Episode Eight

HFHS

Summer slumped in a seat at the back of history class, listening to the teacher drone on about what they would learn in the coming year. She perked up when the door opened and Jamie walked in.

"Thank you for joining us, Mr. Bowen," the teacher said.

Jamie gave him a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Talbot, I meant to be on time for class, but I needed to call home and check on my dad. You heard he got shot yesterday, didn't you?"

Mr. Talbot nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, that's right. Well, please take a seat. You haven't missed much."

"Thank you, sir," Jamie said as he walked to the only empty seat, which happened to be next to Summer.

"Is your dad okay?" she asked.

"Huh?" Jamie asked, turning towards her. It took him a second to remember who she was and for her question to filter through. "Oh. Yeah, he's fine. But I really don't want detention the first day back, so I figured I'd play it up," he said with a smile.

Summer grinned. "You're bad."

"You know it," Jamie replied. "Listen, I'm sorry I was a jerk this morning. I've had a bad couple of days and then Laura bugging me... I lost my temper."

"No problem. I've had days like that myself," she glanced forward at Mr. Talbot, who continued to drone on. "We should probably pay attention."

"Nah, he wouldn't notice if we had a fireworks display back here."

Summer stifled a laugh. "Has anyone ever tested that theory?"

"Rumor has it your brother set off a stink bomb in Talbot's class last year. Talbot didn't notice until everyone was running out the door!"

Summer almost turned purple from holding back her laughter at that. "Want me to find out if it was really him?"

Jamie grinned. "I would love you if you did!"

Reed-Roberts Residence

"Julian, I can eat in the kitchen!" Sarah said with a laugh as her husband brought her lunch in bed.

Julian smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I like spoiling you. Especially after yesterday."

"Do you know what's going to happen to the guy?"

"What guy?" Julian asked as he settled the tray and sat down on the bed next to Sarah.

"The guy who took me hostage!" Sarah replied, exasperated.

"If he survives, then jail. Maybe the death penalty since he killed a cop and that nurse."

"She wasn't 'That Nurse', Jules!" Sarah said, her voice rising in pitch. "Lily was my friend! We were joking around yesterday morning, teasing Drew Sanchez. And now she's dead!" She took a deep breath and let out a sob. "He just shot her, Julian. he put a hole through her head and didn't even blink!"

Julian pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried. "I know," he whispered.

"She and Cliff were going to try for a baby, Jules. And now she'll never get the chance... it's just not fair!"

"I know," Julian repeated as he held his crying wife. "I know."

Brady House

"Matt, just tell me!" Summer pleaded that afternoon when she finally got home. She had gone with Maria, Aaron, and Jamie to Virginia's Diner after school for a quick snack that had turned into 2 hours of talking and joking about school. Aaron had only just dropped her off a few minutes before.

"Why, Summer?" Matt replied, eyeing his sister carefully. "And how did you even find out about the stink bomb?"

"Someone told me. Now did you do it?"

Matt shrugged. "I was... aware of it's existance and placement prior to it being set off..."

"So you did do it!"

Matt shook his head, a smirk on his lips. "Nope. Diego got it, set it, and laughed his head off when it went off. All I did was make sure no one saw him place it, and then laugh when everyone ran screaming from the room."

"Thanks!" Summer enthused as she ran upstairs to her bedroom, leaving a very puzzled Matt behind.

"For what?" he wondered to himself as he looked at the now empty stairs. "She just keeps getting weirder."

Bowen Apartment

"Hey, shorty," Mike said from the couch as the door opened. "How was school?"

"Other than making an ass of myself in front of Summer Brady, it was fine," Jamie replied as he sat down next to is dad. "I barely get introduced when first I get into an arguement with Aaron the Ass, and then Laura came up and I kind almost my temper with her and stormed off."

"You shouldn't call the Grant kid that," Mike said.

"Diego calls him that on a daily basis," Jamie pointed out.

"I never said it wasn't accurate, just that you shouldn't say it out loud."

Jamie laughed. "All right, I'll try not to."

"So, why are you so bothered about looking like an ass in front of Miss Brady?"

Jamie rolled his eyes. "Because then I had to apologize to her later on, and you know I hate doing that."

Mike chuckled. "You're as bad as me. It used to drive my parents crazy with that. But it won your mom over when I told her the only reason I was so polite was so that I wouldn't have to apologize later."

Jamie laughed. "Sounds like mom: always weird."

"Yeah, she put up with me. Very weird."

"Even weirder: she loved you," Jamie replied, smiling.

"Watch it, Shorty," Mike said, smiling as he lightly pushed Jamie's shoulder.

The phone rang then, and Mike grabbed it. "Hello?" he said. "Who's calling? Just a second." Mike held the phone out to Jamie, covering the mouthpiece. "It's Miss Brady for you," he said. "She sounds cute."

Jamie glared at his dad and grabbed the phone. "Summer? What's up?"

"I got the story about the stink bomb," Summer replied, sitting on her bed and playing with the phone cord.

"Oh yeah? What's the scoop?"

"What do I get if I tell you?"

"I told you at school."

"Tell me again."

"If you have the real story, and you can prove it's true, I'll love you forever," Jamie told her, smiling. He didn't notice the grin on Mike's face.

"Eh... I'm not sure if that's good enough..."

"Excuse me?" Jamie said, pretending to be indignant.

"Well, how will anyone ever know you love me?"

"I could shout it from the roof of the school."

Summer laughed. "I'll keep that in mind. For now I'll settle for you promising to either help me find a date for the next school dance or be my date. Deal?"

"You've got a deal," Jamie agreed. "Now what's the story?"

KTVN News Station

"The gunman from yesterday's hostage situation at Heaven Falls Medical Center remain in critical condition this evening. It's unknown whether he will live long enough to face trial for the murders of a Heaven Falls Police Officer and a Med Center nurse. We'll keep you updated on this story as information becomes available. This is Rhonda Corbin, wishing you a good evening," Rhonda said, smiling the whole time. She pretended to neaten her papers and talk to her co-anchor, Damion Smith, until she knew the cameras were off. Then she stopped in mid sentence and walked away from Damion. "Wheres my latte?!" she demanded.

Hannah rolled her eyes as she shut down the camera. "One of these days, I'm gonna tell her we're clear about 30 seconds early," she muttered. "Let everyone see the real Rhonda Corbin."

"Not a bad idea," Richard said from behind her.

Hannah spun around and glared at him. "Was it really neccesary to scare the hell out of me?"

"Not neccesary, but a lot of fun," Richard replied, smiling.

"You're impossible!" Hannah declared, but she also let out a laugh.

"You're not gonna believe who's back in town," Richard said as he followed Hannah down the hall.

"Who?"

"Victoria."

Hannah stopped in ehr tracks and spun around, beaming. "Really? That's great! Have you seen her yet?"

"Nope, I was going to swing by her office tomorrow afternoon to see her, you can join me if you want. Seems our outcast buddy Victoria Edison has become Toria Edison, Fashion Mogul."

"Toria Edison of EdiSigns?" Hannah said in surprise. "Wow."

"Yeah, that was my reaction."

"You think she'll give me any free clothes?" Hannah asked, smiling.

Richard laughed. "You never know."

End Of Episode Eight