Episode Thirteen

HFPD

The next afternoon, Mike sat at his desk, looking through a folder. He had asked the insurance company to fax him over his statement and he was looking at it, trying to make sense of the list of tests and things. he saw the items marked for his injuries during the hostage situation, and of course he could figure those out, but the blood tests had him a little confused. Why would he need a blood test? Mike thought. Even harder to figure out was the list of medications the doctor had perscribed Jamie. One was a simple painkiller, but the other he didn't recognize. He heard someone walk up behind him and Rebecca's blonde hair came into view as she leaned over and looked at the report.

"What's this?" she asked, running her fingers over the items but not able to see the label for the page since it was folded. "Are these for a perp?"

"Why would you ask that?" Mike asked.

"Because this is a HIV preventive medicine," she replied, pointing to the medicine Mike hadn't been able to identify.

"Oh God," Mike whispered, the pieces coming together. He jumped up and started for the door.

"What's wrong?" Rebecca asked, startled by his sudden actions.

"I have to go see Jamie."

HFHS

Jamie had managed to avoid his friends most of the day, and he succeeded until school was out. He knew he had to talk to Summer, since they were supposse to go to the dance tonight. So, when he saw her approaching him in the parking lot, he didn't run away or get in his jeep and drive off.

"You want to tell me why you ranaway last night? You're dad called our house looking for you," she said.

"What time? I'll bet he finished eating dinner with Rebecca, Jenny, and the ass first," Jamie replied bitterly.

"He called around 6:30," Summer said, hugging her jacket tight around her. "Are you okay?"

"Miracle of miracles, I rated a canceled dinner." Jamie sighed and shivered slightly. "I'm okay. I stayed at my Grandma Ginny's cabin last night. Had to camp out on the livingroom floor cause the bedrooms were too cold, but I was okay. I'll probably go back tonight."

"What about the dance?"

"You really wanna go with a guy who doesn't have any running water?"

"You think I'm that shallow?"

Jamie laughed. "I guess not."

"And he can get ready at our place," Maria said as she and Diego walked around from where they'd been hidden behind a car. "Where he could have stayed over last night if he asked. Mama might even have not told Mike you were there if you asked her not to."

"Good, it's settled. You're still taking me to the dance," Summer said.

Jamie smiled. "All right, I'll still take you."

"Good. Now, are you giving me a ride home or not?"

Jamie laughed. "Why not?"

"Get over to the Bodega by 5:30," Maria ordered.

"It'll take me maybe a half hour to get ready!" Jamie argued. "Why do I need to be there like a hour and a half before the dance starts?"

"Mama's gonna want to take pictures of you, too, so she can give copies to Mike once you're not mad at him anymore," Diego said. "You know mama."

"Yeah, I know Pilar."

"Come on, Bowen, get me home so I can start getting ready!" Summer said. "Besides, I'm freezing out here!"

"It's gonna take you 4 hours to get ready?" Jamie asked.

"First, Nicole's leaving in an hour and I'm meet her and Mom at the house and we're taking her to the airport. Second, you're not the only one who needs to shower, then I gotta get my hair fixed, then I gotta put on my dress and get my makeup done."

"You girls are so high maitenance," Jamie joked, earning himself a swat on the arm from Summer.

"Hahaha," Summer quipped. "See you later Maria, Diego!"

"See ya', Summer!" Maria replied.

Jamie unlocked the passenger door of the jeep first so Summer could get inside, then ran around and climbed into the driver's seat. "Let's get out of here!" he said.

***

Just as Jamie pulled out one end of the parking lot, Mike pulled into the other end. He drove through the lot, looking for Jamie's jeep, but didn't see it. "Damn it!" he said, banging his hand against the steering wheel. He had no idea where to look next.

Brady House, That Night

"Mom!" Summer said, laughing as her mom paced the livingroom. "I'm the one with the date, not you!"

"But this is your first big date in Heaven Falls!" Janice said, smiling at her daughter.

"Yeah, but still!" Summer said, smoothing the skirt of her pale pink dress.

"Great, now you've got Summer all nervous!" Matt said as he took the steps two at a time, straightening the tie of his suit as he did. "Jamie's gonna think you're gorgeous! Is my tie straight?"

"Thanks," Summer replied. "And why are you nervous? You don't have a date! Unles you want to impress a certain darkhaired girl who's dating a certain moron...."

"Shut up, Summer," Matt said, rolling his eyes.

The doorbell rang and Summer tensed, her hands flying to her hair. "Is it still okay?" she asked her mom in a panicked voice.

Matt, meanwhile, rolled his eyes and went to answer the door, he grinned at the nervous look on Jamie's face. "Hey, Jamie. Summer's in the livingroom. Tell her she looks good or I'll kick your ass," he ordered.

Jamie smiled nervously and followed Matt into the livingroom. He stopped when he saw Summer, who was facing Janice and still smoothing her dress.

"Sums, you better greet your date so he can pick his jaw up off the floor," Matt commented, grinning.

Summer turned and slapped her brother's arm. "Shut up!" she told him. Then she looked at Jamie and smiled. "Hi," she said.

"Hi," Jamie echoed. "You look..." he started, gazing at her in awe. "Wow."

Matt started laughing. "See, you left the guy speechless!" he said.

Janice smiled then gestured for Jamie and Summer to stand in front of the fireplace. "Smile," she ordered once they were positioned. After the first picture, where both teens looked rather uncomfortable, Janice put her hands on her hips. "All right, stop looking like you're going to a funeral and smile!"

Matt snickered, and Summer bit her lip to hold back a laugh. Jamie closed his eyes and his shoulders started shaking in surpressed laughter. Summer poked him in the side, and he glanced at her just as she made a goofy face. Jamie lost his control and started laughing, with Summer joining in.

"Look here," Janice ordered, and when they did, big smiles on their faces from the laughter, she took 3 pictures in quick succesion. "Matt, get over there, I want a picture of you, too."

Matt rolled his eyes, but joined the other two. "Can we hurry up? I wanna get to the dance!"

"Yeah, the guy without a date wants to get to the dance," Summer teased.

"Just shut up, Summer," Matt repeated.

HFHS - Gym

"Well, you almost wouldn't think it was a gym," Matt said as he, Jamie, and Summer entered the dance.

"Well, the basketball hoops would still be a big tip off," Jamie replied.

Matt rolled his eyes again. "Excuse me while I go look for single girls to dance with," he said.

"My brother is so weird," Summer said.

"Would you rather he hung around us all night?"

"Oh God no!" Summer said, laughing.

"You wanna dance or get some punch, or what?" Jamie asked.

"Let's dance," Summer said, pulling him out into the middle of the dance floor.

"You really look great, Summer," Jamie said.

"Thanks, so do you," Summer replied. "When'd you get your suit?"

"After I dropped you off I raced over to the apartment and got it, then raced home to do homework. Then I raced over to the Bodega to get ready, then I put up with Pilar fussing over me and Diego for about 45 minutes. She treats me like I'm one of hers," Jamie said, smiling. "It was ridiculous."

"Everybody needs someone like that," Summer said as they swayed to the soft music.

"Yeah, Pilar's been like a second mom or something every since my mom died. Half the time I call her my 'Aunt Pilar'!"

Summer laughed then let out a startled humph as someone banged into her.

"David don't!" Laura ordered her boyfriend.

"Don't what? Tell him what an ass he is?" David countered, glaring at Jamie.

"Look who's talking about asses, the king himself," Jamie replied tensely.

"Jenny's not talking to me because of what she heard you say about me!"

"I'm sorry I upset her, but all I said was the truth, David. Get over yourself," Jamie said, turning away and going back to dancing.

But David wasn't ready to be quiet yet, and he grabbed Jamie's arm, pulling him around. "My mom searched my room and trashed my stash!" he hissed angrily. "Just to make Mike happy!"

"Not my problem."

"If I've gotta be miserable, so will you! You didn't even stick around long enough to find out we're gonna be roomies in the new house while Mike finishes fixing up the 4th bedroom! I'll make sure you never get a minutes peace!"

"Who says I'll even live in that house?" Jamie replied. "I'm not living with my dad anymore now!"

"What?" Laura asked, surprised. "Where are you living, then?"

"It doesn't matter, Lore, but I'm fine," Jamie assured his cousin. "Take my advice though, Cuz, dumb the moron before something bad happens to you while he's got you high." Jamie turned away again, only to have his arm grabbed again. He spun around and took a swing, catching David square in the jaw.

David retailiated, shoving Jamie against the refreshment table and sending the punch bowl onto the floor.

"Hey! Break it up!" Principal Winters said as he approached with two teachers. "What's going on here?" he asked as each of the teachers grabbed the arms of one of the two teenagers.

Jamie pulled out of the teachers grasp and glared at David. "Just him being a jerk. Don't worry, I'm leaving," he answered. He looked over to Summer. "Sorry," he told her before walking out.

Summer looked after Jamie, then turned to find Matt. "I'm going with him," she told her brother. "I'll see you at home?"

"Sure," Matt replied, watching his sister hurry after Jamie.

HFHS Parking Lot

Jamie got out to his jeep before Summer caught up with him. "Hey, didn't anyone tell you it's rude to ditch your date?"

"Winters was gonna kick me out anyway, no sense making you leave too," Jamie replied.

"It won't be any fun without you."

Jamie smiled slightly. "Come on, I'll take you home."

"Mom's not expecting me for a few hours, how about you take me to see your 'new place', instead?" Summer suggested.

"You sure? it's not exactly nice..."

"Just take me," Summer replied.

Jamie smiled as snow started drifting down. "Sure," he said.

End Of Episode Thirteen