Buzzy Blues

“No!” Daisy shouted through the phone before continuing with a sigh. “I don’t want to know how you’re getting a signal. All I wanted was that room number. So thanks. Now, get the hell home…Yes, I’m aware that it’s icy out there…Well, don’t expect any of us to drive out there if you do…Learn to drive like a sane person, Odie.”

Daisy glanced up as she saw Ramsey walking over. She held up a finger as if to say just one moment.

“Look, we got some good stories to tell you in the office on Thursday. What? You'd better show up. We only have two days this week.” Daisy paused while the Bee’s tech support ranted about returning to school for only two days. "Trust me. It's worth it. Wait until you hear what Ramsey did. Nope, you have to show up to school to find out."

With Odette pleading to hear the story now, Daisy hung up.

“Was that Odette? You are not to tell her anything,” Ramsey ordered.

“Oh, please. She’s going to find out soon enough. It’s better if she hears about your sports bar adventure from us.” Daisy watched as her friend’s face turned red with anger. “It’s better her than Geoff. Now, what took you so long?”

“I ran into Ms. Resto.” Ramsey caught the blonde’s eye roll and didn’t care for it. “Why must you act like that? Ms. Resto has proven to be a valuable advisor. Why can’t you admit that?”

"She's too by the book! And I bet she's going to block half of our upcoming articles about what went down at Wasp Lake out of fear over what the administration will say. Half at the minimum! You wait and see. At least Odie is willing to take risks."

“Principal Manske is her uncle! That’s why she’ll never get expelled, which Odette knows full well,” Ramsey responded. “And I don’t want to know what shady nonsense you asked for this time.”

“We needed to know Daphne Garrow’s room number. Or don’t you want to know why Olena held a conspiratorial meeting with her in the hallway?” the dirty blonde challenged.

“You know I do. But we need to act like journalists and conduct our investigations properly. Not cut corners or take risks,” Ramsey declared.

“Says the girl that walked right into the criminals’ hands,” Daisy muttered sarcastically.

"Dais! What happened isn't funny," Ramsey replied while motioning for her friend to lower her voice. "Besides, I still don't understand how you heard about this meeting."

“I told you I got a tip.”

“How do you always get tips? I never get any.”

“Maybe because you’re way too intense? Tipsters don’t like your fifty-question interrogation routine,” Daisy pointed out.

“I don’t ask fifty questions.”

“Fine. You ask twenty questions,” Daisy replied, flashing a grin. "Wait, is that why you haven't been on a date in like--"

“Whatever. Now, behave. Norah and Dex are coming over,” Ramsey alerted as the two younger Buzzy Bee staff members walked over. “Dexter, did you complete your assignment?”

“Yeah, I did! I interviewed Zoey about Sean,” the younger Kirby sibling boasted with a blushing face.

“Sean’s the one who set it up,” Norah remarked.

“Hey, I still got the interview,” Dexter defended before mumbling, “Tattletale.”

“I guess it’s allowed since you didn’t have Norah or Seth set it up,” Daisy responded.

“Yeah, Sean’s a pretty cool guy, too. I’d be happy to interview him if you don’t want to,” Dexter offered, looking at Ramsey.

“Don’t you pay attention? Your sister is conducting that interview,” Norah reminded.

"At this point, I don't remember who is doing what. Well, except that Whitney is going to run circles around Geoff," Daisy added with a chuckle.

Ramsey huffed at the comment. Once school started back up, Daisy would need a reminder about proper behavior around the newspaper’s office. She and Ms. Resto saw eye to eye on the need to rein in some of the unprofessional tendencies that had developed. But that was a matter for another day.

“Right. So Daisy learned that Olena and Veronica met with–”

“Daphne Garrow. We know,” Norah revealed.

“You told them before me?” Ramsey questioned her right-hand girl. “Why does it seem like I’m always the last to know?”

“You’re not–” Dex began.

“You’re often busy with your own investigations,” Norah pointed out.

“And running around with Whitney and Lacey. Leaving me to be the de facto office manager,” Daisy supplied. "Besides, why do you just assume that I told them before you?"

“You are easily distracted,” Norah added.

“You’re not the last one to always know. That’s Geoff,” Dex finished.

“Ooh! That’s right,” Daisy agreed.

“And I’m pretty sure that Odie either cloned our phones or hacks into them regularly,” Norah speculated.

“Aargh! I swear I don’t know who is worse at times. My staff or the cheer squad?” Ramsey grumbled in frustration.

“Should we start plastering fake smiles on our faces in the office? Or act super peppy and super slutty?” Daisy teased before knowing when to stop. “Okay, moving on to Bee business, Odie said that Daphne isn't booked in any room. Interestingly, there was a last-minute change. Only a few hours ago, Room 404, which had been on hold for…Any guesses? It had been on hold for the Olesky family but got switched to Alfie Fewings."

“That is interesting and adds another question to what Olena is up to,” Ramsey agreed, slipping into business mode. “Is it possible that Olena merely wanted Alfie at the ball to film her night? Agreed. I don’t think so either.”

“Wait, so how did we go from this Daphne to the school film geek?” Dex asked, causing Norah to groan.

“Because there have been rumors that Alfie likes to take videos that he shouldn’t,” Daisy reminded.

“That’s Nosy Nectar nonsense,” Ramsey remarked disdainfully.

Daisy and Norah rolled their eyes.

“However, I will admit that Olena’s friendship/relationship, or whatever you want to call it, with Alfie seems unlike her. So I am willing to be suspicious,” Ramsey said, settling on a midway agreement with her fellow reporters.

“Are we going to stake out Room 404?” Dex asked.

“Or Daisy could just use her stolen master keycard and–”

“Your what?!” Ramsey gasped, turning to gawk at her friend.

“--not get stuck in the closet again while people conduct an affair.”

“Thanks,” Daisy grumbled, glaring at Norah.

"I–I–You–I can't…Wait! Is this what Miss Graff's friend referred to? She said something about my being the second person–Dais, you didn't?!"

“Look, let’s focus on Daphne and Olena for right now. I’ll tell you what happened when we have more time. You might enjoy the man who was involved.”

“I certainly don’t want to hear about your voyeuristic moment,” Ramsey insisted.

“Uh-oh. Here comes trouble,” Norah alerted.

Everything turned to face the woman storming over as fast as she could in her high heels. Ramsey visibly paled as she knew her mother’s moods. And this one appeared particularly bad.

“You! I knew…I told you to stay out of…I can’t believe you’d be so foolish,” Hillary stammered angrily.

“Hi, Mom! What’s wrong?” Ramsey inquired, mimicking Whitney’s preferred I-didn’t-do-anything expression.

“Don’t play innocent with me. I just heard that not only did you go into a bar, but that it was The Penalty Pub. How could you get mixed up with the Klackhursts? You know what they did to your grandfather,” Hillary stated.

“But I broke the story. No, I did, Mom! Norah and I were outside when the crowd started rioting–”

“I told you to stay away from–”

“I saw a man handing out brown bags with tomatoes and eggs. He also handed out–”

“This is not a story for a teenager. You are not–”

“They were envelopes, Mom! I bet they were the payments to–”

“Stop!” Hillary commanded.

“No! I found out the man’s name. He’s Kroy Turner, and he works for–”

“I know who he is. It’s my damn job to know. It’s not yours,” Hillary proclaimed.

“But I solved it. We now know who’s behind–”

“You know nothing!” Hillary snarled. “You are not a journalist. You only play at being one. Got that? When you get older and with training, then you–”

“I’m the same age as when Grandpa let you–”

"I worked for a real newspaper, not a school club with no journalist standards or accomplishments."

“Well, The Buzzy Bee has out-investigated the Flyer on several–”

“Stay out of this, Daisy,” Hillary ordered.

The dirty blonde threw her hands up at being dismissed.

“Mom! Would you listen?” Ramsey whined. “I found an important fact.”

“Politics and criminals are way above your head, Rammy. Stick to covering student government and who’s dating who,” Hillary instructed. “Actually, I think it’s time I discussed the delusions you have about your afterschool club.”

“That’s not fair! Just because you worked for Grandpa instead–”

“Yes, I think I’ll talk to your new advisor. She seems more level-headed than Topaz. Or better yet, perhaps I should talk to Principal Manske,” Hillary continued. “The school district needs to be aware of this liability issue.”

“Mom!”

"I think you've had your say enough for tonight. Someday you might understand that I'm trying to protect you," Hillary said, softening her tone. "However, for now, you will head upstairs and watch over Reed and Samson."

“Dammit! They’re just playing video games. What can possibly go wrong?” Ramsey challenged, looking at her friends for backup.

“Actually, there have been stories about sexual pred–Oof!” Dex exclaimed as Norah elbowed his side.

“Precisely. Thank you, Dexter,” Hillary commented. “Now, young lady, your junior newsgirl act is done for the night. Oh, no!” Hillary exclaimed, catching the look between her daughter and Daisy. “Hand over your phone.”

“Oh, come on!”

“Hand it over, Ramsey.”

“Grandpa is going to hear about this,” Rasmey threatened, slamming her phone down on her mom’s palm. “He encourages my investigating and respects my work.”

“My father is not the one responsible for raising you,” Hillary responded.

“That’s funny. I think he’s raised me more than you!” Ramsey shot back before marching off.

“And don’t even think about sneaking out later. Reed might let you, but Sammy can be bought!” Hillary warned.

---

“It’s well past twelve. Actually, it’s closer to one. You know what that means, girls.”

“But, Mom!” Serinda whined.

“No!” Sanna bellowed. “We’re not leaving while Finn is upset.”

“Sander, did you just hear your daughter?” Cherry questioned. “She talked back to me in THAT tone.”

“That’s it. You two are going up to bed. And we won’t be bringing you back to Honey Hollow anytime soon,” the girls’ father declared.

“Oh, Sandy, don’t be that way,” Cecilia said from her spot next to Finn. She’d spent the last ten minutes consoling her grandson. “I told you before to let the girls enjoy Cassie’s night.”

“If you don’t mind, Cecilia, we are trying to raise our daughters to behave as proper young women,” Cherry began to argue.

"Screw this! Let's go, Rinda!" Sanna ordered her older sister. "If you can't catch us, we're staying down here."

“What? You can’t be serious? They can’t do that, Sandy!” Cherry cried as her two daughters raced off.

Grandpa Bank covered his mouth to hide his huge grin.

"Those two are turning into such a delightful pair," CeCe remarked as her son and daughter-in-law ran off to find her grandchildren. "You'd think Sandy would be better at handling them, considering that he grew up with Cassie's friends."

“Sometimes I wonder about him,” her husband admitted, shaking his head.

BUZZ BUZZ

Barney quickly checked his phone for the incoming message. He attempted to hide his reaction, but Finn noticed the wince.

“What’s going on?”

“Huh? Nothing,” Barney replied. However, Finn could tell when his oldest male friend lied. Barney knew this as well. So he gave in. “Uh, something happened.”

“With Lana, right?” Finn assumed after a loud sigh. “What did she do?”

“Um, the girls ran into Maddie after getting Lana some air.” Barney paused as he really didn’t want to finish. “Uh, Kiki and Peyton had to hold Lana back. She, um, lunged forward. Kinda sounds like she almost attacked Maddie.”

“Maddie? Are you talking about Madeline Stringham?” CeCe inquired, getting a nod from Barney. Then, she turned toward her husband, “You remember Madeline, don’t you, dear? She was Finn’s successor on the school paper. Why in the world would Lana want to attack Madeline? She’s such a sweet girl.”

"The brunette? The one with fairly nice…." Grandpa Bank held his hands in front of his chest. That caused his wife to shake her head before nodding. "Kind of obvious if you ask me. Lana's protecting her territory. You might not have completely screwed it up with that wonderful girl, Finny. See, I told you sweet girls are more forgiving, CeCe."

Even Barney appeared embarrassed by how poorly Mr. Bank understood Lana’s personality. However, if he and Mrs. Bank found it somewhat humorous, Finn did not.

“I am not Lana’s territory,” Finn growled.

“Better not say that around her. Don’t mess up a good thing twice,” his grandfather replied. “Do that, and you might end up with Bridget’s girl.”

“How many times must I tell you that Peyton is the good girl of the pair?” CeCe challenged.

“She doesn’t have the pair that her mom–”

“That’s it! You need to understand that Lana and I are over. It’s never happening.”

“Never say never.”

“Grandpa, it’s never happening. We even discussed this whole thing the other night. We agreed to move on,” Finn relayed.

“Why did you do that?”

“Leave him be,” CeCe told her husband. “It’s fine, Finn. If you two need an extended break, we understand. Maybe–”

"Aargh! It's not just a break," Finn snapped, jumping to his feet. But, then, how to make sure a permanent break happened hit him. "No, stay here, Barn. It's time that Lana learns I'm not some wishy-washy guy waiting around for her to finish having fun."

With a purpose in his step, Finn marched off in search of a specific person. It took two full passes around the dance floor before he spotted the person in question. Then, with his target in sight, Finn marched through the dancers. While he did that, his eyes took in physical traits he'd long blocked from his mind.

A toned ass shook gloriously from side to side in the clingy bottom half of the dress. Moving upward, Finn unknowingly licked his lips at the woman’s tight midriff exposed by her dress. Then, he noted the perky pair of medium-sized breasts that he found large enough for his tastes. Finally, his gaze landed on the seductive expression the dark-haired beauty seemed to wear perpetually whenever she put on a dance performance.

Stepping into the coed’s personal space, Finn lifted a hand.

“Can I get the next dance, Teresa?”