Legal stuff: the lyrics to "will you still love me" belong to chicago!

A/N: chapter 15!! i write too fast! someone stop me!

Verdant's was lit up in shades of green and blue, true to its name. People were already outside, dressed in their best clothing. The party was open to Wilstedians 16 and up, and all of the town had shown up. There was a DJ inside, and huge buffet tables were set up already.

Jett and Kayla arrived at 6:30 on the dot. Jett's presence caused quite a stir, as did the girl by his side. Kayla looked absolutely beautiful, smiling and happy. She was dressed in a red and pink tank dress that was slightly fitted at the waist, white sandals, and her hair was done up in a twist, curls falling loose around her shoulders. Jett was dressed in black and blue.

Wood was there as security, but he also was there just to have fun. He kept a sharp eye out for any suspicious looking partygoers and found none.

The biggest stir came when Booker arrived with Jackie. He was grinning and proudly showing off the fact that he had the best-looking girl at the party next to him, and she knew it.

In fact, her outfit said it all. Her black skirt was long and had a scandalously high slit, and she wore a fitted blue tank top with a jacket of the same color over it, and strappy high-heeled sandals. Her hair was pulled back and left loose, tumbling down her back.

Booker was wearing khaki slacks and a black button-down shirt. Everyone was mildly surprised: the deputy was quite handsome after all. And it seemed he'd gotten himself one hell of a girlfriend, as the whispers passed among the ranks.

The DJ put on dance music right away, and it seemed all of Wilsted's 16-and-up population was dancing. Shakira's Suerte came blasting through the speakers, and Jett pulled Kayla onto the floor.

"Let's dance." He slid his arms around her waist. They spun, laughing.

Jackie took Booker's hand and they started to dance salsa to the beat. People cheered as they whirled, joining Kayla and Jett as the sensations of the party.

Everyone danced for hours, and it was almost ten before they sat down to have a break, Jackie flushed and laughing.

Booker introduced her to Jett and Kayla, and before long they were chatting like old friends. No one noticed the figure in the bulky black First Down jacket watching them.

Booker pulled Jackie back onto the floor as the DJ put on a slow song "for all the couples out there tonight".

As the intro started, Booker wound his arms around Jackie's slender waist, and she leaned her forehead in the hollow of his shoulder.

Take me as I am,
Put your hand in mine,
Now and forever.

Darling, here I stand,
Stand before you now,
Deep inside I always knew,

It was you.
You and me,
Two hearts drawn together bound by destiny.

It was you,
And you for me,
Every road leads to your door,
Every step I take forevermore...

Just say you love me for the rest of your life.
I got a lotta love and I don't wanna let go...
Will you still love me for the rest of my life?
Cause I can't go on,
No I can't go on,

I can't go on,
If I'm on my own.

Jett and Kayla stood there, swaying to the music. The words were deep, really expressing what they were feeling. They were aware of nothing but each other.

Wood watched from across the room, smiling slightly. He remember his first dance with Jules. They had been exactly that way. Then he shook his head. Hopefully his son would have a better road with Kayla. The heartbreak he had with Jules wasn't something he wanted Jett to go through.

Turning to Booker, he grinned. It was about time he found someone. And Jackie was gorgeous. Any man could appreciate her. But she and Booker seemed to be very deeply in love. Some day he would make Booker tell him the whole story. For now, it was nice to watch them.

No one noticed the figure in the black jacket get up. They didn't see the glint of the blade. Only Jackie, who was watching over Booker's shoulder, saw anything. She saw the black arm lift behind Kayla.

"No!" Jackie lunged, knocking Kayla over, and knocking the blade out of the attacker's hand. Wood came rushing over, handcuffs out. Jackie tackled the black-coated criminal and sat on him, fumbling for something in her back pocket.

To everyone's shock, she drew out a pair of handcuffs. "Real smart, aren't you?" she said to the masked person. "Thought you'd cause a scene now, didn't you?"

"What are you doing?" Wood asked, clearing the people aside. "I'm the sheriff here, Jackie. How did you get those handcuffs?"

Jackie looked up at Wood and finished securing the shackles. "Sorry, sir. I just noticed and I thought you could use a little help. As for where I got these handcuffs--" She reached into her jacket pocket and drew out a flat black case, flipped it open, and revealed a police badge. "Detective Jacquelynne Laine, NYPD."

"Son of a bitch," Booker breathed in shock, coming to stand next to his girlfriend. "And you never told me."

She smiled at him. "I passed the Academy exam with top honors two months before I came back here." She gave the handcuffs one last tug and stood up. "He's all yours, Sheriff."

Kayla was staring in shock at her attacker, Jett's arms around her. "Again," she said. "For God's sake, who are you?"

"We're about to find out." Wood rolled the assailant onto his back and took off the mask.

The silence that fell was thick enough to cut with a knife, filled with shock and outrage.

"Amanda?! "

The girl lay on the ground, trembling and grinding her teeth. Wood hauled her to her feet.

"How could you do that?" JB came up to stand next to his best friends. "What is wrong with you?"

"I told you, Jett. I don't like you. My purpose is specifically to ruin your life. I told you that a long time ago," Amanda's voice was raspy, crazed, ignoring JB. Kayla stepped back.

"And now you have that little bitch in your arms," Amanda continued, fighting Wood's grasp. "And she obviously makes you real happy."

Jett was in shock. "I... I... oh, God." Kayla was staring at the girl in disbelief. She had never liked Amanda, but this was crazy.

Dislike was one thing. But Jett had never come across anyone this obsessed, willing to hurt another human to get him.

Wood dragged her away, kicking and spitting. Booker took crowd control upon himself along with the help of his girlfriend.

"Technically, I'm not supposed to help you," Jackie whispered as they rounded everyone up. "This isn't my state, let alone my precinct. I could get in a lot of trouble."

"Don't you worry about it," Booker said. "Wood's got it covered."

People were upset, there was no doubt about that. People were leaving in droves, too shaken to enjoy the rest of the party. Even the DJ looked a little green around the gills.

"C'mon. We better get out of here," Booker said once everyone was accounted for. "I think I've had my share of excitement."

They would be needed at the station anyway.