Chapter Fourty-one:
"I am glad you accepted this opportunity, AJ." Mr. Michaels collects all the paperwork needed for this transfer.
"It won't be until next term, right?" She still has about two months to spend with everyone.
"That is correct, in January you will be transferred. Now, you just have your parents sign and fill out this form. Please, have them fax me the completed copy."
"Yes Mr. Michaels, anything else?"
"Nope, you are free to go."
AJ exits the office to have Kourtney creepily waiting for her. She glances in annoyance.
"What do you want?" She speaks in a crude tone.
"I just want to witness it myself that Ms. AJ is transferring to Impertinent High School." Kourtney speaks in calmly tone.
"How do you know about that, no one knows outside the circle?" She is suspicious on her knowledge.
"Becca told me, her brother is close with Jack's father." She answers.
"Yes I know that however how do you know the name of the school? Everyone just knows I got an opportunity to a high academic High School; only my close friends and family know the name." She interrogates. Kourtney starts to get nervous that she spilled the beans on her plan. "You orchestrated this. You send an application or recommend it to Mr. Michaels." AJ accuses.
"Why would I do that?" She tries to stay calm having her caught in her plan.
"You want me out so Becca can have Jack and to lessen the numbers." She accuses again.
"Becca doesn't like Jack anymore we are both on John now."
"Yah right, then why did you want Stacey and Randy broken up. You almost cost them their relationship by pulling down their pants at the barbecue."
"That was pretty good." Kourtney compliments herself. "I wanted them gone so I can prove to Randy I am the one he wants, but no you two had to get in the way, your friendship got in the way. No matter you will be away so Becca and I will have Jack and Randy." She exposes her lie that they are crushing on John.
"Jack and I are not broken up and Stacey is still here. I guess your plan will fail again." She grins.
"Nope, I guess I just have to convince you that Jack is still a player and I know how." She displays a devilish smile.
"You mean to tell me that you blackmailed Jack to have sex with you." She repeats innocently.
Kourtney mouths drops. "Yes I know, so you don't have anything." She puts on a smug face.
"I do, he was with Becca and Emily at the barbecue. From what Becca told me they had a blast."
AJ chuckles. "Yah, I am not worried about that." She knows the truth about what that night.
"You should be, when you are gone we can pursue him to go for round 2." She kindly threatens.
"Trust me that is not going to happen." She speaks firmly not backing down.
"Who is going to stop me?" Kourtney steps into AJ's personal space to tower over her.
"Break it off, Kourtney I need to speak to you." Mr. Michaels orders.
"Bye AJ have fun at your new school." She waves sweetly.
"Now Kourtney."
"What's wrong, bestie?" Stacey wonders.
"Guess who knows about my transfer?"
"No way, how does she know?" Randy inquires.
"She orchestrated it all to get me out of the way. Oh, Randy she still gunning for you. John is a ploy to have them lessen the numbers. She also admitted to pulling you two pants down."
"No surprise there." Jack adds.
"What do you mean?" Randy asks. "We all know she did it. Kourtney's downhill is her ego. She likes to gloat a lot which gets her into trouble with my parents. Yes, my parents appreciate her because of what she did to save Stacey, beside that they think she is a bad influence to Stacey."
"Oh baby, she knows I know about your situation before too." AJ recalls to Jack.
"You told her." He whispered not wanting anyone else to know.
"I did because she will use it against us." She whispered back.
"Okay." He hugs her.
"Umm… a little fill in here." Randy acknowledge their presence.
"It is kind of a private conversation for now." Jack explains in hopes they understand.
"AJ, is it okay?" Randy asks concern that it will affect or hurt AJ badly.
"It is okay Randy, nothing I can't handle." She smiles knowing for sure her brothers would punch Jack in the face if they knew.
"Okay, we trust you."
"Also, I kind of hinted that Dean was with Becca and Emily and not you." She admits nervously.
"AJ." Jack shakes his head. The purpose was to let them think it was him to have them have the upper hand.
"Sorry, she brought it up and I giggled."
"No more secrets out of you miss. Let me take you to class before you spill anymore secrets of mine." Jack takes her away pretending to be upset.
"See you at lunch guys and bestie." AJ giggles at Jack attitude.
John and Randy wave back before looking at Stacey. "What?"
"Do you know about their secret?" They are curious not liking having secrets regarding AJ.
"I do not." Stacey answers confidently. "I am serious I don't know."
"Okay, come on we will be late for class."
"Mom, dad, I am home." AJ calls out.
"Princess, we are in the living room." Her mother calls out.
"Mom, you need to sign some… what is she doing here?" She is surprise to see Kourtney on her couch with her parents.
"Her and her parents are here for an announcement."
"And an apology." Mrs. Bear includes.
"Mom." Kourtney whines.
"You will apologize Kourtney." She just huffs as a response.
"AJ, please take a seat." Her father offers.
"First thing first. We want to congratulate AJ on the offer."
"Thank you, you can have your daughter to thank as well." AJ mentions.
"Yes, however her motive behind it we don't condone. Next, we want to thank you and your friends for not making a huge scene with Kourtney's actions towards you all. We strictly don't appreciate her attack on other people both emotionally, physically, and vocally. She hasn't been quite herself since she dated the guy in Middle School. We also don't condone forcing or blackmailing someone to commit certain actions." Mrs. Bear looks at Kourtney with authority to signal big trouble.
Kourtney looks at her mother in shock. "Mom, how do-"
"I have known for a while. You need to tidy your room once in a while." She advises finding out her journal of these discretions against AJ and her friends.
"He enjoyed it." She includes in hatred.
"He didn't he regrets it." AJ includes defending him.
"Yah right, he just said that to spare your feelings." She mutters.
"Enough Kourtney, we don't want you bothering AJ and her friends anymore. If you do, no more social life." Her parents both order.
"Pfft." Kourtney waves it off being their princess while knowing she will just go around the punishment.
"We are serious baby girl we take away your car, phone, computer, and your TV." Her father warns. This hurts him because she is her baby girl, but it needs to be done.
"What, how can I-"
"You can't, you will only have your desk and bed." Her father clarifies.
"How am I supposed to get to school and home?"
"Melody will drive you back and forth." Kourtney smiles that she can trick her maid to do her biding. "Don't get all happy we talked to her already, she will not be persuaded to drive you anywhere if you continue this.
"You guys suck." She throws a mini fit.
"Now, you apologize to AJ for everything.
Kourtney clears her throat. "I am truly sorry for everything I have done." She apologizes with a lack of empathy.
"Kourtney." Mr. Bear scorns.
"Fine." She takes a deep breath. "AJ, I am sorry for putting through pain and suffering. I am sorry we tried to split you and Jack up. I hope you accept my apology." She speaks half sincere.
"Thank you, Kourtney." AJ takes what she can get.
"That is a brave thing to admit you are wrong." Mrs. Lee encourage only this behavior.
"Thank you." Kourtney smiles.
"Well, we must be off we have about two more houses to visit." Mrs. Bear informs.
"Where are we going?"
"You have more apologizes to give out. Mr. and Mrs. Lee, thank you for your time." They head out.
"Thank you for the apologizes have a good day." Mrs. Lee closes the door. "At least she apologizes." She shrugs not liking Kourtney's attitude before the apology.
"I bet she wouldn't if her parents didn't know." AJ inquires.
"Let's forget about it, when is everyone coming for dinner?" She transfers to a lighter topic.
"Around seven, Jack is bringing Randy's steak."
"Why?"
"Jack lost a bet and owes him one." She doesn't want to reveal the full reason why.
"Well, I guess I have to compete with that." She mentions. "No one will upstage me in my kitchen." She half jokes.
"Ooo, a competition between my two favourite cooks." AJ all excited.
"What about me?" Her father questions.
"You know you can't cook, however you are my one and only favourite handyman. When I want a home, I will ask you to build it for me." She proposes.
"Absolutely." He hugs his daughter tight.
Everyone arrives for the dinner.
"Did Kourtney arrive to your house too?" Randy starts the conversation.
"She did." AJ answered. "She reluctantly apologize to me for everything.
"Us too." Jack includes.
"I guess her parents didn't know what is going on with their daughter." Stacey includes as well. "Maybe this will trigger her to return to her old self." She is still a small hope that she will be the friend from childhood.
"I don't think so, sis." Jack denies. "I think she will be extra cautions."
Stacey sighs. "I fear that will happen with even more reason to despise us."
"Randy, how are my steaks?" Jack changes the subject.
"Delicious, the best ever." Randy compliments eating another piece.
"I see." Mrs. Lee includes.
"I mean not as good as Mrs. Lee's. No one can top her steak." He smiles innocently to keep the peace taking a bit out of her steak. "Heavenly."
"I thought so, so I bought steak for everyone else." Jack uncovers a container of steak in front of him, which is beside Mrs. Lee.
"You didn't have to Jack." Mr. Lee takes one already having his wife's steak on his plate.
"Daddy." AJ chuckles.
He looks at his wife. "I am just being polite. He took time to cook this we shouldn't waste it."
"Uh-huh." She takes a piece of Jack's steak. "Thank you, Jack."
"You are welcome, Mrs. Lee."
AJ checks each one to find her medium rare just for her; she didn't find one which disappoints her. Not to seem rude, she takes the top one."
"Delicious Jack, where did you learn how to cook?" Mr. Lee is curious.
"My grandparents, apparently the men are the cooks of the family." He mentions.
"Really, what are the women?"
"They are the masterminds you don't want to mess with them."
He looks at his wife. "No you don't, they may be innocent, but they will claw your eyes if provoke."
"I wouldn't do that." Mrs. Lee speaks innocently taking a bite. "This is delicious and my favourite perfectly cooked medium rare."
AJ is in shock that her own mother took her steak; AJ huffs. "What is wrong, princess?" Her father asks.
"Mommy took my steak." She mumbles.
"Hunny, you took her steak." He mentions to his wife.
"You know my favourite is medium rare too." She pouts as she tries to have him pick a side.
"Well, it is your daughter's favourite too you have to share." Mr. Lee tries to keep the peace between his two women in his life.
"But-"
"Give her, her steak." He orders like he would AJ.
"Fine." His wife sulks.
"That is not necessary, Mr. Lee." Jack stops her.
"Why not?' Mrs. Lee an AJ inquire.
"I have AJ's favourite juicy medium rare steak here just for her." He smiles.
"How do you know to bring her own?"
"I remember at the barbecue that Mrs. Lee loves medium rare just like AJ. I brought two just in case." Jack opens the container with AJ's steak in it. AJ licks her lips enjoying the smell of it. "Here you go, baby." He lays down on her plate.
"Thank you so much." AJ kisses Jack.
"Ahem." Mr. Lee clears his throat.
"Sorry, daddy." She sits back down.
They enjoy their meal with AJ's parents getting to know Jack and Stacey better.