Title: Discovering Clairmont: Prologue
Rating: PG-13 [language, oblique mention of drugs]
Characters: Summer, Adele, and Bob Dylan, Jimmy and James Page Jr., Cameron Crowe

Author's Note: This series is based on Cameron Crowe's Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Using both the book and movie as guides, I hope to provide a glimpse into what could have happened, especially in relation to Midnight Shift. Completely canon with the epic and WILL contain spoilers.

Summary: After a few months of not seeing each other, best friends Cameron Crowe and Summer Dylan meet back up. In the midst of catching up, Cameron shares a secret with her, one that will shape their lives for over a year.




May 1979
Malibu, California

Winding down a six week tour in support of her debut album, Summer looked forward to a few days at home with her parents. Though Adele and Bob switched off accompanying the young folksinger on her brief tour, mainly to help with her infant son since Jimmy was in England with his own band, she had not truly been with the two of them at the same time since they stayed with her after James’s birth. She really just wanted to relax and ― sleep. In hindsight, undertaking her first promotional with a six-month-old had not been a good idea, but then again, when she agreed to it, she assumed his father would take as active a role in touring as he had in producing her album.

As the car pulled up at Bob and Adele’s new house in Malibu, James stirred awake in his baby seat. Leaning over, Summer made faces at him to get him to giggle rather than cry as the car pulled to a halt. The door opened and the young blonde woman climbed out, turning to pick up the baby carrier as well. Leaving her luggage behind for someone else to worry about, she headed directly up to the house. Before she reached the door, it opened and Bob grinned and quickly slipped his grandson out of the carrier, lifting the baby above his head. James gurgled and giggled, making Bob smile more.

“I have missed you two,” he admitted.

“Dad, it’s only been three days,” she pointed out, setting the carrier on the floor near the door after stepping in.

“Still,” he responded, settling the infant on his hip before turning and kissing her cheek. “You survived those three days alone, it seems.”

She rolled her eyes, “Like it was that difficult. We just hung out in the hotel alone for the most part.”

“Is Jimmy coming?” Adele asked, stepping into the foyer and holding her hands out for the baby.

“Um... no. He and the band are finishing up their album,” she responded. “Which is also why James and I are only staying a few days. We have to get back to England.”

“Jimmy really should support you more, especially since you support his band all the time,” Bob declared, following the two women into the kitchen.

“Dad,” Summer sighed, “Jimmy produced my album while working on Led Zeppelin’s. And he signed me on their label. And he fronted the money for my album. He has been more than supportive. Our schedules just did not match this time around. I told him I would put off the tour until he could join me, but he thought it foolish to not be out promoting the album when it came out.”

“He’s not touring with an infant,” he argued.

She rolled her eyes, “Dad, drop it. I’m tired of having the same conversation repeatedly for two months. It is what it is. I talk on the phone with Jimmy often. He’s glad that I’m doing well. And he talks on the phone to Jamie too, so it’s not like his son won’t recognize him when we go home.”

“That’s not en―”

“Bob,” Adele warned.

“What?” he looked at his wife incredulously. “He’s treating our daughter like ―”

“Stop it,” she thrust the baby into his arms. “And it’s your turn to take care of Jamie.”

Smelling the slight aroma of a soiled diaper, Bob grimaced. Sighing, he headed out of the kitchen to take care of the infant’s diaper. Summer pulled open the refrigerator and reached for a soda. She leaned against the counter as she popped the can open.

“Your father says the album is doing well,” Adele commented, pulling out a tea kettle.

“It is? I don’t even know. I haven’t spoken with Jimmy for two days and no one on tour seems to care about that,” she commented.

“Not even reporters?”

Summer shook her head, “At least not the last ones I talked to. But that’s good to hear, not that I really care where it charts or anything. I just made it because...”

“You’re your father’s daughter,” Adele commented, setting the kettle on the stove.

She smirked, “You think so?”

“Oh definitely,” she glanced at her daughter. “Especially when you do that.”

Summer laughed, “Well thanks, Mom. It’s a compliment to be compared to the Bob Dylan.”

Adele shook her head, “I’m surprised you’ve been able to keep that out of the press.”

“Jimmy has his ways.”

“Of course,” she pulled a tin of tea from the cupboard. “If you haven’t spoken with your fiance in two days, why don’t you go call him now?”

“I think I will,” she pushed away from the counter. “I’ll be in my room if you or dad or James needs me.”

Heading upstairs to the guest room Summer proclaimed as her own once the Dylans moved into the house, she set the can of soda on the dresser and turned around. Her luggage was already at the foot of the bed, including James’s colorful, toy-filled play bag. Her eyes landed on the crib under the large window, a smile twitching on her lips. With six weeks of sharing her bed with her son, she was not entirely sure if she would be able to sleep with him ten feet away from her, but she was certainly willing to try.

Sitting on the bed, she reached for the phone and dialed Jimmy’s London number. Speaking with his household, she thanked them, hung up, and sighed. Pressing down the numbers of a different house, Summer twisted the phone cord around her finger, hoping to find Jimmy at this location. Not finding him at the Plumpton Place, she attempted calling the Boleskine House. Discovering that he was in fact in residence in Scotland relieved and concerned her. Getting him on the phone, however, was as difficult as locating her elusive fiance.

Finally hearing his groggy greeting, Summer smiled, “Hello, my love.”

“Summer? Summer, is that you? Are you home? Do you need me to come to London? Is James okay? Are you okay? Do you need me to ―”

“Take a breath, Jimmy,” she responded evenly, trying to figure out why his anxiety seemed to be spiking. “We’re fine, both of us. James is downstairs with my parents right now. I’m in Malibu. The tour concluded the day before last and we arrived back in LA this morning. We’re going to stay here with my parents for a couple of days. Then we’ll fly back to London.”

“Oh, Summer... can’t you... can’t you come home now?”

“No... Jimmy, you know I have to do some things for the label while I’m here. And I need a couple of days where I’m not traveling with a baby,” she explained.

“But, baby, princess... I need you.”

She sighed, “Jimmy, I’ll be home soon. I promise. Just a couple more days.”

“But SUMMER!”

“Jimmy, take a breath. Calm down. I love you. I’ll be there in a couple of days. Just relax,” she responded calmly. “Go play your guitar for me.”

“But...”

“Jimmy, you need to relax. Whatever you’ve taken... Just go play your guitar for me. It would be good for your soul.”

“Okay... okay. What song?”

She paused for a moment, “Start with ‘Black Mountain Side’ and see what develops from there.”

“Okay, okay. I can do that.”

“Jimmy?”

“Yes, princess?”

“Please drink or eat something. Maybe get someone to make you a smoothie?” she suggested.

He paused, “I don’t know. I don’t want to see anyone right now.”

Summer sighed, “Please, baby. For me.”

“Okay... okay...”

“I’ll call you again tonight, okay? And you can tell James good night.”

“Okay.”

“I love you, Jimmy.”

“I love you too.”

“Go get your smoothie.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll talk to you tonight.”

Hanging up the phone, Summer sighed and rubbed her face. She did not know what Jimmy was on, but clearly something. His anxiety seemed to be greater than it had been in awhile. If she was not so far away, she would have rushed to be with him, to take care of him. But now... even if she immediately booked a flight, she would not be beside him soon enough. Hopefully, a smoothie and practice would help calm whatever bothered him. There was nothing more she could do. 

With a cranky baby in her arms, Adele knocked on the door frame. Saying nothing, Summer opened her arms for her son. Glancing at the time, she knew why he was fussing and thanked her mother. She unbuttoned her blouse and maneuvered her right breast free from the bra. As the baby latched on, Adele smiled, reminded her of dinnertime, and headed out of the room, closing the door behind her. Caressing her son’s head as he nursed, she smiled down at the baby. He instantly stopped feeding and smiled up at her as well, making her worries about Jimmy disappear.

Easing the baby back to nursing, her thoughts wandered. It suddenly dawned on her that she would have some free time while there in California. And there was a very important person that had been regulated to just phone calls since not long after James’s birth. Carefully reaching for the phone without disturbing her son’s actions, she quickly dialed a number. Informed by his roommate that he was at his parents’ in San Diego instead, Summer hung up and dialed a second number, wondering why the men in her life were always so hard to track down.

“Hello?”

Her face lit up, “Hello, handsome.”

“Who is this?”

“Wow, I know it’s been awhile since we talked, like maybe a whole two weeks.”

He laughed, “How are you, sunshine?”

“Ehhh... I want to see you.”

“I’m not planning to be in London any time soon.”

“I won’t be until Monday or Tuesday anyways.”

He was silent for a moment, “Oh right, the tour. How’s that going?”

“It’s done, Cam. I’m in Malibu, at my parents’ house.”

“Interesting. That makes you about three hours away...”

She smiled slightly, “Come up and see me.”

“A bit demanding now that you’re on the charts?” he teased.

“You’re the second one to say that to me...”

“Well you are. The album peaked at 56, thus far, but things could change.”

She paused, “You’re watching my album?”

“I can’t review it, but yeah, I pay attention to those kinds of things... You know, it’s my job and all.”

“Yes, of course,” she responded. “So will you come up and see me?”

“How did you even know I was here?”

“Your roommate told me. Come back to LA and see me.”

“Well...”

“Oh COME ON,” Summer raised her voice some, causing James to look up from his suckling. “I would come to you, crash your bachelor pad with the baby, if you were home.”

“You’d ruin my mojo if you left behind a baby toy or something,” he teased.

“Mom’s going to make ribs tonight.”

“Well, shit, you should’ve have said that to start with, Summer.”

She shook her head before moving the phone to her shoulder so she could ease James off her breast and burp him, “If you have time... you could stay a few days.”

“Gosh... I don’t know. Your mom’s cooking... seeing my godson... hanging out with you... such a hard decision...”

Summer pouted, “Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeese.”

Cameron sighed, “Well...”

“What if I threw in a night of watching movies?”

“Sold!”

Summer grinned, “YES!”

“Anything I need to bring?”

“Besides your handsome self? Bring whatever movie you want to watch. And your swim trunks. There’s a beautiful pool here,” she responded.

He chuckled, “Okay. Give me a bit to pack. I should be there in time for dinner.”

“I’m so excited,” she chirped before carefully getting out of the bed and easing her son into the crib. “I’ve missed you so much, Cam.”

“I’ll see you soon, Summer.”

“Okay, okay,” she smiled. “I’ll see you soon. Drive safe.”



After a brief stop at his apartment to switch out the clothes in his bag, Cameron headed towards Malibu. Seeing he was nearly out of gas, he pulled over to fill up his car and swapped out the tape in his deck, thinking it bad form to arrive at the Dylan house playing one of the patriarch’s album. He struggled to find an appropriate soundtrack to pull up in Malibu. None of his tapes seemed to fit the mood. Staring at the box for a moment, he glanced at the gas pump. Forgetting the music setting for a moment, he hopped back over to the pump and shut it off.

Cameron dug his wallet out, his mind still focused on the music, and headed to pay for his gas. His eyes quickly glanced over the magazine rack, noticing the latest copy ofRolling Stone with Bee Gees on the cover. Deciding that must have been his sign, he paid the clerk, headed back to his car, focused on the ‘B’ section of his tapes, and popped in Blondie’s Parallel Lines into his tape deck.

Picking up sheet of paper with directions from Summer, Cameron glanced them over once more before heading back onto the street. His fingers tapped on the steering wheel, in tempo with the Blondie song playing through his car speakers. As he neared the correct neighborhood, he instinctively reached for the dial and turned the music down, as if doing so would make finding Bob’s house any easier. Filled with a brief burst of triumph upon locating the house, he turned into the serpentine driveway.

He paused for a minute once shifting the car into park. Focusing on the song playing from the tape deck, Cameron smirked. Of course the song ending as he arrived to see his best friend for the first time in five months would be “Pretty Baby.” He truly felt like the music was speaking to him that day. With that thought in mind, he turned off his car and climbed out. He headed to the trunk and pulled out his duffel bag before heading up to the front step. Though he knew Summer’s parents well by now, and clearly knew her better than probably anyone in the world, he felt butterflies begin to flutter in his stomach.

Taking a deep breath to chase away his nerves, Cameron knocked on the large double door. He fidgeted slightly as he waited for the door to open. It almost felt like he was picking up a girl for a date for the first time. Sure, he knew Summer had changed in the months since he had seen her, having settled into being a mother and releasing an album, but that did not explain his anxiety at all, especially since he had a girlfriend. Nor did it explain the rising inferiority complex questions creeping into his mind. Why would she want to see him? She was engaged to Jimmy Page and an up-and-coming musician herself. He was just... a fan. He was no one special. He was―

Before he could finish his line of thinking, the door opened and the most beautiful, young woman he knew smiled at him. Her eyes brightened upon recognizing him and she quickly embraced him, pressing up on her bare toes to kiss his cheek. Suddenly all his negative thoughts shot out the window and he was truly present. Dropping his duffel bag instantly, Cameron’s arms circled around Summer, hugging her tightly.

“Hi,” she muttered in his ear as he continued to embrace her. “I missed this.”

“Me too,” he breathed, not wanting to release her. “No more going months without seeing each other.”

“I totally agree,” Summer wiggled in his arms.

Slowly he pulled back, tacking a step back to look her over. Her hair once again curled past her shoulders, but just barely, and once more glimmered like gold. Though exhaustion darkened her face, her beauty still outshined so many others he knew. Her baby weight was gone, replaced by more womanly curves. In his admiring of the pretty folksinger, his eyes zeroed in on the ring on her finger and he completely released her.

“You look amazing,” he muttered.

She flushed slightly, tucking her hair behind her ear, “Thanks.”

“I...”

“Come on. Come in. I’ll show you upstairs where you can stay,” she stepped aside, waving him in.

Picking up his bag again, and sneaking another quick hug, Cameron followed Summer upstairs. She led him into the guest room adjacent from the one she was using. From the lack of personality, he was assured he was not trespassing on one of her half-brothers’ rooms, which made him feel better. He tossed the bag on the made bed, turning back to face Summer. She quickly threw her arms around his neck again, squeezing him tightly. Not entirely sure what brought it on, Cameron chuckled but quickly gave into the hug and squeezed her back.

“I am so glad to see you again,” she breathed.

“I could tell,” he responded.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, attempting to let him go.

Cameron kept his arms around her, “I’m glad to see you too.”

She relaxed back into the hug, “Cam...”

“Where’s my godson?” he asked, leaning back.

“Downstairs with Dad,” she replied.

He reached up and tucked her hair back from her face, “Well let’s go see him. I bet he’s doubled in size since I saw him last.”

After playing with James until he giggled and dinner with Summer and her parents, all hints of Cameron’s nerves disappeared. As often before, except the first few encounters with Bob, he felt right at ease with her family. Her parents retreated to the living room to watch The Waltons, leaving the two of them to finish up the dishes before heading upstairs with James. Cameron helped bathe the infant, splashing in the bathtub with his baby toys. He focusing on draining the tub and drying out the toys while Summer carried her towel-wrapped son back to the bedroom.

When he stepped into her bedroom, Summer had diapered and dressed the baby. She glanced up to him as she sat down in an armchair near the baby’s bed. Looking around quickly, Cameron decided to sit on her bed, thinking she was just going to cuddle James until he fell asleep. His eyes widened and he quickly averted his gaze when instead she unbuttoned her blouse and the baby quickly fastened upon her nipple.

“Um...” he muttered awkwardly. “Isn’t he too old for that?”

Summer glanced up and instantly noticed his discomfort, “Oh, I’m sorry. I can cover up. Just hand me the blanket on the edge of his crib.”

“No... It’s okay. It’s your house. I just...”

“I’m natural weaning,” she explained, her fingers gently brushing his soft, dark curls. “So he gets to nurse when he wants, but he’s also eating baby food, cereals, and other soft foods. Now he pretty much only nurses before sleepy-time... or when he’s stressed and needs some comfort. I don’t really feel the need to force him to fit into whatever society says it right.”

“I see,” he glanced up briefly. “Were you nursing when you called me?”

“Yeah. He had been up with me all morning, doing things at the Swan Songs office before coming here. He was due for a nap,” she replied, smiling when his eyes connected with hers.

Cameron smiled again, “Like I’ve said before, motherhood becomes you.”

“Thanks,” she flushed softly.

They chatted softly until James finished nursing. Summer quickly burped him while fixing her shirt. She got to her feet and placed the baby in the crib. Had Cameron not come up so quickly when she called, she likely would have laid the baby down in her bed and curled around him. Instead, she kissed James’s forehead and quickly turned out the overhead light, leaving the room lit by the bedside lamp.

Cameron watched her actions, uncertain if he should stay or not. She did not wish him good night, or really speak at all, so he remained sitting on her bed. Briefly glancing at him, she pulled a nightgown out of the dresser and turned her back to him. Realizing what she was doing a moment before she did it, Cameron turned his gaze in the option ― only to find her reflected in the mirror. He quickly closed his eyes as her bare back appeared on the silvered glass, waiting until he heard nothing more in her direction.

“Do you want me to... leave?” he muttered, eyes still closed.

“No,” she responded in a whisper, her weight sinking the bed next to him. “I’d go back to your room with you, so we could talk and laugh loudly, but I wouldn’t be able to hear James if he were to wake...”

“I understand. We can just do that tomorrow,” he moved to stand.

Her hand rested on his thigh, keeping him sitting, “Just stay and lie in bed with me and tell me everything that I’ve been missing. We can be pretty quiet and not disturb him at all.”

“If you want...”

“I do.”

Without saying another word, Cameron kicked off his sandals and crawled on top of her bed. A minute later, Summer lay beside him on her back, her face turned towards his. He let his eyes wander again, though he was quite aware she watched his glance. Her cotton nightgown might have covered her body, but it was lightweight enough to not leave much to the imagination. He could practically see the darkening of her areola through the soft pink fabric and he was fairly certain she did not wear panties underneath. Forcing his eyes back to hers before his body began to react to what he could and could not see, Cameron smiled.

“So what have I missed?” she asked softly.

“Well, while you were off being a magnificent mommy and becoming the next Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell, I was living the high life in an apartment with my roomie and girlfriend, making ends meet by...”



Waking a couple of hours after the sun, Cameron stretched and suddenly realized he was still wearing his clothes ― and laying in Summer’s bed. He had not intended to remain there all night, though he certainly did not regret it. There was nothing quite as nice as waking with a pretty girl in the bed; it was even better when that pretty girl was Summer, his best friend. His gaze briefly swept over her sleeping face before flicking to a motion behind her. Noticing that James was very much awake, had pulled himself up in the crib, Cameron carefully slipped off the bed and approached the crib. His eyes dropped down to the infant.

James’s big blue eyes looked up at him and he gurgled softly. Glancing quickly as Summer still sleeping, Cameron carefully reached into the crib, his hands slipping around the baby’s waist. Slowly, he lifted James up and settled him on his hip. Wanting to let Summer keep sleeping, he slowly walked to the bedroom door, not entirely sure what to do with the baby and hoping Summer’s parents were awake.

The baby mumbled and babbled before shoving his little fist in his mouth as Cameron headed down the stairs. He tried to not look relieved when he stepped into the kitchen, finding Adele. Summer’s mother looked up from reading the newspaper. She smiled happily before realizing he held her grandson. Her eyes widened slightly and she got to her feet.

“Good morning, Cameron. And good morning, little guy,” she held her hands out for him.

He slipped the baby into her arms, “Summer was still sleeping. I didn’t want to wake her...”

“You are such an excellent friend for her,” she settled the baby on her hip before touching Cameron’s cheek briefly. “I am so glad the two of you have each other. I’ll go take care of his diaper. There’s coffee brewed already.”

Sitting at the table with Adele and James, Cameron chatted easily with Summer’s mother while she fed the baby. Bob drifted in, glanced their direction, paused to kiss his wife, poured a cup of coffee, and left just as silently. While Cameron watched the music legend with interest, Adele hardly even glanced at her husband. Instead, she made airplane sounds at the baby, moving a full spoon towards him.

Nearly an hour after slipping from Summer’s bedroom, the golden girl herself stepped into the kitchen. James instantly smiled, mashing a slice of banana into the tray of his high chair. She stopped near his chair and kissed his forehead. Continuing on, Summer slipped Cameron’s coffee cup from his hands. She sipped it, crinkling her nose. Handing it back, she kissed his forehead as well before heading over to the refrigerator.

Not speaking, she pulled a number of things from the cold confines and set to making breakfast. Cameron watched her with interest, smiling as he realized she was cooking for him too. A few minutes later, she set a plate with blueberry pancakes, eggs, and sausage in front of him. Taking her mother’s seat, she offered some of her scrambled eggs to her son, before turning to her plate.

It was not until Adele excused herself, claiming she needed to check on Bob, that Summer spoke, “Thank you.”

“For? I should be the one thanking you. This breakfast is amazing,” Cameron commented between bites.

“For getting up with James. I think last night was the best and the most I’ve slept in... a long time,” she responded softly, giving the baby another spoonful of eggs.

“Well then,” he washed down his bite of pancake with a swallow of coffee, “hopefully you’ll get a lot more sleep in the next few days. I am certainly not opposed to hanging around for awhile.”

“Good. I need you around,” she commented.

With her eyes focused away from him, Cameron did not worry about hiding his frown at her statement, “Summer... is there something you want to talk about?”

“Not now,” she responded, glancing at him and forcing a smile.

“Okay...”

They continued to eat in silence, focusing mostly on the food. James punctuated the lack of conversation with baby babbles as he shoved his fist full of food into his mouth. Removing the empty plates before Summer could, Cameron cleaned the dishes while she cleaned up her son. Lifting him out of the high chair, she casually informed Cameron she was going to dress the baby and herself and then head outside to play in the sun for awhile.

Settled in the grass, under the dappled shade of trees in the backyard, Summer and Cameron watched as James played with his soft toys and crawled around. Cameron laughed as the boy sat in the grass, pulling up tufts of blades, and randomly throwing them. He glanced quickly at Summer and immediately noticed she was hardly paying attention.

“Sunshine?” he muttered softly, reaching for her hand.

Her eyes went to his, “I called Jimmy before coming down.”

“And?”

“A woman answered the phone... a woman not on the household staff.”

Saying nothing, he released her hand, looped his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close, “Maybe it’s not what you think.”

“Cam... you and I both know that it is.”

“Maybe it’s not,” he stated again, quickly racking his brain for some way to distract her. “So you know how everyone is always talking about the kids?”

“I guess...”

“Well like when anyone is ever talking about... tapping into the teen demographic or whatever,” Cameron explained.

“What does this have to do with Jimmy?”

“Well... nothing. Not directly. I’m trying to distract you.”

“Oh,” she smiled slightly, still very much in his arms. “Continue then.”

“I’ve been thinking about it for awhile now. Everyone talks about the kids, but no one really talks to the kids. No one really tries to understand them.”

“Cam, you’ve been in the business since you were like fourteen. I’m pretty sure you already get the kids,” she claimed.

He shook his head, “I don’t think I do. At least not as much any more as I’ve spend most of my time with musicians and rock stars.”

“Okay... where is this heading?”

“I’m going to go back to high school.”

Summer was silent for a moment, “Cam, you’re almost twenty-two.”

“You don’t think I could pass as younger?”

She pivoted, pulling out of his arms, and carefully regarded his features, “Actually...”

He grinned, “Do you think it’s a good idea?”

“Well what are you going to do after going back to high school? Write an article for it?”

He glanced at James as the baby shoved a toy in his mouth, “Well actually... I’m kinda burned out with deadline writing. I mean, I love covering bands and all of that but...”

“But what?” she followed his eyes, shaking her head at her son’s antics.

“I think I want to write a book.”