chapter3

***

When Jamie got back to the house, Lizzy had finished cooking dinner. Some how he had not

managed the act he was going to put on when he saw his father. But he managed.

Harper Waite stood and faced his son.

"Hello, Jamie"Harper said steadily stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Hey"came Jamie's voice.

It sounded steadily. Suddenly he felt like a child. The one that couldn't protect his mother, but he

quickly shut

the feeling out of his mind.

"So how is college?"Harper asked. He was trying so hard. "Jamie took a seat across from his father.

"Its alright. I suppose."

"Dad, Jamie..........um.......Xander called."

"Really. What did he say?"Jamie asked.

'He said that he'd be home late. That was it"Lizzy returned to fixing the plates.

***

Catie stood steadily up against the wall of her room trying to forget Jamie and the way he'd

acted to day. It was weird. He'd always promised he'd tell her what bothered him. She

remembered the hour his mother had died. He'd come to her. She'd undestood. Why couldn't he

trust her with

whatever was bothering him this time she wanted him to tell her. She picked up the phone and

dialed Val's number.

"Hello"came a voice.

"Hello"Catie said "is Val there?"

"This is she."Val said reconizing Catie's voice.

"Hey. Whats up?"

"Um..............Tyler said a buch of friends asked if we wanted to go to West Beach."

"Really..that's like a hundred miles away!"Catie shrieked.

"I know plus there are guys going."

"Maybe I should ask Jamie. I think he might wanna go. Ya know get his mind off this home

buissness. Pasides were already here and everything."CAtie sighed.

"Is there something going on I should know about?"Val curiously asked.

"No. Val I would tell you if something happened"Catie replied with another sigh.

"There is something I should know"Val said excitedly.

"Hey maybe I should ask Jamie to come"Catie changed the subject.

"Alright and if he wants to go I'll pick you up"Val voiced.

"Cool call you in a few"Catie hung up.