[Keely Hamren]

It wasn't unusual for Keely to wake and find herself in someone else's consciousness or in a brief preview of some time in the future. On the morning our story starts...it was the latter.

She foresaw a great opportunity for Cody, that would leave her mother tears. Long, loud, inconsolable tears. Luckily, the future is never set in stone. If Cody couldn't be reached, the opportunity would fall to that unfortunate Bloomquist kid, and her family would be spared.

What Keely would learn, is that more than just one thing can go wrong at a time.

At the sound of Maddie's Prius pulling into the worn gravel drive of the Hamren house, Keely popped out of bed where her family had been letting her sleep and jolted out into the hall where she collided with another Hamren.

[Jason Hamren]

"Watch it," Jason mumbled, rubbing his arm with a scowl.

"Still a bit tender," he remarked, indicating his tattoo.

He too heard the sound of a car, but didn't know to whom it belonged. He descended down the stairs, and peered outside.

A large grin spread across his face, making him look like a mischievous little boy.

"It's going to be a good day," he muttered, before opening the door for their guest.

[Keely Hamren]

"You know what you can do with your tattoo?" Keely demanded before Jason went downstairs.

As soon as he opened the door she pushed him out of the way. Oh God. She supposed now she should have considered Jason.

Shit.

No matter. Maddie's plans didn't concern him.

"Hey Maddie." Keely smirked at the girl, but didn't step aside to let her in. "Cody's not here. And he's not next door either. You just missed him. See you later!" She nodded and shut the door quickly in Maddie's face.

[Jason Hamren]

"Woah, hey, not so fast...don't be rude, Keely Beth," Jason said, giving her a smarmy look before grinning widely at Maddie.

"Come on in, Maddie...have a seat, take a load off...tell us how you've been," Jason coaxed, gesturing to the living room.


Cody and Chayce came in from the back door, panting heavily.

"You suck less than you did last time we played," Chayce said, nudging Cody playfully.

"I'm reasonably sure all bludgers are permanently jinxed to aim for me," Cody replied, tossing Chayce a butterbeer. The two of them entered the front room, and caught sight of Maddie immediately.

"Maddie! Hey!" Cody said enthusiastically.

[Keely Hamren]

"Well, hey..thanks! Actually I was looking for -- there he is! Hey! My favorite ex-hubby!" She smiled and waved.

"Of course he's your favorite! How many ex-husbands could you have?" Keely grimaced into her hand.

"A story for another time, Kaybee!" Maddie grinned and pointed at her before wrapping her arms around Cody and embracing him in a huge hug.

Keely was fuming. "Say, Jason...do you think you could stop moon-eying long enough for me to speak to you?!"

[Jason Hamren]

Cody beamed, hugging Maddie in return.

"Hi wifey," he joked, giving a soft snort of a laugh. Chayce arched her brow, wondering what Susie would think of such a display.


Jason looked on with a stupid smile, knowing Cody would never go for Maddie when he had Susie. He gave Keely irritable but soft scowl.

"Yeah, alright," he muttered.

"What's up?"

[Keely Hamren]

"I need you to help me run interference. I had a vision about Maddie coming here today and basically if she gets to talk to Cody alone...we're all doomed. The world will come to an end. Now go. Go make an ass of yourself like only you can. Go! Go! Go!" She demanded.


Meanwhile Maddie was making smalltalk with Cody making sure they were still on a good friendly basis.

[Jason Hamren]

"Hm. If you ask me nicely, maybe I will. But I also want to know why," Jason remarked, tapping his chin thoughtfully and giving her a smirk. Perhaps it would be best for him to just trust Keely, but this way was more fun.

[Keely Hamren]

"I can't do that." Keely replied, sensing Jason could also be a danger to her plan. Then again, maybe not. Maddie had firmly decided on Cody afterall, and Alden as a backup.

Keely didn't have much time to think on it. Maddie and Cody were already speaking. She prayed that Maddie's spontaneity only ran so far and that Cody hadn't already agreed.

"Okay fine. Maddie moved out of her mom's house and now she's got a flat. It's got an extra room and she's looking to split the expenses. If Cody agrees to room with her...Mom will cry forever. We have to separate them!" She replied and jerked Jason back to the living room where Maddie was sitting with Cody.

"The reason I came by..." Maddie had began.

"Isn't it just great that Susan lives next door? Right next door!" Keely interrupted.

[Jason Hamren]

Jason hardly thought Cody would agree to such a thing, but the thought of it intrigued him greatly.

He gave a soft smile, his eyes a sparkling a little.

"Right next door indeed," he echoed.

Cody furrowed his brow at the two of them. Did they somehow assume Maddie was trying to steal him from Susie?

"Er, Maddie...what are your plans for the day? I was going to go apartment hunting and thought you might like to come. I could use your input on the matter," Jason said.

[Keely Hamren]

Maddie looked perplexed as she glanced between the other two and had the same question floating around her mind as Cody. She respected his relationship far too much to try and drive a wedge between them. If he was single however, Maddie would --how you say-- be all over that.

As Jason started in with his scheme...Keely's jaw dropped and her face adopted a look that could only be described as 'I-can't-believe-you're-using-my-powers-for-evil-I'm-going-to-kill-you'.

Maddie wrinkled her brow. "My advice? Why me?"

[Jason Hamren]

"You've always seemed so...independent," Jason said with a slight shrug.

Cody made a face. "I thought you were waiting til the end of term to find an apartment? Mum and Dad won't think much of this."

Jason shrugged again, and continued addressing Maddie.

"It's always good to have a female's perspective on these sort of things," he said to her, grinning.

"I've looked in ads, haven't found much that interests me. But I have a steady job lined up after grad and plenty of money for rent in the meantime, so I think it's time," he added, nodding.

[Keely Hamren]

For a brief moment Keely wished that she were Julie Sagebroook. She would love nothing more than to shock the hell out of Jason right here and now.

Maddie could pinpoint a lie a miles away...and with Jason's stream of them...she was beginning to feel like she was talking to Jolene.

"So? Garrin and Lu -- they're not keen on any of you lot leaving, then? I have a place of my own now and I'm gone most of the time, but when I came home last night it was like something from a nightmare. Dark...dusty...and unmercifully quiet. There's an extra bedroom and my landlord agreed to let someone else on the lease so I'm scouting for a room mate to keep everything 'lived-in' while I'm away. It's not the biggest place, but the rent comes out of my trust every month...we'd only need to come to an agreement on how to split utilities."

[Jason Hamren]

Cody frowned in confusion. Was she really asking what he thought she was asking? Garrin would surely find every way to put a stop to it, if he could.

"Live in your place? Really?" Jason asked, looking a bit surprised and nodding slowly.

"I'm tidy, and reliable. You can check my references," he remarked with a wide grin.

"You can't be serious," Cody said, shaking his head.

Chayce took small sips from her drink, simply watching the scene unfold, although she got the idea that perhaps it would be best if she wasn't there for this conversation. It didn't really concern her. Without saying a word, she wandered off to the kitchen, and immersed herself in a game of cards with Emmy.

"Something's going on in there. I'd listen in, but I'm not in the mood to do extra chores as punishment," Emily told Chayce, hoping she'd get her older cousin to spill the beans.

Chayce took another swig of her drink. "Mind your business, Em," she said quietly, suppressing a small smirk.

[Keely Hamren]

"Well admittedly I was thinking that Cody and I would make the better roomies. The apartment isn't just small...I mean it's...cozy. I was thinking of all the fun we'd have and...I guess I didn't think about all the times you'd be by yourself. But if Jason's looking...."

"You do not want to cohabitate with Jason." Keely put in fiercely. "He'll turn your apartment into a den of debauchery."

"Well...Cody or Jason...you can have anyone over you like. I don't care. I'll expect the same respect when I'm home. Just...stay out of my room. The apartment isn't big enough for a party."

"I'd like for you both to see it...really think it over. And Code, if you're dead set against it then...Jason..we'll...talk. Nothing personal. I just don't know you as well."

Luna appeared in the doorway. "What all this about moving out? Aren't you boys happy here? Jason...you just got back! Am I not feeding you enough?"

"He does look kind of scrawny." Maddie admitted.