Chapter 11 puzzle pieces

Portman woke around nine and got out of his nice warm bed to move silently into the bathroom, shower and dress.  Once that was finished he went to his desk and turned on the little lamp and took out a notebook, opening it to a new page. 

Now, he thought to himself, there was a mystery to be solved, a possibly dangerous one.  He wondered who else could help them.  He knew Fulton was in and Julie, of coarse.  He just didn't know which of the other ducks he should tell.  Who could keep a secret?  He thought of Adam but he was still pissed about the other day, not to mention Portman just didn't like the little rich boy.  He was always acting like Julie was above him.  A thought struck him then, it would make sense for Adam to be after her.  Quickly he scribbled down the facts he had about the cake eater. 

1.  Treats Julie like a princess.

2. Acts like everyone else is below them.  At least he and Fulton. 

3.  Not happy when Scott and Julie started dating. 

4.  Possible motive: wants her for himself and since she never returned that sentiment maybe he'd decided no one else should have her. 

Portman knew he had to be fair, he then wrote down all of the likely suspects.  By the time he was done he had four more names and there were just two circled.  He'd have to watch Riley and Adam for a while, see if their behavior met any of the criteria for a stalker.  The irony was he knew more than a lot of boys his age the trouble a stalker could cause.  His own sister Caroline had been killed by one.  Ever since he'd learned every possible thing about them.  Now that he knew he'd do his best to keep Julie out of the clutches of this creep.  He'd not again lose someone he cared for because some psycho set his sites on her.  It was bad enough they'd to known in time to save his sister. 

*** 

"Hey just wanted to know if you wanted to go grab some lunch."  Julie smiled at the sound of Portman's very awake baritone voice.  She'd had a feeling it would be him even before she'd picked up the phone.  She didn't wonder at that, he'd been sticking so close lately it was really a given.  Just then his words hit her and she frowned. 

"Portman it's ten o'clock, you can't eat lunch."  She chided him in amusement.  Julie chided the bash brother and her body guard of late. 

"Hey I'm hungry."  He she could hear him shift as if he'd shrugged. 

"Well why don't you eat breakfast?"  She suggested and wished she could see his face. After having seen just how he usually ate any of his meals Julie knew that cereal or even a few pancakes would never fill Portman up.  Still she liked this banter. 

"I don't do corn Flakes."  He muttered. 

"So have eggs and sausage."  She shot back shifting on her bed, adjusting the pillows. 

"Only if you come with."  He said and here we were, she thought, back to the brunt of the cal. 

"Portman aren't you going with the guys?"  She asked looking down at her still pajama clad form.  She was not dressed and her mind was still clearing form the pain medication she'd taken before going to bed the night before. 

"Just Fulton."  Portman said there was that unconcerned shrug again, yet she knew he'd keep at this till she gave in.  She could tell it by the tone, it was one he'd used yesterday when he'd wanted her to rest when she'd not wanted to. 

"Ok, fine."  She said and had they been face to face she'd have thrown her hands into her air. 

"Great be over in ten."  He said and was hanging up even as she yelped at the time allotment.  

***  

Twenty minutes later Portman Julie and Fulton were heading out to his car and as Portman bent to help Julie in he spotted something.  Pausing he ran his fingers over the back seat's passenger side lock.  It looked a little scratched up. Not that his car was all that new but Portman knew his car as another might know a lover and that had not been there.   Frowning he made a big deal about the already neat seat in an attempt to get a look at just what might be wrong.  It didn't' take him long, he spotted the coiled form just sticking out from beneath the driver's seat.  He didn't even have to see it's tale or heat to know just what it was.  He fought back the shudder and motioned to Fulton.  He then saw it too and then nodded almost imperceptively.  

"Man let's take your car, my gas is low."  Portman said for Julie's sake.  She'd been though enough lately she didn't need to see this. 

"Right."  Julie frowned and wondered just what was going on until they reached Fulton's own car.  Then she moved to Portman. 

"Portman, I know you had a nearly full tank of gas, what's the deal."  She demanded and he knew if she'd not needed her crutches she'd have had her hands on her hips. 

"Jules…" he really didn't want to upset her, he didn't want her all worried, not now… 

"Now, Portman I need to know, what was wrong?"  She persisted and he glanced around spotting several kids milling around, walking along sidewalks and just being students. 

"Julie nothing was…'  He closed his mouth when he saw the look on her face, that we're not going anywhere look she rarely ever wore. 

"Look lets get out of here first, I don't' want to talk about it here."  He said and after a minute she nodded. 

Five minutes later they were heading away from campus and out of town. 

"So want to tell me what was going on?"  Julie asked from the back seat. 

"Someone put a rattle snake into the car."  Portman said grimly and Julie felt nausea rise up.  Then it was over powered by the questions, why?  Who would do that? 

"A…"   Was all she managed to say aloud. 

"Snake."  Fulton finished for her helpfully. 

"'But why?  Portman it doesn't make any sense.  Who would want to…"  Then she knew, varsity.  "You have to tell Coach O'ryan, he has to punish them for…" 

"It didn't have anything to do with me."  Portman said half turning in his seat to look back at her slightly.  "It was to warn me off of you." 

"But why?"  Julie asked confused, who would ever warn him away?  She didn't have a boyfriend, she didn't even know any guy who liked her… 

"From what happened yesterday I'd say you have yourself a stalker." 

"That doesn't make sense why would anyone stalk Julie? She's not a celebrity or in the public eye."  She said frowning, she felt as if she'd stepped into the Twilight Zone.  Had she hit her head harder than she'd thought when she'd been checked? Was this some kind of insane dream? 

"You don't have to be."  Portman murmured his vice and eyes going distant as he turned around, his thoughts of his sister racing once more through  his mind.  Caroline had been just a typical girl, typical grades typical smile yet Christian Meadows had become obsessed and…  The image of his big sisters lifeless body laying in that poll of blood had him once feeling like the helpless thirteen year old he'd been 

"Hey man you ok?"  Fulton was asking and Portman came out of his thoughts with a rush. 

"Yeah, I was just thinking."  Portman said with an effort to sound light hearted.  In truth he didn't think he could eat a bite now if his life depended on it. 

"Well we're here."  Fulton said unknowingly. 

"Great."  Portman muttered and climbed from the car. 

As he came to the back door to help her out, Julie sat a moment just looking up at him.  His face seemed somehow older, much older than his sixteen years.  She had a feeling it was regarding the stalker subject rather than the snake itself and when she alighted from the car she paused, resting a hand on his shoulder.  She didn't know why but she had a feeling she should comfort him.  There was some kind of sadness in his dark eyes, one that now called to her, pulling her in. 

Leaning up she dropped her crutches and wrapped her arms around his neck, not thinking of Fulton or anyone else who just might see, her only thought to take away the pain she felt radiating from Portman now. 

"Jules?"  He asked a little surprised but when she said nothing, simply held on he realized she had to have noticed something, and his arms were around her, holding her tight to him.  She felt so warm, so alive and he felt his horrible memories fading, dropping to the back burner as he let her presence wash over him, as he let her comfort him. 

"Dean, I don't know what's wrong, what's going on but you can tell me, not now if you don't want too but whenever your ready."  She whispered and hadn't even known she'd say those words as she did.  Somehow they just seemed right, and she even meant them.  He'd been  here for her and she owed him, once more she wanted to be here for him. 

"Jules?" 

"Hmm?" 

"Thanks, I…' She lifted her head then, meeting his haunted eyes and then neither could have predicted or even stopped what happened next.  She lifted up slightly, he lowered and their lips met in a soft, sweet kiss. 

Fulton turned his back, knowing his friends would need a little privacy, and in the process caught sight of a familiar blue jacket.  Frowning he noted that it's owner had been watching them, from the shoulder of the highway.  He had a very strong feeling he had Julie's stalker. 

Even as he noted the guy's position the boy nodded as if confirming it and then drove off. 

Ok, that made absolutely no sense.  Why would Scooter be following them around?  If he was Julie's stalker why would he let him see him?  This just got weirder and weirder. 

TBC

*** 

Sorry about the delay this wasn't easy to come up with, I got through the last chapter and had an idea and yes it sort changes the format for the story I suppose taking it fro mdrama to suspense but I go where the story takes me.  Please let me know what you think about this, it's myfist attempt at a suspense.