Disclaimer:Don't own this song by Michelle Branch
Chapter12
***
Val Lanier stood on Catie's porch the day after certain events. She rang the door bell and Catie
answered with very teary eyes. "OMG!, Catie what's wrong?"Val stepped in to the house. "I
don't think I should tell you what happened"Catie murmured drying her tears. "Tell me!"Val
demanded instantly."I slept with Jamie."Catie sulked"I slept with him and now I can't talk to
him""Catie its okay. Really its okay. Alright. I'm going to make us some tea. Everything is going
to be fine. I promise."Val rushed into the kitchen. She was starting to hate James Logan Waite
for hurting Catie a second time. Once in high school and now again. If Jamie couldn't admit he
had a problem, he was the problem as far as Val was concerened. She searched through the
cabinet and found the tea.
***
Jamie was home. His family was home. Xander and his attitude was home. Jamie couldn't help
but be angry with Xander. He'd had no right to touch Lizzie,but Lizzie seemed to understand that
he was this hard empty shell. This shell that in time would break down in either her arms or
some one else's and she thought it might be Brooke Lanier's. But the thing was Lizzy understood
to much. Look at how she had to be here while Jamie was free from a chain he'd broken long
ago with going to college.
Xander sat at one end of th table. He was angry with Jaime for leaving. Angry with Harper for
driving their mother to her death. He was angry at Lizzy for trying to hard. He was angry at the
world for dealing him thw worst life, the worst fate, and the worst temper. But most of all he
was mad at him self for not saving their mother.
Harper sat silently watching his family. He looked at Lizzie his sweet Lizzie looking so much
like Rebecca his wife. He'd never wanted to harm Rebecca. But drinking drove him to it. It
always had. But Rebecca had never complained so much as once. She'd only told him once that
he drank to much and that was the end. How he'd loved Rebecca like no other. They'd been high
school sweet hearts. Rebecca was his heart. But Rebecca was dead and he thought some where
slowly he was dying. She was in all of them really. Jamie,Xander, and Livie all had her soul.
Not his. His soul was tormented with all that he'd done to Rebeca.
Xander was taking it in. He saw his dead mother in the mirror in front of him. "Save me"she
whispered"save me." He began to shake with the fear that was swallowing him whole. "Stop
it!"he screamed crashing to the floor like lighting"just stop,just stop it."
Jamie went to him. He was still shaking."Xander"Jamie called "whats wrong."He opened his
eyes still shaking. "I told you shes in my head, man. She won't leave.""Xan, whose in your head.
Common tell me."Jamie urged."Its mom. She in my head."he whisper silently"Its mom."
***
Val fixed the tea as Catie sat at the kitchen table to recive it. "I cannot belive Jamie Waite. God
he is such a dog"Val remarked about Jamie. Catie agreed smally. Jamie was this guy who gave
her all these emotions then made her hurt, and made her hate him even worse than before. "If I
could just choke him and make him see."Val started but Catie cut her off. "You know what I
think I hate Jamie, but in the same time i'm in love with him."she laughed. Val laughed two. Val
saw the flashes of light that came in and out of Catie's eyes where Jamie was concerened but did
he see.
***
Turn it inside out so I can see
The part of you that's drifting over me
And when I wake your never there
But when I sleep you're everywhere
You're everywhere
***
Jamie sighed as he called Catie. The phone rang and Val picked up. "Hello"she said.
"Hey Val this is Jamie,is Catie there?"he asked.
"Yeah she is but she doesn't want to talk to you."Val
He heard the line go dead.
***
Just tell me how I got this far
Just tell me why you're here and who you are
'Cause every time I look
You're never there
And every time I sleep
You're always there
***
Catie heard Val mutter something to someone on the phone and figured it was Jamie by her tone.
What did he want? Another make out session. Well he could forget it because she was so empty
right now the only thing she wanted to do was climb back in bed and sleep the pain away until
vacation was over.
***
'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
You're everything I know
That makes me believe
I'm not alone
I'm not alone
***
"So was that Jamie?"Catie looked up from sipping her vanilla and strawberry tea. "Yeah that
was him. Catie I think you need to stay away from him. Your in a state where your vunerable,
and Jamie can make you hurt even more"Val reminded her gently. "Is that what happened
between you and Tyler?"Catie questioned. "I really don't know. He was so into me one minute
then so cold the next. But no matter he was my friend through my parent's divorce and them
getting back together"Val stated"he was only my friend.""We all could've been more if we'd
tried"Catie sipped her tea. She wondered was Jamie thinking of her. Because she was thinking
of him.
***
I recognize the way you make me feel
It's hard to think that
You might not be real
I sense it now, the water's getting deep
I try to wash the pain away from me
Away from me
***
Jamie walked into the room where Xander was being held. He was a sleep. The IV had put him
in a state of peace. His short hair was ruffled. Jamie sat down in a chair, afraid. What if Xander
was seeing things,what if he'd lost his mind? "I'll help you Xander, I promise I will'whispered
Jamie.
***
And when I touch your hand
It's then I understand
The beauty that's within
It's not that we begin
You always light my way
I hope there never comes a day
***
Lizzie ran to Catie Roth's house. She knew that ths was Jaime's best friend. She only hoped that
Catie was home and would understand the the way she did. Understand that Jamie needed her as
much as he ever had. When she knocked on the door Catie had took her time answering. When
Lizzie told Catie what had happened she had gotten dressed, grabbed Val along with Lizzie, and
rushed to the hospital.
***
No matter where I go
I always feel you so
'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I catch my breath
It's you I breathe
You're everything I know
That makes me believe
I'm not alone
You're in everyone I see
So tell me
Do you see me?
