Hey Guys!
Wow here we are at Chapter 27. I can't believe we've made it this far! Go Us!
MDexter2010 – I'm glad you're re-reading the story, it'll give you a fresher perspective and possibly help you to work out who T.E. is. Yes I was hoping it would be a surprise finding out about Rhonda and Kenneth and you're right, it is still hard to know who to trust. It's been a tough ride for everyone including Lauren and Rein hasn't it? Andy was very lucky to get the answers right but yes I think we all knew that it never would truly be over for him. I'm glad you looked up the notes! But yes T.E. is very evil aren't they? I'm glad you liked the plan for them to dress up as nurses. At this stage I don't plan on writing any more QAF ff, but who knows what the future holds. If you want to continue the series, feel free to message me and we'll go from there.
Patricia D – It was surprising to learn that Alison was at the hospital wasn't it? Yes I can confirm Dr Stappord was telling the truth, T.E. is a blonde. It is hard to tell if it's Svedantcha or Alison isn't it? Yes, you're right T.E. still wants to control people. Absolutely! Yes it was very surprising to learn that William visited Rick wasn't it? It certainly changes things and makes us all wonder why Rick lied to Andy. I'm glad you're enjoying it Patricia!
Latrice S – I'm glad you thought Linds did the right thing by telling everyone to focus on T.E. The distraction have been rather alluring haven't they? But they need to focus if they're finally going to capture the psychopath. It is hard to believe that Palmer is with his Bean Supplier, I agree. Time will tell if he was being honest. Yes Andy was very fortunate to make his way out of East Rock Park, hopefully he can make his way home soon. Yes William's death was intended to be a shock. No it was not planned, it was a spur of the moment thing but I think it fits in nicely with the book.
Well we left off with Maya having cornered someone in a black hoodie, gloves and scarf, is it T.E? Let's find out as we pick up with Chapter 27.
Love Hurts.
Chapter Twenty Seven – The commemoration.
Maya starred at the figure in front of her with shock.
No, she thought to herself. There's no way that's T.E!
"W-what are you going to do to me?" she couldn't help but stammer.
"You followed me," Alison said blankly looking back at her. "You're really not on the team then?"
"Well, you're T.E right?" Maya questioned, a little unsure of Alison's response.
"No," Alison replied smiling. "I'm not."
"We thought you might've been," came a voice from behind her.
Maya turned around to see Spencer and Jenny coming towards her.
"W-what's going on?" Maya asked confused.
"This was a set-up," Spencer admitted. "We've been wrecking our brains for ages now trying to work out who T.E. is and we've come up with nothing."
"But then we discovered one thing that seemed to make sense," Jenny went on.
"We know about how you suddenly met Jay," Alison intervened, making Maya turn back around. "How you were the only other person in the computer room at the library."
Spencer and Jenny made their way around Maya and stood next to Alison.
"How you two met suddenly, how you conveniently knew all about Rick!" Spencer chimed in.
"Of!" Maya corrected. "Like I told Jay that day, I never knew Rick, I knew of him."
"Oh," Jenny sighed. "We didn't know that part."
Maya sighed as a realization dawned on her.
"Wait a minute," she said slowly. "You all thought that I was T.E?"
"You have to admit," Spencer answered. "It does sound suspicious. I mean you show up out of the blue and just suddenly become Jay's friend because you know of Rick?"
"That's not why we became friends," Maya laughed. "Wow, people really need to get their facts straight before they start making accusations. Jay and I met while talking about Rick's up and coming parole yes, but we formed a bond when he started talking to me about his troubles with Andy."
"He was having troubles with Andy?" Spencer asked.
"Yes!" Maya implored. "How far behind are you guys? Jay had started experiencing some trust issues with Andy because T.E. slipped him a note about Andy visiting Rick. Something Jay didn't know about at the time."
"And so you were…counseling him?" Spencer asked confused.
"No!" Maya snapped. "I just talked to him and I could feel his pain. Anyone who's had trust issues knows how it feels. So I told him if he needed anything else to call me and he did. Honestly, sometimes gossip is much more exciting than the truth, but that's really all there is to it. Jay and I became friends and I got to know Andy at my party."
"So you're not T.E?" Alison asked.
Maya just looked at Alison for a moment.
"Would I have chased after you and demanded you reveal yourself if I was?" she asked.
"She's got a point," Spencer agreed turning to Alison. "If she were T.E. she wouldn't have followed you. Or even if she did, she would have just demanded to know which minion you were."
"I just want to know who it is," Jenny sighed. "When everything went down with Jay last year at the warehouse I was so frantic and going out of my mind. I didn't know if I'd lose my son or not. Then after Lindsay was released I was so scared she would relapse and now with Andy gone, Jay's pretty much back at square one."
"It sucks that we live in a world where people get their joy from hurting others," Maya agreed coming around to her side and putting an arm around her. "Keep hope alive Jenny, I'm sure we'll find Andy soon and then T.E."
"Yeah," Spencer nodded, going to Jenny's other side and wrapping an arm around her also. "And then when we find T.E, you can be the first to give them a piece of your mind ok?"
"OK," Jenny agreed. "Just don't give me too long with them or they may not be alive long enough for everyone else to deal with."
"Deal," Alison agreed.
Arm in arm they all walked back to Mel's place happy to have worked out that it wasn't Maya.
That was to say Jenny and Alison were happy to know it wasn't Maya. Spencer on the other hand was still trying to deal with the fact that she knew Alison, her friend, had been at the hospital while Lauren and Andy were being tortured.
Long had she known how to shelve her feelings and harden her heart until a time when she was alone. But even now walking back to Mel's with a smile on her face, in her mind she was screaming at the girl standing next to her.
How could you! Her mind screamed. How could you do this to all these nice people! Maybe we should do it to you!
But Spencer recalled the moment they all left Casa de Carmita's the night before, when William had insisted they go and talk to Palmer.
Everyone had left the house motivated to find Palmer, but all of them for different reasons. For Linds, she wanted to finally track down the person that she believed wanted nothing more than to imitate her. For Micah and Jay, it was all about finding out where Andy was. Jay still hadn't given up hope and neither had Micah, but the longer he was, wherever he was, the less likely he was doing well. For Mel it was about putting an end to the ridiculous year they had endured. For Rein it was about tracking down the man she once trusted.
But for Lauren, it was about confronting her boyfriend. The man she thought would always be there for her who she now realized had actually been in on everything.
Spencer meanwhile was just trying to fit in with everyone else. Stay out of the way where she might be considered a hindrance and help out wherever help was needed. But the thought that continued to roll around in her mind was that of Alison.
Though Svedantcha had been accused of being T.E. she was not actually working with them so they would not have to interact with her unless she decided to get back in contact with someone like she had with B and Jay.
But Alison?
Alison was most likely waiting for all of them back at Linds' place. What were they going to do? Confront her about all this?
It was when they got into the car that Spencer voiced her concern to Mel.
"No we mustn't say anything," Mel had said defiantly. "For starters we don't know that Alison definitely is T.E."
"But-" Lauren had chimed in.
"I'm not saying she's not involved," Mel continued. "Lauren, you positively identified her as being someone who was at the hospital. But if we are wrong about her being T.E. making that accusation could hurt everything more than help it. We need to talk to Palmer first and get the full-story. Then and only then can we approach Alison."
The consensus among Lauren, Rein and Linds who were all in the car with Spencer and Mel, seemed to be one of agreeance and so Spencer sent the others a text advising as such.
Like Linds, Jay and B had said earlier, it was hard to know who to trust. But she figured that at least those who had come with her to Casa de Carmita had to be innocent, right?
"Spencer are you ok?" Alison asked, taking the poor girl out of her thoughts.
They were just about to reach Mel's house and Spencer took a moment to realize that she had been out of it the whole way.
"I'm fine," Spencer said testily.
"No you're not," Alison retorted. "You've been upset about something for a while now. What is it?"
The voices in Spencer's head were screaming at her. Trying to force her to face Alison.
It was you wasn't it?! The voices demanded. It was you all along!
But she couldn't let the voices win.
At least for now, she had to act like she didn't know anything.
"It's just been a tough couple of weeks you know?" she finally said.
"I know," Alison replied. "But hopefully it will all be over soon."
"*"
As Mel made the final finishing touches to what she was hoping would be a scene set for the best commemoration possible she couldn't help but think back to what had happened last night.
After everyone agreed to not confront Alison until the right moment, they all arrived at the diner. Mel was psyched – no determined - to find this man and get everything out of him that she possibly could.
How dare he do this to Andy?! To everyone?!
Killing people, placing fear into others, stalking them, blackmailing her and Andy? It was ridiculous to say the least.
But at least Lauren could see past the new relationship she had and finally see this man for who he was. A no good drop nick, who really needed to be taught a lesson before being prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
But as they all walked into the café they were surprised once again to only see Rachael there.
"Hey Guys," she said sorrowfully. "Palmer's still not here, but can I get you anything?"
"Still not here?!" Mel questioned. "How is he still not here?"
"He said he needed to take care of things with those bean people," Rachael replied. "But seriously, we've had next to no customers for the past week. If he doesn't hurry back he'll lose his business."
"He'll lose more than that when he comes back," Lauren could be heard whispering to Rein.
"Rachael," Mel replied rather seriously. "The moment Palmer gets back I need you to call me, you hear? I can't say much now, but something very serious is going on."
"Also don't tip him off that we were here," Lauren chimed in. "Or that I'm back. I want it to be a…surprise."
It was well said; after all if Rachael told Palmer anything, he would get rather suspicious and know something was up. They had to make sure he was completely unaware of what was going on.
As Mel came back to the present she couldn't help but wonder where Palmer was. There was no way he was dealing with the 'bean people'.
Even if it started out that way, there was no way he was still dealing with that, was there? It certainly wouldn't be a smart business move. If suppliers were taking him away from his business for this long, wouldn't it just be better to get a new supplier?
But Mel knew better than to believe this was the reason. William had pretty much admitted it himself. Palmer was responsible for everything that had gone down.
The clandestine meeting with Lauren at the speed dating venue, was definitely more than what everyone had first thought.
It had to be that Svedantcha had sent him out purposefully to woo the woman. With everything she had learned about Lauren, it wouldn't have been too hard for her to see that these two would be a perfect match.
Then of course there was that time at the Dètendez-Vouz where Palmer had been so snappy, erratically stating that he was her boyfriend as though that meant he owned her and that no one else could help her with anything. Not to mention the time at the restaurant after Lauren was released when he seemed so determined to keep her away from the Dètendez-Vouz!
Was something meant to be going down that day? Mel wondered. Was Lauren's going back to work interrupting some big scheme that Svedantcha had come up with?
Speaking of Svedantcha no one had seen or heard from her since that night that she approached B and Jay about Zandra. This didn't sit well with Mel, considering the amount of times they had all been at Casa De Carmita. If Svedantcha was innocent wouldn't they have bumped into her by now? Even if she tried to act all innocent, wouldn't she have at least come home?
But Mel couldn't think about all that now.
Everyone was coming over to pay their respects to the recently departed. Even though Andy was still out there and even though that fact sent a chill down her spine, until Palmer returned there was nothing they could do about it.
Nothing at all.
But wait.
"*"
Speaking of Andy, the man was in what appeared to be quite a fortuitous circumstance.
Mrs. Kemmel seemed to take pity on the man and had offered him a shower, which though he was reluctant about had accepted in the end. Mrs. Kemmel had assured him that no one would be using the gym that day so he would have the locker room all to himself.
As Andy stood under the graciously warm water, his thoughts turned back to Jay. As much as he had, in turn thought about everyone else, the majority of the time his thoughts lead him to his partner.
He thought about how happy he would be to see him. How much he wanted to just hold him, breath in his scent. Kiss him and know that no matter what else they faced that everything would be ok as long as they had each other.
He thought about what Jay had gone through at the warehouse and what he had gone through since because of it. He thought of how, comparatively he had gone through so much less than Jay had while he was in the hospital. But when he thought of T.E. he could easily explain why.
This T.E. though undeniably crazy or as his Aunt Deb would say 'off the deep end' they were, was not someone to torture information out of people. Though somehow they had found out all about Andy's phobia for needles, a very unfortunate circumstance which lead to an incredible amount of discomfort and stress. But again, nothing compared to what his partner had experienced.
Unconsciously Andy's face looked down at the bracelet that he was still wearing. The inscription where you lead, I will follow still there, clear as day. But if anything, since giving each other that jewelry there had been a lot less leading and following and a lot more moving in different directions.
What made both partings – Jay at the warehouse and Andy at the hospital - even more frightening was that both times T.E. had taken the person right under their boyfriend's nose. Jay had been at Andy's table at the Christmas Party and Andy had been in bed with Jay.
Stepping out of the shower, Andy got dressed and was just about to head out of the door when something caught his eye.
There on one of the mirrors near the exit was a message, written in marker.
Escape from the hospital is one thing, escape from your reality another. I'm still watching you Andy. Just be grateful that unlike some of your friends, you are still alive – T.E.
"*"
A knock at the door pulled Mel out of the thoughts that continued to consume her. With one final look at the room, she marched forward to open the door.
"Hey guys," she said mournfully. "Thank you so much for coming."
Outside looking back at her were Alison, Spencer, Maya and Jenny.
"It's the least we could do," Maya replied, giving Mel a hug. "I'm so sorry for your loss Mel."
"Thanks Maya," Mel replied.
As everyone made their way in, Mel wondered how long it would take for everyone else to arrive.
She had considered phoning Ted and inviting him down to pay his respects to Emmett, but what good would it do? Besides no one had even heard from him since he was found guilty of outrageous intentional infliction of emotional distress and charged a sum of $700,000.
But maybe it was for the best.
After all, at least Ted was completely innocent when it came to this new T.E and their minions.
Another knock at the door was heard and Mel quickly walked over to answer it.
"Hey guys," Mel again said mournfully.
Linds had returned as promised with Debbie who had found a nice formal gown for the occasion, which Mel suspected Linds had picked out for her at the same place she'd found the one for herself.
"Oh honey," Debbie replied. "It was so good of you to do this. We all…we all need our chance to say goodbye."
"I agree," Mel replied hugging her. "You're welcome."
As Debbie walked past her, Mel turned to Linds.
"Not too late are we?" her girlfriend asked.
"Not at all," Mel replied kissing her quickly. "The guys haven't even shown up."
"And here I thought they said that it was women that took the longest to get ready?" Linds cracked.
Mel smiled as Linds walked past her to entertain the other guests. It was so like Linds to find a well-timed joke to lighten her mood, even if it was only a little.
Next to arrive was Emily and with her a young handsome gentleman who stood all suited up by her side as though politely escorting her to the event.
"Oh Emily," Mel couldn't help but say. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you Melanie," Emily replied. "It's been a tough few weeks, but I'm just so thankful that you decided to do this."
For an uncomfortable couple of seconds Emily seemed to stand there not knowing what to do, but eventually emotion won out and she gave Mel a hug, much to the attorney's surprise.
Mel smiled at the gentleman over Emily's shoulder and he in return, smiled back.
As Emily moved on, Mel turned to the man.
"Thank you for bringing her," she said to the stranger. "I know it's not under the best circumstances, but it's nice to meet you. I'm Mel."
"Thanks," the man replied. "But I didn't bring her, we just arrived together. I'm Jason, Alison's brother."
"Oh," Mel replied, summing up all the thoughts racing around in her head.
Alison's brother? The man with the pot? The man Alison spoke to Lauren about?
"Ah – hi," she quickly continued. "Please, ah, come in."
"Thank you," the man replied handing her some flowers. "I didn't quite know what to bring, but my mother always told me flowers were best for a funeral."
"Oh-" Mel said again. "Um, yeah. They are, thanks."
Mel took the bunch of flowers as Jason headed off to join the others.
The moment he left, Mel scoured the bunch looking for anything out of the ordinary. Anything ranging from pot to cameras. She didn't know what it was about this man that Andy had shared a fleeting relationship with, but there was just something off about him. Something she didn't fully trust.
"*"
"T.E?!" Andy couldn't help but exclaim. "Here?!"
The thought that T.E. could still be around, watching his every move sickened him. Yes there was a part of him that knew T.E. would always be around, but the majority of his thoughts since the first night of being dropped into East Rock Park had changed from fear to being at ease.
He had just assumed since he'd unmasked T.E. that the psychopath would no longer be after him.
What was the point?
He'd already cracked the code.
But there it was.
Undeniable proof that T.E. was still hot on his trial.
Not only that, but what about the end of that message?
"Just be grateful that unlike some of your friends, you are still alive?" Andy repeated aloud. "What does that mean?"
Indeed what did it mean?
Has T.E. killed someone? He wondered. Or as the message had implied had T.E. killed many someone's?
"Oh my god Jay!" Andy blurted out. "The bitch has killed him!"
Without thinking about what he was doing next Andy flew into a violent rage kicking lockers and throwing bins, screaming for all he could.
He was mad!
How could T.E. do this?! He wondered. How could T.E. kill Jay?!
Finding another bin that he hadn't yet turned over, Andy imagined T.E's face holographed onto the front of it. Like the witch in a movie he loved, the hologram growled out to him.
"The bitch has killed him! The bitch has killed him!" it imitated in a sickening voice, before threatening Andy. "I'll get you my pretty!"
Andy flung himself at the bin, before holding it above his head and throwing it across the room, hearing naught but laughter in his head.
Not his own though, it was the laughter of T.E!
Andy raced up to the bin and started punching it. His hands started to bleed but he didn't care.
"Oh Andy, you can't kill me!" The T.E. voice in his head was screaming. "Without Jay you need me Andy."
Punch.
"You need me Andy to fill those dark and lonely nights."
Punch.
"Andy you need me to tell you he's not coming back to your poor pathetic self."
Punch.
"Andy are you listening to me?"
"Andy you're pathetic!"
"Andy you-"
"Andy!" came a voice that was clearly not T.E. and now that he looked up Andy realized it was also not imaginary.
It was Mrs. Kemmel.
"Andy, what the hell have you been doing?!" she demanded, looking around at the now trashed-up locker room.
"*"
"Andy?" Mrs. Kemmel asked again, this time more softly as though concerned. "Are you ok?"
"Ummm," Andy began looking around at the mess he'd created while brushing a hand through his hair. "I-I don't know exactly. I'm so s-"
"Who is T.E?!" Mrs. Kemmel demanded.
"I'm sorry what?" Andy replied walking over to where she was looking before realizing she'd found the message.
"…unlike some of your friends you are still alive?" Mrs. Kemmel finished reading aloud. "What is this T.E. talking about? Is this one of your friends? Are you a criminal? Are you in a gang?"
Andy was taken too far aback to be able to answer those questions.
"Oh my god I've done it again!" the teacher said exasperated. "I will not- I can not do this again!"
"Do what?" Andy asked.
"I've taken in a vigilantly before," the teacher admitted. "I wanted to see good in him so I… But no, I can't do that again."
She seemed to be talking to herself more than to Andy.
"I'm not a criminal," he replied, beginning to answer her questions. "I'm not involved in a gang. T.E. is not my friend at all! I'm an attorney actually."
As Andy finished his sentence he chuckled slightly.
"Wow, I'd almost forgotten my profession," he admitted.
"Attorney?" The teacher questioned, surprised. "You could've fooled me."
"I've had a very tough week," Andy admitted.
"I'll say," the teacher replied.
"It's true though," Andy smiled. "I work for Shauna and Shamerson law firm. I've just…"
"…had a rough week?" the teacher supplied smiling back.
"Yeah."
Mrs. Kemmel motioned Andy forward.
"Come on," she said smiling. "I think we could both do with a pot of tea."
It was in that moment that Andy realized just how much he could do with a pot of tea or coffee or any hot liquid actually. Smiling with her Andy walked with the teacher out of the gym and together they headed towards the teacher's lounge.
"*"
"We are gathered here today," Mel began, looking out at the sea of people who were looking up at her. "To mourn the loss of 3 incredible people Emmett Hummington, Richard Gilbourne and Carmita De Leon."
B smiled up at Mel encouragingly.
It hadn't taken much longer for the men to arrive. B, Jay and Micah had arrived together and not too much later Lauren and Rein had also arrived and the ceremony had begun.
Many seemed surprised by Jason's inclusion, even Alison. But as Jenny had reasoned what was one more?
"Some would have you believe that their passing was peaceful," Mel went on. "And a priest or minister might even stand up here and ask god why he took the lives of 3 beautiful people. But we're not priests or ministers and we know why their lives were lost."
Spencer glanced at Alison, who had taken that particular moment to glance back at her from the row in front.
"You ok?" she whispered.
"Ah – y-yeah," Spencer whispered back.
"All 3 of these people were murdered!" Mel continued. "Murdered by T.E!"
"You tell 'em sister!" Emily surprisingly yelled out.
"Yes the question of why is still one that I'm sure flows through all of your minds. It still flows through mine. But to question god about it, in this case, would be wrong!"
"Right on!" Emily shouted back once more.
"You tell 'em Mel!" Debbie agreed, earning a smile from Emily.
"It is not god that is going to answer these questions. It is T.E. who we will force to answer those questions, the moment he returns!"
At that, as one, everyone stood and applauded Mel. Applauded her for not only what she'd said, but also for having the guts to say it.
When everyone had resumed their seats Mel continued.
"But the time for yelling at T.E. will come, for now it's time to morn those who have passed. Today we start our ceremony with our beloved spicy chika, Carmita."
As though it were perfectly planned Carmita's biggest hit Midnight and us dancing started up as a projector showed a slide show of pictures with the Latina. When the music had finished, Rein stepped up to the podium.
"I was asked to say a few words about my former boss and the star that we knew as the Spicy Latina. In many ways it feels wrong for me to be standing here saying these words. Andy knew her better, Mariana was her daughter, Zandra was her best friend. But as we all know two of those people have died thanks to T.E. and the other one is missing…also thanks to T.E."
A hush came over the crowd as everyone noticed a determined look in Rein's eyes that was so hard and so unlike her.
"But I agree with what Mel said earlier," Rein went on. "The time for fighting T.E. will come. For now we remember Carmita De Leon. A woman who was in a few words the epitome of strength. Some have physical strength…"
She looked at B and smiled.
"Some have mental strength…"
This time she looked at her mother.
"But for Carmita De Leon, she had the strength of life. No matter what you thought of her, her music or her attitude, Carmita was the perfect example of taking life by the horns and forcing it to follow her, rather than the other way around."
Everyone politely laughed at that. It was so true after all.
"I remember when we were in Pittsburg recently," Rein went on. "Carmita had this performance at a night club called Babylon. A gay night club that many of you here today know. Carmita was so loved and accepted there and in return showed how accepting she was. She made a speech at the end of that performance, one that has always stuck with me since. And though she has never said those words again, they are what I will always remember her by."
Rein gulped trying very hard to keep the tears from falling down her face. She had to stay strong for Carmita.
"She said: I have to go now, but remember: gay, bi, transgender, straight or…whatever. You're all fabulous! And don't let anyone tell you otherwise!"
Tears started to roll down everyone's faces including people who had originally judged Carmita for being someone completely different. Most noticeable was Debbie who was blowing her nose on a handkerchief.
"I misjudged that one," she said softly to Micah who was sitting next to her.
Micah smiled up at his mother and squeezed her hand.
"I remember the first Spanish words I ever learnt," Rein went on. "Esta Muerto."
Everyone who knew the translation chuckled softly.
"Yeah I know right?" Rein agreed. "The first words I learned are is dead. Funny that."
As everyone chuckled again, Rein took another deep breath.
"But Carmita," Rein went on looking upwards. "I have learned many Spanish words since then and though technically Carmita Esta Muerto; Tambien se que estas ahi arriba…en algun lugar…hablando con Dios acerca de lo caliente que es realmente el sol."
As no one knew what Rein had said they couldn't exactly comment, but everyone smiled politely anyway.
"Or for those who don't speak Spanish," Rein went on smiling. "Even though you're dead Carmita, I also know you are up there…somewhere…talking to god about just how hot that sun really is."
Everyone laughed at that and knew in their hearts that, that was exactly what their friend would be doing at that very moment.
As Rein's speech had come to an end, Mel walked back up to the make-shift lectern she'd created and hugged the girl.
"Thank you Rein," she said. "That was really beautiful. Um, while the physical team were at Casa de Carmita we were advised of a song that Carmita had written and sung while in Spain. It is a song called Mi Vida."
Those who had been at Casa de Carmita at the time, smiled in appreciation.
"Though it is in Spanish, the song talks about love that has been lost and will not come back again. I found the song online and thought that now would be a good time to play it. We'll miss you Carmita. Forever may your courage lie within us. Thank you for showing us all how to be strong."
As she turned on the music, Mel made her way back to a balling Linds.
"You know what the most stupid part of all of this is?" Linds asked through her tears. "I hated her music when she was alive. Now…I think I get it."
"*"
Meanwhile Andy was sitting with the teacher Mrs. Kemmel in the teacher's lounge nursing a coffee she'd made for him.
"So, do you want to tell me what's going on?" she asked kindly.
"I'd rather not," Andy replied. "All I can say is I've had quite a horrible year. I'll be glad to put it behind me."
The teacher nodded sympathetically.
"Yes, I'm sure being an attorney must be hard," she agreed.
Andy shook his head as a smile appeared on his face.
"Actually, being an attorney is one of the greatest gifts I've received this year," he admitted. "I'm a law student, but a dear friend of mine took me on as her PA. Unfortunately she went through some personal struggles and ended up assigning me to a case."
"Can your friend do that?" the teacher asked surprised.
"There's no law against a law student defending someone provided they're supervised. One of the managing partner's stepped up to supervise me and the next thing I knew, I'd gone from first year law student to acting attorney."
"That must have been hard," Mrs. Kemmel mused.
"Oh, believe me it was," Andy agreed. "I had many sleepless nights about it."
Andy sighed as he remembered the whole process.
"But the case worked out in my favor. We won actually and that's when the other managing partner promoted me to being an actual attorney provided I kept up my grades at school."
"But that's wonderful Andy!" Mrs. Kemmel said. "Provided you love your job."
"Oh I do," Andy replied. "Though my first client was a defendant I knew she was innocent and it gave me joy to help her. I've loved being an attorney ever since. It's just…"
"Yes?" the kind teacher provoked.
"My personal life has been a wreck," Andy admitted. "With the exception of my boyfriend Jay, who has been amazing and all, but the rest has really been an uphill battle."
"Oh?"
"My friends and I were…ah…put in a lot of awkward positions," Andy eventually said. "Someone that we trusted turned on us and well, let's just say they made our lives rather miserable."
"I'm so sorry to hear that," Mrs. Kemmel replied. "It's tough when people betray us isn't it?"
Andy nodded.
"I went through that with my ex husband. Married 15 years and then one day I find him making out with this woman at the restaurant where he proposed to me."
"What?"
"Yeah," the educator went on, standing up to make a fresh pot of coffee. "I actually went there to make a booking for us for our anniversary. 15 years was a milestone for me and I couldn't have been happier."
"What did you do?" Andy asked. "When you saw them I mean."
"Oh I waited till he left and approached her," Mrs. Kemmel said. "Apparently it had been going on for two years, broke my heart."
She poured the fresh coffee into her mug and walked back over to Andy.
"But you know, the hardest thing was learning to trust again," she went on. "It took me years to be able to just believe what people said at face value, you know?"
"Yeah, tell me about it," Andy replied. "I found out who the betrayer was in our group and since then I've just lost trust in everyone."
"How did your friends deal with the news?" the teacher asked.
"My friends don't know who it is yet," Andy replied. "At least that's what I assume. I've been trying to find my way back home so that I can tell them and hopefully put this whole nightmare to bed."
"Wait-" Mrs. Kemmel said quickly. "You know who the betrayer is, but your friends don't know?"
"Yeah," Andy replied. "Let's just say, it's thanks to them that I wound up lost in East Rock Park."
"*"
"What a lovely testament to a dear friend," Mel said sorrowfully.
As she stood there behind the lectern, she wondered how everyone was going to get through the rest of the service. Pretty much everyone had fallen to pieces over Carmita's tribute, which was to be expected but there were still 2 more people to commemorate.
"It's been tough to deal with the losses that we've had to deal with," Mel continued. "Especially knowing it happened at the hands of T.E. But when something like this happens to a loved one, it's so much harder to comprehend."
A tear fell down Emily's cheek and everyone else, like her, knew they'd gotten to the point of talking about Richard.
"I was fortunate enough to get to know Richard when he came to my home recently to help find Lauren," Mel went on. "He was such a nice, decent, kind, respectful man. Someone that I adored very much. But no matter what I've learned, nothing can compare to the loss and heartache his wife is going through right now."
Mel took a moment to nod at Emily, smiling as comfortingly as she could. Emily in turn smiled back.
"Emily has asked me to play part of a song called Prague which is one of Mozart's symphonies as we remember the man that was Richard Gilbourne."
As the music played Mel went over to comfort Emily who didn't seem to be comforted by anyone. Lauren and Rein were comforting themselves and no one else knew how to comfort the poor woman.
"Thank you Melanie," Emily croaked. "This really was his favourite of all the symphonies."
"He was a great man Emily," Mel replied. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
As the song came to an end Emily made her way up to the lectern.
"Richard Gilbourne was a great man, an honorable man, a peaceful man and yet also a very strong man," she began. "If he had a single idea in his head, you better believe it got done. I asked him about it once. I said Richard how is it that you manage to accomplish every single task you put your mind to? and you know what he said? One step at a time Emily and then he walked off to his study for a cigar."
Everyone laughed politely.
"I think anyone and everyone that got to know Richard came to love him," Emily went on. "Yes he had his own ways of doing things, but like I said earlier he got them done. As professional as my husband was, he was also a very considerate man. I know how much he loved me, because he told me every morning and every night. I know how much he loved his daughter Lauren. He was always proud of what she'd managed to achieve with the Dètendez-Vouz and of course Rein was the apple of Richard's eye. You may not be aware of this having only known him briefly, but Richard loved his family fiercely and would move heaven and earth for all of us."
Emily, who was reading everything from a piece of paper she'd written the speech on folded it up and looked at everyone seriously.
"You know, one of the most annoying things people can say to you when you've lost someone is It's ok to cry. I mean, ok, it's nice and sweet but I'm sorry to say it's simply not considerate. I've tried to cry, but I just can't right now. My husband taught me many things, but one of the things he always preached was that every action has reaction and every in justification needs to be righted. Like Melanie said earlier, Richard, as with the others, was murdered!"
She banged her fists onto the lectern and everyone jumped at Emily's sudden change in tone.
"What?" she questioned. "He was! He was murdered by someone who is toomuch of a coward to step forward and admit to what they've done. Someone who themselves is still alive! How can I cry? How can I mourn? How can I grieve when that person! That evil…conniving…p-per-person is still out there?!"
Renewed tears began to flow, there was not a dry eye in the place. Emily was right after all.
"But I make this promise to you Richard," she said determinedly. "Your death will not have been in vain. I will see to it that this great in justice is rightened and trust me when I say, my reaction will not be pretty!"
It was hard to know that Emily's speech was over as she just stood there looking upwards as though convincing her husband of that fact and then suddenly she just walked back to her seat and sat down.
Lauren looked at Rein and Rein looked back at Lauren, they'd never seen Emily like this before and were certainly not prepared for it either.
"*"
Andy was feeling much better having discussed his situation with Mrs. Kemmel. Though he was sure no to go into specific detail, he found that with a stranger he was able to vent just enough.
"Well, I'd better get going if I'm to get home before it gets dark," Andy said as he took his cup to the sink and rinsed it out.
"Ok well according to what I'm seeing here," the educator replied looking at her phone. "It's about a 45 minute drive from where we are now."
"Which translates to about 2 hours of walking," Andy replied smiling.
Knowing he was so close was making him feel really happy. All he needed to do now was get back home and then he could finally deal with everything. He tried very hard to convince himself that T.E. had not killed Jay. Mrs. Kemmel had even made a point that though Jay could be dead, there was no proof that it was actually him or that T.E. had actually killed anyone. It could simply have been that T.E. was trying to scare Andy.
"I could drive you there," the teacher offered.
"Oh no," Andy replied. "Really, that's fine. Talking has helped enough."
"Really Andy," the teacher insisted. "It would be quicker."
"I said NO!" Andy yelled.
He noticed the teacher back up as her face went white as a sheet.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Andy said quickly. "I mean, it's just…well, I'd prefer to walk."
Nothing could actually be less true. But in that moment Andy was not willing to risk anything. The last two times he'd gotten into a car with strangers he'd ended up in a bad situation and he wasn't about to put himself into another one.
"Maybe if you could just point me in the right direction?" he asked softly.
Moments later the pair had made their way outside with Mrs. Kemmel showing him the way. With one last thank you to the kind woman and an offer to help her if ever she needed any legal advice, Andy was off.
It may have been a 2 hour walk that lay out ahead of him. But in that moment his heart raced. Despite everything else that had been happening and everything else he'd had to endure, Andy was finally on his way home.
"*"
Though everyone was in shock at what Emily had said, the commemoration was not yet complete. They still needed to mourn the loss of Emmett.
"Thank you Emily," Mel said.
She was back at the lectern once again and indicated for B to step forward.
"B has written a few words about Emmett" she explained struggling to even get that much out.
As B walked up, he wondered how he would get through saying all of this. It was certainly a tough spot for everyone to be in. In a normal situation everyone would have the time to actually grieve and try to deal with the loss that they'd endured. But in that moment everyone was stuck between trying to mourn the dead and wondering when T.E. would get back.
So it was with a very conflicted mind and heavy heart that he took to the lectern.
"I too hope we'll find T.E," B began. "Especially in light of the fact that they killed a very good friend of mine. Emmett was, to say the least, like no one you'd ever met. He certainly was his own man and though he continued to insist we go shopping every time Gucci brought out their latest heel range…"
Everyone laughed politely.
"He was still one of the best friends anyone could ever have. A lot of you don't know this but after I got back to Pittsburg, post the warehouse incident, Emmett was the first person to find me. He found me blacked out on the floor of my loft. Suffice it to say I had drunk myself stupid once I'd returned home. When I woke up at the hospital, the first words I heard were: well there he is. Pittsburg's finest. It was quite a compliment, especially considering how I'd wound up in hospital in the first place. Little did I know however that Emmett was actually looking past me at a male nurse that had just entered the room."
Again polite laughter trickled out, after all it was so Emmett to do that.
"Believe me, nothing brought me straight back down to earth faster than seeing that. I got to talking with Emmett that night and he'd told me that nurse hottie as he'd called him had swapped numbers with him and that they were going out as soon as he got off his shift. I told Emmett that he was lucky to find love. Most of us have known Emmett for a while and as much as we know that he'll go after, well, a lot of things. We also know that he's had many loves in his life. So I told him about the man I'd always loved."
Micah smiled through his tears and blew a kiss up to his boyfriend.
"Of course Emmett's response was well duh! Which of course was very Emmett. But I remember him telling me that if I wanted him, I had to go and tell him. Never waste a day, that had been his motto at the time and had been since then. Emmett never wasted a day, especially when he joined Rein and Carmita for her world tour. It was his love of life that had allowed him to do that and, I believe, his love of life that kept him alive until he got back to New Haven hospital."
B was silenced at that moment by Debbie who was very loudly blowing her nose.
"He was one of the sweetest men I will ever know. Kind, loving, warn and generous too."
The gallery leant forward in disbelief as B started to tear-up.
Normally, it would be expected and no one would even batter an eye-lid had it been anyone else.
But this was B!
"I'm sure going to miss him," B sniffled. "And I promised myself I wouldn't cry. But not you Em. If anything you embraced crying and those who cried also. Today Em, we cry for you. Thank you."
B had so much more to say, but in that moment he knew there was no way he was going to get through the rest of his speech. So he made his way back to Micah who threw his arms around his boyfriend.
"You did really well lovely," Micah said softly. "Emmett would have been proud."
Mel took the moment to walk herself back to the lectern and smiled comfortingly to everyone.
"That draws a conclusion to today's commemoration," she began. "We don't quite know what we're going to do with the ashes yet, I guess for now they'll stay here unless someone wants a jar or some…Thank you all for c-coming. I d-didn't exactly p-plan for a w-wake."
"I brought food over from the hotel!" Debbie announced. "Robert's heating it all up in the kitchen."
"And we brought over a ton of wine!" Lauren piped-up before pointing to Rein. "We figured we'd need it…so what'll the rest of you be drinking?"
Everyone laughed at that and slowly made their way to the kitchen. Jason and Alison, who really didn't know any of the deceased that well, began to place the fold out chairs against the walls of the room.
"What are you doing here Jason?" Alison asked as they pushed the last of the chairs against the wall.
"Can't a brother support a sister at a funeral?" Jason asked.
"One – it's not a proper funeral," Alison retorted "And two – I don't really know any of the people they spoke about so…"
"So…?" Jason asked.
"So that's not why you're here," Alison replied.
"Ok," Jason said. "Let's say I'm here for another reason. What would it matter?"
"It wouldn't," Alison replied. "I was just curious."
Flicking her hair over her shoulder, Alison turned around and made to walk away, but Jason grabbed her roughly by the arm and turned her back around.
"Jason ow!" Alison said. "Careful, you won't want people thinking you're back on the pot again."
But Jason's eyes simply narrowed.
"I know Alison," he said darkly. "I know…everything."
Alison's face went white as a sheet. Normally she'd be able to wave this sort of thing off. But Jason was standing there with eyes that were piercing her every being.
Eyes looking as though they were set to kill.
"Ah Jason?" Spencer said quickly, making the man turn around and release Alison. "Can we talk?"
"Sorry Spence," Jason replied. "I'm sort of in the middle of something."
"Oh really?" Spencer retorted. "With who?"
"With-"
Jason turned around to look at his sister, but suddenly she wasn't there anymore.
She was gone.
"*"
As Andy approached another corner he couldn't help but look at the street name.
"East Street!" Andy said proudly.
He heard of it before but had never in fact walked down it.
"So I guess everyone walks to the East?" he chuckled, continuing to play the game he had been playing before he'd met Mrs. Kemmel.
As he continued to walk down the very long Whitney Ave he thought about the way he'd acted in front of the teacher. The poor thing was simply trying to help him and not only had he yelled at her, but he also completely trashed the locker room.
This of course reminded him of T.E's message and anger fueled Andy right away.
Who has T.E. killed? He wondered.
Though Mrs. Kemmel had suggested that T.E. could have been lying, it didn't allay Andy's fears. After all, nine times out of ten when T.E. had threatened they'd done something, it had turned out they actually had.
But he couldn't help coming back to the one thought he'd continued to have since walking out of the locker room. T.E. wouldn't kill Jay, couldn't kill Jay. Andy was sure of that.
Maybe they killed Lindsay! Andy panicked.
He wouldn't put it past T.E. After all one of the reasons this happened to begin with was because of Linds.
Whoever it was, Andy knew it would hit him hard when he found out.
But for now, he had no choice but to trudge on with the hopes that he would run into his friends very soon.
"*"
As everyone moved off to enjoy the food and reminisce in private Linds decided to turn on the TV. Usually there was something nice on at this time of day.
But no matter what channel she flicked to every single one seemed to be showing the same thing.
Finally Linds settled on one, knowing she wasn't going to get anything else.
"It seems that there has been yet another murder in New Haven this evening and to make matters worse the murder occurred at the mansion of the formally murdered Carmita De Leon," A news anchor was saying.
"Wait, what was that?" Spencer asked from her position with Jason.
The pair still hadn't moved, but now hearing those words Spencer rushed over to Linds.
"Turn it up," she requested.
"Reports say that the victim was murdered in the early hours of the morning. No one has been able to identify the victim with police leaving an artist's impression with us."
Everyone looked at the drawing that was now on the screen. It wasn't hard to make out who it was.
"That's – that's…" Spencer said.
"I know," Linds replied. "It's William."
"What's William?" Mel asked.
But before she could get an answer, the phone rang distracting her from whatever it was that was going on in the living room.
"We'll tell her later," Linds said out loud.
"We cross now to the owner's of the house, a representative from the company who is about to give a live statement," the reporter went on.
The screen flashed to reveal a man standing at a lectern outside of Carmita's former home.
"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to two very important residents of one of our beloved homes," the man said.
"One of our beloved homes?" Spencer questioned.
"Yeah, not exactly what one would normally say is it?" Linds agreed.
Spencer shook her head as both continued to watch the footage.
"Carmita De Leon was one of our brightest stars at Celebrate Music LA and the gentleman found murdered this morning was believed to have worked for her. It is with a heavy heart that we mourn their loss and announce that hundreds of copies Carmita's debut album, the self-titled Carmita, will be headed to CD Stores for anyone who wishes to pay tribute to the fallen star."
"Is he kidding right now?" Spencer asked.
"Way to go on putting the value of a person's life behind the all mighty dollar," Linds agreed.
"Though we will be taking back the mansion," the man continued. "Celebrate music LA have decided to demolish it and build something new. The memories of this place is something that we are sure everyone would like to forget."
"They're demolishing it?!" Debbie questioned as slowly everyone seemed to be gathering around Spencer and Linds.
"That sucks," Jenny agreed. "You'd think they'd be proud of the mansion they'd built."
"It's a standard thing," Spencer chimed in. "When people die, a house or in this case a mansion, becomes very tough to sell. I don't know if Celebrate Music LA are planning on selling the place in the future, but if they are it's a sensible business decision to bulldoze it down."
As everyone began to talk amongst themselves about the newfound revelation, Mel was busily talking on the phone.
"Hello?" she said quickly.
"Hey Mel," came the reply on the other end. "It's Rachael."
"Oh hey Rachael, what's going on?"
"I just thought I'd let you know," Rachael replied. "That he's back."
"He is?!" Mel asked shocked.
"Yeah," Rachael answered. "But I don't know how long he's going to be here so if you want to see him, you'd better hurry."
"We will Rachael," Mel agreed. "But before I hang up, let me offer you one bit of advice."
"Yeah?"
"Get yourself out," Mel said. "Get out quickly. Just make sure he doesn't know what you're doing."
"Okayyy," Rachael dragged out.
"Trust me Rachael," Mel insisted. "You do not want to be involved in this, make something up if you must. But get yourself out. We'll be right down."
As Mel hung up the phone she noticed everyone looking at something on the Television.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"William's dead," Spencer said flatly. "T.E got another one."
"We need to go back to Casa De Carmita," Micah put in.
"No, we can't," Mel said.
"What?" Linds asked. "Why not?"
"Because," Mel answered. "We have something much more important to deal with. We got him. Palmer is back."
"*"
Everyone got their coats and headed out to their respective cars. The battle was finally about to be over. All they had to do was get to Palmer's café and confront him. Then finally after all this time, they could put all this crap behind them.
"First thing we need to do is sus out where Andy is," Mel was telling Lindsay. "Once we know that we can send some people off to get him."
"Just make sure you include Jay and Micah in that group," Linds smiled.
"Of course," Mel agreed. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll probably send Micah, Jay and Lauren."
Meanwhile in Micah's car, B was explaining to Jenny and Spencer what had happened to Dr Stappord.
"I let him go," B admitted. "One Linds told me everything you guys had found out from William, I figured it wasn't worth staying with him."
"You let him go?!" Spencer cried, not believing he could do such a thing.
"William was right," B replied. "Dr Stappord's not the person we need to go after. Palmer is. If we need to know anything else we can track him down after we talk to Palmer."
Spencer calmed down at that. After all, she knew he was right.
"Think you can handle it?" Rein asked her mother in the third car. "I mean, he is or was your boyfriend."
"Oh sweetie," Lauren replied. "It was over the moment I found out he was involved with this and even more so when I found out he wasn't doing anything to find me. I mean hello I've been gone for at least a week, maybe two. How does the guy not go looking for me?"
"I get that mom, I do," Rein answered. "But still, it must be hard confronting the man you were in love with."
"Oh sweetie," Lauren replied. "I don't think it ever really was love. I mean we just didn't click like you're supposed to in these things. I mean sure he kept me caffeinated, but there's more to life than that."
"There is?" Rein asked.
"Of course there is," Lauren replied. "Didn't you know that?"
"Oh I knew it," Rein insisted. "I'm just surprised that you did."
Lauren smiled tightly at her daughter as they made their way around the bend. Palmer's café was two blocks down from where they were and despite what Lauren had said, she was starting to get a bit nervous.
Suddenly Rein's phone rang and quickly she picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Rein it's Mel sweetie," Mel said from the other end. "Put me on speaker phone honey."
Rein complied.
"Ok Lauren can you hear me?" Mel asked.
"Loud and clear Mel," Lauren replied.
"Good," Mel said. "Ok so Rachael has just left the café, so what we're going to do is have B, Jay, Spencer and Jenny enter first. Then Linds, myself and your mom-"
"My mom?!" Lauren asked confused.
"Hello Lauren!" came the sound of Emily's voice.
"What, you thought we would just leave her at home?" Linds asked.
"If you did, you'd pay more than that son of a bitch that's for sure," Emily could be heard saying as Rein and Lauren rolled their eyes.
"Alison, Maya and Debbie will come in after you two," Mel concluded. "Got all that?"
"B, Jay, Spencer and Jenny, you guys, Rein and I, then the rest?" Lauren asked.
"Exactly," Mel confirmed. "Oh and Lauren, park around the back, everyone else is."
As Lauren pulled into the car park behind Palmer's café, Mel continued to talk.
"Ok, we see you. Now as you can see the first lot are going in now," Mel went on. "We'll go in very soon, once you see us leave, give us 2 minutes then you guys come ok?"
"Gotya," Lauren confirmed.
"*"
Before Lauren and Rein had even entered the café they could hear everything. Currently it was Emily that was screaming and though this was normally a bad thing, this time it provoked a smile in the elder of the two.
"What?" Rein asked, not helping reflecting the smile back.
"It's times like these that I love having Emily Gilbourne for a mother," Lauren replied.
Rein hit her mother in jest.
"And all those other times?" she asked.
"What?" Lauren replied. "You've been to enough Friday night dinners, you should know the answer to that one."
Rein nodded, definitely knowing the answer. Like her mother, it was nice to hear Emily yelling at someone else, someone who in this case, deserved it. Without waiting too much longer, Rein pushed open the door.
"And then you have the audacity to start dating my daughter!" Emily yelled.
"Yeah!" Chorused everyone else in agreeance.
Palmer looked up as the bell connected to the door sounded and noticed Rein and Lauren enter the café.
"Lauren!" he sighed. "It's so good to see you! Can you tell your mother to back up off me for a minute?"
"Hmmmmm," Lauren replied thinking aloud. "Ok."
Everyone looked at Lauren as though she'd gone mad.
"But only if you do something for me."
"What?" Palmer asked. "Anything, name it."
"Tell me where Andy is!" Lauren yelled.
"What, Andy?" Palmer asked.
"It's been weeks Palmer," Lauren went on. "Don't you think he's suffered enough?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Palmer replied. "It's been weeks since I've been back to work. I come back and my best girl takes off god only knows where. Then this mob files in and starts making unfounded accusations-"
"Unfounded my ass!" Emily replied.
But Palmer ignored her.
"But Andy?" he questioned. "I have no idea where Andy is. Didn't he go with you to get…her?"
He pointed to Rein, a look of relief on his face seeing that she was standing next to her mother.
"No he did not!" Lauren yelled back. "Because you took him in the middle of the night and locked him up at the stupid hospital and now-"
Lauren was interrupted by the sound of the bell ringing once more. She turned to see the others namely; Alison, Maya and Debbie making their way into the café and so she took a few steps forward, something that was really hard to do considering how full the café now was.
"Just tell me where he is," Lauren blurted out. "If ever you loved me, just tell me that."
"If ever I, Lauren I have always loved you!" Palmer yelled back.
"Well you've got an odd way of showing it!" Emily spat. "Now tell my daughter where her friend is or I swear to god we're going to start having some major issues around here!"
"I keep telling you woman," Palmer snarled. "I don't know where your precious friend is!"
"Woman am I?!" Emily yelled.
"Well it is a good assumption right?" Palmer asked.
Whack.
Not being able to hold back, Emily slapped Palmer for all she was worth.
"You listen to me young man," Emily said while Palmer held a hand up to where she'd slapped him. "I will only ask this once more and let me advise you that if you do not tell us what we need to know, then I promise you, I will set my daughter, Mel and everyone else on you before you know what's happening."
"Emily, listen to me!" Palmer yelled. "I don't know where Andy is!"
"Lock the door," Emily said simply, referring to the back row, which consisted of Maya, Alison and Debbie.
Maya complied, snipping the lock.
"Everyone make room!" Emily bellowed. "Lauren! He's all yours!"
Lauren didn't know what to do.
It wasn't a question of whether or not she hated this man. She did, with all of her being. But to hit him? She didn't know if that would be the right move.
But then she noticed that she was moving towards him as though somehow unconsciously, hitting him was exactly what she wanted.
What she needed.
"Wait!" Jay cried out suddenly. "Oh my god!"
"What Jay?" Emily spat. "There's no excuse for him withholding inform-"
"What honey?" Jenny interrupted.
"It's Andy!" Jay yelled and using the parted space made for Lauren, rushed to the door.
Everyone chanced a glance out the window and could see that Jay was right. There, walking down the street looking absolutely terrible was Andy.
"You all stay here and keep going!" Jay commanded. "I may have found my boy, but the game's not over yet. You better start talking Palmer! I'll be back."
With that Jay rushed out of the door.
There he was.
Right across the street from him was his boyfriend walking with his head down and his hands in his pockets.
"Andy!" Jay yelled out loudly.
Meanwhile, Andy didn't hear his partner but instead kept on walking. He was freezing cold and wet from all the snow. But he now knew exactly where he was and in the next 10 minutes he would finally, finally be home.
"ANDY!" came a very loud cry from behind him.
No! Andy thought to himself. It can't be!
Andy turned around slowly, hoping that it was true and not a figment of his imagination.
And there, running full-pelt towards him, was the man he had been longing to see ever since the night he was abducted.
"Jay?" he squeaked, hardly daring to believe it.
"ANDY!" Jay yelled out joyously, tears running down his face.
"It is you!" Andy yelled back. "JAY!"
As though in slow motion Andy felt himself racing up to Jay. All the hurt, worry, pain and fear was brushed aside as he collapsed into Jay's arms.
"My beautiful-" Andy said in between kisses.
"Don't – you- ever- leave- me – again," Jay said kissing him furiously.
"Never-never-never!" Andy cried out, tears rolling fast down his cheeks.
Jay stopped kissing Andy but only to wrap him up in a hug.
"You're alive!" Andy sighed joyously.
"And so are you!" Jay sighed back.
"I was so worried," they said together before smiling at the other.
"Jay?" Andy asked.
"What is it my love?" Jay asked back.
"I love you," Andy replied.
"I love you too!" Jay said, before succumbing to temptation once more and kissing his boyfriend.
It was a happy moment.
A joyous one.
For Jay, Andy had finally been found and was alive. And for Andy, Jay was still alive despite what T.E. had said and he was back in his arms.
But then like a snap of lightening, Jay's mind recalled why he was there in that street in the first place.
"Come on," Jay said smiling. "We need to talk to Palmer about something."
"Well ok then," Andy smiled. "Wherever you lead babe, I'll definitely follow."
Jay smiled at that and led Andy back to the café.
Inside the café, Palmer was still trying to deny that he knew what they were on about.
"What are you talking about?" Palmer could be heard saying. "I don't know anything."
"Save the lies for your next date…in hell!" Lauren yelled.
"We finally found you," Micah said as Jay opened up the café door.
"And it's time to pay…bitch!" Jay completed.
"ANDY!" Everyone chorused.
As though forgetting why they were there in the first place, everyone seemed to turn and focus on the now found man that they'd been looking for.
"Hey everyone!" Andy beamed, allowing Maya to hug him. "It's great to see… you…all…"
Gently Andy took Maya's hands off him as he slowly walked forward.
It couldn't be! His mind raced. There's no way they'd be that stupid!
But as he got nearer, he realized it was true and panic set in at once.
"Wh-What are you all doing?!" Andy demanded freaking out.
"It's ok babe," Jay said calmly. "We're just having a word with Palmer that's all."
"P-Palmer?!" Andy cried out. "Are you nuts?!"
"That's what I've been trying to tell them," Palmer said softly.
But Andy wasn't listening to Palmer at all, instead he turned his attention to the person who was producing every little bit of fear in him that they could.
Pointing a finger to that person Andy yelled out in exasperation.
"That's…that's T.E!" he cried.
"*"
And that's where we going to leave it for now.
What did you think of the Maya-T.E. being revealed as Alison? Can you appreciate the set-up? Or was it just downright cruel? What did you think of the message T.E. left Andy in the locker room? Was Andy wigging out justified? Were you surprised to see Jay at the commemoration? At least we now know he was there to face Alison. What did you think of Andy venting to Mrs. Kemmel? How did you find the commemoration for Carmita and Richard? Were you surprised that Andy wouldn't let Mars Kemmel drive him home? What did you think of Emmet's commemoration? Did you like how Jason confronted Alison? Williams death was finally reported and everyone seemed surprised. Why do you think Shekland's death wasn't mentioned? Everyone finally confronted Palmer and he denied everything. Do you believe him? What did you think of Andy and Jay finally reconnecting? And most importantly, who did Andy point to? Who is T.E?
Next Time on an all new Love hurts.
You've been there…
(Andy to Jay): "It's because you still love B! He loves you too!"
(Jay): "Really?"
(Andy): "Of course!"
From the beginning…
(Linds): "A couple in a relationship tell each other everything!"
(Mel): Yeah, well I can't tell you."
(Andy): "You're like my second dad."
(Ben): "Thanks son."
You witnessed the revival…
(Andy reading Jay's letter): "I will be there at yours sometime between now and tomorrow."
(Andy): "Oh no no no no no no no!"
You were there for the heartwarming moments of yesteryear…
(Lauren): "How much do you want this guy?"
(Andy): "More than coffee at 7am."
(Jay): "Is that my boyfriend?"
(Andy): "Only if that's my boyfriend."
(Carmita): "Grumpy-bum is not here today."
(Rick): "Sh-sh-she goes home?"
(Carmita): "Merry Christmas."
(Debbie): "Oh it's so nice to be here. And as for you two, don't think I don't know what happens when you're upstairs."
And then suddenly IT ALL CHANGED!
(Rick): "Jay, there's someone outside that's here to see you."
(Lauren): "You monsters! What did you do to him?!"
(Andy): "They've got Lauren."
(Carmita): "Dios Mio!"
And who could forget…
(Linds): "Good evening everyone and welcome…to my hell!"
But when Linds was finally locked away along with her fellow minions…
(Jury foreperson): "We the jury find Lindsay Peters…guilty of all charges."
Everyone thought it was over…
But then…
(Mel): "Oh…my…god."
It started back up again!
(Judge Thomas): "It is the opinion of this court that Lindsay Peters be released."
(Andy): "You've been getting texts too?!"
(Lauren): "Ever since I met Palmer!"
And this time it went deeper…
(Mel's phone): "Oooooh Andy!"
Then ever…
(Jay): "Aaaahhhhh! Andy?...Andy?!"
(Jay reading): "I told you not to cross me Jay, too late."
Before…
(B): "It's him."
(Micah): "Noooooo!"
(Spencer): "What's the one thing that would get to us more than people dying?"
(Emily): "Richard's Ashes?!"
(B): "What you're holding is part of your husband."
(Spencer): "T.E. mixed everyone's ashes together!"
And now…
(Andy): "Someone that we trusted turned on us."
It's finally time…
(Jay): "It's Alison!"
(Mel): "It's Zandra!"
(William): "It's Svedantcha!"
After chapters of assumptions…
Come December 19…
BEAT-BEAT-BEAT-BEAT-BEAT-BEAT…..T.E.-WILL-FINALLY-BE-REVEALED!
No more lies…
No more guessing…
#December 19.
#YouwillknowT.E.
The biggest revelation in the series!
All New Love Hurts.
December 19.
