Friday Night
Katie was just ending her shift at BBQ Bob's when Adam came walking in and sat down at the counter.
"Hi can I get you something?" Jesse asked looking at Adam.
"Is Katie around?" Adam asked Jesse.
"May ask who you are?" Jesse asked looking at Adam.
"The name is Adam Granger." Adam said shaking Jesse's hand.
"It's nice to meet you Adam. My name is Jesse Travis." Jesse said shaking his hand and smiling.
Jesse went into the back room and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Katie said sitting on the couch relaxing.
"Hey cutie Adam's here." Jesse said looking over at his goddaughter.
"He is? What is he doing here?" Katie asked jumping up.
"I don't know. Why don't you go and find out." Jesse smiled at her.
As Katie walked out she spotted Liz talking to Adam. Katie quickly walked over to them and said,
"Hi Adam."
"Hi Katie." He smiled at her.
"What brings you here?" Katie asked sitting next to him.
"I was just passing here and figure I'd stop by to see if you needed a lift to Tommy's." Adam said looking at her.
Katie couldn't believe how cute he was. Tall, dark hair and built like a brick wall.
"Sure I can use the ride." Katie smiled at him.
Adam couldn't believe how beautiful she was. Tall, blonde hair, built just right and she has the softest blue eyes he's ever seen.
"Katie don't look now but the Lieutenant just walked in." Liz said whispering in Katie's ear.
"Hi Daddy!" Katie said smiling at her father.
"Hi." He smiled back at her.
Katie introduced Adam to her father and then they left to go to Tommy's for rehearsal. When they got into Adam's car, Adam said looking over at her,
"Katie I didn't know your Dad is a cop."
"How did you know?" Katie asked looking over at Adam.
"I heard the comment that Liz said." Adam smiled at her.
"Oh." She smiled back.
When they got to Tommy's Adam got out quickly and ran over to open the door for Katie. They walked over towards the garage and walked in.
"Hey guys. Where's Tommy?" Adam asked.
"On the phone with some catering hall." Mike Russell said looking at Katie.
"Hey you made it that's great." Tommy said walking into the garage smiling at Katie.
"I picked her up at work." Adam said.
"So where do you work?" Mike asked.
"I work at BBQ Bob's." Katie said looking at him.
"You work there? That place rocks!" Mike said smiling.
"Thanks. I'll tell my Dad and Uncle." Katie said.
"Dad and Uncle?" Mike asked.
"They own the restaurant." Katie said.
"Cool! Hey Tommy maybe we can play there one night." Mike said sitting behind his keyboard.
"Maybe. But right now we have to rehearse for the Battle of the Bands. Katie what songs from the 60s do you know?" Tommy asked looking at her.
"I know a few." Katie said looking at him.
They went through some songs and settled on "Day Dream Believer" and "California Dreaming."
"Tommy why do we need to do some 60s music? We are a 'now' band. We should be singing songs from today not songs from our Grandparents generation." Mike said.
"Look I want us to be different. Everybody is going to do songs from 'today's' music. Look here's a list of bands that we are up against." Tommy handed everyone a copy of the bands that are playing. "The first four bands are doing songs from Britney Spears to Boy Bands. I'm tired of doing what they are doing. That is why we are not getting jobs! I want us to sound different, unique. If we do this and win then for sure we can do other competitions." Tommy said setting up the microphones.
"I don't know." Mike said.
"You know Mike. Tommy has a point. We lost a couple of jobs already to other bands because we couldn't play songs that the people wanted. We should be diversified." Adam said.
"Yeah ok." Mike said fixing his keyboard.
The band rehearsed for close to two hours. When they finished Adam walked over to Katie and asked,
"Can I drive you home?"
"Sure I would like that." She smiled at him.
Adam went and got his drumsticks and jacket while Katie helped Tommy pack up the song sheets.
"Thanks for everything Katie. You are a great singer." Tommy said.
"Thanks." She smiled.
"Hey Katie. How about a ride?" Mike said walking over to her.
"Oh sorry Mike. Adam offered to drive me home. Another time." She smiled at him.
Mike walked away pissed.
"Ready?" Adam asked.
"Sure am." She said.
They walked to Adam's car. He helped her in and then got in himself.
"Adam what school do you go to?" Katie asked putting on her seat belt.
"I don't." He said quietly putting his seat belt on.
"You graduated already?"
"No. I dropped out when I was sixteen. I'm nineteen. I used to go to Marshall High but I was bored with school so I dropped out to become a mechanic." He said looking at her.
"I see a singing mechanic." Katie said with a chuckle.
Adam then started the car up and drove off. Hoping that she would still like him.
"Have you ever thought about finishing High School?" Katie asked looking over at him.
"Every now and again. But I'm not good at studying. I have a problem remembering things." He said.
"Well if you ever decide to go and get your GED don't hesitate to ask me for help." She smiled at him.
"You would help me?" Adam asked as he pulled up to her house.
"I sure would. I'm dead serious." Katie said unbuckling her seat belt.
Adam got out and walked over to her side and helped her out.
"You know Katie you are one sweet woman." Adam said walking her up to her door.
"Thanks. I would invite you in but it's late and my Dad is probably pacing the floor." She said looking into his brown eyes.
"That's ok. I need to get home. I have to work on Mr. Spencer's Jag in the morning." Adam said looking into her blue eyes.
He kissed her on the cheek and then left. Katie walked in and found her Dad and Mom still up.
"How were rehearsals?" Kit asked.
"It was good. Tommy had us do a couple of songs from the 60s." Katie said sitting down.
"So Dad what do you think of Adam?" Katie asked looking at him.
"He seems nice. Why?" He asked.
"Just wanted to know. Well I'm going up to bed." Katie got up and kissed her parent's good night and went up to her room.
Kit looked at Steve and asked,
"Does Adam seem nice?"
"As far as I know he is." Steve smiled at her.
Steve and Kit then went upstairs and got ready for bed. Steve left his room and knocked on Katie's door.
"Come in."
"Katie are you busy next Saturday?" Steve asked walking into her room.
"Yeah. That's when we are doing the Battle of the Bands." She said looking at her Dad.
"Oh ok. How about the weekend after that?"
Katie looked at her calendar and said,
"I'm not doing anything. Why?"
"Just wanted to know if you wanted to go up to the cabin with me."
"Sure Dad. I would love that." She said putting it on her calendar.
Katie then sat next to him.
"Daddy."
"Yes."
"Is it ok if I invite Adam over?"
Steve put his arm around his daughter and said,
"Sure." He said kissing her on the head and leaving.
Katie got up the next day and called Adam and invited him over for lunch. After she got off the phone with him she nearly passed out from nerves. Steve went to work that day and saw Jesse and Randy Miles talking.
"Hey Jess!" Steve said walking over to him and Randy.
"Hi Steve. You better sit down." Jesse said looking at his best friend.
"Mr. Sloan I'm not the type of guy that butts into other people's business but I think you should know about this." Randy said looking at Steve.
"What is it?" Steve asked looking at Randy.
"Mr. Sloan I think you and Mrs. Sloan should think twice about letting Katie date that Adam guy. He's a drug addict. He does crack cocaine, speed and anything else he can get his hands on. He was thrown out of Marshall High for pulling a knife on somebody in school and cutting them with it. He was sent to prison for three years for it. He has no future. Sure he's in a band but how can he pull in money for that? They hardly make enough money to afford new instruments. Also don't believe him that he works as a mechanic. That's not true." Randy said looking at Steve.
Steve looked over at Jesse and asked,
"Can you cover for me?"
"Sure. But Steve don't do anything that you'll regret and Katie will dislike you for." Jesse said looking at him.
Steve turned and walked out the restaurant. Randy watched Steve leave and laughed to himself and then said to himself,
"Nobody makes me look like a 'jerk' in front of my peers and gets away with it."
Meanwhile Katie was up in her room getting ready for her lunch date with Adam. She couldn't believe how cute he was and that he actually liked her. There was a knock on her door.
"Come in!" Katie shouted from her closet.
"Sweetheart its Mom. Adam called and said he's going to be a couple of minutes late." Kit said looking at her.
Katie looked at her Mom and asked, "Did he say why?"
"He said that Mr. Randal was having problems with his brakes on his BMW." Kit said looking at how beautiful her daughter looked.
"Oh ok." Katie smiled.
"KATIE!" Steve shouted coming into the house.
Katie and Kit looked at each other and then ran out of Katie's room.
"Yeah Dad." Katie said from the top of the stairs.
"GET DOWN HERE NOW!"
Kit noticed that Steve was very angry.
"What did you do?" MJ whispered to Katie.
"I haven't a clue." She whispered back.
"KATIE!"
"Coming Dad." Katie said hurrying down the stairs.
"Into the den now!" He said sternly looking at her.
"Steve what is going on?" Kit asked looking at him.
"Come into the den and find out." He said glaring at her.
Katie and Kit sat down and Steve closed the den door.
"What do you know about this guy Adam?" Steve asked looking at his daughter.
"All I know is that he is nineteen years old. He dropped out of school to become a mechanic and he plays in Tommy's band. Why?" Katie asked looking at her Dad.
"He's a drug addict. And just when I didn't think it could get any worse I also find out that he knifed someone in school! That's the reason why he's not at school. Did you know that he was in jail for knifing the kid? He's not even a mechanic! I don't want him here! Do you understand me?"
Kit looked over at Katie and asked,
"Is this true?"
"All he told me was that he dropped out of school to become a mechanic. I don't know about the rest." Katie said as the tears fell.
"Well you're not seeing him anymore! I want you out of Tommy's band!" Steve said leaving the den.
Kit went after Steve. Katie sat in the den crying. MJ came into the den and sat next to Katie.
"MJ why didn't Adam tell me the truth about him being thrown out of high school? I really thought that I found someone. Ok so he's not prefect. He was willing to let me help him get his GED. He and I just clicked you know."
The doorbell rang. MJ and Katie ran and got it before their parents did.
"Hi is Katie around?" Adam asked looking at MJ.
Katie came out from behind MJ.
"You ok? What happened?" Adam asked looking at Katie's tear stained face.
"I…I can't see you anymore." Katie said looking at him.
"Why? What did I do?" Adam asked.
Katie walked out front with Adam. They sat down and Katie told him what she found out about him.
"Katie I don't know where you got that information from but it's not true. I swear to you it's all a lie." Adam said looking at her.
"This is what my Dad told me." Katie said looking at him.
"Well your Dad is wrong! I never, ever did drugs in my life nor do I own a knife, let alone went to jail." He said looking into her blue eyes.
"Then why would my Dad tell me all of this if it wasn't true?" Katie asked looking at him.
"I don't know." He said looking down at the floor.
MJ walked out and said that he was going to work and asked if she was ok.
"Yeah I'm fine. See you later."
"Katie look. I'm going to head home. Find out from your Dad where he got his information from. Ok." Adam kissed her on the cheek and got up and left.
Katie watched him leave. She then got up and ran inside and up to her room. She threw herself onto her bed and cried all over again. There was a knock on her door this time she didn't say come in.
"Katie." Steve said quietly.
She sat up and wiped her eyes. Steve walked over to her bed and sat down and said,
"I'm sorry that I blew up like that. I had no right doing that to you." He said looking at her.
"Dad can you tell me where you got the information from about Adam? Adam came by and I told him everything. He said that what you told me was a bunch of lies and I believe him. But don't worry Dad I told him that I wasn't allowed to see him anymore." Katie said looking at her Dad.
Steve looked at his daughter and said, "Randy Miles told me this information."
"Randy Miles? Dad he's only in my school for four weeks! How can he know all this?" Katie asked looking at her Dad.
"The way he went on about it I thought he was in your school for years." Steve said looking at Katie.
Steve got up and walked out of Katie's room in disgust. Katie got up washed her face and reapplied her make up and called Adam and told him to meet her at BBQ Bob's.
"So Randy did you tell Katie Sloan's Dad about Adam?" Sue Greene asked.
"You bet I did." He smiled at Sue.
"Good. I've been wanting to get back at her for years." Sue said laughing.
"Yeah well I've been wanting to get back at her for making me look like a complete idiot in front of everyone." He snickered.
Sue and Randy didn't know that Liz and Patty over heard the conversation. After Patty and Liz were done cleaning the tables they went and told MJ and Jesse what they over heard.
"That girl has always been giving Katie a hard time." Liz said glaring over at Sue and Randy.
"I better call my Dad and tell him what we found out." MJ said.
Adam came walking into the restaurant. When he saw MJ, Liz, Patty and Jesse look at him he turned around and left. MJ ran after him.
"Adam! Wait!" MJ called to him.
MJ ran over to Adam's car and said,
"We need to talk."
"About what?" Adam said looking at MJ.
"About the lies that are being spread about you. I know they aren't true. It's revenge against Katie." MJ said looking at Adam.
"Revenge against Katie? Why?" Adam asked.
"Because she embarrassed Randy in front of his peers a couple of days ago and Sue Greene always hated her." MJ said.
Adam got out of his car and went inside BBQ Bob's with MJ. When they entered BBQ Bob's Katie walked in. Adam walked over to where Randy and Sue were sitting and before anyone knew it Adam grabbed Randy by the shirt and threw him onto the floor.
"I don't know what your problem is kid but I want you to stop spreading bad rumors about me! You got it!" Adam said standing over Randy.
Randy got up and took a swing at Adam. Adam ducked and then jumped up punching Randy in the mouth. Adam then turned and walked over to Sue and said,
"If you don't leave my girlfriend alone I'm going to do the same thing to you as I did to Randy! You got it!"
Sue looked at Adam with a scared looked and said,
"Ok." Then she ran out of BBQ Bob's with Randy following behind.
Katie walked over to Adam and kissed him hard on the lips and then said,
"Thank you. I owe you one."
Adam looked at Katie and said,
"You're welcome. Now how about lunch."
"Sounds good to me." Katie smiled at him.
There was laughing going on while Adam and Katie were waiting for their lunch. When Steve walked in Katie and MJ looked at each other. Steve walked over to Katie and Adam.
"Hi Dad." Katie said looking up at him nervously.
"Can I talk to you Adam?" Steve asked looking at him.
"Sure." Adam said getting up.
Steve and Adam walked into the back office. Katie got up and walked over to her brother and friends.
"Adam please sit." Steve said showing him the chair.
Adam sat down and looked at Steve sitting behind the desk.
"Adam I just want to apologize to you for what I was told about you. I'm very protective of my children especially Katie." Steve said looking at him.
"I understand Mr. Sloan. Katie is a special young lady and I respect her a lot." Adam said looking at Steve.
Steve was amazed with Adam. He's a very respectful young man and for his appearance nobody could tell he's a mechanic.
"Adam. Can you tell me why you dropped out of High School?"
"You see Mr. Sloan my Mom and Dad were killed by a drunk driver when I was sixteen. I live with my grandmother. After my parent's death my Grandmother got really sick and we were almost thrown out of our apartment so I had to quit school to get a full time job so she could just keep the apartment. Social Security doesn't pay much and my Grandmother refused to go on welfare. We make do with what we got. I never dreamed of dropping out of High School. After High School I was going to go onto college to get my degree in Business Management and then get my own garage to work on cars. I guess what they say is true you can't predict the future. Tommy's band is my only social activity I have." Adam said looking at Steve.
"You've been through a lot." Steve said looking at Adam.
"Yes sir I have but I'm dealing with it one day at a time. I've been seriously thinking about getting my GED and Katie said she will help me if you would let her." Adam said looking again at Steve.
"I sure will." Steve said smiling at Adam. Steve then got up and asked,
"How about coming by tonight for dinner?"
"That would be great but I can't leave my Grandmother alone too long." Adam said getting up.
"Bring her along." Steve said.
"I will. Thank you." Adam then left.
Adam walked out to the main part of the restaurant and all eyes were on him. Katie walked over to him and asked,
"You ok?"
He looked at her with a smile and said, "Yeah I'm fine. Listen I'm going to cut our lunch date short. I have to go home and check up on my Grandmother. Your Dad invited us over to your house for dinner tonight so I want to get my Grandmother ready for the visit."
"Ok great." Katie smiled at him.
"See you tonight." Adam kissed her on her cheek and left quickly.
Steve walked out into the main part of the restaurant and was greeted with a kiss and a hug from Katie.
"What was that for?" Steve asked looking at her.
"Because I love you and also for inviting Adam and his Grandmother over for dinner tonight." Katie said smiling at him.
"You're welcome and I love you too." Steve said looking at her.
Steve sat down at the counter while Katie, Patty and Liz sat at the tables and discussed what Katie was going to wear.
"I have to look decent. I can't wear anything that would make Adam and his Grandmother uncomfortable." Katie said to her best friends.
"Katie you are the world's biggest chicken 'ass' that I've seen." Liz laughed.
"Pay no attention to her Katie. My cousin likes to ruffle feathers." Patty said glaring at Liz.
"You know Patty you need to get a life. I'm only joking with her. What's with you any ways? You never were so uptight before." Liz said looking over at her cousin.
That night in Katie's room…
Katie sat on her bed for an hour in her bathrobe trying to think what to wear. All she can come up with is her black jeans, white T-shirt and her favorite white sneakers. There was a knock on her door.
"Come in."
MJ came in and looked at her and asked,
"What's wrong?"
"What makes you think there's anything wrong?" Katie asked looking over at her brother.
"I didn't have to pound on the door to the bathroom. Why aren't you dressed? Adam is going to be here any second." MJ said sitting next to her.
"I can't find anything to wear." She said looking at him.
MJ got up and went to his sister's closet and pulled out her black jeans, white T-shirt and sneakers. Katie looked at him and laughed. Then she said,
"I can't wear that."
"Why not?" MJ asked looking at her.
"Because it's not appropriate for tonight." She said.
"Yes it is. It shows you. Katie, when you want to be comfortable this is how you dress. Never, ever change your appearance for anyone not even a guy. I didn't change my appearance for Patty. I just stayed the same and you should too." MJ said putting the clothes on Katie's bed.
"Oh ok. Thanks MJ." She got up and hugged him.
MJ left her to get dressed. He went downstairs to see if he can help his Mom in the kitchen. When he walked into the kitchen he nearly passed out when he saw his parents kissing.
"Come on you guys!" He then turned around and walked out.
Kit and Steve just looked at each other and laughed. The doorbell rang. MJ went and answered it.
"Hi MJ. MJ this is my Grandmother Angie. Grandma this is MJ, Katie's brother."
"Please to meet you." Angie said smiling and shaking MJ's hand.
The boys helped Angie in and to the couch.
"I have a bad knee." Angie said sitting down carefully.
When the boys were done fussing over Angie Katie came down the stairs. Adam quickly went over to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Katie I would like you to meet my Grandmother." Adam said excitedly.
They walked over to her and Adam introduced Katie to his grandma.
"Grandma this is Katie. Katie this is my Grandma Angie."
"Hi." They both said shaking hands and laughing.
MJ and Adam looked at each other and then Adam asked,
"What's so funny?"
"Your Grandma and I know each other." Katie smiled at him.
"How?" Adam asked.
"When I was in the hospital a month ago I met her in physical therapy. She and I talked and talked about everything. From what happened to me to about you. I just never put two and two together that you were her Grandson. If it wasn't for Angie here I think I would have been still in the hospital." Katie said hugging Angie.
Adam was so happy that Katie and his Grandmother were past friends. Kit and Steve came out of the kitchen and Katie introduced them to Adam and his Grandmother. While everyone was talking Katie happened to notice out of the corner of her eye Kasey Lynn laughing and signing. Katie then looked over at Angie and saw her signing to Kasey Lynn.
"You know sign language Angie?" Katie asked.
"Yes. I've taught it over twenty years." Angie said smiling at Katie.
Katie couldn't believe the day and night she was having. First her Dad and Adam talked then her Dad invites Adam over for dinner with his Grandmother. His Grandmother happened to been her friend in physical therapy and now Katie learned that his Grandmother is a sign language teacher. Everyone then went into the dining room to sit down for the dinner. Before Angie and Adam went into the dining room Angie said,
"Adam you picked a fine young lady."
"Thank you Grandma." He said hugging her.
Then Angie and Adam sat down to the lovely meal Kit prepared.
"Katie I understand from Adam that you're going to help him get his GED." Angie said looking over at Katie.
"Yes I am." Katie smiled.
"Well good for you. I was hoping he'd get it. I'm just sorry that I got sick and he had to drop out of high school to get a job to help us keep the apartment." Angie said looking at her Grandson proudly.
Everyone talked some more until dinner was over.
"How about we all go into the living room for coffee and dessert?" Steve asked.
"Sounds great. My knee is acting up and I need to elevate it." Angie said.
Adam and MJ helped Angie into the living room while Katie, Kasey Lynn, Kit and Steve cleaned up and got the dessert ready.
"Mom. Dad. Thank you." Katie said kissing them.
"You're welcome." They said hugging her.
Katie and Adam went outside while MJ went upstairs to call Patty and Kasey Lynn went into the den to play her video game.
"You cold?" Adam asked as he saw Katie shiver.
"A little." She smiled at him.
He took off his light jacket and put it around her shoulders. They then sat down on the lounge chairs looking up at the stars.
"Angie is a very sweet person Adam." Katie said looking over at him.
"She is. I'm so glad that your Dad invited us over tonight." Adam said looking over at Katie.
He sat up and looked over at Katie who too sat up. He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. After they kissed Katie got up and sat with Adam on his lounge chair. He put his arms around her to keep her warm.
"Adam." Steve called.
Katie and Adam sat up quickly nearly knocking each other off the lounge chair.
"Your Grandmother is ready to go home." Steve said looking between Katie and Adam.
"Ok we're coming." Adam said helping Katie up.
Steve walked back into the house.
"I'm going to get a lecture from him after you leave." Katie said walking inside with Adam.
"Why? What did we do?" Adam asked looking at her.
"My Dad tends to be very protective of me." Katie said looking at Adam.
"Katie we didn't do anything wrong but cuddle." Adam said putting his arm around her.
"Yeah I guess." She said walking into the living room with him.
After Adam and Angie left Katie went up to her room to get ready for bed. There was a knock on her door.
"Just a minute." She said putting on her oversized T-shirt.
She went and opened her door and saw her parents standing there.
"Come in." She said.
Steve and Kit sat on her bed and looked at her. Then her Dad said,
"Adam is a very nice boy. I like him a lot."
"But what?" Katie asked looking at him.
"No buts. I really like him." Steve said looking at her.
Katie just looked at her Dad trying to figure out what he was up to but she couldn't.
"Katie you ok?" Kit asked her.
"Yeah." She said looking at her Mom.
"Angie is nice too." Kit said smiling.
"I like her too." Katie said.
Her parents kissed her good night and then left. Steve and Kit went into their room to get ready to go to bed.
"Babe."
"Yeah." Steve said coming out of the bathroom.
"Do you honestly like Adam?" Kit asked rubbing cream on her arms.
"Yes why?" He asked getting into bed and looking at her.
"I'm just asking. Every time Katie likes someone you always find fault with them and you never cut her a break." Kit said looking into his blue eyes.
"I can honestly say that I like him. At first I didn't until I got the real story from him." Steve said kissing Kit.