Nearly Spoiled

"It's been a pleasure to finally meet you."

"It has?" Finn questioned in surprise.

He didn't know which aspect of this introduction he found more eyebrow-raising. Could it be that the sexy dark-haired woman flaunting her medium-sized breasts and firm ass in a tight, off-the-shoulder white dress had replaced Mrs. Framwam as the English literature teacher? Or was it that she seemed genuinely excited to meet him?

"I take it that he has no idea the impact he made on his younger classmates?" Marissa Resto asked in Rachel's direction.

The redhead looked radiant from the pride that radiated off her. In response, she shook her head no.

"Not only have I heard all about how Finley Singer practically **** my predecessor to change with the times, but I've also replaced Topaz Brass as advisor for The Buzzy Bee. Ramsey and Daisy always say that we do things this way and that way because Finn did so. Even Geoff begrudgingly backs up the stellar job you did as editor," Marissa listed.

"Oh, I guess. But they weren't even in high school when I graduated," Finn responded, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Nonsense, dear. It's because of your brilliant idea to visit the junior high newspapers. Giving them advice and demonstrations of what you do at the grown-up Buzzy Bee office was an eye-opener. Ramsey and Daisy first met on one of your tours," Rachel pointed out. "Lacey said that you were their first newspaper idol they could relate to. Which is saying a lot with Ramsey's family."

"And I've never heard the end of Finn from students in my classes. Lacey, Sean, Iona, Max, Jessalyn, and so on all talk about you," Marissa added.

"That's not a big deal. I'm friends with most of their older siblings," Finn replied humbly.

"Well, it seems to have continued in my sophomore class this year," Marissa countered.

"And it will continue down to the lower grade levels if our plans for the new charity work out," Rachel predicted. "You've already been following your mother's footsteps and making an impact on students."

"Honestly, I love the goals that you have in place. I'm looking forward to working closely with you and seeing more of the young man who made an impact on my students," Marissa said. Then, spotting another teacher waving her over, she made her goodbyes for now.

"Geez," Finn muttered, watching the teacher's firm ass sway in that tight dress. Recalling who stood next to him, Finn wasn't surprised to find Rachel wearing a knowing smirk. "Uh, that's who replaced The Whammer?"

"Finley, that's not nice," Rachel admonished, her smile turning upside down. "You of all people should know better than to use those derogatory nicknames about teachers."

"Hey, I tried to be polite, but she taught the class as if we lived in the 1950s. Someone needed to **** her to change," Finn insisted. Of course, his mind quickly returned to the newer teacher. "Now I can understand why Sean raves about his literature class these days."

"Sean would rave about any literature class, whether the teacher was attractive or not," Rachel pointed out, chuckling. "Too bad that Marissa's not a few years younger. Like around Tuesday's age. Oh! Let's go over there. You just have to meet--"

"No!" Finn exclaimed before grasping for his excuse again. "I mean, I really need to check on Barn. He took that bad tumble at Brian and Becky's party the other night. With that spotty service at Uncle Harvey's, I haven't checked up on him as I should."

"It didn't happen yesterday, and Barney bangs himself up regularly. You'll have plenty of time tonight to spend with your friends. Now let's--You know what? Let's go check on Barney." After spotting Finn's friend and the person he talked to, Rachel changed her tune.

"Seriously?" Finn asked. That question vanished upon seeing Rachel's ulterior motive.

Still, he couldn't hold back his grin at the sight of two girls convincing Barney to take another picture of them. If Finn regretted one thing outside of his mom's ****, it would be not spending more time with the two girls in their mid-teens. His cousins, Serinda and Sanna Bank, lived in the Pacific Northwest city of Eldermoss. Nearly spitting images of his mom at that age, he couldn't believe how fast they seemed to be growing up, with one exception. Gawd, they're so tall. Where did they get that from?

"Hey, Barn. How's the head?" Finn asked with a wink. One that Barney didn't catch or understand.

"The same as it was when you asked about an hour ago. Did you hurt yours?" the brown-haired young man queried, his face appearing from behind the camera. Barney didn't use cell phones to take his pictures. He considered it an insult to the world of photography.

"Hmph," Rachel sounded. As if I didn't see that one coming. Does that boy think he can lie to me?

"Is something wrong?" Barney asked, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses that always seemed to slip down.

"Nothing that I didn't suspect," Rachel responded, shooting a look at Finn. Never able to stay mad or annoyed for long, the redheaded mother turned toward the two younger gingers. "Hi, girls! What are you conning Barney into now?" Rachel inquired, spreading her arms wide.

"We're trying to get on Nosy Nectar!" Sanna, the fourteen-year-old sister, explained excitedly while hugging the older woman.

"This is our debut night," Serinda, the sixteen-year-old, declared, adding her own hug. "Or we hope."

"We have to," Sanna whined. "All our friends back home are expecting it."

"Oh, no! You two are not going to be on that gossip crap. So drop that idea right now," Finn ordered sternly.

"Why not?" Serinda challenged.

"Aren't we popular enough?" Sanna appeared hurt by the implication.

"First off, you don't live in Honey Hollow, and it only covers people from here. Second, getting talked about on there is nothing to be proud of," Finn said.

"It covers people connected to Honey Hollow all the time. Our parents being from here equals us being connected," Serinda proclaimed, placing her hands on her hips.

"Y-You didn't want to be on Nosy Nectar?" Sanna nearly sputtered in shock.

"You girls follow it?" Rachel asked, sliding into the conversation. She didn't want Finn to descend into a fight with the two cousins he rarely saw.

"Do we ever! That's how we know all about Finny's life. It was as if we knew a celebrity," Serinda replied.

"Oh, the Finn and Lana season was sooo heartbreaking. We cried at the breakup," Sanna recounted.

"Don't worry, San. The sequel is coming. I just know it," Serinda remarked, glaring at Finn to make it happen.

"Season? My life is not a TV show!" Finn roared.

"Oh, you two need to tell Lana that description," Rachel suggested, her eyes twinkling.

"We did years ago. She loved it," Sanna revealed.

"Of course she did," Finn grumbled. "There is to be no Nosy Nectar on your visit, you got that? That gossip stuff only makes things worse for people. It's never benefited anyone, not once!"

"It did for me," Barney chimed in. Finn shot him a murderous glare while the Bank sisters looked at their cousin's friend in a new light.

"How so?" Rachel inquired, already knowing the answer.

"Whoever is in charge was the first stranger to offer encouragement about my photography. Ms. Swift always had a kind word, but I thought that was because she's known me since I worked as a paperboy. But Nosy Nectar said nice things when I needed to hear them. I might have given up photography without it."

"They just wanted to use you for your pictures. It's not like they paid for your hard work," Finn argued.

"Nonsense, dear. Barney made quite a name for himself around town with his skills. Did you know that Lana says that Barney takes the best pictures of her?" Rachel asked the Bank sisters.

"Really?!"

"Take more pictures of us. Please!"

"You taking bookings, Barn?" Eoin O'Hara teased, joining them.

Finn and Barney's friend from high school and college housemate got swiftly filled in. Of course, Rachel got a hug while Finn asked his cousins if they remembered Eoin.

"Didn't we just say that we followed Nosy Nectar?" Serinda replied with a sarcastic question.

"Eoin gets around...a lot," Sanna giggled. "How's Poppy?"

"Gets a...You are too young to know what that means, young lady," Finn stated. He shot his friend a dirty look as if it were his fault. Eoin shrugged in response.

"Did you hear from Auggie yet?" Barney asked, stepping onto a landmine.

Eoin's nonchalance dramatically shifted. Not only did he motion for Barney to shut up, but Rachel also stepped forward to block Finn's view while asking the sisters about who else they liked following on Nosy Nectar.

"Ooh, Whitney Diamond is the girl everyone in Eldermoss loves to hate," Serinda replied.

"Is she going to be--"

"What's going on with Auggie?" Finn questioned, stepping around Rachel to see his friend again. "Is everything okay with you know what?"

Eoin finally got Barney to understand.

"I don't know! That's why I asked Eoin. I thought maybe he heard something. Or at least knew what he and the others were doing for New Year's," Barney rattled off.

"I assume that Auggie's back home for that party he talked up," Finn commented. Then, pulling out his phone, he suggested, "Maybe I should check up on him."

Rachel's facial language at Eoin prompted him to think of a distraction.

"Girls, do you remember my sister?"

"Sure!"

"Iona shows up on Nosy Nectar, too."

"Well, I think she's over there." Eoin pointed toward the main doors. "I bet Iona could give you a few pointers on how to get a blurb on there tonight."

"Really? Let's go, Rinda!" Sanna exclaimed, already on the move.

"What the hell?" Finn reacted toward Eoin before calling after his cousins. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"Oh, let them be," Rachel instructed. "Isn't it better for them to get it out of their systems before Lana makes her entrance?"

"I guess."

Rachel breathed a relieved sigh. Barney's screwup almost gave away the surprise. Fully aware that the ball might be a difficult night for her surrogate son, Rachel conspired with a few of his friends to provide a pleasant distraction. Wanting as many friendly faces around for Finn, she found that his college friends felt the same. So a group from Zurbrugg College that wasn't from Honey Hollow was coming to offer support. Rachel had worked diligently to keep the surprise intact. So concerned had she been that even Lana and Peyton didn't know. Lana because she couldn't keep a secret, and Peyton since she could never lie convincingly to Finn.

"I don't like it," Finn continued, scanning the crowd for his cousins. "They shouldn't be worried about getting gossiped about."

"If it's such a big deal, then go find your uncle. But it's not a big deal," Rachel remarked. "Stop acting like a worrywart. Eoin, you're in charge of making sure that Finny flirts with pretty girls."

"I'm on it, Mrs. S." Eoin nodded. "Just flirt?"

"Well, if you think Finn can get away with more behind Lana and Peyton's back, then go for it," Rachel replied, in all seriousness.

"I'm standing right here. And I don't need Lana and Peyton's permission to have fun," Finn protested.

"Sure, you don't, dear," Rachel humored him. Next, she turned toward the quieter friend. "And I expect the same from you, young man."

"Me?" Barney asked, glancing up from his camera after no one else responded.

"Yes, you. Put the camera aside for a bit and get out there and have fun," Rachel ordered.

"But taking pictures is fun."

"So is talking to girls, flirting with them, and maybe doing more," the concerned mother listed. "When's the last time you had a girlfriend? Or just a date?"

"Uh, I don't know," Barney said, shrugging. He looked at his friend for help, but they agreed with Mrs. Stratton.

"Whatever happened with Emily Buttery? Now that she's at Zurbrugg, I had hoped you two would reconnect. She's such a sweet girl."

"I don't know," he mumbled, staring at his feet.

"I can help him tonight, too, Mrs. S," Eoin offered.

"No, I think this requires a more forceful personality," Rachel replied, causing Barney to raise his head. "If I don't see you dancing with three different girls, then I'm ordering Lacey...and Poppy to play matchmaker."

"What?!"

"Whoa, now that's a dangerous combination," Eoin remarked.

"It's better than Lacey and Lana, buddy," Finn said, slapping Barney's shoulder.

"Alright, enough pestering of my favorite photographer," Clive Stratton ordered, joining them. He questioned what was happening and winced when his wife filled him in. "Better ask a few girls to dance, Barn. I'm going to need you in one piece for my campaign. No one takes my picture for the Daily Flyer as you do."

"Do you get the issue with our room straightened out, hun?" Rachel queried.

"Dalton just landed and said he'd look into it when he arrived. I...I didn't want to push the issue. He sounded exhausted," Clive explained, appearing worried for a moment. "Now, are you done with our boy? I have a few people from the law firm who wish to see him."

"Is that lovely new paralegal one of them?" Rachel inquired with a tease in her voice. "I believe you know her, Finn. She's a couple of years older, but..."

"Who is it?" Eoin inquired, his eye lighting up.

"No! You stay here. I already have to worry about Cormac getting his claws in first," Clive complained, referring to his handsome nephew. "I don't need both of you trying to bed her."

"Bed? Who uses that anymore, Mr. S?" Eoin challenged, although Barney started to raise his hand.

"I do, and remember what I said about that word, you and Lana?" Clive warned, pointing from himself toward Eoin.

"I would never do that to Finn," Eoin mumbled as Clive led his friend away.

"We know that, sweetie. That's why Clive likes to play tough guy with you," Rachel said, soothingly patting his arm. "It's practice for scaring Lacey's boyfriend. Now, who should we have on Barney's dance card first?"