Lori Fitzgerald sits in the lounge of her dorm, sneakers up on the small table. Her hair is shorter again and she has obviously brought some more spring clothes back with her as she now sports a pair of capriis. Sitting with her is her roommate Hannah Frost as well as Michael Harms. Both have an air of relaxation about them from the break and are chatting about their holidays.
Then Lori rises abruptly as Charlie Prescott enters the lounge, running right over to her before standing awkwardly as she looks unwilling to hug. He eventually settles for a high-five and the two sit next to one another on the couch as Ben Prescott follows behind, taking a seat on the only spot left- the floor.
"Welcome back, guys," Lori says, clearly excited and beaming with happiness.
"Where's the new laptop?" Charlie asks.
"She's in my room. I'm just lucky they managed to save my documents. I'd hate to have to write our history paper from scratch. And the warranty was still good since it came from inside the computer. Overall, everyone wins and my parents really want me to get a new, less destructive roommate."
"Sometimes I think it's the other way around," Hannah comments.
Lori turns to her best friend, suddenly serious. "So did you find that last Easter egg you spent all week lamenting to me about?"
Charlie nods as Ben rolls his eyes. "In fact, it was on top of the curtain rod." He pulls out a plastic green egg and hands it to her. "Just as you suggested. Thus, the chocolate spoils are yours." She opens the egg and removes the chocolate coin, not even wasting any time before shelling it and eating it.
"And my parents will be sending you the bill for the four hours worth of long distance calls he dialed looking for that egg," Ben adds. Lori goes to respond but Hannah rises and clears her throat to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, this catching up is all well and good. But, we need to discuss what is coming up tomorrow. It is quite possibly the most important day of the year." Everyone looks bored. "Tomorrow is my nineteenth birthday!" she shouts with a jump in the air.
"We know!" they all respond together in monotone. Hannah looks taken aback by their lack of surprise.
Michael decides to explain, trying to be kind. "I think we all downloaded the "emergency" app you sent us over break just to find out it was a "Countdown to Hannah's Birthday App"." He pulls out his phone and clicks on it to reveal a picture of Hannah in a birthday hat with a time under it that is now at just under five hours. Everyone nods in agreement.
This doesn't faze Hannah and she claps her hands. "Excellent! I will expect my gifts in the morning. But do you also know what else tomorrow is?"
The others shrug, but Charlie thinks on it. "Well, it's April 1st…"
Lori's eyes go wide in horror. "Oh no," she breathes as Hannah gets a Cheshire grin.
"Yes. You'd all better get prepared. I've been planning and preparing all week. I can promise and April Fool's Day you all won't soon forget." She laughs manically and everyone looks increasingly nervous and uncomfortable.
XXX
So follow me down
(Lori stands with the book)
Where to?
Outta this town
(Charlie examines his map)
With you
Girl, you're movin way
(Hannah is typing away at her computer)
Too slow
So follow me down
(Michael grabs the first aid kit from a cabinet)
Which way?
Down, down, down
(Ben looks at his phone and sighs, adjusting his tie)
I'll show you around
Okay
There's a place we gotta go
(The Disney Encyclopedia begins to glow. Lori sighs)
Follow me, follow me
(Lori, Hannah, Ben, Michael, and Charlie are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces)
Fa la la la la
Follow me, follow me
Fa la la la la
(Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground)
Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)
Episode 13: How it's Supposed to Work
XXX
That night, Charlie is curled up asleep in a little ball. He is at the foot of Lori's bed, having suffered a few nightmares in his time away.
Hannah creeps up to him silently, smiling an evil grin. She takes a pair of headphones and very carefully and slowly guides them onto his ears. She holds up her iPod and turns to the clock. The second if turns to midnight she presses play and cranks the volume up as "Shoot to Thrill" starts blasting.
Charlie is instantly sitting up screaming in terror. This has Lori up less than a second later, looking every which way with half-closed eyes.
"What's happening?!" she slurs. Hannah turns off the music and starts laughing hysterically, gasping for air as Lori clears the fog from her head and things start to click.
"Happy Birthday to me!" Hannah sings, still chuckling. "You've just been pranked!" Charlie throws off the headphones, obviously upset. Hannah is too busy reveling to notice. "Now, I've got something to go set up in the hallway for Caroline." She streaks out of the room with a bucket and string she has by the door ready to go.
Lori turns her attention to Charlie and sees he is clutching his knees, tears forming in his eyes. "Hey… it's alright," she whispers soothingly. "It was just some stupid prank." He doesn't look any better so she moves towards him and realizes what's really wrong as he starts to cry.
"I'm sorry," he cries. "It just scared me and I-"
Lori ruffles his hair, completely calm and being nothing but patient and kind. "Don't even worry about it. Let me just strip the bed and we'll throw this in the wash." He climbs off, still ashamed, and she strips the bed. "Go change into your spare of pajamas and I'll wash those too."
"I could go home," he whispers. Lori grabs his spare pair of pajamas out of her dresser and holds them out to him.
"Go change. Then go back to sleep in Hannah's bed. I have a feeling she won't be using it tonight." She ruffles his hair, desperate to calm him. "It's fine. Don't worry about it."
But his eyes are watering again. "Don't tell Hannah. I don't want to ruin her birthday." Lori clearly is not a fan of this, wanting to give her roommate a piece of her mind. But she nods for his sake and he smiles, heading for the bathroom.
XXX
Lori exits her room and walks her hamper down the hallway. She notices Hannah at the last door before the stair, their RA, suspending a bucket of water over the door.
"Hannah, what are you doing?" she says harshly, irritated.
"I'm having some fun on my birthday," Hannah shoots back, noticing her tone. "Just wait until you see what I have in store for you."
"No. I mean it," she says in her completely icy, serious tone. "You had better not even try. I hate April Fools almost as much as Halloween."
"But I've been planning all year," Hannah whines. "I live for this day. I have loved pranks ever since I was little and this is my day."
Lori meets her eyes and holds them "Know this, Hannah Frost. I will not tolerate it. If you attempt, I will make you miserable," she promises.
Hannah pulls back, clearly afraid. "Well, I guess I can shift yours to someone else. I'm just having fun." Their door opens and Charlie pops his head out. Lori drops her cold demeanor and turns to him.
"Lori, the book just went off." Hannah jumps up and down as Lori sighs.
"It looks like I got another birthday present after all!" she cheers.
XXX
Lori exits the bathroom the next morning, Sunday, dressed in her usual casual attire. She walks into the closet to grab her sneakers and notices Hannah stuffing a rubber snake in her coat pocket. She just gives her a look.
"It's not for you," Hannah glares back. "Don't worry. Message was received." There is a knock and Lori opens it to find Michael, hands behind his back.
"Hey!" Lori greets. "Just let me get my shoes on." Hannah appears and he goes straight for her. "Alright then."
"Happy Birthday Hannah!" he shouts as he hands her a small box from behind his back.
"Oh, thank you!" She opens it to reveal a small, red, sparkling heart pendant. She admires it. "Wow. This is so nice. Thank you, Michael." She sets it on her desk as he opens his arms for a hug.
She proceeds to punch him in the shoulder and heads for the door. "Now let's go get a birthday breakfast worth remembering! I can't wait to see what everyone else got me!" She runs out, and Michael lets his arms drop pathetically, obviously disappointed.
Lori looks at the pendant. "This is really nice. Like… surprisingly nice," she notes, her voice suspicious.
Michael gets where she's going and becomes defensive. "I thought she'd like it is all."
"You know, this matches her hair color and goes well with that favorite blouse and skirt combo she wears at least once every two weeks. But I have a feeling you already knew that," she smiles smugly. He waves his hand.
"It was a birthday gift for a friend. Stop being a… Donald Duck." She rolls her eyes and they start out. "Lori, I'm serious," he pleads.
"Right," she answers, dismissing the topic. "Come on, let's get some food. My tummy's rumbling." They exit into the hallway and notice the bucket still over the doorway. "We might be able to hear the scream from the cafeteria."
XXX
Everyone is sitting at breakfast when Charlie joins them, placing a bag in front of Hannah as her takes his seat next to Lori.
"Happy Birthday," he offers, clearly not as chipper to her as usual. She doesn't notice as she tears into the bag.
"Thank you." She pulls out a Mickey Mouse t-shirt and holds it up. "Oh, this is great. I love it." She smiles at him and he gives an awkward one back. "You are so sweet. But I do have to declare Lori's vintage computer earrings the winner so far. When am I going to get yours Ben?"
"I didn't get you one," Ben says simply, biting into his pancake.
Hannah laughs. "Ha, April Fools! I get it!"
"That wasn't a joke," he answers, serious. "Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you can expect presents no matter how well you treat the person." He rises and prepares to storm away when he trips over his shoelaces, which have been tied together, and crashes into a display vase on a table next to them. He crashes to the floor as everyone turns to stare and laugh. Hannah laughs as the others just look uncomfortable at the attention- Charlie sinking into his seat.
"Got ya'! That's what you get!" she cheers, going to tower over him. He sits up infuriated when he notices his watch, cracked and on the ground next to him.
"You broke my watch…"he mutters sadly, picking it up.
"So?" Hannah responds coldly.
Charlie pulls Lori's sleeve and whispers to her and Michael. "Lori that was his grandfather's watch." They're both on their feet.
"Shoot," Michael voices.
"Batten down the hatches," Lori orders. "This isn't going to be pretty." Ben rises and stands face-to-face with Hannah, clearly infuriated.
"You have no absolutely no respect for other people's things or feelings is the problem! You cannot walk all over me!" he shouts. The whole cafeteria is not watching the group of them.
Hannah crosses her arms. "I was just having fun. God!"
He holds the watch out. "I can't replace this Hannah!" She swats it away and looks ready to hit him when Lori grabs her arms from behind. She starts struggling as Michael puts a hand on Ben's shoulder.
"Whoa!" Lori shouts to gain control of the situation as Hannah pulls away. "Everyone back up. This is neither the time nor the place. Let's just finish breakfast peacefully."
Ben just scoffs in disbelief. "I'm done. I knew you wouldn't back me up." He storms off and Lori looks after him, clearly deep in thought.
"This wouldn't have happened if you gave me a birthday present!" Hannah shouts after him. He flips her off. "Well fu-"Lori desperately covers her mouth.
"Not in front of the child," she orders.
Charlie nods, backing her up. "My ears will bleed." Hannah takes her seat and the others follow, attention turning off of them as everyone goes back to their meals. Lori and Michael follow, her sighing and putting her head in her hands.
XXX
Charlie enters the unlocked door after a quick knock to find Lori pacing back and forth across her bedroom floor.
"So Michael and I found nothing in the gym or the library. Whenever you're ready we'll head into the preserve." She obviously hasn't heard a word. "What's up?" he asks instantly.
"I need to figure out this Hannah and Ben thing," she admits. "It can't be put off anymore. Things are heading towards nuclear."
He shrugs. "It isn't your problem though. You're not their parent."
"No, I need to do something," Lori disagrees. "I'm the leader. I need to make a call here. This kind of behavior can't fly if we're going to make this work." Charlie realizes how serious she is and nods in agreement to support her. He starts thinking too.
"So we need to do something until they talk to one another at least," he ponders. Something comes to him and he snaps. "Like what they do in sports when a player acts out! They- they… what's the word?" he stumbles.
"Bench her?" Lori offers. He nods.
"Yeah, make her sit out." Lori thinks this over.
"That doesn't sound like much of a punishment," she admits, hesitant. "I'd enjoy it."
"Trust me. I'd be upset and so would anyone else." She thinks some more before smiling.
"Huh. It just might work."
XXX
"Benching me? What-what does that even mean?" Hannah questions, arms folded. Lori and her Companions stand at the edge of the preserve, about ready to head in and start searching. Lori holds her ground.
"It means you're out. Nothing to do with the book or the character at all. Right now you'll head back to the room."
"What if the lesson's for me though?" Hannah questions, still in disbelief.
Lori looks at Charlie, who shrugs. "We'll deal with it."
Ben smiles, quite proud of her. "I think it's a great idea."
"Good, because you're joining her," Lori announces.
This catches Ben off guard. "Wait! Both of us?! What did I do?! She-"
"It takes two to tango," Lori silences him. "You two are not to be involved in any of this until you sit down and have a conversation with another. When you two can come to me with some kind of resolution I'll be more than happy to put you back in. So how long this lasts is up to you. Now… off you go." Both start heading back- Ben handing her his new keys to show that he still supports her decision even if it involves him too. Lori nods and she, Michael, and Charlie disappear into the preserve.
"This is all your fault for overreacting," Hannah sulks. "Thanks for making this birthday special." "Hannah, just because it's a special day doesn't mean you get to be a brat," Ben argues, trying to remain calm. "Now, how about we talk-"
This only makes her angrier. "Shut up!" She thinks for a moment before clapping. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few more pranks to spring. Maybe getting this day off was a blessing in disguise." She runs off and he just glares after her.
XXX
Lori uses the keys from Ben to unlock the cafeteria. It is now night and the place has been closed for the day. She steps in with Charlie and Michael hesitantly following behind. They all still look pretty happy and relaxed for it being so late. "We have searched that entire preserve top to back at least twice," she reminds them. "This is the only place we haven't officially searched."
"But I'm sure we would've heard something during breakfast. Or lunch. Or dinner," he adds, alluding to how long of a day it has been. They head in by the tables and start looking around.
Charlie smiles, taking things in. "Can I just say I've actually had fun today. It's great to be back here. And no offense, but I like things the three of us."
"Hopefully they'll get their act together soon though," Lori quips. "I have a feeling this one IS for Hannah with her attitude today."
Michael nods, disappointed. "Yeah," he admits sadly. "And she obviously did something to upset squirt here with the way he's been around her today."
"I'm fine! It was nothing." He turns to Lori and she gives and angry nod of confirmation. Charlie gives him a sad look. "You could tell? Was it that obvious? I-I tried really hard to hide it-"
"I'm just really good at picking up on things like that," he promises. Lori disappears into the kitchen and reappears a minute later shrugging. "Lori, I don't think anyone's here."
Lori nods, now officially frustrated. "I know. We should- "
Suddenly, something hits her in the forehead. She grabs it and looks down to see an acorn rolling across the floor. "Ouch! Who threw that?! I swear if either of you say the word April Fools-"
Charlie puts his hands up. "I wouldn't."
Michael does the same. "I didn't." Another one hits the back of her head this time and laughter echoes from the rafter just below the ceiling. Michael looks up and points up there. "We found our culprits. We've got two laughing chipmunks in the rafter." Everyone realizes what he just said.
"Two?!" they all say in unison, shocked. They all see Chip and Dale in the rafters, clear as the day. The two have various gathered nuts and other items scattered all over.
Lori's jaw drops. She takes a beat before glaring at the book. "Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse." She dodges another acorn. She puts on a fake smile to hide her continued shock and waves to them. "Hey guys, we're here to help you! We can send you-"She ducks as a fork flies past her, "home!"
"How did they get all those things up there?" Michael inquires.
"They must have been gathering all day," Charlie surmises. "No one was really paying attention at breakfast since they were all staring at us."
They look up again to see Dale has vanished. "Where'd he go?" Lori asks, eyes combing the rafters. A spoon hits the back of Michael's head. He turns around to see Dale is now on the other side of the cafeteria with another stockpile.
"Watch out," he calls as Dale hurls another spoon at them and Chip fires with an acorn from another side. The trio starts ducking and weaving as fire comes down on them from both sides of the room, high-pitched laughing echoing.
Lori covers her head with the book. "I'm really starting to hate this day."
XXX
Ben strides down the hallway, noticing water all over the floor in front of the RA's door. He rolls his eyes, knowing exactly who the culprit is. He comes to Hannah's dorm, adjust his tie, and knocks.
"It's open!" she shouts. He enters and heads into the bedroom where she is slumped on her bed eating a piece of birthday cake her parents had the school deliver her. Her mood darkens as soon as she sees it's him. "You're the last person I want to talk to right now."
"But I'm the person you need to talk to," he argues. "It's eight pm and they aren't back. Admit it; you're dying to know what's happening too."
Hannah's look can't betray she's slightly worried. "Lori will cave. She has to," she says, stubbornly.
"Or we could talk like she wants," Ben offers, becoming frustrated. "Did you ever consider that?"
"Quite honestly… no. I'm going to wait this out. And you should do the same. The only reason you want to do this it to get of Lori's good side again."
Ben scoffs. "Why would I care?"
Hannah looks at him as if it's obvious. "Because you like her… a lot." He opens his mouth. "Don't even. Nothing you can say or argue or refute is going to change the way you look at her when her back is turned. It won't stop how you worry about her and rush to her rescue. And it won't change how I notice all of it." Ben looks around desperately and the notices the pendant on her desk.
"But do you notice how people look at you when your back is turned?" he asks mockingly.
Hannah doesn't pick up what he's implying, smug in her own right. "I'm going to note that you changed the subject and didn't answer. I honestly can't tell if she's in the same place though. She's harder to peg down. I personally think she's too good for you."
Ben sighs. "Can't you say at least one nice thing to me? That's how we got in this situation. I kept bringing it up to Lori about how you always bully me and-"
This finally catches her attention and she hops off the bed. "Wait. You think I bully you?"
Ben nods. "Well, what else would you call it? I can take the jests Hannah. Feel free to make jokes about me. But picking on me? That's where I draw the line."
She almost looks sad. "You really think I bully you?" she whispers as he leans against the desk, exhausted by this whole thing.
XXX
Lori, Charlie, and Michael are still ducking around the cafeteria. There is suddenly a lull in the throwing activity. "Hey!" Chip shouts. "Grab some of those dishes we brought up here earlier! We ran out of nuts!"
The trio all looks at one another. "Did he just say-"Charlie begins, but Michael pulls him aside as a plate shatters the wall behind where he just was. They all just stare at the spot.
"Fire!" Dale shouts and more plates start streaking by them. Desperate, the group ducks under the salad bar and it becomes pelted with glassware, plates and bowls shattering against it.
"How are we going to clean this one up?" Michael questions.
Lori flinches as a plate shatters right above her. "I'm still grappling with the fact both of them are here! I'm going to try to talk to them again!" She slides out and stands up. "Guys, can we please stop?" The other two climb out as well. "We're trying to help you. Just-"Michael catches a plastic cup from hitting her face. "Nice reflexes Doctor," she admires.
"Anytime,' he smiles. This lull bores the two chipmunks and more dishes start coming and they duck under again.
"Any other ideas?" Charlie asks.
Lori shakes her head. "I'll let you know."
"Come out and face us!" Chip shouts.
"Yeah! Face us!" Dale echoes.
"Right now I'm considering having the book spit out a large carnivorous beast to eat them, since apparently we can have more than one!" Lori grumbles. She puts her hand down on the book, but it slips off so that is sends the book sliding into the middle of the open room. "That was a bad idea."
XXX
Hannah and Ben are still in her dorm room, both of them staring at the clock which shows it's just after nine. Both look frustrated and worried.
Hannah has finally had enough and pulls out her phone. "I'm calling her." Ben gives her a look. "It's late and I'll admit I'm starting to get worried. She could be hurt. They could all be in trouble." She dials and it is picked up after a few seconds. "Hey, Lori! I know I'm benched, but I just wanted to make sure- Battle?" she questions. "What's all that racket? Lori? Lori?! I lost her," she says angrily, hanging up.
Ben can see beyond that to she's also worried. "Where are they?"
"I think she said the cafeteria."
He nods. "Let's go." She doesn't waste a beat in joining him and they run out the door and down the hallway.
XXX
Lori hangs up her phone defiantly as another plate smashes above her, clearly at the end of her rope. She grabs a plastic cup from next to her.
"I'm going in." She stands up and chucks it towards Chip, hitting just to the right of him. She grabs another cup as Michael and Charlie slide out but remain on the ground.
"Lori! You could hurt them!" Michael reminds her.
"Or I could get them to finally listen to us!" she argues back, hurling a spoon at Dale.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Chip replies, excited. The two continue to throw items at her while she picks up pieces and starts throwing them back. Michael and Charlie just watch from the ground.
"Somebody's really going to get hurt," Michael begs, tugging on her pant leg.
She's ignoring him. "Will you listen now?!" Another fork just misses her. At that moment the cafeteria door in thrown open, Ben and Hannah running in. They halt and take in the floor covered in acorns, utensils, and broken glass as well as their three friends. Lori hurls a cup and dodges a plate.
"What is going on?!" Hannah shouts. This gathers everyone's attention and they all turn towards the two.
"I told you that you two were benched. Go back to your dorm," Lori orders as if this mess is nothing out of the ordinary.
"We just heard the ruckus on the phone and wanted to make sure everything was alright," Ben explains. "I'm still not entirely positive that it is."
Charlie chooses the moment to get up as Chip hurls a plate towards Ben. He is however in the way and it smashes against the back of his head, causing him to recoil. "Where did that come from?" Michael points to both chipmunks.
This is clearly the last straw for Lori. "That does it, you rodents!" She starts hurling things like mad and they start throwing back when Charlie lets out a sob, clutching the back of his head.
"Whoa! Stop Dale!" Chip shouts. Lori pauses as the throwing instantly ceases and they run down a post and jump onto the salad bar in front of the group. Michael is examining a crying Charlie.
"It looks like you got a nasty blow, but no cuts or bleeding. Are you feeling dizzy?" he asks, pulling a penlight out of his pocket and checking his pupils.
"No. It just hurts like a really bad headache."
"Hey, we're sorry little guy," Chip apologizes. "We got carried away there. We didn't want any of you to get hurt, we promise."
Dale nods. "We were just having fun with you guys."
"Are you alright?" Chip asks, concerned.
Charlie dries his eyes and gives a small smile. "Yeah. I'll be fine. Thanks."
They both nod. "Great," Dale says. "Again we're sorry." Lori seizes this opportunity to grab the book from the floor, dusting some glass shards off of it.
Charlie pats Dale on the head. "No, it's fine. It wasn't even the worst part of my day." He freezes at he realizes what he just said. Hannah instantly picks up on this too. She turns to Lori, who merely gives a confirming nod.
"Charlie, be honest," she begins, kneeling in front of him. "Was I the worst part of your day?"
He takes a long beat before giving a nod. Her face falls, shattered. "I know it was just a prank, but-"
"Oh, sweetie, I am so sorry," she apologizes. "I should have realized… I have been pretty awful today," she admits, looking at everyone. "It's just…I mean, I'm an only child. I'm used to being the center of attention today. But that needs to stop if I'm hurting others," she tells herself. "I won't have that at all. I need to know where to draw the line like they did. I was bullied my entire life and I never want to make people feel even close to the way I did."
Charlie pats her shoulder. "It's okay. I forgive you."
She just smiles at him, tears forming in her eyes. "You are too good to be true." She looks at Lori. "I think that book should work now." Lori opens it to a glowing poem. "I'm just kind of disappointed it took me two chipmunks to realize it," she admits it.
"You're sending us back?" Chips asks, a little sad.
Charlie pats his head. "Yes. I'm sure Donald misses you."
"Oh boy! I can't wait to see him again," Dale admits.
"Then let's get the reunion underway," Lori claps her hands. "I'd like to say it's been fun, but it hasn't. Some times some crimes go slipping through the crack But the two gumshoes are picking up the slack" They vanish in a burst of light and the group examines the chaos of the room. "Should we clean this up or just delete the security footage and leave it?" They all think for a moment.
"I'm tired," Charlie finally voices. She nods and the group follows her lead towards the door, stepping over things and locking the cafeteria door again.
She hands Ben his keys. "You're so lucky we don't sit around just staring at the screens and patrol campus. We'd be screwed."
"I do appreciate the little things," she smiles at him. "Like maybe since we got two done at once we'll get through this even faster."
"Yeah, why'd that happen?" Hannah asks.
Lori waves her off, defeated. "We'll just leave it to our list of questions that I've officially given up trying to solve."
"You'll get the answers someday," Charlie encourages her. "I'm sure of it."
"If you say so buddy," Lori says, unconvinced.
XXX
The group sits for breakfast the next morning, all noticeably eating with paper plates and plastic utensils. Cafeteria workers are still sweeping up glass and they just keep their heads down. Hannah comes up and places a box in front of Ben.
"What-?"
She nods to it as she sits. "It's an unbirthday present." He opens it to pull out a really ugly neon yellow and pea green striped tie. He looks at her confused. "I promise to only mock that tie on a regular basis and not you. When you wear it, I will make appropriate comments about how ugly it is. Otherwise, I won't say anything to demean you in any way." He looks skeptical. "I mean it," she promises.
He smirks. "I think I can live with that. I'll wear it about once a month." They shake hands in agreement and Lori leans back, satisfied with herself.
"I also found out about the watch. I know I can never replace it, but I sincerely apologize for what I did. Really, I'm so sorry."
He smiles. "That's okay. I managed to get it to work again." He holds up the ticking watch and gestures to the crack. "Now it just has an unfortunate battle wound." She smiles at this.
"I still am sorry I did even that."
"And you two are officially un-benched then," Lori finalizes.
"Yes! Thank you!" Hannah exclaims with a fist pump. "Maybe that benching thing was a pretty good idea, except I say you should alter it a little so we receive texts to at least know you're okay."
"I'll consider that," Lori acknowledges.
"She's right," Ben admits. "That was a really good piece of leadership. You should be proud of yourself."
Lori couldn't hide her smile if she tried. "I am. I'm a genius."
"Hey!" Charlie interjects. "Only because it was suggested by a genius!" Everyone laughs.
"Couldn't let me have the moment?" He shakes his head and she just smiles at him. The group all return to breakfast. "Does anyone have any idea why we're using paper plates?" she asks jokingly, making everyone almost choke on their food in laughter.
XXX
Tune in next week as Charlie and Ben face difficult times and will either be brought together of definitively pulled apart