Chapter 10: Complications

Back in my old room in Florida, I felt burning hot. The heat was sweltering. I was in shorts and a tank top the minute I walked into my room.

I sighed. I wanted to be back in Forks. I didn't want to be here.

I curled up on the bed I hadn't used in months.

My phone rang and I sighed. Couldn't I get at least one moment of rest?

My stomach lurched. It was Jason.

I considered ignoring the call, but that wouldn't do much good.

I sighed. "Hello?" I asked into the receiver.

"Hey Krissy," he said. I could hear the smile in his voice, and I could hear that he was slurring a little bit. Was he seriously drunk? "I hear you're back for good now."

"Not for very long, if I have anything to do with it." I muttered.

"What was that?" he asked.

"Nothing." I said.

"So, you wanna meet somewhere?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes. "No thanks."

"Why not, Krissy?" I ground my teeth against the stupid ass nickname he had branded me with.

"I'm super tired. I just landed." I said, feigning a yawn.

He sighed. "Come on, Krissy. I wanna see you."

I rolled my eyes again. "No thank you, Jason."

"Please?" he slurred.

"No." I said. "You're drunk. I can hear it in your voice. I don't want to go anywhere with you." I ended the phone call, and turned my phone off.

I spent the night re-packing the things I had taken out of my bag, before falling asleep.

When I woke up I felt as if a truck had rammed right through my heart, but I did have a glimmer of hope for the outcome of the conversation I would be having with my parents.

I took a deep breath and walked downstairs.

My parents were reading the paper sitting at the kitchen.

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat.

They both looked up and smiled.

"Good morning, Kris." My mom said.

"Morning." I said.

"How'd you sleep?" my dad asked.

"Horribly." I said. "The rain used to help me fall asleep back in Forks. Speaking of Forks, I would like to tell you something.

"I'm eighteen. This means I am legally an adult, which means I can make my own decisions as to my living arrangements. What I'm trying to tell you is that I will be leaving on the next flight to Washington to live back in Forks."

My father's eyes bugged out of his head, and my mom snorted.

"Kristina, we've been over this. You are not moving back to Forks."

I shook my head. "Mom, I'm eighteen. I can move out whenever I like. And I want to move out, and back to Forks."

"And who will you stay with?" she asked.

"Either Steph or Jared." I said, more confident in Steph than anything else. I had called her last night telling her I was going to move back, and she told me her door was always open to me.

Jared had said the same thing.

So, I knew I would have a place to go.

My mom laughed. "You are staying here."

I kept my face neutral, not showing any sign of a response.

"Mother, my bag is packed." I said. "There is a plane leaving at seven o'clock tonight with about seventy five seats left. I didn't unpack anything last night. All I need to do is order my plane ticket."

A pregnant pause filled the room. My mom was at a loss for words.

"And how do you think you'll pay for that plane ticket?" she finally asked.

Without missing a beat, I answered her. "I had a job in Forks. I also have a credit card, under my name, and only my name."

She hesitated. Obviously I had put her in a corner where she couldn't think of another way to stop me from leaving.

On the inside, I was grinning like an idiot. There was nothing she could say to stop me from leaving now.

On the outside, my face was neutral. I kept my face straight.

"Well then," my mom said. "If you think you will be safer in a town with a maniac more than with your own parents, then go ahead."

I could tell she was trying to give me the guilt trip. I would not fall for it.

I turned on my heel and walked upstairs, just about to ready to order my ticket when there was a knock at my door.

I turned in my desk chair to see my dad standing in the doorway.

"Yea dad?" I asked.

"Kris, please don't go." He said.

I stared at him incredulously. "What?" I asked.

"You would be so much safer here. Come on Kris, your mom is just trying to protect you."

I bristled at his words. "Dad, I'm eighteen. I can take care of myself. I'm capable of living in Forks."

He came in and sat on my bed, and grasped my hand.

"Kristina, we do know that you're capable. But we would be much more at ease if you were here with us." He said.

"Dad, please understand. I don't want to be here." I said. "I'll be perfectly safe in Forks."

"I know that. But your mom is worried about you. Do this for her."

"Dad, I'm leaving." I said, taking a deep breath.

I barely heard the doorbell ring, but my dad's head cocked to the side.

He sighed. "Kris, please stay. We've missed you. And now we find out what happened in Forks? We're worried about you."

"What's there to be worried about?" I asked bitterly. "I'm 'safe' now." I air-quoted the safe.

"Have you ever heard of post traumatic stress disorder?" he asked. I nodded. "Well, that could be a consequence of what has recently happened with you."

"What are you suggesting?" I whispered.

"Therapy?" he offered. "Or get a doctor to check you out."

"One of the greatest doctors in the country is in Forks." I snapped. "And you pulled me away from him. If something was wrong with me, he's the doctor to treat it."

My dad sighed, and opened his mouth to say something when he was cut off.

"Krissy!" said a voice that haunted me.

I slowly turned to see Jason standing in the doorway of my bedroom.

He walked over to me, and put his arm lazily around my shoulders, I tried not to flinch against his touch.

"I'll leave you two alone." My dad said, leaving my room.

I stared after him, wishing he would've stayed. Why couldn't he be like any other parent on the face of the planet and watch us like vultures to make sure we wouldn't do anything?

"How have you been, Krissy?" he asked.

I shrugged his arm off my shoulders, and closed my laptop.

"I've been okay." I said. "How have you been?"

"Missing you." He said.

I fought against the fighting urge to roll my eyes.

He pecked my cheek, and I flinched away from him.

"What's wrong, Krissy?" he asked.

"Nothing." I said.

He sighed.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I wanted to see you." He said.

"Jason, I'm leaving." I said.

"What?" he asked.

"I'm going to move back to Forks." I said.

"What?" he asked again. "Why?"

"Because," I said, taking a deep breath. "I hate it here. I can't stand to even look at you! Not after everything you did to me, and especially after everything that's just happened to me!"

He looked angry for a second, but that quickly melted away, and he smirked.

"You're scared, aren't you?"

I shook my head. "I just don't want to be here."

He laughed. "Sure."

"Get out." I said.

"I'll see you later, Krissy." He said. "I'm taking you out tonight."

"No you're not." I said.

He laughed again. "See you later."

I shuddered, and opened my laptop again.

Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I entered my credit card information. I held my breath as I waited for the order to go through.

My eyes widened when a message appeared saying that the flight had been cancelled.

I groaned. Well wasn't that just fantastic?

I looked for more flights near Washington, but couldn't find any.

But, I wouldn't let that stop me.

I pulled my suitcase and carry-on bag out of my room, and went downstairs. I heard and audible sigh come from my dad.

"Kris, don't go." He said. "Please, don't go. I'm not forcing you to stay, I'm asking you to."

I shook my head. "Dad, I can't stay here."

He sighed, and sneakily handed me some money.

"Use it wisely." He said softly. Did he know the flight had been cancelled?

All I did was nod, and quietly thank him.

"So, Kris, you're actually leaving?" my mom asked.

I nodded. "Yessiree."

"I know that flight was cancelled, Kristina." She said.

"Why do you think I'm heading to the Greyhound station?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow.

She sighed. "It will take days for you to get there."

I shrugged. "If that's the price I have to pay, I'll pay it. I. Do. Not. Want. To. Stay. Here."

My dad looked at the floor. My mom kept eye contact with me. She tried to see through my plan, but, obviously, I was hiding nothing. I had been brutally honest with her, and my eyes locked with hers.

"Well then, I guess this is goodbye." She said.

"Goodbye." I said bitterly, and left the house, slamming the front door behind me.

The Greyhound bus station wasn't too far from my house; it was a fifteen minute walk. Thankfully, there was a bus leaving for Kansas tonight. I sighed in relief. I could figure out how to get to Washington from there.

I bought the ticket, and went into the small restaurant near the bus station. I looked at the menu, slightly annoyed.

"Excuse me?" as male's voice asked from behind me. I turned away from the menu to look up at him.

"Is this seat taken?" he asked, motioning to the seat across from me.

I shook my head.

"Thank you." He smiled. "It's pretty crowded in here; I had no idea where to sit."

I nodded. "I know. I'm lucky I found this booth."

He smiled again, straight teeth gleaming, his dark hair was slightly tousled, and his bright blue eyes seemed to see right into my soul.

"Where ya headed?" he asked.

"Washington…well, right now Kansas." I said.

"Really?" he asked, I nodded. "What a coincidence, I'm headed to Seattle."

"Small world." I mumbled, looking back to my menu.

"Order anything you like." He said. "It's on me."

My eyes widened. "You don't need to do that."

He smiled. "It's fine. I got it."

"Thank you." I said softly.

"It's really my pleasure."

The waitress came over to our table, and I ordered a Caesar salad. It was the only thing on the menu that I knew had no traces of meat in it.

The guy, I realized I still didn't know his name, ordered a club sandwich.

"So, I don't even know your name." I said.

He smiled. "It's Chase. What's yours?"

"Kristina." I said. "Nice to meet you."

"Same to you." He said.

AN: I KNOW it's been awhile, but I've been busy. If I still even have ANY readers left, I'm sorry for the delay. And FYI I love reviews