot."

She hardly ever talked about anything she was feeling, she was a lot like Phil in that way, and she would never mention she was frightened before. Phil held her a little closer and said, "That's not going to happen. You have to know that. I'm not going to take anything back, never again. So, can we give it a shot? See what happens from here? I promise I'm not so bad, I'm relatively painless."

Kimmi laughed at this and then nodded. "Ok, sure, Phil. It's a date," she replied.

The wind was laced with a night chill and it scattered over the nearby soccer field. A swollen moon sank into the dark sky above, arcs of metal light falling over the small wooden playground. Lillian sat alone on a swing, staring down, lost in thought. At least here there was no one watching her every move, here she felt like she could clear her head.

"What? They moved the Tommy Fan Club meetings without even telling me? That's no way to treat your God, I have to say."

Lillian lifted her head up to see the all too familiar figure lately of Tommy nearing over the grass. He had a way of showing up whenever she knew she wouldn't have wanted to see anyone but him. She smiled faintly and replied, "Yea. And sadly, I'm the president and only member."

Tommy laughed and remarked, "I feel loved."

Nodding the girl retorted, "You should."

Tommy was close now and sat down in the swing by her, looking down. "So, you need to get fresh air or something? Because I have to tell you, there's fresh air at the school too you know. Then I wouldn't have had to walk all the way over that field," he joked.

Lillian fingered the hem off her dress and relinquished, "I felt stupid, sitting there alone. It won't matter anyway; I doubt anyone noticed I left."

Tommy shrugged, replying, "I did." Then realizing how stark that sounded, he leaned his head towards her and added, "And the geeks are missing their queen."

Lillian smiled faintly and said, "Gotta love the geeks." The breeze rushed by, splaying her long hair against her back, and she looked over at Tommy. "So how did you know where I was?" she asked.

Tommy glanced ahead and stated rather then questioned, "You don't remember."

"Remember what?" the willowy girl wondered aloud.

Tommy was staring out, over the outcropping of slides and other structures. "Second grade. We all use to play here after school; you use to hide in the tire tunnel every time," he said.

Lillian smiled slightly and nodded. "I remember. You got a splinter on the monkey bars and cried," she recalled.

Tommy shot her a stare and objected, "I didn't cry."

Lillian swung foreword a little and replied, "You did."

There was a pause before the boy admitted, "Ok maybe a little. But it hurt." Lillian laughed at this and Tommy was grinning too. This whole place was littered in so many memories, perfect distant memories. They looked over it, the bare haunting blue that had settled over it instead of the dazzling white summer mornings they remembered. Finally Tommy started to say to shatter the stillness, "Are you cold? You can wear my jacket."

Lillian shook her head, responding, "No, that's ok, Tommy. Really, I'm fine. It's not that bad out, it's not winter yet."

The boy shrugged and went on, "Yea I guess. Still, if you get cold, just let me know ok."

She was looking ahead when she said, "You shouldn't have come here."

Tommy cocked an eyebrow and asked, "Why not?"

She was smiling slightly when she half joked, "Because you're too great and I might just have to kiss you."

The boy mock shrugged and retorted, "Well, I'm not against that."

Lillian laughed and looked over towards him. "Won't your date be looking for you?" she questioned.

Tommy shook his head and replied, "Natalie? No, she's cool. I said I'd be right back anyway."

Glancing down at her bare legs, Lillian forced out, "Oh. Well that's great, she seems nice."

Tommy nodded, adding, "She is."

"Yea," Lillian said quietly and she began to stop whatever slight movement she'd created on the swing, her feet skidding softly against the grass. Many of the electric stars were hidden from view by dark clouds that ruptured in shifting shapes across the white face of the moon. She was staring upwards when she mused, "You ever feel like you're so lost and a hundred miles from anything you thought you wanted? And you're too far to go back?"

Tommy shook his head and couldn't help but laugh faintly. "Not really, Lillian..." he commented.

She glanced over at him and was smiling when she quipped, "I'm trying to be deep here alright. You can't laugh when I'm trying to be deep; it's not allowed in the rulebook."

Still grinning, Tommy nodded and replied solemnly, "Alright, I'll stop."

Lillian sighed and tried to elaborate, "I don't know, I confuse myself too. But me and Phil, we use to have these talks. I know we always acted like we couldn't stand each other and I really can't sometimes. But after my parent's went to bed, when we were supposed to be asleep, I'd go visit him in his room if I was really worried about something or just needed to talk and he'd do the same to me. Now, we barely speak to each other."

Tommy held a hand out to grasp the chain of her swing absently. "So, talk to him. Phil really isn't that bad of a guy, he's all noise. He'll get over it," he advised.

Lillian countered miserably, "Yea but, I don't think he should get over it. What I did was shitty, I'd be mad too."

Tommy nodded and said bluntly, "Yea, it was shitty."

Gazing over at the boy, she exclaimed with a laugh, "Well feel free to be honest, Tommy!" He just smiled in her direction before Lillian glanced back out towards the expansion of night. The silence slid around them and then Lillian thought aloud, "People say you're supposed to "grow up" and "find yourself" in high school. They say it's normal to sometimes drift apart with the friends you had in middle school. But it was different with you guys; you were a lot more then just really good friends. You were there for everything, you guys know me better then myself. I feel like I lost myself when I lost you guys."

When he was wondering why he felt so much for her, she'd go and say something like that, more honest and real then he knew any girl to be. Because she wasn't perfect in the least, she was self-absorbed, and constantly trying to play the victim, and always so indecisive. But there was also that addictive laugh and that way she always kept him guessing and her real genuine caring. "You know you didn't loose us right? We're still right there, waiting..." he began to say and unintentionally dragged her swing closer to his by the chain. "And that was really pretty great by the way, and I might just have to kiss you," he teased.

She laughed and turned to look at him, her moss eyes matching his, and there was that hesitation of silence again. They were so close and then their faces were nearing, the smiles slipping away. Tommy pressed his lips to hers and she could feel his breath gloss over her. His free hand went to the back of her head and Lillian melted into him, her breath catching in her throat, all real thoughts disappearing for the moment. A chill swept by and fell against their skin.

Then he pulled back, staring at her, and all his logic returned. He had a really great girl waiting for him to return to the dance, and Lillian had a boyfriend. Who was in the hospital. Whatever had made him believe this was a good idea had dissipated and his brain took over. "I don't know why I just did that..." he said in self-blame and stood from the swing. Tommy turned and started to walk off.

Lillian watched after him, a little stunned, and called faintly, "I'm sorry, Tommy..."

Tommy stopped to turn around again, shaking his head and running a hand anxiously through his mass of dark hair. "No, Lillian. I'm sorry. I'm the one who should be sorry, because you have a boyfriend, and I just kissed you, and that was wrong. I don't know what I was thinking," he repeated.

Pallid dunes of light filled the space between them and Lillian replied, "I meant for everything. I'm sorry for everything I did to you guys, for how I treated you."

The boy nodded and said, "We know you are, you've already said you were, Lillian. I've forgiven you, and if the others haven't, they will." Then he started to turn to leave and remarked knowingly, "Maybe you need to forgive yourself."

Author's Note: Ok you have to admit that song is cheesy! And if you like it well, sorry but you are... corny. Kidding of course. I also mentioned Old School and Will Ferrell. Because both respectably kick major butt.

Let me say first, yea! A TL kiss! I hope you had as much fun reading that as I did writing it because woo, my favorite couple getting it on. Of course it couldn't last because there is still Brett and Lil really does care for him. ::cough cough gag gag:: Well what would you readers have me do, have Lil break up with him while he was in the HOSPITAL? God, you guys are evil. Yea, and there is perfect Natalie. Ok second of all, the reason this was not updated in such a frickin long time is because I was really busy, then my comp died, then this laptop would not take floppy disks, then... I died? Do you forgive me? Please? This chapter was all about forgiveness! Yes, yes it was. Kimmi forgiving Phil enough to trust him not to hurt her again, Tommy "forgiving" Phil in the first part (He really wasn't all that mad in the first place...), Phil realizing its time to forgive Lillian a little or at least try, Lillian realizing how horrible she was and forgiving herself. (Whether she even deserves the right for anyone to forgive her is up to you.) Ok so it seems Lillian is starting to slowly but surely return to the old gang, of course it will be gradual as they just won't instantly forgive her and everything will be all hunky dory! Don't worry, I won't be dragging this out either and forcing you to endure boring cheesy "best friend" montages or anything. But Phil seems to be finally getting over it and I think Tommy has, because he kissed her. Also there was the KISS! And did I mention, the KISS? Hee. Well how could Lillian not like Tommy because I mean, he's Tommy! I brought back the "rule book" and the "nail polish" and the "Tommy Fan Club" and "Philly", I'm a fan of running jokes. Plus I like foreshadowing, so don't forget about what Lil said about her talks with Phil! Anyway, I added that long CA scene in at the beginning unexpectedly, I realized I should be building on their relationship more so there you go, taa daa. Plus they are cute. Did anyone feel bad for Angelica this chapter? Anyone? Please? See, she is a normal girl under that hard outward appearance she gives off, who feels alone and hurt just like everyone else, more so since she is always pushing people away. Still not feeling bad for her? PK was in here, not so much, but they will be getting their first date next chapter! Yay! I really do not want to mess with them, they are so "drama free" compared to TL and Drama Mama, Lillian. So you may just get straight up cuteness, we will see... But there is that whole little detail of Phil really worried and second guessing himself around Kimmi so he avoids hurting her which is not good in a relationship.

Added that in about Susie being in private school because well, I had to explain where she was but I really am not planning on writing her into this fic. Dil either, except in a few parts maybe. I find them boring and I really have no idea how they would act because I haven't watched the show that much. So, sorry if you are a fan of either. =o/ If you want, feel free to sit down and write in where you think they could fit into this story for your own enjoyment. Haa.

And anyone who is afraid of Hillary would not want to meet a few of my friends. Yea, they are that bad. I know a couple who are like T/L too, always so much DRAMA. She cheats on him and he cheats on her and there's yelling, and yet they always get back together. She's just messed up and he really loves her, I believe. She lost her twin brother at the age of seven when he was run over by a car so yea, she has abandonment issues. (Hmmm, could that be a story idea? No, I couldn't kill Phil! That would be horrible for my poor PK!) Plus she never knew her father. But yea, there are a lot of drama-full relationships, not that I get it really. ::Sigh:: Anyway promise not to take so long next time ok? Because its chapter eleven, boy how the time flies! See you later.