The Final Year, The Final Show

Disclaimer - Kayla doesn't own RFR. I don't own RFR. Therefore it would be completely pointless to sue us. Sarah Evans (or whoever wrote it) owns
"Perfect". Kayla owns Riley (though she is partially based off of a
character I created for a fic of mine) and I lay no claim to her. I do
however own the chapter title so back off.

A/N - For the love of all that is holy this chapter took entirely too long for me to write (as I'm sure everyone can attest to). In case you aren't able to tell, while this is an official chapter, it's a guest chapter since I (Hazel Harman/Jessica Tate/Whatever you wanna call me) wrote it all and Kayla had nothing to do with it. I hope it's up to par. I've missed far too many episodes of RFR to be up to date... so anyhow. Enjoy and give PFB
reviews!

Chapter 9:
The Dangers of Sparklers and The Uses of Bottle Rockets

7/4/07 - 10:59 - Wednesday

"Riley, what is all this for again?" Ray asked as Riley continued to point
to items on the shelves at the back of the road side stand.

Riley took the vampire rocket form the man's hand and piled it on top of
Ray's arms. "Fourth of July."

"I hate to tell you this Riley, but the fourth of July is an American holiday," he said, setting the newest aquisitions in the back of his truck.

"Yes, I know this Ray. However, it's the one American holiday I refuse to
give up."

"So this is why you are going to be souly responsible for the income of all
the firework salesman in the greater Roscoe area?"

"Ray, we had to drive one hundred and twenty-two miles just to find a firework stand. What do you expect me to do, buy a few black cats and call
it a day? I don't think so."

"All right, all right." Ray loaded the last of the fireworks into the
vehicle and turned back to his cousin. "How much is all this going to
cost."

"My whole college fund," she replied wryly.

"Two hundred thirty-three dollars and seventeen cents," the man said.

Riley riffled through her purse and pulled out the money. After the man handed her back her change, she jumped into the drivers seat and waited for
Ray to get in.

"I can't believe that you just spent over two hundred dollars on things
that explode." Riley laughed at Ray's statement. Shaking her head, she
turned up the radio.

"If you don't take me to Paris

On a lover's getaway

It's all right, It's all right,"

Ray groaned as Riley sang along to the distincly country song and covered
his ears.

"If I'd rather wear your t-shirt

Than a sexy negligee

It's all right, It's all right,"

"Please! Riley!" She turned away from his pleading puppy dog eyes and
turned the song up again.

"Every dinner doesn't have to be candelit

It's kinda nice to know that is doesn't have to be,"

Ray leaned down and pulled his cd player out from under the seat. He slid
the headphones on, only to be bombarded by the same song.

"Perfect

Baby every little piece

Of the puzzle doesn't always fit

Perfectly

Love can be rough around the edges, tattered at the seams

But honey if it's good enough for you

It's good enough for me"

He threw the headphones off. "Is nothing sacred?!" he screamed.

7/4/07 - 12:32 p.m. - Wednesday

"Ahh, barbaque." Riley lifted her head and ran over next to the grill where her uncle stood.

"So, this was your idea Riley, do you want more chicken or--"

Riley looked him over. "Chicken. Hot dogs. Hamburgers. Steaks. Sausage. Let's go for the whole shabang, baby." James laughed at his niece's antics and shook his head as she skipped off to her friends.

"What I really want is ribs," Riley said, sighing dramatically and lying her head down beside Travis' hand.

"Then why don't you say something?" Ray asked.

"Because it takes about six hours to make good ribs. It takes six hours of marinating, plus the regular six hours to make excellent ribs. I am not waiting until midnight for ribs, no matter how good they would be."

"That place down town has--"

"Really crappy ribs," Riley said, glaring at her cousin.

"Poor, mistreated," Travis smiled down at Riley, then leaned down, nuzzeling her nose for a second before kissing her.

"Would you mind taking you 'mac' somewhere else?" Lily asked, eyeing the two.

"I'm starting to think Ray is right, ever since the two of you..." Robbie trailed off and made a few vauge motions. "You've been all over one another. It's getting kind of annoying."

Riley snorted and then grinned. "I have an idea!"

"What?" Kim asked, dreading the answer.

"Let's just say it involves bottle rockets and highways," Riley said mysteriously.

"This can not be good," Travis said darkly.

7/4/07 - 1:02 p.m. - Wednesday

It amused Riley to no end that her aunt and uncle didn't notice her put all the bottle rockets into the back of she and Ray's truck. She found it even more amusing that they actually bought the excuse that they were going to the store for more cheetos (Lily had hidden the remaining two bags in Riley's room).

"You're nuts," Kim said pleasently as Riley set the last rocket up.

"I know," the girl replied, shutting one eye and sticking her tounge out of her mouth.

"She's going to get us arrested," Robbie pointed out.

"This is not good," Lily said quietly.

"Travis, stop her!" Ray made his finale plea.

"Please, Armageddon couldn't stop her," Travis added wryly.

"Untrue," Riley said, standing up and brushing her knees off. "Armageddon would stop me, it being the end of the world as we know it and all." She pulled a lighter out from her pocket.

"Ladies and gents, if you don't want to be caught, I suggest you get into the vehicles." She flipped the zippo open and lit it.

"You're scary with fire..." Lily said as she walked away.

"Keep the door open!" Riley called as Travis crawled into his car.

Bending over, the tough headed girl and lit the fuse, which was three foot away from the first rocket. She jumped up, dashed for her boyfriend's car and slid in. As she shut her door she screamed, "Scramble!"

The car came to life and Travis shook his head as they drove away. "That was completely unnessicary, it was obvious we were going to have to--" Ssssccceeewwww. The first rocket had gone off. Travis stopped the car and both he and Riley turned around to watch the chain go off. A burst of red then blue. Two greens followed and then a mess of orange.

"Awww... look at the little kids and how awed they are," Riley said sweetly.

"And look how pissed off the parents are," Travis pointed out. "Let's get out of here." Travis put the car back into drive and sped off down the one- lane road towards home.

7/4/07 - 7:22 p.m. - Wednesday

"Sparkler?" Riley asked her uncle.

"No thank you, Riley," he said while laughing.

"Suit yourself." She glanced around and smiled devilishly. "Spark up!"

"Riley, you're twisted," Lily said casually.

"Just light your damned sparkler and write your name in the sky," Riley said as she flipped her zippo open. "Ow!" she screeched as the flame burnt her. "Stupid son of a--" Travis clapped his hand over her mouth and gave a weak smile to the adults present.

"You'll have to excuse her, sometimes she doesn't know when to stop," he said quickly, giving Riley a funny look.

"Don't worry, Travis," Marie said, smiling. "We live with her so we have a fairly good idea of what she can be like."

"Yeah, Travis," Riley stuck her tounge out at her boyfriend.

"Very mature," he said, handing her a paper towel with a piece of ice wrapped in it.

"Never claimed to be," she replied happily.

End Chapter