Chapter Two

Starr woke up feeling completely exhausted. It had been a week since Starr had found out that Cole had betrayed her for Hannah. She hadn't slept much because every time she closed her eyes, flashes of Hannah and Cole being together would keep her from finding sleep.

There was a knock on the door. Starr rolled her eyes and got out of bed. "Mom, I just want to be left alone," she said before she answered the door to find Markko there.

"I'm sorry Starr, if you want to be left alone, I'll go," Markko said as he turned to leave.

"No Markko, please stay, I could really use a friend right now. I tried confiding in Lang but she just made excuses for Cole."

Starr, can I ask you a question?" Markko asked as he sat down on the bed.

"You can ask me anything you want," replied Starr as she sat down on the bed.

"Why didn't you tell me about Langston and Ford?"

"She told me that it was a mistake and that it would never happen again. She was my friend, I didn't want to betray her and I foolishly believed her when she told me that she had ended it with Ford."

"I'm your friend too."

"You're right, I should have told you. I'm sorry, can you forgive me?"

"You were in a difficult position to be in, I understand that you were torn between Langston and
me, so I forgive you," Markko said as he leaned over and hugged Starr."Now, I'll leave you to get dressed so I can take you to breakfast,"

"Okay, I'll meet you downstairs." Starr changed and then headed down the stairs. "You ready to go?"Starr asked Markko as she walked in the living room.

"Of course, I'm always ready to eat."

Starr grabbed her jacket when there was a knock at the door. Starr opened the door to find a sharply dressed stranger.

"Starr Manning?"

"Yeah?"

"You've been served," the man said as he handed Starr a envelope.

Starr shut the door and then opened up the envelope. She dropped the paper. He had taken everything from her. He had her heart, faith and trust and he had thrown it all away for Hannah, but now he had gone too far. If he wanted a fight, she would fight.

"What's that?"

"Cole is suing me for custody of Hope."

Markko wrapped his arms around Starr. There was nothing that he could say to take away her pain, but he would stand by her side and he would do everything he could to make sure that she didn't lose Hope on top of everything else.