The Final Year, The Final Show

Disclaimer - See ch. 1 dammit! Oh, and I only own Riley's letter. My sister owns Melanie's. They were actually pieces of writing for our English class. (dies) Oh, well!

A/N - Ok...let's see....This chapter should be fun. Really, it will be! My sister gave me an idea, and so...yeah. I'm totally stealing it, but not using her character. It's not fun that way. Well...It could be, but that's not the point. lol.

Renjview! You know what it means!

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Ch 15 - Surpries Abound

8/19/07 - Sunday Afternoon - 12:33pm

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Riley had woken up around eleven that morning. Nothing special going on, it was just another normal Sunday. Or so she thought. She was the only one in the house and bored out of her mind. Damn. What was she supposed to do? There was no one around and nothing on TV. She was currently blasting her soundtrack to the 1987 movie "The Lost Boys". The song that was on was the first one on the CD, "Good Times" by INXS & Jimmy Barnes when she got the idea. Riley didn't think it was because of the song, but she got an idea. "I'm gonna write a letter!"

"Mary, Mary, you're on my mind

The folks are gone and the place'll be mine

Mary, Mary, wanna be with you"

Good Times - INXS, Jimmy Barnes

Riley got out a pen and piece of paper and started writing to one of her best friends back in California. It didn't take her too long to write it all out. Probably a good twenty minutes.

Melanie,

Hey, girl! It's been awhile since we've talked. You're probably tring to figure out why I'm sending you a letter, huh? Aunt Marie and Uncle James' computer is on the fritz, they won't let me make phone calls across the country, and my cell phone has seemed to run away from me. Which, of course, suddenly reminds me that I really should find the damn thing.

So, how have you and all of our mutual friends been? And what about JAmes? I haven't talking to him in ages! All thanks you you, of course! (shudder) Why on earth did you have to go on that six-hour recap of your sexual adverture? (ACK!) Any new boyfriends for you, Melanie, dahr-ling?

Speaking of boyfriends, I've managed to snage one for myself. Canadians are cute, you know? His name is Travs; he was the blonde one (no, Melanie, not the GIRL!) in that group picture I sent you last month in that e-mail attachment. There isn't much to know about our relationship except these few things: 1.) I'm totally rubbing off on him (in more ways than one) and he's totally swearing when he feels like it! See, Travis never even said anything like 'ass' or 'damn' or anything before I came along. I suppose it's all my fault. 2.) We've gone there. I love those words.

New friend's update time! Yay!

Lily Randall: Definitely NOT your "typical" blonde. Lils is a total rocker chick (even more so since I came into her life.) She's going out with Ray. Remember to pray for her. A LOT! He IS a Brennan after all.

Robbie McGrath: I don't think there's a single thing this boy WON'T question! It's all good though, he's wicked cool. (Wow...I just realized that I really don't know him that well. Making a note to myself to talk to that boy later.)

Kim Carsile: (Car-ly-le, Mel ) Kim, formerly know as The Ice Queen and Bitch of Roscoe High, has graduated. It was before her newly-acquired college-time that we became friends. How she deals with all the questions is WAY beyond me, but she's dating Rob. Oh, and...everyone who did'n't like her before has finally warmed up to her. Really! She's not that bad at all.

Normally, this is the part where I would tell you about my family. However, you already know about Ray. "What about your aunt and uncle?," right? They are almost ALWAYS gone! Honestly! You know it's bad when you wake up in the middle of th enight due to Uncle James' snoring and you think a burglar is here, got tired, and passed out in the master bedroom!

As you know (or SHOULD), I turned the "big" one-eight (Yes, that's 18) three months ago. Insanity came from that one. The aunt and uncle were here all day though, so I guess that's a plus, right?

I'm not sure what to make of my year-and-a-half here. I guess it would have to be that I have a cousin that's as weird as me, new friends, a boyfriends, and an aunt and uncle that are gone so much that we could have five parties and they'd come home and never know about them! (dies) OMG! It's GREAT!

Later days,

Riley D. B.

After that was done, Riley read it over. She nodded in satisfaction. She sealed the letter in an envelope and put it in the mailbox to be delivered tomorrow. Well, close to tomorrow, anyway. She couldn't wait to get a response from Mel. That girl was great!

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8/22/07 - Friday After School - 4:38pm

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Riley was sitting in her room, writing in her notebook when her Aunt came in and scared half the life out of her. "Aunt Marie!" Riley shouted, closing her book. There was no way she could see what was in there! She would ground her forever!

"Honey, I forgot to tell you, you got this in the mail." She said, handing the girl an envelope.

Riley opened the envelope as her aunt left. She nearly died when she saw it was actually a written letter back from Melanie. "I'm shocked she knows what a letter is."

Riley,

Yeah. Long time no talk, chick! Did you find your cell yet? Cause you know, you can call me if you did. ...Actually, is it still free mobile-to-mobile that way? I don't know. I'm confused. Typical grilling time: I would be highly disappointed in you if you hadn't made any friends by now. What about your teachers? Hate any of them yet? I hate all of mine. They all suck.I try to get out of their classes as much as possible. If you must know, yet I am passing all of my classes with a high C. Be proudl of me! It's better than the D's from later year, Right? (My parents are STILL mad at me for that.. I wonder why?)

I don't have fucking boyfriend! So, here we go on the boyfriend update: James and I broke up two weeks after you left. He was making out with another girl at a party we went to. Broke up with him while I was drunk. Sad, but true. After that, I went out with this guy named Ryan Williams. We only dated for about a week and then I realized we had different personalities. Faith told me, and I quote, "It took you long enough. I figured that out the minute you two started dating." (Speaking of Faith, I miss having you here to listen to my insesscant whining and share my pain. Faith almost decked me last time I tried it with her! ACK!) So, now you know. And if you find any cute guys, send 'em my way. (I know. I don't live in Canada, but a girl's allowed to have her wishful thinking!) And send Kerri some chocolate, cause she has this deal with wanting to say she's had Canadian chocolate.

I've got a new friend from my mechanics class. The name is Izabella. She just movied here from England with her parents and brother. She's the only new person I've met since you movied. (I'm still mad at you for that, by the way. Moving away with nearly no notification! You suck, bitch!)

You're Canadian family is weird. And you're wrong. I don't know all about Ray. (fake american-chinese accent) You LIED to me! Damn you, bitch! Burn in HELL! I mean... H. E. Double Hockey Sticks. Dude! I miss that movie! It was hilarious! I wanna see that again...

(does her "Riley turned eight-teeen! Riley turned eight-teeeen!" dance) YAY for being 18! Woohoo! What's it like? ...Wait...I'm two months older than you, what the fuck am I saying? Eighteen is no big deal. What'dja get for your birthday? Anything useful? Oh, and YAY! For you aunt and uncle actually being there for you b-day! Woot!

About your Aunt Marie and Uncle James...why the HELL are they gone so much? I mean, my parents have their reasons (which happened to be business trips and sex vacations) but it doesn't seem like you even know WHY they're gone so much. Dude. HAVE you had any parties while they were gone? I SO would! If you have one, call me up and I'll be there A-SAP! (dies)

Well, I must be going now, you know how I hate writing. ...Actually, now that I think about it, why in the seven damn layers of hell AM I writing this letter? Oh, yeah! That's right. I got bored and didn't even realize I'd started writing. Be proud of me! I actually wrote something without someone having to force me! (claps). Well, I figure I should get this in the mail so you can read it in five years--I mean--DAYS! God, I hate the Goddamn snailmail! They're so damn slow! Talk to you later! Ring me when you find your cell!

Love ya like a sista

Mel (Your beautiful, brainy, and well-gifted friend...well...in some areas. &wink&)

Riley shook her head. She really had weird friends back home. Compared to Melanie and everyone in California, Lils and everyone else were quite normal. ...Except for the whole, they all run a secret underground radio station under completely different alter ego's thing. Other than that though...

"I really do need to call her..."

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8/22/07 - Friday - 10:49pm

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It was a typical night in the Brennan home: The adults were out for the night (how unusual) and all the kids were in. Except for Riley. She had ended up getting that job at Mickey's and never got home until eleven o'clock anymore. Lily and Ray were upstairs in Ray's room, "privately" making out. Actually, there was quite the lot of noise coming from up there, but no one thought much about it. Robbie and Kim were sitting on the couch having a nice, quiet conversation amongst themselves. This left Travis alone with only his thoughts--which, surprisingly, he hardly had tonight--to keep him company.

A door was opened and the three that were in the living room knew it was Riley. She was home from work a whole three minutes early. The footsteps came down the hall, but sounded awfully heel-like and clumpy. Since when did Riley Diane Brennan like clunky shoes? And so she emerged in all of her glory. And was not Riley. The girl was a red-head and at the moment, looked very confused. "This is the Brennan house, right?"

"Who wants to know?" Travis asked.

"Me, stupid!" She shouted, her accent a lot like Riley's had been when she first came to Roscoe.

"Who are you?" Robbie asked, eyebrows raised.

"Melanie. Riley's friend. Is this the right house?"

"Yeah...but she's not here right now. She's at work." Kim answered.

Melanie glanced around and noted that the two on the couch were most likely a couple. She also noted that the blonde guy was very cute and very alone at the moment. She grinned and walked over to him. She ran her hand up his arm to rest on his shoulder. "Hey, handsome..."

"Uh...hi..."

There was suddenly the sound of a door opening and closing, but Melanie paid no mind to it.

"What do you say you and I go somewhere?" Melanie asked, her voice seductive.

Riley dropped her purse and kicked off her shoes in the hallway. There was no way in hell that she heard what she thought she heard.

"What'd ya say, sexy?"

There was no way that she was here! No! She groaned, "Ohmigod! I know that voice anywhere." She muttered and walked into the living room. "Get your hands off him...whore."

"Why should I, bitch?" Melanie asked, turning around to face her friend.

"Because you are making my boyfriend...very uncomfortable."

Melanie blinked, "Wait...that's Travis?"

"Yeah. You saw that picture I sent you, didn't you?"

"Yeah but...he doesn't look the same."

Riley rolled her eyes, "Whatever. You're not supposed to be hitting on my boyfriend."

"But I didn't know!"

"Why not?"

"He never said anything!"

"Why not?" Riley turned to look at Travis.

"I...she was...I..She's a very distracing person!"

Everyone laughed at his obvious discomfort. Travis blushed slightly. It wasn't his fault that the girl had come on to him and that he was so easily discomforted. Really, it wasn't! It was in his DNA somehow.

Riley smiled at the tint on her boyfriend's cheeks and walked over to practically fall into his lap. "You're so cute..." She muttered, leaning up to kiss him lightly on the lips. She would have gone deeper, but that didn't seem very nice to do to Travis since he was currently himself and all...easily embarrassed. Riley turned her head to look at the other couple on the other side of the room. "Where's Ray? And...is...Lils here?"

"Upstairs. Can't you hear them?" Robbie asked jokingly.

Riley listened intently for a moment and heard a high-pitched giggle from Lily. "Yep!" She declared. "So, Mel...what's up? You never mentioned you were going to be coming out."

"I dunno. I was bored. We're on some kind of weird fall break that the school put us on this year. Oh, well. I'm not complaining. Plus, I MISS YOU!"

Riley laughed and shook her head, "Yeah, me and my putting up with all your woes and agony, right?"

"Exactly. Faith is dangerous, you know. Nearly decked me. ...I told you that, didn't I?"

Riley nodded, "Yeah. So...how long are you gonna be here?"

"Three days. Well...three nights, four days. Plane's leaving at three in the afternoon on Tuesday." Melanie grinned. "You don't think you're aunt and uncle would mind, do you?"

"Of course not, you're just yet another mouth to feed around here. I swear, we all live here. Except Kim. She can't. She's Miss College Girl." She threw a grin at Kim, "Ya know we love ya, girl!"

Kim laughed lightly. "Of course."

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End Ch 15

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Notes - Alright, I'll admit...that was a REALLY short and REALLY shitty place to end the chapter, but if I went on with what I have in my head, this chapter would be ten years long. lol. So...you did the reading part, you hopefully enjoyed it...onto that special reviewing bit! dies I'm so weird sometimes!

Give me a buzz!

Later days,

-PFB-