“Just Answering the Mail”

A Piece of Moffatts Fan Fiction by Aaron Nabata

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this is entirely fictional

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send comments and suggestions to

death_by_bfg@hotmail.com

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“This is really boring,” Clint complained as he finished answering some fan mail. His brothers looked up from behind huge piles of envelopes.

“I kinda like answering mail,” Dave said, placing his signature at the end of a letter. “It makes me feel special.” Clint smiled, “Right... I still say it’s boring.” He got up, stretching his legs. Scott stood and threw Clint a CD case. “Here, play that.” Clint opened it and popped it into a stereo system. It was some Nirvana and the boys jumped around the room head-banging.

The door opened and their mother came in. “I thought that head-banging was out.” Scott looked at her and head-banged some more. She rolled her eyes and turned the volume knob down lower. “I’ve got some news: we are getting together with your cousins tonight. They flew in from Canada just to see ya guys so be nice.”

The guys smiled. They enjoyed seeing their relatives. It was nice to see people who weren’t crazed fans. The phone rang. Bob picked it up, “Hello?” The hotel operator responded, “There’s anther bag of mail to be picked up!”

~~~

“I wonder what I should wear...?” Scott asked absentmindedly. He was going through his closet at home. Dave walked in, “Wear whatever you want.” Scott looked at him, “What’s with that hair anyways? It’s all spiky and matted looking!” Dave frowned, “What are you talking about? What about your hair? It looks like a skunk!” Scott grabbed a pillow off his bed and hit Dave in the head.

“Hey!” Dave exclaimed as he dove to grab his own pillow. The disturbance had roused Clint and Bob out of sleep and they rushed in from their own rooms. Dave and Scott were already slugging it out. Clint and Bob armed themselves with stuffed animals and hit Scott.

“What the...!” Scott exclaimed as all three of his brothers teamed up on him. “All right! Enough! Mercy!” He laughed as the attacking trio switched tactics and tickled him. Suddenly the doorbell rang. They all stopped their little battle and composed themselves.

The quartet arrived at the door at the same time. Their cousin Charles and his sister Victoria were there as well as their aunt and uncle. There was also someone else. A girl who was appeared a bit flustered. After the greetings had ended Victoria turned and introduced her friend, Nikki. Bob, Clint and Dave all shook her hand but Scott held back. He had never seen a more beautiful girl. She had light brown hair with soft eyes and seemed to be embarrassed.

“She’s a huge fan,” Victoria explained. Nikki didn’t seem to register the comment. “I’m a really bug fan. It’s really cool to finally meet you ‘cause I’ve heard a lot about you.” Bob and Clint looked at each other and then a Scott, who was still staring. Dave just laughed. “Nikki, I think that Scott likes you.” Scott snapped out of his stupor and jabbed Dave in the gut. Dave doubled over in mock pain. “Be careful, he bites!” With that, Dave bolted down the hall, Scott close on his heels.

Throughout dinner, Scott was quiet. He was thinking about Nikki who was, by the same token, quiet as well. She was obviously outspoken by Victoria who dominated the conversation between the teenagers.

Afterwards, the boys played some instrumental music for the relatives. Desert was served and Scott made his way over to Nikki’s side. “How long are you going to be here?” She looked up, surprised by his appearance. “Uh, a week I think.” Scott looked down, “I was hoping that you could hang around here. Maybe we could, you know, do something. Go to a movie or something.” Nikki smiled, obviously pleasantly surprised, “Sure, I’d love to.”

Dave and Bob burst into laughter at that moment from across the room. Scott turned to glare at them. “Enough with the eavesdropping guys!” At that point, Clint started strumming a guitar playing a romantic melody. Victoria and Dave started dancing a mock waltz, laughing. Scott grabbed Nikki’s hand. “Why don’t we go somewhere else.” She smiled shyly, “OK.”

~~~

Nikki and Scott were walking hand in hand down a quiet street. It wasn’t quite dark yet and the sun was starting to set. They had been mostly making small talk since they left the Moffatt house. They reached the end of the street which turned into a grassy path. The two followed it up to a hill which looked out onto the west, where the sun was turning the sky a brilliant orange.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” Scott asked, sitting down on a group of rocks. Nikki was visibly impressed. “It’s great! I’ve never really seen anything like it.” Scott couldn’t help but smile, “I though that you’d like it.” Nikki came and sat down beside him. Scott put his arm around her. She seemed a bit uncomfortable. Sensing this, Scott looked at her. She looked away. He gently moved her chin to face him. “Don’t be afraid...”

He kissed her. He felt her resist at first but then she relaxed and returned it. Just then, a bush behind them erupted into uncontrollable laughter, as Dave, Bob and Clint rolled out of it. Nikki and Scott both stood up quickly, turning red. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have any respect for privacy?” The only response was more laughter as the guys kept rolling on the floor.

Scott rolled his eyes and grabbed Nikki and kissed her again. Surprised she didn’t resist. The three laughing boys stopped their hysteria to watch. Scott came up for some air. “OK, you sickos. Get out of here.” His three brothers laughed again but left the two alone.

Nikki sat down and Scott joined her, satisfied they were alone. Nikki looked bewildered. “What’s wrong?” Scott asked. She looked at him, “I barely know you. We haven’t even spent more than a couple hours together.” Scott laughed quietly. “Do you believe in love at first sight?” Nikki considered his question a moment. “I guess so...” Scott grinned, “So do I.”

~~~

It was late and the relatives had left for a hotel. Charles, however had stayed behind. Bob, Clint, Dave and him were having a little two-on-two basket-ball game but Scott was obviously preoccupied. He was lying on the couch thinking about Nikki. He had never had such strong feelings for someone. It felt good. He wondered what the fan response would be. Would people freak out. Maybe he should keep this relationship under wraps.

~~~

It was bed time and Scott was brushing his teeth. Bob came in and grabbed a towel. “So, how’s your girlfriend?” He said stressing the word. Scott gave him a look. “Since when is it your business?” Bob smiled, “Whoa! Someone’s testy...” Clint popped his head into the bathroom. “Can someone help me get Dave to change the channel? He’s totally obsessed with this really dumb episode of ‘Baywatch’,” Bob stifled a laugh. “At least you don’t have imaginary girlfriends!” He said addressing Scott.

“I heard that!” Dave’s voice carried from his room. Scott walked into Dave’s bedroom where his other three brothers were fighting over the remote. “You guys, can I talk to you?” The three settled down. Charles took that moment to walk in. He was twelve and gawked at the TV. Dave followed his gaze and gasped. Scott flipped the power switch on the TV. “I seriously need your attention!”

They calmed down. “Thank you!” He began, “You know Nikki and I are...” He paused. “In love!?!” Dave put in. Scott shot him a glance but continued. “I would appreciate it if you guys didn’t tell anyone ‘cause I don’t want her getting harassed by some of the fans,” Clint laughed. “You’re afraid that your fans won’t approve?” Dave and Bob found that really funny and threw some unopened letters at Scott.

He fended them off with his arm. “Seriously guys! I need you to promise!” They looked at him and all said at the same time, sarcastically, “We promise!”

The next day, Scott decided to take Nikki somewhere. He called up his visiting relative’s hotel room and asked her to meet him at the Moffatt house at noon. He dressed in some new clothes he hadn’t worn before (they were always getting new clothes), brushed his teeth, put on some cologne and combed his hair. Dave walked in and sniffed the air.

“That’s so sexy smelling, Scott! I love you so much!” He jested in a poor imitation of a feminine voice. Clint and Bob joined in adding their own pretended compliments. Scott just rolled his eyes and walked out the door.

Scott’s uncle pulled up in a rental car letting out Nikki. Victoria got out as well. “What are you two doing today?” Scott looked at Nikki. “I though we’d go to the mall,” Nikki smiled, “That sounds great!” Victoria looked at the two, ignored. They were looking at each other only.

~~~

“Hey wait for us!” Clint yelled as he, Bob and Dave ran after the two. “We’re coming with you!” Scott looked back surprised. “We heard you were going to the mall,” Bob said catching up. Scott regarded him a moment, “OK. Just leave us alone when we get there.” “No problem!” Bob grinned.

The mall was busy as usual. As soon as they stepped into the climate controlled building, someone recognized them. A girl and a couple of her friends came up to them. “Are you musicians?” they asked. Clint, Bob and Dave smiled and signed autographs. This gave Scott and Nikki the opportunity to slip away. “Want to grab a milkshake?” He asked her reaching for her hand. She took his hand and smiled, “I would love to.”

~~~

Nikki and Scott were finishing their shared milkshake when a group of teenage girls spotted him. They came and sat down beside them. “Are you Scott Moffatt?” they asked. Scott looked nervously at Nikki. “Nah. You must have me confused with someone else.” The girls looked suspiciously at him. “You are Scott! Your brothers were spotted in the mall!” one girl screamed.

Scott thought quickly and grabbed Nikki’s hand. They bolted down a hallway to an elevator. He hit the ‘car call’ button and the doors opened. They stepped in quickly and the doors closed. Catching his breath, Scott studied the elevator controls. “Why don’t we take a ride to the roof?” he asked romantically. Nikki giggled, “All right.”

He walked over to her slowly, swaggering a little bit. She couldn’t help but laugh as he started singing a romantic melody. He grabbed her close and kissed her. She squirmed in pleasure and leaned against the elevator wall. The lights dimmed, as if on cue. Scott laughed, taking a breath. Then the lights went out and the elevator lurched to a halt, jolting it’s two occupants.

“This isn’t supposed to happen,” he said to no one in particular. Nikki frowned in the darkness, “The power must be out!” Scott started to feel a little scared. Panic was starting to take hold, but he calmed himself. “Uh, everything will be all right.” Even though he couldn’t tell from her expression, he knew that Nikki was probably not convinced.

“I don’t like it in here!” She said, whining a bit. “I’m a little claustrophobic. His words caught in his throat as Scott tried to think. “I think we should wait here until the power comes back on.” Nikki smiled. Even though it was dark and somewhat cramped in the elevator, she felt safe with Scott. She felt him come over to her and sit down. He pulled her down onto his lap. “What do you want to do about... us?” He asked.

Nikki seemed to know that the question was coming. She leaned back on his chest. “I don’t know. How could we stay in touch?” Scott thought a second, “We could write or phone each other. I just figured out how to use e-mail. Maybe we could do that...” In the darkness, both of them smiled.

~~~

Clint, Bob and Dave were getting frantic, they were trapped in a bathroom with a mob of girls waiting outside ready to pounce on them the moment they exited. To make matters worse, the power had just gone out and the backup light bathed the washroom with a red hue.

“We can’t stay in here forever,” Dave said, looking at himself in the mirror. Clint seemed thoughtful. “I wonder where Scott is?” He said atop the sink counter. Bob was waving his hand in front one of the automatic toilets, intrigued. “Check this out guys! It flushes when I move my hand!” Dave and Clint looked at each other in a combination disgust/amusement.

~~~

It was time for Victoria, Charles and Nikki to leave. Victoria and Charles said their farewells and left to the car. Nikki hugged Clint, Dave and Bob but started to cry when it was Scott’s turn. She hugged him, savoring the moment. He held her, trying not to cry. She smiled when she saw his red, wet eyes. She kissed him and said her final goodbye.

The quartet waved as the car left for the airport. “Maybe we can visit them in Canada,” Dave said. “After all, we were born there.” Scott smiled and rubbed his eyes. “Yeah.” Their mother came out. “OK you guys! You got some mail to answer!”