Chapter Thirty Seven.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope 2013 is kind to you all. :)
"So, you seem quiet today," André began, awkwardly fulfilling his promise to Tori. "This isn't the first time this week though, is it?"
"No, I'm not."
He glanced at Zach as they stopped at a red light. "Tori said…"
"I don't care what stupid Tori said," Zach protested then regret flushed his face.
"Hey, don't call her stupid," André said sternly. "She hasn't done anything to you."
Zach sighed. "Sorry, André, I'm tired."
"Why? What's wrong?" he said, concern building up. "Do I need to go put my steel toe boots on to do some ass-kicking?"
He shook his head, his eyes lowered. "I don't know who it is."
"Just tell me what you know, Zach, that's all you can do." André had barely noticed the lights where still on red.
Zach locked his eyes firmly on the passing cars in front of them; he counted them in his mind as he formulated the words together to say what was happening. They didn't sound right or believable. Would André even believe a nine-year-old kid? No, Zach sighed, no sane adult would. But it was worth a shot, right? André didn't act like a normal adult, so maybe, just maybe, he would listen to Zach.
"I think someone has been following me."
André's eyes widened. "What?"
"The lights have changed," Zach pointed out calmly.
"Oh, yeah." André pulled off, his knuckles turning white on the steering wheel. "Why would you think that?"
"I keep seeing someone behind me when I'm alone. He watches me at recess. Everybody thinks I'm lying."
"Are you sure?" he asked again. "You're not just making this up?"
Zach shook his head once more. "I know that lying about this would get me into huge trouble."
"Right, tonight you're not to walk back to the house from school, okay? Wait for either me or Tori to pick you up."
"Okay, soccer practice is cancelled tonight."
André nodded, pulling up right outside the steps of the school. "I'll be in this exact spot as soon as school ends, okay?"
"I thought you said it could be either of you?" Zach asked with a small challenging smile.
He was trying to lighten the mood before André sat and worried all day. This guy seems to really care about me, Zach thought as he smiled inwardly.
"It will be me, Tori can bring you tomorrow morning or something," he rolled his eyes jokily. "Now go on, you've got your fascinating day of history and I have a class to sing songs with. Keeping inside today, okay?"
"But I have the museum trip today?" Zach reminded him.
André thought for a minute. "Stay close to your teacher then. I'll call them and tell them what's happening."
Zach thought about telling André not to overreact but he heard the bell ring to signal the start of the day. "Fine, just come in Tori's car. Hers is much cooler."
…
Beck groaned as the nurses hovered by his sides in case he needed help to stand. "Woah, this is unusual."
"Try and keep your balance, Beck," Dr Daniels encouraged. "The physiotherapy seems to be going nicely. Maybe we can begin to consider your discharge date, make it a goal to head for?"
"Can we make it soon? I've missed so much with my class…" Beck trailed off as he saw the disapproving look the woman was giving him. "I know Jade has probably organised everything but I feel like I'm cheating them out of what they signed up for."
She sighed, crossing her arms around her clipboard. "I'll cut you a deal. I'll talk to your specialists about your progress and see how you are this week then on Sunday, if I'm satisfied with what I've heard you can go home. But you'll still have to come in everyday for your physiotherapy and check-ups. Deal?"
"I'll start packing then," Beck replied confidently with a smile.
"It's almost like you're eager to leave." Dr Daniels rolled her eyes.
Beck looped his arms around his crutches, slowly moving himself around the room. "I think these crutches could come in useful."
"Oh, how?"
"Well I can poke Jade from a distance…"
Dr Daniels sighed at him. "Of all the uses, you chose that one. Come on, you have an appointment with the lovely Doctor Emmons."
"More exercises, oh the joy." Beck laughed, walking forward slightly. "I don't think I could spend my morning in any better way."
She looked at him, her clipboard tapping him on the back lightly. "Sarcasm will not get you anywhere, Beck."
"Damn, here I am hoping it would." He winked at her. "Don't tell Jade I was attempting sarcasm again."
Dr Daniels shook her head. "I give up with you Olivers, I truly do."
Beck, escorted by the two nurses, walked down the corridor. He caught sight of a slightly battered girl in a wheelchair.
"Jessica?"
"Mr Oliver?"
"Kitten… Miss Valentine said you were in here, how are you doing?"
She shrugged. "I guess I'm doing all right. I heard about the fire, Taylor told me; I hope you're okay, Mr Oliver."
"Just peachy thanks, want me to pass on any messages to Miss Valentine?" he said as the nurses backed off a little.
"Tell her that the performance will be great please, she was fretting about it apparently. She has to play my part now but she'll be amazing." Jessica smiled, playing with the hospital bracelet.
Beck nodded. "I hope you recover soon, Jessica. Oh, word of warning, don't eat the cheese and mac, it comes with consequences."
She laughed, the nurse being replaced with Taylor behind her to push the wheelchair.
"Hello, Mr Oliver." Taylor nodded graciously.
"Take care of her, Taylor."
He smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder lightly. "I will do, she's too precious and must be treated like a princess."
Beck smiled back at him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm needed at physiotherapy so they can walk me for a bit."
…
"If I never speak to another teenager again, it'll be too soon." Jade groaned, she pushed her hair from her face.
The three kids ran past them, heading directly upstairs.
Cat laughed, chucking her keys on the side. "I would ask what those three are planning but then I fear what the answer will be. So what happened with yours and Beck's classes put together?"
"One of the kids broke a camera so that has to be repaired overnight. Then I caught two in the supply closest making out instead of being in my class."
"Sounds like your average day in a high school then," Robbie said, walking in behind them.
Jade shot him a look, he still wasn't forgiven exactly. "I have about two weeks left to create a masterpiece and they're ruining it!"
"They're teenagers, you can't expect them to magically turn into professionals," Cat pointed out.
Robbie flicked the TV onto the news channel.
A news reporter was stood outside Jade and Beck's house which was already looking less fire wrecked. "It's over a week since the fire tragedy that struck the home of Hollywood actor Beck Oliver, 29, and his acclaimed director wife Jade Oliver, 28. Beck has been left in hospital since the blaze but is stated to be recovering well. Jade and their two children, Seth and Blaise both aged nine, are now living next door with the musical star, Cat Valentine, 28, and her daughter, Evanna who is five-years-old. Also, Jade Oliver's publicist announced the couple are expecting their fourth child together in March. Their son, Harry, tragically died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome five years ago. The couple are said to be thrilled by the news and hope we can continue to respect their family's privacy as we once did after their son's death. Rumours have appeared that the couple are waiting to see the gender of their baby causing betting rates on the gender to popular. The odds are 1/5 that the baby will be a…"
There was a buzz at the gate. Cat and Robbie looked at Jade as she turned off the TV.
"You get it, your house."
"When I was living with you, I answered the door more times than you did!" Cat argued back.
Jade groaned, standing back up to go to the intercom. "The Valentine household, her slave speaking."
"Jadelyn, is that you?" the crackling voice asked.
She released the button. "Who the hell invited my parents?"
"How did they know you were here? How did they know where I live?" Cat stared at her.
"Robbie, since you left Cat alone all day last week, you can go upstairs and do not let Blaise or Seth come down here at all, got it? Just don't let any of the kids down here," Jade said, urgently.
He nodded, dutifully going upstairs.
There was a knock at the door.
"Kill me now," Jade muttered under her breath as she opened the door.
Three of the most hated people in her life were revealed. There was only one who she actually was happy to see.
Her father, Michael, was wearing his typical dark grey suit with his typical tie and his typical disapproving expression. His wife, Mimi, stood next to him practically super glued to his arm. Her hair extensions curled like some poodle's fur. She looked awful; she should have been a melted Barbie doll. Her mother, Louise, on the other hand looked the complete opposite, her hair was swept up into a bun and her outfit was simple for a business woman.
Josh lurked behind them, his hair was messy and his headphones were still in. His green eyes darted from each of the three adults in front of him equally disliking them all.
"Jadelyn, aren't you going to let us in?" her father said impatiently.
She moved to the side, taking her brother's headphones out as he passed her. "Did you come with Mom?"
"Sadly, Frank couldn't come with her, something about a business trip to the south of Kenya."
Jade rolled her eyes. "Or another affair? Who knows?"
The adults sat down, Cat brought in some drinks on a tray.
"Caterina, you're living here?" Michael asked in shock.
"It is her house, Dad," Jade said snidely, perching on the arm next to Josh. "Haven't you read the news recently? It seems to be the only way you find out about my life seeing as you never call."
"You could call me, Jadelyn, there's nothing stopping you from doing that," Michael replied.
Jade laughed. "Not something I'd lower myself to doing but when do I have time? Beck's in hospital, I'm six months pregnant and I'm trying to keep my film on time but sure, I should definitely make the effort with you."
"You're having another baby?" Louise gasped, looking up from her phone.
"No, I'm pregnant with a pomegranate. Yes, it's a baby."
Josh smirked, looking at his sister. "I told you that you should have said something to them sooner."
"You knew?" their parents said together accusingly.
Josh nodded. "Why wouldn't I? I do have regular contact with her unlike you two."
"Why are you even here?" Jade looked at the three of them.
Mimi, their step-mother, piped up for the first time. "We wanted to talk to you about Josh and the advice you gave him."
Jade looked at her. "For chizz sake, who brought the dog inside? Robbie has allergies."
"I haven't got my…" Mimi frowned at her, Michael whispered to her. "Oh, right. So who is your friend?"
"The same red haired friend I've had all of my life?" Jade answered, Josh hiding a small chuckle.
Mimi nodded. "Still has the red hair."
"Oh, she's not colour blind after all, here's me thinking after all this time you were colour blind," Jade sighed in delight, sarcasm heavily implied.
"Why would you think that?" Mimi questioned.
"Well you're orange from your sunbed so we always assumed you got your skin colour and orange mixed up, Mimi." Jade smiled politely.
"Jadelyn, would you keep a civil tongue?" Michael ordered her.
Cat shifted uncomfortably as Mimi continued to stare at her.
"So, why did you tell your brother getting married at twenty would be the best thing to do?" Louise glared at her eldest and only daughter.
Jade shrugged. "I got married at nineteen and have always advised for people to get married older, see the world."
"Then why did you tell your brother to get married?" Louise said.
Jade shrugged. "He's a year old than I was, he fits the criteria."
Michael sighed. "I don't think you are considering the fact he's throwing his life away!"
"Oh, so I threw my life away getting married to Beck?" Jade nodded slowly. "I see, that's lovely of you to think but let me just throw some statistics around for you. Mom has been married five times in the past ten years, all of time in which I have been married to Beck, her longest marriage was two years. The shortest was twenty four hours! Dad, you've been with Mimi ten years, I give you that but you're not even a couple. Half the time you're opposite ends of the world and don't think the tabloids don't take notice of everything you get up to."
No one said anything for a few minutes.
"Twenty is far too young, you have college to get through and if you happen to get Yasmin pregnant? Your life would be over!" Mimi announced as if she was an expert in the matter.
"Again, I had the twins at nineteen. They're perfectly happy," Jade commented, smiling sweetly.
Louise coughed. "So where are the twins?"
"Out of your way."
"Why?" Louise asked.
"Why would I want my kids anywhere near this mess? They hardly know you," Jade retorted.
Michael shook his head. "And whose fault is that?"
"If we did happen to find out that Yas was pregnant, we would raise the kid like a family," Josh responded to the earlier argument.
"What if you got a divorce? The kid would have a broken home or, worse, a single parent!" Michael argued, standing up.
"Hey, Dad, may I kindly remind you Cat is a single mom and tell you how pathetic you sound right now?" Josh glared at his father. "Cat has raised Evanna to be a perfect young girl; she's five and is more accepting than you already."
Louise frowned. "How would you know?"
"When I rang Jade for the advice, I spoke to Evie and she's wonderful. Cat's done well for herself."
"I can't change my opinion, I'm sure Caterina has done well but how many nannies has your daughter had since you've been an actress?" Michael said, he was clutching at straws.
Cat looked at him. Anger flared in her eyes. "None, I haven't hired any. Now I'm not one to be rude but you do not trust your son to make his own mind up nor do you think about his happiness. Now I'm sorry, Mr West, but I can see why Jade and Beck have cut you out of the twins' lives, being around close-minded people isn't good for children or anybody with a brain for that matter."
"I think that's your cue to shut up and listen to Josh, don't you?" Jade patted her father's shoulder.
…
André tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, waiting for Zach to come out of school. He couldn't believe how late he was today; Zach could talk for the all of the money in the world but surely he had had the day to talk. However André noticed the surrounding police cars and sirens. He got out of the car.
"Excuse me, can you tell me what is happening?"
"There has been a kidnapping. Now, could you please move your car, sir?" the cop replied.
His heart started throbbing. "Who has been taken?"
"A child from the school, now sir please…"
"Zachery Roberts, he's my… he's in my care whilst his parents are away." André panicked now, his blood ran cold.
The police officer sighed, nodding painfully. "If you could come with me please, sir."
I thought I'd make a longer update to make up for lack of update over the last few days. Also, this is most likely the last update as I need to seriously revise. Hopefully without crying this time! We can always dream. I'm going to die in my exams.
Happy New Year!
Love always,
ChasingMidnight.