Chapter Four - Strange Behavior

Excerpt from Regina J. Powell's Diary

Wednesday, September 2nd 1998

Dear Diary,

Stephanie lied to me. I phoned her Monday night, and she said she had to go as her dad was calling her for dinner, but I phoned back several minutes later, and the line was busy. I wonder whom Stephanie was talking to … that bimbo Gia perhaps! Or maybe her sister who attends college out of state! More than likely though it was her boyfriend Dean! Doesn't Stephanie realize that I am more important?

And then today, she disappointed me again. I went to all the trouble of perfecting my outfit to look just like hers, and she didn't even seem impressed. How wrong is that? My plan to dress like Stephanie almost didn't work out as the stupid store was out of stock of the 'baby pink' tops, so I had to wait while they ordered one from another branch. The insipid salesgirl even had the nerve to suggest that the same top in white would suit my coloring better! Like I asked for her input! Anyway despite Stephanie's lack of reaction, I still enjoyed dressing exactly like her. Stephanie has such amazing tastes – in everything. What would have made the experience even better though, would have been if Stephanie were wearing her outfit at the same time as me – that would show the entire school that we are best friends!

Hey, that gives me an idea. I'll start driving by Stephanie's house every morning before school to see what she leaves the house wearing, and then change into my top. In fact, maybe I won't just limit it to before school! Watching Stephanie's house sounds like an excellent idea! Wow, I'm a genius!

Until next time!

Regina and Stephanie – Best Friends Forever!!!

Yours,

Regina J. Powell

"I think I remember Julia from Mom's funeral," DJ said.

It was Friday morning and Danny had phoned his eldest daughter for an update on her life, and to find out how she was settling back into college life, for her senior year.

"Your mom and Julia were best friends – in fact now that I think about it their friendship was very similar to yours is with Kimmy. Your mom was a lot like you DJ."

"I know, Dad," DJ said softly. "Does that mean that Julia's Kimmy?"

Danny snorted with laughter, "Definitely not, personality wise they're nothing alike. But I guess it's fair to say that Julia and Kimmy are both quite adventurous types, whereas you and your mom aren't."

"Hey!" DJ protested, "I'm the one living clear across the country. Must I remind you, that Kimmy refused to join me? So much for being adventurous."

"Maybe adventurous isn't quite the right term," Danny admitted, "How about 'wild'?"

"I can't speak for Julia but yep, that's Kimmy alright."

DJ was quiet for a moment, "Are you going to see Julia again, Dad?"

"I thought I might invite her over to the house one night for dinner, so she can catch up with Joey and Jesse. I think it would be good for Stephanie and Michelle to meet someone new from your moms past."

"A date?" DJ asked, amusement in her voice.

"Of course not!" Danny said in shocked outrage, "She's Pam's best friend."

"Was Moms best friend," DJ corrected. "Dad it's okay to be interested."

"I'm not!"

"If you say so. It's curious though, that after running into her briefly on Tuesday, you're already bringing her up on the phone to me."

Danny sounded hurt, "I thought you would want to hear about someone who was from your mom's past."

"Okay Dad, I didn't mean to embarrass you. It would just be so great if you met someone that's all."

"I'm fine Deej. You don't need to worry about me."

"I can't help it. Stephanie will be going away to college in a year and a half, and Michelle a few years after. And with Uncle Jesse and Joey in pretty serious relationships, I don't want you to end up alone."

Danny had no answer for his daughter; the same thoughts often crossed his mind.­­­­­­­

Stephanie gratefully sank down into a school cafeteria chair on Friday at lunchtime. It was only the first week of school, but the teachers were already piling on the work. With a sigh, Stephanie began to unpack her lunch. For some reason – which Stephanie was incredibly grateful for, Regina hadn't been in computer science class today, the course Stephanie had just come from. Maybe Regina had gone home sick, as she had been present for first period English.

Her pleasure was short lived, as Regina suddenly appeared, sliding into the chair beside Stephanie, "Hi Stephanie! Guess where I've been?"

Stephanie leaned back in her chair, suppressing a bored sigh, "No idea."

Her blue eyes sparkling, her smile secretive, Regina reached into her bag, producing a 6-inch subway sandwich. She held it out to Stephanie, "I skipped computer science so I could pick you up a sub – it's your favorite … tuna, with bacon, cheese, ranch dressing, and all the salads except olives."

Stephanie stared at her wondering how on earth Regina knew exactly what her favorite subway sandwich was, "How did you know which one I liked?" she asked, not yet accepting the sandwich.

Regina's smile didn't falter, "Remember we went out for subs, after band practice on August 18th?"

Stephanie almost laughed out loud. Regina even remembered the exact date, "Um …vaguely."

Regina waited for Stephanie to accept the sandwich, a frown crossing her face when Stephanie didn't.

"At least let me pay you for it?" Stephanie reached for her backpack.

"No really Stephanie – it's not necessary!" Regina was starting to get angry.

"Okay – um thanks," Stephanie unenthusiastically unwrapped the sandwich. Regina was all smiles again.

Stephanie almost choked on her first bite when Regina produced her own sandwich and said, "Mine's the same. I told the guy behind the counter at Subway that my good friend Stephanie and I have the exact same tastes in food."

I'm sure he was just thrilled to hear that, Stephanie thought, a false smile plastered on her face.

Gia collapsed into a chair opposite them. She eyed Stephanie's lunch, "Where did you get that?"

"I bought it for Stephanie," Regina said promptly.

Stephanie focused on Gia, "Yeah, she skipped last period, and drove to Subway just to buy me a sandwich."

If Gia thought that was odd she didn't say, "Regina! You could have thought of me!"

Regina blinked, "I forgot you had the same lunch period."

"I've been eating lunch with you all week," Gia huffed. She watched Regina eating, "I thought you didn't like tuna?"

Regina's eyes narrowed, "Of course I do."

"After band practice one morning during the summer, I stayed for lunch, and your mom made a tuna sandwich for me, and a ham one for you, because you specifically said you didn't like tuna."

"As I recall, it was because mother only had enough tuna for one sandwich, so she offered it to the guest first," Regina insisted.

Gia shrugged, rolling her eyes, "Whatever!"

Silently watching the conversation up until now, Stephanie broke her sandwich down the middle, handing half to Gia, "Here Gia, I'm not that hungry anyway." In fact in the past five minutes she had almost completely lost her appetite, and actually felt quite ill.

Gia accepted the sandwich with a smile, "Thanks Steph!"

Stephanie gave a start, as out of the corner of her eye she noticed Regina staring at Gia, her expression one of cold fury.

It was early Saturday evening, and Stephanie had just opened the front door to reveal – surprise, surprise - Regina Powell standing on her doorstep.

"Hi Stephanie!" Regina smiled broadly. "I was in the neighborhood running an errand for my mother, so I thought I would drop by and see what you were up to."

"Oh okay! Sure, come on in," Stephanie invited, reluctantly stepping back to allow Regina to enter. Michelle was sitting on the couch reading a romantic paperback, "You remember my sister Michelle right?"

Michelle briefly looked up from the page she was reading, to smile a greeting Regina's way.

"Hello again Michelle," Regina enthused. "How lucky you are having a sister like Stephanie. I wish Stephanie was my sister, but if I can't have her as a sister though then at least I can have her as a best friend."

Michelle looked up again, but this time at Stephanie, "You two are best friends now?"

Regina's smile faded, "Of course we are, right Stephanie?"

Stephanie was about to comment when an interruption arrived in the form of Kimmy entering from the kitchen.

Upon seeing Regina, she gave a sigh of disappointment, "Oh it's just you! I heard the doorbell and thought Mr. T's girlfriend had arrived."

Regina glared back, but it went unnoticed by Kimmy, as she was pushing the door to the kitchen, and calling out, "Your girlfriend hasn't arrived yet Mr. T. I sure hope you haven't been stood up!"

"Julia's not my girlfriend Gibbler!" Danny yelled back.

Kimmy let the door swing shut, smiling knowingly. She walked over to sit on the arm of the couch, watching the door for the arrival of Julia.

Right on cue the doorbell rang, and again Stephanie went to answer it.

A tall, attractive woman, with long, almost black hair tied in a ponytail, stood on the porch. She was casually dressed in black trousers and a dark blue shirt, which complimented her dark blue eyes well.

"Hi," Stephanie greeted, much more enthusiastically than she had just done with Regina, "You must be Julia. I'm Stephanie – Steph." Stephanie had her back to Regina so she missed the dark expression crossing her face, but Kimmy didn't. "Dad's in the kitchen," Stephanie finished.

Julia stepped inside, "Hi Steph. We actually have met a few times, but you would have been too young to remember. You were only four when I came home for … my last visit." She had been about to say 'your moms funeral' but decided that wasn't the best conversation starter.

Stephanie closed the door, "Well, I sure hope I've changed since then!"

"Sometimes it's difficult to tell!" Kimmy quipped.

Stephanie pulled a face at Kimmy, "Julia meet Kimmy Gibbler – our ever present next door neighbor! And this is Regina Powell – we go to high school together."

"Nice to meet you," Regina said politely.

"Yeah, hi Julia," Kimmy stood up. She looked pointedly at Stephanie, "I'm also Jesse Katsopolis' girlfriend!"

Julia didn't even blink, she only knew Jesse from his younger, wilder days.

Stephanie slapped her hands against her thighs, "Oh yeah – I knew there was something I forgot to mention!"

Kimmy smirked at Stephanie, her arms folded across her chest.

"And the girl with her head buried in the novel is Michelle," Stephanie said, ignoring Kimmy.

This time Michelle closed her paperback, placing it on the table in front of her, "Hey Julia! Have we met before?"

Julia smiled, "I'm afraid not Michelle, but your mom wrote a lot about you in letters to me."

Michelle looked excited, "Really? Do you remember what she said?"

"Actually I still have her letters somewhere. When I get fully unpacked I'll dig them out, and share some passages with you and Stephanie."

"That would be so great," Michelle said. Stephanie smiled her approval as well.

Julia stared closely at both Stephanie and Michelle, "Sorry to stare, but gosh Stephanie you look so much like Pam did at your age. And Michelle, your voice reminds me so much of your mom."

"Does that mean Steph has Mr. T's voice," Kimmy laughed, grinning at Stephanie.

"You can't talk to Stephanie like that," Regina spat.

Everyone, with the exception of Kimmy who simply rolled her eyes skywards, looked startled by Regina's heated tone.

While they were recovering, a flustered Danny burst through from the kitchen. "Julia you're here! Why didn't anyone tell me? When did you arrive? Would you like something to drink?"

Julia grinned, "Danny calm down. I've just been catching up with your girls."

Danny face relaxed, "That's good. Dinner's almost ready,"

"Great, I'm starved. If you remember Danny, I was never much of a cook, and still aren't, so a home cooked meal is quite a treat."

"Join me in the kitchen. Joey, Jesse, and Joey's girlfriend Carmen are already waiting." He motioned for Julia to go first.

Danny was halfway through the door, after Julia, when he quickly turned around, "Sorry Regina. I didn't know you were coming over. You'll welcome to stay for dinner – there's plenty."

Regina eagerly accepted the offer, "Thanks Mr. Tanner. It's nice to feel so welcome in Stephanie's house."

Danny nodded, disappearing through the door. Kimmy hurried after him.

Stephanie groaned inwardly. She had been trying to attract her father's attention in the middle of inviting Regina, by mouthing 'no', but he hadn't noticed.

"Is your boyfriend not around tonight Stephanie?" Regina suddenly asked.

"No, he's out with his friend Tate."

Regina nodded, "Oh yes, Tate, he was the guy at the Smash Club on Wednesday. Stephanie, wouldn't it be so cool if I started dating Tate? Then we could double date. That's what true best friends do."

Stephanie could see Michelle shaking with laughter behind her book.

"Regina …" Stephanie hesitated, "About this best friend's thing – "

Nicky and Alex appeared at the top of the stairs, arguing back and forth.

"I said I was sorry!" Alex was saying, "I didn't mean to lose your Yo-yo. It will be around here somewhere, I just don't know where."

"I'm sick of you losing my stuff," Nicky complained. "That was a new Yo-yo. It had flashing lights – and sounds – and I saved my pocket money up for weeks to buy it."

"Well!" Alex argued, "If you know what I'm like, why did you lend it to me then?"

"Guys," Michelle hissed. "Stop fighting! Dad has a guest." She indicated her head toward the kitchen. "Nicky I'll help you look for your Yo-yo after dinner," she offered.

"Girls!" Danny called. "Dinner's ready, call your cousins."

"Coming Dad – Nicky and Alex too!" Stephanie answered, and the small group trooped into the kitchen.