Chapter One-The Worst Party Ever!
Point Place, Wisconsin
August 29, 2003
1:29 p.m.
The Forman Basement
The Forman basement hadn't changed much since the late 1970s. It was still filled with junk for as far back as 1962. There were collector plates, bats, balls, pretty much anything you could think of. In the center of the basement was a sofa, a lawn chair on one side and un old table chair on the other, a coffee table, and in front of it all was the masterpiece-a tv that caught all forty-five channels, that Point Place had to offer.
Six teens crowded around the tv. One in each chair, three on the sofa and one stretched out in front of the sofa. They sat in silence as the credits for The Cosby Show ran. When the credits finished, the girl on the floor reached over and turned the tv on mute. The basement was silent for a few moments, each teen taking a moment or two to think about what they had just seen. It was normal for them.
The teen in the chair on the left side of the sofa sat forward. He would be the first to speak. "Anyone else notice that Cliff wears the worst lookin' sweaters-ever?!" His name was Parker, tall and way to skinny with light reddish/brown hair and brown eyes. The sixteen year old was known far and wide for his hand gestures and his love of all things Star Wars. It was a known fact that he often cursed his parents for only having his middle name be Luke. Parker was also seen as the leader and heart of the group. Not that any of the others would ever say that.
"Yes! Ugly sweaters. God damned ugly." The guy on the sofa exclaimed. His name was Wesley Michael Holder Kelso, but everyone called him Holder. He was tall and what they called a pretty boy. Thick brown hair, clear blue eyes that you could get lost in, and a winning smile. He was handsome, there was no getting around it, but he wasn't the brightest color in the color box. However, he had a good heart and was always good for a joke or ten. "Plus," Holder had an idea now and he was not stopping till he got to say it all. "his wife never goes to work. She's got to be like the worst lawyer in the whole history of lawyers."
"Okay," the girl of the left side of Holder began. She was only known as Chase, due to the fact that she refused to be called by her first or even middle name. Even her mother called her Chase. Chase had moved to Point Place eleven years ago and had quickly found a place in the group, due to her wonderful ability to lie very well. She was of medium height and built. Her blond hair was always free around her shoulders and her dark gray eyes showed a hidden depth. "Olivia was just a cute factor, like cousin Oliver on the Brady Bunch. Get it, Oliver and Olivia. It's the same damn name." Everyone took a second to muse over this new piece of information.
The girl on the floor looked around and then spoke up. "Doesn't it seem that there are too many people in that house? Wouldn't they run out of room?" She was the youngest in the group and Parker's younger sister. Her name was, strangely, Vista. She was small in height and in frame. Her chin length brown hair was just a little brighter then her father's and her green eyes showed bright warmth.
Parker grinned at his little sister, clearly pound. "Girl has a point. No wonder they're calling you a genius." Vista just blushed.
The boy in the other chair leaned back. Jon Steven Jack Red Hyde sipped on his coke and looked the group over. His unruly cat-black hair was, as always, in need of a brush and cut. His clothes looked like they hadn't been washed. Something that pissed his mother off. She always went around saying that he should clean his clothes, but he always refused. Jon's sunglasses hid his deep brown eyes, that when shown showed a boy that knew much more then he was saying. "What have we learned here today, kids?"
The last girl on the sofa took that question. Pez Marie, simply called because no one could pronounce her last name, sat there chewing on a candy-her one love. She was dark skinned with matching hair and eyes. Her slight accent seemed to make everything she said come out a little strange, but no one in the group ever noticed. "Cliff wears ugly sweaters. His damned wife nearly works. Olivia was just a cute factor. There could not have been enough room for all those people. Oh yes, and we all need lives." The last remark was met with utter agreement.
*
Later that afternoon, Parker, Jon, and Chase sat around the basement. Jon and Parker in their chairs and Chase on her usual spot on the sofa. On September second, they'd be starting their junior year of school, none of them really cared-not at that moment. At that moment the only thing they cared about was the party that was going on that night.
Through one of Jon's connects, he had learned that the senior's annual senior's only party was being thrown that night. After sharing this information with Chase and Parker, it was decided that they'd crash the party. The party was to be thrown at the usual place, the empty house on Sherman. Jon figured that the party would get started at seven and would be rockin' at nine, so it would easy to get into the party between nine and ten. There was just one problem. Parker's parents were going to a business party and his grandparents were going to be looking in on them. But, that wasn't so much the problem, the real problem that Parker was grounded for staying out late the weekend before, something his grandparents knew.
Parker was sure he could get his grandmothers to let him go, even one of his grandfathers, but there was no way in hell that he could get his father's father to let him go to the party.
"You know what we need?" Jon asked/thought aloud. "We need a distraction. Someone who can make sure that Red won't catch you sneaking out. Someone who can distract Red long enough for you to sneak out. So, you can sneak out and he'll leave and then that person could join us. But, it has to be someone that he likes and trusts."
"Who does Red like and trust?" Chase questioned Parker. It was a well known fact that Red Forman didn't like or trust many people. At least, not enough to show it.
Parker seemed to think that over for a second. "You know, I have no idea. He likes grandma, he likes my aunt, he sometimes likes me, he likes Hyde, and he likes you guys sometimes. But, he only trust grandma. Oh," he made a large hand gesture. "Vist. He loves her and he trust her. To grandpa, she's like the best person ever! She can do it. She can be my distraction."
"But, will she?" Chase asked.
"Of course, she's my little sister. Why wouldn't she?"
"'Why wouldn't who?" A voice asked from the stairs. They turned to watch Vista come down the stairs. She walked over to the deep freeze and opened it. "Well?" She asked as she pulled out a nutty buddy. Jon and Chase exchanged an amused look. "What?"
Parker got up from his seat and walked over to her. It was time to turn on the Forman charm. He'd start by buttering her up, make her feel great about herself. Then, he'd gently lean into the request. "Vista, did I ever tell you you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be. I can fly higher then an-"
"Parker, you're scaring me." She stared at him and moved closer to the deep freeze.
"eagle. Vista," Parker moved closer to his sister and put an arm around her shoulder. "we need your help." Jon and Chase looked at them. ""I mean, I need your help. I need you to lie to grandpa."
Vista looked at her brother and then at their friends. "Um, you want me to lie to grandpa Red?" she forcefully shook her head. "Nah, no, I can't lie to him. You know I can't lie. I...I do that hair thing. You know, tuck it behind my ears. Plus, I stutter. He'd never go for."
Parker smiled down at her. "It's okay, sis. We can teach you to lie. Then, you can lie to him so I can sneak out to go to the senior party tonight."
Vista looked up at her older brother and glared. "You want me to lie, to break an old man's trust, so you can go to a party that you're not even invited to?"
"Yes." Parker and Chase answered at the same time.
"No." Vista took Parker's arm off her shoulder and walked up the stairs.
Parker looked at the small form of his sister as she went up the wooden stairs and then at his two best friends. Things had not gone as planned. If he didn't find some way to sneak out, he knew they'd leave him.
And if they left him, Chase could end up with a stupid senior. Not that he cared. 'Cause he didn't. Sure, he was developing feeling for the tall beauty, but that didn't mean he cared if she hooked up with some stupid senior. She was free to do what she wanted. Chase looked at him and ran a hand thru her hair. Okay, maybe he cared.
"She'll come around." Jon told Parker as the taller boy went back and flopped in his chair. "I'll talk to her for you. For some reason, she listens to me."
"Thanks, Jon. You're a friend."
Jon shrugged. "Not really, I just happen to know that Vista made cookies." Jon got up and walked to the stairs. "Man, do I love your little sister's cookies." He smirked in that famous Hyde family way as he opened the door to the basement.
Chase glanced over at Parker. "That was semi-sexual. You should be a little nervous." She picked up the remote and turned it on her favorite show, South Park.
Parker shook his head. "Don't be stupid. Jon really does like Vis's cookies. That girl is one hell of a baker." He turned to the television, just in time to see Kenny get killed. Ah, classic South Park. "Uh, Chase," he noticed she looked his way. "I'm a bit nervous Vista won't lie for me." Chase shrugged. "I guess you don't think it's a big deal."
She smirked. She really didn't think it was a big deal! She was fine with leaving him to die in the basement. "Parker, you are so stupid. Look," she turned her body so she could look at him. "if Vista doesn't lie for you, and she will, I'll stay here with you. I read they're showing some really cheesy monster movies on channel six tonight. We can watch those." And with that she turned back to the television. Parker couldn't help but smile.
*
Upstairs things weren't going so well for Jon. He and Vista sat at the table in the kitchen, cookies and two glasses of milk before them. For as long as Jon could remember, he and Vista had always had a love/dislike thing going on between them. He loved to tease her about being so smart and good and she loved to tease him about being dirty and jerky. But, they also stood up for each other and they also listened to each other. Jon was the only person that could get Vista to get a little wild sometimes and Vista was the only person that could get Jon to live up to his potential. They listened to each other. Only, at that moment, Vista Forman refused to listen Jon Hyde.
"No." Vista said for the third time. She took a bite of her cookie.
"Vis, come on. One little lie. One small lie so your brother can have a little fun. Do you really want to go to a party and have fun without him? Because, while I may be all for that, I know your a good person. You would never leave your brother home while you go party." Jon took Vista's cookie from her and took a bite. As always, her cookies were yummy. He noticed she was glaring at him. "What?" Jon offered the cookie back. "Oh, here." She took the cookie back. "So, you're not going to lie to Red?"
"No. I'm not going to crash that party and I am not breaking my grandfather's trust."
"You do know you have a stick up your ass, right?" Jon leaned into his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "You may be a genius, but you really have a huge stick up that cute little ass of yours."
Vista glared at him, clearly thinking it over. She hated when he did this to her. Hated how he could make her feel bad about herself. Finally, she sighed in pure anger. "Fine! I'll lie for Parker. But, both he and you owe me one."
"Fine." He grabbed her cookie and took another bite.
"Now, you owe me two." Vista told him before getting up and walking back to the basement.
Jon grinned. She was coming along nicely.
*
Since their parents time, the Hub has been a place to meet and hang. Where a person could have some fries and play a quick game of pool. It hadn't changed much since the late 1970s; there was still a handful of tables, posters for bands, a small window to get food, and other things. Holder's favorite place was the only booth in the place. Well, it was only half a booth, the rest was a table and four chairs. He and Pez sat there, having some fries.
"You hear about the party?" Pez asked before sticking a fry into her mouth. Holder nodded, he had ten fries in his mouth, so he couldn't talk. "It's at that old house on Sherman, the one that needs to be painted. They have it there every year. You'd think the cops would notice."
Holder laughed, causing fries to fly out of his mouth and on to the table. Pez made a face, but Holder didn't notice. "Yeah, cops are stupid."
"Holder, your dad's a cop." Pez gently reminded her best friend.
"Yeeaah, Pez. I know that. What's your point?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "No point." Then, under her breath she muttered. "You stupid little man." Holder was to busy eating fries, so he didn't notice.
Jon walked into the Hub and over to the table at that moment. "Hey," he sat in the chair between Holder and Pez. "Vista's going to lie for Parker." he took a couple of fries and stuck them in his mouth. "So, we've got a plan." Both Pez and Holder looked at him, waiting for the plan. "Okay, at nine, we'll all to be in the basement of the Forman's. At nine-oh-five, Red and Kitty Forman will be upstairs tucking Vista and Parker into their little beds." He couldn't help but smirk. "Then, at five-oh-seven, Parker will remark how he'll will spend the whole night watching movies in his room. Blah, blah, blah. At nine ten, Red and Kitty Forman will go next door to my place. They'll stay there for ten minutes-tops. Then, Red, being Red, will go back to Parker's room. Parker will be there. Defended, he and Kitty will drive back to their apartment. At nine thirty, Parker and Vista will meet us in Holder's van. We'll be at the party no later then nine fifty."
Holder nodded in approval. "Good plan. But, what if Red stays at your parents longer?"
"No way in hell. My mother's talking will drive him away. It'll be late, he's old, there's only so much of her, he can take before he has to leave." He stole another fry. "Besides, it'll work out just fine. My plans never fail."
*
At nine o'clock that night, Donna and Eric Forman left their home to go to a business party. At nine oh-five, Red and Kitty Forman were in Parker Forman's bedroom. Parker sat on the edge of his bed, he was wearing his Star Wars boxers and a white tee shirt, he also had a sci-fi magazine in his hands. Red and Kitty stood off to the side of him.
"Parker, honey, we just came up to tell you good night. And that we're sorry you can't go out with your friends." Kitty looked up at her husband. "Aren't we, Red?"
"Yeah, real sorry. But, you know if you hadn't been such a dumb-ass, you could be with your friends. You're to be home by midnight, not two in the morning. What were you doing at two in the morning?" Parker was about to open his mouth, but Red put up a hand. "No, I really don't want to know. Now, don't stay up all night watching stupid movies, don't bug your sister, and don't try to sneak out. Because, I'll know if you try to sneak out."
Parker put his magazine down and smiled at his grandparents. "Yes, sir. I'll just watch a movie and then be asleep by midnight. Promise."
Red glared at him, it was clear he didn't believe a word. "Right." He and Kitty turned to leave, but Red turned back. "I'll know. And I'll punish you."
Kitty turned around and smiled at her grandson. "Sleep well, honey." Parker just smiled.
Red and Kitty walked across the hall and into Vista's bedroom. She was sitting at her computer, finishing up her daily journal entry. As her grandparents walked in, she finished up and closed the window. She did not need her grandparents reading about the things she had done that day or her thoughts on certain people. Vista rolled her chair over to her grandparents and grinned up at them.
"Hey guys." Vista said. "Come to tell me good night?"
"Yes, Maggie." Kitty answered her grandchild. Red, Kitty, Bob, and everyone else had freaked when Eric and Donna named their youngest child Vista. And while Eric and Donna had tried to explain that Vista had been named after Eric's first car, a place were many important events in their relationship had taken place, Red and Kitty won't have it. They refused to call Vista by her first name; instead they called her by her middle name-Maggie. "But, before we tuck you in, we'd like to know now if you...Maggie, is your brother planning to sneak out once we leave?"
Vista gasped in surprise; well she hoped it sounded like real surprise. "No! Grandparents of mine, Parker wants to be able to go to the famous thirteenth annual town fair that takes place in a few weeks. He won't break his punishment to go around town. Not when the fairs coming. Trust me."
Red patted her head. "We do, Maggie." He looked back at the door. "It's your brother we don't trust."
"If you want, I'll keep an eye on his door and if h...he," Vista tucked some hair behind her ear. "leaves I'll call you guys." She smiled warmly. "Okay?"
Red gave Vista a look but neither she nor Kitty noticed. "Okay, Maggie. Come on, Kitty." The two of them left the room and went across the street.
They returned ten minutes later to find Vista in her bed, sleeping and Parker watching a monster movie on television. Kitty kissed her grandchildren good night while Red told the kids in the basement to go home. After that, the couple got into their car and went back to their apartment.
*
Parker and Vista met their friends at Holder's old hippie-looking van five minutes later. They were all dressed for the party. Holder in his "fancy" slack pants and his "sexy" black button down shirt. Pez in her short skirt, small shirt, and tall heels. Jon in his baggy jeans and black tee shirt. Chase in her patch work jeans and baby tee. Vista in her tight jeans and sweater. And Parker in his slacks and shirt, with a gold necklace and man ring. (Yup, he was Bob's grandson.) They piled into Holder's old blue van (which had the back seat removed for more 'make-out' room) and head off.
At nine fifty they arrived at the senior's only party. They were in the door at nine fifty-three. At nine fifty-seven, they had all split up. Chase and Parker had gone one way. Jon and Pez had gone another. Holder had found a slutty girl and had gone another. And little Vista had gotten lost in the crowd.
*
The party was filled with seniors and some people that had to be in their twenties. Some rap/hip hop song blasted out of the radios, and the teens danced and rubbed up against each other. Beers were in everyone's hand. In the middle of what was the living room, Parker and Chase sat on a ratty sofa. Each stared straight ahead and sipped on their beers.
"Nice party." Parker stated.
"Oh, nice. Yeah, right. Are you bored? 'Cause I am. This party is just a bunch of drunken freaks bumping naughty places." Chase sipped some of her beer. "If I wanted to see soft porn, I'd go home and hang with my mom and her newest boy toy." She made a small face, clearly remembering something she had seen earlier that day.
Parker nodded. He turned his long body to look at the girl of his dreams. "Your mom has a new boyfriend? What happened to Rob?"
"Married. She's dating this new guy. Bill, or Bobby, or Butch or Blondie." Chase waved her hand, causing some of her beer to spill on the floor. "Something that starts with a B."
"Oh. I hope it's not Blondie. That name just sounds gay." He made a hand gesture to further his point. "I'd hate for her to have another gay boyfriend. Not after the last time. Who'd of thought a person could have two gay boyfriends in a row?"
"Yeah, but on the bright side, Adam and Troy found each other." Parker nodded. He and Chase clicked paper cups, causing more beer to spill. They just shrugged and downed the beer.
Jon and Pez stood by one the ten kegs of beer. Each teen had a cup of beer in one hand. Pez moved side to side in tune with the music. Jon looked over at her every now and then; he couldn't help but grin to himself. Pez was such a little freak. She was dressed like a hooker and acting like a little kid, dancing with herself and singing along with the songs. He leaned against the wall on the left side of the keg and looked over the crowd. He had seen everybody before, they weren't anything new. But, Jon was having an okay time; he just counted off every girl he saw that he had gotten with over the last year and a half. It was up to six and the night was young.
Pez finished her beer and put it on the keg. "Done." she muttered to herself. It was clear she was thinking about what to do. The hip hop/rap song ended and a song from the newest White Strips album came over the speakers. Pez danced to the front of the keg, took her cup off of it, and got herself a refill. She looked at Jon and grinned happily. "I think I'm sort of wasted." She laughed loudly. "No wait," Pez paused and her grin grew wider. "I *am* wasted. Okay, we need to go find Pez some lovin'." She reached out to grab Jon's arm, but fell on the keg instead. Pez laughed again. "God, I'm wasted. Ohh, we should do a circle to celebrate my being wasted."
"A circle?" Jon asked with a raised eyebrow. Pez nodded. "Good idea, Pez." He grinned slyly. "Let's go do a circle to celebrate your being wasted."
Tongues and lips and drool. Those were the only things in Holder's world. He was on one of the ratty sofas with a senior girl on his lap. His right hand moved up her shirt, slowly making its way up to her bra. Oh, it was lace. That was a sign of class. If he hadn't been in the middle of making-out, he would of high five the nearest person. Things were going so well. Maybe to well, because at that moment, someone knocked the senior girl off him. Holder looked up to see Jon and Pez standing in front of him. Jon was grinning and Pez was dancing around to the music.
"Guys. what do you think your doing?" Holder demanded as he stood up. He looked over at the senior girl, but she had gone back to her boyfriend or something.
"We're having a circle, man." Jon explained before walking off.
Pez took Holder's arm and laughed. "To celebrate my being wasted. There would have been Pez lovin', but...this is better." She drug him after Jon. Holder cursed under his breath. He did love circles, but not as much as he loved making out.
Chase had gone off to find a bathroom. She was sure she wouldn't find a worker or a clean one, but she had to try and find one. With a smile to Parker and a quick "Watch my beer." She had gone in search of the nearest and cleanest bathroom.
Parker sat one the ratty sofa, a beer in each hand. He sipped on his and then on Chase's. Her glass tasted like strawberries. He wondered if her lips tasted like strawberries.
"Parker!" The skinny boy looked to his right and saw three of his friends coming toward him. Pez waved. He got up and walked over to them. "Hey, guys."
"We're doin' the circle." Jon said by way of greeting. He didn't wait for an answer; he just headed to the back of the house.
"Yeah, circle!" Holder throw his fist in the air. "They so rule, man." He rushed off after Jon.
Pez moved from side to side as she grinned at Parker. "Circle. Get your thoughts on the table. Get away from the mating dances. Could be fun." She took his arm and led him away.
*
The circle. It had been something Eric Forman, Steven Hyde, Michael Kelso, and Fez had done in their youth. They had gathered in the Forman basement and they would light up. Then, they would talk about anything and everything. That had been in the 1970s. Now in the early 2000s, it was their children that sat around the circle. If they lit up or got drunk, well that was up to debate. The only thing known by outsiders was that the circle was a very special thing to them.
It was something they did at least once a week. They'd find a place, usually the Forman basement, sit in a circle and do whatever it was that got them lose and a little crazy.
Parker sat on an old wooden chair. His main problem was his growing feelings for Chase. "I don't know what it is, man. I look at Chase and I get all stupid. I just, I mean, did Luke not know what to say when-"
"Oh, cut the "Star Wars" crap, Forman." Jon, who was sitting on a wooden chair across from him, cut in. "Chase is hot and if you don't tell her you're hot for her, I will. But, I'll bring up the sex dreams."
Holder, who was sitting on Jon's right, began to laugh. "The sex dreams are hot." He paused and rocked in the wooden rocking chair he was sitting in. "Chase is hot. Yeah, and Vista, she's a little cutie." He looked across at Pez. "But, Pez is...Pez is Pez, man."
Pez was laughing so hard, she was in danger of falling off her stool. "I am wasted." She pulled a candy bar from her bra. "I am wasted and I have candy." She unwrapped the bar and bit into it. "All I need is a boy and chains and I'd be in hea-van." She laughed again.
Parker gave Pez a look before going on with his rant. "It's just, I plan what I'm going to say and then when I go to say it-nothing. I sound like Jubba the Hut. And so I make my kick ass hand gestures to make up for it." He paused and frowned thoughtfully. "But, I think I just get her confused."
Jon slapped his hand against his forehead. Some people were just so stupid. "You used hand gestures? You dumb-ass!"
Holder, off in his own little world went on with his thoughts. "But, you know who's really hot? Everyone here's moms!" The others gave him 'what-the-fuck?' looks. Holder just smiled. "Even my mom. Woman looks good after having six kids."
"I enjoy can-day." Pez stated. "At my house, we have candy nights. Yes, we plan Candy Land and eat candy. Good times."
Parker smiled at her. "Pez, you are *so* wasted." He tapped one of his long fingers against his chair. "Chase, got to find a way to tell her I have feelings for her. I could, uh, I could, I could quote Peter Parker, no Mary Jane!" He nodded to himself. "I could walk up to Chase and be all "This is your lucky day, tiger." "
Jon gave his friend a disgusted look. "You do that and I will personally kick your ass, man."
Pez finished her candy bar and looked down at the empty wrapper. "Sometimes I think it would be cool to have a boy made out of candy."
"Okay, so everyone here has a hot mom, Chase is also a hottie, Pez is just Pez, and Vista's a cutie." Holder grinned, happy with what he had learned.
Parker looked around the circle. He had felt like something had been missing all night. Now he knew what it was. "Wait guys, where the hell is Vista?"
Everyone just looked at him.
*
No one could ever explain it, but it was something that always seemed to happen. Vista always seemed to find common ground with everyone she met. She'd just look at a person, open her mouth, and start talking. It always worked. And, that night she was using her talent well. Vista, along with all eight seniors on the football team hung out by the pool. The pool was full of seniors and a keg, but Vista and the football players sat on the edge of the pool.
Vista's legs swung against the marble pool. "So, I turned to him and said 'That's not my hand.'" The seniors laughed. "Oh, it was so awkward."
Thomas Lee, a blond and handsome senior grinned at her. "You remind me of my little sister." He slurred.
Ryan Harris patted Vista's arm. "You know, we'd normally kick your little butt outta this party, but since you helped us with chem last year and because your sort of quirky in a cute way, you can stay."
"Oh, you guys are the best. Hey, would you guys tell me about that great pass that won the homecoming game last year?"
*
Chase had found a working bathroom and had used it. It hadn't been clean or anything, but when you have to go, you go. She had then gone back to the ratty sofa, but Parker and the beer had been gone. She had begun to look for them and hadn't found them. Twenty minutes later she was starting to get pissed. She walked into what must have been the kitchen and that's when she spotted them.
Pez and Holder were arm in arm and laughing about something. Jon and Parker were walking behind them, each had a beer and they seemed to be talking about her. She caught the last part of Jon's final sentence "-and then you ask her if she'd like to hang alone." Chase raised an eyebrow, clearly questioning what they had been talking about.
"Chase, hey." Holder said as the group walked up to her. "Where've you been?"
"Where have you guys been? I've been looking for you for twenty minutes." She crossed her arms over her chest. "And where's my beer."
Parker blushed. "I sort of drank it. Here." He handed her his drink.
Holder, who had been looking out at the pool suddenly gasped. "That's her!" The others looked at him. He grinned happily. "I found the girl I was making out with, Heather something."
The others all looked out the sliding door and at the pool area. A few people miled around the pool. There was a large group of people sitting by the pool and another group standing a few inches away. In the middle of the group was Heather Manning, senior class president and girlfriend of one Thomas Lee. Jon felt himself smile a little, this was going to be good.
"You should go say hey." Parker told Holder.
"Yeah, man. It's the nice thing to do." Jon seconded.
They all walked outside and over to the small group of girls. Heather Manning's best friend, Mandy Miller saw them coming and tapped Heather on the shoulder. Heather glanced toward the group that was walking over to her and groaned inwardly. Would one make out session really come back to haunt her? Sadly, the answer was yes. She handed Mandy her drink and walked over to the group.
Jon, Parker, and Chase stood behind Holder. They were all waiting for a show. Pez, who had broken away from Holder was now much more into the group by the pool then by Holder and Heather.
"Look," Heather whispered as she got as close to Holder as she dared. "it was a one time thing. You know about those. At least if all the rumors are true. Don't get me wrong, you're a great kisser and if I weren't seeing Tom then maybe-"
Holder put a hand up, silencing the girl. "Whoa, sweet thing, whoa. I just came over to say hey. It's the nice thing to do after you make out with a girl. Don't get all moon eyed."
Heather put a hand over her heart. "Oh, thank God!" She sighed. "See, I'm trying to get Tom to go to NYU with me and if he knew that I made out with Wesley Kelso, the King of make out, well, that wouldn't be good."
"You made out with a Wesley Kelso?" A voice said from behind Heather. She slowly turned around to see Thomas, Ryan, Pez, Vista, and the other six senior football players. Somewhere between going over to Holder and that last sentence, Pez had brought them over. "How could you make out with him at this party? That's it, Heather." He moved his girlfriend aside and looked Holder over. "You're all juniors?"
"That's very good, Tommy." Jon said. He finished his beer and through the glass into the pool. Someone called up that it hurt, but Jon ignored it.
Thomas leered at the small group. "Okay, you're all out." He grabbed Holder's arm. "Let's go!"
"Wait, Tom." Vista put a hand on his side. "He's my friend. They're my friends. Come on, let them stay. It's not their fault your girlfriend's a big ol' whore."
"Blow!" Holder and Pez shouted.
Thomas glared at Vista. "You to." Ryan picked Vista up by the waist.
The other six football players, along with some other senior guys each picked up a member of the group and tossed them over the fence.
*
Sometime later, they all stood around Holder's van and watched the party from across the street. In less then two hours they had been kicked out of the senior's only party. At least it hadn't been the best party ever. Parker, Holder, and Jon leaned against the hood of the car. Pez, Vista, and Chase sat on the roof. The party may have sucked, but they were all still upset that they had been thrown out. Stupid seniors and their stupid whore girlfriends.
Parker snapped his fingers together. Everyone looked at him, all fearing that he might break into song or something. Parker looked at Holder. "Dude, you should call your Dad." Holder just looked at Parker. Parker groaned. Why did Holder have to be so slow? "He's a cop. Call him and ask him to break up the party. Tell him whatever you have to in order to get him to do it."
Holder giggled. "You said 'do it'." Jon hit him upside the head. "Ow! Okay, fine. Someone give me a phone." Chase handed him her cell and Holder dialed the number to the police station.
Ten minutes later, they sat across the street and watched, as for the first time in history, the cops broke up the senior's only party.
*
Back at the Forman home, the gang snuck in through the front door. It was only eleven-thirty, but they didn't want to take any chances. They'd make sure Parker got back to his bedroom and then go sneak Pez up to her room. Her father would not be happy if he saw her wasted. The whole thing called for them to be quiet but they just couldn't. They were respond able for breaking up the biggest party of the year! They really ruled.
Holder reached over and turned on the light. "Hello, dumb-asses." At the same time, they all looked to their right. Red stood in the middle of the living room. Busted. Vista gulped and pushed herself behind Parker, who pushed himself toward the den. "Don't move, any of you. You're all busted. I'm bringing each and everyone of you home and I'm going to make damn sure you all tell your parents that you helped sneak Parker out, that you crashed a party and that you had beer. And if they don't punish you-I will."
"How'd you know we crashed a party and had beer?" Holder questioned.
"I didn't, till now. But, I knew something was going on. Maggie's hair tucking gave it all away." Red smiled at the teen. Everyone hit Holder and glared at Vista. Red pointed toward the kitchen door. "Everybody who doesn't have parents who live here-in there. Now!" With mutters and curses Chase, Holder, and Pez walked into the kitchen. Red glared at Parker and Vista. "I'm disappointed in you, Maggie. Jon?"
"Can I have a second?" Red glared at Jon, but nodded. He went into the kitchen. "Parker go upstairs." Parker glared at Jon, but went up the stairs.
Vista sighed. "I'm so upset with myself. And now, grandpa Red is disappointed in me."
"Yeah, it's real sad. Why did you let yourself get kicked out? You looked pretty cool with those guys."
She shrugged. "Jon, you may not get this, but it's just something good people do." She began walking up the stairs and he began walking toward the kitchen, but she leaned over the stairs and added. "Plus, you now owe me three." She grinned happily before skipping upstairs.
Jon looked after her and grinned the famous Hyde family grin. "She's coming along well." He pushed the kitchen door open and went through.
*
The next day, everyone but Chase hung in the basement. All their parents had let Red punish them and they could all look forward to a year of cutting the lawn of the apartments where he and Mrs. Forman lived. They could also look forward to helping out at any and all church events for the next seven months. Red Forman, still making the lives of teen's hell.
Pez and Holder sat on the sofa. Pez's hang over was awful and she felt like dying. Holder held a soda can against her forehead and promised to give her jellybeans later that day. Vista and Jon sat in the chairs and watched The Cosby Show. Parker was busying himself at the CD player when Chase walked in through the side door. Parker looked up and felt himself smiling and blushing a little.
"Hi."
Chase smiled. "It's your lucky day, Parker." She handed him a comic and a magazine. ""I was walking past the bookstore and I thought that you might like the newest Spider-man and a scifi mag."
Parker's smile grew wider. "Thanks." He went and sat on the arm of the sofa. As he flipped through the magazine he felt himself smiling more. Chase was the best girl in the world. Chase sat beside him and they watched the Cosby Show's credits roll. "His sweaters just keep getting uglier!" This was meet with total agreement.
The end