A/N: I was going to get this updated a little sooner, but this has been a very busy week. I hope no one minds the short chapter. We're getting to the real meat of the story, so hang in there! Thanks! Enjoy -- sola gratia.

21.

Well, it was finally time for the week of fun and relaxation to come to an end for Louis, Twitty and Tom. They packed up their clothes and other belongings and were cramming them all into Louis' car. They paid at the front desk, put on their shades and prepared themselves to return to the open road. "Man, this was fun," Louis reminisced.

"Yeah, I'm glad we did this before everybody left for college," Twitty said. They began their 380 mile trip back to Sacramento. The tunes were blasting on the radio and Tom was fast asleep. Louis, behind the wheel was anxious to get back to Sacramento. He had something to deal with, and not just his dad about the credit card, or his boss down in the mailroom. They arrived back in Sacramento in the late afternoon and after dropping Twitty and Tom off, Louis went home and took a brief nap, and for Louis, four hours was brief. When he woke up, he got some of his things together, including a big hook and some rope. He was off to Tawny's house.

It was dark by the time he reached her house. He snuck through the backyard and was standing right below her window. He took the hook, attached it with the rope and threw it up towards the roof. It got caught on the peak of the roof. Louis hoped he wouldn't weigh too much to break off and go falling to the ground. So, he started climbing up the side of the house. He reached Tawny's window which was open, Hmm, couldn't aimed for the window could I? Louis thought. The window was open, but the drapes were down. He very carefully and silently pushed the drapes aside and took a peek inside. Drats! Louis thought. She was making out with Corey. Then he heard her voice.

"Just a minute, young man. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go to the restroom and I'll be right back. She winked at him and disappeared. Corey sat in a chair and reclined. Then he could hear something rustling from behind the drapes. He quickly pulled the drapes aside and found Louis.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," he said about six inches from Louis' face.

"Oh, uh, hi."

"Whacha doin' there, Fluffy?" he said running his hand through Louis' curly, messed up hair.

"Just hangin' out . . . what? Fluffy? What?"

"Get lost, Fluffy."

Louis got defensive. "Hey! Don't call me Fluffy!" he said pointing.

"Listen up, squirt. I'm trying to get some, alright? Now I need you to buzz off."

"But I have something very important that I need to . . ." Louis began.

"Too bad," Corey said while pulling out a pocket knife. "I'm kinda busy." He started cutting Louis' rope.

"Wait! No! See, I'm goin' right now!" Louis said freaking out.

"Too late." The rope was cut and Louis found himself back on ground level having landed in a bush. Fluffy? he kept thinking to himself. Louis limped to his car and drove off. The first song that came on the radio was "Summer of '69." When the song reached the lyrics, ". . . those were the best days of my life," Louis turned off the radio quickly.

Later that night:

"What?!" Twitty exclaimed.

"Yeah! The guy cut my rope!" Louis cried.

"No, I mean you were just hanging outside Tawny's window?"

Louis hesitated. "A little."

"Dude, this is heavy. I mean, wow. You gotta talk to her. Yeah, Corey's being pretty mean to you. If you're not gonna tell her that you like her, then at least get her to try and get Corey to quit trying to kill you."

"Maybe. I'm just a little frustrated. I mean, if I hadn't been a dork right before prom, she woulda gone with me and this crap with Mr. Mean Actor Pants wouldn't be going on."

"Hey, Lou, I gotta go."

"Alright, man. Later." And they were off the phone. Then about two minutes later it rang again. "What?" Louis answered, thinking that it was Twitty.

"Hmm, that's an interesting, yet rude way to answer the phone," Tawny said.

"Oh sorry about that. I mean. Hello?"

"That's better. Louis, what are you doing tomorrow night?"

Louis, his eyes in thought said, "Um, probably nothing."

"Do you want to come to a party at Corey's house?"

"Oh." Now Louis had to really think. "OK."

"Great. I'll see you then."

"Bye."

"Bye, Louis."