Chapter 1
Erica Kane, Pinevalley's own "Queen Diva"', was perfectly capable of driving a speeding car down a deserted stretch of road under distressingly emotional conditions. It wasn't some death defying feat like the highwire or something, or at least that's what she thought. She was wrong.
It all happened in a matter of seconds. First there was an object in front of her, next there was the screeching of the tires as she tried to break, then the loud thud of something against the hood of her car, and finally another thud as whatever it was hit the pavement. Simple seconds, but to her it seemed like an eternity in which she was frozen, only responding by slamming her foot on the brakes.
As the car finally came to complete halt and time resumed it's usual course Erica gained a death grip on the steering wheel. Thoughts of the field day the tabloids would have with this one ran through her head at the speed of light. Quickly regaining her Kane composure, she unbuckled herself and opened her door to get out. The minute she did she regretted it, as the sound of painful moaning hit her ears.
She quickly went to see what was the source, hoping beyond hope it was some animal. No such luck. What she hit was a kid. Immediatly the thoughts of the tabloids drilled their way back into her head. "Ow! Hey are you, like, planning to help me or just stand there and stare." said the blonde girl sprawled aimlessly on the road.The words brought Erica out her reverie. As the girl opened her mouth to say something the older woman shot her a glar that made the blonde quickly close her mouth with an audible click. Erica wasted no time, she quickly got out her cell phone and dialed.
"Hello Jackson, it's me Erica. I've just been in an accident and... No, Jackson I'm fine, really... What do you mean what happened? This girl just came out of nowhere and jumped in front of my car!" "What?! You, like, totally mowed me down." the girl piped up, receiving another glare for her troubles. "Yeah, that's her... She's making an awful lot of weird faces." You just, like, hit me with your car, you want smiles? the youth thought of replying, but one look at Erica made her think better of it. "Old Valley Road. Hurry Jackson." The last words uttered, she hung up her phone and turned all her attention to the girl in front of her. "Don't people usually call, like 911 or something, here you are calling some sort of specialist or something." The comment made Erica retort, "Oh I wasn't calling a specialist." "Then who's Jackson?" "My lawyer." "Your lawyer? Whoa! Wait a minute...lawyer...I...but you..." was the blonde managed to stutter out. "Hey, I didn't run you down you jumped in front of my car." "What?! I was, like, trying to cross the street." "This is a deserted stretch of road, what were you trying to cross to?" the question imosed upon the girl seemed to phase her a bit as she searched for an answer.
An eerie silence settled between them and Erica looked like she was about shake the girl senseless if it continued. She probably would have had it not been for Jackson's timing. He pulled up next to Erica's car, and got out as fast as he could. The sight he came upon was that of Erica leaning almost nonchalantly against her car while a kid laid aimlessly in front of the vehicle. "Hey, that her?" he asked, to which Erica only nodded. Jackson made his way to the young woman. "Are you okay?" "I'm kinda cold." "She's cold. She's going into shock. Erica I have some blankets in the back of my car would you..." He was cut off by a more than irritated Erica. "You can't seriously be buying into this Jackson?" Jackson gets up and heads for the car to retrieve the blankets himself. "I already called an ambulance. When the police arrive please Erica don't tell them your story." "It's not a story! Jackson, she threw herself at my car!" Jackson looked sternly at his ex-sister-in-law. "Seriously Erica, you called for my help, I'm giving it. Don't say a word."