chapter one: Fall Break, Winnetka-Style "AWOOOGA, AWOOOGA!" "Ryan, what are you doing?" Carlson said with a sigh and shake of his head. "That's the alarm telling us we're late for fall break!" "You can never be too late for fall break." "Says the King of Cheese and Tardiness," Ryan quipped back at Brendan, who folded his arms over his Anne shirt and frowned. "Cheap shot." "Well, what are we waiting for anyway, I mean come on--" "It's not what we're waiting for, but who we're waiting for," Sheehan said, propping his chin up on one hand. "Oh, you mean Brendan's wifey?" Brendan's brows furrowed and he replied, "She's not my wifey." "But you want her to be," Ryan said triumphantly with a grin. Cornered, Brendan opened his mouth, then closed it as if having a second thought. "Well, in the future, if all goes well... I guess so. I mean... I guess? I don't know... Maybe if--?" "Well make up your mind, man. Time is money. If you're going to propose, you're going to need a ring, and if you're going to get a ring, you're going to need money, so if you're going to need money, then, Brendan, my friend, you're going to be in dire need a job." Brendan suppressed a smile and said with a sigh, "Well, everyone's gotta start somewhere." "I'm hungry. Oy! Shee! Go cook me something!" Ryan called out, fidgeting with the toaster cord. "I'm right here, SO STOP DOING THAT!" Kevin replied, getting up off his stool at the kitchen counter and heading over to the fridge, ignoring the light chuckling the boys were doing. The doorbell rang. Hopping up from their seats around the kitchen area, Brendan and Carlson bustled over to the door, leaving the two Team Fresh mates to, in Kevin's case, prepare some snacks, and in Ryan's, wait for the snacks from Kevin so he could consume them. As if he weren't hyper enough already. "Brendan, hi!" "Hi, Tate," Brendan greeted her with a wave from behind Kevin, who cleared his throat rather loudly. "Oh, sorry, Kevie. Hello to you too." With a grin, Tate carried her things into the B-K Condo (not to be confused with the fast food restaurant down the street), but then an unfamiliar blonde stepped into the living room as well. "Hey guys! Brendan, correct? I've heard so much about you and your friends from Tate here. I'm Joey, her roommate!" The blonde held out a hand that Brendan politely took  in his and gave a firm shake. "Hi, Joey. That's Kevin, Kevin Carlson." "'Lo, Kevin," Joey replied, now holding out her hand to him, who awkwardly smiled and shook it with his own. With a laugh, she looked around, taking in the nice, spacious, and very guy-ish living quarters. "Niiiice." Brendan grinned and said, "You think so?" "Ch-yeah!" Tate laughed and said, "Where are the other two stooges?" "Where else," said Brendan flatly, "but the kitchen... Come on, we'd better go check in on them." "Hurry--LOOK!! No hands!!" Ryan exclaimed, his hands up in the air. Tate smirked. "Well, gee, Ryan... standing in front of the microwave usually doesn't require much... skill." Ryan looked at her and frowned. "Talk about raining on somebody else's parade." He dropped his hands at his side and turned back to face the microwave. "Awww... Ryan!" Tate said, hugging him 'round the middle. "I'm soooorry!" Ryan sniffled and nodded. "S'okay, Tater-Tot. Mmmm... tater tots..." "Fresh out of them," Brendan said, leaning out against the doorway. "Gee, Tate, where's MY hug?" Tate smiled and said, "Ryan has it. Go get it from him." Right on queue, Ryan turned about and held out his arms. "C'mere, Brendy!" Brendan instinctively took a step back and shook his head. "No, you can keep it. I'll get one of my own, thanks." And with that he held out his own arms, and wrapped them 'round Tate, who couldn't help but turn the lightest shade of pink. Joey, who had up until now remained quiet, said, "Awwwww!" and pretty soon, the other three boys had joined in. With a deep intake of breath, Ryan popped the microwave door open and pulled out a hot plate of Pizza Bagel Bites. "Who's hungry!" he called out, unbeknownst to the others only about four feet away, wincing. After that quick, yet scrumptious, snack, the guys and girls packed their stuff in two cars. And at about two in the afternoon, they were off--Sheehan, Ryan, and Joey in the Jeep, and Brendan, Carlson, and Tate in the BMW. "So," Ryan began, turning around in his seat to look at Joey in the back, "you're Tate's roommate?" Joey nodded. "And you're Kevin's roommate." "All right. Now that we've got that in the clear, how old are you?" "Nineteen." "And your birthday is?" "April--" "What's your favorite subject?" "Spanish." "Te gusta bailar?" "Si." "... I respect that." "Gracias." "That's enough Spanish for today." "All right then." "Okay." Ryan turned back around to face the front, leaving an amused Joey to ponder in her own thoughts.