Note: I must declare this right off the bat to be more of a filler chapter. It's necessary, though, in the grand scheme of things. But it's more poofy than most, I would think. I'm looking to wrap this story up (thank GOD!) and begin work on the sequel, which I hope will be more true to character than LRS has been, so we can all look forward to that, I suppose. Oh, and the title? Totally a Dean Martin song. ;)


Memories Are Made of This

This takes place during the week following prom and senior ditch day.

"I like you in blue," Elizabeth murmured, fingering the fabric of Jason's dress shirt as the two of them sat side by side in the crowded auditorium. It was Senior Awards Night, meaning that all the seniors who would be honored and their family members were all packed into the formal auditorium cum theatre and patiently waiting for the program to begin.

Jason glanced down at his blue oxford and black trousers, grimacing in disgust. "Why?"

"Because it brings out your eyes."

"I hate getting dressed up."

"I know."

"I hate it even more than I hate Brenda."

"You don't hate Brenda."

"Damn straight, you don't hate Brenda!" came a furious hiss from behind him, and Jason barely had time to duck before the brunette's flat palm smacked him upside the head.

"Of course I don't hate Brenda," he sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he rubbed the back of his head. "She's just a little angel, isn't she?"

"Damn straight she is," his girlfriend's best friend smiled back happily before meeting Elizabeth's harsh glare and looking away guiltily.

"Where's Sonny, anyway?" the blonde wondered aloud. "Doesn't he have your muzzle?"

"Heard my name," came his best friend's smooth voice as Sonny sauntered down the aisle. Brenda, who had been sitting with a couple of her other friends in the row behind Jason and Elizabeth, got up and let Sonny lead her to their seats with their best friends. "This thing started yet?"

"Not yet," Elizabeth yawned, resting her head on Jason's broad shoulders. "They're still straightening the awards out backstage. Want a program?"

"There's one taped to my back, apparently," Sonny frowned, glancing at a smirking Johnny who sat a few seats away. "Let's see…the show starts in ten minutes. Plenty of time. What's with you, Beth?"

"She's tired," Jason supplied helpfully as Elizabeth cuddled up against him, her hand resting on his knee. "They've been working on the senior issue of the paper ever since school let out."

"Crammed in that dingy little office in the catacombs of the building," the brunette muttered, scratching her itchy nose on Jason's shoulder. "It's terrible. But hey, at least we're done."

"When does the senior issue come out?" Brenda wanted to know.

"Eh. Beginning of next week, I think."

A couple of her co-editors walked by just then, and Elizabeth perked up. Quickly motioning Jenny, Brendan, Ryan and Jeff over to the row in front of her, she lowered her voice and the five of them spoke in whispers. Another editor appeared with a big bouquet of flowers, which she promptly deposited backstage before any of the teachers present noticed, and then took her seat near her friends.

"What's that for?" Brenda asked, taping the program onto Sonny's arm once more. "What's going on?"

"Well, since all us editors are graduating this year," Elizabeth started, quickly glancing around to make sure no one else was listening, "we decided to do something special for Ms. Bedford. We got her flowers and stuff, and we're going to try to get a quick word in when she gives us our awards for the paper. She's been trying so hard not to cry for the past few weeks, and it's about time we broke the dam."

"We did something like that for Coach Preuss last night," Sonny nodded, glancing at Jason. "We just showed up at his place with pizza and watched the game. Good bonding moment."

Jason was snickering at the memory as Elizabeth leaned against him once more. Even though he hadn't been on the track team for a while, he still felt as if he should go with his teammates to pay respect to their coach, and it had been a pretty fun evening all in all. They had originally planned to toilet-paper his house, but then when they remembered he had two Dobermans, the boys changed their plans and went the safer route.

"Let's get this show on the road!" came a mock-irritate growl behind them, and the four friends looked up to see Luke Spencer sauntering down the aisle toward them. "I've got places to do, things to be."

Elizabeth smirked at her friend and talent-show-partner. "Puppies to kick, Luke?"

"And nuns to push down stairs, darlin'," he winked. "Don't forget about the nuns."

"Pull up a seat, Spencer," Brenda instructed grandly, motioning to the empty seats around them. "Taggert coming?"

"Yeah, he'll be here in a while. What are you here for?"

"I'm getting the award for the fashion club," the brunette announced proudly. "Basically because I organized the Booster fashion show this year. Tons of fun – I wish you had come."

"Betsy and I had a scholarship audition then," Luke replied, referring to his trumpet. "Otherwise, I'd never miss the opportunity to see you in a formal gown, Barrett."

"Watch it, Spencer," Sonny growled, narrowing his eyes at his old friend.

"You're just jealous because you know she likes me better," Luke huffed, crossing his leg over his knee. "And who could blame her? Or Beth for that matter – don't try to hide it, doll, I see you making eyes at me."

The girls were laughing as Sonny and Jason exchanged skeptical glances, and the auditorium began to fill up with more students and parents. Before long, their principal appeared with a few opening words and then the presentation was underway. Sitting in a cluster of her friends, all of them dressed formally, Elizabeth was amazed to discover how informal the whole evening appeared to be from the get-go. She had attended more than her own fair share of school functions and all of them had been very structured and formal. But this – this was different. And she liked it.

The awards for the Fashion Club and Business Club were announced together, and everyone couldn't help but smile as Brenda Barrett and Michael Quartermaine, the respective recipients, sauntered grandly onto stage with their arms looped together to accept the award. And as the pair made their way back to their seats, the students laughed as Sonny pretended to try to trip Michael, although the adults didn't find it quite that amusing.

Awards for music were given out next, and Luke Spencer, Sydney Morse, and Lisa Kelling all trooped out onto stage together. Sydney had sprained her ankle a few days before and was in crutches, and the crowd snickered as Sonny and Jason quickly sprang up from their seats to clear the aisle of whatever awards, certificates, and sweaters had been thrown there earlier by their friends. Sydney hobbled by as they sat back down again, and the three kids accepted their awards.

The rest of the evening went by fairly quickly. Marcus Taggert and Ace Smith, Emily's boyfriend, received awards for their achievements in sports as the senior class' best physical fitness participants; Carol received recognition for the new line of school spirit wear that she had designed and marketed; and Sonny was recognized for his years of hard work at the head of the Student Union, and was given a golden gavel engraved with his name. Johnny promptly stole it from him as soon as he returned to his seat, and spent the next ten minutes using it to make obscene gestures.

Elizabeth and her fellow editors were awarded for their hard work on the school paper by their advisor, Ms. Melissa Bedford, and the tall blonde nearly burst into tears when they presented her with a wrapped gift and flowers. Mr. Alcazar came out afterwards to announce his department's picks as the top math students in the graduating class throughout all four years, and Elizabeth was shocked to hear her name mentioned in company with Sonny's and Jason's. She had a feeling that her boyfriend and Sonny would be receiving the award, but she never once figured that she was even in the running.

Mr. Alcazar was grinning as Jason and Sonny rose from their seats, and Jason had to practically pull Elizabeth from her seat. The boys flanked her side and made their way onto stage with the petite brunette tucked safely between them, and Jeff and Caroline – along with Alan, Monica, Mike, and Adella – made sure to snap plenty of pictures. The three received their awards and turned to walk off the stage, and Elizabeth looped her arms around Sonny and Jason's waist, rolling her eyes when Johnny hooted.

A few more awards were given out and the principal made his closing remarks before the audience was free to go. Elizabeth, Sonny, Brenda and Jason were standing in a small cluster of their friends as their parents walked up. Alan and Monica greeted Elizabeth right away, congratulating her on her achievements, and Adella quickly enveloped her youngest son in a hug. No one, however, was more proud than Caroline was of Jeff when her husband extended his hand to Jason and expressed his genuine congratulations.

Elizabeth and Brenda suggested going out for burgers afterwards, and for the first time since the kids started dating, all four sets of parents sat together at an outside table at Kelly's eating burgers and cheese fries at eleven thirty on a weekday night. Jeff was sipping his root beer – a first for him, but he had declared that he wanted to live dangerously tonight – and listening as Alan wound up some great, embellished tale, and Elizabeth caught Jason's gaze and smirked at him. He smiled back, quirking a single brow, before Brenda tried to steal his cheese fries and he turned around to yell at her.

When he looked back at her, Elizabeth and Sonny were coloring on the paper tablecloth with a few crayons left over from the visit of previous patrons, and were cracking up as they drew random stick-figure caricatures of themselves and their friends and parents. The adults continued to laugh and talk together, genuinely enjoying this first group excursion, and Jason sat back in his seat with a sigh, pretending not to notice when Brenda slipped another cheese fry out of his tray. He had never pegged himself the sentimental type – and certainly never an overly-gregarious type – but there was just something about this night that made him wish it would never end.


"Well? Were we good?" Elizabeth wanted to know as she twined her fingers with his and let him lead her down the hall. Dressed in a tuxedo jacket and silk blouse with a black miniskirt on underneath, the excited brunette had just finished up her act for the talent show with Johnny and Luke. "Huh, Jason? Were we good?"

"You were great," he replied honestly, swinging their hands between them. Elizabeth squeaked happily and pranced along next to him on her bare feet, her shoes swinging from her fingers. "You guys surprised us there – we thought we'd have to sit through a boring recital."

"Well, we figured we'd start out that way," she explained with a bright grin. "It was supposed to be just me on stage with the piano, playing Beethoven's fifth. And we were supposed to make you guys think that it would be a totally straight-up classical performance – that way, you'd be totally shocked when Luke and Johnny joined in on the trumpet and drums."

"It was awesome," Sonny agreed, nodding his head once. "I wasn't expecting that at all. In fact, I've never heard Beethoven performed with trumpets."

"But you've heard it with drums?" Johnny wanted to know as he popped another button on the oxford shirt he wore.

The boy nodded. "Yeah. My brother Ric had this one friend who was a drummer and he was obsessed with Beethoven, so, yeah, I've heard it done with percussions before. But what you guys did today – that was totally unique. It felt more like a jazz show than classic Beethoven."

"That's what we were going for," Johnny repeated with a smile as Luke chuckled under his breath. "But I think Beth gave the audience a little more than they were bargaining for – isn't that right, Marilyn Monroe?"

"Oh, stop it, Johnny," the brunette huffed, a slight blush stealing across her cheeks. "I had shorts on underneath."

"Crimson spandex shorts," Luke clarified with a laugh. "Very classy there, Webber."

Jason slid his friend a warning glare as the boys laughed. Elizabeth could only shake her head. "Hey, I knew I'd be playing with my toes, and since I was in a skirt, I had to wear something underneath."

"And boy, did you wear something!"

Sonny stopped mid-laugh when he caught Jason's tense glare, and he obliged his best friend by reaching over and smacking Johnny upside the head for that remark. The boy pouted and rubbed his neck, still eyeing Elizabeth.

"And, dude, Beth, you wouldn't believe how many guys came up to Jason afterward and said, 'man, your girlfriend's a fox'," he continued, ducking away when Sonny tried to swat at him again.

"What?"

"You just don't learn, do you?" Jason demanded. "Elizabeth, don't worry about it."

"Oh, gosh," she murmured, biting her lip. "Was it really that raunchy? I didn't think it would be this bad – they're the same length as those biking shorts and since we had a black, white and crimson deal going, I figured they matched and-"

"Seriously, Beth? It was fine." Luke dropped his arm on her shoulder as they rounded the corner toward the stars to get back to class. "We're just teasin' you. Yeah, your skirt totally slipped down when you started playing with your toes, but you had shorts underneath and it was all good. I think it's just because no one's ever seen you do that before."

"Not that we wouldn't mind seeing it again," Johnny tossed in, ducking when both Jason and Sonny reached out to smack him.

"Oh, please," Elizabeth got out, stepping behind the boy and lifting her flat palm. "Let me do the honors."


"I like to be in America! Okay by me in America! Everything free in America-"

"For a small fee in Ame-riiiiiica!"

"That's enough!" Lorenzo Alcazar bellowed at the top of his lungs. "I don't care if APs are over or not – stop singing showtunes!"

Sonny smirked at his teacher as he played with a Rubik's cube, and Jason, although he hadn't been singing along, spoke up in defense.

"Look, Czar, we've only got a week and a half left," he reminded his sullen teacher. "We're going to get in all the showtunes we possibly can."

"Ooh, I've got one we haven't done yet: It's good ol' reliable Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Detroit!"

"If you're looking for action, he will show you the spot – even though the heat is on, it ain't never too hot!"

Mr. Alcazar rolled his eyes. "All right, you little deviants-"

"Not for good ol' reliable Nathan," Sonny and Elizabeth belted out together, grinning at the perplexed man. "Why, it's always just a short walk-"

"Bonnie and Clyde, not you, too!"

"To the oldest established, permanent floating crab game in New Yooooooooooork!"

"FINE! I give up! Is that what you hoodlums want to hear!"

"…In a hideout provided by Naaaaaaathan, where there are no neighbors to SQUAWK! To the oldest established permanent floating crab gaaaaaaaame in New Yooooooooooork!"

"It's children like you that drive me to drink," Mr. Alcazar groused, eyeing the clock. There were still about seven minutes left in the period, two minutes before the children announced that it was 'about that time' and that was when they really went nuts. "Hey, look at the clock – it's about that time."

Jason and Taggert quirked a brow at him. "Are you serious-"

"Go on, get out of here," the teacher grimaced, tipping his head toward the door. "Go run willy-nilly in the streets."

All twenty-two faces in the room instantly beamed. "Thanks, Czar!" Lorenzo barely had time to tell them that he was joking before the room was clear and their footsteps were pounding down the hall.

"Wow, we drove him nuts today," Elizabeth snickered as she linked arms with Jason's and let him lead her down the stairs to the parking lot for lunch. "He's never done that before."

"You think we really drive him to drink?" Jason wondered aloud as he held the door for her.

"No, I think his subject matter drives him to drink," his girlfriend giggled before sobering. "But you know, I never really thought of it that way before."

"Thought of what?"

She bit her bottom lip. "That we only have about eight days left to do all this."

"Yup," Jason nodded briskly as they neared his Jeep. "Eight school days left and then we're free."

Elizabeth's brows furrowed slightly as he opened the door for her, and she slid slowly onto the leather seat, fiddling with the strap of her purse as Jason walked around to the other side and got it. Eight days left of school – eight days left before everything changed and it was impossible to hide from it anymore.

And Jason didn't really seem to be all that concerned about any of it.


"Why do boys like working on cars so much?" Brenda wondered as she popped another tortilla chip into her mouth and reached for her lemonade. "I mean, is there something there that I just don't see?"

"There's something there that no woman ever sees," Sydney informed her, dusting salt off her fingers. "Guys just like cars – they like tinkering with them. Tinker, tinker, tinker – that's all they do, even when there's nothing that needs tinkering to begin with!"

"I'll drink to that," Elizabeth announced, gulping down her lemonade and shifting in her seat so that the sun didn't hit her eyes from under the patio umbrella. She along with several other girls were currently sitting on Brenda's deck surrounded by fashion magazines, ice-cold lemonade, and enough tortilla chips to feed the country of Mexico for a year. "I made the mistake of dropping by at Jason's once when he was 'tinkering' with his bike – I barely got two words out of him the whole time, except, of course, for, 'Elizabeth, can you hand me that rag?'. Sheesh."

"And now they're working on Sonny's car," Brenda sighed, swirling her chip in salsa. "All those buffoons, sitting around in Sonny's garage working on his car. It's ridiculous. Take it into the dealer if it's that bad – and heck, I'll bet they never take their cars in for the six-month check, either. Boys."

"Wait – you take yours in to the dealer every six months?" Elizabeth wanted to know. "Bren, that's a total rip-off. You don't need to do that."

"She's right," Carol agreed. "That's just what they say, but it's totally not necessary."

"Besides, you could just get the boys to look at it," Emily supplied, rolling her eyes. "I'm sure they'd jump at the chance."

"Oh, no," Brenda shook her head emphatically. "No way I'm letting those baboons get near my Pat. Don't even talk like that, Em."

"You know, I'm going to miss these random parties of ours," Carol announced suddenly, flipping her magazine shut and dropping it on the table. "We have to do these a lot more over the summer because after that, we'll all be gone."

Brenda nodded slowly. "Stuck studying."

"Making new friends."

"Trying to figure out how to do our own laundry."

"Living on mac and cheese."

"Meeting cute college boys."

Elizabeth slid her friend a wry look. "Emily, come on! What about Ace? You've already got yourself a cute boy."

The redhead shrugged. "Who knows if we'll still want to be together after this summer?"

That got her attention. "What do you mean?"

"Come on, Beth," the redhead replied, quirking a brow at her. "I'm going to California, he's going to Texas. I've never been one for a long-distance relationship, so, who knows? Maybe I'll end it. Or maybe he'll beat me to it. We'll just have to see."

"Try to do it first," Carol suggested. "Unless you think he's going to want to stay with you and you want that, too, although I doubt it from knowing you. Just don't let him be the first one to do it."

Brenda was nodding slowly and Elizabeth shot her a bewildered look. "Bren! You look like you think this is a good idea!"

Her friend shrugged. "It's up to them, Beth. If neither of them want to deal with a long-distance relationship, that's their choice."

"But you guys have been together for months!" Elizabeth exclaimed, furrowing her brows at Emily. "And you're just going to break it off – just like that?"

"Sure."

"No!" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "If you care about someone, you stick with them. You make an effort and you try."

"Oh, Beth," Emily chuckled, rolling her eyes. "You're just saying that because you think that everyone belongs with someone else – that everyone should be paired up."

"I do not!" She rested one elbow on her chair and lunged for another chip. "I just think that you shouldn't throw away something good just because you think it might get tough later on. If anything, you should fight harder to stay together and make this work – that's what you do if you really care about someone, and I can't believe you're just going to walk away from this as easily as that. You and Ace are so cute together and-"

"Um, Beth?" Carol's hazel eyes glittered with amusement. "Look at what you just did."

Elizabeth glanced at her, confused, as Brenda stifled a giggle. "What?"

"You pushed the cheese and salsa bottles together."

The brunette glanced down at the table where, sure enough, the cheese and salsa bottles were pressed up together. "I did not."

"Oh, yes, you did," Carol smirked. "They were six inches apart and when you started your tirade, you reached for a chip and then pushed them together."

"To make a pair," Emily contributed with a wicked laugh. "See? We told you that you think everything should be paired up!"

"Oh, shut up," she groused as the other girls laughed.

"Jesus, Beth, you're so cute sometimes," Emily snickered. "Anyway, I've been thinking about doing this for a while, and I know I can't do it this month because his birthday's this month and-"

Sitting with her legs crossed in the patio chair, Elizabeth listened to the conversation continue around her as Emily planned out the best way to break it off with her boyfriend. She couldn't for a minute say that she agreed with it. But Brenda was right – this was between Emily and Ace, and if they decided that they no longer wanted to be together, then no amount of guilt-tripping or hen-pecking on her part would amount to anything. And as much as she hated to admit it, she knew that Emily had at least one valid point: long-distance relationships were difficult.

She just hoped that she had the strength to deal with one herself.