Chapter 4: Upside Down
Hannah pulled up at the police station and she ran up the steps. She ran in, going straight the front desk. "I need to talk to Conner McKnight," she insisted.
"And you are?" The officer asked.
"Hannah, Hannah Hart, I'm his girlfriend."
"Hold on for a minute, we're just about done questioning him."
Hannah nodded her head slowly and she bit her lip. Conner came out and saw Hannah there. "Oh God Conner!" She gasped. They removed the cuffs and she threw her arms around him. Conner hugged her back and she buried her head in his shoulder. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah," he replied.
She placed her hands on his face with tears pressing against her eyes. "Hannah, I'm okay," he assured her.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Let's get out of here and then I'll tell you."
(Conner's Hotel Room)
Hannah turned the lights on and she saw a bruise on Conner's eye starting to form. "What happened?" She asked. Conner had her sit down.
"I was heading to my car after I dropped you and your mom off back at your room. I was halfway there when I saw a bunch of guys beating on Coach Schmidt. I go over to stop them and one of the guys had stabbed him. One of the guys had punched me," he started.
Hannah was able to get some ice and she was able to get him to put an icepack against his eye. "When I was dazed, I saw that the knife was in my hand. Damn it, Hannah, they framed me!" He added. Hannah held onto his hand. "They're going to find out that I'm there a lot and I yell at him often. They're going to think that I did it because I threatened to switch your coaches," he explained.
"Conner…" she started.
"Don't Hannah, just don't."
She sighed and she lowered her head slightly. She then looked at him, placed her hands on his face, and she kissed him deeply. Conner kissed her back and he placed his hand on the back of her neck.
(Hannah's Room)
Hannah came home at almost three in the morning and she saw her mother there. "Mom…" she trailed off.
"Where have you been? I've been worried sick," Kimberly told her, standing up.
"I was with Conner," she answered.
Hannah sighed and she sat down on the bed. She explained to her mother about everything. Kimberly sat next to her and she stroked Hannah's hair. "Who could've done this to him mom? Why would they do this to him?" She asked.
"The world can be cruel baby," she replied.
Hannah lowered her head and she let out a sob. Kimberly wrapped her arms around her daughter and she let her daughter cry against her. "It's okay, sweetie, it's okay," she whispered.
The next morning, Kimberly picked up her phone and she stood outside. "Hello," a voice answered.
"Hey babe," Kimberly greeted.
"Kim…is everything okay?" Tommy asked.
She let out a heavy sigh. "Tommy, I won't be coming home for awhile. Hannah needs me," she replied.
"What's going on?" He asked.
Kimberly explained what happened and she looked through the window to see Hannah still asleep. "Tommy, she needs a coach. Last night she told me that she still wants to keep training, because Conner wants her to finish out her training, and he wants her to compete," she explained.
"So, you're back in the training business," Tommy commented.
"Looks like it."
"Well, you know that we love you and miss you."
Kimberly smiled. "I love you too," she answered. She hung up and she looked over at Hannah to see her waking up. She walked back into the room. "If you're really serious about continuing on with your training, then we should get started," she informed. Hannah nodded her head slowly before getting up.
(The Gym)
Kimberly watched as Hannah did her floor exercises. "Hannah, remember to bend your knees when you go to land, if you land with your knees straight you'll pop your needs right out of joint," she reminded. Hannah nodded her head slowly. "Concentrate, just think of it back when we were in Silver Hills, remember?" She asked. Hannah smiled and she nodded.
"I remember," she replied.
"Good, now use those moves like you did when you were training for that competition in Silver Hills."
Hannah let out a deep breath and Kimberly watched as her daughter did the most extraordinary moves on the mats.
(Flashback)
"I want to be a gymnast mom," Hannah informed. Kimberly set her book down and she looked over at Hannah.
"You do?" She asked.
"Yeah. I've seen your pictures and saw the old movies of when you were a gymnast. I want to do it to," Hannah replied.
Kimberly set Kylie back into her crib and she sat in front of Hannah. "You know it's not easy. Some of the moves you do out there are dangerous," Kimberly pointed out. She nodded. "If you're truly serious, I'll get you started," she answered. Hannah shrieked and she hugged her.
"Thanks mom!" She told Kimberly.
(End Flashback)
Kimberly pushed her hair out of her face as she felt a lump form in her throat. "That seemed like such a long time ago," she murmured. She watched as Hannah finished off her floor exercises. "A long time ago," she added.
(Conner's Room: Three Days Later)
Conner sighed as he turned around when the cops put the cuffs on him. "Conner McKnight, you are under arrest for attempted murder on Coach William Schmidt. You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney…" the officer informed.
Hannah pulled up in her car and her eyes widened in horror when the cops led Conner to the car. "NO! STOP!" She shouted. She got out of her car and she ran over to them. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" She shouted.
"Back off ma'am, police business," an officer answered.
Conner looked over at Hannah. "I love you Hannah Hart, remember that," he told her. He got into the car and the cops got back into their cars. Hannah watched with tears falling down her face as they drove off with her boyfriend. Kimberly walked over to her daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Sweetheart," she murmured.
Hannah turned around and she hugged Kimberly with a sob. "He didn't do it, mom, he didn't do it," she sobbed. Kimberly sighed as she hugged her daughter tight. "I'm going to prove to them that he didn't do it, I'm going to clear his name," she vowed.
