A/N: Possibly my most proud work on this story yet- hope you like it. P.S.- Used to be in a block for 8-till i wrote this- now in an idea block for chapter 9. Help me! Send in review or PM ideas for future chapters! Thanks!
Meeting the Gang
"Well, we have the whole day to ourselves…" Nikki trailed off. They were sitting on the couch, watching T.V. "I can't come up with much to do, except…" Jonesy replied. "Jonesy, please tell me you aren't thinking what I think you're thinking? God, you have never gotten rid of yourself being a pervert! Just give it up already!" Nikki said to him, only partly teasing. Jonesy sighed, "Well we could just go hang out with the gang. Jenna's supposed to be at that club thing too, and I think Bianca is staying at her friends. Everyone should be free." "What about Cait? I imagine her and Nick will have some…uh… 'things' planned, knowing her," Nikki said. "Oh, right, like they'd choose the middle of the day for that? C'mon, Caitlin Cooke is more of a romantic than that," Jonesy replied, talking in an "I should know" voice. Nikki just sighed, but got up and called everyone. "Well, everyone's free. We're all gonna meet at the Lemon," she said as she hung up the phone. It felt nice to be able to say how they were going to "the Lemon" again. It had been ten years, if not more, since they all worked at the mall, those were the good days. Thinking that, Nikki headed up to their room to change. She figured if they were going to the Lemon, she might as well dress for the occasion. She changed out of her faded jeans and oversized t-shirt, into a plain white tank top, and grey cargo pants. She even found her bulky necklace from years ago sitting on her dresser, waiting to be worn again.
Nikki grabbed the car keys off the counter and tossed them to Jonesy. "You're driving," she said. "Oh, come on Nik? Why can't you drive?" Jonesy said. "Because I already gave you the keys," she replied. Jonesy didn't really get it, but he walked to her car and started it up anyway. They got to the mall, and actually had to fight over one thing when they were inside: how to get to the Lemon. They finally, when tried both ways and failed both times, walked to the directory to see where the food court started. They wound their way to the Lemon, and saw the rest of the group sitting at the old spots. The strangest thing was, was that even though everyone was dressed in what they usually dressed in every day, the only way Nikki could see them was in their favorite outfits from thirteen years ago. Jessica and Nick hadn't come; Caitlin and Wyatt told them it was kind of a gang thing. Nikki walked to her rightful spot, and so did Jonesy. Caitlin had to move out of her seat, she was just taking Nikki's until she got there. "Oh, sorry Cait. We didn't think of where you could sit," Jen said. "Are you kidding? Caitlin, do you still have the key copy I forced you to make after you quit?" Jonesy asked. "Well duh, why would I ever lose it?" Caitlin said. "Typical Jonesy, copying keys from every job him and any of us ever got," Wyatt said. Caitlin pulled a silver key out of her purse and pushed it in the lock. When it popped open, she saw that it hadn't been touched for a long time. But it wasn't until she saw the scattered pieces of paper on the counter and floor, that she realized that she was the last one inside of it. Numbers of her dates, probably fifty or so just in the plastic building. Feeling kind of honored she was the last one in it, she pulled open the door on the side and stepped in. Realizing how long it'd been, she accidentally on purpose dropped her bag on the floor. She kneeled down to pick it up, and checked to see if the hat was still there. Seeing it on the bottom shelf, she picked it up and brushed it off, then put it on her perfect golden blonde hair. She pulled the apron out too, and threw it on. Then she grabbed her purse and stood up. Instantly the whole group cracked up, and broke out in laughter. That is, until Ron came by. "What's going on here," he asked. Instantly the group turned to look at him, then started laughing even harder. "What the…Nosering? Coffee Pot? Cupcake?" Ron said, reciting all the gang's codenames from when they were teenagers. "Nice to see you, Ron," Jonsey said. "Yeah dude, been too long since you've busted us!" Jude said, still laughing. Ron was starting to break out as well, but not in laughter, "Lo…look at you kids. All g-grown up. Seems like just yesterday I w-was yelling at you to g-get out of th-the air vents," he said between sobs. "E-excuse me," he said, walking away. That just made everyone laugh even harder. "Well, Lemon Head, what shall we do today?" Nikki asked, with her old sarcasm, which was rarely used now. "I vote Vomit Comet!" Jude said, and before anyone could say another word, they were all off, running through the mall.
When they got back, Caitlin locked up the Lemon, and everyone went their separate ways. Just as Nikki got up to leave, Jonesy pulled her back. He ran his hand under the table, until he found what he was looking for. He kneeled down on the ground, and pulled Nikki down too. They read the carving on the underside. Next to where Jonesy had carved his own name, with a plastic spork, was: JG + NW 4evr.