hola my wonderful readers (ha i know spanish)
el gato es en my pantalones...ok, not my native tongue. i know it's been a few weeks. things are getting crazy with SAT's, new girlfriend =), track, and AP exams and did i mention the girlfriend thing? yeah just checking. i am sooo ready for school to be over.
twin who likes to travel-thanks for understanding. it means a lot.
caesaraugusta-LMAO i felt your words shouting at me. please, calm down.
FeelLikeRain-thanks for such the story...i mean review =) you always make me blush with your compliments. yeah, that movie always gets to me. Evan Rachel Wood crying always makes me start crying too. i took that into consideration and it made it easier to write the chapter, because i could picture it so well. And you know Katie, she would never let anyone hurt her friends. thanks for not hating me. I didn't want anyone to get cheated at the ending, and i'm glad i gave it some justice.
WonderousPlaceForAnEcho-thanks for the kind words. and i fully understand. i'm sure EVERYONE wants Katie to live. I mean, she's too wonderful to kill off. i think about how unfair it is when i'm forced to read those stories.
Tweevil16-ALL OVER ME is one of my favorite/least favorite stories. i mean, katie dying in that story just broke my heart. and i mean, shattered. but it was written so well, i couldn't help but be amazed by it. it truly is a remarkable story, and the author deserves high praise. it actually made me want to write my own story. it is such a compliment to hear that, (although in my opinion i am deff. not up to those high writing standards).
seyheystevierey-i was thinking about that the other day. I can't believe it's been ten years since columbine. thanks for the compliments. and just so you know, this final chapter was written before April 20th, before i even realized that it had been ten years.
ParamoreLover-i hope you like the rest of the story. Let me know what you think of it.
ok so again i'm gonna say, don't hate me. i love you, and enjoy the closing chapter of RESCUE ME.
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A large crowd of people were gathered on the grass as a small orchestra played in the background. A black car pulled up into the parking lot in front of the large building. The driver's door opened and Jessica stepped out of the car, taking a long look at the school in front of her. Her blue eyes scanned the crowd. She let out a shaky breath. Closing the door, she began walking through the sea of people to a large marble statue. A memorial with small carving on it.
She kneeled down to get a better look at the names written on the stone. Jessie gingerly placed a rose on top of the flowers that had already been left there, letting a single tear fall.
"Mommy!" Jessie's head quickly snapped to the side in time to see a little, blonde-haired girl running over. She opened her arms and let the child run into them.
"Hey baby girl." She wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Damn that kid moves fast. It's all your fault." Jessie opened her eyes and looked up at the woman who was talking to her just a few feet away, a little girl in her own arms. Jessie picked up the blonde in her arms and carried her over to the other woman.
"I'm pretty sure Amelia gets that from you, not me. But this one may take after me." She smirked and leaned forward, planting a kiss on the baby's forehead in the other woman's arms.
"Hi Keira. Amelia, give your sister a kiss." The small blonde leaned down and kissed the little girl, receiving a giggle. The woman holding the baby raised her eyebrow at the two blondes.
"Hey, what am I chopped liver?" Jessie rolled her eyes.
"Demanding aren't we Ms. Kathryn Singer?" The older blonde took a step towards the brunette and kissed her sweetly on the lips as the two little girls watched.
"Better?" Katie nodded.
"Yes ma'am."
"Ew. Momma, liver takes icky. We aren't having that for dinner are we?" Katie laughed while Jessie just shook her head.
"No. Now come on, let's go get a seat before the ceremony starts." Jessie looked over at the section of folding chairs neatly set up.
"Oh hey, I see uncle Tad. Amelia, why don't you go over and say hello?"
"You know mommy, if you showed up ON TIME we wouldn't need Tad to save us seats." Katie covered up her laugh with a cough and started to rock the baby in her arms.
"Just go to your uncle ok?" The little girl nodded and her mother put her back on the ground. As her feet touched the grass she ran off. "I told you she takes after you."
Jessie looked over at Katie, who was looking up at the building in front of her with a solemn expression. "Do you want to go sit down?" The brunette turned her head to her and bit her lip.
"I don't think I can sit still." The baby in her arms started crying. Jessie walked closer and lifted Keira out of Katie's arms. Katie gave her a grateful smile and kissed her cheek. "I think I'm gonna take a walk."
"Do you want me to come?" Katie shook her head.
"I'll be back in time, don't worry." Jessie watched her walk off and turned her attention to the baby in her arms, coo'ing her.
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Katie walked around the perimeter of the school. As she reached the left wing, she noticed an open door and took the chance to sneak inside. The brunette started walking through the school.
B+W testimonial: Katie: It's weird. The school LOOKS different. They've painted, added another wing, changed the lockers. But some how it still feels the same. Actually, i've been to so many high schools, i think they're all pretty much the same. I heard they changed some stuff. They said that it was because some students didn't feel comfortable being in a room where a classmate had died. Personally, i think they're just supersticious and think ghosts are gonna haunt the place or something.
Katie finally made her way to two double doors and stopped. She put her hand on the door but hesitated. Taking a deep breath she pushed it open and entered the room. And just like that, everything came back to her. Remembering that day made her slightly light-headed. With cautious steps she walked around the library. No. This wasn't the library. This is the OLD one now. They built the new one a short time after THAT day. Now it was just a storage closet for out of date books and broken band instruments. The light barely shown through the windows. As her eyes danced across the room, they landed on a spot on the floor. She was almost surprised to not see blood on the ground. Minutes passed, but she couldn't will herself to look away.
B+W testimonial: Katie: I never thought it would affect me this much. Probably because i didn't expect to live. But when i woke up in the hospital and saw Jessie sleeping in the chair next to me, her head resting on the bed, i thought it was a dream or something...But then funerals started to become as popular as birthday parties. And the day i went back to school? That was really when it started to kick in. Certain rooms were blocked off, caution taped was still everywhere. Thw weirdest part though? People were coming up to me all the time. Some i knew, some i've never seen before. All of them were high-fiving me, hugging me, saying thank you. I didn't understand why. I asked one of them and he said i was a hero.
She put her hand to her chest over her heart, covering the scar that was just under her white button up shirt. He finger traced it from end to end.
B+W testimonial: Katie: Me? A hero? For what? I didn't manage to stop my friend from killing people, including himself. I didn't save Liz from getting hurt, or Tad, or anyone else. People died, i was just lucky. But no, they thought i was a hero. That i was brave for being willing to die for them...but really? I was just a coward. How could i live with myself if i ever made that decision? My bestfriend or my girlfriend? No. I'd never get over that. I couldn't watch them die. I chose myself because i couldn't bare the thought of even trying to live without them. I didn't even consider the consequenses, how Jessie would be after i was gone, or my dad, or Tad. A hero? No. I was just selfish.
"It hurts, doesn't it?" She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Thin arms slowly wrapped around her stomach from behind and she leaned back into the embrace.
"Only when I think about it. God, I can't believe it's been ten years." Jessie placed a kiss on the back of her neck. "Where are the girls?"
"Tad's watching them…I think it's almost time. We better get back." The brunette nodded but didn't pull away. The blonde started to slowly glide her hand up and down Katie's stomach. "You know I love you, right?" Katie smirked.
"Well, if you didn't then you marrying me doesn't quite make sense."
"Exactly. I love you. Our kids love you. Our family and friends love you. So I'm not gonna think about what happened here. I'm not gonna question why you survived. I'm just gonna be thankful that you're here with us. Wth me. Where you are meant to be." Katie smiled and turned around, wrapping her arms around her wife's neck and placing a lingering kiss on her lips.
"That sounds like a good idea. Maybe i should try that." They shared a smile and started to walk out of the room, hand in hand. Katie stopped at the door for a moment, taking one final glance around the room, before following Jessie into the hall, pulling the door closed behind her.
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B+W testimonial: Katie: But i'd do it all over again. In a heart beat. Because this? (looks at Jessie playing with Keira and Amelia on the ground) This is worth it. This is why i was meant to live. To be here with them. To see them laugh and smile, and scream and cry. To be with them through the good and the bad. To be happy (looks back at the camera) And maybe even stop this from happening again. I mean, i couldn't help Tom..but maybe i can help someone else. I think that's why i'm still here.
A heavy set man was on stage talking into the microphone.
"And now i would like to present our next guest speaker. I've been captivated by her intelligence since the first day i met her. No onther student in all my years of teaching has come close to her unique ideas. She has travelled around the country, visiting high schools and sharing her story. This woman is an inspiration. Her work has touched the lives of so many in the past few years. She truly is a hero...So without further adieu, i would like to introduce Kathryn Singer." A round of applause broke out as Katie walked up the platform and approached the podium. She waited for the crowd to die down before speaking.
"Thank you. Sometimes i have to be reminded that this is real. That i'm really here. That this is really my life. I will admit i got lucky. A wonderful family, a great job, a nice home. I would never have believed my life could be this amazing...Ten years ago, a friend of mine came to school with a gun. He shot me, shot my friends, and then he took his own life. I can't erase that. i can't justify what happened. I can't give meaning to it. I can't take away this scar over my heart, or the metaphoric ones all of us must deal with everyday. But what i CAN do, is live my life, for those who didn't get that chance." She paused and locked eyes with Jessie for a moment before turning her attention to the rest of the crowd. "I can't forget what happened. And i shouldn't. That day is a good reminder to everyone that...that even in a small town, tragedy can still strike at any and every moment. Every school shooting has been unexpected. Despite that, i believe that letting our past hold us back is a mistake...For the past few years, as most of you may know by now, i have been travelling the country, visiting high schools. I think it helped me gain closure. The kids i talk to are no different then when we were in high school. I tell them about what happened to me, and what they can do to avoid that situation.
I recently went to Delaware to visit the students at King's high. Unfortunately, their school shooting was similar to ours. They don't know how to cope after something like that happens. My advice to them is simple, and i would like to share it with all of you. I encourage everyone here to carpe diem. Even if it's only for one day. Do something different, spend the day doing something totally random. Be happy and enjoy the life that we are blessed enough to have. I'm not saying you can't cry sometimes or grieve. That you can't mourn the lives lost ten years ago. But we can't let this hold us back. Deep down we all know our friends would have wanted us to be happy. I know their looking down on us and smiling." A grin appeared on her face. "And i hope everyone here will go home and live for them, honoring their memory, and keeping them close to your heart. I know i will...thank you." Katie walked off of the stage in front of a standing ovation. She walked into Jessie's arms and took a seat next to her. As the next speaker stood up, Jessie whispered in Katie's ear.
"You're amazing you know that?" The brunette smirked.
"Well duh." She turned toward the blonde in time to see her roll her eyes before lacing their fingers together. Katie placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Hey Jess?" she asked quietly as to not interrupt the person talking on stage.
"Yeah?"
"Our life is pretty awesome, isn't it?" A grin made it's way to Jessie's face. She looked at the sleeping girl next to her and ran her fingers through her daughter's hair.
"That it is."
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April FOOLSSSS!!!!.....ok don't kill me...in my defense, i never straight up said 'katie is dead.'
i wanted it to be dramatic so i kinda let you believe she died. face it, i don't have the heart to kill her off. And i don't know about you, but i don't think killing her in this story was needed.
and the beginning of the chapter might have been a little confusing for some so if you need me to explain anything or have any questions, let me know.
so that's it, the last chapter and i must admit, i am sad to see it end.
and now here's where you come in. i want to keep writing j/k stories, but you will have to wait for me to think of a GOOD one.
i do have one idea though and i will leave it up to you guys in a poll.
i thought about making a sort of 'in-between' series. what would have happened in between my last two chapters, after Katie got shot.
i wouldn't want to ruin THIS story, however, by making it, which is why i need your advice if i should do it or not.
but whatever way the vote turns out, i will still be writing another story. it just might take awhile to come up with a good idea.
so i hope everyone was satisfied. thanks for all of your reviews and expect to hear from me soon.
god bless!!!