Today is a sad day, folks; it's the day we say good-bye to the teenage shenanigans of our favorite Prairie State delinquents. We bid a fond farewell to passionate one-night stands that use warm milk for foreplay; poorly timed hit-and-runs in Dairy Queen parking lots; prison break-ins with premature babies concealed in lightweight spring jackets; and disturbing displays of domestic violence from a boy not even old enough to vote. If we were all together in real life, surely I'd be clasping your hands, drawing from your quiet strength to get me through.
Instead, I will have to console myself with bacon sandwiches and tickets to a Jerry Seinfeld show downtown. It's a hard-knock life, but I will carry on.
Anyway, remember, the summary contest officially starts today, so after you've dried your eyes and pulled out chunks of your hair--you know, because of the sadness--get to working on your synopsis. I'll accept submissions until next Wednesday, sift through them on Thursday, and announce the winner on Friday, as well as post all the submissions I received. We'll delve into part two of this deliciously tragic drama on March 23, at which time I hope a few more "What're you lookin' at?" readers will have jumped on the part two bandwagon, which will highlight the gang fumbling through adulthood. Plus, teenage children! More death! And yes, even more babies!
But in order to move forward, you must know where you've been. Come, grasshoppers. The final chapters.
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - JENNA
I was handcuffed and my rights were read to me. The same was done for Michael. We were forced to lean against a squad car and be searched. My car's contents were emptied. "We've got her," an officer said. I craned my head and saw a woman tear away from an officer and run to Katherine. It was Kayla! "Oh, she's alive! She's OK! My baby!" she sobbed. "Please, let me hold her for a minute!" Someone took off the cuffs and grabbed her arm. The baby cried in her arms [you're not my daddy!] as Kayla covered her face with kisses. I saw her check the baby for cuts and bruises. "She's perfect," she said, sounding relieved. My heart was breaking.
The baby was taken from her and the cuffs were put back on. I was being led into the car when she shouted "No! Wait!" I stood in front of the door, trembling as she walked up to me. She looked me straight in the eye, but said nothing [and then she punched me in the face! Just kidding]. My eyes filled with tears. "I'm - so - sorry," I whispered. "So sorry."
[Bitch is gonna make ME cry!]
Kayla looked sad. "So am I. About everything." For that one moment, time stood still, and we understood each other.
[Did Kelly and Brenda ever have A Moment like this after the whole Dylan debacle? I mean, I know they became friends again, but did they ever hug it out? I sure hope so.]
Then I was put in the car. As I was driven away, for the first time I accepted everything that Fate had given me, and I felt peace.
[So apparently being arrested for a felony out of state on live TV brings out the best in people. Who knew?]
*
Kayla didn't press charges. Michael and I were taken home that night. [Of course they were. I love it.]
My parents and I talked for a long time. They were mad at me [for losing their butcher knife], but they felt bad for not knowing how desperate things had gotten for me. [Spending hours crying at her dead boyfriend's tombstone wasn't a big enough clue?] We decided to go into family counseling. It felt good to know my parents were finally making an effort.
[The Walshes so would have done family counseling. I totally approve.]
*
A week had passed. I had only one more problem to deal with: Michael. I closed my eyes, remembering the feel of his mouth on mine [his hand print flat on my cheek, then cutting off the circulation in my bicep. Swoon!]. It had felt so full of love, so right.
I'm in love with him, I realized for the first time. [I like to imagine Jenna jumping out of her seat, turning her head frantically from side to side, like, who the hell's there? And then, oh, it's me! And my HOT BURNING PASSIONATE LOVE.] Imagine that, being in love with someone and not even knowing it. Love was funny that way. [Sneaky love!]
I was scared, though. David had said he'd loved me, but not enough to keep out of Kayla's bed. [Actually loveseat, but whatever.]
But Michael wasn't David. He'd proven that so many times. It's like he was faithful to me, even though we were only friends. There was never anyone else, only me. Me, who was involved with someone else.
I stood up. I hoped Michael still loved me, because now I needed him, too, in so many ways.
Running out of the house, I hopped into my car and drove to his house, butterflies in my stomache. What if he rejected me?
I stood in front of the door and rang the bell. He opened the door, and stared at me. He showed no emotion.
"Hi stranger." I was nervous, but tried not to show it. I kept talking, all the while hoping for a sign of acceptance. "If you don't have any plans for the rest of your life, I thought that maybe we could get together..."
[Oh my gosh, I'm cringing, you guys. CRINGING. Forgive 'lil Frema for the cheesiness.]
I couldn't say anything else, because Michael crushed me in a hug. He kissed me, and that's when I knew I would never need anyone else for the rest of my life.
- ONE YEAR LATER -
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - MICHAEL
"You may kiss the bride."
I lifted the veil from Jenna's face. She smiled. "We did it," she whispered. I nodded and fingered her brownish-blond hair. (She dyed it back to her real color.) [Leighton, you're out! Hughes, game on!] "I'll love you forever," I said softly, and kissed her lips gently.
I couldn't believe it. Jenna was now my wife.
There was a small reception, then we flew to Paris, where we stayed 2 weeks. Her parents paid for the expensive trip. Out of guilt, I guess. [Geez, wasn't the counseling enough?]
When we came back, we went straight to the little apartment we'd rented before we married. I carried her in my arms and we collapsed on the couch. She giggled. "Carrying me over the threshold?" she teased.
"You bet." We started to kiss, but the phone rang. Jenna wiggled out of my embrace, looking surprised. She picked up the phone. Who would call us so soon? I wondered. "Hello?" Her face turned white. "How did you - oh....No, I understand." Silence for a few minutes, then, "I'll talk to Michael and call you back." She hung up and sat down next to me. "That was Kayla," she said. "She got our # from my mom yesterday." [I take it they didn't send her video from the wedding?]
"What did she want?"
"Her year with Katherine is up. Her family won't take the baby." Jenna took a deep breath. "She wants us to adopt her."
[Don't you think this kind of news merits more than a phone call? I mean, Kayla could've made a huge to-do out of it, inviting them down to the prison, asking about the honeymoon, and then offering them a "special wedding present." So perfect!]
We hadn't seen the baby since we'd taken her. I'd missed her, though. So had Jenna.
"Darling, you decide," I said. "Whatever you want." Tears filled her eyes. "I want to. I still miss her," she cried. I hugged her. "Then we'll get her as soon as we can."
CHAPTER NINETEEN - KAYLA
I brushed Katherine's now golden curls and made sure her sundress was on right. Oh, I would miss her so much. Life had no meaning without my daughter.
Her blue eyes stared at me, sensing something was wrong. "Ma-ma!" she cried, hugging my legs tightly. I picked her up and kissed her cheek. "You have to go live with 2 very nice people, Kathy," I said. I was crying. "I'll miss you so much. I love you, I do!" Then 2 guards came to take her from me. Take her from me forever. I hugged her tight and kissed her again. "Be good, baby!" I cried, sobbing.
"Ma-ma! Ma-ma! No - no -no - Ma-ma!" Her face was blotchy, and her arms reached out to me. Her little body shook with sobs. [Mothers in the house, are you still with me? Hang on, it's almost over.] "Ma - ma!" Katherine's cries stayed with me, even when I could no longer see her. She was gone.
I knew I had done the right thing. My life wasn't right for a child. Jenna and Michael could give her everything I couldn't.
"Good-bye, my angel baby," I whispered. "Mama loves you."
[OK, that did it. Now I'm crying, too. Damn you, bad writing, for toying with my emotions!]
- 5 YEARS LATER -
CHAPTER TWENTY - JENNA
"Mommy! Push me high!" Katherine shouted. I laughed and gave her swing a small push. Lucas and Leigh, my 3-year-old twins, came running up to me. "Mommy! Lucas hit me on the monkey bars!" Leigh shouted, her face in a pouting expression. Her blond hair was slightly messed up. Lucas said, "Did not, poo-poo head!"
"Stop it, both of you," I said firmly. "I didn't take you to the park to fight." They ran off.
[Ah, Jenna's mothering skills haven't changed one bit. Have fun dangling over cement and wood chips, foul-mouthed toddlers! Also, TWIINS. Did you expect anything less from Michael's sperm and Jenna's uterus?]
My small family and I lived in Iowa, my dream place. Michael's training to be a teacher. I stayed home with the children. [This is an edit I did after I was half-way through writing the second part. I had originally pegged Michael as a doctor, so it made more sense that Jenna was a stay-at-home mom, but it didn't fit with my plot for the sequel, so I changed it.]
Life is wonderful. Katherine doesn't know that Michael and I adopted her, and she won't know for a long time.
Kayla gets out of prison this year, and sometimes I get scared that she'll come look for Katherine. But I have peace, and confidence that whatever life does to me, I can face it, because I'm not alone, and not as helpless as before.
THE END
[I'm sure I would've liked to have written more, but that was the second side of the last page of my notebook, so there you go. In the margins I've got "Write about Cassie's release here," because at that point I truly believed I would work this story into the ultimate love story for my generation.]
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That's a wrap, folks! I'm sure it was everything you hoped it would be and much, much less.
In honor of this somber occasion, I ask all TLF readers to offer a comment. I have no idea how many are out there, but I appreciate every single one of you. Let me know who you are so I can say thanks. If you have commented before, today is NOT the day to keep silent. But no pressure.
Luke and I are leaving for Chicago tomorrow morning and won't return home until Tuesday, as he has to attend a trade show for work and I'm going to go with him because hello, free hotel room. If the lobby has Internet access, I promise to update, but only if I have something really meaningful to say. Like whether or not I scored a pretzel at Navy Pier.
I can't wait for teenaged Katherine's reaction to the long withheld information about her adoption (as per Jenna's intentions) - I forsee it creating great trauma for everyone involved. Hee.
Hope you have a great trip to Chicago.
Posted by: Virginia Gal | March 09, 2007 at 08:53 AM
What a story! What a writer! I hung on every.single.word.
Posted by: CPA Mom | March 09, 2007 at 09:52 AM
I thought to myself, there is no way I'm going to cry over TLF. No way. I love it so much but I won't cry over it. Wrong! I cried. I totally cried when they were taking Katherine away from Kayla. Oh my gosh! I felt like my heart was being pulled from my body. But I did laugh at the Corniest Line In TLF, Amen (for you Molly). I don't even think I need to tell you which line I'm talking about because you cringed, too.
Bree, I adore you and I adore TLF. It wasn't even close to everything I thought it would be. It was SO much more. and I mean that, I really do. Especially, when I reminded myself of your age when you wrote it.
I can't wait for more! More teenage years of the next generation, more death, more babies, more, more, more!!!!
(Couldn't you have bought another notebook or just more paper to finish up and keep on going b/c Cassie! What the hell is going on with Cassie?)
Posted by: Silly Hily aka The Hilarazzi | March 09, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Crap, I knew I forgot something. If this ever makes it to the big screen, or the small screen, or any screen, PLEASE (that's me beggin) let me be in charge of the music. Oh the cheesy music that could surround some of those moments. And the good music that could surround some of those moments. Why, the right music playing in the background would make watching them take Katherine away almost as painful as Shelby being unplugged.
Posted by: Silly Hily aka The Hilarazzi | March 09, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Good Lord that made me cry! TLF made me cry and cringe during the same post. Who knew! I cannot wait for March 23rd!!!! I would do a synopsis, but, seeing as how I'm not so much a good writer, I would not be able to do TLF justice!!
Posted by: Rachel | March 09, 2007 at 10:31 AM
I.totally.cried.
And I'm with Hil...I always have to remind myself how YOUNG you were when you wrote this b/c even though it's very 90210ish, it is full of emotion and passion and I just love love love it.
And I'm sad that it's over.
But I SO look forward to more!
Posted by: Margarita | March 09, 2007 at 10:50 AM
I'm so sad it's over! Can't wait for the continuation!
Posted by: Bethiclaus | March 09, 2007 at 10:51 AM
It's over! :( I thought that when Kayla got out of prison she'd get the baby back, but I guess not. . . at least not yet, lol!
Posted by: Katie | March 09, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Oh can I just tell you the sad sinking feeling I had when I opened your blog today to see part one of TLF concluding! I mean, regardless of there being more just waiting in the wings, it marks the end of the crazy ass teenage years. (Not necessarily the end of crazy ass altogether, but the kind of crazy associated with youth... there's just something MAGICAL about it... like a halucinogen).
ANYWAY--(stay on task Sant!)-- spectacular! No charges pressed! The wedding (good for little Michael- now don't hit your wife, PUNK)! The adoption! The twins! I love it! Also-- I just want to send some mad props to you Frema, for posting your early writing as is... I don't know if I would be able to go back and not change my mind about things, like, oh- maybe re-reading, I would now want Jenna to have been the killing machine, rather than Kayla... you get what I'm saying. Nice work, young Frema.
I'm thrilled with the conclusion of part one. And to have to now wait a couple of weeks... I hope my attention span can last through the hiatus... cause lord knows I'm losing my patience with Grey's and the Office. I digress-- excellent series, and I cannot wait for the sequal:)
YOUR MOM'S GOT A SEQUAL!!
Posted by: Sant | March 09, 2007 at 12:42 PM
tragic.
Posted by: adina | March 09, 2007 at 12:55 PM
This is so....what's the word I'm looking for?!? Oh yeah, Comedy! Forget Tragedy, this actually had me laughing out loud as I was reading it. Then again, I'm a callus, cynical man without a heart that is incapable of having a tear.
Posted by: David McNelis | March 09, 2007 at 01:02 PM
So, like, you can just decide not to press charges when a kidnapped child crosses state lines? I thought that was a federal charge? With, like, the FBI involved?
What is it with teenage dramatic manuscripts and multiple births? My ill-fated series (oh yes, the next Ann M Martin, right here) had triplets. I believe one of them was named Cassie, too. Whoa.
And what of Cassie? I hope she becomes properly, Lifetime Movie Network, bat-shit insane for the next segment of the story. Muttering in a jail cell about being ignored, etc etc
I would love to write a summary, but I can't seem to keep everyone's names straight! I wouldn't want to confuse potential readers!
Posted by: Art Nerd | March 09, 2007 at 01:25 PM
Alas, my reliable Friday entertainment to distract me from the prison that is my basement cube has come to an end. At least for a week.
But I'll be out of town next Friday, so I'm glad I won't be missing it.
Thanks for posting this, Frema. I may mostly lurk, but I assure you this has saved my sanity on more than one occasion.
Posted by: MLE | March 09, 2007 at 02:07 PM
Stellar conclusion, I have to say. Just when I think everything's all nicely wrapped up and I can finally relax and slouch back in my chair, you throw that cliffhanger about Kayla getting out of prison in there and pull me right back to the edge of my seat! I can't wait until the 23rd -- it's going to be a good, good day.
One question, though. Iowa? Is Jenna's DREAM place? Seriously? What's so dreamy about Iowa? (Okay, so maybe that was more like one question phrased as four questions. But you get the point.)
Posted by: Audrey | March 09, 2007 at 02:27 PM
What I really want to know is how many people actually dream of living in Iowa?
I am so looking forward to the sequel!
Posted by: dee | March 09, 2007 at 02:29 PM
I like how Kayla's all patting herself on the back for giving Katherine away, as if she had any choice in the matter.
I just can't picture how that "you were adopted" conversation is going to go.
"Your mother? Oh, but she was FORCED to give you up because she was in prison... What? Ah, for killing your father. But I mean, not on purpose..."
"Your father? He was a wonderful man, his manager at McDonalds said he had a lot of potential, in fact I was in love with him myself. Well, I mean, not as in love with him as I am with your current dad, ah, I mean..."
"Didn't anybody want you? Oh, no, honey! I wanted you so bad I KIDNAPPED you! Smooches! Huh? Oh, well, because I wanted a replacement for my own baby with your real father...oh no, no, YOU're special TOO! Smooches!"
Posted by: TasterSpoon | March 09, 2007 at 02:32 PM
I have spent all afternoon working on my review only to come check out the comments and see TasterSpoon sum it up in one hefty explanation to little Katherine.
Posted by: Silly Hily aka The Hilarazzi | March 09, 2007 at 05:00 PM
Oh zoiks! Nothing like being a sad number eighteen in the comments section.
How sad to see TLF the teenage years come to an end. As the chapters jumped ahead a year and then five years I was like, nooooo!
Kayla's giving up the baby was terribly sad, and totally sets us up for a kidnapping later on, no? That baby is starting early, totally learning the trade - she's a little drama queen! "Mama! No!" And completely understanding that she was being separated from her mother before it happened. Way to go Katherine! I bet you're really stirring the pot at your Kindergarten!
I am glad that things are working out for Jenna and Michael. I would like to know how he's training to be a teacher and she's staying home with three kids to feed, cause that's a feat! Or maybe the park they were playing in was not far from the benches they've been sleeping on? Heehee
Oh Tragic Love Friday, Adult Version (yikes!) hurry! Hurry!
Posted by: Molly | March 10, 2007 at 08:36 AM
That was a fabulous conclusion to a great story...props to Lil' Frema! Cannot WAIT for more.
Posted by: Stacey | March 12, 2007 at 06:16 PM
A TLF comment but I don't have much time, just to say I am still so glad you went through the effort of sharing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Erika | March 13, 2007 at 10:52 AM
It's over? I can't believe it's really over! Noooooooooo1!!!!
(Was that enough drama for you?)
Seriously, though, I'm on tenterhooks for the sequel. TENTERHOOKS.
Posted by: Fraulein N | March 14, 2007 at 02:10 PM
I love 'lil Frema more then my own husband right now.
Conclusion? Yummy!
Posted by: Isabel | March 18, 2007 at 03:50 AM
I just sat here at work and read all of the TLFs in one sitting. Thanks to Isabel. Nice job Frema!
Posted by: Carrisa | March 20, 2007 at 04:09 PM
Oh, so I'm not the only one sitting here reading them all back to back? Phew!
Ok, so I'm not really sure why Katherine needed to be ADOPTED, instead of just cared for for 5 years. Except of course, to add to the drama.
I think it's only fair that Jenna give Kayla one of her twins as a Getting Outta Jail present. She has two, it only makes sense.
I can't wait to read about The Twins and The Unwitting Adoptee in their adolescence. That's when all soaps get REALLY good... when you've been watching so long that the next generation is repeating all of their parents' mistakes.
Not that I would know or anything.
Posted by: Pink Herring | March 22, 2007 at 04:21 PM
I LOVE how Iowa got to make an appearance in the final chapter.
And also? Why are their parents perfectly ok with letting them get married at 17? 18??
So addicting. Will start on sequel first thing at work tomorrow!
Posted by: Whitney | June 06, 2007 at 06:59 PM