After The Mall

After leaving the mall they headed over to Jamels house. He was off tonight, and Zack thought maybe he might want to hang out.

Jamel thought was not in a good mood. He had stopped back at the house after work last night. Only to be told by Robby he did not want to go in there. Robby and a few of the guys talked him into going cruising with them.

He knew that something was going on but not what. Julia was coming over for dinner so he thought it was her when someone knocked.

"Dudes I am in a mood," Jamel announced, "It is a bogus one."

"Not good," Izzy said.

"Not at all, you probably know Julia is shagging Jeremy Warwick," Jamel said.

Izzy and Zack looked at each other, and muttered, "Bogus."

"Dang dude, what are you going to do?" Izzy asked.

"I am thinking of breaking up with her, my mom likes her so much, I don't know for a fact he shagged her, but I hung around next door and watched and he came out after you guys left so I think he did," Jamel sighed.

"I am thinking of breaking up with KayKay too," Zack sighed.

"No way," Izzy said.

"Way," Zack sighed.

"Did she sleep with Jeremy too, dang," Jamel said.

"No, not that, she is getting to serious," Zack said.

"Well if I had a girl like KayKay I am not sure I would break up with her, but cheating man that is the lowest. And Jeremy Warwick of all people, he walks around like he is Gods own gift," Jamel growled.

"Are you going to kick his scrawny tush?" Zack asked hopefully

"Not worth it, I did that then his old man and my old man would fight, and my old man would probably be in hospital so not worth it," Jamel sighed.

"Well I guess we will go over to Chucksters," Zack sighed.

"Why don't we just go the the pink house?" Izzy said.

"I would rather go home," Zack said.

"Why don't you drop me at White Chalet and I will walk over to the pink house and you and Chuckster can have the car?" Izzy asked thinking he would drive Dareys car if he needed to go somewhere.

"Way cool dude, thanks," Zack said.

Just then Julia came in with Jamels mother.

"Hey babe," She said and laid a kiss on him.

"What a way to make up," Zack whisphered.

"Dude don't do it," Izzy warned elbowing him but he was laughing too.

"Your friends are strange Jamel," mama said after Izzy and Zack left.

"They are cool mama," Jamel sighed, wishing he would have had time to talk to mama.

"I guess," she muttered, then the words 'reefer madness just like uncle Henry,' under her breath.

"I am so sorry we are having left overs Julia, but Jamel didn't tell me you were coming for dinner." mama said.

"Thats all right I love your spaghetti." Julia said.

"Where is dad and Ricky?" Jamel asked.

"He had to work late, Ricky is spending the night with Mikey, and honestly I thought you would be out with your friends or over at Julia's house," mama said, feeling bad that she didn't have a good dinner for Julia. After all the dinners Jamel had eaten with her folks.

"It's fine mama I love your pork n beans, and I am not really hungry," Jamel said.

"You okay son?" mama asked.

"I will help you with dishes," Julia said.

"That is so sweet, I really need to get Reggie bathed," mama said then went off to take the toddler to the bathroom.

"So you and Jeremy got it on?" Jamel said after they finished the dishes.

"Jamel you . . . yes I did, but you don't understand," Julia sighed.

"At least you were honest with me, but I think we should see other people, I really thought you were mature enough to stick by me, but I see not you are not ready for commitment." Jamel said.

"Jeremy is . . ." Julia started.

"I don't want to hear it," Jamel said.

She started to cry.

Somehow, and he knew that it shouldn't but her tears made him in a good mood, maybe he would go out tonight. He had felt so down from seeing Jeremy strutting out of that house like he owned it. He wondered what girls saw in that sissy boy. He didn't have money he lived in the Tackett district and had dropped out of high school. He had no future, but girls threw themselves at him.

Meanwhile Izzy and Zack's mum was hanging up the phone.

"The boys won't be home tonight, and they put in applications at the mall today." Mum said.

"Good, where do they say they will be," dad said.

"Chuck Websters, but I think they are over in White Tower with those girls," Mum laughed.

"Well they are sixteen, in around 1 year they will be adults it is better to give them some freedom now when we can reel them back in if they misuse it then wait til they reach majority and act out as I did," dad sighed.

"You were my reble without a clue," mum laughed.

"It was the sixties," Dad said and shrugged.

"I just hope they are a little more with it than we were, if you know what I mean," Mum said, thinking of Zack or Izzy as a father made her shudder a little.

"Jeeze mum you are always careful you never run amber lights like Zack does," Buck quipped.

Mum laughed and said, "That is what I am afraid of."

"I don't know why you worry about them, those boys have good heads on their shoulders," dad defended them.

"Oh honey, you are the one that said they were growing up worthless with no values," mum laughed.

The phone rang then and mum got up to answer it.

"I am never going to get a wife or a girlfriend, I am going to go into space," Buck said.

"Well your nine, you will change your mind, but I hope you go into space if that is what you really want," dad laughed.

"That was Mr. Duncan, he says Zack has a job at the mall, I better call him over at Chucks," mom said but she got a busy signal.

Darey had made mac and cheese for their dinner the house was pretty quiet.

"Julia is at Jamels, and KayKay is at the Country Club playing tennis with her cousin." Darey explained.

"Good cause we got to talk babe," Izzy said.

"Okay, you know this mac n cheese tastes different, I guess I shouldn't have used chocolate milk, but we were out of vanilla," Darey said looking at him sweetly.

"It's about Zack and KayKay, she is putting way too much pressure on him, and he is just liable to break up with her and that would be bogus, I like KayKay," Izzy explained.

"Wow she is, how? I mean that is so unlike KayKay," Darey said.

"I know, she is being so unreal she wants him to go to college and get a job, dude, that is so not what Zack does," Izzy sighed.

"No doubt, I mean that is why I love you, you are so fun and you don't care my dad owns stuff," Darey said.

"Yeah I love you babe," Izzy said, thinking she was the only other girl besides Val he even thought was cool.

Darey did the dishes while Izzy mopped up the new puppy's messes. He was a cat dude dating a dog babe. Where was Rocky?

He thought about calling over to Chucksters to see if Zack had seen his dog.

Darey decided to make some sandwiches for later, when Jeremy came in.

Jeremy thought Darey was really hot, and he would sure like to get with her for one night.

He knew she was with Izzy, and he wouldn't take a girl away from someone, but if they were broke up, that would be a different story, or as in Julia's case she made the first move.

"I found this dog out there," Jeremy said.

"Thats Zacks dog, thanks for bringing him in," Darey said looking at Jeremy, "Are you hungry?"

"Always," Jeremy said, "I walked all the way from the mall."

"That is a long walk," Darey said.

"Yeah it is got any Coca~Cola?" Jeremy asked.

She was so hot, he thought, then suddenly hit him how he could get her without doing anything except having someone in the right place at the right time.

"Sure help yourself, Julia isn't here though," Darey said.

"Hey Darey I am going to take out the trash," Izzy called.

"Okay babe, thanks," Darey said thinking Izzy was so sweet to help out.

"I noticed you like art, I am pretty good myself they tell me. I like art I know that I would like to check out your sketches," Jeremy said.

"Oh yes I saw your drawings at the school art show, you are good," Darey sighed, thinking he was good at other things too.

Jeremy smiled and watched her go, oh yes this was going to be a challenge. But he was a Warwick, and he enjoyed the hunt as much as the conquest.

Well after seven cups of coffee at Tim Hortons and driving around a bit Zack finally arrives at Chucksters.

Dude you are home, I been calling you to see if I could spend the night, its so bogus, Izzy is with Darey. I don't want to be with KayKay right now I am kind of like mad with her. And well I told my mum I would be here. But I have been calling and the phone has like been way busy. Dude I should . . ." Zack started.

"Whoa dude, what are you on and are you going to share some?" Chuckster laughed.

"I guess I drank too much coffee but Stevie is working at Tim Hortons and he owes me so he was like refilling my coffees dude for free," Zack said, "Dude can I stay with you?"

"Yeah my dad was talking on the phone to his girlfriend, he went out so lets go in," Chuckster said.

"I want to learn to surf it would be fun," Zack laughed jumping on Chucksters couch.

"Dude I think you had too much coffee," Chuckster laughed.

"Yeah maybe, I am going to break up with KayKay, the girl just don't get me we been together for a long time too since our Freshmen year we are going to be Juniors next year. I guess I could find another babe," Zack said.

"I guess, but dude you know what I would give for a girl like KayKay, I mean she really cares about you and stuff," Chuckster said.

"You really think that? We should go somewhere, do something," Zack said.

"We could go to the Funtime Palace." Chuckster said, remember how much Zack had enjoyed that back when they were in Junior High.

"Cool idea, I haven't been there in ages and its open til like midnight,"

"Me neither I used to really think it was cool, after ten it is free to get in," Zack added.

"Yeah." Chuckster said, as they hopped in the car.

"Want to drive?" Zack asked.

"No I am cool," Chuckster said.

Once they were skating Chuckster enjoyed it but Zack did not look as if he were having a good time at all.

In fact Chuckster thought he looked sad.

Maybe he was thinking about breaking up with KayKay, Chuckster wondered what he should do or say to help his friend.

Just then Zack fell.

"What a gonzo I am," Zack moaned.

"Dude, your not you got to just get up try again." Chuckster said.

Zack thought Chuckster had to be his best friend, he loved to laugh and play a prank but he knew when not to laugh and when to just be a bud.

"You know you are like my best friend dude," Zack said, as they left the skating arena.

"Yeah, why I mean all I am is a wise cracking dude who can't get a date," Chuckster snickered.

"Well you made me feel better so I will see what I can do about a date, too bad you set Val's hair on fire, she might go out with you, she is a great girl," Zack said.

"Izzy is working on that, say isn't that your mum?" Chuckster asked.

"Yeah dude, what is she doing here, she hasn't came out to check up on us since we were like fourteen," Zack said.

"Go talk to her and see I need to hit the loo," Chuckster said.

"Hi mum whats up?" Zack said grabbing a Coca~Cola and going to sit with her.

"I forgot coffee at the store and needed a cup, that stuff at Tim Hortons is too strong at night I think Stevie makes it double strength. I am glad I ran into you Mr. Duncan wondered if you could come in for an interview tomorrow," Mum said.

"Cool, KayKay will be happy." Zack sighed.

"You don't sound happy," Mum said.

"Mum I really don't want a job, once I reach majority I will have to have a job until I get old and die. I want to have fun while I can," Zack sighed, thinking growing up was really a bogus thing.

"I see," Mum said, "Something else is bothering you too, are your girl and you fighting?"

"Kind of, you see she is getting on my case about jobs and college and responsibility, and that is so not me, I mean I got a while for college and a job is just like so not fun," Zack sighed.

"I see," Mum said smiling slightly.

"You knew dad in highschool right? Did you ever feel like you were not sure he was right for you?" Zack asked.

"Of course, it is part of growing up. Your dad didn't believe in a lot of things I was raised to believe in, and slowly we started realizing valid points of both beliefs, and by the time we went to college I had turned on to a lot of what he had been telling me. We both brought different things to the relationship, and we had to learn to accept each others differences and beliefs. I ended up believing a lot of things he did, and he at least accepted and believed in some of mine. Understand what I am saying son, you both have to accept each other or it will never be a good relationship, I think I would like KayKay I wish you would bring her by sometime." Mum said.

Zack nodded, if they got through this he would bring her by, they talked a bit more, and then mum left. Zack finished his coke and grabbed a green tea, he was cold for some reason.

Chuckster came over with some pizza, and said, "The pizza here is not half as good as Pizza Corral.

"No doubt, you know my mother said her parents didn't believe in girls going to college but dad talked her into going because he strongly believed they should. She says KayKay and I have to work on our differences. She and dad did and now she is glad." Zack said.

"Your mum is cool, and very right," Chuckster said seriously.

"Yeah, I think you are too, I am going to have a talk with Valerie, I have a job enterview with Mr. Duncan tomorrow.

At the pink house Izzy and Darey were having a pillow fight in the kitchen when KayKay burst in and snatched away Dareys pillow.

"What is wrong with you, are you like in middle school still, Izzy you should know better you are sixteen not twelve," KayKay snapped.

"Whoa that is harsh, what is wrong with you, did you loose your fun bone somewhere, or are you perminately on the rag," Izzy said.

Darey smiled. God she loved Izzy.

"Where is Zack?" KayKay asked.

"I don't know, maybe you scared him away Babezilla," Izzy said.

"Take a chill pill KayKay, this is my bloody house and I will pillow fight if I want to," Darey said, trying to sound tough but she was fighting a fit of the giggles.

Just then Julia came in and she had been crying.

"Where is Jeremy?" she asked.

"Bogarting the television," Izzy laughed.

"Shut up! Can't you see she is crying what happened happened Julia?" KayKay asked.

"Jamel broke up with me," she sobbed.

"Because of Jeremy?" KayKay asked.

"Yes, oh God what have I done?" Julia asked.

"You have to get him out of here," KayKay said.

"Come on Izzy let's go to bed, KayKay Jeremy is a guest, you can't kick him out remember house rules." Darey said her dark eyes dancing.

Izzy really didn't want Jeremy around but he was tired of KayKay acting like she was the boss of everyone.

"I don't want Jeremy to leave, I just am so confused right now," Julia sighed.

"I don't know why we have to have all the stoners from Tackett District around, Robby is bad enough, at least he isn't wierd like Jeremy," KayKay said.

"What is with her?" Izzy asked as they went towards their bedroom.

"I don't know, Robbie doesn't drink or smoke," Darey sighed.

"Yeah Robbie is a friend and an upright citizen and stuff," Izzy said angrily, Robby couldn't help it his mother was poor.