{Kiwi}
Who would have thought that Melissa's ex, was behind this whole scandal, Ethan, Jason, Matt, the basketball court, could Matt have been behind it since that long ago? Or did he come in later on? A mystery that HAS to be solved!
"Melissa" Valerie said quietly as they walked into the other room. "Yea? What is it?" Melly asked. "I heard Matt say something suspicious just now do you know what it’s about?" Val asked. "What'd he say?" "I heard him say 'Ethan', you don't suppose it is just a coincidence that he would have been talking to a different guy named Ethan do ya?" Val peered back into the living room where Matt was now sitting on the couch watching TV. "It's not that uncommon of a name." Melissa trailed off. "I suppose you're right." Val said back. "I know I'm right, he is not talking to the same hideous, evil little troll that we know!" Melissa said getting a glass of water from the kitchen. Valerie looked once again back into the living room, there sat Matt, huge smile on his face. To Val, this still seemed shady and she knew that she'd have to crack this case herself.
::Ring::
The phone rang once again. "Hello?" Matt answered. "Hey! What's up?" Jason said from the other end of the line. "What do you guys want now?" Matt spoke at his regular level not knowing that Val was listening. "We need to know something, what time do they leave?" Jason asked. "Brian and Nick leave at noon on Saturday. Don't let this plan fail Jason!" Matt said harshly. "But what if." Jason started to ask. "Shut up Jas! Put Ethan on now!" Matt ordered. "Yea man!" Ethan took the phone from Jason. "Eth, are you guys sure you can handle this?" Matt asked. "Positive!" Ethan smiled. "Don't mess this one up, it's your last chance!" Matt said hanging up the phone once more. Overhearing this entire conversation Val knew that it truly was the same guys he was talking to. She took one step back, and then proceeded to walk back into the living room, like she wasn't even there as Matt sat back down on the couch. "Whatcha up to?" Matt asked. "Frankly it is none of your business Matthew." Valerie said walking outside onto the porch. She took out her cell phone and dialed Brian's number.
"This is Rok." He answered at his end. "Hey! Having fun?" She asked. "Sort of." Brian laughed. "Oh yea?" "Yea". "Hey listen Bri, could you do me a favor?" Valerie asked quietly. "Sure, why are you whispering?" Brian asked. "Never mind that, just listen you need to come out here on Friday instead of Saturday can you do that for me? Please?" Valerie begged, still whispering. Brian simply smiled, "Of course I can. I'll leave on a plane at 7 am on Friday." "Thanks so much, you're a lifesaver!" Val said ended the phone call. Brian was puzzled as to why she wanted him to leave earlier, but then again, he certainly was not going to complain. He'd just keep the entire conversation he just had a secret from Nick so he wouldn't be any more wound up then he already was.
~Matt and Melissa~
"I'm really happy to see you again Melissa, I mean, it's been almost seven years since we've both been back here in Hawthorne. It'll be just like old times." Matt said enthusiastically. "Minus Grandma and Mom." Melissa sighed as she sat down on the couch. "Aw, come on Mel. Cheer up, everything is going to be okay, everything will turn out just the same as it was seven years ago." Matt said sitting down uncomfortably close to Melly. "I hope not." Melissa mumbled. "What was that? I didn't hear what you said Mel." "I said, of course Matt, just like old times." Melissa turned away from him facing out the window looking at Valerie who was standing on the porch just getting off the phone with Brian.
~Valerie~
"Maybe I shouldn't tell Melissa that the Boys are coming out here earlier, I don't want her to freak out like she usually does or anything and I'm definitely not telling her about what I heard Matt say, that will just make this entire Ethan and Jason situation worse." Valerie thought to herself, Melissa coming outside interrupted her thoughts. "Whatcha doing out here?" Melly asked. "I just got off the phone with Brian." "Oh, how they holding up?" Melly asked. "I think they'll be okay, just gonna miss Grandma's cookies so much." Melissa managed to fake a smile but Val knew she was a total wreck inside. "Whaddya say we go for a walk. See Hawthorne as we remember it." Val suggested to get Melissa's mind off of everything. "Sounds good, I'm gonna grab my purse, be right back." Melissa also knew she needed a break from all the chaos. She walked back into the house. Matt was still sitting on the couch watching the latest episode of 'Tough Enough' on MTV. "How can you watch that crap?" Melly asked as she picked up her purse and jacket. "It's not crap.... Hey! Where are you guys going?" Matt asked as Melissa was almost out the door. "For a walk." Melly answered. "Can I tag along, please!" Matt practically begged. Val overheard his begging and nodded. She knew that the only way to keep Matt out of trouble with Ethan and Jason was to let him come with. "I suppose." Melissa mumbled. "GREAT!" Matt jumped up and put his worn out tennis shoes on.
~Brian and Nick~
"Listen Kev, I really need to be out there in Jersey." Nick begged, hoping Kevin would understand. "Um.... all right Nick..... Is my cousin going too?" Kevin slowly said. "Yeah, we'll be back in a couple days. We're only missing a radio interview right?" Nick was practically jumping out of his seat with the intention of getting packed sooner. "Sure Nick, a couple of interviews is all." Kevin said dialing Howie's number on his cell phone. "Besides, AJ is out with a sore throat anyway. No one will miss two more of the guys for just an interview. You and Howie can make us sound good!" Nick laughed leaving the room.
It's not the Kevin was objective of Nick and Brian supporting their fiancée and wife, it's just that Val and Mel have taken so much of their time that it seems their careers haven't been as important as they used to be. Maybe it was for the best though that they've taken time for themselves to see who they really are, and to see if they'd rather have a family and a regular life, or a career in superstardom. Yet, neither Brian nor Nick realized that Valerie and Melissa had taken up that much of their time, they had been hit by cupid’s arrows and are floating on cloud nine when they are with their girls. Nick, doesn't like to be away from Melissa for more than two hours and this whole ordeal in Jersey is killing him inside. Brian, of course would like to spend a real honeymoon with his new wife, but once again, the situation in Jersey has stopped them.
Nick went back to his hotel room to pack and began to think. 'I wonder if it was our fault all along.' Referring of course to him and Brian and the situation with Jason and Ethan. 'We're the ones that wanted to play basketball that day at the beach. If we would have listened to the girls and never went down there, then they would have never met them and then we would've never had our lives practically ruined by them.' Nick's thoughts were running through his brain so fast he sat down for a minute. 'Get it out of your head Nick, it's not your fault.' Nick reassured himself.
~FRIDAY~
"Are you ready yet?" Nick was pounding his fists against Brian's hotel room door. "HOLD ON!" Brian yelled back. "We're gonna be late! We're gonna be late!" Nick kept on repeating as he stood impatiently waiting for Brian to pack his stuff. "All right. Here I am. Let's go!" Brian said locking the door to the hotel room and heading down to the main floor. "We're late, we're late." Nick was still repeating to himself. "No we're not. Settle down Nicky boy!" Brian laughed. "WE ARE LATE!" Nick stated firmly pointing to his watch. "Did you completely forget about daylight savings time?" Brian laughed again looking at his watch and the hour difference between his and Nick's. "What? When was that?" Nick began to set his watch to the right time. "Last weekend." "Oh." Nick simply stated as they continued on their way to the airport and then off to New Jersey to spend the weekend with their wife and fiancée.
~END of CHAPTER 47~
Back to Index
Chapter 48