Title: These Are the Days (Working title for now)

Rating: PG-13 for later chapters

Summary: It's five years after the original BSC was in 8th grade. Take a peek into the lives of one of their former client families: the Barrett/DeWitts, most especially the two oldest, Buddy Barrett and Lindsey DeWitt, who themselves are now the same age as the former babysitters were in the series.

Notes: Okay, this fic is directly inspired by the NBSC RPG on GreatestJournal. (Heh, I play Lindsey. Surprised, huh? ;D) Go check it out: go to and type in newbsc in the user box. Dedication goes to Ali and Emily (who play Dana and Buddy, respectively), for getting me jumpstarted with this by their 4th of July thread! :D (Go check out the RPG and apply for Myriah!)

And, the best part of all… there is NO mention of a BSC, either the original or any new one, in this fic (so far). But if you want to know who's in my (well, our, if you consider that it's not just me in the RPG) version of the new BSC, here it is:

President: Carolyn Arnold

VP: Marilyn Arnold

Secretary: Charlotte Johannsen

Treasurer: Rosie Wilder

Alternate Officer: Becca Ramsey

Members:

Margo Pike

Karen Brewer

Derek Masters

Betsy Sobak

Hannie Papadakis

Junior Member: Myriah Perkins

Associate Members:

Maria Kilbourne

James Hobart

Disclaimer: None of these people are mine. They're Ann M. Martin's. So leave me alone. runs away

Please review! This is my first (published) BSC fic. (Not my first fic, however.) Constructive criticism is welcome; flames will be used to barbeque ribs. (Mmm, ribs…) Or burn homework, whichever I feel the need to do first.

These Are the Days

Chapter 1 Fireworks

          It was the fourth of July. Bright sparkles and booms littered the once-dark night sky as toddlers ran for cover into the comforting arms of their mothers, and other kids oohed and ahhed and asked their parents how they did that. The teenagers were cuddled with someone special on a blanket (or were trying to find someone to do that with, in the case of one Lindsey DeWitt)… all but one.

          Buddy Barrett found himself in one of the most precarious situations of all… under the spell of romance.

He remembered earlier in the week, when his stepsister Madeline DeWitt begged and pleaded him to watch Aladdin with her. Animated cartoons weren't really his thing (he appreciated the actual animation, as he had artistic tendencies), but he couldn't resist her pleas.

          "Please, Buddy? Lindsey and Taylor are both gone, and Suzi has to do her homework. And Marnie and Ryan are no fun, they start whining halfway through the movie to change it. And Dad and Natalie… well, they're always so busy."

          So Buddy, being the good brother that he is, obliged and sat down with Madeline to watch Aladdin. He didn't enjoy it terribly, but there was one line that struck a nerve with him.

          "Is she pretty?"

          "Beautiful. She's got these eyes that just – and this hair, wow… and her smile…"

          As Aladdin went into some sort of dreamy state, Buddy sighed right along with him. Not because he had a crush on Princess Jasmine; no, it reminded him of his own… feelings.

          Dana Cheplin, he had known for almost two years now, when she transferred to his school (Stoneybrook Middle) in the seventh grade. They hadn't hung out too much before, but when Buddy and his friend Jackie Rodowsky started up a band, she auditioned to be the lead singer, and it all went from there. He had never noticed how pretty her long blonde hair was, cascading down her back; how infectious her innocent smile became, or how her eyes sparkled when she was excited. He saw all that when she sang. It was truly evident that she loved to sing. And it was becoming painfully obvious that Buddy loved to watch her sing.

          He was startled out of his thoughts not by the movie, but a new voice.

          "Buddy! Get Jackie out of my face before I kick the drum set!"

          Grumbling, Buddy got up at the sound of his stepsister Lindsey DeWitt's (annoying, he thought to himself) voice. He had forgotten that his yet-to-be-named band was to practice today; they had their first real performance ever in three days, and they were only halfway through their stuff.

          "Lindsey! Don't you dare touch that drum set! Your dad will kill you!" He then turned to Madeline, who was looking sadly at him. "Hey kiddo, don't worry, I'm sure Taylor or Franklin or Mom will watch with you, okay?" He ruffled her hair affectionately, then rushed outside to find Marilyn Arnold, Jackie's girlfriend, holding his arm as if to hold him back from Lindsey, who was, well, just being Lindsey, and twirling the drumsticks in her hands. Buddy sighed. He did not need this right now. Glancing around, he found all of his bandmates there, including Dana. He sighed even louder; he REALLY did not need this right now.

          "If you don't leave right now, Lindsey, I'm going to sit in front of your door all night and play annoying guitar songs."

          Lindsey smirked. "You wouldn't."

          Buddy stepped up to her. "Try me."

          They stood there, deadlocked in a heated staring contest, until Lindsey rolled her eyes and said, "Whatever. I was just standing here." Throwing the drumsticks carelessly behind her, she stormed out in a huff. Buddy winced as he heard one of the drumsticks make contact with someone and an "Owwww" from none other than their very own Walking Disaster. Ugh, LINDSEY! Buddy thought irritably, hoping she didn't do any lasting damage. He took a deep breath and turned around, finding Jackie clutching his hip. "Dude, I'm so sorry that my stupid stepsister has to be so… I'm sorry," Buddy finally said.

          Jackie forced a smile. "It's all good, don't worry. I'll be fine."

          "You sure?" Marilyn asked from his side, concerned.

          Jackie smiled at her, nodded, and then took his place at the drum set. Buddy felt all eyes on him… especially Dana's startlingly beautiful blue eyes, watching him with concern.

          "Uh… sorry about that, guys. Anyway, we've got a gig in three days, so we have to practice like crazy! You ready?"

          A cheer from the five others was his answer, and with that, the band yet to be known as Firecracker started their practice.

          Now, their first gig over and praise filtering from all around, Buddy found himself alone, watching the fireworks. He scanned the crowd and saw a lone figure sitting on the swings a little forlornly; his heart did a little jump when he spotted the trademark waist-length blonde hair swaying in the darkness. Giving himself enough time to muster up some courage, he smoothed down his American flag shirt, ran a hand through his hair, then got up and nonchalantly wandered in the direction of the swings.

          "Need a push there?" he asked playfully.

          Dana turned around, startled, at the voice. Her expression visibly softened when she saw Buddy standing there. "Hey. Nah, I'm just sitting here to watch the fireworks. I love how pretty they are." She looked up to the sky and sighed.

          Buddy nodded, and smiled. "You sure?"

          Dana hesitated for a moment, then said, "Actually, I'd love for you to push me. My dad used to push me on the swings when I was little."

          "Does he still do that?" asked Buddy, grasping the chains of the swing Dana was sitting on.

          Sighing heavily, Dana shook her head. "No. My parents got divorced when I was six."

          Buddy smiled a wry smile. "Would you look at that. We've got something in common. My parents divorced when I was seven. I don't really see my dad either. So I guess I owe you this."

          Pulling back on the chains, he let go and started pushing the swing that Dana sat on, watching her golden strands fly out behind her, hearing her musical laugh, and as she went higher and higher, his heart started to fly with her; he could see she was truly having a good time, and that made all the difference in the world.

          Finally, she came back down, and she was grinning. "Oh my gosh, Buddy, I haven't swung that high in forever! And to see the fireworks going off… it was like I was almost close enough to touch them!"

          Buddy smiled, a real, true, heartfelt smile, at Dana's enthusiasm; she got up and faced him, and as she stood before him, he wondered how she would fit in his arms.

          Wow, where did that come from? Sounds like something out of one of those cheesy soap operas Lindsey likes to watch sometimes.

          "So, uh…" Buddy began, not knowing what to say. But he soon discovered that there really wasn't a lot to say; they stood there, looking at each other, and realizing that words weren't needed. The moment was so perfect, Buddy was afraid to ruin it by speaking. Finally, he noticed a strand of Dana's hair that was loose, and slowly, tentatively, he reached out and tucked it behind her ear. Dana smiled faintly at the gesture, but her eyes were sparkling. Sparkling like they did every time she was excited. That had to be some sort of sign.

          It's now or never, Barrett.

          "Dana, I…" He hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper.

          "Yes?" she replied, almost instantly, in the same tone of voice.

          "I… I think you did a really great job today," he finally finished, lamely.

          Oh, my GOD! You are such an idiot, Buddy!

          "Oh… thanks," Dana said, vaguely, but when he looked at her again, the sparkle had faded away.

          The silence that ensued was awkward, not like before when it was magical. Dana broke the silence this time. "I have to go," she said, breathlessly. "The fireworks are over."

          Buddy looked up at the dark sky with the shadows of the bright lights now floating towards the sea. "Oh. Yeah."

          "So…" Dana said. "I guess I'll see you later?"

          Buddy just nodded, and then said, "Dana?"

          She turned from leaving, her blonde hair flipping back in a graceful way that Buddy couldn't help but notice, and inquired, "Yes?"

          He took a deep breath, looked her straight in the eye, and told her, "Dana, I like you. A lot."

          At this, Dana rushed toward him and threw her arms around him; Buddy, surprised but pleased, returned the gesture, as one last explosion filled the sky with beautiful shimmers of light. As Buddy looked up to admire it, he realized one thing.

          The girl in his arms felt like she was made to fit there.