Everything Sucks! Season 2 (KEMALINE)

Episode 1 Part 1 - Pizza and Cupcakes

- Omniscient -

December 20th, 1996

Kate, Luke, Ken, and Sherry all crowd around the O'Neils' kitchen table, still reveling in their shared pride of Intergalactic Lust. While the movie was phenomenal, the food at the afterparty had been a little questionable (and very blue), so they're all starving at this point. They divide a large pizza between them, but after only a few minutes, their plates are empty, and, despite the massive pie, so still are their stomachs.

"I don't know about you guys, but that pizza didn't do it for me," declares Sherry. The rest of the group nods. "I say we head out to Hamilton's, those cupcakes are-" She pauses and turns her attention to Ken.

"Da bomb and a bag of oh snap." The pair crack up. Luke and Kate, slightly confused, laugh along anyway, happy to see their parents happy.

They all get up and grab their coats, and as they head for the door, a series of knocks come from the other side. Ken reaches for the handle, and pulls the door open, leaving the foursome face-to-face with Leroy O'Neil. Everyone stops in their tracks. Suddenly, they all lose their appetites.

It could have been three seconds of silence or three million years. No one dares breathe, let alone speak.

Luke's eyes dart between those of his mother and father. Leroy glares at Sherry, who refuses to look away from the shoe rack by his feet. Finally, Kate speaks up, shocking everyone, but no one more than herself.

"You need to leave," she proclaims softly, yet confidently. Everyone directs their eyes to her. After a moment, Leroy regains his footing.

"No... no, I'm here for my son. And my wife. And my house and my camera and my life," he starts, unsteadily.

Sherry finally meets his gaze.

"You- huh- what? Do you really think-" She stops in her tracks and turns to Ken. After a moment, he gets the hint. He exhales in that awkward way that can only be achieved by dads in their late forties.

"Kate, I think it's time to get going. We've got to get back to... to let the dog out," he says nervously.

"Right, yes. Poor dog," she returns sarcastically. The two head for the door. Kate pauses in front of Luke before exiting.

"You gonna be okay?" He looks down at the floor and nods. She gives a nod back and hits her shoulder against Leroy's as she walks out past him.

Ken grabs Sherry's hand and squeezes it. She gives an exasperated smile and he kisses her on the cheek before he walks sideways out the door, as to stay out of Leroy's way.

As the Messner car pulls out of the driveway, Leroy opens his mouth to speak. Sherry holds up a finger to silence him.

"Luke, bud, could you please give us a minute?" Luke opens his mouth to protest, but she gives him the same silencing finger, and he slinks to his room. He grabs his Discman and headphones, anticipating the long night ahead.

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"Breakfast at Tiffany's" plays quietly on the car radio as Ken drives down an unlit rural road, with a melancholy Kate in the passenger seat.

"Do you still want those cupcakes?" he tries after a few silent minutes.

"What about the dog?" she counters, sarcastically. He sighs and turns back to the road. After a few moments, she speaks up again.

"I'm sorry, Dad," she starts. "I just hate that things keep getting messed up for you and her. You only got a couple hours before everything got ruined again."

"Kate, I appreciate your concern, but you don't need to worry about me. Sherry and I know where we stand with each other. Everything is fine." They return to their silence. The song continues in the background. Ken smiles.

"So how about those cupcakes?" Kate nods, and Ken turns up the music. As the car continues down the road, the two start to sing along.

Eventually, they pull up to a small house-shaped building painted baby-blue, illuminated by a single street light. The sign out front reads "Hamilton's Bakery" in swirly, handpainted cursive, and the display window holds a few stray pastries that weren't sold in the daily rush or for the movie premiere. Kate and Ken get out of the car and look hungrily at the cupcakes in the window as they head for the door. Ken opens it for Kate, and a bell rings to signify the entrance of customers. The two walk in.

Mary Kate Hamilton, a junior at Boring High that both Messner's vaguely recognize, sits on a stool behind the cash register, clearly quite bored. She stares at the clock above the door, which reads 10:15.

Kate and Ken approach the counter, and Mary Kate is finally made aware of their presence. She perks up a little at the sight of her principal.

"Hi, Mr. Messner! Hi Kate! What can I get you guys?"

"Hey, Mary Kate! I think I'll do the apple crumble cupcake. What about you, Kitty Jean?"

Kate, who was previously trying to remember what cupcakes she had seen still available in the window, is suddenly incredibly thrown off, hearing her mother's old nickname for her for the first time in months.

"Kate?" her dad asks, clearly not realizing his mistake.

"Um... do-do you have anything chocolate left?" she stutters. Mary Kate, also oblivious to Kate's discomfort, heads over to the window.

"Chocolate or vanilla frosting?" she calls back.

"Chocolate," Kate returns.

The faint sound of a bell can be heard through an open door behind Mary Kate.

"Hey MK!" a voice calls out.

"Hey, in here!" Mary Kate responds as she starts walking back from the window with two small brown bags.

Emaline comes out through the door and greets Mary Kate. Kate's heart skips a beat as she reaches into her pocket and feels the small plastic ring; the remnants of the blue ring pop she ate during Intergalactic Lust.

Mary Kate turns back to the Messner's and hands one bag to each of them. As she's typing a few numbers into the cash register, Emaline turns to the customers for the first time. As soon as she sees Kate, the biggest smile comes to her face. They meet eyes, as Kate had already been looking at her.

"Your total is $2.50," Mary Kate states. As soon as she says this, both girls snap out of their miniature trance. Emaline quickly looks away from Kate, who, slightly hurt, drops her gaze to the bags on the counter.

Ken reaches into his wallet and grabs three one-dollar bills.

"Keep the change," he says as he hands her the money.

"Thanks!" she says brightly. Ken and Kate grab their cupcakes and turn to leave. Mary Kate is busy finishing up the transaction, but Emaline's eyes are locked on Kate. Just as they're headed out the door, Kate glances back for one split second and receives a wink from Emaline just before the door shuts behind her.