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Megan's mom called her right after school to arrange to give her a ride to the game so they could chat.  They stopped for take-out and mom indulged her bizarre vice of dipping her fries into her chocolate Frosty as they made their way towards the game.

"I've talked with your father about some things, and I wanted to have a chance to talk to you to get your feel for some stuff.  Mainly about the Wyne Foundation offer, but also this settelement from Lawson Labs about the accident.  I'm thinking of taking the job, but before I go any further I want to know that you'll be okay with me not being around as much.  Even though it's not a full time position, I know how these things go, and I know it'll have inconvenient meetings and ridiculous emergencies that'll call me away at time when I'm sure I'd rather not go.  I've already talked to your brother, and his attitude is along the lines of 'whatever'.  I sort of figured that, but you, you're a little younger and I wanted to see how you felt about it."

Megan was drinking water as she would be out cheering tonight and needed to stay hydrated.  As they went to the game, she listened as her mom had began talking about what she thought of her taking the offer to work at the Wayne Foundation. 

“I think you should totally take it mom.”  Megan said with a smile.  “I mean, you have always been there for us over the years.  I know this is something you would be good at and likely enjoy, some of the time at least.  Things are pretty busy for me already, and I am just a Freshman.  So I can only see them getting busier.”

“I had been meaning to ask you about what you were thinking regarding that.  I also wanted to say that we should let Paul know that I really do want to take him up on the offer for an internship in the summer.”  She replied.  Then remembering her mom mentioned the settlement with Lawson Labs, the blond teen got a bit more serious.  “What was it about the settlement you wanted to talk about?”

"You seemed a little put off by the idea of them having to run medical tests on you.  I was thinking, we could get someone else to do it.  Paul has a friend at Jade Industries, where he works, that could do it.  That way it would be an outside group, someone I would trust.  If that would make you feel better about it."

"I'm sure Paul would be happy to give you an internship at the foundation.  It'll look good on your college applications too."

Megan perked up at the mention of getting someone besides Lawson Labs to do the medical tests.  “Yeah, that would be great.”  She said.  “Yeah, I know that it would, not to late to start doing things for those.”  She added in response to the internship.

"So, you have self defense classes now.  Your dad was happy to hear that, he saw it as a proactive thing to what's been going on at school.  I think I've convinced him to leave you in public school.  I tried to sell the political message it would send if he moved you to private school."  She looks over at Megan, "You do want to stay, right?  I'll feel pretty stupid if you've changed your mind."

“Yeah, its something Sylvia got together.”  Megan said in regards the self defense classes, trying to not make like they were any big deal.  Hearing that her dad had been thinking of sending her to private school again was not too much of a surprise, given the latest incidents at the high school.  She was glad her mom had managed to keep that from happening, for now.  “Yeah, I do.”  She replied.  “After all, I have so much going on right now, cheerleading, the Con Debate team, would hate to have to start that all over again.”  Not to mention all the dates I have lined up already.  She added in thought.  “Thanks mom.”

"Well, you've been happy in public school.  I know things will get better.  These things come in waves, things will settle down and life will get back to normal.  you'll see."

"I hear there is a big secret Halloween party, I assume you're going.  Do you need a costume?"

God I hope so.  Megan thought as she smiled at her mom’s reply about public school.  “Yeah, hopefully they will, lots of people are really worried about things there.”

When her mom then brought up the Halloween Party, Megan grinned, sometimes amazed at the things her mom was always able to learn about her sister, then her brother and now her.  “Obviously not quite so secret.  But yeah, I was planning on going.  Kel, one of the boys on the cheerleading team asked me to go with him.  I actually already have a costume, got it a couple weeks ago.  I am going out Sunday with Sarah, Sylvia and another girl to possibly look for some costumes for them, not to mention shop for our dresses for Homecoming.  I was probably going to pick out a suit for the Con Debate team as well, need to get it altered as soon as possible.”

"Well, the PTA has a better intelligence network then the CIA, so it's hard to keep some things a secret."

At the mention of shopping with the other girls Sunday her mom smiles, "It's nice to see you and Sarah friends again.  Actually I'm glad you've made friends at the school paper too, that way you can keep appraised of all the wierd happenings on campus.  Forewarned is forearmed."

Megan laughed at her mom’s comments about the PTA’s intelligence network, but she would remember that.  “Yeah, it’s a bit strange to be around Sarah again.  Lost of things are different between us now, but there are still a lot of things we have in common.” 

The blond girl looked out the window as they drove through the traffic towards the game before she asked what she had been wanting to talk about for awhile.  “Mom, I had something to ask you.  A bunch of kids from the drama club, including this boy I am kinda interest in are going to see some old Hitchcock films Saturday night, but the first one isn’t  until Midnight.”  She paused a moment and then quickly went on.  “If we see both, I wouldn’t be home till like 4, and if it would make you feel better, they could probably arrange some chaperones.” 

"Oh yeah, I saw that in the paper.  I tell you what, if you think you can stand having your mom around as a chaparone I don't see why not.  this boy, he's an actor, your father would faint if you told him that."

Megan was a bit less than thrilled at the idea that her mom would be with them, but as it was likely the only way to go, she figured she didn’t have much choice.  “Well, I wouldn’t mind you coming along, so I’ll ask Greg.  And he’s not an actor, he is actually interested in being a director.”

"Well, your father would probably be happier to hear that then actor.  I'll even make sure to sit down front so I wont be tempted to look back and see what you're up to."  Mom's smile is covered up as she puts her next fry in her mouth.

Megan smile slightly at her mom’s comment but she was not entirely sure that would be necessary.  “Thanks mom.  I don’t think dad will have to worry too much though.  I think I kinda like this guy, but I’m not in too much of a rush to get serious with anyone just yet.  Its just a chance to hang out and learn about things he is interested in, besides, there will be like eight other people there.”

As they pulled up to Downers Grove High School and Megan gathered up her pom-poms and gym bag, she was about to open the door when she looked over at her mom.  “You mom, I am sure with taking this job you will likely need to be getting some new suits.  I would love to go along if you want company shopping for them.”

"That sounds like a great idea."  she replies.  "You should hurry, you don't want to be late."

“Cool.  Thanks mom.”  Megan replied as she hurried out the door, chuckling slightly at the though of her being late to anywhere.  As she made her way into the athletic building to find the rest of the squad, she flipped open her phone and dialed Greg’s number.  (getting either him or his voice mail) “Hey, my mom said its okay, but my mom wants to chaperone.”

"That's excellent.  I'll email you the directions to the theatre and get you and your mom tickets."

“Yeah, excellent, save I get the embarrassment of my mom coming along.”  Megan replied, starting to feel a bit less than excited about going now.  “Well, I got to go and get ready to cheer.  Talk to you later.”  She flips her phone closed and heads towards the girls’ lockers.