Chapter 10: To Young to Drink, To Old to Tick or Treat
A/N: I know it's been a while, but college got in the way. I know it is late and I'm sorry, but maybe you guys will enjoy it. As always, thank you for the review and please R&R.
October 31st, 2003
5:30 p.m.
Parker Forman's Bedroom
Parker entered his room, carefully tying the white belt around his thin waist. It was half an hour until the school's Halloween dance and he was going. It was all Chase's fault, of course. She had wanted to go and while it gave Parker a chance to wear his Luke Skywalker costume, it was still a school dance. But, she was Chase-and he'd do anything for Chase.
He looked up to see Chase sitting on the edge of his bed, wearing a little black shirt, fishnet stocking, black tee, and boots…she was wearing one of her usual outfits! "Uh…Chase," Parker stared at her. "where is your costume?"
Chase sniffed back a laugh at Parker's costume and looked down at herself before looking back up at him. "I'm wearing it. I'm going as a punk."
"Chase-"
"Punk rocker then." Chase reached behind her and pulled a pink and black wig out from behind her back. "See? Punk rocker hair." She folded her blond hair up and put the wig on. "How do I look?"
His eyes wide, Parker just nodded happily. Chase looked very nice and his heart was beating faster then normal with her sitting on his bed the way she was. "Very nice, Muffin." He did a little turn before sashaying over the bed. He stood before her and smiled down. "Though, I would have loved to see you as a Star Wars character."
Chase rolled her eyes upward. "Who? Jubba? Darth Vader? No, I think you're enough. Luke Skywalker is very attractive." She reached up and grabbed his collar. With a small tug, Parker's head was lowered to where Chase could kiss him.
October 31st, 2003
5:32 p.m.
Forman Basement
They had not spoken to one another in nearly a week. It was an all time record for them; they had once had a fight in the third grade and not spoken to one another for thirty minutes, but that was the longest they had ever gone without speaking. They had been serious with one another nearly a week ago and both knew that it had somehow changed their relationship forever. But, that night they both knew they'd have to speak to one another.
Holder, dressed as a police officer, sat with Emma, dressed as a 1920s flapper, on the couch. Pez, dressed in her everyday clothing, sat on the lawn chair. They all sat in an awkward silence and watched an old rerun of a sitcom that none of them could remember the name of.
One of the sitcom characters did something stupid and Pez let out a loud laugh. Holder and Emma glanced at her. "Oh, he was…that was very funny." She cleared her throat, blushed, and looked back at the television.
"So, hmm, Pez, is it?" Emma planted a fake smile on her lips. "You're not dressed for the dance. Not going?"
Pez returned the fake smile. "Yes, but I will not dress until later. My date isn't here yet."
"You have a date? With who?" Holder demanded in a jealous tone. Both girls glared at him. "I mean…you have a date. Cool." He nodded to himself. "Nice work, Pezzy. Uh, whose it with? I know him? Could I take him in a fight?"
Pez giggled at the thought of her date. The truth was, she actually liked the guy she was going with, making Holder upset and thus pissing off Emma was just icing on the cake. "Charlie." She told them, her tone in a dreamy state. "From the mall opening I went to with Vista and Jon." Pez sighed, remembering how much she and Charlie had had in common. They both loved candy, adored Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and they both that she was sexy. He was driving in just to take her to the dance, that meant he liked her a lot. "He's driving all the way here just to see me." Pez sighed again and stood up. "I have to go put on my outfit." With that, she disappeared up the stairs.
Holder looked after her a look of worry on his face. Something Emma was not too pleased about.
October 31st, 2003
5:48 p.m.
Forman Kitchen
"Okay, now you have to promise not to laugh or make fun or anything of that nature." Vista's voice instructed from the other side of the door. "This was a last minute idea, I didn't want to go to the dance."
Jon took a sip from his coke. He had to ambit that it was sweet of Vista to worry so much about what he thought. To Jon, Vista was special. She was a unique person in a world where so many teenage girls looked and acted the same. She was mature, had goals and dreams. She was sweet, intelligent, oddly funny. Vista knew how to talk to him-she got him. Plus, she was pretty, much prettier then most girls her age. All of that was why he liked her, why he more then liked her. "Okay! Just show me."
The door swung open and Vista shyly stepped into the kitchen. She was dressed in a long black dress with thin straps, long black gloves, and a slit up one side. Her hair was up in a 1940s style and there was a white flower in her chestnut hair. Vista looked like a sultry jazz singer from the 1940s.
"Remember, it was last minute. Grandma Kitty found it for me and I just…" She looked down at herself. "it's awfully form fitting, is it not?"
"N-no." Jon swallowed. "I, uh, yeah. Whatever." He quickly stood up. "You're a jazz singer?"
Vista giggled uncomfortably. "I guess so." She looked him over. "You're dressed like you. What are you supposed to be?"
"Well, I was going to go as a murder, they do look like everyone else. But my Mom was all," he raised his voice higher to mock Jackie. "'Jon, you can't go as a murder. What will people say?! Steven, tell our son to stop glaring at me!'" Jon cleared his throat to make his voice normal. "So, I'm…" Jon paused and reached onto another chair at the table to pull out a long black rope. "grim reapering it this evening. The only reason I'm going is so I don't have to hand out candy again this year."
"Well," Vista started putting a shinny bracelet on her right wrist. "I'm glad your coming. Parker and Chase are going together, Holder and Emma are going together, even Pez has a date." Jon raised an eyebrow before putting his sunglasses back on. "Charlie, from the mall. Anyhow, I didn't want to be the seventh wheel. Now, I'll have you to talk to. I'm just glad I'll have a friend there who isn't on a date."
Jon hid his disappoint with the word 'friend'. "That is if I don't find a chick to make out with or if I don't get bored."
Vista laughed and stepped closer to him, so she could shove him lightly. "You are such a jerk."
"But, a good jerk, right?"
Vista smiled at him. "The best jerk."
October 31st, 2003
5:51 p.m.
Forman Front Porch
Pez spotted the red jeep stop in front of the Forman house. A small smile formed on her ruby colored lips when she saw Charlie climb out of the jeep and wave at her. Pez jogged over to him, her black wings hitting the back of her head.
"Hey, Pez." Charlie grinned widely. "It's great…you look so good." He gently touched her arm. "It's been a while."
"Twenty-eight days." Pez told him. Charlie looked at her and Pez realized that maybe she shouldn't have let on that she had counted the days. "Yes. Okay, what are you…." She looked the older teen over. His long brown hair was tied back and he wore a tux. Either he was James Bond, a butler, or a very fancy waiter. "You look very nice."
"My Uncle Mort thanks you." Pez raised an eyebrow. "I, uh, borrowed the suit from him. He runs a funeral parlor."
"How nice. My Father owns a candy store." She smiled again. "Do I look alright?"
Charlie looked her over. Her tight, leather, black pants and shirt were clearly apart of her whole costume. As where the large black wings on her back and fake cross around her neck. "You're…a fallen angel?."
Pez squealed in delight that he had gotten it right. Without thinking, she wrapped him in a bear hug. "You guessed right! My parents thought I was a devil worshipper and then they asked for the number of the cult leader." Pez paused in thought. "I hope it was to just give him a strong talking to."
Charlie chuckled. "You are to freaky." He lightly pushed her away from him. "So, you ready to jet?"
Pez glanced back at the house. "Yes. We can go and get stale punch and dance to crappy music now."
The two exchanged a smile before getting in the jeep.
October 31st, 2003
6:25 p.m.
Point Place High
"I'm just saying she could have waited for us. I wanted to check out this Charlie guy." Holder told the group. Emma glared at her boyfriend and tightened her grip on his hand. "Ow! Damn, woman." Holder pulled away and rubbed his hand. "That hurt."
"She told me she was going with Charlie." Parker told him. "They must have left early, because they won't be able to spend a lot of time together." He paid for himself and Chase. They waited for the others before walking into the orange and black gym.
The moment they crossed the doorway and where firmly in the gym, Jon took off the robe. Vista got the group a table, while her brother and his girlfriend went to grab drinks. Meanwhile, Emma dragged Holder onto the dance floor. Pez and Charlie were nowhere to be found.
"This is…orange and black." Vista commented. "It's very Halloween."
"It looks like Halloween vomited in here." Jon told her. "Why are we even here again?"
"I've got to be here because of student counsel and you didn't want to hand out candy." Vista explained to him.
Jon put his sunglasses on. "Oh yeah."
Meanwhile, Holder was having his own problems. Or rather he had one very big problem. Pez was nowhere to be found, which made him nervous. That in turn made Emma mad, which meant the date was not going well at all.
"She's my friend." He explained. Holder guided Emma around the dance floor as the two of them 'danced' to Travis. Really, Holder was just moving Emma around as he looked for Pez. "And this guy, he could be anyone or anything."
"Wesley. Stop talking about your stupid friend and her stupid date." Emma glared at her boyfriend. "If you don't, I swear, you will be dancing alone." Holder gave Emma a charming smile and she seemed to forgive him for the moment.
Parker handed Chase a glass of punch and the two of them stood by the dance floor. Parker had already warned Chase that he would not dance with her and she, for the most part, seemed to except that. After all, Chase wasn't really a dance kind of girl and Parker assumed that they had just come to make fun of everyone.
Chase sighed loudly. "Look, one dance."
"Wh-what?" Parker did a double take. "Who are you and what have you done with my little love muffin?"
"I want to dance with you, just once. Please. I'll do anything you want." Parker raised an eyebrow. "Not that, but I will do anything else."
"Really? Will you…okay, if you and I ever, you know, get married-" the two teens blushed. Parker cleared his throat loudly. "I said if. If we ever get married, you have to let me name our first child, boy or girl, after the comic character of my choice."
Chase looked at him for a moment. "Okay, only if our first dance at this possible wedding is to the Clash. You dance with me at this dance and let us dance to the Clash and I will let you name our two possible kids after the comic characters of your choice."
"Deal." The two shook on it and headed to the dance floor, stopping by the table to give their drinks to Vista and Jon.
"I'm bored." Jon stated with a small cough. "This dance is crappy, I'm out of here." He stood with the plan of leaving the dance, but was stopped when Vista put a hand on his arm. He looked down at her. "What?"
"You have to stay. If you don't, I'll be alone."
Jon let out a small laugh. "Not for long," he nodded his head toward Holder and Emma. "Holder'll blow it in a few and then the two of you can hang out. Or Pez and Charlie will show and make out in front of you. Either way, you won't be alone for long."
"But, I want to hang out with you." Vista protested. "I'll do something for you if you stay. I'll sneak you and the others into the office-the principals office. You can get back those magazines he took from you last week. Just stay a little longer." She looked up at him with her soft eyes and Jon was gone. Vista smiled happily. "Thank you! I'll get Parker and Chase, you get Holder and Emma." She let his arm go and bounced off.
Jon stared after her for a brief moment before going to get Holder and Emma.
October 31st, 2003
6:45 p.m.
Point Place High-Principle's Office
Five minutes later, they all sat in a circle in the principle's office. They weren't doing a circle, but rather they were sitting around doing nothing. Holder sat in one chair, Emma on his lap. Parker and Chase shared another chair. While Vista sat on a stool that the principle used to get things off high shelves. Finally, Jon sat in the principle's chair, which was still behind the desk.
"This is boring, with a capital 'b'." Emma commented. She let out a bored sigh for effect.
"You can always go back to the dance." Chase told her. At the same time, Jon let out a chuckle. "Like you know any capitals."
"Look, can we just keep peace?" Vista asked.
"Oh, shut up, Green Peace." Emma shot at Vista.
"Hey!" Parker warned.
"Permanent records." Holder suddenly said. Everyone looked at him. "We should get our permanent records and look at them. It'll be fun an I want to know if they actually write in them."
"Of course they don't write in them." Jon told his friend. "It's all a scheme to make kids be good."
Parker rolled his eyes. "It is not a scheme. It's real. We should do it." He straightened up, hoping to impress Chase. Chase just gave him a look.
"Permanent records it is." Jon looked around the group. "I'll go get them."
"I'll come to." Chase told Jon. "What? You're going to need somebody to pick the lock to the records office."
"Okay, okay, put you guys need to be careful." Holder told them. "I'll come for back up."
Jon and Chase exchanged a look before Jon said: "Okay, but you are not singing your own theme music this time."
October 31st, 2003
7:01 p.m.
Point Place High
"Dom, dom, dom, doooo." Holder hummed under his breathe.
"Is he singing?" Chase asked. "Because Jon made it clear that he shouldn't."
"I'm humming." Holder said. He started humming again. Chase and Jon joined forces to hit Holder up-side the head. "Ow! Damn, guys!"
"Shut up." Jon told Holder.
The three of them stopped at the door which lead to the records room. Chase bent down and took a pin off of her jacket. She began to pick the lock and silently thanked her second stepfather Carlos for teaching her how to pick locks and how to never trust 'The Man'. A moment later, the door was unlocked. Chase stood and opened the door.
"Holy-"
"You should never see that."
"Pez!" Holder gasped, his breath caught in his throat and he sounded like a girl. "Get off my Pezzy!"
Pez and Charlie jumped apart and Charlie began looking for his shirt. Pez was a bright red color. She quickly put her fake wings back on and buttoned her pant's top buttons.
"Hello, guys." Pez smiled brightly. "How are you?"
"Don't even start." Holder stated firmly. "You were making out like a dirty girl."
"Well-" Pez giggled and glanced back at Charlie. "not dirty. We hadn't gotten there yet."
"Oh!" Holder made a face. "You are in serious trouble, young lady."
Chase and Jon exchanged a look. Clearly there were not needed for this. They walked past Charlie and Pez and into the record room and the file cabinets. Meanwhile, Pez and Charlie had gone into the hall to talk things over with a very angry Holder.
"Look," Charlie began. "it's not like she's your girlfriend. She's my girlfriend."
"Really?" Pez's dark eyes lit up. "Oh, Charlie that is so sweet."
"Yes, yes it is. Hold your thoughts, Pez." Charlie went on. "Holder," He hit Holder's arm. "she's told me all about your friendship. About how she's had to play second banana to you all these years. Go along with your stupid ideas. Play the straight man. Well, no more! When I look at her, deep into those dark and sexy eyes, I see a girl crying out. Crying 'Why? When is it my turn? When do I get to have a monkey make-out session?' Well, that day is today!"
"Oh!" Holder's voice cracked. "That is not true. That's a dirty, filthy, lie!" He pointed a Charlie. "You-you….you suck. Pez is my sidekick. She can't be your girlfriend."
"Oh, for the love of-" Pez shook her head, causing hair to fall into her face. "Charlie, you're so sexy when you stand up for me. And that suit makes me want to jump you. I'm proud to be one half of a sexy couple. And Holder, you're dating Emma. I can date to. I can be your sidekick still. It's all alright."
The three of them stood awkwardly in the hallway for a few seconds. Finally, Jon and Chase came out of the record's closet.
"Okay, if the crappy rip-off of Dawson's Creek is finished, we can go." Jon told them.
"And we should hurry." Chase added. "Parker and Vista have been alone with Emma for a while. Someone is sure to be crying in a corner by now."
Jon laughed to himself. "I bet it's your boyfriend." Chase hit Jon up-side the head.
October 31st, 2003
7:07 p.m.
Point Place High-Principle's Office
Emma sat in the chair, her arms over her chest and her facial expression that of disgust. Why oh why had they left her with the Forman siblings? A comic geek and a girl named after her father's old car. It was enough to make Emma want to ignore and tease herself! The door to the office opened and Emma sat up straighter.
"Thank God you're here! Never leave me with these freaks again." Holder went over to Emma to comfort her and to give her a bit of PDA.
Everyone else went back to their seats, and Pez and Charlie went up against a wall. There were a few looks from Parker and Vista, but no one said anything about it.
"Look, Emma-"
"What Peter?"
"It's Parker." Parker rolled his eyes. "This is why I never liked you."
"Guys." Jon cleared his throat. "I think you're all missing the point and that is that we have our permanent records." Jon sat at the next and opened up the first record. "Settle in for story time, kids."
Jon opened up a folder as everyone settled in. "Forman comma Parker. Parker Luke Forman. Birthdate November 11th, 1986. Born in Point Place, Wisconsin, blah, blah, blah. Boring, boring." Jon flipped through the folder. "Here's an interesting story-" Jon smiled slyly at his best friend. "In the third grade, Parker was found kissing a Spider-man doll. In the first grade, he wore a cap for three months straight." Jon laughed out loud. "Parker, you were a little freak." He glanced at Chase. "This is your boyfriend. And it says here, they thought Parker was gay."
"Dude!" Holder laughed. "You wore a cape and kissed a doll?!"
Parker lowered himself in the chair he was sharing with Chase. "Move on, I'm begging you."
Jon nodded. "Okay," he looked through the folders and finally picked one up. "Wesley Michael Holder-Kelso. I'm sure this will be a wonderful read."
"Yeah, full of um, stuff."
"Your vocabulary is remarkable, Holder." Charlie remarked. Pez hit him lightly on the arm.
"Kids." Jon warned. He cleared his throat and looked over Holder's records. "Nothing, nothing. Boring, boring…oh! We have a winner. Says here that Holder was caught-"
"Don't." Chase warned. "Don't you dare." Parker looked at Chase. What did she know that he didn't?
"It says that in the eighth grade Holder was caught kissing a girl in the girl's bathroom. They were found in an embrace and nearly undressed. This girl's name was-" Jon looked around to make sure everyone was listening. "Que. Bond. Chase."
Everyone's eyes slowly turned to Chase. She got out of the seat she shared with Parker. "Okay-"
"You kissed that trailer trash?" Emma slapped Holder's arm. "Oh, I am so leaving!" She stood and stormed out of the room.
Holder jumped up to follow her. He really didn't want to stick around for the fireworks. "Sweet thang!"
"Don't move." Parker stood and stared at Holder. "You kissed my girlfriend?" Parker looked at Chase. "You made out with him?"
"Wait, wait, wait…" Pez held her hands up. "Your real name is Que Bond Chase? Like James Bond and his Que?"
Jon smiled to himself. He leaned over the desk and looked at Vista. "Better then a night handing out candy."
Vista just looked at Jon and shook her head, clearly disappointed in him. Jon looked away. He sat silently for a moment, letting the others have it out. Parker was clearly upset at both Holder and Chase. Holder seemed upset that Emma had left. Chase seemed upset about her name and the fact that Parker was upset with her.
"Just shut up for a second, okay?" Chase's eyes were firmly on Parker. "First, I just want to say that my Mum was a teenager with a crush on James Bond and that I was this close to being named after a Bond chick. Second, Holder kissed me…he had his shirt off. He was trying to 'hook up' with me." Chase shook her head with disgust. "We swore never to talk about it after that day."
"Right." Holder nodded. "I was young and hot for Chase."
Charlie leaned into Pez's ear. "We should of stayed in the room." Pez giggled.
"This is the worst Halloween ever." Parker muttered. He sank back down into his chair. "Jon, go on, read someone else's."
"I don't think so. Do we really need more WB drama?" Jon sled the folders to the edge of the desk.
"Well, let's read something else." Chase picked up Jon's records. She really wanted the focus off her for a second. It was time for some payback. "Jon Hyde." Chase opened it. "Tons of middle names." she laughed to herself. "Something about you and your obsession with your sunglasses. The rest is pretty much public knowledge."
"Do me next." Vista offered. It was awkward in the office. "It'll be boring, but…just do it."
Chase looked fondly at Vista. "Okay." Chase opened the folder. "Vista Maggie May Forman. Skipped second grade, etc, etc." Chase scanned and flipped the pages. "Um…" Chase trailed off.
"What?" Vista questioned. "What?"
"You've been…you're going to some school in California?"
Parker said. "No… she'd tell me if she were…Vis?"
"Oh….crap." Vista sighed deeply. "I've-I didn't know how to tell you guys. I got into the school. The spot's open till December seventh, I've been deciding if I should go or not." Vista looked up at her brother and around at their friends. "I was going to tell you guys."
"Well, this night is just full of surprises!" Holder hollered. "I'm going to find Emma." He gave a sad look to Vista before leaving the office.
"Y-yeah, we should get going to." Pez took Charlie's hand in hers. "Charlie has to drive home and I want to make out some more."
From her seat, Vista sighed deeply. "Oh, this really is the worst Halloween ever."
October 31st, 2003
9:15 p.m.
Parker Forman's Bedroom
"Thought I'd find you here." Parker looked up to see Chase standing in his doorway. Chase closed the door behind her. "You left while me and Jon were putting the records away. I looked for you at the Hub, but I figured you'd be here at the end."
Parker put his Star Wars action figure down on his bed. "Just spending a little time with Luke." He watched as Chase moved to sit next to him. "You spend any of that time with Holder? Mm, Ch-I mean Que."
Chase sighed deeply. "Chase, call me Chase, please. As for Holder, one time and you've labeled me for life." Chase picked up the action figure. "I'm personally upset you found out my first and middle names."
Parker glanced over at his girlfriend and softly chuckled. "Your names do suck. Now I know why you've gone by your last name for as long as I've known you. Okay," Parker took her hand in his. "truth time. It's okay that Holder kissed you back in middle school. Ju-just tell me he sucked."
"He sucked. Holder kissed like a fish back then. I hear his better now, but all I have to go on are the writings on the second floor bathroom walls." She handed him back the action figure. "I think he misses you. He doesn't want you to be mad at me anymore."
Parker smiled. "Because you were humiliated today and because I found it enjoyable for three seconds…you keep Luke."
"He's your favorite."
"Corny line coming-you're my favorite." Parker smiled again, leaned into Chase and kissed her.
October 31, 2003
9:26 p.m.
Outside the Hub
Vista let her mail slid into the mailbox. It was all over now, come January she would no longer be a student of Point Place High. Of course she hadn't been planning on everyone finding out in a WBish meeting. That had been rather interesting.
"Sending letters?" Vista glanced to her right to see Jon. "Or a 'I'm in' letter to some crap school out west?"
Vista smiled at him. "Crap school letter."
Jon nodded. He looked around them and sighed deeply. "Would it change anything if I said I didn't want you to go to the crap school?" He stuffed his hands deep into his jacket pockets. Vista looked at him, her face soft. "Thought not. I just…you're the smart one in the group and with the couple drama going on around here I thought you should stick around to help."
"Now, you know you just want me around to do your homework for you." Vista began walking. "I'll be gone in January, but I'll be back in May."
"Long time." Jon walked beside her. "I'll…"
"I'll miss you to."
Beside his sunglasses, Jon's eyes lit up. "Yeah, maybe I'll miss you."
Vista laughed and hit Jon lightly on the arm. "Maybe? You mean you will miss me. Tons and tons." Jon just laughed.