Disclaimer: I do not own these characters (but if I did the show would
still be going Hehehe) I do not get paid for these stories. I do own the
character of Christina Lopez but if you want to use her feel free to do so.
Summary: Jarod meets a new woman who reminds him of Miss Parker in some ways. Can there relationship work out? And what happens when she comes in contact with the Centre?
Note: This will eventually become a JMPR just wait a while and I swear it will happen.
Strange Things Happen
Jarod sat in the passenger seat asleep while Zoe drove. She looked over at him and sighed. Their relationship hadn't been the same in a while. She'd met up with him and they were planning on spending a weekend together but the spark that was between them before was gone. She looked at the busy city she was driving through and had no idea how Jarod could sleep with all the noise. Teenagers were listening to annoyingly loud music in their cars and on the street corners. She saw Jarod stir, probably awakened by the increasingly bright sun and the loud music.
"Morning. Did you enjoy your nap?" Jarod nodded in response. She smiled at him.
Jarod looked at Zoe and was wondering what to say to her when out of the corner of his eye he saw a little girl run onto the road chasing a ball.
"ZOE STOP!" He yelled and tried to stop the car himself. Zoe pressed down on the brake but neither thought they'd be able to stop in time. At the moment before they would have hit the little girl a woman came running from the sidewalk and pulled her out of the way. The car came to a screeching halt.
"Sara, are you okay?" The mystery woman asked the little girl. The little girl nodded happily unaware of how close she was to being hit by the car. Jarod jumped out of the car and ran over to the little girl.
"Are you sure you're okay?" The little girl nodded again. "We're so sorry. We didn't see her. I'm just glad you were able to get to her." The woman smiled at him.
"So am I. I just don't know what happened. I' was sure her mother was with her in their apartment." She turned back to the little girl and began fussing over her making sure she was alright.
"So you're not her mother?" The woman shook her head no. "I just assumed that. never mind." The woman smiled at him.
"Sara and her mother are friends of mine. I was just coming out of our building to go shopping when I saw what was happening. Anyway." She turned back to the girl. "I should get you back home." She tickled the girl and started walking away. Jarod walked after her.
"Would it be okay if I came with you?" The woman gave him a strange look. "I'd just like to apologise to her mother and make sure she really is okay." The woman's smile returned and she jerked her head in the direction they were heading. Jarod followed her and wasn't aware that Zoe was next to him until he felt her hand inside his.
"By the way I'm Christina and this is Sara." Jarod caught up to her and shook her hand.
"Jarod and this is Zoe." Christina smiled at both of them although her smile to Zoe wasn't as cheery. Zoe caught the look and knew why.
"I'm sorry that I almost hit her. I guess I just wasn't.. paying attention." Christina smiled her less cheery smile again then turned her attention back to Sara.
"How did you get out anyway?" Sara giggled at the question and played with her ball. They were going up a flight of stairs in an apartment building that Jarod noticed was looking very dilapidated. They got to about the third floor when Christina turned into a corridor. She went up to one of the doors and tried opening but failed as it was locked. She knocked on the door a few times then, after she got no response, reached into her pocked and pulled out a set of keys. She found the right one and opened the door.
"Emma? Emma, are you here?" She put Sara down on an old looking couch and searched the rooms. When she found no-one she went back to Sara. "Sara sweetie, where's your mum?" Sara looked at her and tried to speak using the few words she knew at a young age.
"Mamma leave." Christina looked up at Jarod and Zoe. She was clearly worried.
"Did she leave you with anyone?" Sara shook her head no and played with a toy lying on the couch. Jarod noticed Christina's panic rise. He bent down to Sara's level next to Christina.
"Did she do anything before she left? Did anyone come in here? Did she leave with someone?" Sara nodded her head and pointed to the fridge. Jarod looked at the fridge then back at Christina to see if she understood. From the look in her eye it was obvious that she did. She stood up immediately and went to the fridge. She picked up a jar on top of it and studied it carefully, turning it upside-down.
"Damn! I can't believe her!" She brushed past Zoe to the window. She looked out and anger lit up her eyes at whatever she saw. She walked back to the couch, picked up Sara and headed for the door. Jarod followed quickly behind.
"What is it? What's wrong?" He had no idea what was going on but he wanted to help. Christina seemed too enraged to say anything. She practically ran up the stairs to the fifth floor and Jarod tried to keep up. Once on the fifth floor she banged on the second door she came to. An older woman who looked very much like Christina came to the door.
"Christina. Sara." Even through these two short words Jarod could hear her thick Latino accent. Christina practically threw Sara into the woman's arms.
"Mamma, can you look after Sara for me for a moment?" The woman nodded then said something in Spanish that was too quick for Jarod to understand. Christina answered back also in Spanish and he saw the older woman become scared.
"Be careful." She shut the door and Christina ran back down the stairs. Jarod followed again. Once they got down the stairs she turned a corner and nearly ran into a group of guys and a woman talking hushed.
"I can't believe you Emma. You were doing so well." The group parted a bit and Jarod saw exactly what they were doing. They were dealing drugs and the woman, Emma Sara's mother, was buying them. Jarod pushed Zoe around the corner.
"Stay here." Zoe tried to argue but she knew she shouldn't. Jarod walked back around the corner.
"Christina I.. I just had to." Christina was staring at her and Emma knew that it was no use.
"Christina. You should just turn back the way you came and get off your high horse." One of the young men, the leader Jarod guessed, was talking.
"No Joey. You should just walk away and act like none of this happened." The leader, Joey, nodded at the rest of his group and they all pulled out guns. Jarod started to SIM a way out of the mess but Christina stood her ground. She was seriously starting to remind him of Miss Parker. Joey took a step closer to her.
"You were always stubborn weren't you?" He walked over to her and put his hand on her face. She shoved it away.
"And you were always an Asshole." She slapped him hard across the face and the smile that was on his face vanished.
"You bitch. You couldn't just leave it alone could you?" He pulled out his gun and put it to her head. Still she didn't seem scared. Jarod took a step closer and one of the guys pointed his gun at him. "Oh got a boyfriend now Chris?" He turned to face Jarod and this seemed to be the break Christina was waiting for. She quickly elbowed him in the ribs and when he hunched over she got him in an arm lock behind his back.
"Whether I do or not is none of your business Joey. Put your guns down." The rest of the guys laughed.
"Yeah right, you really think we'll do that?" One of the guys asked. Christina reached behind her back and pulled a gun from its holster. She cocked it and pointed it at Joey's head.
"Tell them Joey." Joey's eyes widened in fear them he instructed them to do what she said. They all put their guns down and she indicated she wanted them to kick them to her and they also did that.
"You're crazy!" Joey was in increasing pain and after she said that she tightened her grip.
"You are going to walk away and don't come back here ever. You hear me?" Joey shook his head. Christina tightened her grip and Joey cried out in pain. She had obviously broken his arm. She tossed him at his friends and told them to leave. She put her gun back in its holster and walked over to Emma.
"I can't believe you. You left Sara to buy drugs. She got out you know and almost got hit by a car." Emma whimpered.
"You don't understand Chrissie. I needed it." Christina sneered. She walked over to Emma, dug in her pockets and took out a packet of white powder.
"This is your last warning Emma. If I, or anybody else for that matter, catches you buying this crap again I will personally tell social services and have Sara taken away from you. Sara's at my apartment with my mom, go!" Emma walked past her and straight to the apartment building. Jarod was stunned.
"Are you a police officer?" Christina laughed and produced and evidence bag from where her gun had been.
"No I'm not a police officer. I just don't want scum like that in my neighbourhood." She put the drugs and the guns in the evidence bag. "Could you do me a favour?" Jarod nodded. "Can you please give me a lift to the police station?" Again Jarod nodded. They walked to where his car was parked with Zoe following closely behind. Jarod wanted to ask Christina something and he couldn't help himself.
"You don't happen to have someone with the last name Parker in your family do you?" Christina shook her head no.
"No. Why?" Jarod laughed.
"No reason."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
They pulled up outside the police station and went inside. Christina saw the person at the front desk and smiled.
"Hiya George. How are you?" George turned around and immediately smiled at what he saw.
"Chris! What brings you around here? Let me guess. You missed seeing me." Christina laughed.
"Oh yeah. I couldn't help myself. No I ran into Joey and his boys trying to sell to Emma." George shook his head. "I have these for you." She put the evidence bag on the counter and George looked over the contents.
"I don't know how you do it Chris. What did you do break his arm or something?" He started laughing until he saw the look on her face. "Oh no. You didn't?" She nodded. "Chris what am I going to do if he comes in here to lay charges on you?" Christina laughed.
"Oh yeah George. A known drug dealer who is a total Badass is going to come in here and say Christina Lopez broke my arm while I was trying to sell." She broke into a fit of laughter.
"I guess you're right. Hey Chris why don't you join the force. You'd be excellent." Christina put her head down and frowned.
"You know why. I'm not going to put my mamma through that again. Besides I prefer working with kids you know that." She smiled again and Jarod noticed how beautiful she was when she smiled. She was beautiful anytime but when she smiled she was even more so and she seemed to smile a lot. Christina was in her mid to late twenties with beautiful dark skin. Her eyes were blue-green, the colour of the sea, and she had the cutest dimples in her cheeks when she smiled.
"Chris, you amaze me. Well I'm going to put these in the evidence lockup and get you a witness sheet. Did anyone else see the incident?" Jarod stepped up.
"Yeah I did." George looked Jarod over, clearly wondering who he was and why he had seen what happened.
"Well I'll get you one as well Mr.?"
"Mark. Jarod Mark." George walked away still eyeing Jarod suspiciously. After a few moments he returned with their sheets and both Jarod and Christina filled them out. Jarod could see Zoe getting bored and she started pacing behind them. He saw Christina giving her a dirty look; she clearly didn't like her because of how she almost ran Sara over. Christina and Jarod finished and handed the sheets to George.
"Thankyou, both of you. We may contact you or we may not. Probably not. These seem thorough enough. Well I'll see ya Chris. Don't be a stranger. I mean don't only come in here when you've busted up some gang leader." He started laughing and went back to answering phones. Christina waved at him and walked outside.
"Well thanks for your help. It was nice meeting you Jarod." She smiled at him. ".and Zoe." Her smile lessened with Zoe. Jarod smiled back.
"Maybe we'll see you around." Christina smiled.
"Yeah, maybe. Where are you staying?" Jarod frowned suddenly realising that they didn't have somewhere to stay yet.
"Well we kind of don't have a place to stay at the moment." Christina frowned then she seemed to get an idea.
"I think I could help you with that."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
They were back at the apartment building. Christina had told them that there was an empty apartment across the hall from hers that was up for rent. Jarod had decided that this would be a good place to stay.
"I'll just go in and see if Mrs. Davis is here." She knocked on the door then walked in. Sitting on a huge couch in the middle of the room was a woman with grey hair who was slightly fat. She looked very cheerful just sitting watching the T.V. She looked up and saw Christina standing in the doorway.
"Chrissie, how are you. What brings you here today? Is something wrong in your apartment? I'll get Jeff if that's the case." Christina laughed.
"Hello Mrs. Davis. I'm fine and no nothing is wrong with the apartment. Well nothing that isn't wrong with it usually. I'm just here because I found some people that would like to rent 5C." Mrs. Davis smiled.
"Bringing in more strays are you. Where are they?" Christina moved out of the way and gestured for Jarod and Zoe to come in. Mrs. Davis looked Jarod over and smiled.
"How do you do it child? You always bring in the cute ones." Jarod started blushing. "And you would be?" Mrs. Davis extended her hand to Jarod.
"I'm Jarod. It's nice to meet you Mrs. Davis." He shook her hand.
"Oh please, feel free to call me Daisy." Christina laughed. Jarod looked at her to find out what was so funny.
"She likes you. She only lets the cute guys call her Daisy." Jarod started blushing again.
"And you would be?" Mrs. Davis turned her attention to Zoe.
"I'm Jarod's girlfriend, Zoe." She shook Mrs. Davis' hand. Mrs. Davis turned to Christina.
"Figures. The cute ones are either taken or gay." She started laughing and went to a table to pick up a book and a set of keys. "So how long will you be with us?" Jarod looked at Zoe. He wasn't sure how long they would be staying. He hadn't intended on staying but when Christina offered he couldn't refuse. They had just been passing through and he wasn't even on a pretend.
"A few days I guess." Zoe sighed. She didn't want to stay there. She would have been happier if they could just get back in the car and drive. Drive to someplace secluded, where it was just her and Jarod alone, with no other girl like Christina to bother them and distract Jarod.
"A few days it is. If you could just fill this out for me then Christina can show you the apartment." Jarod took the pen from her hand and started filling in made up details. A man about Christina's age came in from behind her.
"Chris. There you are. I've missed you." He started kissing the back of her neck and Jarod suddenly found himself feeling a bit jealous even through he'd only known this girl for a little while.
"Jeff. Get off me you idiot. You kiss too sloppy." They both started laughing. Jeff looked over at Jarod and Zoe.
"Let me guess. Jarod?" Jarod was shocked. How did this guy know his name?
"Yeah, how did you know?" Jeff started laughing.
"I was just talking to a buddy of mine, George. He said that he saw Chris today and she had a guy with her named Jarod. I just assumed that was you." He turned his attention back to Chris. "So what were you doing at the police station anyway?" Chris looked down. She looked worried about something but Jarod couldn't figure out why.
"I ran into Joey." Jeff's face dropped. He was obviously worried about her. Christina saw the look on his face and said. "I kicked his ass, but the reason I ran into him was because Emma was buying from him." Her face fell again. Jeff looked mad.
"What? Was Sara with her?" Christina shook her head.
"She left her in the apartment but she got out. That's how I met Jarod and Zoe. Zoe almost hit her with their car." Jeff gave Zoe a dirty look. "I got her out of the way just in time then took her back upstairs and that's when I found out she was buying. I took the drugs off her don't worry." Jeff turned around and ran out the door yelling Emma's name.
"When's that girl going to learn? Jeff can't protect her and Sara from Social Services forever no matter how much he loves her." Jarod was shocked. He thought that Jeff was with Christina. She caught the look on his face.
"Jeff is Emma's boyfriend. They got together shortly after she had Sara. He loves Sara like she was his own and he doesn't want to lose either of them."
"I just thought that he was your." Christina and Daisy started laughing.
"My son with Chrissie? No they just muck around." Christina was still laughing.
"We grew up together. He's like my brother. Like she said, we just muck around." Jarod was relieved. "Come on. I'll show you the apartment. Me with Jeff, what a laugh."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
After Chris had shown them to their apartment and had lectured him into calling her either Chris or Chrissie Zoe decided that they should go out to dinner. She had gone through the phone book and found a very fancy, very romantic place to eat. It was called Savannahs. They were both ready and had just closed the door behind them when Chris came out of her apartment followed by twelve fifteen year old girls.
"Christina. I mean Chris, what are you doing?" Chris looked up at him and smiled. The rest of the girls with her all looked him over and started giggling.
"Well I'm taking the girls out to dinner then we're going to practise for the dance recital tomorrow." Jarod looked confused. "I'm the girls dance teacher and we've been practicing like crazy and now it's our last practice." The girls all started cheering.
"So where are you taking the girls" Zoe jabbed Jarod in the back and glared at her. She wanted to get going before it was too late.
"Savannahs. Kate's father owns it and they have the best food their." Jarod was stunned.
"That's where we're headed." The girls with Chris started whispering to each other then started giggling. One of them stepped forward. She had red hair and lots of freckles.
"Hey how would you like to come with us?" Chris's eyes widened.
"Kate, I'm sure they'd like to be alone." Zoe smiled. Maybe she did like Chris after all.
"Sure that would be fun." Zoe looked at Jarod and opened her mouth to say something but no words came out. Chris smiled one of her most dazzling smiles at Jarod.
"Well I guess it would be alright then. Let me introduce you to the girls. This is Kate, Rebecca, Natalie, Carol, Holly, Rachel, Danielle, Fiona, Jody, Lucy, Nadine and my sister Marietta." Jarod looked at the last one she said. Her sister. He could definitely see the resemblance.
"Well it's nice to meet you all. Shall we go?" The girls all giggled.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Zoe was totally bored. Ever since they arrived at the restaurant Jarod had been talking to Chris and the girls with her. She'd done everything she could think of to get his attention but nothing seemed to work.
"So you're their dance teacher?" Jarod was very interested in this. Someone else he once knew very well had loved to dance.
"Yeah, I kind of have a lot of. past experience." Chris tried to lead the conversation away from that because she didn't want Jarod to know what her past experience had been.
"Oh no. Chris, don't look now but Stanley's working." Chris looked where Natalie was pointing.
"Oh great! I wouldn't have brought you girls here if I knew he was working tonight." Jarod saw Kate look upset.
"I'm sorry Chrissie, I forgot he was working." Chris looked at her and had sympathy written all over her face.
"Don't worry about it. Just hide me." She put her head down on the table. Jarod was curious and tried to see why she should hide. Zoe had an idea. She waved the guy she was hiding from over discreetly. He came over quickly.
"Can I help you? Christina? Is that you?" Chris sighed.
"Yeah Marietta you're right. There is purple on the tablecloth. Oh hi Stanley. How are you?" Jarod could tell that she wasn't very pleased to see him.
"I'm fine. Well as fine as can be expected given the circumstances. We need to talk Christina. I miss you." Jarod now understood what was happening.
"Stanley I'm kind of busy right now, and anyway it wouldn't make a difference. I made up my mind." She turned her back on him. He gave up and walked away. Zoe was curious.
"What was that about?" She asked in her sweetest voice.
"Nothing. It's just that sometimes people don't get the message." She excused herself saying she had to go to the ladies room. Zoe had no problem and tried to get Jarod's attention but Jarod could tell something was wrong and he also excused himself.
He followed Chris to where the toilets were but she didn't go in. She out her head in her hands and started to cry. He started walking over to her but Stanley got their first.
"Christina we really need to talk."
"No we don't. It's over between us. Is has been for a long time. Why don't you just get over it?"
"Because I love you." He heard Chris laugh.
"If you loved me you wouldn't have done the things you did to me. And if you loved me you'd leave me alone." She started to walk away but he grabbed her arm.
"No! I love you! We belong together. I'm not letting you get away from me that easily." Jarod heard Chris wince in pain.
"Stan you're hurting me. Let me go." Stanley laughed.
"No. Not until you admit you love me." Jarod heard her wince in pain again and decided to step in.
"Let go of her." He pulled Chris out of Stanley's grasp.
"Who are you? Her new boyfriend?" Chris, who was in a state of shock before had regained her composure.
"Tell me you love me now Stan!" She turned on her hell and took Jarod with her. "Thankyou for helping me Jarod. Can you do me a favour?" Jarod nodded. "Don't tell the girls what happened. I don't want to alarm them." Jarod nodded again.
"I just don't understand something. How come you could handle a drug dealer and his gang but not that guy?" Chris laughed.
"Well I would be making a scene if I broke someone's am in here. And I wasn't expecting him to do anything. Oh yeah plus I don't have my gun." She started laughing again. Jarod started laughing with her and as they walked back to their table he couldn't help but think of how similar she could be to Miss Parker.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
After they'd finished dinner the girls asked Jarod and Zoe if they wanted to come with them to watch them rehearse. Zoe had said she didn't want to but Jarod did. Zoe had driven home in a huff and Jarod had continued with Chris and the girls. Jarod was sitting in a hall waiting for the girls to come out of the change room. When the girls came out they all went over to Jarod. They were all showing off their clothes for him and Jarod was being polite but when Chris walked in his mouth dropped open. She was wearing a skin tight leotard with a short skirt and tight fitting top over it.
"If I knew beforehand that we would have company I would have brought something less. tight." Chris laughed jokingly at seeing his expression to her outfit. Chris put some music on and the girls started doing their dance with Chris stopping every-so-often to make sure they got certain moves right. The whole time she was dancing along with the girls so if they were lost they could just watch her. Jarod was mesmerized by her. She was so graceful. The dancing they were doing was a mixture of different types of dance Jarod noticed. There was Jazz, Ballet, tap and other dances that Jarod wasn't sure about. After about two hours they decided to have a break. Their was a kitchen in the hall and Chris went to it while the girls pulled water bottles out of the bags they'd brought with them. Jarod followed Chris.
"That was...wow! I've never seen anything like that." Chris laughed as she walked over to a fridge and puled out some food.
"Well if you like you could come and see the proper performance of it tomorrow. The girls will all be in costume. It will look even better then." She put the food in a microwave to heat it up a little bit.
"That would be great. When is it?"
"Well it starts at 5:30. You can come with us." She took the food out of the microwave and offered one to Jarod. He eyed them.
"What is this?" Chris laughed.
"Party pies. You've never seen a party pie? The owner of the hall always leaves something to eat for us. He knows how hungry we get dancing." She put one in her mouth. Jarod picked one up and ate it.
"This is good." Chris laughed at him and walked back to where the girls were. As soon as the girls saw what Chris had they ran towards them. Chris put them on a table and turned to get away but ran right into Jarod.
"Sorry." She started blushing. The girls looked up and saw how they were standing and started giggling. Chris turned to the girls. "Very funny. Eat; drink, and then we get back to dancing." The girls laughed again and went back to eating.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
After they finished dancing Chris and Jarod walked all the girls home. Chris's sister Marietta was staying at Rebecca's house so Jarod Chris walked home together.
"So Jarod what do you do for a living?" Jarod thought for a moment.
"Depends on what I feel like doing. What about you?" Chris laughed.
"I'd think that would be obvious. I look after everyone in the buildings kids, and some from other buildings. I love children." Jarod smiled. From the moment he met her he could tell how close she was to children. Their conversation continued and they both soon realised that they liked each other very much. Jarod walked Chris to her door.
"I had a really nice time tonight." Jarod had no idea why he was so nervous.
"Yeah, me too. Maybe we could do it again sometime." Chris couldn't believe that she wanted to kiss him and she'd only met him that morning, along with his girlfriend who was just down the hall. Chris opened her door and a boy who was about five years old walked out crying.
"Chrissie." Chris looked down and picked him up.
"Luis, what's wrong? Why are you up?" He sobbed into her shoulder.
"I had a bad dream. Mamma was asleep and so was Rosa. I heard you so." He started sobbing again.
"It's okay. I'm here now." She turned to Jarod. "Jarod can you do me another favour. I can't carry him and my dance bag in can you just bring it in for me?" Jarod nods and picks up her bag.
Zoe was waiting for Jarod and when she opened the door she saw him going into Chris's apartment.
"I can't believe him."
Chris sat her couch with Luis in her arms. She was rocking him gently.
"So tell me what your nightmare was about." Jarod watched her and thought how beautiful she looked. He turned to leave when Luis called out.
"Don't open the door. Please." Jarod turned around not knowing what to do.
"Jarod, I'm sorry but when he's this scared he thinks that 'bad people' are going to come. You're just going to have to stay until he falls asleep. Hopefully that won't be too long. So Luis what was your dream about?" Jarod sat down in a seat opposite them and watched them.
"Mamma got sick and you had to leave. Is mamma sick?" He started crying again.
"Mamma's not sick, sweetie. It's okay. It's okay." She rocked him back and forth trying to sooth him. He stayed awake.
The next morning Jarod woke up in the same chair. He looked over at Chris who was still on the couch with Luis in her arms. They were both asleep. He looked at his watch and saw that it was still early. He got up and put a blanket that was on the couch on them He turned to leave when he saw Chris stir. She opened her eyes and saw Jarod.
"Oh my god, what time is it? I can't believe I fell asleep. You must have fallen asleep too. I'm sorry you had to sleep here." Jarod smiled at her.
"It's okay. This chair's pretty comfy. I'll leave now." Jarod walked out the door. Chris watched him and couldn't help but think what a nice guy he was to stay there the whole night.
Jarod walked into his room and saw Zoe sitting waiting for him.
"What have you been doing all night? I saw you go into Chris's apartment." Jarod was shocked.
"Her little brother had a nightmare and woke up. I carried her bag inside then I couldn't leave because he was too scared. I must have fallen asleep." Zoe laughed.
"Yeah right, I saw the way you look at her." Jarod was shocked. He had no idea what he could say that would prove he was telling the truth.
"I swear Zoe. Nothing happened." He looked deeply into her eyes and Zoe could tell he was telling the truth.
"I'm sorry. I should have believed you. It's just I get jealous sometimes." She ran to him and hugged him tightly. Jarod hugged her back but still in the back of his mind he was thinking just how beautiful Chris had looked.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A week had passed since Jarod and Zoe had first arrived and they were planning on leaving the next day. Jarod had spent a lot of time with Chris and the kids she looked after and he was happy because the Centre hadn't found out he was there. Probably because he hadn't started any pretend. Jarod had really started to have feelings for Chris but was conflicted because he was still with Zoe. Although his relationship with Zoe wasn't working out well, his feelings for her were lessening every moment he was with her. He decided to ask the one person he knew who always seemed to have answers. He picked up his phone and dialled the familiar number.
"This is Sydney."
"Syd what's the deal with love? Why is it so complicated?" Sydney straightened up.
"Jarod, where have you been? I was worried about you. You haven't called anyone for a week and we've had nothing on you." Jarod ignored his questioning.
"Sydney I've got a problem. I think I'm falling in love with someone." Sydney wanted to press on with his questions but he knew it was no use.
"Do I know this person?"
"No you've never met her. But I know you'd like her. She's. the best." He couldn't find any words to describe her.
"Well if you like her so much then I don't see the problem." Jarod laughed.
"The problem is that I'm seeing someone right now. Things haven't been right between me and this other person for a while now. I don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt her but." He was at a loss for words.
"Listen to your heart Jarod. Do what it tells you to do. I'm sure it will lead you in the right direction." Jarod stayed silent for a moment.
"Thanks Syd. I'll do that." He hung up the phone knowing what he had to do.
Unaware to both Sydney and Jarod someone had been listening in on their conversation. Miss Parker put her head down. She had always thought that she would end up with Jarod but with their current situation it didn't look like that would happen. She was chasing Jarod for a living and now he was having trouble with his love life trying to choose one person over another. If he had two women to choose from outside of the Centre who could love him the way he deserved to be loved then why would he want her, the woman who was trying to bring him back into a loveless environment?
* * * * * * * * * * * *
3 MONTHS LATER
Jarod drove through the familiar neighbourhood. He drove up to a building which he knew from memory. He couldn't believe what he was about to do. He'd thought about it many times but wasn't sure he'd actually go through with it. He was so deep in thought that he didn't see the person watching him.
"Hey Chris, how have you been? It's me, Jarod. Do you remember me? I have something I need to tell you. No that's stupid. Hey Chris, um."
"Talking to yourself now Jarod?" Jarod jumped when he heard the familiar voice. He turned around to see Chris smiling one of her most dazzling smiles. Jarod's heart flipped. He'd missed her and although he'd seen her whenever he closed his eyes it was nothing compared to the real thing.
"Hi Chris, how have you been?" Idiot you could have thought of something better than that.
"I'm great, how about you?" Stupid, stupid.
"Great. Just great." Oh great now I can only get two words out, at most.
"So, ah, where's Zoe?" Please let her not be here, please.
"Oh Zoe, we broke up a while ago." Was that a smile that just escaped her lips?
"Really that's too bad." No it's not, no it's not!
"Yeah, it happened just after we left here. We had some problems" Yeah I was in love with you.
"I see. Um so what brings you back here?" Just tell him you thought about him constantly, and you really like him.
"Nothing much, I was just in the neighbourhood." Just tell her you came to see her. You've been thinking about her constantly, and you really like her.
"Jarod I have to be honest with you. I never really liked Zoe. The truth is I kind of liked you. A lot. I've been thinking about you ever since you left and you probably think I'm crazy. I'm gonna go now." She turned to walk away but Jarod stopped her.
"Chris, that's why I'm here, I broke up with Zoe because I started to have feelings for you. I've been thinking about you as well." Chris couldn't believe her ears.
"Wait a minute this is crazy. I'm dreaming right now aren't I? As if this would really happen. I am dreaming aren't I Jarod?" Jarod started laughing.
"If you're dreaming then so am I." Chris looked at him then pinched herself.
"Oh my god, this is real."
"Well I should hope so." Jarod took the moment and kissed her.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A WEEK LATER
"This is the best week I've ever had." Jarod looked up a Chris and smiled.
"Well then that makes two of us." Jarod sat up and kissed her on the lips. He loved the taste of her lips. "Chris you know I have to go soon don't you?" Chris sighed. She really didn't want him to leave but by what he'd told her about why he had to go she knew it was necessary.
"I know. Just make sure you keep in touch." Jarod looked up at her and smiled.
"Of course I will." He kissed her again then fell asleep in her arms.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A FEW MONTHS LATER
Jarod had just finished a pretend where a school principal had killed two of his students after he'd had affairs with them. He was on the road when his phone rang.
"Hello?" Jarod could hear the person on the other end crying. He got worried wondering who it was.
"Jarod, something bad happened." Jarod realised that it was Chris on the other end. He got even more worried. Chris was a pretty tough person so if she was this upset it must be something important.
"Chris what happened? Are you alright? What's wrong?" Chris was still crying.
"I need you Jarod." Jarod immediately turned the car around. If Chris said she needed him he'd be there as soon as possible.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chris was sitting by her mother's bed holding her hand fast asleep. When Jarod had gotten there Marietta opened the door and showed her to where Chris was. She had informed him of what happened. Their mother had gotten really sick and needed an operation. Unfortunately they didn't have the money needed to pay for the operation. Jarod went to put a blanket over Chris but she woke up.
"You really suck at that. Every time you put a blanket on me you wake me up." She smiled at him but it wasn't her usual smile. "When did you get here?"
"Just now. I heard what's wrong. If you need money I can get it for you." Chris looked away.
"Jarod I'm your girlfriend not your charity case. I'll get this money myself. I have. talents I can use. As a matter of fact I've got a job that will get me enough money to help mamma. I'm going to be some sort of security guard for this place out of town. I'm leaving next week. I just needed you here to hold me and to promise me something." Jarod looked at her.
"I'll do anything. What is it?" Chris looked back at her mother then at her 5 year old brother and 10 year old sister who were asleep with her. She also looked out into the next room to her 15 year old sister.
"You have to make sure they're safe. I know you'll check on them and I need you too." Jarod nodded.
"Of course I'll do that. But are you sure you don't want me to give you the money?" Chris sighed.
"Jarod I need to do this myself. I've never been a charity case and I'm not going to be one now." Jarod bent down and kissed her.
"I'll be here for you." She squeezed his hand and went back to watching her mother.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Are you sure you have to leave. I could easily get you the money." Chris stopped packing and looked at Jarod.
"I've told you before. I'm not a charity case. I'm going to get this money by myself. Why can't you understand that? This is something that I need to do by myself." She walked over to Jarod and kissed him. She knew that he was just trying to help but she was raised to do things on her own.
"I just want to help you. I can't stand seeing you in so much pain." He missed seeing her smile. She hadn't smiled since he had arrived. Whenever she did smile it was filled with pain.
"I know. Well I'm almost finished packing. I just need a few more things then I'm ready to leave tomorrow." She smiled at Jarod but it was still missing that spark. Jarod smiled a sad smile back at her. He felt tempted to just get the money out of the Centre's bank account and give it to her but he knew that if he did there'd be hell to pay. One of the things he loved about her was how strong she could be when needed and to her it would definitely be needed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chris came out of her room completely packed. She had just said goodbye to her mother and was dreading saying goodbye to the rest of her family and of course Jarod. She knew why he was trying to help her but she wasn't going to cave in. It was something she had to do on her own. She knew she could be stubborn but if he didn't like it he'd just have to deal with it.
"Marietta you're now the oldest here. Look after Mamma, Rosa and Luis. I'm counting on you." She hugged Marietta and she could see the tears flowing down her face.
"Get the money we need then come home." Chris nodded then Marietta turned and went into her mother's room crying.
"I'll miss you Rosa. You need to help as well. Both Mamma and Marietta need you." Rosa threw her arms around Chris's neck then went to sit on the couch.
"You're leaving. You promised you wouldn't. Luis was crying and ran into Chris's arms. Jarod saw the tears flowing freely down his face.
"Luis I have to go. You know I have to. I'll be back before you know it." Luis nodded then went to sit with Rosa still crying.
"I'll check in on them every so often." Jarod took Chris in his arms and hugged her tight. Both of them knew that Jarod would be leaving the next day and that all he could do was check on them. Chris kissed him, waved at her family then walked out the door.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Miss Parker stormed into Raines' office. He'd called her in there, probably to yell at her some more about not finding Jarod. She couldn't believe that this man was her biological father.
"What do you want?" She caught him by surprise which she liked. Maybe the bastard will have a heart attack. No such luck.
"Miss Parker I'm very disappointed in you." Miss Parker knew it was coming. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it up puffing the smoke in his direction.
"Let me guess, you called me in here about my failure to bring in Jarod?" Raines laughed.
"No. That's not exactly what I'm talking about. I am talking about your team to try and find Jarod." Miss Parker took another puff. What about her team?
"They may be bumbling idiots but." Raines laughed again. Miss Parker arched her eyebrows. She would have liked nothing more than to reach across the desk and smack the smile off his face.
"That's not what I'm talking about. I thought you of all people would have been inclined to gender equality around here." What the hell was he talking about?
"I don't understand." Raines butted in again.
"Why is it that every member of your team is male? Do you like the attention of being the only female?" Miss Parker laughed.
"I have no idea why you're bringing this up but if you must know, the women here wouldn't be fit for the search for Jarod. They'd fall for him and help him or they wouldn't be able to keep up with him, most of the guys can't keep up with him. Oh yes and lets not forget about the little matter of their aren't many females in that field." Raines laughed again. What was this really all about? Why was he asking these stupid questions?
"There is now." A door to his left opened and a woman in her mid to late 20's stepped into the room. She was dressed like a sweeper with a short skirt to rival her own. "Miss Parker I'd like you to meet your new sweeper. Christina."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Does anybody know why my dear sister was called to Raines yet I wasn't? If it's important for her to know, I should know as well!" Lyle was acting like a jealous child. He was always second after Miss Parker with Mr. Parker but he thought he'd be first with Mr. Raines. They were more similar and he thought but if Raines wanted to see Miss Parker maybe he was wrong.
"Guys you won't believe what just happened." Miss Parker stormed in and she was obviously not happy.
"What's wrong Miss Parker? What did Raines want to speak to you about?" Sydney was concerned. What if they'd been put them off the chase of Jarod.
"Raines thought we needed some female help in finding Jarod." She moved aside and Christina walked into the room.
"Wow." Broots couldn't believe his eyes. She looks almost as good as Miss Parker. Lyle was still sulking and didn't even look up. Sydney was shocked.
"Meet our new sweeper Christina." Miss Parker was definitely not happy. "She's to be around us all the time. Raines seems to think she'd help in find the lab rat."
"Please just call me Chrissie." Chrissie smiled and the smile blew Broots and Sydney away. Miss Parker gave her one of her dirtiest looks. Lyle finally looked up and was surprised by the woman standing next to Miss Parker.
"Well it's nice to meet you Chrissie. I'm Sydney, this is Broots and this is Lyle." Chrissie gave each of them a smile in turn. Lyle was blown away by her radiant beauty.
"Yes well now that the formalities are over I say we get to work. And by the way Chrissie you had better stay out of my way." She pushed Chrissie against the wall and was holding her there to intimidate her. Chrissie reversed the hold and had Miss Parker pinned to the wall face first.
"Whatever you say Miss Parker, but if I was you I wouldn't do stuff like that to me if you don't want it done back to you in return." She realised the hold and stood at attention. Miss Parker gathered her composure and looked at Broots, Sydney and Lyle who were all suppressing laughs.
"Not a word." She turned and walked quickly to her office wondering where the hell Raines found Chrissie.
"I'm really sorry about that. I just can't stand when people try to show power over someone like that." Chrissie obviously felt bad about doing that to Miss Parker.
"It's okay Chrissie. A lot of people would like to do that to Miss Parker." Sydney walked over to where Chrissie was standing.
"Yeah but Syd no one's ever actually done that." Broots was amazed by this woman. Lyle was still sitting on a desk staring up at her.
"It seems to me like she deserved it." Chrissie smiled at them. Sydney was about to say something when her cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID. "I have to take this excuse me." She turned around and walked out the door. As soon as she left the room Lyle got up.
"She's going to working with us? I think I like work more now." Outside Chrissie was on the phone.
"Marietta, hows Mamma. that's great. what did the doctors say. I should have the money by then; this job pays very good. Hows Luis and Rosa. I miss them too. Did Jarod look after you. great. I got to go. I'll be home before you know it. Tell Mamma, Rosa and Luis I love and Miss them. Love you too. Bye." Chrissie hung up the phone. Jarod had left her family a few hours before. She started thinking about Jarod and what he was doing. She looked around her. She had thought that the Centre reminded her of somewhere but she wasn't sure where, and she was sure she'd met her new colleagues somewhere. She shrugged the feeling off. She was sure she would have remembered this place and these people but there was just something that was unnerving about it.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
to be continued .
Note: Please I need feedback to live, breath and write (Hehehe)
Kimmi
Summary: Jarod meets a new woman who reminds him of Miss Parker in some ways. Can there relationship work out? And what happens when she comes in contact with the Centre?
Note: This will eventually become a JMPR just wait a while and I swear it will happen.
Strange Things Happen
Jarod sat in the passenger seat asleep while Zoe drove. She looked over at him and sighed. Their relationship hadn't been the same in a while. She'd met up with him and they were planning on spending a weekend together but the spark that was between them before was gone. She looked at the busy city she was driving through and had no idea how Jarod could sleep with all the noise. Teenagers were listening to annoyingly loud music in their cars and on the street corners. She saw Jarod stir, probably awakened by the increasingly bright sun and the loud music.
"Morning. Did you enjoy your nap?" Jarod nodded in response. She smiled at him.
Jarod looked at Zoe and was wondering what to say to her when out of the corner of his eye he saw a little girl run onto the road chasing a ball.
"ZOE STOP!" He yelled and tried to stop the car himself. Zoe pressed down on the brake but neither thought they'd be able to stop in time. At the moment before they would have hit the little girl a woman came running from the sidewalk and pulled her out of the way. The car came to a screeching halt.
"Sara, are you okay?" The mystery woman asked the little girl. The little girl nodded happily unaware of how close she was to being hit by the car. Jarod jumped out of the car and ran over to the little girl.
"Are you sure you're okay?" The little girl nodded again. "We're so sorry. We didn't see her. I'm just glad you were able to get to her." The woman smiled at him.
"So am I. I just don't know what happened. I' was sure her mother was with her in their apartment." She turned back to the little girl and began fussing over her making sure she was alright.
"So you're not her mother?" The woman shook her head no. "I just assumed that. never mind." The woman smiled at him.
"Sara and her mother are friends of mine. I was just coming out of our building to go shopping when I saw what was happening. Anyway." She turned back to the girl. "I should get you back home." She tickled the girl and started walking away. Jarod walked after her.
"Would it be okay if I came with you?" The woman gave him a strange look. "I'd just like to apologise to her mother and make sure she really is okay." The woman's smile returned and she jerked her head in the direction they were heading. Jarod followed her and wasn't aware that Zoe was next to him until he felt her hand inside his.
"By the way I'm Christina and this is Sara." Jarod caught up to her and shook her hand.
"Jarod and this is Zoe." Christina smiled at both of them although her smile to Zoe wasn't as cheery. Zoe caught the look and knew why.
"I'm sorry that I almost hit her. I guess I just wasn't.. paying attention." Christina smiled her less cheery smile again then turned her attention back to Sara.
"How did you get out anyway?" Sara giggled at the question and played with her ball. They were going up a flight of stairs in an apartment building that Jarod noticed was looking very dilapidated. They got to about the third floor when Christina turned into a corridor. She went up to one of the doors and tried opening but failed as it was locked. She knocked on the door a few times then, after she got no response, reached into her pocked and pulled out a set of keys. She found the right one and opened the door.
"Emma? Emma, are you here?" She put Sara down on an old looking couch and searched the rooms. When she found no-one she went back to Sara. "Sara sweetie, where's your mum?" Sara looked at her and tried to speak using the few words she knew at a young age.
"Mamma leave." Christina looked up at Jarod and Zoe. She was clearly worried.
"Did she leave you with anyone?" Sara shook her head no and played with a toy lying on the couch. Jarod noticed Christina's panic rise. He bent down to Sara's level next to Christina.
"Did she do anything before she left? Did anyone come in here? Did she leave with someone?" Sara nodded her head and pointed to the fridge. Jarod looked at the fridge then back at Christina to see if she understood. From the look in her eye it was obvious that she did. She stood up immediately and went to the fridge. She picked up a jar on top of it and studied it carefully, turning it upside-down.
"Damn! I can't believe her!" She brushed past Zoe to the window. She looked out and anger lit up her eyes at whatever she saw. She walked back to the couch, picked up Sara and headed for the door. Jarod followed quickly behind.
"What is it? What's wrong?" He had no idea what was going on but he wanted to help. Christina seemed too enraged to say anything. She practically ran up the stairs to the fifth floor and Jarod tried to keep up. Once on the fifth floor she banged on the second door she came to. An older woman who looked very much like Christina came to the door.
"Christina. Sara." Even through these two short words Jarod could hear her thick Latino accent. Christina practically threw Sara into the woman's arms.
"Mamma, can you look after Sara for me for a moment?" The woman nodded then said something in Spanish that was too quick for Jarod to understand. Christina answered back also in Spanish and he saw the older woman become scared.
"Be careful." She shut the door and Christina ran back down the stairs. Jarod followed again. Once they got down the stairs she turned a corner and nearly ran into a group of guys and a woman talking hushed.
"I can't believe you Emma. You were doing so well." The group parted a bit and Jarod saw exactly what they were doing. They were dealing drugs and the woman, Emma Sara's mother, was buying them. Jarod pushed Zoe around the corner.
"Stay here." Zoe tried to argue but she knew she shouldn't. Jarod walked back around the corner.
"Christina I.. I just had to." Christina was staring at her and Emma knew that it was no use.
"Christina. You should just turn back the way you came and get off your high horse." One of the young men, the leader Jarod guessed, was talking.
"No Joey. You should just walk away and act like none of this happened." The leader, Joey, nodded at the rest of his group and they all pulled out guns. Jarod started to SIM a way out of the mess but Christina stood her ground. She was seriously starting to remind him of Miss Parker. Joey took a step closer to her.
"You were always stubborn weren't you?" He walked over to her and put his hand on her face. She shoved it away.
"And you were always an Asshole." She slapped him hard across the face and the smile that was on his face vanished.
"You bitch. You couldn't just leave it alone could you?" He pulled out his gun and put it to her head. Still she didn't seem scared. Jarod took a step closer and one of the guys pointed his gun at him. "Oh got a boyfriend now Chris?" He turned to face Jarod and this seemed to be the break Christina was waiting for. She quickly elbowed him in the ribs and when he hunched over she got him in an arm lock behind his back.
"Whether I do or not is none of your business Joey. Put your guns down." The rest of the guys laughed.
"Yeah right, you really think we'll do that?" One of the guys asked. Christina reached behind her back and pulled a gun from its holster. She cocked it and pointed it at Joey's head.
"Tell them Joey." Joey's eyes widened in fear them he instructed them to do what she said. They all put their guns down and she indicated she wanted them to kick them to her and they also did that.
"You're crazy!" Joey was in increasing pain and after she said that she tightened her grip.
"You are going to walk away and don't come back here ever. You hear me?" Joey shook his head. Christina tightened her grip and Joey cried out in pain. She had obviously broken his arm. She tossed him at his friends and told them to leave. She put her gun back in its holster and walked over to Emma.
"I can't believe you. You left Sara to buy drugs. She got out you know and almost got hit by a car." Emma whimpered.
"You don't understand Chrissie. I needed it." Christina sneered. She walked over to Emma, dug in her pockets and took out a packet of white powder.
"This is your last warning Emma. If I, or anybody else for that matter, catches you buying this crap again I will personally tell social services and have Sara taken away from you. Sara's at my apartment with my mom, go!" Emma walked past her and straight to the apartment building. Jarod was stunned.
"Are you a police officer?" Christina laughed and produced and evidence bag from where her gun had been.
"No I'm not a police officer. I just don't want scum like that in my neighbourhood." She put the drugs and the guns in the evidence bag. "Could you do me a favour?" Jarod nodded. "Can you please give me a lift to the police station?" Again Jarod nodded. They walked to where his car was parked with Zoe following closely behind. Jarod wanted to ask Christina something and he couldn't help himself.
"You don't happen to have someone with the last name Parker in your family do you?" Christina shook her head no.
"No. Why?" Jarod laughed.
"No reason."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
They pulled up outside the police station and went inside. Christina saw the person at the front desk and smiled.
"Hiya George. How are you?" George turned around and immediately smiled at what he saw.
"Chris! What brings you around here? Let me guess. You missed seeing me." Christina laughed.
"Oh yeah. I couldn't help myself. No I ran into Joey and his boys trying to sell to Emma." George shook his head. "I have these for you." She put the evidence bag on the counter and George looked over the contents.
"I don't know how you do it Chris. What did you do break his arm or something?" He started laughing until he saw the look on her face. "Oh no. You didn't?" She nodded. "Chris what am I going to do if he comes in here to lay charges on you?" Christina laughed.
"Oh yeah George. A known drug dealer who is a total Badass is going to come in here and say Christina Lopez broke my arm while I was trying to sell." She broke into a fit of laughter.
"I guess you're right. Hey Chris why don't you join the force. You'd be excellent." Christina put her head down and frowned.
"You know why. I'm not going to put my mamma through that again. Besides I prefer working with kids you know that." She smiled again and Jarod noticed how beautiful she was when she smiled. She was beautiful anytime but when she smiled she was even more so and she seemed to smile a lot. Christina was in her mid to late twenties with beautiful dark skin. Her eyes were blue-green, the colour of the sea, and she had the cutest dimples in her cheeks when she smiled.
"Chris, you amaze me. Well I'm going to put these in the evidence lockup and get you a witness sheet. Did anyone else see the incident?" Jarod stepped up.
"Yeah I did." George looked Jarod over, clearly wondering who he was and why he had seen what happened.
"Well I'll get you one as well Mr.?"
"Mark. Jarod Mark." George walked away still eyeing Jarod suspiciously. After a few moments he returned with their sheets and both Jarod and Christina filled them out. Jarod could see Zoe getting bored and she started pacing behind them. He saw Christina giving her a dirty look; she clearly didn't like her because of how she almost ran Sara over. Christina and Jarod finished and handed the sheets to George.
"Thankyou, both of you. We may contact you or we may not. Probably not. These seem thorough enough. Well I'll see ya Chris. Don't be a stranger. I mean don't only come in here when you've busted up some gang leader." He started laughing and went back to answering phones. Christina waved at him and walked outside.
"Well thanks for your help. It was nice meeting you Jarod." She smiled at him. ".and Zoe." Her smile lessened with Zoe. Jarod smiled back.
"Maybe we'll see you around." Christina smiled.
"Yeah, maybe. Where are you staying?" Jarod frowned suddenly realising that they didn't have somewhere to stay yet.
"Well we kind of don't have a place to stay at the moment." Christina frowned then she seemed to get an idea.
"I think I could help you with that."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
They were back at the apartment building. Christina had told them that there was an empty apartment across the hall from hers that was up for rent. Jarod had decided that this would be a good place to stay.
"I'll just go in and see if Mrs. Davis is here." She knocked on the door then walked in. Sitting on a huge couch in the middle of the room was a woman with grey hair who was slightly fat. She looked very cheerful just sitting watching the T.V. She looked up and saw Christina standing in the doorway.
"Chrissie, how are you. What brings you here today? Is something wrong in your apartment? I'll get Jeff if that's the case." Christina laughed.
"Hello Mrs. Davis. I'm fine and no nothing is wrong with the apartment. Well nothing that isn't wrong with it usually. I'm just here because I found some people that would like to rent 5C." Mrs. Davis smiled.
"Bringing in more strays are you. Where are they?" Christina moved out of the way and gestured for Jarod and Zoe to come in. Mrs. Davis looked Jarod over and smiled.
"How do you do it child? You always bring in the cute ones." Jarod started blushing. "And you would be?" Mrs. Davis extended her hand to Jarod.
"I'm Jarod. It's nice to meet you Mrs. Davis." He shook her hand.
"Oh please, feel free to call me Daisy." Christina laughed. Jarod looked at her to find out what was so funny.
"She likes you. She only lets the cute guys call her Daisy." Jarod started blushing again.
"And you would be?" Mrs. Davis turned her attention to Zoe.
"I'm Jarod's girlfriend, Zoe." She shook Mrs. Davis' hand. Mrs. Davis turned to Christina.
"Figures. The cute ones are either taken or gay." She started laughing and went to a table to pick up a book and a set of keys. "So how long will you be with us?" Jarod looked at Zoe. He wasn't sure how long they would be staying. He hadn't intended on staying but when Christina offered he couldn't refuse. They had just been passing through and he wasn't even on a pretend.
"A few days I guess." Zoe sighed. She didn't want to stay there. She would have been happier if they could just get back in the car and drive. Drive to someplace secluded, where it was just her and Jarod alone, with no other girl like Christina to bother them and distract Jarod.
"A few days it is. If you could just fill this out for me then Christina can show you the apartment." Jarod took the pen from her hand and started filling in made up details. A man about Christina's age came in from behind her.
"Chris. There you are. I've missed you." He started kissing the back of her neck and Jarod suddenly found himself feeling a bit jealous even through he'd only known this girl for a little while.
"Jeff. Get off me you idiot. You kiss too sloppy." They both started laughing. Jeff looked over at Jarod and Zoe.
"Let me guess. Jarod?" Jarod was shocked. How did this guy know his name?
"Yeah, how did you know?" Jeff started laughing.
"I was just talking to a buddy of mine, George. He said that he saw Chris today and she had a guy with her named Jarod. I just assumed that was you." He turned his attention back to Chris. "So what were you doing at the police station anyway?" Chris looked down. She looked worried about something but Jarod couldn't figure out why.
"I ran into Joey." Jeff's face dropped. He was obviously worried about her. Christina saw the look on his face and said. "I kicked his ass, but the reason I ran into him was because Emma was buying from him." Her face fell again. Jeff looked mad.
"What? Was Sara with her?" Christina shook her head.
"She left her in the apartment but she got out. That's how I met Jarod and Zoe. Zoe almost hit her with their car." Jeff gave Zoe a dirty look. "I got her out of the way just in time then took her back upstairs and that's when I found out she was buying. I took the drugs off her don't worry." Jeff turned around and ran out the door yelling Emma's name.
"When's that girl going to learn? Jeff can't protect her and Sara from Social Services forever no matter how much he loves her." Jarod was shocked. He thought that Jeff was with Christina. She caught the look on his face.
"Jeff is Emma's boyfriend. They got together shortly after she had Sara. He loves Sara like she was his own and he doesn't want to lose either of them."
"I just thought that he was your." Christina and Daisy started laughing.
"My son with Chrissie? No they just muck around." Christina was still laughing.
"We grew up together. He's like my brother. Like she said, we just muck around." Jarod was relieved. "Come on. I'll show you the apartment. Me with Jeff, what a laugh."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
After Chris had shown them to their apartment and had lectured him into calling her either Chris or Chrissie Zoe decided that they should go out to dinner. She had gone through the phone book and found a very fancy, very romantic place to eat. It was called Savannahs. They were both ready and had just closed the door behind them when Chris came out of her apartment followed by twelve fifteen year old girls.
"Christina. I mean Chris, what are you doing?" Chris looked up at him and smiled. The rest of the girls with her all looked him over and started giggling.
"Well I'm taking the girls out to dinner then we're going to practise for the dance recital tomorrow." Jarod looked confused. "I'm the girls dance teacher and we've been practicing like crazy and now it's our last practice." The girls all started cheering.
"So where are you taking the girls" Zoe jabbed Jarod in the back and glared at her. She wanted to get going before it was too late.
"Savannahs. Kate's father owns it and they have the best food their." Jarod was stunned.
"That's where we're headed." The girls with Chris started whispering to each other then started giggling. One of them stepped forward. She had red hair and lots of freckles.
"Hey how would you like to come with us?" Chris's eyes widened.
"Kate, I'm sure they'd like to be alone." Zoe smiled. Maybe she did like Chris after all.
"Sure that would be fun." Zoe looked at Jarod and opened her mouth to say something but no words came out. Chris smiled one of her most dazzling smiles at Jarod.
"Well I guess it would be alright then. Let me introduce you to the girls. This is Kate, Rebecca, Natalie, Carol, Holly, Rachel, Danielle, Fiona, Jody, Lucy, Nadine and my sister Marietta." Jarod looked at the last one she said. Her sister. He could definitely see the resemblance.
"Well it's nice to meet you all. Shall we go?" The girls all giggled.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Zoe was totally bored. Ever since they arrived at the restaurant Jarod had been talking to Chris and the girls with her. She'd done everything she could think of to get his attention but nothing seemed to work.
"So you're their dance teacher?" Jarod was very interested in this. Someone else he once knew very well had loved to dance.
"Yeah, I kind of have a lot of. past experience." Chris tried to lead the conversation away from that because she didn't want Jarod to know what her past experience had been.
"Oh no. Chris, don't look now but Stanley's working." Chris looked where Natalie was pointing.
"Oh great! I wouldn't have brought you girls here if I knew he was working tonight." Jarod saw Kate look upset.
"I'm sorry Chrissie, I forgot he was working." Chris looked at her and had sympathy written all over her face.
"Don't worry about it. Just hide me." She put her head down on the table. Jarod was curious and tried to see why she should hide. Zoe had an idea. She waved the guy she was hiding from over discreetly. He came over quickly.
"Can I help you? Christina? Is that you?" Chris sighed.
"Yeah Marietta you're right. There is purple on the tablecloth. Oh hi Stanley. How are you?" Jarod could tell that she wasn't very pleased to see him.
"I'm fine. Well as fine as can be expected given the circumstances. We need to talk Christina. I miss you." Jarod now understood what was happening.
"Stanley I'm kind of busy right now, and anyway it wouldn't make a difference. I made up my mind." She turned her back on him. He gave up and walked away. Zoe was curious.
"What was that about?" She asked in her sweetest voice.
"Nothing. It's just that sometimes people don't get the message." She excused herself saying she had to go to the ladies room. Zoe had no problem and tried to get Jarod's attention but Jarod could tell something was wrong and he also excused himself.
He followed Chris to where the toilets were but she didn't go in. She out her head in her hands and started to cry. He started walking over to her but Stanley got their first.
"Christina we really need to talk."
"No we don't. It's over between us. Is has been for a long time. Why don't you just get over it?"
"Because I love you." He heard Chris laugh.
"If you loved me you wouldn't have done the things you did to me. And if you loved me you'd leave me alone." She started to walk away but he grabbed her arm.
"No! I love you! We belong together. I'm not letting you get away from me that easily." Jarod heard Chris wince in pain.
"Stan you're hurting me. Let me go." Stanley laughed.
"No. Not until you admit you love me." Jarod heard her wince in pain again and decided to step in.
"Let go of her." He pulled Chris out of Stanley's grasp.
"Who are you? Her new boyfriend?" Chris, who was in a state of shock before had regained her composure.
"Tell me you love me now Stan!" She turned on her hell and took Jarod with her. "Thankyou for helping me Jarod. Can you do me a favour?" Jarod nodded. "Don't tell the girls what happened. I don't want to alarm them." Jarod nodded again.
"I just don't understand something. How come you could handle a drug dealer and his gang but not that guy?" Chris laughed.
"Well I would be making a scene if I broke someone's am in here. And I wasn't expecting him to do anything. Oh yeah plus I don't have my gun." She started laughing again. Jarod started laughing with her and as they walked back to their table he couldn't help but think of how similar she could be to Miss Parker.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
After they'd finished dinner the girls asked Jarod and Zoe if they wanted to come with them to watch them rehearse. Zoe had said she didn't want to but Jarod did. Zoe had driven home in a huff and Jarod had continued with Chris and the girls. Jarod was sitting in a hall waiting for the girls to come out of the change room. When the girls came out they all went over to Jarod. They were all showing off their clothes for him and Jarod was being polite but when Chris walked in his mouth dropped open. She was wearing a skin tight leotard with a short skirt and tight fitting top over it.
"If I knew beforehand that we would have company I would have brought something less. tight." Chris laughed jokingly at seeing his expression to her outfit. Chris put some music on and the girls started doing their dance with Chris stopping every-so-often to make sure they got certain moves right. The whole time she was dancing along with the girls so if they were lost they could just watch her. Jarod was mesmerized by her. She was so graceful. The dancing they were doing was a mixture of different types of dance Jarod noticed. There was Jazz, Ballet, tap and other dances that Jarod wasn't sure about. After about two hours they decided to have a break. Their was a kitchen in the hall and Chris went to it while the girls pulled water bottles out of the bags they'd brought with them. Jarod followed Chris.
"That was...wow! I've never seen anything like that." Chris laughed as she walked over to a fridge and puled out some food.
"Well if you like you could come and see the proper performance of it tomorrow. The girls will all be in costume. It will look even better then." She put the food in a microwave to heat it up a little bit.
"That would be great. When is it?"
"Well it starts at 5:30. You can come with us." She took the food out of the microwave and offered one to Jarod. He eyed them.
"What is this?" Chris laughed.
"Party pies. You've never seen a party pie? The owner of the hall always leaves something to eat for us. He knows how hungry we get dancing." She put one in her mouth. Jarod picked one up and ate it.
"This is good." Chris laughed at him and walked back to where the girls were. As soon as the girls saw what Chris had they ran towards them. Chris put them on a table and turned to get away but ran right into Jarod.
"Sorry." She started blushing. The girls looked up and saw how they were standing and started giggling. Chris turned to the girls. "Very funny. Eat; drink, and then we get back to dancing." The girls laughed again and went back to eating.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
After they finished dancing Chris and Jarod walked all the girls home. Chris's sister Marietta was staying at Rebecca's house so Jarod Chris walked home together.
"So Jarod what do you do for a living?" Jarod thought for a moment.
"Depends on what I feel like doing. What about you?" Chris laughed.
"I'd think that would be obvious. I look after everyone in the buildings kids, and some from other buildings. I love children." Jarod smiled. From the moment he met her he could tell how close she was to children. Their conversation continued and they both soon realised that they liked each other very much. Jarod walked Chris to her door.
"I had a really nice time tonight." Jarod had no idea why he was so nervous.
"Yeah, me too. Maybe we could do it again sometime." Chris couldn't believe that she wanted to kiss him and she'd only met him that morning, along with his girlfriend who was just down the hall. Chris opened her door and a boy who was about five years old walked out crying.
"Chrissie." Chris looked down and picked him up.
"Luis, what's wrong? Why are you up?" He sobbed into her shoulder.
"I had a bad dream. Mamma was asleep and so was Rosa. I heard you so." He started sobbing again.
"It's okay. I'm here now." She turned to Jarod. "Jarod can you do me another favour. I can't carry him and my dance bag in can you just bring it in for me?" Jarod nods and picks up her bag.
Zoe was waiting for Jarod and when she opened the door she saw him going into Chris's apartment.
"I can't believe him."
Chris sat her couch with Luis in her arms. She was rocking him gently.
"So tell me what your nightmare was about." Jarod watched her and thought how beautiful she looked. He turned to leave when Luis called out.
"Don't open the door. Please." Jarod turned around not knowing what to do.
"Jarod, I'm sorry but when he's this scared he thinks that 'bad people' are going to come. You're just going to have to stay until he falls asleep. Hopefully that won't be too long. So Luis what was your dream about?" Jarod sat down in a seat opposite them and watched them.
"Mamma got sick and you had to leave. Is mamma sick?" He started crying again.
"Mamma's not sick, sweetie. It's okay. It's okay." She rocked him back and forth trying to sooth him. He stayed awake.
The next morning Jarod woke up in the same chair. He looked over at Chris who was still on the couch with Luis in her arms. They were both asleep. He looked at his watch and saw that it was still early. He got up and put a blanket that was on the couch on them He turned to leave when he saw Chris stir. She opened her eyes and saw Jarod.
"Oh my god, what time is it? I can't believe I fell asleep. You must have fallen asleep too. I'm sorry you had to sleep here." Jarod smiled at her.
"It's okay. This chair's pretty comfy. I'll leave now." Jarod walked out the door. Chris watched him and couldn't help but think what a nice guy he was to stay there the whole night.
Jarod walked into his room and saw Zoe sitting waiting for him.
"What have you been doing all night? I saw you go into Chris's apartment." Jarod was shocked.
"Her little brother had a nightmare and woke up. I carried her bag inside then I couldn't leave because he was too scared. I must have fallen asleep." Zoe laughed.
"Yeah right, I saw the way you look at her." Jarod was shocked. He had no idea what he could say that would prove he was telling the truth.
"I swear Zoe. Nothing happened." He looked deeply into her eyes and Zoe could tell he was telling the truth.
"I'm sorry. I should have believed you. It's just I get jealous sometimes." She ran to him and hugged him tightly. Jarod hugged her back but still in the back of his mind he was thinking just how beautiful Chris had looked.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A week had passed since Jarod and Zoe had first arrived and they were planning on leaving the next day. Jarod had spent a lot of time with Chris and the kids she looked after and he was happy because the Centre hadn't found out he was there. Probably because he hadn't started any pretend. Jarod had really started to have feelings for Chris but was conflicted because he was still with Zoe. Although his relationship with Zoe wasn't working out well, his feelings for her were lessening every moment he was with her. He decided to ask the one person he knew who always seemed to have answers. He picked up his phone and dialled the familiar number.
"This is Sydney."
"Syd what's the deal with love? Why is it so complicated?" Sydney straightened up.
"Jarod, where have you been? I was worried about you. You haven't called anyone for a week and we've had nothing on you." Jarod ignored his questioning.
"Sydney I've got a problem. I think I'm falling in love with someone." Sydney wanted to press on with his questions but he knew it was no use.
"Do I know this person?"
"No you've never met her. But I know you'd like her. She's. the best." He couldn't find any words to describe her.
"Well if you like her so much then I don't see the problem." Jarod laughed.
"The problem is that I'm seeing someone right now. Things haven't been right between me and this other person for a while now. I don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt her but." He was at a loss for words.
"Listen to your heart Jarod. Do what it tells you to do. I'm sure it will lead you in the right direction." Jarod stayed silent for a moment.
"Thanks Syd. I'll do that." He hung up the phone knowing what he had to do.
Unaware to both Sydney and Jarod someone had been listening in on their conversation. Miss Parker put her head down. She had always thought that she would end up with Jarod but with their current situation it didn't look like that would happen. She was chasing Jarod for a living and now he was having trouble with his love life trying to choose one person over another. If he had two women to choose from outside of the Centre who could love him the way he deserved to be loved then why would he want her, the woman who was trying to bring him back into a loveless environment?
* * * * * * * * * * * *
3 MONTHS LATER
Jarod drove through the familiar neighbourhood. He drove up to a building which he knew from memory. He couldn't believe what he was about to do. He'd thought about it many times but wasn't sure he'd actually go through with it. He was so deep in thought that he didn't see the person watching him.
"Hey Chris, how have you been? It's me, Jarod. Do you remember me? I have something I need to tell you. No that's stupid. Hey Chris, um."
"Talking to yourself now Jarod?" Jarod jumped when he heard the familiar voice. He turned around to see Chris smiling one of her most dazzling smiles. Jarod's heart flipped. He'd missed her and although he'd seen her whenever he closed his eyes it was nothing compared to the real thing.
"Hi Chris, how have you been?" Idiot you could have thought of something better than that.
"I'm great, how about you?" Stupid, stupid.
"Great. Just great." Oh great now I can only get two words out, at most.
"So, ah, where's Zoe?" Please let her not be here, please.
"Oh Zoe, we broke up a while ago." Was that a smile that just escaped her lips?
"Really that's too bad." No it's not, no it's not!
"Yeah, it happened just after we left here. We had some problems" Yeah I was in love with you.
"I see. Um so what brings you back here?" Just tell him you thought about him constantly, and you really like him.
"Nothing much, I was just in the neighbourhood." Just tell her you came to see her. You've been thinking about her constantly, and you really like her.
"Jarod I have to be honest with you. I never really liked Zoe. The truth is I kind of liked you. A lot. I've been thinking about you ever since you left and you probably think I'm crazy. I'm gonna go now." She turned to walk away but Jarod stopped her.
"Chris, that's why I'm here, I broke up with Zoe because I started to have feelings for you. I've been thinking about you as well." Chris couldn't believe her ears.
"Wait a minute this is crazy. I'm dreaming right now aren't I? As if this would really happen. I am dreaming aren't I Jarod?" Jarod started laughing.
"If you're dreaming then so am I." Chris looked at him then pinched herself.
"Oh my god, this is real."
"Well I should hope so." Jarod took the moment and kissed her.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A WEEK LATER
"This is the best week I've ever had." Jarod looked up a Chris and smiled.
"Well then that makes two of us." Jarod sat up and kissed her on the lips. He loved the taste of her lips. "Chris you know I have to go soon don't you?" Chris sighed. She really didn't want him to leave but by what he'd told her about why he had to go she knew it was necessary.
"I know. Just make sure you keep in touch." Jarod looked up at her and smiled.
"Of course I will." He kissed her again then fell asleep in her arms.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A FEW MONTHS LATER
Jarod had just finished a pretend where a school principal had killed two of his students after he'd had affairs with them. He was on the road when his phone rang.
"Hello?" Jarod could hear the person on the other end crying. He got worried wondering who it was.
"Jarod, something bad happened." Jarod realised that it was Chris on the other end. He got even more worried. Chris was a pretty tough person so if she was this upset it must be something important.
"Chris what happened? Are you alright? What's wrong?" Chris was still crying.
"I need you Jarod." Jarod immediately turned the car around. If Chris said she needed him he'd be there as soon as possible.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chris was sitting by her mother's bed holding her hand fast asleep. When Jarod had gotten there Marietta opened the door and showed her to where Chris was. She had informed him of what happened. Their mother had gotten really sick and needed an operation. Unfortunately they didn't have the money needed to pay for the operation. Jarod went to put a blanket over Chris but she woke up.
"You really suck at that. Every time you put a blanket on me you wake me up." She smiled at him but it wasn't her usual smile. "When did you get here?"
"Just now. I heard what's wrong. If you need money I can get it for you." Chris looked away.
"Jarod I'm your girlfriend not your charity case. I'll get this money myself. I have. talents I can use. As a matter of fact I've got a job that will get me enough money to help mamma. I'm going to be some sort of security guard for this place out of town. I'm leaving next week. I just needed you here to hold me and to promise me something." Jarod looked at her.
"I'll do anything. What is it?" Chris looked back at her mother then at her 5 year old brother and 10 year old sister who were asleep with her. She also looked out into the next room to her 15 year old sister.
"You have to make sure they're safe. I know you'll check on them and I need you too." Jarod nodded.
"Of course I'll do that. But are you sure you don't want me to give you the money?" Chris sighed.
"Jarod I need to do this myself. I've never been a charity case and I'm not going to be one now." Jarod bent down and kissed her.
"I'll be here for you." She squeezed his hand and went back to watching her mother.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Are you sure you have to leave. I could easily get you the money." Chris stopped packing and looked at Jarod.
"I've told you before. I'm not a charity case. I'm going to get this money by myself. Why can't you understand that? This is something that I need to do by myself." She walked over to Jarod and kissed him. She knew that he was just trying to help but she was raised to do things on her own.
"I just want to help you. I can't stand seeing you in so much pain." He missed seeing her smile. She hadn't smiled since he had arrived. Whenever she did smile it was filled with pain.
"I know. Well I'm almost finished packing. I just need a few more things then I'm ready to leave tomorrow." She smiled at Jarod but it was still missing that spark. Jarod smiled a sad smile back at her. He felt tempted to just get the money out of the Centre's bank account and give it to her but he knew that if he did there'd be hell to pay. One of the things he loved about her was how strong she could be when needed and to her it would definitely be needed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chris came out of her room completely packed. She had just said goodbye to her mother and was dreading saying goodbye to the rest of her family and of course Jarod. She knew why he was trying to help her but she wasn't going to cave in. It was something she had to do on her own. She knew she could be stubborn but if he didn't like it he'd just have to deal with it.
"Marietta you're now the oldest here. Look after Mamma, Rosa and Luis. I'm counting on you." She hugged Marietta and she could see the tears flowing down her face.
"Get the money we need then come home." Chris nodded then Marietta turned and went into her mother's room crying.
"I'll miss you Rosa. You need to help as well. Both Mamma and Marietta need you." Rosa threw her arms around Chris's neck then went to sit on the couch.
"You're leaving. You promised you wouldn't. Luis was crying and ran into Chris's arms. Jarod saw the tears flowing freely down his face.
"Luis I have to go. You know I have to. I'll be back before you know it." Luis nodded then went to sit with Rosa still crying.
"I'll check in on them every so often." Jarod took Chris in his arms and hugged her tight. Both of them knew that Jarod would be leaving the next day and that all he could do was check on them. Chris kissed him, waved at her family then walked out the door.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Miss Parker stormed into Raines' office. He'd called her in there, probably to yell at her some more about not finding Jarod. She couldn't believe that this man was her biological father.
"What do you want?" She caught him by surprise which she liked. Maybe the bastard will have a heart attack. No such luck.
"Miss Parker I'm very disappointed in you." Miss Parker knew it was coming. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it up puffing the smoke in his direction.
"Let me guess, you called me in here about my failure to bring in Jarod?" Raines laughed.
"No. That's not exactly what I'm talking about. I am talking about your team to try and find Jarod." Miss Parker took another puff. What about her team?
"They may be bumbling idiots but." Raines laughed again. Miss Parker arched her eyebrows. She would have liked nothing more than to reach across the desk and smack the smile off his face.
"That's not what I'm talking about. I thought you of all people would have been inclined to gender equality around here." What the hell was he talking about?
"I don't understand." Raines butted in again.
"Why is it that every member of your team is male? Do you like the attention of being the only female?" Miss Parker laughed.
"I have no idea why you're bringing this up but if you must know, the women here wouldn't be fit for the search for Jarod. They'd fall for him and help him or they wouldn't be able to keep up with him, most of the guys can't keep up with him. Oh yes and lets not forget about the little matter of their aren't many females in that field." Raines laughed again. What was this really all about? Why was he asking these stupid questions?
"There is now." A door to his left opened and a woman in her mid to late 20's stepped into the room. She was dressed like a sweeper with a short skirt to rival her own. "Miss Parker I'd like you to meet your new sweeper. Christina."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Does anybody know why my dear sister was called to Raines yet I wasn't? If it's important for her to know, I should know as well!" Lyle was acting like a jealous child. He was always second after Miss Parker with Mr. Parker but he thought he'd be first with Mr. Raines. They were more similar and he thought but if Raines wanted to see Miss Parker maybe he was wrong.
"Guys you won't believe what just happened." Miss Parker stormed in and she was obviously not happy.
"What's wrong Miss Parker? What did Raines want to speak to you about?" Sydney was concerned. What if they'd been put them off the chase of Jarod.
"Raines thought we needed some female help in finding Jarod." She moved aside and Christina walked into the room.
"Wow." Broots couldn't believe his eyes. She looks almost as good as Miss Parker. Lyle was still sulking and didn't even look up. Sydney was shocked.
"Meet our new sweeper Christina." Miss Parker was definitely not happy. "She's to be around us all the time. Raines seems to think she'd help in find the lab rat."
"Please just call me Chrissie." Chrissie smiled and the smile blew Broots and Sydney away. Miss Parker gave her one of her dirtiest looks. Lyle finally looked up and was surprised by the woman standing next to Miss Parker.
"Well it's nice to meet you Chrissie. I'm Sydney, this is Broots and this is Lyle." Chrissie gave each of them a smile in turn. Lyle was blown away by her radiant beauty.
"Yes well now that the formalities are over I say we get to work. And by the way Chrissie you had better stay out of my way." She pushed Chrissie against the wall and was holding her there to intimidate her. Chrissie reversed the hold and had Miss Parker pinned to the wall face first.
"Whatever you say Miss Parker, but if I was you I wouldn't do stuff like that to me if you don't want it done back to you in return." She realised the hold and stood at attention. Miss Parker gathered her composure and looked at Broots, Sydney and Lyle who were all suppressing laughs.
"Not a word." She turned and walked quickly to her office wondering where the hell Raines found Chrissie.
"I'm really sorry about that. I just can't stand when people try to show power over someone like that." Chrissie obviously felt bad about doing that to Miss Parker.
"It's okay Chrissie. A lot of people would like to do that to Miss Parker." Sydney walked over to where Chrissie was standing.
"Yeah but Syd no one's ever actually done that." Broots was amazed by this woman. Lyle was still sitting on a desk staring up at her.
"It seems to me like she deserved it." Chrissie smiled at them. Sydney was about to say something when her cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID. "I have to take this excuse me." She turned around and walked out the door. As soon as she left the room Lyle got up.
"She's going to working with us? I think I like work more now." Outside Chrissie was on the phone.
"Marietta, hows Mamma. that's great. what did the doctors say. I should have the money by then; this job pays very good. Hows Luis and Rosa. I miss them too. Did Jarod look after you. great. I got to go. I'll be home before you know it. Tell Mamma, Rosa and Luis I love and Miss them. Love you too. Bye." Chrissie hung up the phone. Jarod had left her family a few hours before. She started thinking about Jarod and what he was doing. She looked around her. She had thought that the Centre reminded her of somewhere but she wasn't sure where, and she was sure she'd met her new colleagues somewhere. She shrugged the feeling off. She was sure she would have remembered this place and these people but there was just something that was unnerving about it.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
to be continued .
Note: Please I need feedback to live, breath and write (Hehehe)
Kimmi