Chapter 367.
(Royal Woods Middle School.)
Lincoln is waiting patiently outside the school for someone to come, and that someone is his girlfriend Jordan Rosato, ever since what happened yesterday, he wants to see if she's feeling alright.
Then someone comes along and stands next to him. "Hi Lincoln, so what are you doing today?"
Lincoln looks to his phone and then to both side of the roads, he completely ignores her, or to the fact he's too occupied in waiting for Jordan he has no clue she's there.
"So, word on the street is that Jordan Rosato got hurt and is being tended to. She's not coming now is she?" asked Leslie as she inches closer towards Lincoln, and soon the rest of her friends are there. But Gretchen just walks towards them, still feeling upset after what happened between her and Ryan Miller.
Lincoln looks to his phone again for any messages, and then he looks to both ways of the road.
The rich girls are getting confused. "What the heck is wrong with him? Doesn't he know Leslie is right here?" asked Karen.
"Leave him be, let him just stand here so I can admire him, then he'll come to his sense and love me" said Leslie and she tries to hold his hand, but he checks his phone again and look both ways of the road.
Lincoln and Jordan's friends see this and are just watching, with the three eagles sitting on the shoulders of Simon, Stella and Liam. "So, we're not gonna go over and tell those girls to leave him alone?" asked Polly.
"I don't think that's necessary, I mean look at Lincoln. He has no clue Silver is there and is way too focused on waiting for Jordan, but I do question why she hasn't called or anything" said Mollie.
"Same. I haven't gotten a reply from her either" said Cookie. "Something must be wrong, or her phone's battery died and she forgot to charge it while she was getting tended to."
"Ugh. That boy from yesterday will pay for what he did the next time he comes around" said Chloe. "Who was he again and where is he now?"
Jenny uses her phone and checks what she made for the school news yesterday. "His name is Oren Dyson and right now he's facing three weeks of suspension and his parents were sued for what he did to Jordan, and right now he's titled as the threat still lingering in town."
"Kinda like Leslie and her friends" replied Clyde. "Though, Silver and her posse don't seem to be much threats and just mild annoyances."
"Clyde's right, though Gretchen on the other hand is a whole new story" said Liam. "I mean just look at her, she's a mess after what happened with Ryan and his evil cherry hating family." Liam's moose comes along and he pets him. "Easy Moe, don't wanna be causing no troubles now."
"Maybe we should do something, to keep those girls away from Lincoln and do something nice for Gretchen, she could use some real friends who could show her better things" replied Zach.
"Guys, something's happening" replied Rusty.
Gretchen stands next to Lincoln and sighs. "How's Jordan?" The rich girls are shocked she would ask that.
Lincoln doesn't look to Gretchen and he looks back to his phone. "No clue, she hasn't responded and the last text I got was from last night and she said she's getting her injuries tended too and the doctor said she's fine and is back on her feet, but still a bit sore. How're you holding up Gretch?"
Leslie is confused by this. 'What the heck is going on here?!'
Gretchen just looks down and sighs. "Not good, still kinda bummed out and also kinda heart broken. You think Ryan might come back one day?"
Lincoln then looks to the sad rich girl. "No clue, chances he might come back but with a new identity. He is targeted and known along with his parents for what they did, I mean I don't see him as a bad kid when we hung out and he seems more like a boy who could use some friends."
Regina is wide eyed from this. 'Is he talking to Gretchen? Why not Leslie, why not her?!'
Gretchen sighs and she has some fresh tears. "I thought he was a good kid who could show me how love works, but instead I found out he hates cherries and is part of some dumb spy group that will destroy all fruits and replace them with peaches! I mean, sure I like peaches but not all the time!" she then wipes away her tears, but is still sad.
Hope feels bad for her, but still has no clue what the heck is even going on.
Lincoln puts his phone away and he rubs Gretchen's back. "Hey now, just take it easy and find some way to get over the past. When the day comes, maybe he will come back and you can talk it out with him. If he does, and he's planning to change, then we won't intervene and let you handle it. Okay?"
Leslie is shocked at what Lincoln is doing, but she knows Gretchen is still a mess and is in no mood for any of their schemes to take Lincoln.
Gretchen wipes away her tears and she blows into a tissue that Lincoln gives her. "Thank you, and now I see why everyone sees you as the man-with-the-plan. You have really good advice, but I know it's all from you're big sister…. or sisters."
Lincoln smiles. "Yeah that is true, looking up to five older sisters, well Lynn isn't much help can really give a middle child good advice and what to do when things go wrong, I help my friends and anyone I trust. Always."
Then Gretchen sees something. "Is that you're other eagle?"
Everyone spots the North American Golden Eagle, Nora. To Lincoln he knows what that means. "She's here, Jordan is inbound." Hearing this alarms the friends of Jordan and they race over with Lincoln who then goes near the street and they trample over Leslie, Hope, Karen, Regina and Chastity.
Gretchen goes with the friends and wants to see how Jordan is after yesterday and then coming towards them is the Rosato family van and it opens and they see her. Jordan Rosato, wearing a white shirt, yellow jacket with the logo of I_Am_Wildcat, blue skirt up to her knees, black shorts underneath and her white socks and brown shoes and she has her golden hoop earrings on.
Jordan sees all of her friends and she greets them all, she then goes over to Lincoln. They both hug and share a small kiss and look to each other. "Thank god you're okay my lovely rose, but why didn't you text me or call this morning?" asked Lincoln.
Jordan chuckles nervously. "Well, would you guys believe me when I say that Ajax took my phone and buried it somewhere in the backyard?"
They all remained silent. "What?" asked Giggles.
Jesse sighs. "It's true, currently right now the Sentry and Probe from the house security are searching through the backyard on where her phone is and Ajax is spending the rest of the week in his dog house for what he did, honestly why would he do that?"
Lincoln is shocked and he sees Harrier and Nora interact with each other, and then he looks to Jordan. "Well, as long as you're okay after what happened and maybe after school I can come over and help you look for your phone."
"Thanks, and sorry for getting you guys worried" replied Jordan. "Was Luna worried?"
Tabby nods. "When she came here to drop off Lincoln, she kept talking to him to find out what was wrong with Jordan and he told us all the other sisters were not much into concern since they know you'd call eventually. Might as well text and call them what happened and surely Lana would wanna help dig when school is over."
"She's not wrong" replied Liam. "Heck, I'll help find the phone too."
"Thanks guys." Then Jordan sees Gretchen go towards her. "Hi Gretch, you feeling alright?"
Gretchen then shakes hands with her. "Just…. Glad you're okay, I know it must've been hard and not easy getting hurt by that idiot and letting Lincoln feel worried about the…. The one he loves." Gretchen then sheds some tears and Jordan goes over and hugs her.
They all feel bad that she's still going through the Ryan being a bad person thing and then leaving. Jordan seems to be alright and not feeling any discomfort after what Oren Dyson did to her.
Lincoln and the others go over and try their best to comfort Gretchen. "Whatever happens, you have friends to help you out" said Zach.
"Yeah, your friends can help ease the pain and we'll try to do the same as well" replied Rusty.
Gretchen then breaks from the hug and smiles at them. "Thanks guys, you're all such nice friends. But I've been pretty much a bad person ever since I was part of Leslie and her friends, I'm still sorry for what I did to help them break you guys up."
"It's alright Gretch" replied Lincoln. "We know you did it because you didn't wanna lose the first group of friends you made and if things go wrong between you and the rich group, then you're other friends have you're backs."
They then hear the bell ring. "Well, looks like we all gotta get to class now" replied Kat. "See you are Gretchen." They all head back into the school.
Jordan places her hand onto Gretchen's shoulder. "Hang in there Gretch, a break up is hard to get over, but I don't think Ryan did break up with you or to the fact you two were even dating yet."
Gretchen nods. "Yeah, that I know. Maybe we can talk more when it's lunch?"
Lincoln nods and so does Jordan. "Sure." They head back into the school to their first period, while Leslie goes over to her friends and helps them up.
"Come on girls, we got class to get to." They're all confused and dazed at what happened, they felt like they got ran over by a stampede of Bison calves.
(Skip to Lunch Time.)
The cafeteria is serving burgers, pizza and French fries Friday. Lincoln with Jordan and all their friends are all talking about what they're gonna do on Saturday, but only few are gonna be part of the Sleepover on the following day at Great Lake City.
"So, Ronnie Anne said to bring your own tents and that all the food will be setup and that there's no need for any food for us to bring along" replied Lincoln.
"We can bring the eagles and with Adelaide and Carl being occupied, then it can truly become one awesome sleepover for big kids, well middle school kids" replied Jordan.
"Oh, I am so stoked for this Saturday and I can't wait to jam it out with them when I bring my axe. But, in respect I won't raise the volume up to eleven" replied Tabby.
"You think it's alright to bring Moe along? I don't wanna leave the bug guy by himself when I'm not near the town" replied Liam.
"We'll talk to Ronnie Anne and Sid and see if it's okay to being a moose to Great Lake City" replied Lincoln. "They also said it's cool to bring some video games, so Jordan and I are gonna bring our laptops along for the whole thing too."
"Man, you guys sure are gonna have an awesome time" replied Artie. "Also, any word from your phone?"
Lincoln then gets a text and it was from Michelle Lewis. "Good news, Jordan's phone has been dug out, bad news there are lots of holes at your back yard that needs covering up."
Jordan sighs. "Well, that must've been hard for them to do, we might need to remodel the backyard lawn to make it back to the way it was."
"Hey guys." they all see Gretchen and she sits next to Jordan. "Mind if I sit here?"
"Sure, but how come you're not by your friends instead?" asked Clyde.
Gretchen sighs. "They're just nagging and talking about some stuff involving whatever schemes to spate the Jordacoln thing and also complaining about what happened this morning and sure as heck I am not planning to hear them go over and over and over and over about that."
"They really need to chill out" replied Rusty. "They're going to get into way serious trouble, like all the enemies Lincoln and Jodan took down over the past year."
"At least they don't know I'm not there, I placed a dummy of myself" replied Gretchen, they look over and see the Gretchen dummy that looks like a scarecrow. "Looks like arts and crafts helped me make something so good, that they don't even know it's fake."
"Wow! Very impressive there Gretchen, sure would be nice to see if you can make a scarecrow that looks like my memaw, she sure can scare away them varmints off the farm" replied Liam.
Gretchen smiles. "When I have the time, maybe I can see what I can do. So, what are you guys talking about?" She then eats her hotdog and fries.
Jordan looks to Lincoln and they both have the same idea. "Gretchen Warwick, we know you've done so much bad stuff to us as helping Leslie and her plans, and we know some of us don't trust you and it could be sometime for us to forgive what you've done" said Jordan.
"But we have noticed you've changed. Even with Ryan Miller gone, you're interacting with us and you seem to share kindness we've never seen and I doubt anyone has seen this side of you back at Tuscola" replied Lincoln.
Gretchen sighs. "Yeah, that part is true and even though R-Ryan isn't here." She wipes some fresh tears and Clyde hands her a tissue. "Thank you. I still feel like I shouldn't be some spoiled rich girl who wants to take what she wants and do what she wants, I wanna change and I wanna do it for Ryan. He showed me how to be a better person and not be the mean girl I was."
"When he does come back, then I'll show him how far I've come and then I can see if he has changed too, even if he dislikes cherries I still like him and one day I wanna make a relationship work with him. Now, where are you guys going with me and the whole trust and forgiveness thing anyway?"
The rest of the group knows where this is going. "How would you like to join us on your very first sleepover someplace else?" asked Lincoln and Jordan.
Gretchen is shocked from this and she chokes on her fries. "I got this!" Polly goes over and helps her with the Heimlich maneuver and Gretchen coughs out the fry piece which ricochets off the walls and then lands straight into the eye of Regina.
"Ow! My eye!"
Gretchen then calms down and drinks her soda. "Thank you….. Polly."
"No prob dude." Polly skates back to her seat.
"Oh Gosh Gretchen, are you okay?" asked Sadie.
"Yeah, I am" replied Gretchen. "But…. What did you guys just say?" She looks to Lincoln and Jordan.
"We're saying that you should be part of the fun and games we're gonna have at our sleepover over at Great Lake City" replied Lincoln. "We know you wanna change and we wanna see how far you can change by hanging out with the "common folks" and what they do." Everyone chuckles at that notion, because that's normally what the rich girls call them.
"That is, if you're not busy tomorrow night" replied Jordan.
Gretchen is shocked and then she smiles. "Sure and thank you so much, that sounds awesome! I have no plans tomorrow night, but, what should I do? What do I bring? What do I wear?"
Jordan chuckles. "Easy there Gretch, this is your first non-richness sleepover, so there's no need to panic, but a tent is needed since it's gonna be an outdoor kinda sleepover. You okay with that?"
Gretchen smiles. "You guys do recall that I actually like going to the park and also I like hiking I just don't show it to my friends much, they don't seem to like most of the secret things I like and yes I do have a tent, I just hope it's still usable."
"When was the last time you went camping?" asked Trent.
"Four years ago" replied Gretchen, and now Liam and half the boys in the group start to choke on their fries and one by one the girls help them out.
"Sorry, but I haven't went camping four years ago…. With my mom and dad and it was fun, then they went back to focusing on work" replied Gretchen.
"Sorry you have to go through with that, but we can show you how to have fun when tomorrow hits and it's gonna be so cool" replied Lincoln. "Just be yourself, but not the mean rich type and have fun, but not the rich mean girl kinda fun."
Gretchen chuckles. "I know what to do Lincoln, I'm not going to be the same old mean girl I once was and I am gonna have fun!" They all cheer and enjoy some talk with Gretchen and she also tells them some other things that Leslie and the others don't know.
Leslie on the other hand notices this and even though she should respect Gretchen's choice, she did not expect her to go back and hang out with the other kids and not the rich ones, she hates it even more to see Gretchen sharing some talk with Jordan.
'You think you can take away one of my own?! You got another thing coming, looks like we're gonna have to come up with more than just a plan to get Lincoln. We have to get Gretchen back with us again. This is not right and I am not gonna let this go on!'
Leslie walks out of the cafeteria. Her friends see this and Hope, Karen, Regina and Chastity follow her.
Regina then grabs the Gretchen dummy. "Come on Gretch, we know you're sad and all, but there's no need to be lazy." she walks out of the cafeteria dragging the dummy made by Gretchen. What the hell? Seriously that is not her?!
Gretchen sees this and sighs. 'I wish they could see how I see things, they can't be mean all the time. Why can't they be less mean and be nice?' Then she realizes. 'Right, they don't know what love is and they haven't met a guy who could show them a different way.'
But she knows, it's wrong for Leslie to take Lincoln away from Jodan, she can see now that everything she's done with Leslie has been nothing more than plain horrid.
To be continued….
A/N: Looks like someone doesn't wanna be part of the bad system anymore and is gonna be spending some fun with Lincoln, Jordan and their friends at Great Lake City for the Sleepover. Leave a review and tell me what you all think.
Date made: 10/7/20.