Nothing ever mattered to me more than this

 "MONA!" Gabe was glad Sammie wasn't home, or this conversation probably wouldn't have happened with Rico. "Are you insane?"

A part of him was glad Rico could confide in him, but Mona? Mona of all people.

"Well."

Rico looked a little bothered as if he might feel it was just as strange as seeing a UFO.

"I don't even know her, and I've heard stories," Gabe gave him the eye. Now Rico was growing restless as he rubbed his hand at the back of his neck. Perhaps, he was just ill. 

Rico dropped to the couch and Gabe came around to sit across from him. He kept  looking him in the eye as if he needed Rico to get over this one night thing with Mona or it might be the plague.

"Well, it's been so long, you know." Rico practically winked about his dilemma.

"You mean, going that long with out sex?"

"Yeah." He could barely say it. "It just happened OK. I know she..she was really distraught and so upset about seeing Hoyt and all..and..and I dunno..it just felt..."

Gabe shook his head, no. "Why Mona?"

"I dunno," Rico sighed. "OK, maybe....maybe finding out from Reese ..that she wasn't interested in me at all..I just." Now Rico was shaking his head, no. "I don't know..I really don't." He looked Gabe in the eye. "It's just, I remember the first time I met Mona, we really did hit it off, but then when I found out she was with such a DICK, like ..like Tristan..um, I just always wondered..what was it about me, you know."

"Oh really," Gabe rolled his eyes at that and went to get them some sodas from the fridge. "Well, where's Mona now?'

"I took her back to  her parents," he told him. "I know she doesn't want to be there."

"What's she gonna do?"

"I don't know." Rico shrugged as he kept his eye on his drink. He wouldn't even open it. Gabe sensed that Rico was mad at himself and Gabe was certain he hadn't helped matters. "She'll probably go back to Hoyt." He scratched the back of his ear as if he should leave this matter alone. "She works for his mother. They've..they've invested a lot, you know, into there relationship."

"Well, you're not gonna fight for her?" Gabe found himself asking.

Rico sighed.

"I guess the sex wasn't that good," Gabe smirked as he took a sip of his cola.

Rico squinted hard with a sigh and hugged himself. "I thought she really needed me. I really did."

"Well, the thing is, you need to be there afterwards and days and weeks that go on. The blah days, the days that are shitty for the both of you. And maybe Hoyt knows all that, and she could care less."

Gabe's voice was like thunder.

"Well, he was with that friend of his from high school, you know." Rico pressed his lips tight.

"So. Friends need friends. I'm sure he told her all the shit Mona puts him through," Gabe sighed. "Is that what you want?"

"Not really."

Rico looked at him.

"Just leave it alone," Gabe told him. Rico nodded. 

"Vada is looking like a winner, in my book," Gabe said as he took another sip. Rico finally popped the can and took a drink.

"But you know, don't let this bring you down." Gabe nodded wishing he didn't know so much about this, but it would give him and Sammie something to talk about. Still, he knew it was best that she didn't know. Cause Vada didn't need to know this.

You don't have to read my mind

 

"I think something is going on with him," Cam hated to tell his oldest son Mario that his little brother lied, but he could sense it.

"It's probably nothing," Mario was over for coffee on a Saturday morning. Cam had biscuits and sausage waiting with scrambled eggs on the side.

"Probably," Cam nodded, but he didn't feel it. "Why would he go camping?" Cam shook his head, no. Still, he didn't want to rile Rico about it. This was something to be left alone. He wanted to be here for his youngest son, but he wanted to know what was going on. Rico was becoming secretive. 

He knew Rico hated the fact of moving back home. Cam guessed he'd have let him find his own way, even if that meant moving out again.

"Who knows," Mario shrugged as he sat with his coffee. It was just Mario. It was a rare occasion that it was just the two of them. At least, Rico was home and still sleeping in. "You don't think he hooked up with some girl he just met at the University."

"Oh, I don't think so," Cam wanted to believe that. He never thought of Rico as the party animal. Sure he liked to show his charisma under the disco ball at the skating rink on a Saturday night, but he was always hard working. Cam found it so baffling.

"Why can't you just ask him," Mario looked at his dad as if he shouldn't be afraid of Rico.

"He's not gonna tell me," Cam dished out the breakfast and they went to eat as if that was the best thing to do. Although, Cam didn't eat much. He got himself another cup of coffee. "I know he's been through a lot, you know, drowning in his apartment, things going sour with Carmen."

"You know, he hasn't been the same since Liv." Mario shrugged as he took another bite of the sausage and biscuit.

"Liv." 

Cam left her name in the air. "He thought the world of her, and then she just -" Cam shook his head, no. He wanted to think the best of her, but he couldn't. Somehow, he would always be on Rico's side. "Do you think Rico is the most like me?" He looked at Mario blankly as Mario almost choked on his biscuit.

"Dad," Mario smiled. "You know, I'm the most like you."

"No, you're not," Cam told him from the beginning that he had always been a good boy. Mario smiled. "Um, I was a misfit from I don't know when. I had good parents, but I didn't want that kind of life. I wanted to see the world, I wanted to experience so many things."

Cam thought of how many times he fell in love. Now what remained was an empty house for the most part. He didn't mind having Bren's dad living here. It was good to have someone to talk to. But he knew deep down he was just an old rogue who might have never given any of his kids what they needed.

I found a girl who's in love with a girl

 

So maybe that's where it began, finding out Reese wasn't into guys at all. Rico wouldn't lie, it was a bit of a blow. Naturally, his next question was "Do you think I'm gay?" 

Yeah, when he thought about it, probably a real turnoff. It wasn't long until Reese was out of there with her drink. Rico sat there for a moment, sipping the smoothie thinking of a thousand or so reasons why it wasn't meant to be. Even Reese and Rico just didn't go together. Really, he didn't know why this bothered him. He just knew, to leave it be. Of course, he found  himself filling up with laughter how Mona thought Reese was just like Liv. He chunked is drink and when he went outside into the heat of the afternoon, there was Mona against the wall, crying.

Now, if he'd only let that go too, but he didn't. Why didn't he remember? Give Mona inch and she'd take a mile. Of course, she was in a bad way. No way did she want to be here and he knew she couldn't drive.

So many things he should have said, but he knew it wouldn't help. Instead, he drove her down to the park, all the way to the river. And she cried into his shoulder all over again as if this was the place to be.

"I know I deserve this," Mona finally found the courage to speak, but of course, she hugged on Rico as if she wasn't going anywhere. "Why am I like this?"

"Because, you're always right, isn't that it?" Rico found himself answering.

"I'm never right about anything," she confessed. Rico didn't know how to answer. Of course, she really didn't feel like talking, especially when she found his lips. And there seemed to be no going back.

When he remembered then, he was certain it wasn't that sad of a thing. He didn't think so. Honestly, he couldn't explain it to anyone. Yes, it went from making out, to finding out how far it could go. Sure there were the phone calls from his dad and when he looked through the contacts, even Vada called him. 

But it was a roadtrip, or so he said when he finally did get back to his Dad. 

"Like a camping trip?" His dad asked the next morning.

"Yeah, that's what I would call it," He smiled right through the lie. It had all happened in a roadside motel somewhere on the way to Grand Island, except they never got there.

"Why would you go camping?" His dad asked.

"Why? Well, you know Mario," Rico laughed.

"Mario?" His Dad sounded as if he wasn't supposed to bring his brother into this.

"He said I needed to see the Platt," Rico sighed thinking he was ready to give his dad a full-blown novel if he needed one.

"And you're alone?"

"Uh-huh," Rico kept nodding looking back at Mona who was still in a deep sleep. Just his luck she wouldn't remember a thing. Only they didn't drink, but they might have been drunk on each other. Still, just looking at her was like the first time he ever saw her, and that notion of his so long ago. This girl needs saving. And according to Mona, Hoyt was very much a girl.

No longer at all with a sorrowful soul

 "WOW! Just Wow!" 

Oh, the excitement of being an Aunt rushes through Sunny's senses. It gives her goosebumps but in a thrilling way. Only, Liv didn't come with Woo to tell her and Louie the news. "Is..is there something you're not telling me?"

"She. She likes staying home, you know." Woo is even-lipped about the situation as he brushes his dark bangs away from his serious dark eyes.

"Well, let's have something sweet," Sunny brings him to the kitchen table. Louie made oatmeal cookies. He says they ward off the flu. This gives Woo a chuckle. Of course, he tries one and nods they are really tasty.

"You don't think she'll quit her job, do you?" Sunny asks as she brings him fresh coffee. Louie stands at his post by the kitchen sink. 

"I don't think so."

Woo looks at her blankly as he pours a little milk in his coffee. Sunny nods.

"I ..I was afraid..she might be mad at me," Sunny tells him.

"Mad? Liv would never be mad at you. She knows you aren't fond of her, anyway."

Woo shrugs and bites into another cookie.

"What? How can she think that?"

Sunny's eyes are lit as if she can't believe this. After all, they've been through. She can't help but hug herself.

"Sunny, don't get so moody," Louie says as he comes over and sits next to her. He practically has his arm around her. "You know how unlikeable you can be."

"Unlikeable?" She turns to him as if they are all so wrong about her. "I didn't know how to act around some American girl you brought home." She looks at Woo as if this is all  his fault.

Woo sighs. His smile is open. 

"I bet Liv was just like me, back home."

Sunny is standing her ground. 

"You might be right," Woo agrees as she sips his coffee. "Maybe that's why its so hard for you two to get along."

"But..but..."

"I know, things have changed. You've grown a lot this summer," Woo tells her that he's glad she's found Louie.

Everyone must stand alone

 "Oh, my God!" Jade couldn't think of anything else to say about the matter when Liv told her the news. All Jade could hear was her heart thumping. She was overjoyed and possibly felt she was behind with the times. All she'd done this summer was get married. Her friend was going to have a baby. Suddenly, it felt they were not in the same group anymore. Jade leaned against the kitchen counter. Why was she never any place else in the apartment? Still as she leaned there she thought she might be dizzy from her friend's unexpected news.

"So..so what does this mean, exactly?" She hated to ask, yet she was Liv's bestie.

"Oh, we will get married," Liv sounded calm about it. 

"Is that what you want to do?" Jade didn't feel it in Liv's voice.

"Well, yeah," Liv assured her she'd wanted to marry Woo from the moment she met him. "It's just I didn't want to..have this excuse."

Jade didn't understand. "But..but you're having a baby."

"And..and it's so scary. What if .."

Jade didn't want her to say it, but instead said, "Did you tell your Mom?"

"Well.." There was a growing silence. For a second Jade thought the call was dropped.

"What do you mean? I'm the first to know?" Jade was shocked. She wanted to tell Liv that she needed to talk to her mom more. Jade wished she could. Immediately, Jade was teary eyed, overcome with emotions. She pulled her curls from her face.

"I will, I just want to wait a little while longer," Liv said she knew it would excite her mom and she needed to see how things went for the rest of the month.

"OK, I..I get it." Jade sighed. But she knew she couldn't keep this from Ari. She had to tell someone about Liv's news.

Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby

 "Was this a bad idea?" Simone looked at Hoyt wide-eyed as soon as she spotted Mona at the coffee shop. She knew this wouldn't end well. "Why are you doing this to me, Hoyt?" Simone couldn't help but fret. She didn't want to be here. "Couldn't we have just talked on the phone, or just text?" She pressed her lips tight as if he meant to do this.

Of course, he would say nothing. This was his way of breaking up, obviously. She knew he didn't have the guts to go through with it. 

Simone couldn't smile. She was sad even if she wanted to be mad at him. If only she hadn't drank so much wine that night. They'd always been friends. Real friends, until then. But she knew he was hurting and she hadn't met anyone. Ever. Actually.

She wanted to think of herself as a good person. Of course, he kept telling her this at every chance. "You're not like Mona at all." He'd practically squinted tears that night. "Are you sure?" She'd asked and he'd hugged her in return at her place. And that's when it started.

Now it felt so wrong. She didn't like being the other woman. 

Hoyt kept looking at her. He wouldn't even look Mona's way. 

"She's coming over," Simone said under her breath. Hoyt sighed as if to say, "I got this." Only it never left his lips.

"What are you two doing here?" Mona asked so sweetly as if she didn't mind.

Hoyt only looked at her out of the corner of his eye and said with a smirk, "What are you doing here? Checking up on me?"

Mona was closed-lipped after that. Simone was certain Mona would scoot her over and plop herself down in front of Hoyt and say, "What the hell are you trying to do to me!" But she didn't. Before either could look up. She walked out the door.

"Well, that was a close one." Hoyt was all smiles.

"Why can't you just break up with her?" Simone winced at him as if he was just being stupid.

"Because..because..well, how can I? She works for my Mom. And..and my Mom-"

"You need to leave your mother out of this," Simone told him. "She doesn't own either of you. It's over. You both know it."

"But-" He went from laughter to tears. "I know she doesn't love me. She never has."

Simone put her hand over his white knuckles of emotion. They hadn't even looked at their melting frosties.

"You can get over this. You can." Simone was serious.

"And, and you'll be here for me?"

She nodded. Yes, she'd missed him. But she never thought he'd ever noticed her. She'd always been there for him to talk, but things had changed. And there was no going back.

Never have I ever before

 Rico kept thinking it wasn't a date. They just bumped into each other at the coffee shop. He didn't think Reese remembered him, but she did and here they were waiting for cold smoothies to drink. They both agreed it was too early for pumpkin spice. Actually, neither were pumpkin spike people. Rico took it as a good sign. After all, they only had English Lit together. 

But as luck would have it he bumped into Mona when he was getting the drinks and Reese was finding at booth.

"Why are you with her?" She glared at him as if he'd gone bonkers while he had to wonder what was her problem.

"What do you mean?" He squinted, holding the icy drinks that were sweating into his hands. He was in his nice shorts, and had his Uni gear. She was being strange and he just wanted to go and talk to Reese about nothing.

"She is so, Liv," Mona snapped, hugging herself.

"No, she isn't," He looked over to see the back of Reese's blonde head.

"Yes, she is just another Liv," Mona looked at him as if he was stuck in a rut.

Rico sighed. "If you say so." He'd let her win. He wanted to stop this nonsense.

"You, just can't get over her, can you?" She hugged herself. A part of him felt certain she was talking about someone else. Although, he knew there was a lot of hate between Liv and her. Back then, he thought it was all Tristan's fault. Yet now, it felt Mona was jealous.

"Oh, I'm over her," he told Mona. "I haven't even thought of Liv until you brought  her up." 

Rico stood his ground as he tilted his head and stared at her as if he would will her to go away.

Mona said nothing. 

"What's your point?" Rico wanted to know. He looked to see Reese looking back at him. He left Mona fuming.

"Sorry," Rico said a few seconds later to Reese as he sat across from her at the booth. "Just somebody from high school."

"She looks too old for high school," Reese told him as she started to sip her strawberry smoothie.

"Yeah, she was a grade ahead of me," he told her he never dated her. 

"She looks like the big sister type," Reese shrugged with a sunny smile. "You know, the kind who wants you right under her thumb."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Rico nodded and sipped his drink. They talked about class then. There was a lot of reading to do. 

"And a paper," Reese was a little bug-eyed about it. Rico smiled. He had a feeling they would both have to find somebody who could help them write a paper. They might be the worst students in class. 

About then, Rico looked up. He almost choked on his drink. There was Hoyt and he was with Mona's doppleganger.