Chapter2

***

They were sitting on Catie's porch after just arriving back home. Jamie hadn't been saying

much. Just sitting. Not wanting to go home. Not wanting to see the drunk he called father.

"Catie............um could I come over early in the morning?"Jamie asked her. It was a longing

in his voice and Catie didn't know what to say. So she said yes.

"Of course you can Jamie. I don't mind."she said to him. She touched his face with her

fingers."Is something wrong Jamie?"

Of course he wasn't about to tell her that home wasn't sweet. That he didn't want to go

there. To that place he use to call home.

"Ah no"he shook her hand away from his face.

Catie quickly and instantly regretted touching him jerked her hand away. She wasn't safe

she told herself. Not anymore. Because the more she talked to Jamie. The more feelings she

felt. She didn't know what they were. Just that they were warm. Maybe harmless even. She

didn't believe in true love anymore. Especially not with her first love. Not Jamie. Jamie

was that guy who said he loved you, but wouldn't allow you to get a good look at his

soul. He was that guy that would stand out in the pouring rain professing his love to you

from the street while you tried to hush him so that your dad wouldn't come outside. Jamie

was that guy who stole your heart while not meaning to. Jamie was that guy who was dorky

and fun to be with.The one that all ways made you smile. Jamie was that guy you hadn't

pictured yourself dating. He was that one guy. The first actually whom you had said I love

you to in that girlfriendish way. And then he was that one guy,a year after you've broken up

with him, moved on,gone to college and started seeing some one else,that you couldn't stop

thinking about. Yeah that was Jamie, and Catie promised herself she wouldn't fall head over

heels in love with him. Even if it meant bringing Cris up in every conversation. She

promised.Jamie stood a few minutes later. Catie stood to. "I should get going. Ya know face

the music and all"Jamie sighed. "Okay but you can come early. I'll be awake. We can have

coffee or something."Catie hugged Jamie. "Alright"he let go"I'll see you in the morning. He

walked away from Catie. She watched as he disappeared out of sight.

***

Jaime arrived home with his suitcase in hand. He looked the dismal house over. The place

where his childish thoughts still lingered. The lights were on. He felt around his neck for the

key on his chain. He groped the key as he lifted the silver chain from around his neck.

Quickly he put the key in the keyhole. He turned it and unlocked the door. He put the chain

back around his neck,twisted the knob, and strode into the house.The light was on in the

kitchen and in the living room. Jamie went to the kitchen. He saw a dark haired woman

fixing dinner. The only thought that came to his mind was his mom.

"Mom"Jamie called out softly trying to mask the emotion he felt in his words. She turned

around a bit startled. Jamie looked at her and realized that it was Lizzy. His sister. His baby

sister looked like their mother. So grown up. She had their mother's dark hair,dark eyes.

Full red lips. Round ovaled face. But she was only fourteen. Still she had her whole life in

front of her."Jamie"Lizzy breath"your home". Her voice sounded broken. "Yeah sis I'm

home"Jamie went to his sister and and hugged her.

When the embrace was over Lizzy looked up at her oldest brother. He hadn't changed. He

was still her big brother. And still very protective. College hadn't changed him even though

she'd told him it would. He was still Jamie Logan Waite.

"I missed you so much Jaime"Lizzy began to breath once more"why didn't you call?"

"I wanted to surprize you. Where is Xander?"he questioned. ". He's at the EMT

station."Lizzy sounded surprized at first. "And dad?"Jaime was afraid to ask.

"Oh Jaime. He went to ppick up groceries. Dad is so much better. He takes a drink once in a

while."Lizzy felt relief pass over her.

"I'll be back in a while. Okay."

"Where are you going?"

"To the EMT station."

"Okay"

***

He had black-brown hair with blue eyes like his father. Harper Waite. He was Xander Waite.

He was almost as determined as Jamie not to become their father. A drunk. And a wife

beater. He couldn't do that. Not to a woman or anyone else. It wasn't human. But even

though no matter how hard he tried he did have a temper. That was the reason he'd been

kicked off the squad. They'd told him when he could control it he could come back.

So now he sat in a booth at a bar outside of town. Maybe this was where he belonged.

In a bar, getting drunk. Nah,he thought,I'm just here to cool down from the fight with

Brooke Lanier.

***

Brooke Lanier ,who was a junior squad member,sat behind a desk trying to catch up on

some paper work when a familar facewalked into the room. She stood up and went over to

him.

"Jamie is that you"the fifteen year old asked. He looked at her. She'd cut her hair to

shoulder length now,but she was still Brooke. Val's kid sister. "Yeah its me"he hugged her.

When they let go Brooke felt over joyed. It was like Jamie was part of her family.

"So is Val home to?"she asked. "Yeah everyone. Hank,Tyler and Catie are all here."

Jamie responded. "This is great."Brooke smiled widely.

"Um.......the real reason I'm here is to see Xander."Jamie saw the look on Brook's

face.

"Jamie"Brooke sighed"Xander got kicked off the squad. I'm sorry."

"Can I ask why?"

"He blew up at our squad leader Jace. So he's done this at least five times. So thats why he

got kicked off the squad. He came back to clean out his locker and I tried to help him

because hes a good EMT,but he blew up at me. I tried."

"I gotta go Brooke. It was great seeing you. Maybe I'll come over tomorrow."

"Yeah it was good seeing you to Jamie"Brooke went back to her paper work.

Jamie couldn't believe his brother had been kicked off and he was only a junior member. He

simply couldn't believe it.

***