Chapter Fifty-two:
"So how was the presentation?" Sarah wonders after school.
"Difficult, however, I got an A." She is proud. "Madame love how with everything that went on I did and had time to finish the presentation."
"You get what you give." Sarah replies with her motto.
"So I was wondering if you, Matthew and Nila want to some for dinner when we are out of here for Summer break?" AJ asks being a couple of weeks away.
"I don't know. My parents are always so excited to see me. They actually head up here to pick me up." Sarah gives her a reason for her uncertainty.
"No problem, my parents are coming too. They countdown the days at the beginning of the my year here." AJ speaks seriously.
"No they don't." Sarah senses the teasing.
"They don't, although, they love to meet you three." Every time she calls her parents, they both wonder when they can meet her new friends.
"Us?"
"Yup, they want to meet my friends that helped my transition here run smoothly." AJ explains.
"It wasn't that smooth thanks to my past." She sulks referring to Kevin.
"Hey, I am fine you are fine, and Kevin got suspended until we get back next year. I can call that a victory." AJ just wants to move on from this whole situation.
"He will be pissed off when he gets back." Sarah reminds her.
"With a tight leash; school activities and curfew. He can't leave his room after 6 p.m. If he has to he will be a chaperone." She recalls the conditions of his re-enrollment. "I just don't get why he didn't expel him."
"His dad pays big money to keep this school running. Without him studying here, there is no value to invest." Sarah recalls some information Kevin mention to her before.
"Sounds like bullshit."
"Yup, although his mother isn't that bad. She is tougher on him than his dad." Sarah recollects. "She was the one who check up on me after we broke up." The only thing she missed is her wishing she can see her more.
"Sounds like a nice lady."
"She is, anyways, maybe when I visit John I can meet your parents then." Sarah suggest.
"Oh right, you need the whole 'meet the parents' situation."
"Actually, they have been hinted that I date John before, so I don't know how surprise they really be."
"Right, so I guess you are golden." AJ thumps her head with them being best friends.
"Not John, my parents are still quite upset with the Kevin situation before. I don't blame him, however, it is a sore subject for them being their only daughter."
"I get it." AJ remembers how her parents were with Randy.
The group having lunch as Kourtney approaches. "Hey guys."
"Hello." They greet politely.
"I want to speak to Stacey for a minute." She requests.
Everyone look towards Stacey. "What it is regarding?"
"The after school conversation we had."
"What conversation?" Randy inquires immediately.
"We will be just over there." She points to an empty table in the corner.
"I don't know." Stacey ponders on the right decision.
"Okay, no problem maybe next time." She smiles before she is off. They watch as she sits with Becca and Dean.
"What is this conversation?" Randy repeats.
"When I was waiting for you before, after school, I saw Kourtney distraught. She kept on repeating 'why' to herself. I asked what is wrong."
"What did she convey?" John wonders on if it is about the advice he gave her.
"It was why John not liking her." She states. "Apparently, your advice got her to examine her way of life." Stacey put the focus on John.
"You never told us this John."
"I didn't know it would impact her this much. I was just speaking from a concern hear." John explains his reason.
"It did. I gave her more tips to use your advice in her life."
"It seems to be working so far." Jack observes Kourtney laughing with Becca and Dean. They all look over at this observation.
"Kourtney." Stacey walks to her after school.
"Hey." Kourtney smiles.
"We will see you later." Becca smiles leaving them alone.
"Okay, ready for that talk." Kourtney smiles happy to get this opportunity.
"Sure."
"Okay, I want to thank you and John for the advice you have given me."
"You are welcome." She is happy that she appreciates her advice.
"When John showed me the vibrator, it didn't feel good to be trick on."
"He told you that." Stacey clarifies.
"Yah."
"So is that why you were distraught before?"
"Yah, I ponder on why something so good could be fake. Moreover, how true love and friendship can with stand anything. The tricks that could land me any man didn't affect John, Randy, or Jack."
"Well like I said before-"
"Yes, so afterward the conversation Becca ask me to join her and Dean to hang out." Kourtney continues.
"How did that go?" Interested in this attitude change of Kourtney.
"It was fun, the funniest and happiest I have been in years. I follow both of your advice and it was great. I have been hanging out with them since then and not once have I hit on him." Kourtney proud.
"That is great news, Kourtney." Stacey proud of her as well.
"However, there is a problem."
"What is it?"
"I fear I might slip. Becca is the only friend I have I don't want to mess this up." She recognize fully how important her friendship with Stacey was.
"That is not true you are popular here." She sees everyone wave at her.
"No, after Dawn and then my trip to Mr. Michaels' office, everyone left my side. Do you know why I was so adamant on tearing your group apart?" Stacey shrug. "I wanted what your group had. You had your brother and than Randy who have John and AJ. Those three are the tightest friendship I have ever witness." She explains a brief part of her actions.
"Tighter than ours." Stacey jokes.
"Yes, our friendship fell apart when I became popular theirs are still strong no matter how popular anyone of them becomes."
"So you have seen the light to be your own self again." Stacey hopes.
"Not actually, Stacey I know we will never be like were as children, but I will try to get back in at least your good graces."
"Why?"
"You are the best person that came into my life and I took advantage of that. Maybe some day I can at least be civil with your group."
"I hope you find the true you Kourtney."
"Thanks, see you around."
"You will." Stacey smile.
It is the last day before Summer vacation, all the parents are in the parking lot waiting for their children.
"Mom. Dad." AJ greets happily.
"Oh princess we miss you." They both hug her.
"I missed you too, both of you." She hugs them missing seeing them every day.
"So did you invite your new friends over?"
"I did, however they can't. Nila and Matthew are breaking the news to their parents that they are dating and Sarah is with her parents."
"Well, we have all Summer to meet them. Let's get you home." Mr. Lee grabs her bags as they head to the car.
On the ride home, AJ fills her parents on how school really is.
"Really only suspended." Mrs. Lee states appalled.
"Yes, I am pissed about that too just because his father pays the school a large amount of cash." She huffs.
"Can we move to a different topic?" He doesn't want to hear about they guy who almost rape his daughter.
"Sorry hunny." Mrs. Lee apologize.
"Daddy, I can switch back to public school if you want."
"Do you like your school?" He simply answers.
"Yes."
"Do you want to leave?"
"If it makes you happy, I will."
"This is about you, princess. As along as you are happy there you can stay." Mr. Lee utters.
"Thanks."
They arrive home without anymore awkward conversations. "We are home baby girl."
"Great." She unbuckles her seat belt and heads to the door.
"You didn't tell her, did you?" Mr. Lee whispers.
"Nope, did you?" He shakes his head.
AJ opens the door to darkness until she opens the light to an empty space, no one is there. "Where is everybody?" She is a bit upset.
"Were you expecting a party?" Her father wonders.
"No, just my friends or at least Jack." AJ utters in disappointment.
"I am sorry, princess." Mrs. Lee hugs her hoping ti is not to devastating to have her in the dark for now.
"I will be in my room." She sulks to her room.
"We will fetch your bags." Her father speaks out.
"Thank you." AJ responds back.
AJ opens her door not noticing anything.
"Welcome home, my private school girl." Jack utters with a lit candle.
"Jack?" She now notice she didn't turn on the lights.
"Yes, do you think I would miss your return home?" He gives her, her special smile.
"Maybe." She blushes at the gesture.
"Come here." Jack puts the candle down on her dresser to spread his arms.
AJ hugs him tight as they enjoy this moment. "I love you Jack." She snuggles into him.
"I love you too."
"Okay enough of this come join the party." Randy interrupts with a smile.
AJ turns around to see all her friends there. "You all know and you didn't tell me." She tries to act mad at them.
"Nope." Randy simply answers.
AJ punches Randy for that respond. "It was John's idea." He puts the blame on his friend to not suffer AJ's wrath.
"Hey!" John doesn't want her wrath wither.
AJ tears up as Randy hugs her. "We love you AJ forever."
"Don't listen to him, we are the ones that love you not Randy. He didn't throw you a welcome back party." John grins.
Randy sticks out his tongue.
"My friends." AJ laugh.