From Drags to Riches

"Who is that in there?"
Hawke is startled by his brother's question as he closes the door. Feeling embarrassed he tries to brush off the question.
"Oh, no one important… Where's Kathryn?"
"She escaped to the bedroom. Now c'mon, who's in there?"
Sensing he is not going to get away from Jason easily, Hawke gives the truth.
"He got really drunk last night so I decided to bring Skyler here so he wouldn't do anything he would regret."
"What the hell? Isn't that the guy who broke your heart? I'm gonna kick his ass."
"Jason, stop. We are still friends and on some level I still care for him."
Now annoyed with his brother, Jason leaves the hallway to his bedroom with a final comment.
"Okay… well, join Kathryn and me by the pool for lunch."

"Honey, so who are we meeting here and what are we celebrating?"
"Alex, silly, her editor job just became permanent. It appears Kathryn Stone, the former editor, is now the owner."
"Ohh, well, that's fantas… What the hell is he doing here?"
"What? Who?"
Nicole turns around to see her daughter and son approaching.
"Now, Blair, just relax… I didn't know he was coming but you two might as well work this out now."

"Alvin, I take it your family is doing very well?"
"Yes, Kathryn is recovering quicker than anyone could have imagined. Do you think we can do this quickly? I would like to get back to spending time with my family."
"Of course, of course."
Harry takes the file from his desk and hands it to Alvin. Skeptically, the Stone patriarch opens the envelope. After careful examination, Alvin looks at the other man.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, Alvin, completely serious. So what do you think?"
"Well… it seems like a great idea, but I take it you want my companies to fund it?"
"Well, yes, that's the idea and why I brought you here."
"Alright, Harry, but I expect this to be done and completed my way. We will have to change some things to make sure it's done right."
"Of course, of course."
The two men shake.

Braxton studies his mother while the two wait in Mary's for the rest of their party. He notices Joyce constantly moving, shaking and pacing.
"Mother, what's wrong with you?"
"…huh? Oh, nothing, nothing."
"Mom, I realize that you haven’t had a relationship with him and it must be nerve-racking to start it up."
Joyce is shocked at her son's comment.
"What?"
"Mom, he is your son though, I am sure it will come naturally."
Slightly relaxing, Joyce realizes Braxton is talking about her other son, Brayen.
"Yes, yes, I suppose you are right."
Thank god he doesn't realize what's really bothering me. I think I still have feelings for Weston. But he is married; I cannot feel this way over a married man.
Joyce continues to pace in the foyer as Braxton continues to watch her closely.

"Mr. Stone… Mr. Stone, we're almost there."
Alvin snaps out of his daydream. He surprises himself every time he slips into another trance dreaming of Skyler.
How can I constantly be dreaming of such a nobody constantly? He has this strange hold over me.
The limo comes to a slow stop. Alvin is annoyed that he has been called to a meeting on a weekend. In the years of his first job out of school, a 7-day workweek was most common for him. Now as an established, and one of the richest business men, in the United States, Alvin's life is full of luxury and time that is well deserved. He is especially irritated with this meeting because March is the month he insists the whole family must stay at the Stone mansion. Every weekend moment taken away in March is a moment lost with his family. As Alvin climbs the stairs to the fantastic building of city hall, he responds to the man standing at the top.
"Harry, this better be good. You know what the month of March is for me."
The man chuckles.
"Alvin, I think you will like this."

"Braxton… Braxton, honey… we're going to be late!"
Braxton stumbles out of his room in Octavia's new penthouse.
"Oh mom, calm down, we're just meeting for brunch. I'm sure if we are just a little late it won't matter. You seem really antsy, are you okay?"
"Yes, yes, I'm perfectly fine."
Braxton eyes his mother carefully.
"Okay, well I will be ready in about three more minutes."

Wait, wait for me. I have to talk to you. Why do you keep running away from me? Who are you?
Skyler wakes up with a headache worse than he's ever had before, in a room he doesn't recognize at all.
"Where am I?"
"Skyler, you're in my room in my father's mansion."
"What?"
Hawke looks at the hungover and still drunk Skyler with a sort of pity.
"You werw wasted last night, getting drinks from some nasty older men, that were just trying to get you into bed. I figured you were too drunk to really know what was going on. So… I brought you here so I could look after you and make sure you didn't do anything stupid."
"Hawke, you don't have to yell. What are you talking about, do something stupid?"
"Nothing, just go back to sleep or something. I'll go get you some water."
Skyler groans and he rolls over to go back to sleep as Hawke leaves the room.

"Weston, where the hell are you going?"
Isabelle catches her husband as he is about to go out the door.
"Well, Isabelle, I have assignments and orders to keep from your father. As you pleasantly pointed out last night, I owe him a great deal."
Irritated but seeing his point, Isabelle lets her husband leave. She knows better than to stop anyone from completing her father's orders. Weston is relieved to reach his car without too big of an objection.
Thank god. If she knew I was going to meet Brayen she would be furious. But, I have to reconcile with him, he is my oldest child.

Colby wakes up still furious from the night before. After spending much of the night sneaking around with his friends, he crawled up the side of the house and opened his window to find his closet had been rummaged through and someone had tried to get in the locked folder on his computer. Colby is almost certain his sister is the perpetrator. He would have confronted her last night, but went to sleep instead for fear of waking his cruel mother. With a now clear mind from the night of sleep, Colby realizes Claire knows he snuck out the night before. Instead of confronting her, he will have to find another way to get back at his sister.

Blair opens his eyes to the smell of coffee making its way from the kitchen. After throwing on some old clothes and making the short trip downstairs, he is surprised by his wife being completely dressed and ready to leave.
"Honey, you're not dressed yet? I thought you got up half an hour ago right after I did?"
"No, I didn't know I needed to be getting up. You know I'm glad we talked last night."
Nicole smiles at her husband. After the brief fight they had the previous evening, with Nicole making her husband sleep on the couch, Blair had time to sort out his difficulties with their son, Denver's, confession of being gay. To his surprise, Nicole came down the stairs later that night and the two talked through Blair's problems.
"Sweetheart, I am too. We love our son very much and should not let anything get in the way of that bond."
"I agree."
Blair playfully dips his wife and kisses her. Laughing, Nicole insists her husband get dressed.
"We have something to celebrate at brunch. If you don't hurry, we are going to be late."
Nicole slaps Blair's ass as he darts out of the room.

"Buddy, that was absolutely amazing."
Jason lightly kisses the back of his wife's neck. He always preferred to be the big spoon.
"Buddy, I know. It had been far too long."
Kathryn rolls over on the couch to face her husband.
"I love you."
"Well, you know, I love you, too. C'mon, we better go upstairs and get dressed. I think my father is going to be home soon. I'm sure he'd rather not see us this way on his expensive furniture."
With a quick kiss, Kathryn jumps up and challenges Jason to beat her upstairs.

Denver hops out of the shower feeling awake and refreshed. He is startled when Alex appears in the door of his room.
"Oooo, somebody's been working out. Trying to impress all those boys, huh?"
Denver blushes to a beet red.
"Stop it. Hey, what are you doing dressed already?"
Oh, I'm going to meet some people for brunch to celebrate becoming the editor of the magazine."
"I thought you already were the editor."
"Well… yeah, I am… but, it was only supposed to be temporary. The former editor is now going to take over the ownership so they are going to keep me as the editor."
"That's fantastic! Congrats!"
"Yeah, thank you. Hey, why don't you come eat with us before you head back to school?"
"Well… I was hoping to get back early so I could get some work done."
"Denver… I probably won't see you again till your graduation. Please?"
"Okay… okay… I'll go."
Denver returns to the bathroom not noticing Alex's mischievous smile.

Despite the dance music blaring throughout the club, Braxton notices applause of praise as he makes his way towards the birthday group.
"Braxton, that was amazing. I love Kylie."
"I know Brayen; they told me. I figured, opening night for your birthday, which was actually March 3, I would perform a medley of a talent you adore."
Brayen hugs his half-brother.
"So you're done performing for the night?"
"Yes Hawke, the rest of the night is about us having a good time."

"Octavia, this place is wonderful. I can't believe what you've done with it."
"Well, darling, what else was I supposed to do? Nothing makes me happier than spending some moments with my family. Well… that and my man Jack here."
Octavia taps the bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey next to her.
"Oh, Octavia, you'll never change."
The tow chuckle as they leave the back office. Noticing Jersey watching the group with Braxton, Octavia takes the opportunity to brag about her nephew.
"Isn't he something? He's always been a performer, ever since he was little."
Jersey acknowledges her boss but excuses herself at the sound of her cell phone.
"This is Jersey… Yes, I see them… Yes, they are all together… No, I'm not sure which one will be best but I'm getting ideas… Yes, Mr. Kreeland, I'll know very soon."
Slightly flustered, as she usually is after talking to him, Jersey continues her work without showing a sign of being uncomfortable.

Amidst the noise of the club a faint word comes from the sound system.
"Come…"
Brayen's head pops up, while the other five continue their gossip.
"Come…"
"Did you guys hear that?"
Skyler gives Brayen an irritated look, while the other four just stare at Brayen's excited face.
"Brayen, what are you talking about? I can hardly hear you let alone anything else."
"Come into my world."
Brayen notices the smirk on Braxton's face.
"I called in a favor from a friend of mine."
"Wait, wait, you know…"
Brayen doesn't finish his sentence as he stands up and the lights go out. This time the voice is much louder.
"Come… Come… Come into my world."
Brayen somehow manages to dodge every person while running to the stage in the pitch black atmosphere.
"Wontchyou lift me up… up… high up on your love…"
A single spot light shines directly on the middle of the stage right as Kylie Minogue rises from the below.
"He's crazy, you know that?"
Denver snaps back at Skyler.
"Why don't you just leave him alone? At least he shows emotion, unlike some people."
Braxton decides to cut them off before they ruin the night.
"Now, now, boys, let's just calm down and have a fun night."
Alex offers an initation to take Denver to the bar while the other three watch the fantastic performance. At the conclusion of the performance, Denver returns to the table with five full martini glasses. Skyler, Hawke, and Braxton look confused and Brayen simply asks a question as he approaches.
"Where did Alex go?"
Oh, she went to the bathroom. She'll be back in a bit."
"Well then, the five guys, how about a toast?"
The other four look at Braxton with perplexed looks. Denver is the first to speak.
"And to what are we toasting?"
After a long period of thought, Brayen voices an idea, smiling at his half-brother.
"From drags…"
"…to riches."
Braxton laughs at Hawke's end of the phrase.
"So it will be… from drags to riches."
"From drags to riches!"
The five all touch their glasses as they repeat Braxton and Alex returns.
"What did I miss?"
"Oh, nothing, just a boys club toast. C'mon let's make this night a blast."

"C'mon, let's go try to get in."
"Colby you know they're never going to believe we're 21."
"Taylor, you know I'm not talking about going in the front. Rear entry is always better."
The three boys laugh at the joke. Colby directs his words at the driver.
"C'mon Lee, what do you think?"
"Well, we can always try."
The boy proceeds to flip the car in the other direction.
"Leland Mark, you sure know how to drive!"
"Oh, blow me, Taylor Dupuis!"
Now in the parking lot of Waterstone, the three boys dodge the street lamps to the back of the building. Noticing one of the bartenders smoking near the door, they quickly duck behind a dumpster.
"God, it smells back here."
"Shhh, Taylor, be quiet."
As the bartender returns inside, Colby dashes to catch the door. The other two quickly follow and make their way to the new found entrance. While walking through the backrooms, they hear moaning and mumbling coming from the room in front of them. Taylor accidentally knocks over a case of liquor.
"Hey! Who's back there?"
Frightened at the possibility of being caught, Colby leads Leland and Taylor out of the building. He quickly slams the door after the other two exit and all three make a mad dash for the car.

Hearing her mother finally retire to the bedroom downstairs, Claire creeps out of her room and down the hall to her brother's door. Trying the handle, she unsurprisingly finds it locked.
Figures as much.
Claire pulls a paper clip from behind her ear and bends the thin piece of metal into a straight wire. Slipping the piece into the hole of the handle, she hears the lock pop.
Ha, these locks were always so simple to pick.
As she enters the room she is shocked to find her brother's computer on and accessible, not requiring a password. Excitedly, she sits down in the cahir and starts browsing the folders of Colby's computer.
Ugh, there's nothing in here, nothing at all. It's just a bunch of program files and documents for school… wait what's this?
Claire stares at the screen, while a box pops up asking for a password. She tries typing in a number of different combinations of characters but has no success. Felling frustrated she decides to search Colby's closet for lack of anything better to do. Claire is suddenly startled at the faint noise of a car door closing.

The fiver birthday celebrators make their way to the club side of the establishment after a fabulous feast for Brayen's birthday. Almost instantly after entering the now packed room, the lights dim for the opening event. On the screens on both sides of the stage the words 'Kylie Through the Ages' appear.
"Oooo, this oughta be good."
"Well we did tell him Kylie Minogue is your favorite."
Braxton walks onto the stage as Miss Busty Bouchet and proceeds to perform a medley of the artist's songs from the beginning of her career to the present day.

The unknown woman watches from backstage as Busty finishes up and approaches her.
"Only you could ever do my songs any justice Miss Busty Bouchet."
"Why thank you. Now I'm going to go change quickly and meet my brother and friends out on the floor. The tall guy with the blonde hair that I will be with is my brother."
"Okay, honey, I'll go on in 20 minutes. How does that sound?"
"Perfect!"

"Colby, that was insane. I can't believe we actually did that."
"Oh, Taylor, stop it. I'll make out with you later if that will shut you up."
Leland snickers at Colby's offer.
"Don't be jealous Lee."
Colby proceeds to put his hand on the inside of the driver's leg to rub back and forth gently. As he reaches for Leland's belt buckle, the car comes to a stop.
"Alright, we're here."
"Damn Lee, you're sending me home already?"
Colby laughs as he gets out of the car. He waves to his two friends as the drive away.
Okay, back to bed I guess.
He makes his way up the trellis on the side of the house and opens his window noiselessly. The instant he crawls through, the sight of the room enrages him.

Weston stares at the house from his car.
How did I ever let this happen? How did my life get this screwed up?
The now depressed doctor heads to the door of he house. As he enters he notices his daughter fly up the last few stairs to the second floor.
Ahh, it is 11 o'clock. I guess my crazy wife is still being a major bitch, not letting any one in this family have any fun.
Weston walks into the kitchen to find no one but the wife of his nightmares.
"Weston, darling, how are you this lovely night?"
"Isabelle, there's no need to pretend, it's only the two of us."
The smile melts from the seemingly happy housewife's face. With a more irritated tone, Isabelle continues.
"Fine, where the hell have you been? It's just past 11. You're not going to make me put a curfew on you too, are you?"
"I had a house call to make. Now just leave me alone for tonight."
Isabelle's face turns from annoyance to that of anger.
"What did you say to me? Don't you dare talk to me like that again. You how much you owe my father."
Weston speaks back but in a much smaller voice.
"Why do you think I was forced to marry you?"
Isabelle throws the carving knife she was washing at her husband. Just barely missing him, she slowly walks towards the now frightened Weston.
"Don't ever speak of that again or I will have my father here at the drop of a hat. And we both know that he would do anything, for the happiness of his only daughter… anything."
"Yes, dear."
Weston now shaking throughout his body disappears from the kitchen to the master bedroom on the same floor of the house. As he takes off his clothes and crawls into bed, he begins to sob noiselessly in despair.

"C'mon guys. The table is ready and it's already 11. They're going to close the restaurant part after us."
Hawke, Denver, Alex, Brayen, and Skyler head to the table. After much chatter and good food, Brayen just barely hears a whisper travel through the room behind him. As he turns around, his jaw drops at the sight of his new-found half brother carrying a cake with 16 candles on it.
"Chocolate with cream cheese frosting, your favorite."
Brayen turns towards the table to see who could have possibly known that fact.
"Alex… I… I'm speechless… I thought you guys forgot or no one cared."
Braxton, in costume as Busty, places the cake down in front of his sibling.
"Make a wish, Brayen."
As Brayen blows the candles out, Braxton makes his way to Skyler at the other end of the table.
"Is everything ready?"
Braxton whispers back to make sure no one can hear.
"Yeah, she is backstage now. I'll go on first to do a cover of hers. There will be a break for me to change and get out here, and then it's her turn."
"Great."
"You know you aren't that bad of a guy Skyler Sterling."
"And Braxton, you make a better woman than a man."
The two share some moments of banter then Braxton heads back to the dressing rooms.
A curious Hawke can't help but wonder what the two were whispering about.
"So, you gonna tell me your secret?"
"Oh Hawke, you'll find out soon enough."

An unknown woman sits at a vanity in the backstage of Waterson. With a knock on the door, Braxton enters the small room.
"So are you ready sweetheart?"
"Carling of course, I've been doing this for years."

"Alex… Alex… Hellloooo… What's wrong with you?"
Denver stares at his sister who seems to be frozen in thought. After a few more moments Alex finally looks at her brother and stumbles over her words.
"Uhhh… I'm sorry… yeah… so drinks…"
Denver continues to stare at his sister. Noticing his gaze, Alex is relieved to see Skyler and Hawke approaching them.
"So, you two finally make up?"
Alex answers Skyler's question almost too quickly.
"Yeah, we did, and I was just about to buy him a drink."
"Oh, I'll go get that hot bartender then. Her name is Jersey. Who names their daughter Jersey? That's so hot."
As Hawke wanders off to get the bartender's attention, Alex can't help but think about her accident in front of the magazine's building.
Isn't that the same woman I ran into earlier? Why do I find her so irresistible? I've never had this feeling towards a woman before. I feel so… awkward.

Brayen nears Waterstone completely irritated.
A whole week and a half and no one, no one, has even wished me a happy birthday. Now they want me to celebrate Hawke's new job that his father gave him? This is lame.
Brayen walks through the door only to have his breath taken away. At the bar he observes Alex and Denver together, talking and laughing. In a now slightly better mood, Brayen marches his way through the growing crowd to the recently not-talking siblings.
"So you two are on talking terms now?"
"Brayen! I missed you! I'm so sorry I acted so ridiculously about this whole thing. Can…"
"Alex, Alex. You're my best friend, how could I not want you in my life."
The two friends hug.
"Well, I suppose this was Skyler's plan for a birthday present for you."
"What?! You mean to tell me that Skyler got you two here?"
The returned but unnoticed Hawke answers the question for the confused siblings.
"He may seem like an ass sometimes, but deep down Skyler cares for his friends."
As the four continue to converse, Jersey, the bartender, eyes them from a far corner.
Now which one of them is going to best help me with my assignment? Which one is going to be closest to…
"Hey Jersey, don't look so serious."
Jersey is slightly startled at Skyler's comment as he passes by to join the others.

"Mom!"
"Claire, what is it? You know you're supposed to be upstairs in your room by 11… Well, what do you want?"
Still baffled by her mother's constant cruelty and rudeness, Claire thinks over her words carefully. She decides against telling her mother about her brother's escape.
"Mom… I… Why can't we have a later curfew? Colby and I are 16!"
Claire's mother eyes her carefully.
"You know my rules and you know why we have them."
"But we're…"
"Stop it! It's not going to change so stop arguing. Now go back upstairs, you have two minutes to do it."
Claire storms out of the kitchen pretending to be frustrated, but as she reaches the stairs, she can't help but let a smile grow on her face.