Spring(ing) Ahead (Read 8,000 times)

[André DiMera]

Previews

Graduation is right around the corner.
CERI: Ready?

But so is something else...
BOY: Did you think I'd stay away forever?

Get ready...
MAX: I'm proud of you.

To start SPRING(ING) AHEAD
Starting tomorrow, 4/24

[Kpatch]

Hmmm. Intriguing. And we don't have to wait the whole weekend for it to start. Yay.

[André DiMera]

Catching Up

"Spring(ing) Ahead" is set 15 years into the future (give or take a few), and features the modern day children of Salem as teens and young adults. It is a sequel to an ongoing story arc that was started three years ago. To catch up, here is the reading order for the previous entries in this line of canon:
Summer Breeze - In which, we meet the current kids of Salem 15 years into the future as teens/young adults.
Summer Breeze II: The End of Summer - In which, the first story is continued and we see how evil Johnny has become.
The Autumn Effect - In which, André returns and goes on a killing spree, and we find out the full truth of Sydney's past.
Winter/Reflections - In which, the effects of last Autumn are felt in full blast.
A Summer (Camp) to Remember - In which, we take a short jaunt to the inbetween period, and find out why Johnny is the way he is.
Spring Fever - In which, Sydney must confront her past face-on.
That Summer - In which, we pick up a year later, Sydney and Ceri get engaged, and there is a massive flood in Salem.

---

Cast:

The cast list shall be updated as characters appear.
Liana Liberato as SYDNEY DIMERA
Georgia Henshaw as CERI ALAMAIN
Georgia Henshaw as RHIANNON ALAMAIN
James Lastovic as JOEY JOHNSON
Casey Moss as JACK "J.J." DEVERAUX, JR.
Bryan Datillo as LUCAS HORTON
Alison Sweeney as SAMI BRADY
Alfie McIlwain as TOPHER
Darrin Brooks as MAX BRADY
Charles Shaughnessy as DREW DONOVAN
Arianne Zucker as NICOLE WALKER
Jen Lilley as JEANNIE DONOVAN
Charles Shaughnessy as SHANE DONOVAN
Jack Davenport as ANDREW DONOVAN

[André DiMera]

Chapter 1

SALEM HIGH
It was the end of Spring. Flowers were in full bloom, birds were singing, and the school year was coming to a close. For some, such as Sydney, Ceri, and Rhiannon, this would be their last few weeks at Salem High. The three were walking to class together.
RHIANNON: J.J.'s picking me up from school this afternoon. We're going to the beach.
SYDNEY: Sweet!
CERI: Sounds awesome!
RHIANNON: What are you guys doing?
CERI: No idea.
SYDNEY: Lucas is gonna take me to get my license. You wanna come?
CERI: Sure, I'd love to.
Ceri kissed Sydney on the cheek, which Sydney returned.
RHIANON: Aw! You guys are just so cute!
Both smiled.
SYDNEY: Thanks!
CERI: So are you and J.J.
RHIANNON: Thanks.
SYDNEY: You know, I can't believe it's almost over. At the end of this month, we'll never be coming back here again.
CERI: I know. It seems like just yesterday Rhian and I moved to Salem and started going here.
RHIANNON: It really does. I'm gonna miss this place.
CERI: Me too!
SYDNEY: Me too! Which, is why we need to make these last few weeks count.
RHIANNON: How d'you mean?
SYDNEY: We need to make sure we stay in touch with all of our other friends. I mean, we'll always stay in touch, since Ceri and I are gonna get married someday. But, we need to spend these last couple of weeks making sure we stay in touch with our other friends. Plus, there's the friends we may have lost touch with already.
RHIANNON: Like who?
CERI: Yeah, we don't know anyone like that.
Then, they noticed Joey standing by his locker. The three walked over.
SYDNEY: Hey, Joey.
Joey looked up.
JOEY: Oh, so now it's “hey Joey”.
RHIANNON: What do you mean?
JOEY: Ever since the start of our junior year, it's like I barely ever see you guys anymore.
SYDNEY: We're sorry.
JOEY: I've missed you.
CERI: We've missed you too. We didn't mean to lose touch.
RHIANNON: Actually, we just thought you'd been transferred to Salem West.
JOEY: Nope, been here the whole time. I've just been in the other part of the school.
SYDNEY: What other part of the school?
Joey points just offscreen. The girls follow his gaze.
JOEY: Over there.
CERI: Oh, yeah.
RHIANNON: Yeah, we don't really go over there.
JOEY: Why not?
SYDNEY: We just don't. Go over there and you might not come back.
CERI: It's like going upstairs on those soap operas our mums watch.
Joey chuckles.
JOEY: That's ridiculous!
Joey suddenly looks up, and calls offscreen.
JOEY: Hey, Mr. Woods! Wait up!
Joey walks offscreen.

[Kpatch]

Mr. Woods is still around. Nice to see him again. Good start.

[André DiMera]

Thank you, Kpatch!

And now, for this coming week:

Previews

Sydney gets her license.
At least one old face returns to Salem.
One of the returnees brings with them a secret.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 2

OUTSIDE SALEM HIGH
The bell had rung, and an avalanche of students had poured out of Salem High. As Rhiannon walked out, she saw J.J. standing near his car. She ran over and the two embraced.
J.J.: Hey.
RHIANON: Hey! Welcome home!
J.J.: Thanks. How are you?
RHIANNON: Great! How are you?
J.J.: Great!
The two kissed. Joey, who was nearby, called over.
JOEY: Get a room!
J.J. looked over.
J.J.: How's tha...Joseph!
JOEY: Hey!
Joey walked over and the two shared a bro hug.
J.J.: Hey, man. How ya doin'?
JOEY: Good, you?
J.J.: Great!
JOEY: When did you get back from college?
J.J.: Just this morning. How's Salem High?
JOEY: Not the same since you left.
J.J. (feigning modesty): Aww, you're just saying that.
All three laughed.
J.J.: So, pretty lady, you ready for the beach?
RHIANNON: For sure.
J.J. and Rhiannon kissed.
RHIANNON: D'you want to come with, Joey?
JOEY: Nah, I wouldn't wanna intrude.
J.J.: Are you kiddin' me?
RHIANNON: You won't be. We wouldn't ask if we didn't want you to come.
J.J.: You heard the lady.
JOEY: But, I need my suit.
J.J.: We'll stop by your place and pick it up. It's on the way.
JOEY: Oh, all right.
J.J.: Great!
J.J. and Joey high fived. Then, all three got in the car.

MAX'S OFFICE
Meanwhile inside, Max sat in his office, looking over a stack of paperwork, his brow furrowed slightly. He put down the papers and looked at the student sitting across from him. He had short, dark hair, and a smirk across his face. Max took a deep breath.
MAX: Well, this is highly irregular.
The student shook his head.
STUDENT: No, it's not. Highly irregular is the time my mum found a human foot sticking out of our toaster oven. This...this is just odd.
He spoke with a British accent. Max's brow furrowed more. The student smiled.
MAX: Well, regardless, you do realize that there is less than a month until the school year ends? That final exams are coming up two weeks from today?
STUDENT: Oh, yes. I'm well aware of how late into the game I'm coming in.
MAX: And you do realize that you'll have to take summer school, to make up the few credits that didn't transfer over?
STUDENT: Of course.
Max looked down at his papers. The student smiled again.
STUDENT: So, does this mean that I get to spend the last three weeks of the semester in this school?
Max sighed.
MAX: Well, most of your credits transferred over. The ones that didn't will be sorted out this summer. Your grades are superb. Yes, you can start tomorrow.
The student smiled.
STUDENT: Thank you.
Both got up and shook hands.
MAX: Welcome to Salem High, Mr...
STUDENT: Blake. Topher Blake.
MAX: Mr. Blake. I'll see you tomorrow.
TOPHER: I look forward to it.
Topher took his backpack and left.

[heroicmuse]

Intriguing. So is Topher related to Peter Blake? His son perhaps?

[fluffysmom]

Great start to the new story André DiMera. I'm curious about Topher. He seems very eager to start Salem High immediately.

[Kpatch]

I'm so happy to see JJ in this story. And Max as well.

As I recall, Rhiannon is Nicholas Alamain's daughter, right? I can't remember who her mom is.

I'm also curious about Topher. He apparently grew up across the pond.

[André DiMera]

Ceri and Rhiannon are both Nicholas' daughters, Kpatch. The identity of their mother has not been revealed, yet. However, she will be coming for graduation, so we will see her sometime soon.

[Kpatch]

Oh wow! Awesome. Thanks for the info André DiMera! My timing in asking the question was quite opportune. You'd think we set it up. LOL.

[André DiMera]

You're welcome, Kpatch. That was very good timing.

Topher is a character I'm excited about. Then again, I'm always excited about writing this future story arc.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 3

OUTSIDE SALEM HIGH
Ceri and Sydney were two of the last students out of the school. They had stayed behind to talk to some teachers, and were just now getting out. Lucas was waiting in his car for them. He waved and rolled down the windows.
SYDNEY: Hey, Lucas!
CERI: Hi, Mr. Horton.
LUCAS: Hey, girls. How was school.
CERI: Good.
SYDNEY: Good.
LUCAS: That's good.
SYDNEY: Lucas, is it okay if Ceri comes with us?
LUCAS: As long as it's okay with your dad, it's okay with me.
CERI: I'll text him.
LUCAS: All right. Hop in.

CAR
Ceri and Sydney got in. Lucas drove off to the DMV.
SYDNEY: Thanks again for taking me to get my license, Lucas.
LUCAS: No problem, Syd. No problem at all.
SYDNEY: I know that mom would have, but...I don't know. I just get kinda nervous driving with her.
LUCAS: You know she's trying, Syd. She lost a lot of time with you.
SYDNEY: I know. And I do like doing stuff with her. Just not driving.
LUCAS: Understandable. She can be a backseat driver, at times.

SALEM DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Sydney, Ceri and Lucas sat in the DMV. At last, one of the officers at the DMV called her name.
OFFICER: Sydney DiMera.
Sydney walked up to the desk.
OFFICER: Can I see some I.D., please?
Sydney pulled out her school I.D. and showed the officer.
OFFICER: Very good.
The officer typed in something on her computer.
OFFICER: What's your height?
SYDNEY: Five foot, seven inches.
OFFICER: Approximate weight?
SYDNEY: 110.
OFFICER: Eye color?
SYDNEY: Blue.
OFFICER: Hair color?
SYDNEY: Light brown.
OFFICER: Date of birth?
SYDNEY: January 28, 2009.
OFFICER: Which makes you 18 years old.
SYDNEY: Yep.
The officer motioned over to a camera.
OFFICER: Please stand over hear and smile.
Sydney walked over to the camera and smiled. The officer took her picture, then typed in a few things.
OFFICER: This should just take a minute.
SYDNEY: Okay.
A minute later, a small card popped out of the computer. The officer handed it to Sydney.
OFFICER: Here you go. Congratulations.
Sydney took the license.
SYDNEY: Thanks.
She walked over to Ceri and Lucas.
LUCAS: Congrats, kid.
SYDNEY: Thanks!
She and Lucas hugged, then she hugged Ceri.
SYDNEY: Can I drive home?
LUCAS: Sure, but we're not going home yet.
SYDNEY: Where are we going?
LUCAS: The Pub. You can drive there, too.
SYDNEY: Thanks!
The three headed off to the Brady Pub.

[heroicmuse]

Lol at Lucas' comment that Sami can be a backseat driver.