Alright, here's part 3 (and it's up so soon after pt 2!) Besides an epilogue, I believe this is it. (Unless I think of something else to write, that is. It's happened before.) Thank you for your reviews, I totally love you guys!

Songs belong to Violent Femmes, The Dresden Dolls, and Iron Butterfly.

III

Living out in the country, Riley decided, sucked. At least for his prank; the prank which Ben never brought up.

Riley's Things To Wonder About list was overflowing so he just chalked that up to Ben knowing him well enough to know he'd get nothing out of the young man.

He concocted a sub-plan to go along with Goldie. A sub-plan he knew would work because he was the control and the variable in the equation.

He'd pretend he forgot or lost his key to the house, and therefore would have to ring the bell.

Genius.

Riley felt like patting himself on the back, but that would arouse suspicion. So he did it mentally and asked for the mashed potatoes.

It had been two days now since he 'installed' Goldie. As far as he could tell, no one had rung the bell while Abi was home.

Granted he did sleep at his own apartment- the first time in almost 2 weeks- last night, but he knew without a doubt he'd find out when Abi knew.

What surprised him was that Ben hadn't told her. A tiny part of him refused to even think the word 'wonder'; he chalked that up to an imaginary Best Friends Code.

Yeah.

After dinner still no one came a-ringing, and Riley thought he'd offer to go buy fire wood just so he could ring the bell and claim arms full and keys in pocket.

Wouldn't work though; Riley had no idea where one could by fire wood.

He plopped onto the couch and felt for the remote, hoping Family Guy or something was on.

NTNTNT

"No! Where's Abi going?" Riley said, running down the stairs, skipping a few now and then.

His sock clad feet skidded across the hardwood floors. A warm, yielding body stopped him from ramming the door.

"Where's she going Ben?!"

Ben held onto Riley's arm as the younger man got his balance back. "She went to pick up my dad."

"Your- Your dad's coming? Here?" Riley closed his eyes. Damn. He didn't want to annoy the eldest Gates. He might even get yelled at.

Eyes still closed, Riley could have sworn he heard Ben stifle a laugh. But that would have just been mean of Ben…

One eye popped open. Ben was grinning.

Riley groaned.

"He's not going to yell at you, Riley. Abigail might, however. As soon as she hears it." Hands let go of his arm and the young techie ran his hands over his face. Why did Ben have to know him so well?

Maybe he could turn Goldie off while Patrick was here…

"Alright." Good Riley, go for everything-is-fine. Make it believable. He turned on his heel, walked slowly back to the stairs, and tossed fine out the window; he sprinted up to his room.

NTNTNT

"C'mon, c'mon." He fiddled with the screw driver, dropped the screw in surprise and growled.

…Some magnets attract, some magnets repel, some magnets say hey hey what the hell…

Riley rested his head on the wall for a few seconds as the song washed over him, before he hopped off his desk chair and morosely made his way back down stairs. Ben stood in the archway into the living room, arms crossed and brow raised.

I'm a freak magnet, and I'm callin all the freaks from the freak freak planet. I'm a freak magnet.

"Yeah, I got it." Riley opened the door and wordlessly held out a 20. The pizza guy looked familiar. But Riley, overcome with the delicious aroma of cheese and sauce, just took the pizza from him and said: "Keep the change," before closing the door.

"You ordered that just so Abigail would hear the doorbell, didn't you?" Ben asked. Riley looked over at him, a little smile playing on his lips; the song cheered him up some. Plus now he had that greasy goodness that can only be provided by pizza.

"Slice of pepperoni and pineapple?" He held the box out, like a child offering his extra cookie.

Ben grinned, amused at the mood jump. "Well, since it's here…"

Riley happily took the pizza to the living room while Ben grabbed drinks.

"Hurry up. I can't be held responsible if all the pineapple is gone when you get back!"

…Callin' all the freaks from the freak freak planet. I'm a freak magnet. Yes I'm callin' all the freaks from the freak freak magnet I'm a freak magnet.

NTNTNT

"You had to get a large?" Ben asked, leaning back into the couch.

"You didn't have to eat half," Riley retorted. And he didn't have to eat the other half.

Riley shushed his mind and leaned back to join Ben.

"You do realize we have dinner at 6 tonight. And we will be expected to eat."

"Ben that's five hours from now." Riley rolled his eyes and reached for the remote. "I can pretty much guarantee I'll be-" Riley broke off and cringed.

Coin-Operated boy sitting on the shelf, he is just a toy. But I turn him on and he comes to life, automatic joy, that is why I want, a, coin-operated boy.

Ben tuned his head slowly to looked at his friend, brows high in surprise.

Riley coughed, smiled embarrassedly, said "I downloaded it by mistake?" and jumped up to see who was at the door now and hide in his room for a while.

He was going to kill Goldie.

NTNTNT

Ben was in his room.

Riley wouldn't have minded that so much, but Ben was in his room holding a screw. A discrete glance showed the air vent was tilted slightly: indicating it was missing a screw. The screw that Ben was holding. While in his room.

Riley's plan was screwed. He mentally snorted at the bad pun.

"Aw Ben, you shouldn't have," he plucked the screw from his friends fingers.

"I didn't. It was in the hall. Do you know why a lone screw was in the hall, Riley?"

Riley tilted his head. "It was trying to find the bathroom?"

Ben shook his head lightly and turned to leave. He might have looked pointedly at the air duct but then Riley just might be paranoid. He still considered turning Goldie off, but as the afternoon wore on he never got around to it.

Because he really didn't want to turn it off.

He might like Patrick more then he did Abigail, but Riley decided that shouldn't mean he had to stop trying to get Abi. He had, after all, included Ben into the plan-by default- but it didn't deter him any.

With the low number or doorbell ringers coming around, chances were slim it'd happen with the eldest Gates here anyway.

NTNTNT

He jinxed himself, Riley was sure of it. Not long after Abigail and Patrick got home, while they were sitting around the living room waiting on dinner to finish cooking, Riley saw a FedEx truck pull up. He bit his lip to hide a grin.

Ben noticed him and must have put two and two together, cause Riley saw a small smile twitch his lips.

A few seconds later, Abigail and Patrick started in surprise and looked around in confusion for the source of the guitars and drums.

Ina gadda da vidda honey, don'tcha know that I love you. Ina godda da vidda baby, don'tcha know that I'll always be true…

Abigail stood but continued to look around, "Where is that coming from?"

Patrick was staring at Riley, who was snickering into his drink at the look on Abi's face. But Abi didn't seem to notice any of that. "Ben?"

"I don't know," Ben replied, shrugging. "But do you smell that?"

"The chicken!" And, music confusion on hold, she hurried to the kitchen. Ben turned to stare at Riley too, as "It's playing in here too!" was shouted.

"Riley…"

Riley was trying his hardest not to laugh. He turned to face his friend.

"What's going on?" Patrick asked, though there wasn't a doubt in Riley's- or Bens, he bet- mind that Patrick worked out it had something to do with Riley.

"I think you should answer the door Ben," Riley said, grin widening. "He's not going to be able to ring again for a while and it's cold out there."

"…This is the full version isn't it?"

Riley nodded giddily as Abi came back in to demand answers and announce dinner was in 10 regardless of the music.

"Full seventeen minutes," Riley managed to say; just loud enough for Ben to hear under his and his fathers groans.

Riley turned to Abi and said, "There's someone at the door." And his grin, as he watched her put everything together and realize the music was the doorbell and going thought the intercom, was positively sinful.

Riley couldn't wait for her to find out it wasn't one-song deal.

Note on the epilogue: It'll take place after Riley's Converse… opinions on which story I should post it under is more than appreciated. I'm torn there. Do I post it in this one? Or in Riley's Converse, or both? Help! (This issue right here, is why I don't like setting myself up for companion pieces!)