Episode Eighteen

The Garage Apartment

A tarp was spread out over the floor, and laying across it were Jamie, Summer, Matt, Maria, and Diego. They all had streaks of white paint on their clothes and hair.

"Are we done?" Matt asked, groaning.

"Let's see," Maria said. "Living room floor cleaned?"

"Check," Diego replied.

"Living room walls are obviously painted," Maria said, gesturing around and then at themselves. "Kitchen floor and counters cleaned?"

"Check," Summer said sleepily from where she lay with her head on Jamie's shoulder.

"Bathroom cleaned and toilet checked to make sure it's not clogged?"

"Check," Matt said with a grimace.

"All rooms aired out?"

"Check," Jamie said.

"I think we're done," Maria said.

"Except for one thing," Jamie commented.

"What?" Maria asked. "I listed all the chores..."

"Notice anything missing in this place?"

The group looked around and realization hit them. "Furniture."

"Bingo. My bed and desk and stuff are gonna get moved over tomorrow, but I need a table and chairs for the kitchen, I need a couch..."

"Why? It's not like you have a TV..." Matt said, yawning.

"I'm getting dad and I's TV," Jamie said. "The Harris' have a bigger TV for the livingroom, and Rebecca has a TV that was in her room, the jerk has his own TV... so I get my own." There was a knock on the door and Jamie started to sit up, then layed back down again. "Come in," he called out.

The door opened slightly and Jenny stuck her head in. "Jamie?" she asked.

"Hey, Jen," Jamie said, waving slightly. "What's up?"

"We're moving into the big house and David's whining about you getting an apartment, so I'm trying to hide from him."

Jamie laughed. "Join the paint soaked party," he said. "So, what do you think?" Jamie asked, gesturing around the room.

Jenny looked around. "It looks nice, but..."

"It needs furniture," Jamie and Summer chimed in at the same time.

Jenny nodded. "Yeah."

"My stuff's gonna be here tomorrow, but I still need some stuff," Jamie said.

"You could try the flea markets. I mean, we've got two in town, and sometimes you can find cheap stuff there," Jenny suggested. "That's where mom got my dresser and it turned out to be an antique."

"Good idea," Jamie said. "My gramma finally got around to transferring birthday money to my savings account for me. I can spend some money."

"Birthday money?" Summer asked. "Not exactly a personal present..."

"Gramma Isa lives in Chicago," Jamie explained. "Along with my Cousin Rena and Uncle Gee. They're my mom's family. I don't see them much, but Gramma's got some serious money, so every year she either sends me a few hundred dollars, most of which I save for college, or she sends me some weird thing from Europe."

"Damn. Why were you and Mike always strapped for cash then?" Jenny asked.

"Watch your mouth," Jamie said automatically. "And dad doesn't want to take money from the Valles side of my family. Gramma likes dad as a person, but never really approved of my mom marrying him. She and dad came to an understanding after mom died, so they're friendly. But dad still doesn't want their help. I think he may have gotten some of the money for my jeep from Gramma or Uncle Gee though."

"Your uncle's name is 'Gee'?" Summer asked.

"It's my name for him. his real name's 'Gianni', my mother's family is part Italian. Anyway, when I was little I couldn't say that, so he ended up being Uncle Gee. Just like I could say Grandmother Isabella or 'Lorena' so they became Gramma Isa and cousin Rena. They call me by a variety of names."

"Like?" Summer asked.

"Gramma insists on calling me 'James', Cousin Rena calls me 'Jay', Uncle Gee calls me 'JD'..."

"JD?" Matt asked.

"My middle name's Daniel. I think the name's on both sides of my fmaily, cause I know Dad's grandpa was named Daniel, but mom once told me it was from her family," Jamie replied. "And James is after my Great-Great Grandfather. Anyway, my mom's family are all crazy people."

"Now I know where you get it," Summer teased.

"Hey, don't pick on my soon to be stepbrother!" Jenny said, smiling. "So, are you going to leave the walls white? If so... boring."

"Nope. I'm gonna paint a big mural or something on all the walls. Don't know what, yet, but when I decide, I'll paint," Jamie said.

"You're going to end up the most popular guy at school," Jenny said. "An apartment all to yourself..."

"One of dad's rules, no parties," Jamie replied. "But all my friends, and my soon to be little sister Jenny, can hang out here whenever they want."

"Really? Me too?" Jenny askd.

"Sure," Jamie replied. "But not David."

Jenny nodded quickly. "Okay. I don't know why you suddenly hate him this year, but if you want him kept out of here, I won't bring him."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

The Brady Residence

The house was empty, since Janice was at work, while Summer and Matt where at Jamie's new place. It was the perfect opportunity for Pete to snoop around. He was in Summer's room at the moment, going through her journal. He still, after all his snooping and eavesdropping, hadn't discovered the last name of Summer's new boyfriend, so he was looking for any reference to the first name 'Jamie', and he finally found the address in Summer's journal. There was an entry detailing Jamie's new apartment, and Pete couldn't help smirking as he copied down the information he wanted. Last name, address, phone number. And as he flipped through the pages he found another interesting tidbit.

I still can't believe Jamie went through something like that. What kind of sicko would rape a 15 year-old kid? And Jamie's managed to stay sane despite it. He hasn't said it, but I'm willing to bet he's had trouble sleeping. It's coming up on six months, when he'll be 1/4 of the way through the two years he really has to worry. I keep thinking we should celebrate that he's okay so far, but it seems weird to celebrate too.

Pete smirked. "Isn't that interesting," he said to himself. "I can use this." He kept reading, his anger rising as he did.

Jamie's strong, I know that much. he'll survive this. And if I have my way, I'll be right there beside him for the rest of the year and a half he has to worry about, and then forever after that. I'll be there to take care of him when he feels low, and cheer when he's happy. I love him. Great, I sound lame and mushy even in my journal. Thank God no one will ever read this! ha

"She can't love him!" Pete said angrily. "She'll come back to me. I'll make her come back to me."

Bowen Apartment - Later

"Well, you're a mess," Mike said when he entered the apartment and found Jamie sitting on the couch.

"We painted the entire living room after scrubbing the place. What do you expect?" Jamie replied.

"I know, I took a look on my way home. It looks good."

"Thanks."

"You have both a check up and counseling session tomorrow, right? After school?"

"Yeah. Another HIV test, then an hour with Paul."

"Leave it to you to make sure you didn't have to see a real shrink, just a counselor," Mike teased.

"I take after mom. Shrinks are quacks. Paul's an alright guy."

"So, you ready to be my best man next weekend?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, I am. I still don't want anything to do with David, so don't expect friendly talking between us, but I like Rebecca, and Jenny's great. I told her she could come hang out in my apartment henever she wanted."

"That was nice of you."

"Like I said, she's great."

"What are you working on?" Mike aske, looking at the paper sitting on the coffee table.

"Trying to figure out how to arrange stuff in the apartment. I'm gonna spend a little bit of the money Gramma sent me for my birthday on some cheap second hand furniture. Then, when I eventually move out, the place will be partially furnished if you wanna rent it out."

"Good idea," Mike said. "Can I see?"

"Sure," Jamie replied handing it to his dad.

"You're hoping I'll let you keep it, though, aren't you?" Mike asked. "I know you. You're going to paint on the walls, and I'll bet the cubby between thebathroom and the bedroom will have your painting supplies."

"Maybe I am hoping. At least that maybe I'll get it back to live in when I'm a high school grad and don't wanna live with boozers in the dorms?" Jamie said.

"You're going to UW for college. That's too long a commute," Mike said.

"I'm staying in Heaven Falls," Jamie argued. "This is home."

"Laramie is only and hour and a half away."

"Wasn't it to long a commute just a minute ago?"

"We've got a over two years to deal with this."

"And the man admits defeat."

"Not defeat. A temporary retreat to protect my sanity."

Jamie laughed. "Whatever you say, Dad."

End of Episode Eighteen