Chapter 12 a Twist in the Road
Julie felt as if her leg, his pain, the whole world were no longer a factor as she let Portman deepen the kiss. She hadn't realized just how much she'd
wanted this, how much he had but now as he pulled back and lifted his head she could see so much in his expressive dark eyes.
"Jules?" He asked and Portman was amazed by the soft glowing light in her soft blue eyes. She truly looked like an angel. He wanted to smile at that,
she was in so many ways but he knew her wild side, that side that never took crap from anyone. It was one of the things he loved about her. Yet lately
he was finding out just how many she had, how many he loved.
"Yes?" She asked and found that her voice too was slightly unsteady. A little smile did cross her lips. He looked like a fallen angel, and yet a conquering
hero, with his dark good looks and sturdy form, and yet those eyes…
"Hey guys, I think…" Came Fulton's voice breaking into the moment.
"Yeah?" Carte asked obviously annoyed at having been interrupted just then.
"'I think we might have a break through." Fulton said and both seemed to come out of a daze.
"Huh?" Julie asked as she came back to the reality of the situation with a rush. She then realized she no longer had the crutches and wobbled slightly.
If not for the little fact that Portman was still holding on to her she might have fallen to the ground.
"Man hand me the crutches will you?" He called to Fulton who had only now turned to face them.
"Oh sure." And he was bending to pick them up and holding them out for Julie. "Here."
"Thanks." She smiled flushing at the knowledge that he had to have known what had just conspired between his best friend and her.
"No problem, listen lets go inside." It was only his Fulton's newest words that Portman noted how he was looking around worriedly.
"Right." He said and as they headed inside he looked to Julie who was crutching slowly along beside them. "You ok now?"
"Yeah, fine." She said feeling really nuts. She'd just kissed Portman in the middle of the parking lot of the highway diner. What had she been thinking?
Sure he was hot and she'd just been drawn to him. There had always been something about Dean Portman…
Portman noted that even as they entered the diner Fulton was looking around suspiciously as if expecting what? They'd not know the stalker's identity even
if they did know him or her.
***
Inside they found the room was really humming. Luckily they found a booth towards the back and with in minutes they were settled, each looking over the
menu they pretty much already knew. After all how often did they come here after a game when they didn't quite fee like the insanity of the burger ban,
usually when they lost.
Julie gazed over the top of her menu at both Fulton and Portman. She could tell they'd been hiding something. She then waited until after they'd ordered
to ask.
"So, what's up?"
"Jules…'
"Dude she has a right to know." Fulton said and Portman sighed, he had known after the snake he'd have to fess up. He also knew that it would end soon,
if Fulton was right, whatever he'd seen would be a big help.
"Fine, Julie, remember what ever you hear, you can't repeat to anyone."
"Ok," she had the feeling this was related to what had happened last night. She remembered with a little shudder the wilted flower" So
"I told you before I think you have a stalker, I didn't say why." With that, he pulled out a small scrap of paper.
"What is it?"
"Just read it."
Roses are red,
Violets are blue
This Rose is dead
And so are you.
'Where did you get that?"
"It was under the rose."
"Oh my…"
"I didn't want you to see it."
"I…" She stared from it to him, knowing it was no hoax she'd seen his writing and so knew neither he or Fulton had written it. Besides why would they?
Then something else hit her. "This is why you said we might have a break through."
"Well, sort of. While you two were outside necking I…" Fulton began but he didn't have a chance to finish as another voice broke in.
"Saw me." Came a voice and all found scooter standing there. The sound of a waitress calling out an order to the cook broke into the seeming spell of
silence.
"You?" Julie asked bewildered.
"Yeah blondey." Scooter smiled at her slightly.
"What do you mean?" Portman was asking frowning at the varsity goalie.
"Scoot over and I'll fill you in." Scooter told Julie who hesitated only a moment, having a feeling he was on a level.
"Why should we listen to you?" Fulton asked skeptically frowning at the interloper.
"What choice do you have?" Scooter asked meeting the other guy eye to eye.
"Fine, sit."
"You ok blondey?"
"Just a little confused."
"Well if you want the truth I don't blame you."
"I only found out what was going on the other night when you got hurt."
"When I…'
"When Riley paid that creep to check you."
"Right, well anyway, I came by the hospital when I heard about it."
"You did?"
"yeah, just because we broke up doesn't mean I don't' like you Jules."
"I was just passing the nurses station when I saw this strange figure coming out of the alcove just outside of your door."
"You expect us to buy that?"
"Look, it's not the last time."
"What?"
"Last night, after Connie left. I had been coming down the hall and saw the same shadowy figure moving, sneaking out of the room."
"What makes you think we'd believe anything you'd say?" Clanking dishes, murmured conversations and occasional shouts surrounded them, and yet Julie saw
just what she was looking for.
"He's telling the truth."
"Jules?"
"When he lies there's a strange light in his eyes. It's not there."
"Jules?"
"You learn stuff when you go out. Even if it's a time or two." She said shrugging as if id didn't matter and Portman was a little surprised. She was
that observant? She seemed like an ordinary kid most of the time. It struck him that maybe she'd make a good writer. But too there was a sharp sliver
of jealousy. She'd noticed this guy's eyes? Had she ever noticed his?
"So, what did the shadow look like??" Fulton asked knowing he was more likely to be the reasonable one just then. He could see the odd look in Portman's
eyes.
"Well, I don't' know, the guy was from what I could see all in black and wasn't' all that tall…" Scooter said as if trying to pull the picture up in his
mind. "Yeah, about average height, not big but not skinny exactly and he moved as if was good at sneaking around."
"How would you know how someone would sneak around?" Portman asked suspiciously.
"Pranks remember?"
"Right." Fulton said and then tried to think, who would have been there, Adam was tall, so he doubted it had been him, Goldberg was out… but why was he
looking at the ducks? But he knew that to, if Scooter was to be believed, the description ruled out both Riley and Cole. So the only others that came
to mind were the ducks. He had no clue why one of their own would be after her but in the world he knew one never knew. "Well, I'd say it could be Charlie,
Guy, Russ,"
"Wait, No, the guy was not Russ." Scooter said pointedly.
"How would you know that?" Portman broke in skeptically.
"Because I do." Scooter said meeting the other guys eyes head on.
"Ok so who was it?" Julie broke in not wanting to have the guys getting into a battle right there. She had the feeling they didn't have time for it.
"Like I was saying it still leaves Ken and Jessie." Fulton said thoughtfully.
"Not Jessie either." Scooter said shaking his head.
"Ok, well we know who it isn't but that still doesn't' tell us who it is." Portman said glancing around he had a strange feeling that they were being watched.
"So we narrow it down a little." Julie said thoughtfully.
"How?" Portman asked her and she thought a moment before speaking.
"A little detective work."
"What do you have in mind?"
TBC
***
Sorry for the delay. I've been finishing a few loose ends with some of the other stories I have on FF. Anyway PlZ let me know what you think of this little
weave in this fic.