chapter two: Joey Who? "MOM! Hey, MOM!" Brendan called from the front steps of his own home, pressing a finger on the doorbell. "Brendan!" Mrs. Leonard said happily, pushing the glass door open and stepping aside so her son could come through. "And, Tate! What a pleasant surprise!" "Hi, Mrs. Leonard!" Tate said with a grin as she passed by. "Oh, and look! It's... Ryan and... both Kevins!" Mrs. Leonard added. "Good day!" Ryan chirped ducking his head as he entered the Leonard household. A little shocked at all the newcomers in her home, Mrs. Leonard let the door close behind her as she set off to where everyone had gathered--in her kitchen. "Where's... Joey!" Tate called, waving her friend over. "Another one," Brendan's mom laughed. "I'm so sorry--Joey, was it? I didn't know you were still out there! It's a pleasure to meet you." "Likewise," Joey replied with a smile. "This is Skokie Field... interesting, huh," Ryan remarked as the group filed out towards the center of the field. "Sure is," Joey answered, looking the place up and down the area. "What are going to do here?" "Nothing much... we're just passing through. We thought we'd take you to the park... should be fun," Brendan replied. "You're guaranteed a good time, Joey... you're with not just me, but the guys as well," Tate piped in with a laugh. "Right you are, Tate," Carlson said with a nod. "Yeah, I mean, it's us!" Sheehan added. "So, Jamie, will you be staying over at the Leonards' as well?" "It's Joey." "Oh, sorry, Jerry." "Joey!" "I'm just kidding, Jane." "Resistance is futile," Brendan said with a smirk. "Ryan will call you whatever he wants to." "Then I should be able to call him whatever I want to." "Fine then. Gimme your best shot." "Okay then, Ronald." "Hahaha... that's your best shot?" "What's wrong with Ronald, Rodney?... Or should I say, Richard? If that is in fact your real name." "Kidding put aside, what's Joey short for?" Ryan asked curiously  from the tire swing. Looking down at him as she and Sheehan spun him around, she replied, "If you must know, it's short for Jocelyn." He smirked. "Jocelyn?... Fancy!" She rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it." "What's your last name?" Kevin curiously asked. "Soleherst." "And your middle?" Ryan prodded. "Cherie... boy, you guys sure are nosy." "What makes you say that?" Ryan asked with a laugh. "Well, the ride here to Winnetka, for one." "Elaborate." "When you were asking me all those questions." "Oh. Well, then... I guess you're right. We ARE nosy." Joey laughed and shook her hand, wiping her hands on her jeans. "So, Jocelyn Cherie Soleherst... May I call you Mon Cherie?" "Eh... nah." "Glad to see you're proud of your French roots." "Why, are you a monsieur?" "Oui, mademoiselle! Oui." Joey blinked and gave him a look of disbelief. "You don't believe me?" "Can't say I do... sorry." "Suit yourself," Ryan snapped back, hopping off the tire swing. Perplexed, she looked over at Kevin. "What was that all about?" Sheehan chuckled and shrugged. "Who knows? Ryan has a very low attention span. It could be anything. Doubt it was because of you, though." Joey nodded and walked along with Shee towards Carlson, Brendan, and Tate on the swingset. It appeared as if Brendan was having a hard time pushing both Tate and Carlson at the same time, so Joey took over. "Where's Ryan?" she asked, after a moment. "He could be anywhere," Brendan replied. "Anywhere. He has a very low--" "Attention span," Joey finished for him. "Kevin told me." "Well I guess we should--" Tate blinked and wiped her forehead. "Brendan, did you just spit on me?" "Now, Tate, would I ever spit on you?-- All right, I wanted the news, not the weather!" Brendan said, looking around as he wiped his cheek dry. "Uhh, there's no spitting going on here.. it's starting to rain!" Sheehan said, leaping off the swing. "Guess we'd better go find Ryan then," Brendan sighed, squinting as he looked up at the sky, the rain streaking down his face. "We're on it!" Both Kevins slapped each other fives (up high and down low) and ran off. Joey grinned and watched after them, then looked up at Brendan and Tate, who was still on the swings. "Off we go!" Brendan smirked and pushed Tate off and dashed towards the woods. Laughing, Joey, lagged behind, waiting for Tate to recover from her fall. Muddy, dirty, and sand-covered, Tate jogged beside her, mumbling, "Brendan is SO going to get it once we get back to his house." "If we ever GET home," Joey panted. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called, "RYAN!!" "... What are they doing? Where they going?" Ryan whispered, watching the others scatter about the park from his spot in the backseat of Brendan's car. Laughing, he shook his head and snuck outside. "This should be fun..."