"Have you gotten sick of her yet," Linus joked.

"No, you goof," Patty laughed.

"Not yet," Franklin teased.

"I'm right here, ya know? So much for family," she pouted.

"Aww… we love you, Vee," Patty cooed.

"Uh-huh."

"You guys good up there," Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah, we're okay, mom!"

"We're about to have an orgy," Violet joked.

"Uh-huh… get yall asses beat!"

They all laughed at her.

"I thought Lucy and her boyfriend were coming over," she shouted back up.

"They're practicing for the talent show!"

"I see she's adapting quite nicely," Linus laughed.

"Oh yeah the sister I never had," she giggled.

"I can't wait to get on stage, and take that win," Franklin said.

"Damn right, we'll all be there rooting for you, Bae," she kissed him.

"Weren't you supposed to be in the band," Linus wondered.

"Me? Not really, no."

"We gotta write something to get you rapping out there."

"Bae, no… I can't be on stage rapping."

"Yeah you can, I hear you rapping to music in the car and stuff."

"Well who's supposed to be lead vocalist," Patty asked.

"We don't have one, depends on the song," he shrugged.

"At least yall should have no problem carrying equipment," Linus stated.

"Right! Perfect band rides."

"So what was that song yall are going to sing," Patty asked.

"A mashup of Torn by Natalie Umbruglia and hands Like Houses. So happy Schroeder decided to learn how to play guitar, or it'd be hard as hell."

"A mashup of the same song?"

"It's going to start like her version for a few lines, for Lucy, then Charlie comes in, and we switch up to the HLH version, then they do the chorus together, and then kinda alternate lines, chorus together. We slow down to the Nat version. It's gonna be dope."

"Oh, I can't wait to hear that, you don't play any instruments, Chunky-Monkey?"

"I am in no way musically inclined."

"I didn't even know Charlie could even sing, until I sat in one practice, he's not bad," Violet admitted.

"Does he, really," Patty asked.

"Yeah, he sings, he used to take his guitar and go downtown, playing for money, or at his dads barbershop," Linus explained.


"You two sound wonderful," Charlie's mom admitted.

"I'm not that great," Lucy blushed.

"Nonsense, Lucy, you're just fine, and I can't wait to hear the whole band," she said.

"Honestly, yall sound great together, Charlie," Sally agreed.

"My sister giving me praise, I don't believe it," Charlie sneered.

"Now son, Sally is being nice," his dad spoke up, "both of you sound great."

"For once, she is…"

"Lucy I didn't know you could sing. I'm serious; both of you sound great, I don't know why he's being wishy-washy about it," she shrugged.

"Excuse me? Wishy-washy? I don't trust you," his eyes narrowed, "I'm just waiting for the next insult, or backhanded compliment."

"But… there isn't one."

"Wishy-washy."

"Baby, she was just-"

Charlie glared at Lucy briefly.

"Charlie, that's enough," she calmly spoke.

"You're moms right, son; relax."

"Yeah, I just wanted to compliment the both of you," Sally spoke softly.

"And make me look like an ass," he growled. "You never respected me, and once I was no use to you; never cared for me. Why would I ever trust your word?"

"Lucy… what did you do to him?"

Lucy straightened up in her seat, "bring out his self-confidence, self-respect, show him that he can indeed love himself, versus wallowing in near crippling depression and self-pity. All of that was obtained, slowly, but easily, by truly loving him no matter what, when he showed me that somebody loved me, too… with help from our friends."

"Okay…"

"Mom, Dad; I'm sorry I tried for the longest to be a good brother… I don't care anymore, it was all for nothing. Thanks, Lucy and I are doing our best, I could listen to her sing all day. Sally, if it was sincere; thank you, but we know what this is, ever since that day. I have every right to stand up for myself."

"He still takes you to school everyday, and you did try to help get us together, for that I am grateful, now let him live his life," she held his hand, "I understand your anger, but please, for me, calm down and enjoy the rest of the evening?"

"Sorry Mom and Dad… I was out of line."

They both just stared.

"I'm sorry Lu-Lu."

"Charles, what's going on here," she asked.

"Maryanne; our son is growing up. Charlie, it seems that Lucy of all people has reached in to that thick skull of yours, and you, Lucy; who knew opposites would attract," he smiled.

"Everyday I regret our childhood, but everyday I love him more for still being there."

"It's nice to have you over for dinner, Lucy."

"Thank you, Mrs. Brown."

"I noticed you finally got a car, so my son won't need to drag you and Linus everywhere," Charles teased.

"Mr. Brown; why would I drive my own car, when I have my baby here," she joked back.

"Ah-ha! See! She's using you for your car," Sally blurted.

"Pfft… she hated that car for the longest," Charlie rolled his eyes.

"How'd you get that Intrepid," he asked.

"Violet helped my parents, it was one of Franklins cousin's cars. She insisted on buying it herself, but they were like; no, but you can help. So I guess Linus will get one of their lame cars."

"Oh, they plan on getting another car?"

"Yeah, they're thinking about it."

"So, do I need to give you the talk, son?"

"Dad, no, please," he blushed.

"Oh my," Lucy blushed, "we aren't doing anything like that."

"You sure, Charlie," he smiled.

"Y-Yeah… yeah! I'm, I-I'm ok-okay!"

"We aren't ready for that," Lucy whined through her hands.

"All right, all right," he laughed, "calm down, I'm just fooling. I'm sure both of you are responsible teens… but I remember how Julia was, when we were teenagers, that's why there's three of you."

"Changing the subject; how's Violet doing, dear," Maryanne wondered, "James and Heather are both locked up?"

"She's been doing okay, actually she got emancipated recently and she's living with Patty. Her mom got thirty days, I think, for assaulting her and Franklin in court, and child abuse."

"I was hearing that their company is trying to divest from them," Charles mentioned.

"I don't know the details, but I think the CEO's or whatever want to make sure Violet ends up with some position when she gets older, you'd hafta ask her," Lucy explained.

"The first time I get invited to a party is ironically the last party," Charlie spoke.

"But at least you were invited," she hugged him.

"I'm pretty sure Elizabeth wouldn't mind some parties, I remember the keggars she would throw," Maryanne thought aloud.

Charles cleared his throat, side-eyeing her. Charlie and Lucy laughed.


"You have fun with my weird parents," Charlie asked.

"Wasn't bad, I kinda missed our make out session, though."

"How about a quickie before you go," he leaned in her car window.

"My, my, you swooner," she pulled his lips to hers.

They made out for a minute, before she went to pick up Linus, pulling up, knocking on the door, greeted by Elizabeth.

"Hey Lucy," she opened the door, "come to hang?"

"Come to pick up Linus."

"Linus! Lucy is here!"

"How'd practice go," Linus came downstairs, with the rest behind him.

"It was great, I stayed over for dinner."

"Charlie's not here," Patty asked.

"I drove my own car."

"About time," Violet laughed.

"I recall you being upset about Franklin's car getting fixed, and not riding together," she raised an eyebrow.

Violet chuckled embarrassingly.

"Gotcha there, Vee," Franklin kissed her.

"I hope you and Charlie are ready for this show."

"Oh we are, Vee."

"See ya, Violet, love you."

"Catch you at school, Patty, love you "

They kissed each other goodbye.

"Can't wait to see your band play," Elizabeth said.