Not yet titled.... Part I

All Characters are property of the creators of Party of Five, except Josh Elliot, and Mackenzie Roarke, who I invented. Just for fun, I decided that if this were made into a real show Josh would be played by Matt Damon, and Mackenzie would be played by Sarah Michelle Gellar (please please get all images of Buffy the Vampire Slayer out of your head, Kenzie is nothing like that)
This story takes place after Charlie is cancer free and Annie and Bailey break up, but before Bai and Sarah get back together.
The sound of a key turning in the lock could be heard from the living room, where Sarah was sitting with a lovely blond girl.
“Okay he’s home, remember the plan, I introduce you then you excuse yourself-”
The girl cut her off. “Sarah, relax I know what to do, besides if he says no it’s not a big catastrophe.”
Sarah’s shoulders slumped. “Well, I know that but I just-” She stopped and pasted on a smile as Bailey came into the room.
He tossed a pile of mail on the coffee table and looked at her curiously. “What’s going on? Who’s this.” He gestured, with his chin, to the blond noting to himself that she was quite attractive.
They both stood. Sarah introduced her. “Bai, this is Mackenzie Roarke.”
The blond extended her hand. “Actually I prefer Kenzie.” She smiled.
Bai shook her hand gently. “Bailey Salinger, nice to meet you.”
After a second of silence Kenzie remembered her part of the plan. “Sarah, could I...um..use your restroom?”
Sarah pointed to a door across the living room. “Right there.” After Kenzie had closed the door, Bailey head for his own room. “No wait.” Sarah grabbed his arm, “I have to talk to you about something.”
“Sarah come on, I have to get ready for work.”
“I know, but It’ll only take a second. I was just wondering if you have plans for tomorrow evening.” She gave her best smile.
Bai knew something was up, he hesitated. “No...why?”
Her smile grew. “Perfect. You’re going out with us.”
He shook his head furiously. “Oh no no no. Us? What Us?”
Sarah pouted. “Kenzie, Josh and I. Come on Bai one date, please?”
“Sarah, I don’t even know this girl. I met her thirty seconds ago! How old is she, what does she do? Who is she!”
They were both speaking in loud whispers now. “She’s 18, she goes to school with me and she’s Josh’s best friend. They’ve known each other all there lives and he just though-”
“So this was his idea?”
She thought for a moment. “Not exactly. It was our idea, mine and his. Please Bai, just one date. She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s gorgeous. Come on.”
He sighed deeply, and gave in. He couldn’t resist that smile much longer anyway. “Okay, one date. I’m not promising anything though.”
She squealed and jumped on him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your wonderful.” She kissed his cheek, and let him go. Bailey went to his room and closed the door.
Sarah ran to the bathroom and knocked once. Kenzie opened it a crack. “So?”
Sarah beamed. “He said yes!” They both squealed.
Bailey looked up from tying his shoes, he shook his head at the noise. “I think I’ve been scammed.” He sighed again, but couldn’t help smiling to himself.
***
Bailey cleared his throat, as Josh and Sarah came up for air. “That’s gotta be a new record.”
The two of them laughed , there heads still together. Josh looked at him. “Nope, we beat that one along time ago.”
“Josh!” Sarah blushed and pushed him away playfully.
He kissed her quickly, then turned to Bailey and Kenzie, who stood about five inches apart and looked rather nervous. He chuckled. “So where would you two like to go now?”
The four of them were standing outside a coffee house, that had been too crowded and noisy for any decent conversation. Kenzie spoke first. “Why don’t we go to Salingers?” She looked up at Bailey, “I mean, would that be all right?”
Bai felt all eyes on him. “Sure, that’s fine. Actually it’s sort of late for them to be too crowded,” he looked at Kenzie for a few seconds. “You know, that’s actually a really good idea.” He smiled at her, dimples showing. She smiled back and the two of them seemed to become slightly more comfortable.
Sarah smiled, then looked up at Josh. It wasn’t exactly what she had expected to see. Instead of his thousand watt smile that always cheered her up, Josh looked almost jealous. Sarah told herself that she was being silly, and broke the silence. “Let’s go then.”
They all piled into Bai’s jeep and headed off for Salingers. When they arrived Bailey requested his usual table and ordered cappuccino and some new kind of pastry that the chef was testing. “So Kenzie,” Bailey said between bites. “What do you like to do?”
She smiled, and thought about the question. “Hmmm, I don’t know, why?”
He winked at her. “Maybe I’m looking for ideas.” She pretended to be oblivious. “Ideas? For what.”
“So I know where to take you on our next date.” He grinned.
She laughed, and exchanged a “look” with Sarah. Josh sat in silence watching.
The rest of the evening consisted of friendly conversation, of which Josh was scarcely a part of. He just sat and grinded his teeth, occasionally saying something that only Kenzie laughed at. Eventually Sarah asked what was funny, and Josh would only brush it off as an “inside joke”.
By the end of the evening, Kenzie and Bailey were holding hands, and Sarah and Josh were barely speaking. “Josh, why don’t we just walk back to your place. It isn’t far, and it’s so nice tonight.” Sarah asked as they stood next to the jeep.
He hesitated for a moment, looking at Kenzie and Bailey wrapped in there own conversation. “Sure...whatever.” He looked down at her and faked a smile, then returned his gaze to the other two. “I guess we’re walking. Kenz, I’ll see you tomorrow right?”
She barely glanced at him as she answered, her gaze was still fixed on Bai. “Sure, tomorrow. See ya.”
Josh and Sarah began walking in the opposite direction, as Bai opened the door for Kenzie, and they speed off. Sarah watched him for a moment, he was staring straight ahead. “Josh, what’s the matter? You look so mad!”
He looked down at her. “That was a stupid idea, fixing them up. He’s all wrong for her.”
“What are you talking about. they really like each other!” Sarah couldn’t understand what had gotten into him.
“No way! She’s just amiably tolerating his presence as a personal favor to you.”
Sarah stopped and turned toward him. “I don’t believe you! It was your idea! And, by the way, I think she was amiably tolerating our presence until she could be alone with him.”
Josh didn’t look her in the eye. He remained silent for a few minutes then said. “Let’s just keep going okay.” He started walking again, and Sarah had to double step to keep up.
***
“So I guess this is my place.” Mackenzie looked up at her apartment building, then back at Bailey. “I had a really nice time tonight. Thanks for giving me a chance.”
He laughed. “Are you kidding. I thought yes as soon as the words came out of Sarah’s mouth. I just had to make her beg, you know.”
She giggled. “Yeah, I know.”
Bailey watched her for a second, then he gently laid a hand on her cheek and bent his head down toward hers. They kissed for what felt like hours, yet in reality was but a few seconds. She couldn’t keep the goofy smile off her face as they separated. She climbed out of the jeep and tripped on her own foot, laughing at herself, feeling slightly disoriented. He smiled as he watched her walk into the building. Then drove away, whistling to himself.
***