Brothers and Back homes

The bus stop was a 3 blocks from Diana's parents house. As they walked down the street Andy realized what a poor neighborhood Diana grew up in. Her house was pretty small even though it was two stories. The other houses around her parents were also small and they were all very close. It was weird for him he had always lived in luxury. There weren't any fancy cars and many houses were run down.

They reached the bus stop the bus was late as usual. "Sorry my dad won't let us stay in the same room." Diana said checking the schedule. "It's okay I understand I mean he's your daughter." Andy said shrugging. "Yea but it's not like I am a a kid anymore I'm 36!" She said angrily." "Diana the bed was really small." "That's not the point Andy he still treats me like a baby." "Of course he dose he's your farther." She was about to talk back to him but an old lady interrupted.

"Is that Diana gross?" The woman said exited. "Umm.." Diana did not recognize this lady. "You probably don't remember me, I am miss Lacasio I used to wait for this same bus with you and your brother." The woman said hoping. "Oh yea! How are ya!" Diana said remembering the woman. "I am good, I haven't seen you in forever, hows your fashion business doing." "Great I have a place in San Francisco." "Oh fancy! How's your brother." said smiling. "Umm well … he's." Diana was fumbling her words. "He's a music teacher in Minnesota." Andy said fast. "Oh fantastic!" The women said. "Well I better be going it was good seeing you Diana." "You too."

"Thanks Andy." She said smiling as the bus pulled up. They got on and we're lucky enough to find two seats together. Diana saw that Andy looked a bit distracted. "Andy do you wanna say something?" She said looking at him. He tried to think how to phrase it. "Well Diana this is the first time that I have seen where you grew up and …" "you've been to Detroit before and you've meet my parents before." Diana interrupted. "Yea but I've never your never to your house or neighborhood." "So…?" Diana said confused. He had to phrase this very carefully. "Well it's just I would not expect someone as stylish as you to come from such … humble roots." He said worried. She scoffed "You mean poor?" She said sternly. "Well it's just." "I had to learn how to look good on a budget and when I started making real money I was able to look even more amazing." She said rolling her eyes. "It's just I wouldn't expect you to come from a place like this." "Andy! It doesn't matter were you start it's where you end." God she hated how tacky she sounded. Lucky her embarrassment ended quickly.

"How's princess Di doing!" A voice said behind her. "Oh my god! You guys!" She said greeting a group of about 12. Andy noticed she seemed to have more friends here in Detroit then in San Francisco. "You know Bianca told me you were dating the 49's coach, but I didn't think you were such a traitor!" One said jokingly. "Don't worry I am still supporting the lions." She said comforting. "So ya going to see Max?" one asked. "Yea." "He's been asking about you, I told him you shaved your head and got tattoos and piercings." A different one said. "Even if I did I would still look ten times as good as you Jeb." Diana said jokingly. Andy could tell Diana cared about these people so he got an idea. "Do you guys want tickets to the pre season game on Sunday." "Whoa! You serious man." One says. "Yea!" They all say. "Will ya be at 's retirement party tomorrow?" Andy said. They all started laughing "You call him ." They said mockingly. "Yea, because I respect my elders! Do you want me to take away the tickets away!" Andy said offended. "No no where'll be at the party you can give us the tickets there!" They spent the next few minutes catching up with each other. Andy noticed that Diana continually mostly with one man she called "Jeb". They pulled up at a movie theater and all twelve men got out. "Se ya tomorrow Diana." They all said. "Bye Diana." Jed said. "Bye Jeb." Diana said smiling.

She turned back to Andy who looked angry. "What?" She asked confused. "Is that the Jed you were dating long distance when you came to San Francisco." He asked facing straight on. "Yea but …don't worry" "You were flirting with him!" "NO,I WASENT" "Yea you were!" She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Can't you trust me!" She said disappointed. "Yes I can but I just I don't wanna lose ya." He said looking out the window. "Your gunna have to do a lot more than that!" She said laughing.

They pulled up at the county jail. They both got up and the bus pulled away. Diana let out a long breath. "You ready Diana." Andy said (visiting hours were ending soon) "yea." She said. They walked into the jail. "I'm here do see Max Gross." Diana told the guard "follow me." The guard said. She followed the guard and Andy sat down in a nearby chair

(…)

Diana sat down in the room that was all to familiar. One guard brought her brother in. She picked up the phone.

"Hi!" She said smiling.

"Hi." He said monotonous.

"So I meet Jeb."

"You didn't shave your head." He said with a chuckle.

"I never would."

"I did." He said rubbing his head.

"It looks fine." She couldn't hide her disgust.

"Dame girl there's still no pleasing you."

"Yea there is."

"Come on I mean you have dated 27 guys and gone one dates with a ton more you are to picky."

"Well now it's 28." she said smiling.

"Is it that football coach."

"Yea."

"When I get out can I meet him?" Her brother sounded very excited.

"Of course you're gunna come to San Francisco, right?"

"Yea I think I'm gunna try restarting my rap dreams."

"Good! You can stay at my apartment if you want."

"Wow! Thanks!"

"So, are you …"

"Okay times up!" The guard said.

"What!" Diana knew there was no way that was ten minutes.

"I will see ya when I get out." Her brother said looking terrified.

She walked back to the were Andy was. He was reading the news paper. "We can go now." Diana said. "Already?" "Yea!" "Can I take the paper with me?" "Okay?" They walked out the door and to the bus stop. "The newspaper is so much better here." Andy said. "You say that everywhere we go." She said holding his hand. "But, I mean it this time this writer is amazing!" He smiled. "My parents always hated that paper. Who's the writer?" "Eddie Sanchez." "What!" She said grabbing the paper. "Well good for him." She scoffed. "You know him?" "Yea he dumped me after he got an internship at the newspaper, guess it worked out for him." She said annoyed. Andy looked at his picture, he looked like he could be on a magazine Andy felt a bit jealous. "Well that's a jerk move!" He said taking the paper back. The bus pulled up. "I know a great pizza place." Diana said. "Good I haven't had a good slice of pizza in a long time." "Well everyone knows California has the worst pizza." She laughed. "Not as bad as Hawaii." He said. She rolled her eyes.

He couldn't dance around the topic anymore. "So how was your brother." He whispered. She let out deep breath "He used to be more outgoing but he just seemed nervous." "Are you going to come back when he gets out." He asked. "Well he's thinking of coming to San Francisco." She said excited. "Oh is he going to stay with you?" He asked nervously. "Just until he finds a place of his own." "Is he gunna try to start up his rap career." "Yup and I have a surprise for him." She said confident. "What are you planning?" "On Wednesday a owner of a record company is coming to my studio and I am gunna play one of Max's c.d's." "You sure that's gunna work?" "It's worth a shot!" "How long has your brother been in jail again?" Andy asked. "10 years." "Same time you moved to San Francisco!" "Yea I miss him so much it's easier to handle when I am in a different state." She breathed. He just remained silent. "I can't wait for him to get out!" She smiled.

They arrived at the pizza restaurant. "Your gunna love this place!" She sang opening the door. They sat down at the counter. He smelt the smell of good pizza something he never smelt in San Francisco. He looked over at Diana she was smiling at one of the waiters who's name tag said 'Ricardo.' "Diana what are you doing?" He said a bit angry. She shook out of her trance. "I just know the waiter." Ricardo came over "So you guys friends or…" he said. "We're dating." Andy interrupted. "Watch out for her dad man … so you guys wanna order or do you need more time." Ricardo said. "You know what I want." Diana said. "Okay it will be out soon." He said walking to the kitchen. He made sure Ricardo was out of ear shot. "Did you date that guy?" Andy asked. "Yea but he's married with like six kids now don't worry." She comforted him. "You two looked like you were flirting." Andy yelled. "Are you jealous?" She joked. He was jealous all her past boyfriends that he had seen (Jeb, Eddie and Ricardo) were all very attractive. He felt very self conscious about it he was pretty short (especially for a pro athlete) and had a lot of scars he was not handsome compared to these guys. "No Diana I'm not jealous!"

Someone turned around in a booth by them. "Diana Gross!" The voice said. It was the costume designer (from Billy Bobs play) parents. "My daughter told me what you said to her!" The mom said. "What are you doing here back in Detroit!" The dad questioned. "Well my dad is finally able to retire from your company!" Diana said angrily. "Well my company will be all the better for it!" The dad said smugly. Andy couldn't take it anymore. "Please her father works harder in one day than you do in your entire career." Andy yelled. "Ohh look who has a yet another new boy toy what is that now number 52 probably his age." The mother said pointing to Andy. Both Andy and Diana were furious but they didn't have to say anything because the owner ran out of his office.

"Okay you two leave!" The owner said to the parents. "We are paying customers!" "You haven't paid yet. NOW GET OUT!" The parents left angrily.

"Thanks Jimmy!" Diana said. "He insulted your father, he's helped me out a lot I owe him one." Jimmy said. "You know you owe him nothing!" Diana said. "That man is to kind." Ricardo came out with their pizza. "Here you go guys." He put the pizza on the counter. When they sat down Ricardo leaned into talk to Diana. He was whispering but Andy could pick up some words

"When you're brother gets out tell him we named a pizza after him, it's free."

"He's gunna love that! Only two more months."

"He should have been out years ago! That judge was corrupt."

"Yea but there's nothing we could do."

"Who gets 10 years for steeling some spoiled people cars!"

"He's gunna restart his music."

"Fantastic! I will make sure we sell his music here."

RICARDO! BACK TO WORK!

"Talk to ya later ba… Diana."

Her and Andy talked for a bit then he had to bring it up. "Diana why didn't tell your parents about us?" "I already told you Andy!" She wined. "DIANA!" "Andy I…I I really like you and my dad has ruined a lot of my relationships right when they started getting amazing." She said holding his hand. "Just how many boyfriends have ya had?" She thought for a while. "28." She said looking at the floor. "28!" Andy yelled. "How many broke up with ya after meeting your dad?" He was getting a bit worried. "Well I broke it off before most of them could. But like 6 of them and only one passed." She said smiling a bit. "Leme guess, Jeb!" He grunted. "Ugg Andy he's dating Bianca and she's my best friend." She sounded annoyed. "You still care about him don't you?" He wasn't angry he was curious. She checked it. He was annoyed (that was one of his many pet peeves.) "We should get back to my parents house." She said nervous.

When they got on the bus Andy was not ready to let it go. "Diana tell me, I'm not gunna get mad I promise." He meant it. She stayed silent. "He's my brothers best friend and I (she smiled a bit) I … he was … (she stopped smiling) you know what Andy it doesn't matter I like you way more then I ever did him." She mumbled quickly. He was not satisfied with this answer. He could tell that she still cared about Jeb not in a romantic way. "I didn't mean it like that." Andy grunted. "I I know … he did a lot for my brother." She said sadly. "What did he do?" Andy asked confused. She never told him the whole story of her brothers arrest and the trial following it. "You sure you wanna know?" "Please tell me."

(Flashback)

That day Diana brother (Max) and his friends were filming a music video. Jeb thought it would be a cool idea to do the video with lots of cars. Unfortunately all their cars were really rundown. "I will be right back! Don't start with out me." Max said. "We can't man your the star of the video!" One of the friends yelled. The remaining friends were grumbling angrily.

Max got on the bus and got off in a rich neighborhood. He saw a bright yellow Ferrari he took out a coat hanger and got the door open, got the car started and drove off.

He arrived back to the park were his friends were waiting. "Whoa Max were did ya get this car?" Jeb asked amazed. "It's a rental, I am gunna go get another one."

He got back on the bus and did not the same thing this time with a red corvette.

His friends were getting suspicious. "Hey Max where did you get these cars from again?" But his friends were interrupted by police sirens. Jeb grabbed grabbed Max's arm before he could run. "Jeb what are you doing!?" Max asked scared and worried. "Come on man running only makes it worse!" Jed said in a harsh whisper. "I'm telling ya. Jebediah let go a me!" Max struggled to get out. "Listen to me Max just do what they tell ya so you will get as short a sentence as possible." (Jeb's parents were both in and out of jail a lot so he knew a bit about this stuff.) "But what are they gunna do to me?" The cops brought max and all his friends in for questioning.

At the time Diana was on a date with a senator. She felt so fancy but she also liked this guy. She was rubbing his lower leg with her foot. She was playing with her hair and smiling at him. Then her phone started ringing. "Hello?" "Diana it's Jeb you have to get me down to the police department Max is in trouble." "I will be right there." She hung up stopped rubbing his leg and was no longer playing with her hair or smiling. "Um … baby (she started rubbing his hand nervously) could you drive me to the police station." She asked awkwardly. "WHAT!" "My brother is … just please drive me!" Diana started crying. "Sorry Diana but how would it look if I was dating the sister of a criminal."

When she got to the jail Jeb filled her in on what was going on. Her parents were disappointed.

(Back to the present)

"The judge was very tuff on him for some reason … he stole two cars and got ten years … thank god Jeb stopped him from running I can't imagine how long he would have gotten."

When they got to her parents house it was very quiet. "I think my parents are already asleep." She whispered. "Which means you can sleep with me in my room." She smiled. "Come on Diana the bed is so small and I don't wanna make your dad mad with me." Andy said kissing her forehead. "Whatever!" She marched up the stairs.