Episode Seventeen

The New Harris-Bowen House

A week later, Sunday afternoon, Mike pulled his car up in front of the new house and climbed out, as did Jamie. They walked up to it in silence, pretty much the same as they had been most of the past week. They had talked things out over the weekend, but during the week they had both been busy and the few times they had talked it had often disolved into an arguement of some sort.

"It looks nice," Jamie said as he looked at the outside.

"The inside's a mess. A fixer-upper," Miek replied, grinning.

Jamie laughed. "You just wanna smash things with a hammer, Dad."

"Your point is?"

The pair walked into the house and Mike led the way up the stairs to the bedrooms. As he had said, 3 of the bedrooms were in living condition, but the fourth needed panelling and a new carpet, as well as some rewiring and a new ceiling.

"Well, this is more primitive than the cabin," Jamie commented. He walked over to the lone window and took a look out. He spotted the two story garage, and the private stairs leading up to the second floor and got an idea. "Is there a garage apartment?" he asked.

"Yeah, but no one's lived in it for years," Mike replied, wondering what his son was getting at.

"It probably can't be in worse condition than this room," Jamie commented. "Let's go look."

"Why?"

"I won't live in a room with David, but if there's a garage apartment in better shape than this room..." Jamie called over his shoulder as he left.

Mike followed him out. "Jamie, you're sixteen."

"So?" Jamie replied as he went down the stairs and out the side door. "I'd be 20 feet away from the main house. No worries about me and David getting into fights on a nightly basis..." he said, then he trailed off slightly. "What's the problem? You don't trust me to live on my own?"

"Jamie, it's not that. But you've got a girlfriend and..."

"Yeah, a girlfriend who tried to make out with me, so I freaked and had a panic attack!" Jamie replied, rolling his eyes. "I've got a year and a half of having to take HIV/AIDs tests, and that's just until I'll 'probably' be okay. I'm not going to have sex when there's the risk."

"Let's just see what kind of condition it's in first, all right?" Mike aked as they climbed the stairs to the apartment door. He pulled out the house keys and found the one for the apartment.

Jamie grinned and waited for his dad to open the apartment.

Brady House

Summer was in the livingroom, working out in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt when the phone rang. She paused the CD and answered the phone. "Hello, Brady residence."

"Baby girl?"

Summer smiled. "Dad? Why are you calling? I mean, it's great to hear from you, but..."

"I haven't called you in months?" Mitch Brady replied. "I know, and I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"It's okay, but why now?"

"I got a call from your brother. He told me about Pete being there."

Summer grimaced. "Pete's been driving me crazy for the past week, Dad. He... he sent me a bouquet that said I was his forever, and then he turned up in my room. And he's been calling every night on my private line. At least he's not botheirng my boyfriend yet."

"Matt mentioned a new guy."

"Don't get over protective, Dad. Jamie's a sweet guy. He's pretty much the opposite of Pete."

"That's what Matt said. Is this the kinda guy who'll stick around if Pete bothers him?"

Summer smiled. "Yeah, he is. He might punch Pete out if he gets the chance, but he'll stick around."

"Punch him out?"

"Jamie's not violent dad," Summer said, rolling her eyes. "But if he gets really mad or feels the need to defend himself he will. When his stepbrother-to-be punched him at the Valentine's Day dance he retaliated."

"A macho 'can't look wimpy in front of my girl' retaliation, or a 'this jerk just hit me' retaliation?"

Summer laughed. "The second one. Jamie's an artist dad, he isn't a violent person."

"An artist?"

"You should see his drawings, Dad. They're so life like. And I haven't seen it yet, but he told me he's beeing working on a painting. He's amazing."

"Are we still talking about his artistic talent?" Mitch asked with a soft laugh. "Because it sounds like my little girl's in love."

"You'd like Jamie, dad. He's really sweet. And Matt's known him, at least periphally for 3 years. Jamie's best friends with the little sister of Matt's best friend."

"That sounds like the beginning of an urban legend. 'I heard from my brother's best friend's little sister' best friend...'"

Summer giggled. "Dad!"

"Sorry, sorry. So, you're basically happy out there?"

"Yeah. I miss you, but... I'm happy. No bad habits coming back. Though I might get the new one of killing Pete if he doesn't leave me alone."

"Try calling the cops first."

"That's what Jamie said. He reminded me that he knows most of the force and if I casually mention I'm his girlfriend then they might work even faster to help."

"How does he know them?"

"His dad's a cop. And his stepmother-to-be, too," Summer explained. "He grew up surounded by cops."

The Garage Apartment

Mike and Jamie looked around the small apartment. There was a livingroom which fed into the small kitchen, there was a bedroom of course, and a small bathroom with a shower.

"It's great," Jamie said. "Maybe a little paint..."

"You're not living here."

"Why not?" Jamie replied. "I won't share a room with David, so it's this or Uncle Laurence and Aunt Catherine's."

"Or David could take the apartment."

"You trust him more than me?" Jamie asked, surprised. "God, dad! Everyone knows David and Laura are either having sex or pretty damn close to it! Me, on the other hand, I can't even consider it for a year and half yet, by which time I'd probably be living in a dormroom in college and you couldn't stop me," he reasoned. "Dad, if you really want to offer him the apartment, go ahead. But I'm telling you, you're gonna have a pregnant niece."

Mike sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. "It needs work."

"Cleaning," Jamie replied. "I can get Maria, Diego, Matt, and Summer to help."

"And it needs paint."

"You forgetting I'm an artist? I'll put a damn mural on the walls!"

Mike sighed again. "You can't complain if I check on you 5 times a night, no overnight guests, dinner in the house at least twice a week. And you're responsible for fixing the place up."

"Does this mean I get it?"

"Yeah, why not? But if you break the rules, you lose it. And only until the other bedroom is ready," Mike said.

Jamie nodded. "Deal."

"Why do I feel like on of those horribly irresponsible father's? I mean, what kind of father let's his 16 year-old son have a private apartment?"

"The kind who doesn't want his son living alone in a cabin 10 minutes from town?" Jamie replied.

"That's what I'll say if anyone comments. It's this or the cabin. Then I look like a good dad," Mike said, trying not to smile.

Jamie laughed slightly. "Thanks for trusting me."

"Don't make me regret it," Mike warned.

"You've got nothing to worry about," Jamie assured him. He looked around the apartment and his smile faltered slightly. "Where am I gonna get furniture?"

Mike laughed. 'That's your problem," he joked. "I told you fixing the place up was all your responsibility!"

Jamie groaned. "You're just so funny."

HFHS - The Next Morning

Summer, Matt, Maria, and Diego were gathered together near Summer, Maria and Jamie's lockers when Jamie ran up.

"Why didn't you guys answer your phones last night?" he asked the girls.

"Mama was giving us Mexicano music and dance lessons," Maria explained. "She turned off the ringer for the phone."

"Our dad called yesterday," Summer said. "I was on with him half the afternoon, then Mom took me and Matt out to dinner to celebrate her promotion. Sorry."

"What's up?" Matt asked.

"Only that, at least for a few weeks, I will have my own garage apartment," Jamie replied, grinning.

"What?" Diego asked.

"I refuse to share a room with David, but the fourth bedroom is a wreck and needs tons of work. But, there's a small apartment over the garage and I get to stay in it!"

"What's the catch?" Maria asked.

"I gotta get the place cleaned and fixed up myself. I can't ask him for help. But, I can ask my closest friends and my beautiful girlfriend..."

"Suck up!" Summer said, elbowing Jamie in the side. "How much work?"

"Mop the floors, dust, air it out, do something with the peeling wallpaper..." Jamie said. "Nothing too bad. It's got working power and water. Mostly just appearance things. Can I count on you guys?"

Summer nodded. "You know you can count on me."

"No offense, but I'm not letting my sister spend time alone at her boyfriend's private apartment, so I'm in," Matt said.

"Count us in," Maria said.

"Great. I got the keys if you guys wanna see it this afternoon," Jamie said.

"Sure, we can get some ideas," Maria said.

End Of Episode Seventeen