"Did you get some sleep last night," Franklin sat in the car.

"I did. My mom tried to beat me with a wine bottle and take the car."

"Damn, she's lost it!"

"I fought her off with my backpack. She's pissed that she has to do damage control and we're losing a lot."

"Any word about your dad?"

"Nope. What about you?"

"Court dates coming up. We've been getting phone calls from lawyers, a few said they'll do it pro bono if I sue him."

"So sue him. Sue him for the damages to your car and pay me back," she grinned.

"Really?"

'No, but I don't care if you sue him."

"Damn you look good," he gave her a once over.

They pull in to the parking lot behind Charlie, parking next to him.

"We saw the videos from yesterday at the gas station, you're lucky Trish's dad showed up," Sally blurted out.

"If he had came at me with that, I woulda fought him, then."

"My dad isn't much of a fighter, you could probably take him, Charlie."

"Violet, you doing okay," Lucy asked.

"Other than my mom fighting me last night, I'm fine."

"She what?!"

"Yeah, came at me out of the darkness, swinging a wine bottle. I fended her off with my backpack. She was drunk and pissed."

"I knew you wouldn't back down, girlfriend," Lucy hugged her.

"She's still tough as nails," Linus added, "might be tougher than you, sis."

"No girl in this school is tougher than me," she claimed.

"Ahem," came from behind her.

Lucy turned around, "like I said; no girl in this school, besides Trish, is tougher than me."

"Nice save, baby," Charlie snickered.

"My dad told me what happened yesterday, he thought he was going to bash your head in. We saw all the videos."

"Yeah, I owe him for stepping in. It was cool people were recording, but nobody tried to help otherwise. I thought your dad was going to crack his skull open, when he called you a dyke."

"He what?!"

"Yeah, your dad was trying to diffuse the situation, he just came out of nowhere while her dad was tearing my car apart looking for her."

"I wish I could clobber him."

"You can't let words get to you, like that, Trish," Marcie added, "we talked about this."

"I know, I'm trying, Baby girl," she sighed.

"So I'm guessing you met Franklins parents too?"

"Yeah, his mom said his dad made you cry the first time you met them."

"Good grief. That was a long time ago, he freaked me out!"

"Chill," she laughed, "he freaked me out, too."

"I think you might've signed the death warrant to your family business, I'm not sure how you could come back from that."

"Charlie, it'll be okay. I have money, they have money. I just hope they learn a lesson, because the secrets out, and this won't just go away, or be hid easily."

"You and Franklin are welcome to come over, I know you probably don't want to see your mom."

"Thanks Charlie. I wish I could stay somewhere else, like Frieda's."

"If only you were old enough to get your own place," Sally thought, following everybody inside.

They sat with Frieda, Patty, and Schroeder.

"We haven't heard from you, we seen the news, but how are you doing," Patty greeted.

"I can't believe Mr. Gray busted the windows in your car, something is not right in his head," Schroeder added.

"We… Violet is getting it fixed for me. He swore up and down she was in it, and started losing it, when she wasn't."

"I met Franklins parents, and my mom attacked me with a wine bottle, screaming about it's all my fault, and we're losing every thing."

"Whoa, she did?! I know she was trying to vent to my mom about it, like she was going to be okay with it all. My mom called her wretched for not putting you remotely first, and that she should sign her rights over to her," Frieda explained.

"Your mom is so awesome, I love her," Lucy said.

"That was nice of her," Charlie added.

"We should do something, I know it probably doesn't matter having to go home at the end of the day," Frieda suggested.

"Trust me, it makes a difference."

"At least summer break will be here soon, leaving us free from school," Peppermint Patty added.

"I'm sure my mom would let you stay with us over the summer."

"Hmm… without obligations of school, I might take her up on that offer."

"This all needs to blow over, so I can get famous singing with this garage band, then go solo, like Fergie."

"Lucy… you'd leave me to go solo?"

"Of course not! You can be my stay-at-home husband," she gave an arrogant smile.

"Good grief, why'd I even want to start a band?"

"Same 'ol Lucy," Patty laughed.

"Baby steps, diva," Franklin smirked.

"Oh! I wanna be in the band, I can do stuff," Peppermint Patty blurted out.

"Ope. I'm out," Charlie laughed.

"Yep," Franklin threw his hands up.

"Wha? Why?"

"You're too bossy."

"C'mon, Chuck… seriously? You know I play drums and guitar. I'm not bossy, your girl is bossy."

"Hey! All I'm doing is singing."

"I just wanna play the drums, I don't want to run the band!"

They just look at her incredulously.

"Seriously. Please," she begged.

"Fine… you're in."

"I thought I was going to play the drums," Schroeder chimed in.

"You really wanna play the drums," Charlie asked.

"Not really."

"Why don't we see what Charlie's done after school? Schroeder, you could help us get everything together, I know you're real good at writing music," Lucy suggested.

"Yeah, that's a great idea… wait… did Lucy just talk to me?"

"She did, bro," Franklin answered.

"You're not afraid of him anymore," Frieda asked.

"No, plus we're kinda in a band together, I gotta get over it, eventually."

"Finally," Schroeder and Charlie yelled.

"Plus, he is my baby's friend. I'd hate to ruin their friendship."

"Where could we practice, though," Franklin wondered.

"Damn it! I never even thought of that," Charlie whined.

"We'll figure it out, Bae," Lucy suggested.

"So I got a great idea with the band; we can be like a wicked hair metal band with a Jamaican flare," Peppermint Patty blurted.

"See," Franklin exclaimed.

"We can just get some of those metal drums they use to mix in, and-"

They all glare at her.

"Wha… it'll be… okay, okay dumb idea. How about turntables and throw some house mix… yeah, I see your point," she lowered her head, "stupid, stupid."


"We'd better get to class," Schroder looked at the clock.

"Ehh… let's get this over with," Lucy grabbed another sausage and egg sandwich with an orange juice.

"See ya later, Lucy," Charlie kissed her.

"Of course," she blushed.

"Where's mine, Frank?"

Franklin looked around, checked his pockets; "oh yeah, here it is," he kissed her.

"Goofball. Love you."

"Love you, Baby Girl."

"Love you too. Sir," Marcie kissed her.