I walked out the sliding door into the backyard, to find a shirtless Justin sitting at the edge of the pool, two glasses sitting on the concrete beside him. He said nothing as I took a seat beside him. I had spent five minutes in the bathroom, crying for my relationship. I was sure Justin knew, but he didn’t bother me. He gave me the time that I needed. He handed me a drink, watching me bring it to my lips and take a small sip. It was sweet. I could barley taste the strong clear liquor; instead, it tasted like orange juice. Screwdrivers were good.
“Thanks.”
“For what?” the young man asked, taking a deep breath, as he eased his body into the water.
“Damon.”
“I think you would’ve done just fine,&
~KAHLAN AND THE CASTLES~The flight wasn't long. My plan was to stay at my father’s home. After all I was still the owner and the house was still on the market. I carried one bag with me, but it could wait to be dropped off. I wasn’t sure of Emett’s condition, and I wanted to be there as soon as possible. I took the first cab I saw after exiting the airport. Before I knew it, I was at the hospital, staring into a window at a sleeping Emett, with tubes and wires hooked up all around him. My first reaction was to run in, demand answers to my questions, to fuss, yell… but seeing him like that, I just wanted to break down and cry. He was the last link to my old self. He was my first real friend, my first kiss, and my first dance how could I let him go? I dropped my black bag to the side of me, bringing my hands up to my face. A silent sob escaped as tears came flooding out.
When I opened the door to my old home, I expected to have flashes like before, to remember all the things that were bad. But this time, it was different. I saw all the good. I remember Christmas with my mom and dad when they bought me an easy bake oven so I could cook like my mom. And I remembered Angela helping make cupcakes in the kitchen to support Emett in his hopes of becoming a Junior Prom King. And dad used to read me books so I could fall asleep up in my bedroom. Wow, all the good memories.The furniture was gone. I had planned to spend the night, and be out by dark, but did I really want to lie on the floor and smell the hint of bleach and new carpet. There was a knock at the door. I scrunched my face together. I was sure that the kids from before had left. I made my way to the door, and it flashed before me. The night that Ryan came to my door and murdered my family. That night the door was
~BROOKE AND SANDINO~ "I’m back," Doctor Laura Cliff said as she walked into Brooke's room. She lay on a bed set in the center of the room. The brightness of outside shined in. Brooke was thankful that the windows were tinted and kept anyone from staring into the room. She felt ashamed of her body lately. She understood that she was carrying a child, but everything about her seemed to blow up. Sometimes, she could swear that she didn’t look like herself. The doctor would come in and look between her legs, making sure everything looked okay. It was a bit humiliating. She made sure that Sandino stayed above her head. She didn’t want him to think she growing ugly. Hell, if she felt like it and thought it, it was likely that he was doing the same thing. The only thing that she looked forward to when coming to the appointments wa
~THE LOVETT’S~Leslie sat at the dining room table, hands overlapping each other as she stared out the window. She hadn’t heard form her son all night, and she was starting to become worried. She understood that they weren’t on the best of terms, but he could at least call and check in. She shook her head. Sandino was a man now. A man expecting a child, yet here she was, worrying about him as if he couldn’t take of himself. He had gone out and gotten a job. That was a stepping-stone in growing up. But there was still so much more. If only he could see. If only she could make him see. She felt worthless. How did her son’s life turn out like this? She found herself shuffling down the hall, her body and eyes tired. She tucked herself into bed, thinking that maybe Sandino got caught up with friends. She couldn’t afford to sit awake all night. She had work tomorrow as well, and each day, each hour
~SANDINO AND BROOKE~ “So what did Kahlan want to talk to you about today?” Sandino asked Brooke shrugged.“Nothing really,” she answered. “I think it was her way of indirectly checking up on me.” Sandino smiled. He was still so surprised that Brooke and Kahlan were playing nice. At this point, it seemed to be less of an act, but the real thing. They were acquaintances on their way to becoming friends. Sandino wouldn’t believe it if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.“I told you she was really sweet.” Brooke smiled. When she saw Kahlan, she didn’t see anything sweet. Kahlan acted as if she were above everyone. Things should be all about her. How was it that Brooke was the one with the secret, yet Kahlan cried about how h
~THE HANCOCKS~“Amy! Mya!” Paul screamed from the bottom of the stairs, his eyes staring at the top, waiting to see the girls faces appear. They both stared at him. Mya face showed her annoyance while Amy looked curious. “Can you two come downstairs for a moment.” They came down slowly. Mya was in front, being the leader while Amy followed by her sisters example. Paul made the mistake of having Kate over, which told that Paul knew everything that had taken place with Olivia. He had trouble sitting them down, and telling the truth, so in his eyes Kate was help that he needed. She had explained things better than he did, but it revealed that he had lied to his children multiple times. Everything was out in the open. Now, he just wanted to be forgiven. His eyes went to his wife, being sure that Julia would not leave his side. She gave him a forced smile of encouragement. He felt bad that Julia
~DAMON AND JUSTIN~ Damon knew he was going out on a limb showing up at Kahlan’s place, but he just wanted to check on her, see if she was doing okay. He was walking up to the house, just as Justin was leaving the front porch. The men stopped and looked at each other. They hated each other because they loved Kahlan. Damon knew it was only a matter of time before Justin would step up and try to play the role of boyfriend. He was snake. Justin knew that Damon was going to continue to pursue Kahlan, trying to win her back. He didn’t seem like the type to sit around and lose so easily. He hated the power that Damon had over Kahlan, and he didn’t understand it. He just hoped that Kahlan was smarter than that, that she could see through him, and realize she didn’t need Damon Meir.“Is she in there?&rd
~SANDINO AND BROOKE~ Sandino had to admit. It bothered him that Kahlan seemed to want Justin. He wondered if she had ever thought of him in the way she was thinking about Justin. He shook his head. He couldn’t think that way. He had Brooke, who was rushing over to him. He shook his head again, ready to fake a smile.“Please understand, I don’t want you to hate me,” Brooke rambled. He scrunched his brows together, squinting down at her, in confusion. She held on to his arm tightly, and the look of fear and worry was on her face. “I don’t mean to make excuses, but I had no choice. I was in a very complicated position.”“Complicated position?” Sandino started. Wait, was going on? What was she talking about?
~ELLA~ Ella rushed up to one of the cops on the scene. The waiting around was killing her. The cops had begun to clear out one part of the building. There was an automotive class-taking place, and their escape was out the garages of the North side of the building. Officers were planning on storming through there. That was the last that she had heard of their plans. There were two students hurt, but at least ten evacuated. That gave some hope. There were no fatalities. Ella wanted to help."I'm an off duty nurse," she stated, "I'm here to offer any assistance." The cop looked at her."Do you have your badge?" She pulled out her nursing badge and let the cop examine it. At least he was being thorough."Go on over to the par
~JUSTIN, EMETT AND MYA~ Mya snuck the guys into one of the pool exits. It threw them off course just a bit to get the front office, but as long as they got inside, Justin didn’t care. He would find a way to Kahlan."How did you know this would be open?" Justin asked quietly. He wasn’t comfortable with Mya leading them. As men, they should be protecting her. She should be behind them."They cut the electricity off," she whispered back, "That means that the doors that were usually on manual locks, would open." Justin never paid attention to things like that, so he was glad that Mya did, otherwise, they may have still been outside, trying to find a way in, or they would have given up."How did you know there were
~KAHLAN AND BROOKE~ "It’s been five minutes!" Brooke shouted at me as quiet as she could when I returned to her side. She had gotten loud as if she was angry, but she was scared. She was sweating bullets, her face looking as if she had gotten caught in the rain."I know, I'm sorry," I said, "Did anyone text back?" She shook her head. "Damn it." Brooke looked at me. She wanted so badly for me to have good news for her, but I didn’t."What are we going to do?" she asked as she placed a hand over her belly. I stared down at her stomach. It was more than out lives at stake, it was the life of this unborn child. I couldn't give her an answer; so instead, I looked around, trying to come up with our next move.
~AMY, CHAD AND JASON~Jason looked, asking himself the same question. What was his problem? The fact that his friend and girlfriend lied to him… yep, that was it."I don't have a problem," Jason answered softly."Well you sure do stomp around like you do," Chad said."I'm upset," Jason replied. "I don't know how I should feel, but I know I don't hate you. Most of me misses you guys, but there is still a part of me that can't get over the fact that you two lied. And when I think about it, I can see you guys in my head, and it just makes me sick to my stomach.""Let us help you get over it," Amy said getting to her feet, "trying to avoid us and staying mad at us obviously isn't helping." Jason looke
~JUSTIN~ Everyone got to their knees outside, at the sound of another gunshot. The group was pushed back further from the school as more people escaped. Now officers had arrived on the scene. They had begun pushing everyone back across the parking lot, closer to the street and the surrounding homes. Justin couldn’t just stand around and do nothing. He was not the type to feel powerless."I have to get in there," he demanded, pushing past Carly. He didn’t even get a few feet, before he was thrown to the ground. He landed on his left knee pretty hard, feeling the pain of the pavement. He looked up and saw Coach Myers on top of him."Where do you think your going boy?" the coach growled."I ha
~KAHLAN AND CARLY~“So you have a date tonight?” Carly asked as we made our way to the front of the school. I glanced over at her as we walked down the hall. I had to stop by my locker to drop off my textbooks. We agreed that to car pool for a while. It saved time and gas money.“Its not a date.” “Yeah, but you want it to be.” She grinned. I looked over at her. It seemed that Carly might have knew more than I did. Justin and I had discussed going out together. As far as I was concerned it was just as friends. Though I wasn’t sure exactly what we were doing. Justin just said it was a birthday surprise.“Its two friends hanging out.” I responded. She looked at me. &l
~CARLY AND JUSTIN~Justin rushed through the crowds of teens pooling into the lunchroom. He was chasing one particular person down, and wanted to get to her before she reached their lunch table. He reached out and touched Carly’s shoulder, pulling her back.“Hey,” she said with a slight chuckle, his force a bit surprising. The last time she was grabbed like that, James was the one with the force. She was able to push the thought away from her mind rather quick. “What’s going on?” He seemed eager.“What do you think I should get Kahlan for her birthday?” That wasn’t a question she thought he’d ask.“Well, what do you think she wants?” She questioned, “besides you naked in a bow?”
~BROOKE AND SANDINO~ Brooke knocked on Sandino’s door. She had heard that he didn’t go to school, and figured now would be the best time to go over, since his mother would be at work. Dino opened the door, looking at her through the screen."What do you want?" he asked. She looked. So far, this was going better than expected. She didn’t even think that he would open the door, let alone speak to her."Just to talk.""I don’t want to talk. Not to you anyway.” He looked as if he had been sleeping the day away, hiding from the embarrassment that she caused."I don’t want you to hate me," she spoke out. Hate was a strong word, but if anyone was going to
~KAHLAN AND JUSTIN~ I stood at my locker, putting away my books when Justin walked up to me. I could feel his presence before I saw her. He stood behind me."Hey," he said. I turned around to look at him. We hadn't talked since what happened in my pool, and since I blurted all my thoughts and feelings at the lunch table. It seemed that our time had now come. I was ready to talk to him and it seemed that he was ready to talk to me."Hi," I said quietly."How are you?" he asked."I'm good," I answered, "You?""Not so much," He responded, putting his hands into his pockets. I looked at him. He did look a mess, as if he were losing sleep