The Bishops Always Play Nicer

"Can't you crank up the AC anymore?" Taylor pleaded.

"It's already on full-blast," Zack informed her.

"Damn, it's a scorcher out there; hot and humid," Hannah remarked, leaning forward to push her chest nearer to the air vent. The car swerved for a moment as Zack stared at her nipple hardening under the thin fabric as the cold air hit it.

"Hey!" came a cry from way in the back.

"Sorry, Chloe," Zack said over his shoulder.

"How about you focus on the road and not other sights, Zack," Peter dryly commented.

"Sorry, sorry."

"What; did I miss something?" Taylor questioned, craning her head back to look out the rear windows.

"Nothing you haven't seen many times, my dear," Peter told her.

"So, what's the deal with Chloe sitting in the back?" Hannah asked.

"She was supposed to drive up with her family, but her dad is working on the big **** case that starts next week," Zack relayed. "So, I believe he and Mr. March are both skipping the party."

"Ah, yes, the Limehouse case. Dad decided to recuse himself from the case. What with the police corruption angle and any possible blowback."

"Alleged police corruption," Chloe called out.

"Yes, thank you for pointing out the obvious to another lawyer's daughter," Hannah noted, sending a smile back to let the redhead know she didn't take any offense. "Dad's letting Wendy handle the case as she plans to leave someday for private practice. Regina's his top deputy and possible successor, so she doesn't need the bad blood the other cops will feel toward the prosecutor. You know that whole blue line brotherhood stuff. But you didn't hear any of that, Chloe."

"Got it! And I won't repeat any of the defense strategies I've overheard," the redhead cracked back.

"Still, that doesn't explain why you're in the back," Hannah tried again for an answer.

"Holly caught that flu that's going around town, especially the middle school. So my mom stayed home with her. And I didn't want to go with all of your parents," explained the trunk compartment occupant.

"Poor Holly. She kept on saying how excited she was and couldn't wait to see the renovated lodge. Said it was a work of art," Zack mentioned.

"It seems like a third of Azure Rocks has been hit by that flu. Of course, it had to hit right when we head home at the end of the semester. I've been staying away from both Mom and Dad," Taylor said. "I don't want to catch any germs they bring home from the hospital."

"Yeah, it's already thinned out our ranks for tonight. I head from Reece earlier today. He spent all last night hugging the toilet," Peter passed on.

"Eww, not the way I want to picture that hottie," Hannah admitted.

"Carl Miller too," Peter added.

"No one cares about him," Hannah responded with a sniff, Taylor nodded in agreement to her boyfriend.

"I wonder if that means Rylee has it too?" Zack wondered out loud, but no one knew about Reece Kittle's younger sister's condition.

"Well, I know Priscilla Pint and Lauren McHall both caught it too," Taylor revealed. "Prissy had it by the morning after she returned home."

"Well, somebody in our group or at least around our age better be there. I'm hanging out with the kids all night. No offense, Zacky," Hannah added quickly at the end. "Well, Poppy should be there, at least. She's Fletcher's sister, after all."

"Stepsister," Taylor corrected her best friend. "And remember Poppy complains all the time that Fletcher ignores her. Not that I blame him. If I had a stepsibling as crazy as her, I would try to avoid her too."

"I like Poppy! She fun to hang out with, " Hannah protested. "Not like your boring ass, Tay. Not that it isn't one fine ass. Very slap worthy."

"Well, I imagine since her sister is friends with Fletcher that Teresa Zuccaro will be there," Peter pointed out, knowing he was pushing one of his ex-girlfriend's buttons. "Maybe you two can bury the hatchet, ending this family feud once and for all."

"More like I bury the hatchet in her skull," mumbled the busty blonde. She quickly changed the subject from her dance squad rival to her unanswered question. "But that still doesn't explain why Chloe is sitting way in the back."

"Uh, what do you mean?" Zack asked, risking a look sideways at the blonde beauty.

"Why isn't she sitting in the back seat with Pete and Tay?"

"Um, because she didn't want to wrinkle her dress by sitting squished between us," Taylor replied, then suddenly she had another thought. "Hey, we're idiots! Chloe, you're probably getting more wrinkles back there sliding around than you would be sitting with us."

"I am?!" squeaked the redhead, looking down, all-around at her dress.

"Zack, pull over," his sister ordered him.

"Wait, it's probably too late by now," Hannah interrupted with a wave of her hand before Zack could stop the car. "Now, if she sits with you guys, she'll just wrinkle her dress in other ways."

"Aw, man! This sucks," groaned Chloe.

"Don't worry, you'll still look great in the dress," Taylor said, hoping to soothe her next-door neighbor. "And wait until you see the dress that Chloe's wearing, Han. She looks amazing."

"Really! What are you wearing?" Hannah turned her head excitedly, hoping to catch a glimpse.

"Nope, you'll just have to wait," her best friend said with a shake of her head. She knew the not knowing part would drive Hannah crazy until they stopped. "Don't worry, Chloe, it will look fine--no, great!"

"Bad enough that I'm going to be a third or fifth wheel," the redhead grumpily said before mumbling another comment.

"I already said not to worry, Chlo. With that dress, you'll find someone," Taylor reaffirmed quietly, hoping Hannah didn't hear the last part.

"What was that? You're finally looking for a guy, Chloe?" Hannah questioned, the growing excitement evident in her voice. "Ooh, it's about time! Now we can scope out the prospects for you, and you can enter the world of womanhood."

"Nope, not happening, Han," her best friend denied her. "You're not your sister. You suck at setting up people."

"I do not!"

"Han, you are the worst," Peter chimed in. "Leave Chloe's love life alone."

Grumbling over her friends' opinion of her, Hannah stared out the window for several minutes, ignoring the conversation taking place. Then out of the blue, she noticed something or someone missing.

"Hey, where's the little guy?"

"Who?"

"You know, the last member of your little trio: Gavin!" Hannah explained in a huff.

"He's not really little, Hannah," Zack pointed out. "Maybe skinny."

"He was littlest of you three when he was younger, so he'll always be the little guy to me," she said dismissively. "Why isn't he here with Chloe?"

"Was Gavin even invited, Zack?" Peter asked, having heard that Fletcher was stingy with invitations, making them even more desirable around the region.

"Yeah, his mom received one. She knows the Wynwicks through her work at the clinic," Zack started to explain, but his sister cut him off.

"Diane's covering the clinic tonight. Someone had to do it with several of the other workers out sick with the flu," the brunette revealed. "Mom offered to do it, but Diane insisted she go to the party."

"That doesn't mean that Gavin couldn't have come with, does it?" Hannah inquired, unsure how the invitations worked.

A giggle in the back provided part of her answer, while Zack supplied the rest.

"Yeah, parties aren't Gavin's thing. He'd rather stay at home than come with us and be miserable."

"Still? Zacky, honey, you need to fix that friend of yours. He can't be going off to college in a few months, and still hate having to deal with people."

"We're trying, Hannah, but Gavin can be pretty stubborn."

"You need to do better." Hannah fidgeted in her seat, trying to get comfortable.

"Is something wrong?" her date for the night asked in concern.

"Oh, she's doing her usual thing, Zack," Taylor revealed before Hannah could. "Girl hates long car rides, especially when she's worried about it screwing up all her hard work to look good."

"It isn't hard to look this good, Tay," replied Hannah, honestly believing her statement.

"Remember Han, I'm the one that sees you every morning with bedhead and no makeup on," Taylor reminded her. "You know I'm sure I have some pictures of you like that on my phone."

"Don't you dare! You better erase them, right this minute."

Ignoring her BFF's growled order, Taylor offered a solution. "Hmm, maybe for the right price, I can make them disappear."

"Meanie!" the busty blonde spat out before trying to change the subject. "How much longer until we reach the lodge?"

"We're not going straight there, you know," Zack responded, risking another glance to his side.

"What? Why not?"

"Do you ever listen to me?" Taylor questioned in annoyance. "The Wynwicks don't want too many cars parked all over their grass. So we're parking the car at the Raverses' cabin. Mr. Ravers' driver will ferry us to and from the lodge."

"First I'm hearing of this," Hannah remarked.

"Han, you really need to open up those big ears of yours. Our--" Peter started to say.

"I don't have big ears! Who's been saying that?" screeched his ex.

"Peter, be nice," Taylor chided her boyfriend, who winked back at her.

"As I was saying, our parents have been discussing this for the last week. They're doing the same with their cars," Peter finished.

"Seems like a lot of work," Zack's date complained.

"Well, if you don't want to take a limo, then I guess we could think of another way," Zack suggested.

"A limo?! That changes things," the gorgeous blonde said brightly, sitting up a little straighter. "I'll be happy to make my movie star entrance via a limousine."

In the backseat, Taylor groaned at the possibilities her best friend had in mind.