Pacific Coast Academy: 10 Year Reunion

Chapter 14: Steppin' Out

"Come on, Michael," Breana groaned. "You're gonna make us late."

"No, I'm not," he said looking in the mirror. "We're gonna be early."

"Why are you even looking in the mirror anyway?"

"I'm checking to see if I look okay."

"You look fine," she said pulling him from in front of the mirror.

"How do you mean 'fine'? Do you mean is as in 'I just look okay' or 'you're a really sharp dresser'?"

"Take it for whatever you want. Let's just go."

"The kids aren't even here yet. So you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" he smiled pulling her closer to him.

She laughed and shook her head, pushing him away. "You know you are turning into Logan."

"No, I'm not. I'll never be like him."

"Really? You think you are just the handsomest guy in the world—"

"Aren't I?"

"See! That's what I'm talking about. Plus, you're always looking in the mirror at that stupid moustache."

"You said you liked my moustache."

"Michael, that was almost 10 years ago when it was coming in. It actually looked better coming in."

"So you don't like it anymore?"

"I didn't say that."

"Sounds like it to me. Besides, it's not like my moustache is like Steve Harvey's."

She nodded. "You may have a pont there. You have kept it neat to where it was in high school."

He smiled as their children came through the door. "We're ready to go," Justine said.

"Yeah!" Chris yelled. "Let's get some choco-late cake!"

Michael smiled and picked him up. They walked out the door.

Nicole was doing her hair in the mirror. She turned around to see Zoey sitting on her bed looking very down.

"Zoey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just…"

"Chase."

"No, John. He just came out with all this stuff and now… I don't know what to. I'm so confused."

"But you're sure you love Chase right?"

There was a knock on the door and Jake and Chase came in. "You two ready?" Jake smiled.

"We sure are," Nicole smiled. "Chase, what happened to your hair?"

"I cut it."

"Wow," she said hugging him. "It looks nice and neat."

"Thanks," he smiled.

"Let's go out a have a good time tonight," Nicole said.

"That's easy for you to say," Jake mumbled.

Chase walked over to Zoey and put his arm around her. "What's wrong?"

"Just thinking about what John said."

He stared at her. "What exactly are you thinking about what he said?"

"Did that even make sense?"

"I don't know. Did it?" They thought for a bit. "But you know what I mean."

"Yeah. I'm thinking about everything. I mean, he said so much stuff."

"Hey, don't think so much. Let's just go out and we can talk about all this stuff later."

"Maybe you're right."

Little John came into the room. "Let's go people. I'm starving. That means Mr. Reese is paying so free food for everybody! Let's get a move on," he ran out the door.

Zoey and Chase smiled and followed him.

The gang all met at the restaurant. Knowing Logan, it was a fancy one. Very upscale. Not everybody seen each other so they spent a least 30 minutes hugging and getting reacquainted again. Soon as everything died down, Zoey and Breana seemed to be spaced out. Jake was trying to not look a Dana, knowing that Nicole would get really pissed off at him. Quinn was trying to take notes on him. Logan was looking at himself in a spoon, and Dana was trying to stop him—getting embarrassed. Nicole was worrying about her hair frizzing up. Lola just happened to be thinking about all her awards and about the movie she was gonna be in. Michael and Jason were seconds away from each other.

"Will that damn waiter get here quick?" Nicole blurted out. Everybody was taken aback. "Well, I'm hungry."

A waiter came to the table. "Sorry to keep you waiting," he said. "We're kinda low on help tonight. Of all nights," he mumbled. "So.. what are you having?" He took out his pad.

"Bring a bottle of white wine," Logan said. The waiter nodded.

"Bring me a Sprite," Zoey piped.

"Bring me a Coke," Breana said.

Chase looked at Zoey and Michael looked and Breana. Then each said what they wanted to eat. Then the waiter walked away

"You're supposed to take liquor when you can get it," Logan said.

Michael continued to stare at her, trying to figure out something.

"Why are you staring at me?"

He gave a look of confusion. "Because usually… you'd drink wine when it's given to you."

"Well, maybe I don't wan any. Isn't that possible?"

"Yeah, but… just strange."

"WILL YOU LOOK AT HER FOR PETE SAKES!" Quinn screamed at Jake.

"I don't want to!" he yelled back.

"Why are you yelling?" Nicole asked.

"Hey!" Dana yelled. "This is supposed to be a peaceful night. So shut the hell up!"

"Somebody's cranky," Logan chuckled. She punched him in the arm. Jason stood up.

"If you would excuse me, I have to go the bathroom."

Michael shook his head. He was just looking for a reason to beat him up. "He gets on my nerves so much."

Chase turned to Zoey. "Zoey, you haven't said anything since we got here."

"You haven't said anything either, but I'm not on your back."

"Sorry. I'm not trying to bother you. I'm just concerned."

"I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind."

"John."

"No, well, yes. Him and just some other stuff... dealing with you."

"Is it bad? Did I don something? What is it? Don't tell me we're breaking up—"

"Can you shut up?"

"Sorry."

"I'll tell you later… when we get back to PCA."

"Okay. No pressure."

Michael snapped his fingers in front of Breana's face.

"Yeah."

"Sweetheart, I know something's wrong. Tell me."

"There's nothing wrong with me, Michael."

"Yes, there is. You're starting to get cranky."

"If you keep bothering me, I will."

"Hey, don't get mad at me. I'm just starting to notice these changes… that happened like… four years ago…" he said slowly putting everything together.

At another table were the children. Lana was dreamily staring at Mike. Victoria was looking at Lana like she was crazy. Justine was eating her food. Dugan and Chris were blowing bubbles in their drinks. Little John was staring into space.

"Can you please stop looking at me?" Mike asked. "You're starting to freak me out."

"Sorry, sweetie," she smiled. "Didn't mean to disturb you."

"Why are you calling me 'sweetie'?"

"That's what my mom and dad call each other."

"My dad does that too, but you don't hear me calling you 'sweetie.' "

"In time you will."

"Girls are so weird," Dugan said.

"Tell me about it," Chris said.

"You said it, brother," Justine said.

They all stared at her. "I mean, like Lana." They still looked at her. "What?"

"Well, I'm glad I'm an only child," Little John said. "I get everything I want."

"I wish I was an only child," Dugan glared at Lana.

Out the corner of his eye, Chris seen a person pushing a cart of desserts. His face lit up as soon as he seen chocolate cake. But then his daddy came to mind. Every time they went out, he was always caught before he could even touch it. So he had to be extra careful.

"I be back," he said.

"Where you goin'?" Justine asked.

"Uh… bathroom." He left quickly.

"Your brother's weird," Lana said.

"No, he's not," Justine and Mike said. "You're weird," he concluded.

"Oh, sweetie, I know you're just saying that," she touched his arm.

He gave her a disgusting look. A boy was looking Justine's way. He smiled at her. She smiled back.

"Who you smilin' at?" Michael Jr. asked.

"None of your business."

Chris was crawling on the floor trying to avoid Michael. He mange to get past all the adults. He got a little lower to the ground. What seemed like forever, he made it passed Michael and did a little dance on the floor. He got under the cart and picked his chocolate cake off the top. Then he celebrated and ate the cake with his hands.

"Good cake," he said with his mouth full.

Breana had gotten up to leave, making everyone guess what was wrong. Michael would go talk to her after she calmed down. She stepped outside. She just couldn't deal what was going through right now. "Breana?" a voice said. She lifted up her head and seen the once familiar love of her life.

"Morris?"

"Yeah, it's me," he smiled. They hugged each other. "How have you been?" she beamed.

"Great. What about you?"

"I'm doing good."

"I must say so. I seen you in the news a few times. Big firefighter."

'The news just happened to be there at the time," she said almost embarrassed. "So what do you do? Where do you live?"

"I'm in Philly. I'm an EMT Paramedic."

"That's good.'

He looked at her hand. By this time Michael was looking for Breana. He knew he was getting close because he could hear her voice. Be he could he a man's voice too. He slowed up his run and stopped to listen to them. "I see that you're married," Morris said.

"Yeah," she smiled at her wedding ring.

"How many years?"

"Eight."

"Children?"

"Yep. Three."

He smiled at her. "I also see that you still have that ring I gave you senior year."

"Yeah."

"Why are you still wearing it?"

"Because it means something to me. We were gonna get married."

"Guess we'll never know what it was gonna be like, huh?"

"Nope."

Michael's jaw dropped. He never knew this. How could Breana do this to him? He was starting to get angry now.

"Who's that guy you left me for?"

"Michael."

"Yeah, whatever happened to him?"

"He's the owner of a rap label. We're married."

"Oh, so you married him?"

"Yeah," she smiled.

"Good for you." He looked at his watch. "I gotta go, but it was nice seeing you again."

"You too."

"You're here for the reunion, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'll see you around." They hugged again and he walked in the restaurant. Michael watched Morris pass. Then he walked outside to Breana. She turned to him.

"Breana," he said in a serious tone, "we really need to talk."

"Why? What's the problem?"

"Let's go." He walked inside. She followed him. The rest of the gang was getting ready to leave too.

"All this food made me sleepy," Nicole said. "I'm ready to head back."

Jake put his arm around her. "Yeah. I wanna check on little Joey, see how he's doing."

"We'll see you guys later." They left.

"YOU'RE GONNA DO THE EXPERIMENT!" Quinn yelled after him.

Jake hurried out the door. Dugan walked up to Logan.

"Daddy, I'm tired let's go back." He picked him up. "We're leaving now." He turned to his friends. "We'll catch you later. Sorry that this dinner was such a bust." He, Dana, and Lana walked out.

"Bye, sweetie," Lana called after Mike.

He just ignored her.

"When have you two become a couple?" Justine joked.

"Don't even play like that. Seriously."

"Where's Chris?" Breana asked.

"He said he had to go to the bathroom, but that was 30 minutes ago."

Chris suddenly came from under the cart with chocolate all over him. His family stared at him. "Uh-oh."

"Let's just go," Michael said.

Breana picked up Chris. Then they walked out the restaurant.