Aftermath
Chapter Four: The Picnic
On two thin poles, there was strung a colorful sign that read, "WELCOME!" in letters of all different shades.
Becka looked around and decided that everything looked good. The food was in place, and looked delicious, and there were Frisbees, a ping pong table, a net for playing volleyball as well as a basketball court nearby.
Sara arrived first, with her mother and sister, and they started towards Becka, who straightened her clothes nervously and smiled.
"Welcome to the picnic. I hope you all have a good time. I'm coordinator of the group, and you can call me Becka," she said in a rush, holding out her hand.
"Hi, I'm Christa, Sara's mother," Christa shook Becka's hand. "And this is Jessica, her sister."
"It's very nice to meet you. I just feel so bad for what happened to Sara," Christa started, her eyes growing bright with tears. "I know this is helping her a lot. Thank you."
As they continued talking, a boy with shaggy black hair and dressed in loose slacks and a blue polo shirt accented his pale blue eyes. Beside him was a woman with sable hair and dressed in a cool summer skirt with a peasant top.
"Adam!" Sara called over to him. "How are you today?"
Adam smiled shyly at her. "I'm doing okay. Oh, this is my mom, Kaylie Smith." Sara knew that his dad had been the one to abuse him, and how it affected him, so she was careful not to tread on that subject.
"It's nice to meet you Kaylie. Adam told me wonderful things about you," Sara responded with a smile. Kaylie smiled back and had a twinkle in her eye, noticing the interest Sara and Adam had in each other.
Ulsa James, with her father Michael, walked up to the group. Heather Lawson came quietly behind them with her dad Franklin, and started talking.
"Heather, it's good to see you again!" Ulsa exclaimed. She smiled widely and gave her friend a hug. "How have things been going for you?" By things, Ulsa meant the Aunt who had abused Heather when she was a child. She still was wary of some people, but Ulsa had managed to get past her defenses and became someone she cared deeply about.
"Things have been going well. She hasn't tried to contact me at all since the last time," Heather responded with a triumphant smile. "Daddy told her off and she just never called again. I sure do hope it stays that way."
Shi arrived, looking a little lost and a lot alone. She was wearing loose black jeans and a red short-sleeved t-shirt over a green long-sleeved t-shirt. She wasn't sure why she loved those two colors, but she did. Shi didn't understand why she came. She was uncomfortable around a lot of people, and even the small group was fairly big in her opinion.
Becka frowned as she saw Shi on the outskirts of the group, looking uncomfortable and lonely. She was about to head over to her when Hunter and Cam arrived, with an Asian looking boy and a girl with blonde hair holding his hand. Directly behind them were two boys holding hands, one with light brown skin and curly brown hair in a red t-shirt and the other a Spanish looking boy with long black hair.
'Wonder who they are. They don't look related, but I did say that they could bring friends,' she thought, making her way over to greet them.
"It's really good to see you guys. I trust you're feeling better Hunter?" she asked.
Hunter smiled wryly, "Yeah, I'm much better now thanks. And thanks for last night, it really helped me."
Becka smiled warmly, "No problem. Now, introduce me to your friends here." She motioned towards them and waited for a few seconds before cocking an eyebrow.
Hunter grinned. "This is my brother, Blake Bradley, and his girlfriend Tori. And the one in red is Shane and the one holding his hand is his boyfriend Sergio."
"Cool," she said, nodding to each of them. "Well, come on out and enjoy the festivities. I'll have to warn you though, there might be some people here who want to talk about their experiences, and family and friends who want to talk to each other, so I just wanted to let you know. This is to bring people together, who know how everyone else feels."
Hunter looked up at a flash of dark red and green, and saw Shi. "Hey, Shi!" he called out, and waved her over. She smiled a little, and walked over to him. He saw his brother looking at her with a peculiar look on his face, and then examining him and Cam, each wearing their respective colors.
"Dude," came Dustin's voice from behind them as everyone whipped around to see him. "You guys should do this around Christmas, cause you're, like, matching perfectly with the colors."
Hunter laughed, "You know, he's right. Cam, Shi and I do match."
Shi blushed, "These are just my favorite colors. They always have been."
"Who's this Hunter?" Becka asked, grinning along with them. Dustin was momentarily shocked at her beauty, and wondered how someone that beautiful could have been hurt like she probably was.
"Oh, oh, I'm Dustin, and this-this is Marah," Dustin said, pointing at the heavily made up girl beside him.
The make-up almost hid the bruises marring Marah's face and disappearing past the neckline of her shirt. Becka's eyebrows furrowed at the signs of abuse. She looked at Dustin, and wondered if he could possibly be the one who'd done that.
"What happened?" Becka asked softly, coming up to Marah's right side and gently putting her hand on Marah's elbow.
"My-um, my uncle wasn't too happy with me last night, so I went over to Dustin's after—after," Marah said, shaking a little at the memory.
Becka felt relief that Dustin hadn't been the one to mete out Marah's punishment, but wondered who the uncle was who'd hurt her newfound friend.
Cam put his arm around his cousin's shoulder, silently lending her comfort as she tried to calm down. "I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear, and she looked up at him with thanks in her eyes, for not shunning her, even after all the bad things she'd done.
"Well," Becka said, trying to sound a little more cheerful. "Let's go over here and have a bite to eat or play a game or something."
Dustin jogged over to the basketball on the court and shouted, "I bet Shane and I could beat you guys in a two on two game."
Shane, Hunter and Cam smiled at each other and ran over to rib Dustin. "Oh yeah?" Hunter asked. "I bet Cam and I could beat you, first to reach 20 wins, and no going to second rounds. The first game is final."
Sergio stayed near Marah, who was smiling at Dustin's attempt to lighten the mood by being his usual, rambunctious self. He made sure she saw him before he took her hand and led her over to the table. "Come on, while they play for their manhood, why don't we eat something?" he asked, and she laughed outright.
"Sure, let's go," Tori said. "I'll take on whoever wins, unless someone else wants to do it." She smiled secretively, and Blake shuddered, with a grimace on his face.
"You and I can take 'em Tor, how does that sound?" he asked, his competitive spirit showing through. "We'll kick their butts."
Brooke Yellowbird walked towards them, her grandparents Felix Red Fox and Sarah Dark Wren trailing behind, with a confident stride, and smiled. "Hi guys, how're you doing? I wasn't at group last time, and I didn't recognize you. I'm Brooke Yellowbird. And you all are?"
"Well, over there," Blake said, pointing to the basketball courts, "are my brother Hunter in the dark red, Cam in the green, Dustin in yellow, and Shane in the bright red. I'm Blake, and this is my girlfriend Tori. That's Shane's boyfriend Sergio," he tried not to notice that she frowned at that. "And you probably know Shi already."
"Yeah, hey Shi, it's good to see you here. I wasn't expecting you to show, but I'm glad that you did. Want to go play ping pong?" Brooke asked, starting to back towards it.
Shi blushed again, and replied, "Sure, I don't see why not." She got up slowly and walked with Brooke over to the table, and picked up her paddle.
"I guess Brooke doesn't approve of homosexuality in general then," Blake muttered, and Tori elbowed him.
"Not everyone is as comfortable with it as we are. And it came as a shock to us when we were first told, so don't go there. Give her time. She's in this group too, and you don't know why yet."
Hunter made the last toss, and punched the air. "Yes! We won! Told you we would," he said triumphantly to a grinning Dustin.
"Yeah, well, just wait 'til next time!" Dustin responded, and the challenge was made.
Tori got up, and Blake was about to when she said, "Stay here a minute. I want to try something."
"Shi!" she called out. "Want to play against Cam and Hunter? They won the game! Let's go show them what real basketball is all about."
Shi smiled, but shook her head. "I don't know. I'm not very good at sports. I don't really play any."
"Come on, it'll be fun!" Tori exclaimed. "I promise, if you don't like it, I'll have Blake come play in your place."
Shi shrugged. "Okay, I'll give it my best shot." She fingered a silver pentacle, and Tori commented on it.
"That's really pretty. Where did you get it?" she asked, reaching out to give it a closer look.
"It's just a pentacle. It's like…a symbol of my faith. Nevermind, it's no big deal," Shi said quickly, tucking the pentacle into her shirt.
Tori recognized her maneuvering to get away from that subject, so she didn't comment on it further, even though she wanted to.
"Let's go beat the boys," Tori said with a grin, changing the subject quickly. "I bet we can, because we're small and fast."
Shi smiled, "Okay, but I warned you, I'm not into sports. I wouldn't even know how to play."
"Just try to keep the ball, pass it to me if I'm free, or shoot to the basket. That's all there is to it. Don't let the boys get the ball though, or try not to let them," Tori explained, and Shi listened carefully.
"Hey, guys, let's play!" Tori called out to Hunter and Cam, who were talking about something, probably motocross, since Hunter and Blake had a competition coming up in a few weeks.
They grinned at each other, then nodded at her. "Okay, let's do it. Same rules apply as before." Hunter and Cam silently promised themselves that they would be careful around Shi.
Hunter threw the ball up in the air, and Tori immediately jumped for it, getting it by the tips of her fingers and passed it to Shi.
Shi, nervous, aimed for the basket like she was told and shot, nearly jumping out of her skin when Cam bumped into her, and cringed.
"Sorry," he breathed, and she nodded her acknowledgment. The ball went through the hoop, and Shi and Tori had their first point.
As they played, Shi became more comfortable with the contact that happened when they were trying to get the ball from each other or block a shot.
Becka noticed this, as she had been a little worried about Shi, who was normally a loner.
Shi gradually became more confident in her skills, only missing three more shots throughout the game, and she and Tori ended up winning against the boys.
"Yeah!" Tori yelled, holding her hand up for a high five, which Shi returned reluctantly.
Hunter and Cam approached them and said, "Good job guys. That was great for your first game Shi," Cam said.
Shi blushed hotly, and said, "Thank you. I hope you didn't just let me win," she accused teasingly, but when Hunter and Cam got closer, she backed away a step. "Come on, let's go eat," she said quickly, and fingered her pentacle again.
Tori ran ahead of them, taking her seat next to Blake as if someone was about to steal it from her, and laughed when Dustin commented on the trio headed for them.
"Dude, they look like a threesome who know one knows about yet…not even them." Blake looked a little perturbed, but laughed along with them.
"Hey, good game you guys. We were all enjoying it." Brooke said, and sat at the table with them, taking a bite of her casserole and potato salad.
Shi smiled again. "Thank you. I had fun."
"Take a look over there. I think Adam and Sara like each other," Brooke continued, and Tori asked, "Those two over there." Brooke nodded, and Tori said, "Well, they look cute together. And I'd guess they know… about their problems, so it would be easier to understand."
Brooke nodded. "Sometimes it is easier to be with another survivor, but sometimes it holds you both back, and then it's a real mess." She tried not to notice Cam and Hunter sitting so close together, but she shifted in her seat, and Shi noticed.
"What's wrong, Brooke?" Shi asked in a quiet voice, trying not to bring any attention to them.
"I'm just not used to seeing those people like that," she said. "I was raised to think of it as wrong. I'm trying to get used to it, since I want Hunter to be my friend, but it makes me…uncomfortable."
Shi nodded understandingly, "I hear you, but I realize that love is love, and there's nothing wrong with that. Love heals, that's what I've learned. Besides, at least you're trying. I can tell."
"You can?" Brooke asked hesitantly. Shi knew that she wasn't confident all of the time, and was trying to be encouraging.
On the other side, watching two of the kids playing volleyball, Becka noticed that Shi was still with the group, and that Brooke had joined her. It warmed her to know that Shi was coming out of her prison-like shell, and becoming more comfortable with people.
Tori scooted closer to Brooke and Shi, having heard part of their conversation. "You know, it's hard to overcome what we're taught. It was hard for all of us when they came out. Imagine, we had no idea, and then three of the people we cared about were suddenly different. After awhile though, we realized that they weren't so different. We, they, we use those words like there are sides. There aren't any, and it just takes time to get used to it."
Brooke jerked a little, surprised that someone overheard them, but nodded. "I really am trying. I suppose it would be hard to realize something like that, but I get what you're saying."
At another bench, Sara was sitting alone, watching the rest of the people interact, and was tracing her scars absently. There were a few new ones, scabbed over, and as someone came up behind her, it caused her to whip around quickly to see who it was.
"It's only me," Adam said softly, flicking his hair out of his eyes. He thought she was the most beautiful girl there, and wanted to get closer to her. "Oh, Sara, you're not doing it again, are you?" he asked, noting her new scabs. He took her arm in his hand and traced his fingers over them.
She drew away from him uncomfortably, "I couldn't help it. My uncle called, and I heard him and Mom arguing over the phone, and I just…did it. It helped. Please don't tell Becka," she said, drawing her sleeves down over her arms again.
Adam just looked at her for a minute, then drew her to him in a hug, and said, "Okay, but please don't do this again. If you need me…," he said softly, nervously, "I'll always be here for you Sara."
"I think I'm ready to fall asleep. I'm so full," Hunter groaned, leaning his head on Cam's shoulder.
"Well, you shouldn't have eaten so much, but I understand what you mean. I'm pretty full too. Do you want to go home?" Cam asked, and the rest of the group looked towards them.
"No, I want to meet more people," Hunter replied, snuggling closer to Cam. Cam fought a grin.
"If you really want to go meet people, you're going to have to at least start by sitting up."
"Do I have to right now? You're very comfortable right here," Hunter replied, not bothering to hide their love for each other. He kissed Cam very softly on the neck and Cam sighed, nodding his assent.
"Fine, but don't blame me when half the people leave because you decided to take a cat nap," Cam said.
Shi giggled as she watched them, and Brooke could see how people could get used to seeing them together.
"So," Hunter started, aiming a lazy look at her and adjusting his position draped over Cam, "what do you like to do for fun, Shi?"
Shi looked down, and fingered her pentacle because she was uncomfortable being asked questions, even of that innocent sort. "I like to paint. I like to take pictures. I like to dance and worship."
"What kind of dance do you do?" Brooke asked curiously. She folded her arms over and leaned on the table.
"It's not anything formal, like jazz or ballet, but it's just me letting the music control what I do, following the rhythm wherever it takes me," she explained shyly, hoping they would understand.
"What are your favorite kinds of music to dance to?" Cam asked inquisitively. Hunter snuggled closer, and Shi couldn't help but smile at the way Cam seemed to enjoy the warmth of the contact.
"I like Celtic music, or Native American music to dance to; something with a definite rhythm. But if you mean just for enjoyment, I listen to rock and pop music. I don't know which artists go into which category, but that's where I buy most of my CDs," it was the most Shi had talked at once almost all day.
Becka was sitting, nibbling on a chip, and observing the way Shi talked animatedly about one subject or another, her body language relaxed and a smile on her face. As she watched, she remembered when Shi had first come to the group.
~Arashi* Tomoe walked hesitantly up to the open double doors. There was a flyer taped to it, proclaiming: Incest Survivors Group 8pm with it saying underneath Led by Rebeckah FireRaven. She took a deep breath and went in. There were only about five or six people there, and they all looked up as she joined them in the room.
"Hi!" said a girl about a couple years older than she, with long black hair and beautiful green eyes. "Welcome to the group. I'm Rebeckah, but you can call me Becka. What's your name?"
The girl's, Becka's, warm welcome had caused her to relax a fraction. "I'm Arashi Tomoe, but most people just call me Shi," Shi said timidly.
"Well, come on and join us. There are a few new people here, since this group is fairly new itself, so some people will be telling their stories. You can feel free to tell yours, as much or as little as you wish. This is a group for healing. Here's my number, so you can call if you need anything." Becka handed Shi a card with a number on it, which Shi pocketed.
"Thank you," Shi said. Her shoulders were hunched, and her hands were wringing in front of her, as if she were anxious to hide.
Shi sat down on the cold metal chairs provided by the building for the purpose of the group, and shivered a little bit.
"Okay, everyone, group's started. How's everyone been doing this past week?" Becka inquired.
A boy, Adam Smith, spoke up. "My parents are getting divorced, because of what Dad did to me… I still can't believe he did it. It makes me wonder if there are other boys he's hurt, like he did me. 'Just touch it,' he said. Then, 'Just a taste, then you can stop. Do it!' he snapped at me. I was too afraid to resist him. I mean, he was my father, so much bigger than me and so… cruel, now that I think about it. I hadn't known he could be that cruel," Adam shifted in his seat, a blush staining his tanned cheeks.
A Native American girl, Brooke Yellowbird, started speaking next. "My Mom didn't believe me at first. I've had a few flashbacks from what my Aunt Rivera did to me, and when I woke up screaming, that's when she believed. But Rivera liked to cause pain, and she liked pain with her sex. So she chose me. I don't know why," she stated sullenly, and folded her arms over her chest, obviously finished speaking.
"Guys, we have a newcomer to our group, and her name is Shi Tomoe. Shi, what's your story?" Becka prodded gently.
Shi squirmed in her seat, not liking that everyone was looking at her, and kept her eyes downcast. "It was my brother." She found that she couldn't say more than that, and looked at Becka helplessly.
"It's okay Shi. When you're ready, you can tell the rest of your story. It often takes time to get through these things. For some people it just takes a little longer than others," Becka stated compassionately.~
Blake nudged Tori. "Wanna go play some volleyball? We can challenge, um… what are those twos' names? Sara and Adam, I think."
Tori nodded. "Yeah, those are their names, and I'd love to. Let's go." She directed her next comment to the group. "We're going to go challenge Adam and Sara to a volleyball game. We'll be back when we're through. See you!" And with a wave, they were off to fetch their opposing team.
Dustin had his arm around Marah, whose eyes were closed and brows furrowed in pain. She shifted in her seat, constantly uncomfortable from the intense beating she took. Dustin tightened his arm around her shoulder a fraction, and she felt immensely protected by his gesture. Dustin thought about her appearance earlier that day.
~Dustin was just walking out of his house when he saw her, collapsed in his driveway, tears streaming down her cheeks. He frowned, and approached her with caution. Her hair was down in loose curls, the same way they had been the day he first tried to trust her.
"Marah?" he asked. "What happened?" He gasped when she looked up and saw the bruises that marred her face and disappeared past her shirt. There were lash marks on the sides and back of her neck that he assumed meant that she'd been whipped too.
"I wouldn't do it again," she said, pain infused in her every word. "I told him that I wouldn't trick you again, and this is what I got for it. He thought the punishment would break me, make me do it again. But it didn't. I need help, please Dustin. I didn't know who else to go to for protection."
Dustin was reluctant to take her word for it, but her bruises spoke volumes and he collected her into his house. He knew his mom had some numbing cream for sores somewhere, and he felt the old feelings he'd had for Marah coming to the surface again as he lovingly attended her visible wounds.
"Um, I think you may need to take, um, off the, uh," he stammered, blushing, and gestured towards her shirt. She nodded, and slowly took it off, wincing as she did. He couldn't believe the lashes on her back. She wasn't wearing a bra, and the marks stood out in sharp contrast to her pale golden skin. He rubbed more of the cream on each lash, and though it stung at first, it made Marah feel better.
"Thank you. You didn't have to do this, especially after…," she said dejectedly. Dustin went around to her front and his breath caught in his throat. Her body was so lovely to his eyes, and his face flamed, but he applied the ointment to her upper chest and then skipped over her breasts, which weren't marred, to her stomach, and then down to her legs.
When he was finished, he put the cap on the cream and said, "Um, I think that it needs to sink in, so, like, wait there for a few minutes." He left the room quickly, and tried to regain any composure he had whatsoever. I am going to be so late to that picnic, but oh well. This can't be helped, he thought. He got out a soda from the fridge and brought it to her, relieved to see that she'd put her shirt back on.
"It's all soaked in," she explained, and then looked at the can in his hand curiously. "What's that?"
Dustin looked down at the can. "Oh, it's just soda. Here, it's to drink." He handed it to her, and she put her mouth over the opening and tasted. She giggled after she swallowed, the bubbles tickling her throat.
"This is good. Thank you again," she said the last more solemnly. "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been here."
Dustin shrugged. "You needed help. That's what rangers do. Protect people, and help them when they need it. It's what good people do."
Marah considered that, and nodded, sipping more of her cola. They sat there in companionable silence until Dustin looked at his watch and exclaimed, "Oh, dude, we're going to be so late! There's this picnic thing that Hunter's group is having. It should be fun, if you want to come."
Marah nodded. "I don't want to be by myself. I'll go with you." She got up from her seat slowly, and walked towards him. He hugged her to himself as he streaked to an area near where they were having the picnic.
"Wow. That's convenient," Marah said, and Dustin laughed. ~
"I'll never let him hurt you again, Marah. He won't lay a finger on you," Dustin said quietly to her. Marah looked up, and smiled an innocent smile.
"Thank you Dustin. I know I keep saying that, but I mean it. I don't know what I'd have done without you," she responded earnestly.
He smiled a little. "I know Marah. It's okay. I care about you. You know that."
"Yeah, I do. And I do too," she said, a blush making its way across her cheeks.
They sat there, happy to be together at last, and basked in the warmth of the sun.
At the volleyball net, Tori spiked the ball, and smiled triumphantly before she realized that Sara had gotten to the ball and bounced it up enough so that Adam could send it flying over the net for another point.
"Wow, good job!" Tori exclaimed. "I'll have to remember that move for next time."
Sara grinned. "Yeah, I'm on the volleyball team at school, and our coach had us practice doing this 'just in case'."
"Well, it's your serve," Blake called out, and tossed the ball back over the net towards Adam.
"You two work well together, don't you?" Tori teased Sara with a grin, and saw a heated blush stain her new friend's cheeks.
"Yeah, we do," Sara said proudly, an answering grin on her face. "And that makes me happier than I've been in a long while."
"Good," Tori murmured. "You deserve to be happy." She sent another smile Sara's way, and moved back as Adam served the ball. With that, the game was started again.
At the picnic table, Shi had quieted down to eat her food, and when she was done she got up to stretch and walk around. Cam and Hunter took note of this, and got up to follow her.
"Hey, Shi," Hunter called out, and she stopped to wait for them to catch up. "Did you talk to your mom yet, about moving in with us?"
"Oh, yeah, I did. She wants to meet you first, but otherwise, she was agreeable to the idea. She said that I was growing up, and that she trusted me to make a good decision," Shi said happily.
"That's really cool. I'm happy that your mom said yes. We'd love to meet her. How about when we come to pick up your stuff? What are you going to be needing anyway?" Hunter asked.
Shi thought about it for a minute. "I'll need my computer, my boombox and CDs, my books, and my clothes. Oh, and my easel, paint and brushes, along with my camera. That's about it really."
"Okay, cool. We'll be bringing our truck then, to pack everything into. Do you need boxes? Because we have about 300 in our garage," Hunter inquired.
"Yeah, that would be great!" Shi exclaimed.
Marah and Dustin observed the three from their vantage point at the picnic table. "I wonder what they're talking about?" Marah wondered. She sighed heavily, for everyone else seemed to have a group they belonged with. Everyone except her.
"What's the matter?" Dustin asked. He was careful to keep his eye on her, especially since her beating. She seemed to go from happy to sad at the drop of a hat, although it was no wonder.
She shook her head, indicating nothing, but he knew better. He thought about what it was going to be like living with her, then remembered that she didn't have much of anything to bring with her.
"Do you want to go shopping later?" Dustin asked, hardly able to believe that the words had just left his mouth. Shopping he thought is going to be... interesting.
Marah perked up. "Shopping! Oh, that's going to be so cool!" she exclaimed. "Can Tori and Shi come too?"
Dustin smiled wondering what he was getting himself into. "Yep they can come too if they want."
Marah beamed at him in sheer happiness.
Becka was watching as everyone started to go home. It was late and she had to smile. The picnic was a smashing success. She sighed, watching as her group which, for once, appeared in its entirety had come, and were now disappearing.
She began to pick up the mess with the help of her two friends. Killan and Lauren had come to help her set up and take down the picnic they been her friends for a few years. Both knew what she had gone though.
Killan smiled at Becka. "This picnic was good. I think it was well worth it."
Becka nodded, "I think so too."
Cam walked up to Shi who looked about to panic. "My parents aren't here." She looked at the green wearing young man next to her. Hunter slides up as well both looked at each other. The others had left in Tori's van and Hunter was grateful they come in Cam's car. "Mom is never late."
"We'll get you home." Hunter said smiling warmly at her. "They probably got held up somehow."
Shi nodded, wringing her hands and smiling at both young men. They walked over to Cam's green BMW and climbed in. It was old but it ran very well. Shi sat in the back seat and sighed. Both young men knew how she felt.
Upon arriving at Shi's home they found her parents standing in the driveway talking quietly they looked like they arrived home or were about to leave. Getting out Shi hurried over to her parents. "Mom, Dad what's going on?"
"Oh honey, I forgot about your picnic." Hunter noted that Shi looked nothing like either of her parents. Though the blonde hair made her seem more like her Mother, because the older woman was quite blonde, he still couldn't quite see the resemblance. "Something is happening at your grandparents up-state. We need to go up there. I didn't want you to feel like...," Mom's voice trailed off she gazed at her daughter and the two young men with her. She could see nothing but good coming out of this friendship. She sensed that the three would help each other heal and learn.
"I understand Mom." Shi smiled, because she knew that her mom knew how she felt about having to see her brother. "This is Cam and Hunter. The two guys who have the extra room I am going to stay in."
Her father, a graying going bald man held himself like he was once a soldier. He looked at both young men seeing something that made both feel very odd. He knew that with them his daughter would heal the hurts that she carried. Hurts he couldn't fathom the reason they were there. He then smiled. "Protect my daughter." He looked at them. "I know with you she will be doubly safe." As he said this, it showed that even in his mental imbalance he recognized the safety that Cam and Hunter would and could provide for his daughter.
Shi's mother smiled. "I packed your things already sweetheart. I hope you don't mind, I just had a feeling." Mrs. Tomoe smiled. "You three have my blessing as well as Jack's."
Jack smiled at his wife. "Come on, let's go Kelly." The two adults left the three young people gaping after them.
Shi went inside her parents house with Cam and Hunter following her. She found that her mother had indeed packed her clothing, books, altar, CDs and her boombox.
"Well I guess we could start today." Hunter laughed lightly. "Your Mom did half the work for us."
"She did." Shi touched the boxes and smiled lightly. "It's nice to know she trusts my judgment."
Both Cam and Hunter smiled, still feeling like they had both passed some odd test. They nodded and packed some of Shi's things in Cam's car and headed back to the pair's house to unload and grab the truck.
A/N: I really have to give props to Ragemoon, because without her this chapter wouldn't be going up. Since my writer's block has been so hard to break, Ragemoon kindly offered to finish the end of this chapter, and help me with the chapters to follow. Hopefully my writer's block will end soon, but until then, and until RL gives me a break, my chapters aren't going to be very quick in coming out. I do apologize for that, but it can't be helped. I hope you liked this chapter and don't forget to R&R! Brightest blessings to everyone, Chero.