A/N: This is a work of fiction and didn't happen. No libel or slander intended; no profit is being made. The events portrayed in this story are fictional and do not reflect on the actual people written about.

PROLOGUE

KATIE & MISSY

"You know, I've never quite liked her," Katie told Missy, and looked around the school lot. "Did you see who she's taking for prom? I can't believe it. I wouldn't stand next to him, let alone go on a date with him."

"She's being polite," Missy scrunched her nose. "And they're neighbors. If she said no, she'd have to say hi to him every day with a red face."

"As red as her hair! Now tell me, who are you going with?"

"Oh, this guy," Missy sighed. "But believe me, he's no great stroke. I've been with him a year now, and he's starting to get on my nerves."

"You'll get over him," Katie nodded. "Once we go to college, we're off. There's no looking back. And we can leave Westchester behind."

"Somehow, I don't think so," Missy frowned. "I think Westchester will always be a part of our lives. It was for me, since I moved."

"From Springfield, right?"

"Yes, during middle school. That's when I met Jessica… "

"Well, I see her coming towards us. Don't say anything. Promise?"

"Promise. Oh, she's going a different way. Well, you'll have to catch her at hometime."

"When's that?" Katie yawned. "And what class do you have next? I'm sick of my teacher… "

RAAB & BAM

"Yo, Bam," Raab pushed out his feet from within the desk, to kick at the person sitting one up and to the side in the classroom. "Yo. Yo."

Bam stared round blankly. "What?"

"You see her," Raab put his tongue through his teeth. "Go on. Do it, I dare ya. Ask her."

Bam glanced over to where Missy sat by the window, and smiled at something Katie said.

"Nah," Bam shook his head and grinned. "She's goin' with somebody else."

"Yo," Raab switched topics. "You mind if I come over? My mum's hosting a Tupperware party."

"She's hot," Bam grinned, and crumpled to receive the loogie seconds later, and caused enough refrain for Missy and Katie to watch, giggling, as they were led out of the classroom.

APRIL & BAM

"Oh, no," April opened the front door. "Get your feet off the dashboard. You can't have Chris over. Do you know what his mom said to me? I can't believe you. Why can't you be more like Jess?"

"Yeah, right," Bam rolled his eyes at his brother. "Speaking of - where's Jessica?"

"She's staying after school for a project," April reversed out of the lot, and checked her mirrors. "Now she's on track. You watch. She'll make something of herself, unlike her mother. Bam! Bam, put your feet down. You see we're at a red light and I know that woman in the car over - stop!"

PHIL & APRIL

"What trouble he get up to now?" Phil read his Daily Local.

"What else," April chuckled. "It's all hell breaks loose with him. And then he told - not asked - told me Chris was coming over. Between Ryan and Brandon, he just gets all these ideas. You've seen him - he's going out late at night to film doing shoppin' carts."

"What are they?" Phil rustled his paper.

"I don't wanna know," April held up a hand. "All I want is them safe and sound. But no, they have to act like jackasses. I'm tellin' ya, Phil. I've had it up to here with him."

BAM & RAAB

"Yo, I couldn't get anything else," Raab cast a glance, and stuck the hip flask in his tuxedo. "You see that chick I'm taking?"

"I'd take your mother," Bam grinned. "I'm thinkin' of bailing. Phil'll never know."

"Dude, you'll get so slammed for it," Raab nodded. "How much time we got?"

Bam pulled aside the curtain. "There he is, pulling up in his shit-ass car."

"He lives next door," Raab chuckled. "Why doesn't he just walk over?"

Bam turned to Raab. "He told Phil he wanted to do it properly. What a scumbag!"

Bam and Raab got out the side door, and hid in the bushes. Quivering, they burst out as Hanna rang the doorbell, water pistols raised, and the front door opened.

Bam and Raab followed Hanna round the back of the house; his red face flushed by the time he got in through the side door, and within the safety of Phil.

"Calm it, guys," Phil lowered his hand. "Jessie's just upstairs. We don't want to spoil her night."

"C'mon," Bam begged. "Look at him! He's in a tux."

"So are you two," Phil pointed. "Where are your dates?"

"I'm meetin' her later," Raab cast a look to Bam. "And his got sick. Hey, you should take that chick who babysat you once."

"Jenn?" Bam thought for a moment, and heard footsteps downstairs. "OK, Phil, trust me. Lemme take the photo."

"Bam, outside," Phil pointed, and held the camera. "Ape, wait for me! I'm comin'."

HANNA & DICO

"You see half this crowd?" Dico swigged from a paper cup and sloshed it round his mouth. "Rake's gonna love this. You've gotta remind me. He's just found out he hates mustard. God I've gotta cash in on that."

"You seen Jessie?" Hanna tugged at his collar.

"Nah, man. You've gotta relax! You see my girl? She says she thinks we'll be together forever. I dunno, sounds cheesy, but whatever. You need to drink more."

Hanna chuckled. "She'll smell it on my breath."

"What are you thinkin' - " Dico paused. "Bam's sister? I mean, you had to know he'd prank you."

"Least it's nowhere you can see," Hanna sniffed. "I know what I'm signing up for, believe me."

"Do you?" Dico chuckled. "You know his name's not Bam, right? His Pop-Pop called him Bam for runnin' into walls. I figure he'll only get crazier. Ape and Phil let him off the leash so much. Damn, I wish my parents let me that loose sometimes… "

Dico swished the remnants of his paper cup. Hanna looked wistfully towards the bathrooms.

"You see her?" Dico slapped him on the shoulder. "Go get 'em, cowboy."

KATIE & MISSY

"You have to admit," Missy raised her eyebrows. "She does look happy."

"But how?" Katie scowled. "Look how red he is. Look how red her hair is. Can't she dye it? I swear, she and her brother could match in a line up. Nobody likes freckles. Can't she get the message?"

"She dances good with him," Missy lifted a finger, from where she clutched her paper cup. "You know my date's gone off with the others. He doesn't know it, but Bam's gonna prank him."

"Why?"

"Cos Bam was gonna ask me," Missy threw back her drink. "I saw him just before home time lingering by the lockers. And when I walked past his table in the cafeteria, I overheard Gee telling him."

"Not my Ryan?" Katie glanced. "Where is he?"

"Over with Bam, I suppose," Missy shrugged. "He's always got his camcorder. I swear, he'll grow up to be one of those paparazzi and you can follow him outside celebrity houses."

"I wish," Katie folded her arms. "Nothing ever happens here. Westchester's so boring. The last place any celebrity would want to come to is here."

APRIL & PHIL

"He wasn't there, Ape," Phil puffed, closing the front door. "But he's in good hands."

"You know that's not good enough," April chided. "But it'll have to be. It is their prom after all… but it doesn't make me feel any better. Where's Jess?"

"Well, he's with his chick," Phil opened the fridge. "But I don't see it lastin' too long. She wants to travel, and Jess is always in the garage with his drums."

"I hope he gets a real job after graduation," April pulled a magazine closer. "I've given up on Bam. All he does is skateboard. Only someone like that Tony Hawk can make money from skateboardin'."

"I dunno," Phil peered at a use by date, and tore open the lid. "When'd you buy this yoghurt?"

"There's more in the freezer," April peered at the clock. "What time did you tell Mark to bring Jessie back?"

"Ten," Phil's spoon clanged against the bowl. "She'll be alright. Hanna's a good boy."

"I hope so," April flipped pages. "I almost wish we had another daughter. Jess is too quiet, and Bam the opposite. Jessie doesn't make enough friends."

"Bam scares 'em all off," Phil figured. "I think this yoghurt is off, Ape."

"Toss it," April threw her head back. "God, I could use a massage. Stayin' up late to make sure our kids aren't in any trouble. Did you think raising children would be like this?"

"I'm sure he'll get better, Ape," Phil nodded.