Episode 13 (5.1)
November 3, 2008 04:17 PM
* * *
Lee rolled over in his bed, hugging his pillow closer to his body. As he settled under the covers, snuggling closer to keep warm, he heard movement at the corner of his matress. Lee opened his eyes and leapt back with a yelp. Tucker sat staring at him, fully dressed, two coffees in his hand. “Morning Roomie! Time to wake up, we have a big operation ahead of us.”
Lee ran his hand down his face, stiffling a yawn. “Tucker, what are you going on about.”
“My plan, dude! We are putting it into motion this morning!”
“Your pl--” Lee thought back to the previous night, when Tucker had mentioned stealing his thesis paper. “You were serious about that? Are you asking to get us both kicked out of school?”
“Oh grow a pair, Hathaway!” Tucker pulled his sheets and blanket off his bed. “You need to get this paper fixed and we are going to make sure it happens. Now come on, little buddy, we have to get down there before your professor leaves.”
Lee found himself getting out of bed, although he was certainly doubting the validity of their coming actions.
* * *
“Morning Mom, Dad.” Nicki swept into the room, pulling a sweater over her head. From his paper, Edmund Brady nodded at his daughter; the forty-something year old was thin, but not wiry. His blonde hair had only just begin to thin and there was a hint of gray. He wore glasses when he read, the wire frames resting on the bridge of his nose, and although it was Saturday, he still wore a cardigan and dress pants. Sitting next to him was a cooling cup of tea and an untouched biscuit.
Shelly Brady was more spirited, moving about the kitchen as she emptied the dishwasher and washed the counters. She was a physically active woman; besides teaching at a local kindergarten, she spent time on the tennis courts at least three times a week. Despite the oncoming fall season, she still carried the evidence of sun with a warm tan. On her day off she still couldn’t help but continue moving. As Nicki sat down at the table, her mother had already rushed a biscuit and orange juice in front of her.
“Morning, mum.” Shelly smiled, then rushed off to do another task. Nicki took a sip of her orange juice and sat contemplatively. Finally she spoke, “Dad?”
Her father glanced up from his paper, “Hm?”
“Have you seen Jackson this morning?”
Her mother, rushing in to deposit a plate of pancakes in the center of table, answered; “I haven’t seen him yet this morning, I guess he’s still sleeping.”
Edmund sighed, “It’s nearly eleven. I know it’s the weekend, but to be sleeping in this late-”
“I walked by his bedroom and nobody was there,” Nicki cut in. Her parents glanced at her with some interest. “I guess he must have left sometime, early this morning. Errands.” She took a sip of orange juice, hoping that her performance was coming off believable. “Ever since you two told him that he couldn’t be in that frater-”
“Now don’t you get started on this, Nicole.” Shelly waved a spatula in her daughter’s direction. “We made our decision and it’s final.”
“I know, mum. I was just saying, ever since you two made that decision, Jackson has been acting a little strange.”
“You mean normal and not a hooligan like those so called friends of his?” Her father piped in.
“No, Dad,” She sighed, “I mean that he’s been going to classes, *still*,” she emphasized, “But afterwards he’s been hanging out a lot down at the student center.”
“What’s at the student center?” Shelly queried.
“Clubs, Student Political Things, ROTC,” She dropped the last one and waited for a response. Her parents didn’t seem to pick up the clue.
“It’ll be nice if he gets involved in something,” Shelly went back to cooking.
“Something that can benefit his academic future, you mean,” Edmund corrected his wife.
“Of course.”
Nicki picked at her pancake, her eyes trailing to the clock on the wall. Her parents didn’t pick up on her distraction, each preoccupied themselves. “I was speaking to a few of his friends--”
“Which ones,” Edmund cut in.
“Edmund, let her finish,” admonished Shelly.
“I was just attempting to distinguish if she meant friends from around her or some of those boys at that fraternity.” Edmund came from a strict, old school british boarding school upbringing; he’d long ago learned how to hide his emotions behind a steely facade. To counter this, he’d perfected the art of using his words to disarm and injure. He could tear apart others with a biting remark better than anyone his children had ever met. When he spoke the word boys, the contempt he felt towards Jackson’s recent encounter with the law was quite evident.
“Friends from home, Dad. Alan McCaulley and Tyke Diore.”
“They belong to that fraternity as well,” Edmund corrected.
“Yes, they do, Dad, but Jackson’s also known them since we moved here,” Nicki countered. “Can I continue?” Her father didn’t respond. “I was talking to his friends,” She emphasized, “About how Jackson hasn’t seen himself since everything happened.”
“It was a life changing experience, dear,” Shelly chimed in.
“Well, yeah, I get that mom. But we mean, ever since he stopped being in the fraternity, he’s totally withdrawn into himself. Been avoiding everyone.”
“Perhaps it’ll help him with his studies,” her father countered.
Nicki felt herself growing frustrated,when she was saved by the doorbell. Nicki bolted from her chair and sprinted to open the front door. Allan and Tyke stood waiting outside. “Allan, Tyke, what are you doing here?” Nicki tried her best theatrics to sell her faux surprise. Her father and mother, peering from around the corner, gave her a skeptical look.
* * *
Lee and Tucker walked towards the science building. “So, you have the revised copy?” Tucker asked his roommate.
Lee held up the paper in his hand. “You mean the origional, Tucker-less version?” Tucker ignored the jab, his eyes peering through the crowd. “Who are you looking for?”
“You’ll see.” Lee did see a pretty young woman turn their direction and give a wave to Tucker. With short, cropped black hair, pale skin, and a wide smile, she was fetching to look at. Lee found himself smitten almost immediately.
“Tuck, who’s that?”
“That’s Regina,” Tucker waved and Regina made her way over to them. “She’s going to be a part of our plan.”
“Hi, I’m Regina,” She held out her hand to Lee, who lamely took it.
“Lee, Lee Hathaway.”
“So you’re the one who’s paper Tucker ruined.” Lee shot Tucker a look. “He told me about it during our art class, when he was asking for some assitance.”
“And what assistance can you give?” Lee looked doubtfully at her.
“She’s going to be our distraction!” Tucker smirked at his own brilliance.
* * *
Edmund sat in his favorite reading chair, studying the two boys who sat opposite him on the couch. Nicki leaned against the doorway, watching the eerily silent meeting. Shelly hustled in, carrying two glasses of water for the boys. “Is there anything I could get you two to eat.”
Allan seemed relieved to have someone to look at besides Edmund Brady. “Uh, no ma’m, I think that I’m good.”
Tyke shook his head, “Had breakfast with my sister this morning, Mrs. Brady.”
Edmund impatiently addressed his wife, “I believe the boys came here to talk, Shelly, not to have muffins.”
Shelly threw up her hands, “Well far be it for me to at least not offer guests some comfort.”
Nicki broke in between the two, “So why are you guys here?” She asked earnestly.
“It’s about Jackson,” Allan responded woodenly. Shelly and Edmund, disarmed briefly from a continuing conflict, regarded him. “We think that something is wrong.”
“Yes, Nicki told us that this morning,” Edmund answered. “Though it appears no one wants to offer any details that would explain this observation.”
Allan was about to speak, but Tyke cut him off. “Sir, I know a little something about depression.” Nicki and Allan shot each other looks as Tyke leaped off script. “When I was little, my father suffered from it. Why, there was this time I came home from school and he was standing in the kitchen, just wailing away in his underwear, a half eaten carton of ice cream in his hand.” Tyke’s voice took on a dreamy aspect as he began weaving his tale. “I was like, pa, pa, what’s wrong. It really was an emotional moment.”
Edmund and Shelly’s confusion was evident. “Yes, well that is nice-”
Tyke continued over Shelly, “I didn’t know what do back then, being only three.”
“Three,” Edmund asked skeptically.
“Yes, I was in preschool. Very traumatic, anyways, my father started spilling out his entire life story to me and I was totally thrown by this complete reversal in traditional family roles.”
“Tyke,” Nicki desperately tried to stop him, “Shouldn’t we be talking about Jackson?”
“This has to do with Jackson!”
“How.” Edmund coldly asked.
“Because he’s obviously suffering from depression as well! The symptoms are almost identical to my fathers! Save for the underwear, ice cream and wailing, of course.” Tyke nodded, glancing at Allan and Nicki.
Allan stared, completely dumbfounded. Nicki struggled to find the words.
“My son does not suffer from depression and if that is all you two are here to offer, I would kindly ask you to leave.” Edmund angrily rose.
“Sir, I think what Tyke was struggling to say is that Jackson has changed. He’s completely withdrawn and,” Allan glanced at Nicki, “He’s been hanging out at the Student Center more often.”
“Nicki mentioned that too!” Shelly chimed in.
“Yes, yes, what’s wrong with the student center? I’m sorry, but unless that’s some euphemism for a den of drugs and sex, I fail to see why this should concern me.”
The front door opened and all five turned. Jackson walked in, clad completely in military garb. He saw the gathering in the living room and did a far better expression of shock than his sister had been able to pull off. “Oh, everyone’s here. Well this will make things easier. Dad, Mom, I’ve decided to join the army.”
* * *
“Professor Craig’s office is this way.” Lee led the trio down the science corridors. Theysoon came to a small hallway, with only two office doors lining the wall. On the other end was another hallway leading towards the cafeteria. It was dead quiet save for the sounds of soft music playing from Craig’s office.
“Ok, well we know what the plan is.”
“We do?” Regina and Lee looked at Tucker.
“Yes, Regina is going to walk up and seduce the professor. When she’s got him under her thumb, she’ll lead him from the door and we’ll sneak in and replace the paper.”
Regina sighed, “Tucker, you’re putting a lot of weight into my ability to uh, ‘seduce’ this man.”
“Tuck, this is the most asinine thing you’ve ever come up with. What if the man’s married?”
“Lee, look at her,” Tucker motioned to Regina, “She’s beautiful.” Lee nervously took the time to look away. “No man is going to resist that hot piece of--”
“We get the picture, Tucker,” Regina was blushily furiously.
“So then go!” Tucker pushed Regina out from their hiding place. She stumbled, then caught herself; flashing a glare back at Tucker, she walked over to the office and knocked. The music turned off and then the sihloutte of a man appeared in the doorway. It soon opened to reveal a thirty something, professor, dressed in a drab brown suit. He wasn’t unattractive, just plain, and in desperate need of a haircut and shave.
“Can I help you?” He looked at the young woman, whom he definitely did not recgonize from one of his classes.
Regina brought on the charm, smiling coyly and batting her eyelashes, “Professor Craig? I was wondering if you could assist me. See I’m new and I was thinking about changing my major to science this coming semester.” As she talked, Regina gently rocked, while one finger toyed with her hair. Craig, however, looked completely uninterested.
* * *
“OUT OF THE QUESTION!” Shelly’s voice echoed through the household. From the hallway, Allan and Tyke grimaced. Jackson stood in the living room doorway. His mother paced back and forth, Nicki sat nervously on the couch, her father had not moved from his favorite chair. “Why would you even consider an option.”
Jackson shrugged, glumly, “Just felt right.”
“How can something so preposterous feel right?!”
“Ever since the arrest I’ve just been kinda down, mom. Thought that maybe I needed some direction in my life, ya know.”
Edmund watched the interaction in silence, his steely glare following his wife’s movement around the room. “The army isn’t a direction! It’s a pit stop into danger and violence and an abandonment of the last two years of your studies!”
“I just can’t focus on school lately mom. It’s like I can’t find the time to settle down and study, ya know?”
“But you have all those study hours,” Nicki broke in, “Oh, wait, you don’t anymore.” She tried to sell the line she’d practiced, but even Jackson grimaced at its rehearsed tone.
“I’ve never been Mr. Academic, you two know that. I did what I had to do because activites usually gave me some drive to get my work in. But if all I am going to be doing is school . . . well that’s just not me. So I was hanging out in the student center,” Edmund let out a loud utterance of annyoance, “and the recruiting guys were right there. They totally sold this, mom. I mean, after I get out of the service, they’re going to be paying for my schooling too. So it’s kinda like a road bump, ya know. And it’ll help me clean up my act, like you and Dad were saying.”
“I think you’re taking what we said too much to heart. I won’t let you go!”
“Shelly.” Edmund broke in.
“No, Edmund, I will not have my son fighting in Ir-”
“Shelly, enough.” Edmund rose and looked directly at Jackson. “Jackson Brady, your mother and I have worked hard to ensure that you and your sister would receive a fine education. We saved and we pinched pennies so that when the time come, we wouldn’t be worried about securing you a future. Now if you want to go fight in some army, well that’s your own choice.” Nicki shot Jackson a worried look, as they both waited to see where this was going. “But I will not have you do so until you graduate college first. You are not going to throw away an opportunity just because you are depressed nor will you be spending your days hanging out in this... in this Student Center!”
Jackson raised a brow at the last comment. “Come on dad, I need focus. Without the frat, I really don’t have much reason to be on campus anyway. I thought you two would be happy to have me looking for direction.”
“Internal direction,” bellowed Edmund. “You don’t find direction by becoming subordinate to the whims of anyone else.”
Jackson saw his opening, “So you’re saying that I need to discover direction for myself, figure out how to think on my own.”
“Exactly!” Edmund proclaimed.
“So having me leave the fraternity because you were afraid I might be ‘pressured’ is probably going to work against me, right? I mean, I should have stood up and faced those vices head on.” Jackson paused. “That is what you’re saying, right dad?”
Edmund appeared flustered and he paused, wondering when the arguement had started to leave his control. “I, well, in a way.”
Jackson seemed contemplative, “You’re right, Dad. I think the army might not be the best thing for me. I mean, I would just be following the pack again, like you said mom,” Jackson addressed Shelly. “I guess the best thing is to return to the fraternity and prove I can think for myself, ya know? Keep from falling victim to group think and forge my own path.”
“Plus use those study sessions!” Nicki added, chiply.
“I, I guess.” Shelly answered. Edmund just looked dumbfounded.
“Sweet,” Jackson proclaimed, as he removed his beret. “I’ll go down to the recruiter tomorrow and tell him I’ve reconsidered my decision. Thanks you guys, you really saved me from makinng a mistake!” Jackson embraced his parents, then left the living room. Tyke and Allan both gave him pounds as the three “brothers” celebrated their victory.
* * *
“This isn’t going to work.” Tucker turned back around the corner to Lee.
“What, what do you mean it’s not going to work. Tucker, we’re already started. How can we go back now,” Panic began to set in on Lee. “I start to believe in your stupid plan and now you tell me it’s not going to work!”
“Calm down, Hathaway. I mean the plan needs a little adjustment.” Tucker glanced around the corner once more at Regina and the professor.
“Huh, why, what’s wrong?”
“Well, I don’t think my distraction is going to work.”
“I told you! The professor is married, there’s no way he’s going to cheat his wife. I told you that not everyone was sex cr-”
“Lee, the plan’s not going to work because the man is obviously gay.” With that Tucker turned the corner and began walking towards Regina and the professor. The professor, had his back to the approaching Tucker and didn’t see him coming; Regina did and raised an eyebrow. As she continued to unsuccessfully flirt with the man, she made a motion with her hands to ask if they were cutting things off. Tucker ignored her signals and instead slid up beside the two. Regina shot him a surprised look, trying to keep her cool.
“Professor Craig?”
The professor regarded the new arrival with an equal level of skepticism that he’d already displayed to Regina. “Yes?”
“I was hoping that it was you,” Tucker seductively smiled. Regina stared, shock-eyed. “I’ve been trying to find your office for at least a half hour.”
Professor Craig appeared to be growing a little uncomfortable, “Well, now you’ve found it, could I help you.”
“Actually you could. See, I know that you’re running the Science Club this coming semester and I am really interested in getting involved. See, among my Gay Youth group, I was a leading contender for Science Queen.” Tucker laid it on thick, smiling and winking as he spoke. Regina appeared dumbstruck. Professor Craig, however, appeared to regard this new information with interest.
“Science Queen, I’ve never heard of-”
“Oh, back home in New York City it was the leading rage. But I digress, I have these brilliant ideas that I would love to share.” Tucker swayed a little, tilting his head so that he was looking up at the Professor with his crystal blue eyes. The Professor checked his watch, then adjusted his tie.
“Well, perhaps I have some time to discuss those ideas.”
“That would be perfect. I know this great coffee shop downstairs in Grouper Hall.” Tucker grabbed the Professor’s coat sleeve and began leading him away. He seemed to momentarily catch his bearing and looked back at Regina.
“Oh, young woman, you were saying?”
“Oh, nothing important,” She added under her breath, “apparently.” Tucker and the Professor turned the corner. As soon as they were out of sight, Lee raced around the other corner to Regina’s side.
“Change in plan?” She asked dryly.
“Apparently,” Lee nervously glanced up and down the hall.
“Well, time for the final phase then.” Regina opened the unlocked door and the two entered the disorganized, paper strewn office.
Lee’s face sunk. “You have got to be kidding me.”
* * *
Her parents were still in a daze, trying to figure out what had just happened. Jackson was inside speaking to them. Nicki stood at the doorway with Allan and Tyke. “I want to thank you both for that. I think the uniform definitely sold things.”
“It wasn’t a problem at all!” Tyke smirked, “But uh, I need that back as soon as possible. This girl I know kinda borrowed it from her boyfriend.”
“Girl you know?” Allan smirked.
“I pleads the fifth!” Tyke threw up his hands.
“I’ll talk to you both later.” Allan went to give her a hug goodbye and Nicki quickly gave him a peck on the cheek. Realizing what she had done, she quickly threw her arms around him in a huge. Then crimson faced, she turned and gave Tyke the same treatment.
Tyke laughed, “Well if I knew that was the type of gift we’d be rece-”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” Nicki poked her finger into his chest. “I’ll see you both later.”
“Hopefully,” Tyke gave her a wink that she ignored. He left, but Allan hesistated. He looked at her, curiously, then smiled.
“I’ll talk to you later, Nicki.”
“Yeah,” She offered back weakly.
* * *
“You have got to be kidding me,” Lee looked around the room in obvious panic. “We don’t have this much time.”
“Then we should probably get started,” Regina stepped forward and surveyed the room. “Ok, so you had to turn these papers in yesterday, right?”
“Yeah, before one.”
“So then, most likely they are going to be towards the top of the clutter.” She motioned towards the mess, “Plus, it’ll probably be somewhere more visible if he intends to start grading them immediately. Which means, they’ll be near his desk.” Lee moved forward with her to the desk. They began lifting papers gently, attempting to peak in and read the contents. Lee’s phone began to vibrate and he lifted it up.
[ He’s kinky! On his way back though! ] - Tucker
“Crap, we don’t have time, he’s coming back.”
“I think I may have found them!” Regina motioned Lee over to a small pile laying haphazardly by the computer. Lee lifted up the papers and read the top.
“Dark Matter and its relation to Solar Energy. Yea, we found them, that’s definitely the paper of this guy in my class. He’s always going on ab--”
“Fascinating, Lee, but don’t you think we should get moving?”
“Oh, right,” Lee pulled his revised paper from his bag and then snatched his own binder from the pile. He quickly replaced Tucker’s version with his own, then returned the binder to its rightful place. The two rushed to the doorway, listened for footsteps, then raced into the hallway. As they made it around the corner, Professor Craig was turning the other. He stepped into his office and reached for the handle. The door swung open and the professor stared, slightly shocked.
“Really have to make sure I lock this. . .” He muttered under his breath as he entered his office.
* * *
Nicki knocked on her brother’s door. “Come in,” his voice was muffled through the wood. She entered and closed the door behind her; Jackson was sitting at his desk, a book in hand. He put it down as his sister stepped into the room. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Not bad,” She sat down on the bed. “Mom and Dad are still a little anxious right now. I think we put a little scare in them.” She smiled.
“I still can’t believe that it worked,” Jackson looked at his door. “It scares me how you can play them so well.”
Nicki shrugged, “High School managed to teach me something, I guess. So when you moving back in?”
“Me and Allan talked earlier, said he’d be able to help me move my clothes back over tomorrow. Luckily Dad had never gone down to collect my furniture or the whole process would have been a major bitch.”
“Oh, what time are you two doing that? You need help?”
Jackson shot her a look, “Why?”
“Huh?”
“Why do you care?” He was watching her with curiosity.
“I just figured that you might need some help,” She replied.
“Yeah that’s the weird thing. Since when did you ever want to move someone in? You don’t even like moving your own stuff around--” Jackson paused, shock running across his face. “Oh crap, you have a crush on one of my bros!”
Nicki’s eyes widened, “Wha-No-What are you talking about?”
“I knew it! I knew it from the way you two interacted.”
Nicki began to panic, “What, Jackson, you are totally off.”
“You and Tyke!” Nicki felt a wave of relief wash over her, then indignation.
“You are soo completely off. Me and Tyke?” She laughed, “Can you ever imagine the two of us getting together. I’d be killing him before the week was even over.”
Jackson thought and then chuckled, “Hah, yeah true. Well, it must be someone else then. I know it’s not Allan, that’d be like incest.”
Nicki laughed nervously, “Oh yeah totally, he’s like a brother to us.” She got up, “Well, I have to start heading back to school myself. Catch ya later bro.”
“Thanks again, Nicki. I mean it and I owe you.”
“Oh believe me, I know.” She winked and left the room. As soon as the door closed, Nicki collapsed against the wall and stared upwards. “Oh god,” she whispered, “What am I doing?”
* * *
“So, you can say it anytime.” Regina, Lee and Tucker sat around the raised table, a milkshake in front of each.
“Say what?” Lee raised an eyebrow.
“Just how brilliant my plan worked out.”
“The plan that involved me flirting with a gay man?” Regina asked.
“How about me digging through a bunch of papers in a Katrina-level disaster area of an office?”
“Small hurdles that we overcame, due mostly to a supreme sacrifice on my part.” Tucker smirked, self congratulating himself.
“And to think, all of this happened because you thought it’d be funny to sabatoge my paper. Or was that part of the supreme plan as well,” Lee added dryly. Tucker rolled his eyes, while Regina stifled a laugh. Lee took a sip from his milkshake, “There was one good that came out of this whole thing, though.”
“What’s that,” Regina asked.
“Tucker managed to get a date.” Tucker choked on his own shake, while the other two busted out laughing.
Posted at 11/03/2008 by beck | Comments? (1)