I just want to make it completely clear. I fully respect Amy Carlson's decision to leave the show and move on to other projects. She's been putting in long weeks for seven years to make a deep and well acted character. What I'm disappointed in was the way the writers handled her leaving. I don't know about last week's episode or tonight's but in the premier episode we get about 30 seconds of Danny being angry and blaming himself and it affects his decision but you get nothing from the boys. She was their mother and the premier episode made it seem like they were unaffected by her death. I know there was a lot going on in that episode so taking time to show the boys and the influence their mother's death had on them would slow pacing or something but after four months I don't think they would have just been that okay. I mean you get one shot of them doing their homework and then the next they seemed really excited about the new house. Also people have been saying that this bonds him with his father and grandfather. That is the exact reason why we didn't need it to happen. We have two single fathers and a single mother on the show, what this world really needs is a family show that show a happy, loving marriage and not more single parenthood. That's just my opinion though.
Anyway, out of the 11 people who responded to my last posting, most of you said that you would like it I continued though a few of you said it was my decision. I must admit that I was floored by the amount of responses I got after I posted last time and I thank you all for that.
Thanks to ItsJustBecca, jlmayer, torie46, Stark-witch, BLBLF, the guest becca, Sanchezashley, monkeybaby, kirbyschoice, ki4pak, and Gryffindor 20 for all your responses and input. If I did ever discontinue this story, I would definitely mark it as discontinued in the summary so you would know but I don't think I could ever bring myself to take it down or hand it off to another writer. It would completely change the content and character of the story and while different writers have found ways to make things work for a TV show, I've found that it destroys what was once a good story. Thanks to the rest of you for your continued reads and follows.
"Derrek!" Anna squealed as she reached where he was sitting on the bleachers.
"Anna!" he answered in the same tone as he looked up at her. "Wow, you look amazing." Krista smacked his shoulder when she heard that. "Not as great as you, babe," Derrek pacified his girlfriend, "but she does look good."
"Thanks. I'm guessing you heard about Jim and Ally?" Anna asked.
"Don't know what he was thinking. He want his rep in the trash too?" Krista asked.
"He was thinking he needed a date and she said yes," Derrek said.
"Okay, she's not that bad," Anna sighed as Derrek and Krista stood and stepped down off the bleachers.
"She only said yes because he's a senior jock and she'll look good and not trashy," Krista said.
"Yeah, okay," Anna said in disbelief.
"What, you don't think he'll make her look good?" Krista asked.
"I think ... I think ..." Anna trailed off. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulders, pulling her back into a strong, warm chest and a chin came down on her shoulder.
"You think what about what?" Jim asked in her ear.
"I think you better tell me how good I look before I turn around and smack you for manhandling me," Anna sassed.
"Anna." Jim paused. "You're not that shallow. You look great and you know it. Now, calm down."
"I'd say you too but I can't see you so I don't know."
"I already know how great I look and how deep I am so I don't need your reassurances. You're going to save me a dance later, right?"
Anna's lips pursed but she still couldn't see Jim. "Because Ally would love that," Anna asked rhetorically.
"I only asked Ally to come because I knew you were going with Kyle and my dad insisted that I go to all the dances my senior year. Said I'd regret it if I don't."
"If you say so."
"Make me a promise," Jim said gently.
Anna pulled away from him slightly dislodging his chin from her shoulder but not his arm from around her and turned to look up at him. "What's that?"
"Promise me if you don't have a boyfriend come prom, that you'll go with me."
"Jim." Anna sighed. "Everyone knows that you're in the top running for prom king and some pretty girl will say yes the minute you ask her."
"Except the one he really want to say yes," Krista muttered under her breath to Derrek. He snorted trying not to laugh.
"Okay, I'll make you a deal. If neither one of us has a significant other come prom, we go together and I promise I will not dump my girlfriend within a week of prom to go with you."
Anna stared at him for a moment trying to figure out his motives then shrugged. "Deal," She agreed. He grinned and then she looked away and spotted Kyle looking at her with an unreadable expression. She also saw Ally heading their way. She didn't look happy. "Now, I'm going to go before she tries to kick my butt and it doesn't work and my boyfriend starts to wonder why I'm spending more time with you than him. Find me later, bye." Anna grinned then walked over to Kyle. "Hey, handsome," Anna smiled.
"Hey, pretty girl. Everything okay with Jim and Derrek?" Kyle asked.
"Just fine," Anna said. "Hey everybody," she said to the rest of the team. They all nodded or said hey to her. "You worried about them?" Anna blinked at him.
"No, not really. Derrek's girlfriend is standing there so built-in comfort and I know Jim's your best friend, like a brother. He doesn't bother me." Kyle told her.
If it hadn't been so dark in the gym, she would have picked up the slight twitch of his eye as he said that. "Good, now dance with me," Anna demanded. Kyle took her hand and lead her out on the dance floor. Just over an hour later, Jim found her sitting on the bleachers with Becky. "Where's Ally?" Anna asked.
"Not sure," Jim answered. "When she found out I wasn't going to do it tonight, she walked away from me." He looked away and shrugged. She could tell he felt bad. Though he wasn't hung up on the girl, it still hurt when she walked away from him.
"She's talking to Todd," Becky said. Anna and Jim followed her pointing finger to Ally who was heavily flirting with Todd.
"He'd probably do it to impress her but I'm not sure why it's impressive," Jim said. "It's more impressive if you have a steady girlfriend who loves you than to sleep your way through the school. So, I found you. What's up?" Jim asked.
"You know, my cousin asked me to invite you to her birthday party."
"Nicky? Why?"
"Well she asked if I was coming and I told her I was and asked if I could bring a friend. She said sure but if I brought a friend it should be you because you were cute."
"Oh? You tell her about Kyle?"
"I told her that I thought you had a girlfriend. She didn't say anything to that because my dad interrupted. Jim, I asked Kyle to go. I hope that's okay."
"He's your boyfriend and it's your decision."
"You sure you're not mad?"
"No, I'm beyond pissed. I'm supposed to be your best friend and you're taking that boy over me. How dare you?" Jim groaned.
"Jim, I ..."
"You what?" Jim asked.
"I'm sorry." Anna stared down at her hands.
"I'm teasing." He grinned. "He's your boyfriend, I completely understand your decision. Wish Nicky a happy birthday for me," Jim answered.
"How'd you know it was Nicky?" Anna asked.
"Because I know your only other girl cousin is Sofie and her birthday isn't in October. Just like I know that Jack's birthday is in a few weeks and your parents anniversary is next week. I've known you since you were 12, Anna. I know things. I know you."
"Stop grinning like that," Anna told Becky as she backhanded her lightly in the shoulder.
"Like what?" Becky asked.
'Like she knew something Anna didn't.' Anna wanted to say but instead rolled her eyes as she continued to look at Jim. "You still want that dance?" Anna asked.
"If you're up for it."
"I'm going to go dance with him, okay?"
Jim's brow furrowed but realized her eyes were focused past him. He followed her gaze and saw Kyle slightly behind him, looking at her. "Not like I can stop you," Kyle said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Anna asked confused.
"Uh ... nothing. You're a strong-minded woman and even if I told you no, you'd probably do it anyway."
Anna's jaw dropped. "You really think that little of me?"
"I don't know." Kyle shrugged and walked off.
Anna stared after him her shoulders slumping and a frown appearing on her face. Jim didn't like it for a second, he just couldn't say it. "Don't worry about him. Dance with me," Jim said, tugging gently on her hand.
"What if he's right?" Anna asked sadly, not moving.
"Anna, he's just worried."
"About you? That's stupid. I mean he even said earlier that you don't bother him."
"Look at his pretty face. From a purely teenager stand point he's a threat. Kyle understands Jim is just a friend but underlying motives are still there. This isn't a story. Guys and girls rarely end up just friends without one wanting to be more. You and Jim may be an exception but it's rare. Just dance with him, okay?" Becky explained.
"Fine. I just don't get why it's a big deal now," Anna said.
"Don't worry about it. Just dance with me." Jim smiled pulling her off the bleachers. They danced to a couple up tempo and mid-tempo songs before a slow one came on. Anna stepped back but Jim pulled her in, resting his left hand on her hip and took her left hand in his right. Anna glared at him but dropped her free hand on his shoulder. "Are you coming to Crash's tonight?"
"Everyone going to be there?" Anna asked.
"Everyone who is anyone. Football, baseball, and the hockey teams, plus a bunch of kids."
"I don't have to be home until midnight." Anna shrugged.
"So you'll come?"
"If Kyle brings it up. I really like him, Jim, and I don't want to mess it up."
"Okay. I get it."
"Jim," Anna said exasperatedly.
"Really Anna, it's fine," Jim answered. She could tell he wasn't happy about it though. The song ended and Kyle stepped up before a new one started. Jim looked between the pair before walking away.
"Hey," Kyle stated.
"Hi," Anna answered softly.
"Look, I'm not mad about you and Jim. Like I said earlier, I know he's your best friend but a part of me worries that ... well, he's a handsome man and even I can see that. Girl as pretty as you, I can't help but wonder what's kept him in the friend-zone forever."
"My feelings," she suggested. "You can't help the way you feel about someone. I look at Jim and I'm not romantically attracted to him. I'm not."
"Okay. I know your dad said that you don't have to be home until midnight and the dance ends at ten so I was hoping you'd come with me to meet up with some friends at Crash's."
"Some friends?" Anna asked worried.
"Members of the football team, the hockey team, there's even going to be baseball players there."
"You know Jim's going to be there."
"And Derrek and Todd and Jason and Benny. Probably even Ray too. It's okay."
"Alright." Anna nodded. "I'll text my mom and see what she says. Shouldn't be a problem though." Kyle nodded and guided her into his arms. As the dance wound down, Anna got an answer back from her mom that she was indeed allowed to go to Crash's as long as she was home by midnight. So after the dance they loaded up into cars and went to the bowling alley. Anna spent a lot of the night by Kyle's side as the football team bowled. There were about five or so who were actively bowling and the rest were hanging around shooting the breeze.
With about an hour left until her curfew, Anna left Kyle's side and pressed her way through the crowd up to the table Derrek and the baseball team were sitting at. She squeezed her way between Derrek and Drew and both boys looked at her. Drew instantly hopped up giving her a stool to sit on and the other boys budged around giving him room to pull another chair up. "You doing okay?" Derrek asked. His right hand was interlaced with Krista's, so he laid his left hand on Anna's shoulder.
"I have not left that boy's side since halfway through that dance and he still looks angry," Anna griped. "What did I do wrong?"
"Nothing. He's not good enough for you."
"Derrek," Anna chided. Even if it was true she didn't want to hear it. They were her friends they were supposed to back her up not tell her she was wrong.
"It's true. Any guy who can look angry with a pretty girl by his side, and it's not about her being insulted, doesn't deserve that pretty girl," Derrek defended.
Anna buried her face in her arms on the table and groaned loudly. "He's right you know. If I was dating you, the only reason I'd be upset would be if someone insulted you. Your pretty brown eyes looking up at me would make everything else melt away," Drew informed her.
"Then why haven't you asked me out?" Anna asked, looking up.
"Because even though you have pretty brown eyes, you're not my type. My girl is a cheerleader, not a baseball player." Drew smirked.
"Krista, help me out here?" Anna asked, looking for help from the only other girl at the table.
"Sorry, but I'm with them. That boy has nothing to be angry about." The redhead shrugged and smiled happily.
Anna groaned again then scanned the table to see no one giving Kyle just cause. Her eyes landed on Ray across the table and he smirked, lifted the bottle in front of him to his lips and took a long pull off it. "Please tell me he's not drinking what I think he's drinking."
"It's root beer," Ray answered, setting the bottle back on the table. "Crash's doesn't sell beer without triple checking ID and Emma hates it when I drink."
"Anna, ignore all of them," Jim said as he turned the seat of her stool around so she'd face him. "I'm a handsome man and jealousy is common. I understand why he's angry. Boys our age need a lot of reassurances."
"No. Stop making excuses. You're my best friend and he needs to learn to accept that. I'm not going to put you on a shelf like a doll until he's ready to accept our relationship. I shouldn't have to ... And screw you for making me take their side." Anna pouted but Jim could tell she wasn't angry with him. He did his best to keep from smiling though. That would make her angry. "You suck," she bit out. Anna got up and walked back over to the lane where most of the football team was. She watched a few frames before taking Kyle's hand. He looked down at her then nodded and lead her away from most of the crowd to an unused lane.
"You want to talk about Jim," Kyle stated.
"Look, I know you and him aren't too different looks wise. Both have brown hair, are tall, athletic, and handsome but your personalities are different. I'm tired, Kyle. Tired of having to defend my best friend to you. He's been my best friend since I was 12 years old. I know that's only four years but we've been through a lot in those four years. Especially after my uncle Joe died. It's not fair for you to keep suggesting something's going to happen. Jim's not that kind of guy and I'm not that kind of girl."
"I'm sorry. I guess I never realized how close you and Jim are and I worry about it for the reasons I've mentioned before. That's only part of it though. I'm more worried about tomorrow, about the rest of your family. It's got me off my game."
"Here's a little secret. My dad is the toughest of the bunch. My uncle is really a sweetheart, my aunt is real nice, my grampa is okay and my great-grandpa is ... honestly he's a lot like my dad. You make me happy and that's all that matters to my family. I'm glad you're coming though." Anna sat back and looked over his suit. "Ditch the tie and what you're wearing is perfect."
"Are you sure your family will like me?"
"You'll see them from across the room, there will be no interacting with them. No awkward questions or meet and greet, just my dad glaring across the room."
"Okay," Kyle agreed. They didn't stay at the alley much longer before Kyle took her home. He walked her to her door and contemplated kissing her when the porch light came on.
"Dad's staring out the window. Goodnight, Kyle. I had fun," Anna said.
"Me too," Kyle said. Anna kissed his cheek and slipped inside.