Chapter Title: Unexpected Guests

AN: I know I haven't updated in a while, but I'm back now. Expect more updates again. Just to let you guys know, there are only two more chapters after this one. But there is a sequel.

Disclaimer: Still don't own them.

Connie stared at the phone trying to decide if she should call Julie. She wanted to tell her how well things were going with her and Charlie. But she knew she would be rubbing it in. Julie was taking not having Portman around better now. But Connie always felt bad after she talked to her about Charlie. A knock on her door caught her attention. Her mom was leaning against the doorframe holding an envelope in her hand.

"You got a letter from Julie." She said holding it out for Connie to take.

They had been sending each other a letter every week since school let out. Jesse and Fulton had a habit of using her computer to check their e-mail. Jesse had opened her account by accident and had found an e-mail from Tammy that he shouldn't have read. Luckily he hadn't told Fulton. So they told the juicy stuff through letters.

Connie took the letter and flopped down on her bed. The letter was thicker than the others. Something must have happened. Connie thought to herself as she opened the letter. She read the first few paragraphs before picking up the phone. She dialed while still reading.

"Hello?"

"Jules are you okay?"

"You got my letter." She said with a sigh.

"Yeah, I'm so sorry. Is Hannah okay?"

"She will be. She fractured her hip and broke two ribs. She pulled a couple tendons in her knee too, but she should be fine by the end of the summer."

"Why doesn't he want anyone to know?"

"He didn't want everybody there. He didn't even ask me to come. I just showed up."

"Is he okay?" Connie asked sounding concerned.

"He is now. But things were tense when I got there."

"He was smoking wasn't he?"

"Yeah." She said sounding distant.

Connie finished reading the letter while they talked. She didn't like the idea that Julie had gone to see Portman under the circumstances she did. But she was glad that she had gotten a chance to see him.

"It was a tense situation in general. I got to meet his family."

"I thought you and Fult had done that already."

"I met his entire family. His cousin Dave is crazier than he is." Julie said with a laugh.

"Well it's good to know that things are better now. Right?"

"Things are good now. Expect another letter before I leave. Then I don't know when I'll be able to write you again."

"You can start e-mailing me again. I just won't let Jesse or Fulton near my computer."

They talked for a few more minutes before Julie had to get off the phone. She didn't tell her that what happened the night before. But she had hinted and that was enough for now. She hated to say it but she wished Julie was there. So she would talk to Tammy about it. She was her friend too. Even if she had been spending a lot of time with Fulton since she had gotten back from California. Connie still didn't understand why her parents had sent her to boarding school.

A few minutes later Connie was walking through Charlie's front door. She heard banging coming from the backyard, which could only mean one thing. She walked out the back door and saw Charlie at the bottom of the stairs. He was kneeling over the railing trying to nail one of the banisters into place. Connie watched him not wanting him to know that she was there. His shirt was on the ground at his feet and sweat was running down his back as he put hammer down on the stairs. He looked over his shoulder then wiped his face with his shirt. He smiled at her as she walked down the stairs.

"Hey." He said reaching for her.

"I don't think so. You stink." She said playfully pushing him away.

"We can change that." He said putting the tools away.

"You can change that. I have nothing to do with it." She said giving him a teasing smile.

"Fine." He said acting like he didn't care.

He brushed past her letting his hand graze her arm. She sighed before following him up the stairs and into the house. He was waiting for her as she walked in the back door.

"I knew you couldn't resist me." He said with a satisfied smile.

"Shut up." She said rolling her eyes.

XXXX

Julie fell onto the couch late that night. It had been a long day. Not only was it her last night at work but she'd gone out to dinner with her dad afterwards. The only time she had sat down other than dinner was when she talked to Connie. But that had been hours ago. She had been going all day and now all she wanted to do was sleep. She closed her eyes planning on not moving from where she was.

Her cell phone rang making her wince. She ignored it trying to tune it out. She would call whoever it was back later. It started again a few minutes later making her groan in frustration. She grabbed it planning to throw it across the room. She glanced at the number and groaned when she saw who it was.

"Dean?"

"Hey."

"Did you call a few minutes ago?"

"No, I was getting ready to hang up."

"It's been a long day. I'm so tired I can't move."

"You can't get up to answer the door?"

"No one's at the door."

The doorbell rang making her jump.

"You sure about that?"

"What did you do?"

"Open the door and find out." He said with a laugh.

She opened the door expecting to see him on the other side. But it wasn't.

"I'll call you back. My other boyfriend is here." She said before hanging up the phone.

"Wait a minute!" Portman yelled catching her attention.

"Yes?" She asked laughing.

"You were joking right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Julie asked before hanging up the phone.

The person outside gave her a weird look as she opened the door wider.

"Get in here." She said pulling him inside.

"I told him not tell you."

"He didn't. He was distracting me. What are you doing here Fulton?"

"Getting away from the madness that is Charlie and Connie." He said pulling her to him.

"Do I have to go down there?"

"You'd just get dragged into it."

"I'm already in the middle of it." She said putting her head on his shoulder.

"Everybody's avoiding them. They're acting weirder than normal."

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since they came back from California they've been different."

"Again I ask what do you mean?"

"They don't argue anymore, they're flirting more. They can't keep their hands off each other. I can't even be around them when they're together."

"You have got to get over your issues." She said rolling her eyes.

"I'm working on it. I've never had a serious girlfriend, you know that."

"I know. Did you say that they couldn't keep hands off each other?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Guy and Connie did that after they… Oh God, they slept together."

"TMI!" Fulton said putting his hands over his ears.

"You know for a guy you're weird. You can sleep with a girl, but yet you can't let them in. I'm confused."

"You're not the only one."

Julie stared at him before falling onto the couch laughing. Fulton gave her a threatening glare before laughing himself. Julie's dad came into the room staring at them. Julie looked up and stopped laughing.

"Dad, you remember Fulton right?"

"I remember him. Hi Fulton."

"Mr. Gaffney." He said before looking at his hands.

"Can he stay?"

"You and Dean really are alike." Her dad said shaking his head.

"Sorry sir."

"You can stay. And don't call me sir, I'm not that old. Call me John."

He walked out of the room without saying another word. Julie knew he wouldn't mind. Portman and Fulton really were alike. She just wished they would have called before coming to see her.

"So why are you really here?"

"I missed you." He said draping an arm over her shoulders.

"I missed you too Fult." She said laying her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I missed your muscles. Just don't tell Portman." She said laughing.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Help me pack? I haven't even started yet."

"Sure."

"How long are you here for anyway?"

"A week."

"Seven whole days huh? That's more than I've seen Dean this summer."

"I promise I won't rub it in."

"He really would get jealous."

Julie stayed awake long enough to get Fulton blankets and pillows. He was going to sleep on the couch. He said he didn't mind, but like Portman his feet hung over the edge. Julie couldn't help laughing when she saw him. He rolled his eyes and groaned at her as she told him goodnight. She was glad had come. He was just what she needed.