Apologies

Brandon rode his bicycle into the cul-de-sac where he knew Zack lived. He had expected to find them home when he arrived but not finding anyone at Zack´s house he decided to wait.

While he waited, he saw a patrol car pull up to a nearby house and saw Carlos Rivera walk up to the house and ring the bell. He saw a blonde woman walk out and hug Carlos for a few moments before they both talked for a while on the porch. Carlos finally gave the woman another hug before returning to the patrol car and driving up to where he was.

"What´s up Brandon?" Carlos asked him stopping the car by the curb.

"I came here to apologize for yesterday." Brandon said. I don´t know where Gavin lives so I came here to Zack´s house."

Carlos nodded and asked him "Did your parents send you?"

"No Sir." Brandon answered him. "I´m supposed to be grounded for the week, but I think I owe them an apology."

Carlos seemed to think about it for a moment before he spoke. "That´s a good decision. It´s the right thing to do." he paused for a moment "Gavin lives down the block where I just stopped. His mom is pretty upset by what happened yesterday so I guess you shouldn´t go over there yet. She told me they carpool the kids, better wait here for them. When you get home let me know how it goes."

"Yes Sir." Brandon answered and watched the patrol car drive off. Brandon waited over an hour before he saw three cars pull into the street and drive into the driveway of Zack´s house. About the same time, he saw Gavin´s mother come out of her house and walk over. He watched has Monica step out of the first car in Zack´s driveway followed by Zack and Gavin. The second car had stopped in the house next door and he watched three redheads step out, one of them was Chloe so he assumed the others were her sister, Holly and mother, Charlotte. From the third car he saw three beautiful blondes and a brunette step out, two of the blondes in the new sexy skimpy cheerleader uniforms. He didn´t need to see them in their cheerleader uniforms to recognize them has the Woodson sisters and their mother Sarah and Taylor, Zack's odder sister. Every one of them glared at him and if looks could kill... he would have been dead 10 times over.

Monica gave Zack a nudge and Brandon swallowed has he watched Zack walk up to him, Ashley and Chloe stood next to him while Gavin stayed further back next to his mom. "What do you want?" Zack asked him. Coming to apologize didn´t seem such a great idea right now and Brandon hoped it would turn into another fight.

"I came to apologize." Brandon said and after a moment he added. "Look I know what I did was wrong and I 'm sorry. They... They played me. They... Shawn told me that Gavin was molesting Maddie and forcing her into a closet and.... and I fell for it."

"You shouldn't have attacked Gavin that way. He wasn't doing anything wrong. He was just talking to her." Zack said. "Now we're in trouble."

"No, you’re not in trouble, I am." Brandon said. "I went to talk to Mr. Hartburn this afternoon. I told him everything, my mistake and all. I rewrote my story and you guys are all off the hook. I got community service in school till Thanksgiving and my Dad pulled me out of the basketball team. He's gonna make me join the football team, says I need to learn some discipline. Guess I need to control my anger."

Brandon was silent for a moment, looking down at the sidewalk, ashamed at what he'd done. "Zack, I know you're right I screwed up. I should have looked first. But what would you have done?" He looked around a little lost and ****. "I mean... imagine if someone was feeling up Chloe? Trying to **** her... what would you do?"

"I RIP HIS FUCKING THROAT OUT!" Zack practically snarled.

Brandon seemed to grow smaller as he nodded. "You see? And she's your friend. Maddie's my sister, my twin sister. I’d do the same for Maddie. She's the most important person in the world for me, I gotta protect her. There a lot of creeps out there."

"Well you should know about creeps; you're always hanging out with those creeps you call friends." Zack scoffed at him.

For a moment Brandon was quiet, he remembered some of the things the guys had talked about earlier. "I... I guess your right Zack."

For a moment he didn't say anything else and then Brandon added. "I'm sorry Gavin. I was wrong and I over reacted, I let them fool me and let my anger get the best of me. I know you're a good guy and if... if you want to date my sister you can. You too Zack. I... I promise I won't get in the way."

"Yea... leave us alone." Zack said

After a moment of silence Brandon took a deep breath and said "Anyway, I just wanted to say I'm really sorry and let you know that I went and told the truth. You're off the hook. I'll... I'll see you in school."

Brandon got back in his bike and rode home. He kept wondering why they didn't accept his apology. He set the record straight at school and apologized. He did exactly what his mother told him to do. Well except for telling Zack and Gavin they could date Maddie. He still didn't know why he blurted that out.

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After Brandon left Monica invited everyone in for snacks and while the kids went off play video games with Hannah and Taylor while the mothers spent time gossiping in the kitchen.

When Gavin and Chloe faced off for another round of street fighter and Hannah and Taylor were busy whispering to each other Ashley leaned into Zack's shoulder to whisper to him.

"Why didn't you want to join us this morning?" Ashley whispered to her friend "If you work with Logan we could beat them."

"Maybe you're right" Zack whispered back before looking over to his friends. "But.. I don't know.... I... we can't get into more trouble. I gotta..."

"Protect them?" Ashley whispered and Zack nodded "Now you sound like Brandon" to which Zack just shrugged

"You believe him?" she whispered to him.

Zack just shrugged and whispered. "He seemed sincere but I don't know. Guess I have to wait and see. I know I don't trust his friends." to which Ashley nodded.

"Hey you two!" Hannah said "Your turn to play or go get a room." and when Ashley and Zack blushed but Hannah just laughed while they started their own match.

Taylor nudged her friend as she hissed "Hannah! don't tease them."

"But they make a great couple... just like we are." Hannah said.

"We're friends not a couple." Taylor whispered back.

Hannah just winked and nudged Taylor. "Awww... I love you too."

Eventually the Woodsen's left and while they rode back home Ashley complained "Brandon is such a jerk. Does he really think saying 'I'm sorry' is going to work?"

"Don't be so hard on him." Sarah said. "That kid has a good heart; he just doesn't know where to put it. It took a lot of courage to come over here and do what he did."

"Courage to do what? Say I'm sorry?" Ashley said.

"Yes, courage to come alone and face Zack in his own turf. That and admitting he was wrong and trying to make things right." Sarah said.

"Don't forget that he also told Zack and Gavin they could fuck his sister if they wanted." Hannah added

"Hannah!" Sarah said with surprise.

"What? It's true." Hannah said faking surprise "He practically said it out loud!".

"Yes! But you don't go around blurting it out.... you have to be subtle... let it slide. You don't let everyone know when you're... giving something away." Sarah said.

After a moment Hannah added "I wonder if he meant just one of them or both? Would it be separate or together?"

"HANNAH!" Sarah said shocked by what her eldest daughter just said. "Oh my God what's gotten into you lately."

Hannah simply laughed and said "Oh mooommm... I'm just joking. See Ashley, Mom can't take a joke."

Ashley just smiled and nodded but after seeing Brandon apologize and the recent change in Hannah, she was starting to wonder if it was possible for someone to change.