At that very moment, in a rented home a few miles away, six men sat in front of a plasma TV, watching highlights of Governor O'Leary's inauguration. "It seems that we now have a target, My Brothers. This state is so proud of its athletic teams. This Highland won a sports championship. Now its students are prancing half naked at a public event, with no shame."Red is the color for whores. 'The Lady in Red' will be wearing blood red before the week is out. We'll destroy the school; kill these so-called heroes, and many of their friends. This governor was on the Armed Services Committee when he was in Congress. He supported the invasion of our homeland. We'll make certain that he understands that he bears the responsibility for our act of retribution. Vengeance will be ours."We leave in the morning for Highland. Within a few days, the entire world will know that we will not tolerates the American whores’ ways of our homeland. We shall drive them out by attacking them here, in the hear
"That would be wonderful. I'm trying to be the one woman in the whole family that doesn't get all goofy when you're around, but I'll risk it for a nice dinner. Mom asks about you every Time I speak to her. Melissa and her girls all think you're tops, and Willow can't stop talking about you. That only leaves me, and if you don't stop dancing me around the kitchen, I'll be as far gone as they are," laughed Donna. "Here's Willow now.""Hi, Tyler," greeted Willow as she hugged Mitchell as soon as her mother released him. "When are you going to dance in public with me, Mitchell? I watched you on TV with my cousins and you were all amazing. Do you think I'll ever be as pretty as Maddie and Christine?""Tyler seems to think so," laughed Mitchell. "He keeps coming back, even when you ignore him. That tells me that the poor guy has it pretty bad. He's giving you a ride to school today, so you'll just have to sit in the front seat and be nice to him. Some kids might even think that you like h
Just as Ms. Metzger started to address the group, four men in coveralls entered the gym from the west door, which was technically an emergency exit. They quickly spread out as they approached the students. They had been walking with a handheld behind their bodies. The first man nodded and all four swung guns from behind them and pointed them at the group."What's the meaning of this?" demanded Ms. Metzger nervously."I want everyone to go over that wall," demanded the apparent leader. "Stand by that wall, now.""When a guy tells you to get into the trunk of the car; never get into the trunk," stated Jared firmly. "We'll just stay where we are, and you can go to hell."When Jared spoke, the gang's leader turned his gaze toward him. Christine saw the dark man's eyes light up when he noticed her sitting next to Jared."It's the 'whore on YouTube', isn't it?" laughed the man. "Where's the hero now? With a different whore?"Just as the leader spoke, the student sitting at the end of
In less than a minute, Laura had passed ten phone numbers on to Christine and soon the kids were online with someone, doctor or nurse, trained in emergency medicine."I've got Mitchell here. He's been shot several times, but it looks like blood is just pouring from a wound in his upper leg, near his crotch. I'm pulling his pants down and I see blood spurting. It must be an artery," reasoned Christine."Here's what I want you to do," responded Laura calmly. "You need to take a cloth, like a piece of Mitchell's shirt and fold it up and press it tightly to the wound. You've got to slow down the bleeding. If you can, find something to tie around his leg over the bandage to keep it tightly in place."Christine had placed the phone on the speaker as she worked over Mitchell. She used the knife to cut the front of his shirt off and folded that piece into a bandage. Then she snaked his belt around his upper leg and drew it tight, securing the makeshift bandage in place. Christine felt some
When Mitchell was rolled out to a waiting ambulance, Christine walked beside him. She rode in the ambulance to the hospital and held his hand as he was delivered to the emergency room. Even in the chaos of the ER, everyone watched as the beautiful young woman clad only in a red skirt and bra, and covered in blood, strode regally through the ward.Melissa had been enjoying a morning coffee with her sister, Donna, when the phone rang, and Donna answered it. Melissa felt the hairs stand up on her neck as she listened to her sister's conversation."Slow down. Who did Mitchell kill? Are you sure you saw that happen? Did you pull the fire alarm? Are you far away from the building now? Stay there and I'll be down to pick you up." promised Donna as she dropped the phone back in its cradle."There's pure hell to pay at the school. Willow said she was with Mitchell and Tyler when Mitchell suddenly punched a guy and then deliberately broke his neck. He told her to run and pull the fire alarm;
"These pathetic shooters probably spent a few weeks at some shooter training camp learning to shoot and make bombs. My boyfriend learned self-defense and hand-to-hand combat from his father, a Commander in the Army Green Berets. He became an expert with a handgun, with both his left and right hand. When he came through that doorway this morning armed with those guns taken from the dead shooter, it was never a fair fight. Those cowards had no chance. He killed every damn one of them in a blazing gun battle. I saw the bullet holes in the dead suicide bombers when I cut the wires to the bombs they had concealed on their bodies. To a man, they had two bullet holes in their forehead. A bullet to the body may well have detonated the explosives. Mitchell realized that and somehow shot all four-armed shooters in the head, saving hundreds of lives and preventing the destruction of our school. Suffering from two bullet wounds and lying in his own blood, he then explained to me that the bombs we
"They've set up some donation centers in the mall for people to give to the hospital fund. You should visit them and comfort even more people. Remember that you've got to stay healthy for Mitchell and the others."At the mention of Mitchell's name, Christine began sobbing against her mother's shoulder. "Mom, if Mitchell dies, I don't know what I'll do. I don't think I'll want to live.""Then keep doing what you've been doing. Be strong. These people need someone to show them what to think right now, and how to feel. They're in shock. You need to lead by example. Be positive and confident. Laura and the other doctors will do everything possible for Mitchell, and all the injured. You've become the face of courage and hope in this awful situation. Show the world why people turn to you in Times of need.""You're right, as usual, Mom. Come on, Ashley, let's get moving," replied Christine as she wiped the tears from her eyes.The rest of the morning was pretty much a blur as people, mos
In the waiting room Patti kept getting up and moving things around to make things better, picking up trash or a cup that just went empty. Repeating to people in the waiting room “Why my daughter wasn’t married and having kids instead of in this hospital?” Which had some of us laughing because our teacher had tons of kids her mom just never put two and two together. I went an got a coke when I got back into the waiting room to find several men in dark suits checking the ID of the people waiting for news of loved ones. Just as they were approached by a big guy in a suit, Christine heard a murmur from the crowd. Looking toward the entrance, Christine recognized Governor O'Malley. Ignoring the security guy, Christine headed for the Governor. They tried to stop Christine get to the Governor when the governor said, “Let her pass.”"Christine. How're you doing? I came as soon as I could," stated Governor O'Malley as he embraced Christine. "We'll do everything we can to help the injured. You
"If Christine gets cold feet, or her conscience won't let her go through with it, I'd be willing to trade with her, just because that's the kind of friend I am," volunteered Jordan. "Thank you, Jordan. Christine, you're so lucky to have friends like Jordan," stated Melissa sarcastically. "She's willing to take a bullet for you, if the need arises." "Gee, thanks. I don't think I'll need any help, however. I have all the protection necessary, so those 'bullets' will not be hitting the intended target. There's really no need to worry about me. I'll make sure that the gun is empty by morning." "That's how class valedictorians talk these days?" demanded Hailey. "A few months ago, she hadn't ever been on a date and now she's talking about single handedly unloading a dangerous weapon." "I never said anything about using my hands, at least not tonight." laughed Christine, as Hailey was the one to blush this time. "If I may change the subject once again, we're invited to a costume party t
"Look. It's the Eiffel Tower," exclaimed Willow as she pointed out the window of the shuttle van. "Everybody get lots of pictures and we'll share them all when we get home. I have to thank you again, Christine, for making me part of this great adventure. I'm lucky to be your cousin." "You're lucky to be so pretty and shapely. You're lucky to have such understanding parents. You're lucky that Mitchell, for whatever reason, decided to take a chance on me that day at the mall. We're all lucky that Highland won that first football game. I'm lucky I'm not in tears right now because I'm so happy," Christine said. "We're all happy, Sis, but you've got more reason to be happy than the rest of us girls. Tonight, you're going to go to bed a girl and waking up a woman," stated Hailey with genuine happiness for her sister. "Spring Break in Paris with your hunky boyfriend. I don't think it can get much better than that." "It would get better if everyone left my personal life out of their discus
"Are you kidding," shrieked Hailey. "I'm going to Paris on Spring Break. This is way too cool. I can't believe it. I have to go shopping for some new clothes. We should get one of those CD's that teaches you how to speak French in three days. I'm going to call Willow." "Just a minute, Hailey," interrupted her father. "I can't go since we have to work. It's the busy time of year for those of us in accounting. I expect all of you to obey Melissa and Donna without question or dissent. That goes for you, too, Mitchell. You're a very mature young man, but Melissa and Donna are the adults on this trip. I want all of you to have a great time but be safe. Mitchell, I'll rely on you to keep them all safe. You seem to have assumed that duty already. No one wanders off alone and always be sure that Melissa and Donna know where you are. That's my speech on this trip." Later, as Christine was standing on the porch with Mitchell, she mentioned what she knew had to be on his mind. "I made sure tha
Mitchell lifted his overnight bag and went to Jordan's room and knocked. She quickly opened it with her suitcase in hand and tears running down her cheeks. She stepped into the hall and slammed the door behind her. "Let's get out of here. I watched the news while I was packing. They had a clip of you carrying me half naked, but with my tits blurred out. Then they bleeped the bad parts of my brilliant speech about you bleeping me with your big bleep. I've probably destroyed both our careers and lost Christine's friendship. I hope she doesn't believe that we did anything. I don't know how I'm going to be able to face her." Jordan said. Mitchell had called for a cab to take them to LAX. When he and Jordan entered the lobby from the elevator, several photographers began snapping pictures of them and calling out questions. Mitchell calmly led a teary-eyed Jordan out the door to the waiting cab without making any comment. It was dusk when Mitchell pulled into the Leonard driveway "I can'
"You're right, Sweetheart. This relationship, this love that you two have isn't like anything I've ever seen. You aren't normal or average. Your capacity and ability are exceptional. Don't let me discourage you. I admire and respect your confidence in each other, as well as the Acep love you share. It's very rare and extremely special," Mitchell finished speaking with Christine and went to check on Jordan. She had managed to push the covers down, so she was on her side with her amazing breasts on display. Shaking his head, Mitchell covered her back up and went and stretched out as well as he could on a stuffed chair in the corner.He was awaited some time later by an unfamiliar sound and sat up to listen. Unable to identify it, he stood and walked toward it. He found Jordan huddled in the fetal position on the floor of the bathroom, sobbing uncontrollably. He gently picked her up, carried her back into the room, and sat back down in his chair while Jordan cried and clung to him. Mitc
Mitchell remained silent as he carried Jordan to the door while everyone watched. Before leaving, he gently placed Jordan on a chair, unbuttoned his shirt, took it off, placed it over her, and buttoned it up. More than a few of the watchers noticed the way Mitchell's biceps filled out the sleeves of his undershirt as he easily lifted Jordan and left the suite.By the time the elevator reached the bottom floor, Jordan was making no sense at all. She had her arms wrapped around Mitchell's neck and her head buried in his shoulder. Mitchell turned to his left and exited the hotel through a side door. He crossed the street as quickly as he could, entered his hotel from a side street, and hurried to the elevators. Jordan's room was next to his, but when he reached it, he realized that she didn't have her card key. All she had was a thong and the shirt Mitchell had placed over her nakedness.Mitchell had no choice but to take her to his room. As he kicked the door closed, Jordan began maki
Dwayne called Mitchell later in the day. "You and Jordan are going to perform on your big hit on 'American Singer' on their season finale. That's Thursday and they'll have a huge audience because that's when they name their season winner. The show's supplying two round trip tickets, two hotel rooms, and paying each of you ten grand for the day's work. If you want that directed to the hospital fund, I'll see that it happens. I have it set up for the two of you to fly out to LA Thursday. You'll do the show that night, stay in a good hotel and fly home the next morning.""That sounds great. That show's huge and millions of people watch it, especially the season finale," pointed out Christine when Mitchell told her about Dwayne's call. "You'll promote your song and make money for the hospital fund. I'm not upset about not being included. We're going to be apart a lot in the future, and we have to deal with it. You can bet I'll be watching the show and wishing you and Jordan the best."T
"This campaign has been an unbelievable success, and that's mostly the result of everything you two have done to make this work. We have almost three months left, so we should be able to build the total even higher. It would be great if we had a million dollars by graduation. I know that isn't likely, but it would be a tremendous pleasure to announce that total in front of all the parents. But whatever the total, it'll be a wonderful moment for all of us.""Do you want to tell Ms. Metzger, or shall I?" asked Christine, as she watched for Mitchell to nod at her. "Dwayne Burton called last night. He's roughly edited those TV shows we shot in LA, but ABC has already been pushing very hard to buy them. He told us that the network offered a huge sum. It would guarantee at least a million dollars for the hospital fund. Dwayne told them it wasn't enough. He said we'd agree if ABC would ante up another million just to buy an option to hire us to tape two more shows. If they decide to enforce
"She said her news director heard the rumor that Hardy clashed with us this morning and was escorted from the hotel. The local station was disappointed that it didn't have more coverage of Saturday night. They told Nell that she'd be traveling with us when we went to any significant events from now on. Her interview tomorrow will be replayed, at least in part, on the network's morning show. She's going to meet us at school a little early. She thought it would be a good backdrop while she asked us questions,” Christine stated."She wants Hailey, Jordan, and us to be available for the interview. She's going to ask about that encounter you had with that Chechen, so be ready for that. I'll probably tell her about our invitation to Paris, unless you have an objection, Mitchell.""I'm going to be on TV. What should I wear? What will she ask me? What if I sound stupid? Mom, you have to record it for me," insisted Hailey."Go ahead and tell her about Paris. She'll be excited about that tri