Lala Lola – unable to PM you, so hope it's okay to say 'thanks for the review' here.
And it's lovely to see people adding 'Too Close' as their favourite story after only four chapters – very cool!
Credit to Brett for the elevator line, which I won't spoil here – he cracks me up xx.
~Lisa.
Chapter Five - Caught out in a Lie
"And … I hate how Regina keeps praising me all the time, 'Stephanie you're so talented'," Stephanie mimicked. "That's how she says my name – 'Stephanie'. It's … driving … me … bananas." Stephanie collapsed on the park bench with a loud sigh. Comet obediently lay down near her feet.
Dean sat down next to Stephanie, "Well I can understand the compliments. You are pretty talented." His dog, Cougar tried to unsuccessfully leap up on the bench seat, his paws landing in Dean's lap. "Cougar! Get down," Dean instructed. "Be a good dog, like Comet."
Stephanie giggled, smiling shyly at Dean, "You're pretty talented yourself."
"Oh I know!" Dean waved a hand in the air.
They smiled at each other for a moment, and then Dean pressed his lips against Stephanie's, and began to kiss her mouth. Stephanie eagerly responded to his kiss, her arms sliding around his neck.
Suddenly someone was looming over then, "Stop that you young hooligans!" Stephanie and Dean broke apart startled. The source of the interruption was Mrs. Graham, the Tanner's elderly neighbor. She shook her walking cane at Stephanie and Dean, "This is a public park – I'm trying to enjoy my walk! The last thing I expect to encounter is young people canoodling!"
"Sorry Mrs. Graham," Stephanie said politely. "We didn't mean to offend you." She elbowed Dean, who was snorting into his hand, trying to control his laughter.
"I would have expected better from you DJ Tanner," Mrs. Graham sniffed, and they heard the clicking of her cane as she continued on. The dogs had raised their heads at the intrusion, but deciding the neighbor wasn't a threat, had slumped back down.
"She thinks you're DJ?" Amusement filled Dean's voice.
"She's always getting us confused," Stephanie laughed. "Anyway, DJ owes me! A few years ago Mrs. Graham told Dad that she had seen me kissing a guy on the front porch, and Dad freaked out, and it was actually DJ."
Stephanie moved closer to Dean again, snuggling against him, "Are you looking forward to your first day at Berkeley?"
"Can't wait – I'm especially looking forward to the courses in architecture, landscape design, and horticulture." Dean intended to pursue a career as a Landscape Designer/Gardener following college. He reached out to stroke Stephanie's bare arm.
"I'm expecting a letter in the post from Mrs. Adams at the Pacific Heights Kennel," Stephanie said. "She was very impressed with my work at the Kennel this past summer, and is writing me a letter of reference. She's also including a list of animal contact people – Veterinarians, Shelters, Clinics, Kennels – who might be interested in hiring someone after school on a part time basis."
"That's great Steph. So that's what you want to do – work with animals?"
Stephanie nodded, "I'm thinking maybe a Veterinarian, or an Animal Psychologist, but I'm not quite sure yet."
"My plan is to save as much as possible working for Uncle Ethan's construction business over the next four years – and then spent six months traveling after graduation, before focusing on establishing my career."
Stephanie looked up at Dean, "What do you see for your personal life?"
Dean smiled down at Stephanie, "Well – do you like the idea of travel?"
"I'd love to travel – especially to Greece of course – family roots and all that!"
Dean leaned back on the bench, putting his arm around Stephanie, "My ultimate would either be an African Safari, or trekking the Himalayan Ranges in India. Does either of those appeal to you?"
"I'm game!"
"And then Greece to follow."
"Sounds good," Stephanie leaned in to kiss him.
Dean held up his hands in mock protest, "No canoodling!"
Suddenly Stephanie pulled back, her expression turning into a frown. She had just observed a figure in the distance with bright red hair, disappearing into the trees.
Dean looked a little concerned, "Steph I was only joking. You can kiss me anytime you want!"
Stephanie blinked. She was overreacting; numerous people haunted the park on a Saturday, and probably a quarter of them had red hair. Just because she had spotted a red head in the park didn't mean that it was Regina. "It's nothing … ignore me." She gave Dean a seductive smile, "Now where were we!"
"Oh, come on Nicky, help me out!" Alex appealed to his brother. "I only need the answer to Problem Five, and then I'm finished. I've worked out the rest by myself." Nicky and Alex were working on their homework, well at least Alex was. Nicky had long finished and was playing with his recovered Yo-yo, which had been found in the unlikeliest place – the cash register of the Smash Club!
"You should be working them all out yourself," Nicky reprimanded. "But okay Al, I'll help you out." He slid his math notebook out of his bag, passing it to Alex. "Now I'll have to repack my book bag again!" he complained. "I have to have it ordered by size!"
Alex rolled his eyes, staring at Nicky's tidy printing. Luckily Nicky had his head buried in his book bag; otherwise he might have changed his mind about helping Alex.
Alex quickly scribbled down the answer, in his rather untidy scrawl. Knowing Nicky would probably 'drop dead' if his math book was damaged, Alex gently slid it across the carpet toward him, rather than tossing it. He jumped to his feet, "Thanks Nick. I'm heading downstairs."
Bouncing down the attic stairs, Alex almost collided with his middle cousin in the hallway.
"Alex, where's the fire!" Stephanie grinned.
"It would be great if it was in my book bag burning my school books," Alex was hopeful.
Stephanie burst out laughing, "Do you need a hand? With your school work I mean – not to start a fire."
"All finished!" Alex said happily.
The sound of Stephanie's private line ringing drifted out into the hallway. Stephanie's expression lost its smile, despair clouding her features.
"Alex," Stephanie begged him. "Could you answer my phone, ask who it is, and if it's Regina, tell her I'm not here."
"You mean lie!"
"You're right. I can't ask you to do that!" Stephanie stepped through the door into her room.
"I didn't say I wouldn't do it – I was just checking! It's fine by me!" Alex brushed past Stephanie heading for the ringing phone.
"Hello … Alex speaking!" He paused for a moment listening, "Who is this please?" Another pause, "Sorry Regina … Steph is in the shower!" more silence, "Okay, bye!" Alex hung up the phone.
"It was her!" Alex informed Stephanie. "Did you two have a fight – is that why you don't want to speak to her?"
"Kind of. It's complicated! Thanks for covering for me."
"I know what complicated means. Dad says it to me all the time when he's trying to not answer my questions. 'Alex! You are too young to understand!' he says!" Alex used a grouchy tone to imitate his father.
"Alex! That's not how I sound!" Jesse said from doorway, his tone similar to the one Alex had just used.
"I thought it was rather accurate!" Kimmy said from behind him, earning her a look of annoyance from Jesse.
"Where's Nick?" Jesse asked his son.
"Upstairs! Placing his school things in his book bag by size."
Stephanie giggled, "Are you sure Nicky isn't genetically related to Dad?"
Kimmy stared at Stephanie. "You really are a true blonde today. Mr. T. is Nicky's uncle."
Jesse's mouth twitched with amusement.
Stephanie wasn't as forgiving, "Only by marriage, not by blood!" she retorted. "Jeez Kimmy, you're like a fifty story building, that only has an elevator to the fifth floor."
Kimmy glowered at Stephanie, "Okay, okay, so I was wrong."
Alex was processing the joke. "Oh I get it – fifth floor – so funny!" He grinned good-naturedly in Kimmy's direction.
"Kimmy, if you and I married, Danny would be your brother-in-law," Jesse drawled. "Just to clarify."
"And Kimmy, that would make you related by marriage, not by blood," Stephanie continued to mock.
Jesse snorted with laughter.
"Humph!" was Kimmy's only comeback.
"Hi Mrs. Powell," Stephanie entered the Powell kitchen. It was Tuesday after school, one of the designated afternoons for 'Girl Talk' practice.
Regina's mother stood at the counter, stenciling letters onto a cake, with frosting. "Hi Stephanie. Regina's downstairs." The stairs leading to Regina's garage – where they practiced – were located in the kitchen.
"Thanks!" Stephanie glanced over at Mrs. Powell's handiwork. "Great job of the cake – " Stephanie broke off staring at the writing. The cake read, "Happy 60th Birthday, Grandpa Powell!"
"Is that Regina's dad's father?" Stephanie asked.
Mrs. Powell smiled at her interest, "Why, yes dear, it is."
"I thought – that is … Regina said – " Stephanie hesitated. "Never mind. I must have got it wrong. Excuse me!" She headed for the stairs.
Stephanie happened to glance over at the kitchen table on her way past. A photo album laid open, stacks of loose photos scattered over the table. Stephanie paused to look.
Mrs. Powell joined her by the table, "I'm putting together an album for my father-in-laws birthday," she explained with a sigh. "I'm finding it more difficult though than I thought – there are so many photos to choose from."
Stephanie's eyes fell on a snapshot resting on top of one of the piles. She picked it up for a closer look. It showed a smiling Regina, with her arm slung around the shoulders of an equally smiling blonde girl. Stephanie turned the photo over, it read, 'Regina J. Powell, and Danielle L. Harris, Everwood High'. And then in brackets underneath: 'Best Friends Forever' followed by three exclamation marks.
Smiling, Mrs. Powell reached over, gently removing the picture from Stephanie's hands. "This was taken Regina's first day of High School, back when we lived in Pasadena. Regina and Danielle were such close friends." Her tone indicated that this was past tense. She looked at Stephanie, "In fact, seeing this picture, and looking at you Stephanie, the resemblance between you and Danielle is uncanny."
Stephanie looker closer at the blonde girl, and gave a start. Mrs. Powell was right; Danielle did look a lot like her.
"Are Regina and Danielle still friends?" Stephanie was curious.
Mrs. Powell was about to answer, when a cold voice spoke from across the room, "Mother, what are you doing?" Regina was standing at the top of the garage stairs, her eyes narrowed.
"Darling, I was just showing Stephanie the album I'm working on for Grandpa," Mrs. Powell gushed. She didn't appear to be affected by Regina's angry tone.
Stephanie stared directly at Regina, "Yeah, you know … your Grandpa Powell, your dad's dad." She waited for a reaction from Regina at being caught out in a lie; there wasn't one, well not over that anyway.
Stephanie watched in disbelief, as Regina stalked across the room, snatching the photo from her mom's hands. She viciously began ripping it into tiny pieces.
Mrs. Powell sighed, "That was the only photo we had left of you and Danielle."
Regina rounded on her mom, "I know that Mother," she spat. "That's because I burnt all the others. I don't want any reminders of that traitor!"
"Okay dear. Now don't get upset. I understand."
Stephanie stared at the both of them. If Stephanie had spoken to her dad, or Uncle Jesse, or Joey in that manner she would have been grounded for life. Regina's mom acted like it was normal behavior, and maybe in this family it was. This was the second time in two days Stephanie had seen Regina lose control – but this time there were no witnesses – at least no reliable one's.
Regina smiled Stephanie's way like nothing was out of the ordinary, "Come on Stephanie. Gia and Melissa are waiting downstairs."
Stephanie was tempted to leave, but there was Gia and Melissa to consider, "Sure!" Stephanie forced a smile on her face. "Let's go practice."