Title: The World through the Eyes of a Basket Case
Author: TWBasketcase
Dedication: sloshedprincess, PoohIsMyHomie, Santafelover, Jenifer, DarkoBender, Katydid7186, Moonjava, Billy Crazy, Lazaefair, TBFF Nat, Basket Case 89, Faith Maguire, Dani, and Ariana…just for all of your great reviews. I hope you all like the next installment.

Chapter 31 – Fire in the Twilight

"Look at this thing! I feel like I'm gonna fly away any minute!" Michelle turned to the side and looked at her reflection in the mirror, "Yeah…this is definitely too puffy."

I rolled my eyes and watched as my two friends complained about each and every dress they tried on. They looked great in pretty much all of them but to the unofficial fashion police they looked horrendous. But then again what the hell do I know?

Michelle turned her back to the mirror and scoped out her butt, "This makes me look fat."

"Red definitely is not your color, Mic…I still say go for the green."

Michelle lifted up the sides of the dress and threw them back down in frustration, "I'm never going to another prom again."

I snorted, "You don't have to."

She rolled her eyes, "Whatever you know what I mean. I usually have no problem shopping for my clothes but this whole totally formal thing is just too much pressure."

I raised my eye brows, "Are you kidding me? Brian would be gaga over you if you wore a freakin' paper bag to prom! And besides you two are the shopaholics and for some reason I'm the only one with a dress."

Claire sighed over dramatically, "No kidding…and there's only a week and a half left! I don't even have a date and I'm worried! Trust me Al, this is a big thing and we all have to look our best."

I slouched further down into the department store chair and blew my bangs off of my forehead, "Whatever you say…just hurry the hell up and pick something."

Michelle came out of the change room in the aforementioned green dress and spun around, "Do you guys like it? Because I love it!"

I raised my eyebrows and nodded; she did look great in it. It was a tube top style top that pinched at the waist where from there it flowed down to past her knees. It was a true emerald green color that really brought her eyes and complimented her brown/red hair. I think she found her perfect dress.

"I told you!" Claire squealed and hugged her, "Now if you don't get that I'm gonna have to knock you unconscious and make sure you where it to the prom!"

Michelle laughed in response and made her way back into the dressing room to put her other clothes back on. Claire watched herself in the mirror with a look of half frustration and half resentment on her face. She kept grabbing at the wavy dress on her body and sighing. I swallowed hard, "Are you alright?"

She looked up a little shocked from hearing my voice, "Oh yeah, I'm fine."

My eyebrows rose, "Are you sure about that?"

She sighed once again and sat down in a huff next to me, "No." She folded her arms and clenched her jaw, "I don't know what the hell I'm doing."

I cocked a brow, "What do ya mean?"

She shrugged and wiped a tear from her eye, "I don't know why I am so worried about this damn prom…I don't even have anyone to go with! When I did find a guy that I was remotely interested in asking John had to go off and tell him I have herpes! And here I am all worried about going alone when in reality I hate men at the moment."

I let out a small chuckle at the last comment and looked her in the eye, "You're supposed to go and have fun. If you do or don't have a date doesn't matter to your friends."

She smiled a small smile and wiped at her eyes, "I know…but I still can't help it. If we never would have broken up in the first place…"

"There's a start…" I mumbled under my breath; she shot me an icy look and stood back up to approach the mirror, "What color you think I should go for?"

"Personally?"

She nodded, "Yeah."

"I say go for the white one."

She furrowed her brows, "White?"

I sighed, "Yeah stop worrying about all your 'spring colors' or whatever and just go for the white."

She cracked a smile, "You know what…I think you're right."

Michelle came back from out of the change room as Claire headed in; she gave her a bright smile and came to sit next to me, "Is she okay?"

I shrugged, "She's alright…just having John thoughts again."

"We need to find her a date," Michelle pitched.

I nodded, "Definitely; one that looks good in a suit and is perfect for her."

Michelle gave me a wicked smile, "I have a few ideas you know."

I smiled mischievously in return, "Yeah so does Andy."

She nodded and sat back in her chair. We had been in the store for about an hour; they came with Andy and Brian to pick me up after my first shift of work today – which went well – and said that they wanted to shop. Brian and Andy were waiting in the mall outside the store…probably bored out of their minds, as the two girls picked out their dresses. They were actually pretty terrified that there wouldn't be much left to choose from since the prom was now not that far away.

Claire stepped out of the dressing room with a content smile; she had the white dress on which was very slender to her body and kinda fit in all the right places. She had a white shawl and a matching purse to go along with it; it wasn't too long cut and the skirt went down to just past her knees…she looked very elegant, yet sexy showing off her curves.

Michelle let out a whistle, "My little baby is all grown up!" She batted her lashes and let out a laugh as Claire scoffed and smirked, "Al?"

"It looks great Claire."

She smiled in return, "I really love it guys, I think I'm gonna buy it."

Michelle stood up and clapped her hands together, "Alright then let's head on outta here!" She grabbed her dress and made her way to the cashier with Claire in pursuit. I on the other hand went in the opposite direction to go see if Andy and Brian were still holding up.

When I got to the exit of the store I saw the two of them lounging on a bench directly across the hall. Andy had his head back as if he was staring at the ceiling and had one leg propped up on the bench next to him and Brian had his hands folded neatly in his lap as he stared at the Missing Children posters next to him. I raised my eyebrows and approached them, "Are you gentlemen fairing okay?"

They shot up at the sound of my voice and gave me glares, "What the hell took you guys so long?" Andy growled.

I smiled broadly, "Its Claire and Michelle we are talking about here trust me this was actually a short trip."

He groaned, "How can that be a short trip? We have been sitting here for like an hour!"

Brian nodded in agreement, "Yeah…it was making me start to think again about this whole girlfriend thing."

I laughed, "You guys are babies…you have it easy compared to me! They always drag me around wanting to make me over and shit! They always want to cut or style my hair…all that gross shit."

It was their turn to laugh at me, "Okay you win," Brian replied with a smile.

"So what are you wearing to the prom?"

He raked his fingers through his blonde hair and thought for a moment, "Well I guess I can wear the tux I wore for our Physics club banquet last year…I'll just have to get some shoes."

I nodded, "Your mom is cool with you going?"

Brian nodded his head seriously, "Yeah she really likes Michelle. So if I'm going anywhere with her she usually doesn't have a problem with it as long as I am home at a decent hour."

Andy snorted, "Well looks like you two have it real easy."

Brian nodded, "We do…her mom is pretty fond of me and my parents really like her."

I looked at Andy with an amused look, "Well it's too bad we all can't say the same, huh?"

Andy nodded in agreement with a frown on his face. Brian looked at him with interest, "Why your parents don't like you going with each other?"

Andy stared at him incredulously, "That's an understatement. I think Claire's parents liked John better than how our parents are. My dad hates Ally…thinks she is brainwashing me or something. My mom isn't so bad, she thinks she is cute but she just listens to my dad."

Brian nodded, "What about your parents?"

I sighed, "My dad lets him walk through the freakin' door like he lives there and my dad's girlfriend – I am almost positive that she wants him herself."

Andy laughed out loud, "Why do you always have to bring that up?"

I couldn't help it and I let out a loud laugh at the disgusted look on his face; if a forty year old bleached blonde bimbo with two children wanted me I would probably feel the same way…especially when she has a mommy stomach and saggy breasts and all she wears is bright colored spandex suits. "I'm sorry Andy…Brian just asked is all."

Brian bit his lower lip in amusement, "You guys are really screwed up you know that?"

Andy nodded in seriousness, "Yes I am fully aware."

I smiled in agreement as Claire and Michelle walked out of the store chatting amiably. They had their purses slung over their shoulders and their new purchases clasped tightly in their hands. They approached us laughing, "You guys ready to go?"

Andy folded his arms and looked at them, "Yeah I was ready to go about fifty-five minutes ago."

Claire furrowed her brow and looked at her watch as she turned to walk towards the mall exit, "Andrew that would have only given us ten minutes!"

Andy looked at me and rolled his eyes as he jammed his hands into his pockets, "Yeah Claire, god forbid…"

Claire scoffed from in front of us, "You do not shop for less than a half an hour…then there is just no point in being here."

Michelle looked at Claire like she grew a second head, "Is there ever no point in being here?"

Claire hesitated, "I don't think so…"

"Let's just get the hell outta here, okay ladies?" Brian asked gently. Michelle turned around with a huge smile and grabbed his hand and held it as they walked. When the three of them stepped out into the parking lot I noticed the massive down pour coming from the sky.

I looked at Andy who just scowled, "This day just keeps on getting better…" he grumbled. I stifled a laugh as we headed back towards his car. He and Claire had this common understanding of each other and they can always hold very interesting conversations but at the same time they can turn around and turn it into a bicker at any moment.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

We pulled up in front of Brian's house for our last stop of the night. Brian looked from the window to Andy, "Thanks."

"No problem, Bry," Andy looked down to his lap for a moment and then back to him, "it was kinda fun kiddin' around while they were in the store."

Brian cracked a huge grin, "Yeah it was wasn't it? I still can't believe that lady hit you with a shopping cart."

Andy started laughing out loud as I stared at him, "Who did what?"

He looked at me with a grin, "We weren't doing anything."

I looked at Brian suspiciously who just bit his lower lip, "We were just kidding around is all."

I shook my head, "See you tomorrow Brian."

He nodded, "Definitely…we should do it again some time."

Andy nodded and I smiled, "Sure, see ya."

He smiled and pulled himself out of the car. Andy looked back at me with a smile and pulled away from the curb, "So, how come you didn't buy anything today?"

I away from him and out the window, "Because I already have everything I need."

He cocked an eyebrow, "Oh really? How did you manage to do that?"

I smiled, "I have my ways…do you have everything ready? I mean…whatever it is that you have to have ready."

He laughed, "Yeah I am ready to go…you are okay with me just picking you up in my car, right?"

I furrowed my brows, "How else were you expecting to get me?"

He raked his fingers through his hair and at the same time never brought his eyes off the road, "Well I know that Claire, Michelle, and Brian are taking a limo there and everything…I just kinda want everything to be perfect, but I can't do stuff like that, I…"

"Andrew Clark!"

He stopped and just looked at me a little uneasily, "…what?"

I rolled my eyes, "How the hell can you honestly think that I would even want to go some lame dance in a limousine? I don't need a limo to go…I would skate board there if I needed to."

He smiled, "Dress and all?"

I nodded confidently, "Dress and all."

He laughed, "I'm sorry…I just want it to be romantic."

I smirked, "I'm going there with you, that's all I need."

He smiled as he stopped at an intersection, "I'm still really happy that you said you wanted to go…I could have sworn I was waiting for you to laugh in my face."

I shrugged, "I told you I had no problem going as long as it made you happy. I mean, I don't even think I am going to go to mine."

He raised an eyebrow, "No?"

"Well Claire will be in college, Michelle will be in New York…you'll be in Canada…who am I going to go with, Bender?"

Andy laughed out loud, nearly losing control of his steering wheel. He straightened out the car and continued to drive laughing the whole way.

"What the hell do you find so funny?"

He looked at me and started to laugh again, shaking his head, "I'm sorry…just the thought of the two of you together at the prom…"

I smirked, "Why would that be funny?"

He smiled, "I could totally picture the two of you showing up in total black outfits. Him all high and looking to spike the punch and you being completely miserable because he is acting like an ass; then he would get mad because you were miserable and then you would kick him in the nuts for being so annoying or something. It would just be funny to see."

I thought over his words as he pulled into his drive way, "Yeah you are probably right."

He unbuckled his seatbelt and began to open his door, "I just wanna grab my sweater…do you want to come in?"

I looked at the house skeptically, "Is your dad home?"

He shook his head, "His bronco isn't here."

I nodded my head and unbuckled my own seatbelt and we walked up towards the house together. The lights in the front room were on but everything seemed pretty quiet. Andy approached the door casually and opened it. His mother and two of his brothers were sitting in the living room watching a movie. Andy nodded his head to them.

"Hello honey," His mother welcomed with a gentle smile.

"Hi ma," he said as he walked over to the stairs leading to his bedroom, "I'm just grabbing a sweater."

His mother paused the movie and sat forward as his younger brother, Ryan, groaned, "Andrew are you going back out tonight?"

"Yes!" He called from up the stairs.

His mother rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Do you realize that it is a school night?"

"Yes!"

"Do you care Andrew?"

"No!"

She sighed and looked at me for help; I just shrugged and gave her a small smile. She looked back at the stairs as Andy came down. Ryan was sitting on the couch with his arms folded in front of him impatiently waiting for the movie again, while his older brother Chuck had an amused smirk on his face.

"What?" Andy asked shrugging into his sweater.

"Where are you going?" His mother asked.

"To her house."

"What you just plan on spending the night again?"

He looked at her like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Yeah probably."

His mother sighed – not angry sigh but a worried one, "You know your dad knows that you are doing that and he isn't very happy about it."

Andy crossed his arms and kicked his toe to the ground, "Yeah well it's none of his business what I do."

Chuck looked at him with wide eyes, "You better be careful buddy."

Andy didn't even glance at him and just kept his eyes on his mom; she rubbed her hands on her temple and blinked at him, "I hate to disagree with you but…"

"But nothing mom," Andy cut her off, "I'm going…I'll be at school tomorrow, I'm fine."

I swallowed hard suddenly feeling very uncomfortable for being in the middle of a family disagreement. Their eyes seem to be blazing at each other; Andy's with defiance and hers with motherly concern. They sat gazing at each other until the door opened again.

"Hello Richard," Andy's mother greeted her husband politely. He gave her a nod and looked from Andy, to Chuck, to Ryan, and back to his wife, "What's going on here?"

I swallowed hard and stepped further away from the family; I felt like an intruder and I felt a little afraid that his father was going to blow up at me again.

Andy shrugged, "Nothing, I am going out…I was just saying good bye to mom."

Andy's mother opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by his dad, "And where do you think you are going?"

Andy folded his arms and attempted to walk past his father but he held out his arm to his chest. Andy looked in his eyes angrily, "Let me through."

"Where are you going?"

"I said LET ME THROUGH."

Richard Clark set down his duffel bag and shrugged out of his jacket, "You will not walk out that door until you tell me where you are going!"

Ryan let out a groan, "He just wants to go to his girlfriend's house now will you let him go so that we can finish this movie?"

Richard turned to face Andrew who was glaring at his brother, "So you were going to sneak out for the night again, huh?"

Andy once again tried to push past his father but this time Richard stopped him with a little more force, "Sit down Andy."

"No! I am not sitting down I am leaving…let's go," He said to me.

I walked a little closer to the door and stood waiting for him; I wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of this house as soon as possible.

Richard turned to me pointing, "You can go..." to turned back to Andy, "And you can stay."

"No she won't go until I do and that is just the way it is going to be."

"What did she tell you to do this?" His father started, raising his voice a little louder this time, "Just like she told you to go for Canada and waste away your career…"

"You shut the hell up!" Andy yelled angrily into his face; their noses were inches apart, "Don't you dare talk about her that way you know nothing about her!"

"I know that you are wasting your life away on some girl…is she really worth it Andrew?"

Andy looked at his father bitterly, "Yes."

His father narrowed his eyes, "Is she really worth losing your father over?"

Andy seethed, "Yes."

His father stood back with a shocked look on his face and my heart beat picked up; I was really worried that his father – or even Andy – was gonna do something very stupid…and I really wasn't about to be the cause of it. I knew I should have never come in here.

Andy glared at his father and then turned to his mother, "Good night ma, I love you." And with that he walked easily past his father and opened the front door, "Let's go now."

I nodded without argument and walked as fast as I could to his car; he came around to the driver's side and threw his door open violently. He came down into his seat hard and turned the car on.

"Andy…I…"

He looked at me seriously, "Don't talk, okay."

I nodded my head and sat back into my seat. Things were really fucked up this time.

TBC

A/N: I am so freakin' happy that finally came out decent! I have been working on this chapter for days and I just couldn't get it out right. So in return I wrote another story (kinda funny one, has all the characters in it) to help me vent my frustrations and get some ideas out. You guys should check it out its called 'Running with the Devil'. That's me in basket case mode lol. I just wanna thank everyone who has been sending me emails over the past week (there has actually been a few of you) to help me get going again. I hope this part was okay, let me know what you think. For now I am going to update as much as I can before September starts, because then my updates are going to slow right down. With work and school it's gonna be hella hard! So I should have another one up either tomorrow or Monday. Thanks for reading guys, cheers!

Kristen