END
THANK YOU TO GIS would never have posted this to its conclusion without her encouragement :) Heh, I still remember the evil grin with which I used to post this in bite size with cliff hangers on Yahoo, knowing it was driving Gis crazy .

"We haven't even dated" she said at last.

"No, no dates" he agreed wryly. "We've only spent months finding out about each other."

- no dates, no sweet talking, and then I let him grope me. I haven't exactly been playing by that book, The Rules - Jake looked him in the eye. "I want to backtrack."

"Huh?" What was she talking about?

"Look, sometimes things happen, and it all gets out of hand. And for everything to be so out of control.. Because, you know, I think emotion gets factored into the opening moves, and afterwards, you realise it's stupid. And then you're in this false position. And I want to do something about that." She frowned at herself. "Too impulsive."

She had lost him. "Are you talking about dressing up as a boy?"

"I'm talking about last night." Her cheeks were on fire.

"What's the big deal?" - maybe if I downplay it: no, no, wrong answer -

"It's a big deal to me." She glared.

"Me too" he admitted. "Look, I don't know what you think my dating life has been-" Her body tensed with remembered jealousy. His dating history was not the thing to bring up "-but when you let me do that-"

"We Backtrack, Fleming. I'm not ready for that."

"I didn't even see anything. And we didn't.. you know."

"We are not doing that again."

"Ever?" he whined.

Against her will, Jake's lips twitched.

- she'll have other impulsive moments - Hamilton whited out that thought. Jake could read his face well enough to read his mind and he didn't want her to catch him thinking that thought. "Dates would be good." - dates with Jake, yeah - He looked at her carefully. "You wanted it too."

"Newsflash: girls also have hormones" Jake said grumpily.

Hamilton laughed. "Do I still get to kiss you?"

"Oh yeah. Always." Her most enchanting grin lit up her face.

- in denial - Hamilton wondered how Jake could plan so cheerfully for the future as if it were a done deal that she'd be staying at Rawley. Fine. He'd pretend they were just starting out this relationship, like this thing hadn't been building between them since he'd snapped her arrival. Only, please, let her stay.

Steven paused in the door, savouring the moment. His son looked fine, absolutely none the worse for wear. His heart could burst with pride. - if he'd been a basket case after all this, that would be perfectly understandable, but there he is (when did he get so tall?) giving support to ..oh. Miss Pratt -

Hamilton was wrapped round her. Steven sighed silently, momentarily disappointed.

- so much for my promises to Ms Pratt re: pouncing. The minute he found out Jake was Jacqueline.. He's going to grow up to be a gigolo at this rate. Or a Guess model - Steven perked up. He couldn't stay pessimistic now. - I know now he'll get to grow up. And I have a few years yet of moral influence -

"Miss Pratt." - I'd rather talk to my son, dammit -

She froze for a second, then glanced back at him over her shoulder.

- she looks so scared - "I think we need to talk."

"I'm sorry-" she began.

"I'm coming with" Hamilton interrupted. He had expected his mother to be here, his dad alone threw his schemes off. "Where's Mom?"

Steven frowned. He and Kate had had so many senseless arguments recently that he had been avoiding her. He had, insanely, forgotten to call her. He knew she would find that unforgivable. He would himself. "Call her on this." He handed his cellphone to Hamilton. "I was so excited.."

Excited? Hamilton was sceptical. His dad hadn't even hugged him. The dean led Jake out of the room, and he dogged their footsteps. - he hasn't even spoken to me. Hey, I'm not gonna beg - "Who's taking care of the dogs?" he heard himself say.

"Hamilton, later" his dad said, hugging him unexpectedly. There was a tear on Steven's cheek. "I'm so proud of you, you know that?"

Hamilton was startled enough to let them step away from him. The interview room clicked in a marked manner, Jake and his dad on the other side.

Jake paid Steven close attention. She mostly knew him from Hamilton's complaints about his lack of involvement. His cold demeanour bore Hamilton out.

"I'm sorry" she stammered, her stance defensive.

He said nothing. Without much faith in his powers of reading people, he was trying to read her.

"I mean, I'm not sorry I got caught. It's like, I've been waiting to be found out for months." She spoke rapidly, caught herself gesticulating nervously, froze.

"So. You're claiming it's a relief to be caught." His thoughts were more positive than his tone, which was arctic. The image of Jake hugging herself smugly and laughing at him over her deception was false. He saw that now. She was almost frantic over her false position.

"I did this on a stupid impulse and then I didn't know how to get out of it."

-what kind of impulse could possibly lead to this stunt? - Steven asked himself. - what kind of thinking - "Your teachers inform me you're an intelligent buh-child. Why did you do this?" He moved round to face her. She was standing sideways-on to him.

Jake flushed miserably. "I wanted, I needed, my mom-"

"What possible positive outcome..?" Steven's voice trailed off, genuinely bewildered. He thought about Monica Pratt, and the opinion he had formed of her.

"I thought she'd come right away and take me back" Jake said. "She put me in a convent last time."

"Best place for you no doubt" the Dean said primly. He never let his boys know what he thought of their parents.

Jake tilted her head back to keep the tears from flowing. "I loved it in Rawley. I was doing well-"

"Academically, yes" was the chill response.

"In every way. I had friends."

"To whom you lied" the Dean felt obliged to point out. "Unless - was this a conspiracy?"

"No." Jake shook her head, a drop escaping from the corner of her eye. "No one knew. Ham only found out while we were locked up. I told him."

"Why?"

"I couldn't stand lying to him any more."

"And yet, you have a considerable stomach for lying."

Jake looked guilty. "I never wanted to, I never meant it to go this far. I- Have I got a criminal record?"

"The Embassy want to talk to you about passport fraud" the Dean said, not forgiving her yet.

Jake paled dramatically.

"Sit down" he said roughly. "Your mother has retained an excellent lawyer. What is more, you're a minor. This can be lived down. For now, young lady, you're in trouble."

"With my mom." Jake's voice was hushed and frightened.

"With Me."

:

Scout woke up the next morning. Sheets. No body else there. He stretched, loving it. The phone was ringing. Hearing his father's voice when he picked it up was good too.

"Dad! No, you didn't wake me up."

This was his father's third phone call since he'd got out. - he's desperate to hook up with me. This must've been terrible for him and Mom - Scout thought. He picked through his clothes. "A choice of Tshirts. And they're all of them clean" he said happily.

"uh.. yes. Focus here, Scout."

Scout wanted to sigh. People kept saying that to him. "Is this call about something?"

"I've spoken to Bella."

Scout's complacence ebbed away.

"Scout?"

"I'm still here, Dad." - this conversation should be face to face - "So, uh.."

"She's not crazy" John said reproachfully.

- I never said she was. You said that, Dad - "No." Scout wondered frantically what had been going on behind his back. If he'd only been there he could have put some spin on whatever ungodly revelations had come out.

"-quite a formidable girl" his father was saying, still reproachful.

- he's talking about Bella? - Scout determined to get a verbatim report on her exchanges with his dad. "She comes by it honestly, Senator." Despite himself, his voice was bitter.

John stopped short, having left something vital unsaid. "Scout, she's not mine."

Silence.

"She's not. Donna confirmed it."

"You convinced her to go to see her mom?" Scout sounded totally impressed, as if he thought his Dad had unleashed the diplomatic equivalent of comic book super powers. He sounded very young.

John laughed a little.

"Dad, don't laugh" Scout said, hurt.

"No, I just wish I impressed you this much more often."

Scout didn't answer.

"She wanted to know. I didn't overpersuade her. I don't think I could have." John thought about the Paige the highly-focussed, and resigned himself to Scout's taste for strong minded women.

"She's really not my sister?" Scout confirmed. Of all the ways to be told, this was the last he would have thought possible. - there's a ocean between me and Bella - He didn't know how to wait before contacting her.

"I swear" John confirmed.

"Did you like her?" He wanted it to be yes.

John hesitated, thinking about it. "Yes. Yes, I did."

"Will's gonna have her phone number." Scout was thinking aloud. He supposed Sean was still an issue, but easily dismissed him.

"Yes, about Will." John paused. "Has Will talked to you about his home life?"

"Well, he - what do you mean?"

"Will's dad." John listened for Scout's response. "You're not doing Will any favours by covering up."

Scout had wanted to talk to his father about this ever since he'd begun to suspect. "I think his dad hits him. Will's ashamed about it."

"He shouldn't be ashamed. He's the victim."

"Being a victim isn't a great source of pride" said Scout, surprised at his Dad's thinking. "He says he's never going back, even if he gets kicked out of Rawley."

"Is that likely, getting kicked out I mean?" asked John. If so, it was news to him, and he'd discussed Will with the Dean.

"God, no. He's, like, a genius. But he gets insecure. Says he feels like an imposter."

"I see." He didn't.

"Dad" Scout said. "How'd you find out?"

"Bella told me. She wants me to help Will."

Scout smiled. "Me too. I want that too."

"Will needs to cooperate in being helped" John warned.

Scout said "I'll talk to him."


like tree roots breaking through concrete incremental
organic, messy, the forces of nature overwhelm formal constraint
the heart's pulse, subtle, irresistible
breaches the worn out armour of dignity
instinct will not be denied

"What's it about?"

"Nothing."

"Uh-huh." Scout read the poem title: Family Ties. "Spoken to your folks yet?"

"My mom. She said Dad was really freaked out."

- he was? - "She said that?"

Will gave him a suspicious look. "Yeah, sure ..I mean, obviously."

"Oh, yeah. Sure." -every time I think I've got this figured out.. -

"Why wouldn't he be freaked out?" Will demanded. "I'm his only son."

"It doesn't stop him hitting you" Scout burst out. He could have kicked himself.

Will went so pale his freckles showed up. "I never said, you never-" How long had Scout known?

"Bella told me" Scout wished he could have talked to her, or even to Will's old friend Sean, before getting into this. - too late now - "He hits you, right?"

"The thing with the rib was years ago."

Scout waited.

"Only when I - I mean, it's not like, all the time. It's not serious."

Scout waited for more.

"I think he hits mom." Will wouldn't meet his eyes.

"That's ..serious." Scout hadn't expected that part.

"I've begged her to leave him." Will's head was hanging to hide his face.

Scout felt out of his depth. He reached out hesitantly. "It's gonna be okay, man."

"How can it? I'm sixteen; it'll be years-"

"You got out. You are out," Scout reminded him. "Termtime, you're in Rawley. Dad asked me: during vacations, can you stay with us?" It had seemed so easy, talking to his father, but now, he was afraid Will's pride would kick in and he'd refuse.

Will was too startled to be offended. "Why?"

"You're my best friend." - quick, get him to agree while he's off balance -

"A charity case" Will couldn't help observing.

"An over achieving pain in the ass" Scout corrected. "It's a happy ending Will."

"For me. What about my mom?"

"I don't know." Scout looked serious. "Just keep telling her what you think she should do."

The Flemings sat in the hotel lobby pretending to read. Kate and Steven kept looking up at Hamilton. Hamilton was watching the door. Finn had taken Scout and Will back to the States that morning, but Jake's future was undecided. Monica had flown in from Paris today, where she'd been fulfilling a contract, and right now Jake was lunching with her.

- tonight, I'll make the decision - Steven promised himself. All of them were having dinner together.

Jake burst into the room muttering to herself. "Mildred Pierce. I don't fricken believe it."

- Jake is forgetting herself, to use language like that. Perhaps she hasn't seen me and Kate on her way in. I'll clear my throat - Kate failed, the Dean noted with exasperation, to pull Jake up. - I always have to be the bad cop around here - he thought resentfully

What Kate said was, "The daughter's the villain in that." She laughed.

Jake rolled her eyes, then, seeing Hamilton was confused, explained. "It's an old film. It's about a single woman and her only daughter." She looked sulky.

Kate took up the explanation. "The mother works herself to the bone to make a life for them both and the daughter goes off the rails."

"Sub text, Mrs Fleming. I get it." Jake played with her fringe.

- this is a single-issue interpretation of the text - Steven thought, but joined in anyway. "Joan Crawford's not such an uncaring parent; she covers up for her little girl at the crime scene."

Hamilton and Jake both looked at him sharply.

- they haven't given up yet on the hope of transferring her to the other side of the lake. They watch me avidly for signs of a decision. I can't come to a decision. The sensible move would be to expel her, but that's a harsh thing to do to a neurotic misguided child. She's intelligent, that's not in question. She's not a malicious person (and in that I'm relying on the faculty's assessment rather than my son's heartfelt testimonials). On the other hand, she's made me look professionally and personally stupid, defrauded and hurt the school, lied and cheated for months, and seems to have a very poor attitude to authority. What kind of example is my decision going to set? I suppose I won't find out until I work out what that decision is -

Jake was saying "You know, I always thought Mildred loved her job. She said she sacrificed everything to the girl but she got her fulfilment living like that."

Kate's voice rose. "How much sacrifice do you expect of a parent? It's her life Jake."

They both looked angry.

- all right. Too much intensity here. Time to intervene - "Why are we discussing a black and white melodrama in such detail?" Steven used his jovial tone.

"There's a musical version of Mildred Pierce being adapted for Broadway" Jake said.

"Really." Kate was over her flash of temper.

"My mom's got the title role." Jake spoke without enthusiasm.

"That's great" Kate gushed. She was over compensating, Steven thought critically.

"Coming to see me was part of her research for the part."

Kate opened her mouth, then closed it.

Steven briskly undercut Jake's self pity. "One of the reasons, perhaps, but also Monica is here to discuss your next move with us."

"Move?" Hamilton said, too loud.

Jake came downstairs wearing a deep berry red skirt. It was longish, and narrow, with a slit up the back so she could walk.

"You look-" Hamilton remembered his parents' presence, and rephrased "- good."

Jake tugged at the skirt. "I can't run in this."

"What would you want to run from, young lady?" Steven asked disapprovingly.

- Um, this meal? - Hamilton thought. He was kind of curious to see Jake's mom, but basically he would be happy to skip it. He gripped Jake's hand tightly in the taxi to the restaurant, all through Kensington Gardens and south to Chelsea.

Actually, seeing Monica, when she at last arrived, was interesting. She was a forceful, athletic looking woman, groomed to within an inch of her life, with a utilitarian short haircut and a designer suit on. Right now she was expending her full personality on his parents. Hamilton wondered if they were as unnerved as he would have been. For them, the resemblances to - and the differences from - Jake wouldn't be as freaking-out. For him, it was like Jake's evil twin, or evil aunt.

"It wouldn't kill you to pluck your eyebrows sweetie" she was saying now.

"It wouldn't really help with the boy disguise" Jake said, surly.

Monica eyed her. She was at a loss. "I still don't understand why-"

"I told you."

"Your explanation made no sense."

The Dean nodded vigorously at this.

"You never have time-" Jake whined.

"I make quality time-"

"Quality time is a lie" Hamilton heard himself say. "It means, put your emotions on hold and schedule your crisis so's we can fit it into a timetable."

Jake nodded, but the adults, after an uncomprehending minute, tuned the teenagers out again.

"Are you telling me that you haven't expelled my daughter? (don't slouch Jacqueline)."

"Expulsion's a major decision" said Kate.

- Ms Pratt'd do it in a heartbeat if it were her call - Hamilton thought.

"And this is all going to be kept out of the papers?" Monica was amazed.

"The fact that the children more or less rescued themselves gave me some leverage with the police." Steven looked impossibly smug. "Sopwith made them keep data back from reporters."

Hamilton smiled at his dad, so unusually readable. "You're da man."

Steven's own smile widened, but he said, "Proper English, please Hamilton."

Jake chuckled, the first sign of relaxation she'd shown all evening.

"Try to cultivate a more attractive laugh. That sounds so ugly." Monica went back to Steven. "The fraud on my daughter's records will spoil her later chances.."

Jake tensed right up again. Hamilton wished he could hold her hand under the table - it wasn't like either of them had an appetite - but Kate had determinedly seated them opposite each other. Stealthily, he stretched a foot under the table to find Jake's.

Monica gave him an odd look, losing her train of thought.

"What we need to do, is look at the options" said Kate. "Jake's coming back to Rawley is out of the question -"

"Mom!" Hamilton burst out, betrayed. "Across the lake-"

"Out of the question, Hamilton" his father confirmed.

Hamilton and Jake exchanged desperate glances.

At this unhelpful point, an alarm went off inside Monica's crocodile skin handbag. She scooped out her cell phone. Jake's mouth twisted as her mother launched into a call.

Too softly for the Pratts to hear, Kate murmured to Steven "She's really burying herself in that Joan Crawford thing."

Steven kept his attention on Monica, who was issuing staccato ultimatums. "I understand she's very good at her job" he said disingenuously.

"I would be channelling my inner Lizzie Boden" Kate said, a little louder.

Her husband and son checked quickly to see had Monica noticed. Jake was watching the Flemings with painful acuteness, not able to hear.

"You don't like her either" Steven said.

"No! I - I thought you did."

"I wouldn't let her take care of our dogs. Certainly not a child."

"That girl can't come back to Rawley" Kate repeated.

"Please" Hamilton said urgently.

Steven shook his head. "Too bad an example, Munch. What about St Joseph's? It's a good place, and the Dean is a contact of mine. Paul's a decent man.. A fresh start, sweep this under the carpet-"

"Send me too."

His parents stared at Hamilton.

"Leave us?" his mother said. "Are you serious?"

"You're really serious about loving Jake" his father said slowly. Steven was thinking about ill phrased wishes. For weeks, he'd wanted his son to be mature and treat girls as people not toys. He hadn't seen it impacting on him. Now he was running the Hamilton/Jake dynamic through his memory.

"Jake needs me. (I told you I was serious.)"

"You can't leave us" Kate protested.

Monica gave the other woman a curious look, slipping the phone back in her bag. "Your son's leaving?"

"For St Joseph's." Hamilton saw his father nod reluctantly. At least he wasn't dismissing this out of hand.

Jake looked panicked.

"So's Jake," Ham added.

Both Monica's eyebrows went up. "Really?"

Steven kicked his son under the table, and said "My colleague Paul Ffoulkes runs a very highly regarded school fifty miles north of Rawley, co- educational, with an excellent academic record-" - damn - he was thinking. - How did Hamilton get me on board with this? -

MONTHS LATER

- the thing about quality time - Hamilton thought, jogging across St Joseph's lawn to meet his father - the thing about quality time is, now he spends time with me with me, not with half his mind on school budgets and timetables -

His dad hugged him. "Officially, I'm here for a committee meeting with Ffoulkes, so we just have the lunch hour ..where's Jake?"

"Here." Breathlessly, running up.

Steven studied the children carefully. Paul said they were doing well, but it never hurt to check. "I hope you weren't trying to skip a meal" he told Jake sternly. "I've heard about these crash diets.."

"Mr Fleming" Jake said as Hamilton steered them both to the car and to lunch "you've been reading articles about the Typical Teenager again."

END

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