Chapter-4

The Fated Meetings

For some reason there was an incessant banging against the front door of Mort Rainey's Cabin. He tossed over on the couch willing himself back into the depths of sleep. It didn't work.

Mort gave up his quest to reclaim sleep after the 5th consecutive bang against the door and he grimaced as his eyes were met by bright morning light. He groped for his glasses on the coffee table as he got up, sleep-messed hair shooting up in every direction.

'You keep this up Mort old boy and you'll look like Albert Einstein by your 35th birthday.' His inner voice taunted him and he instinctively ran a hand through his shaggy blonde-brown locks.

When Mort finally opened the door, he realized he desperately wished he'd have stayed on the couch.

"You stole my story" The stranger immediately accused. Mort, who had woken up literally ten seconds before, could do little more then understand the fact he'd been spoken to. Wait a minute! This guy was talking plagiarism!

"Well?" although with his accent it turned out more like 'Wew'. The stranger stared at Mort with his intense blue eyes as though expecting an immediate answer, perhaps even an apology. Unfortunately for this guy, Mort had not yet had his caffeine and therefore was unable to process things so soon after waking.

"I'm sorry, do I-" Mort stopped himself at the mechanical sound of his voice and decided to try and cover it, "I don't believe I know you." He said trying to sound a little more authoritative, but his half opened eyes and swaying stance did little to back his voice up.

"I know that." Shooter started as though it should be that obvious to everyone, "That doesn't matter I know you Mr. Rainey that's what matters. You stole my story." His voice accusing and he never took his calm blue eyes off of Mort's deep brown ones.

"You're mistaken, I don't read manuscripts" Mort had had just about enough of this and was more then ready to be back on the couch sleeping, or maybe even being woken up by Anna to talk about her day. That was something he definitely missed by not being back in Riverdale but,

"You read this one already," Clearly it seemed that shooter was loosing his patience as well, "you stole it."

"I can assure you that I-" Mort had decided to back off a little, not wanting to make him any more upset if only to avoid another lawsuit.

"I know you can, I know that. I don't wanna be assured." Something in this man's eyes was starting to flash very clear and present danger signs to Mort, but Mort had had enough of all of this intimidation and accusations, he hadn't plagiarized anyone's story!

"If you wanna talk to someone about some, grievance, you feel you may have," Mort was done with this man, and he didn't seem the most reasonable type so he decided it was time to end their cozy little chat, " You can call my literary agent-"

"This is between you and me." He was cut off as the stranger's voice lowered to a menacing depth, "We don't need any outsiders Mister Rainey, it is strictly between you and me." By now, Chico, Anna's beloved little sheepdog, had blindly made his way out to the patio and was now sniffing around the new visitor's legs.

"Alright Mr. whoever you are, I don't like being accused of plagiarism, if that is in fact what you're accusing me of." And about then he realized this guy could seriously harm the blinded dog if he wanted to, "Chico, inside." He didn't mean it to be harsh but he wanted Chico away from this guy, and luckily the old boy took the hint and bumped his way back into the house.

"I don't blame you for not liking it but you did it," This guy was so sure of him self that a part of Mort almost let him believe it was right, "You stole my story."

'HOW MANY TIMES IS HE GONNA SAY THAT!?' Mort screamed in his head.

"You're gonna have to leave, I have nothing more to say to you," And with that Mort attempted to close the door on this guy but he just blocked the door with the manuscript.

"Yea I'll go. We'll talk more later," And the guy made a move to hand Mort his manuscript but Mort just stepped back.

"I'm not taking that," he knew better.

"It won't do you any good to play games with me Mr. Rainey. This has got to be settled," Something in his eyes simply read 'murder' and Mort started closing the door

"As far as I'm concerned it is," And with that he closed the door.

Mort locked the door and turned to face Chico who looked up at him with his cataracts covered eyes, he needed to be taken to the vet desperately, before Anna saw him, he was nearly blind now. Mort waited anxiously for this strange man to be gone and mentally flipped when he heard a thump on the patio. He followed the sounds outside until the man appeared outside his kitchen window, then he really did jump out of his skin. He watched him get into and old station wagon and while he backed up, Mort made sure to look at the tag

'Mississippi? That's it, this guy's out of his mind.' Mort concluded as he headed back to the front door. When finally looked out the door he saw the pile of papers that was the manuscript weighted in place with a large rock. Mort, against his better judgment, took the manuscript in his hands, and on the cover was a title and a name:

Sowing Season

John Shooter

And meanwhile, 3 hours away, in Riverdale, Anna and Lauren were sitting, well, sleeping in second period as their teacher droned on at the board.

"So, since 'x' equals the sum of both- " Mr. Young stopped himself as he looked out over the class. He walked straight to his desk and grabbed the teacher's edition of 'Algebra 2: A Comprehensive Study' and then made his way straight toward Anna's desk. She sat with her head propped on her hand, very much asleep. A few people could see his intentions and snickered.

Mr. Young raised the book to his eye level and let it go. It rocketed into the surface of the desk with a resounding 'BANG' that was heard three doors down in the Anatomy class Melanie was sitting in taking a pop quiz.

'What the hell?' She thought to herself as she looked to the back wall.

Anna woke so suddenly and violently, she sent her entire binder flying, pens and all. Lauren, on the other side of the room, was experiencing much the same reaction.

'WHAT THE F-" Lauren stopped as soon as she saw Mr. Young's eyes on her and her adrenaline pumped harder, if that was possible considering the wake up call she and Anna had received. When he started for Lauren's desk, she attempted to discreetly crunch up the paper under her right hand, but unfortunately for her, Mr. Young was not their 71-year old English teacher, and his eyesight was perfectly fine.

"Uh uh, Let me see that Ms. Wonka," He instructed calmly when he reached her desk. As usual, a few people giggled at her last name.

"Now that we've cleared that up, the note if you please?" Mr. Young said again.

'MIERDA!!' Anna screamed in her head. Young didn't usually detect the pieces of crumpled paper that flew between Anna and Lauren's desks, but when he did, it was time to share. Lauren sent her a most desperate glance not only was this note privately discussing the guy that Lauren had been pining over for months, it also thoroughly covered how both Anna and Lauren felt about their dear professor. But before Lauren could stop him, Mr. Young had taken the note from her and was reading it. Both she and Anna watched his face darken.

"The conversations of teenagers really are useless aren't they?" He asked to no one in particular as he returned the paper to Lauren and pointed to Anna, "Both of you to the front, read it to everyone."

As the girls shuffled to the front, a few of the more popular girls laughed and pointed and Lauren found herself looking to the windows wondering just how bad it would hurt to fall two stories. Anna, who was feeling strangely mischievous and looked at the crumpled paper only a second before speaking.

"Messrs. Aleera Marishka and Verona are pleased to present 'The Lying Note'," She started as Lauren whipped her head back around to look at Anna and try to figure out just what she was up to. Anna just went full steam ahead as Mr. young sat down at his desk, also wondering just what Anna was up to.

"Aleera, Verona and Marishka would like to take the time to apologize as 'The Lying Note' is unable to lie properly for the moment and must request that Professor Young keep his abnormally large nose out of other peoples' business." Anna finished her address with an all too authentic English accent and Mr. Young's face turned beet red. All Lauren could do was laugh as most of the class stared in amazement.

"Anna Rainey, you read what's on that paper now! Or it's a trip to the principal for you." And with her newfound confidence, Anna simply crumpled the paper, grabbed her things and headed for the door. Much to the appreciative applause of her classmates and once she was gone, Mr. Young turned on Lauren.

"Well, Ms Wonka, you can tell the class or follow your friend to Mr. Brown's office!" Unfortunately, Lauren was unable to hear him because she was still laughing her head off even as she looked at him.

"Take your seat Ms. Wonka," Mr. Young nearly screeched and he put extra emphasis on her last name to drive his point home. She took her seat still giggling, but when she calmed down, she couldn't believe herself, SHE'D LET ANNA GO TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE BY HERSELF!

Outside in the hall, Anna waited a few moments for Lauren to follow, when she didn't Anna huffed out a breath and headed for the stairs leading to the upstairs bathroom.

'Hell be damned if I'M going to the principal's office over a note,' she said to herself, more scared of what would happen when her dad found out then actually seeing the principal. As she started up the stairs, Anna found that the fading laughter of her classmates was the only noise in the hall besides the air conditioner and so, upon reaching the stairs, the area around her was pretty much silent until a deep southern voice sounded right above her.

"It's not right for a young'n like you to be cursing that way," Anna's head snapped to the top of the staircase from where the voice had sounded and saw a man standing on the top step. His voice was so obstructed by his southern accent that the words came out sounding more like 'S'not righ' fer uh young'n li' you tah bee tawking that waee'. He seemed to be about mid-forties at least, his deeply tanned face was etched with deep lines from a lifetime of working in the sun and Anna was just about to ponder why exactly he was holding that freaky looking Mormon hat when she stopped,

'Wait a minute…why is this guy in a high school?' The thought struck her, followed by a wave of instinctive terror. You heard about guys like this on the 6 o'clock news all the time, usually with a list of his latest victims.

"You know, for the daughter of an author, you don't talk a lot," once again, his accent scrambled his words and he looked down at her with an unchanging calm in his pale blue eyes. That was the one truly creepy thing about him, his eyes. They were filled with a calm sort of danger, and his voice was stern, like he was talking to a dog that needed to be trained.

"How do you know who my dad is?" It was the first thing to jump out of Anna's mouth, and her voice had a tremble to it as she spoke. She didn't know this man, but instinct was telling her to run the other way, and fast. So when he looked down at his hands to shift his hat, Anna backed down the stairs a step, but froze when he brought his intense eyes back level with hers.

"Well, that don't much matter at the moment. I just need to ask you a favor," He hadn't taken a step toward her or moved at all for that matter. He seemed to loom above her, straight-backed with his hands folded, holding that hat. She took another step back as he smiled revealing crooked, tobacco-yellowed teeth.

"Not much of a talker, a lot like your father, but that's alright-"

"Why do you keep bringing up my dad?" Anna's new courage seemed to return a bit when worrying about her dad took over her emotions of the moment.

"Because he's in a bit of a debt to me, you just make sure he knows to pay it alright?" Anna opened her mouth to answer when she heard Lauren at the bottom of the stairs.

"Anna? Who were you talking to?" Anna spun around and watched in terror as Lauren appeared on the steps. If this wacko didn't mind terrorizing one 16-year-old girl, he'd have no problem with two.

"Jesus, you look like you've seen a ghost, you okay?" Lauren took on the concerned sisterly voice she used whenever Melanie or Anna was sick, scared, etc and Anna turned back to the stranger but

He was gone.

Whew! There it is! I wanted to get it out b4 Christmas but that didn't happen! Wow, it's been forever since I've updated I know! I'm SO sorry but so much has been happening around here it's CRAZY! I thought I should definitely get this out b4 I get my teeth pulled too! (two baby teeth gotta go!) And for those of you guys reading my Finding Neverland story, it'll be updated too!

THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO MY WONDERFUL BETA CARE FOR HELPING ME OUT UNTIL 3 IN THE MORNING! And for sending me pictures to help the 'creative process'! LoL!

Okay, Disclaimer!

I own nothing except the characters that weren't in the movie! David Keopp will one day feel my wrath! LoL Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

!..!Review Responses!..!

Dawnie-7: Right On! Amy has a lot coming! I couldn't help but feel the girls would be nasty to Ted like he deserves, the dirty home-wrecker! LoL I hope you enjoy the chapter, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Sona Camdyn: A new reviewer! Welcome Aboard! I'm really glad you like the story, thank you so much! And I can promise Anna's inheriting more then his temper! LoL Guess we'll just have to wait and see, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Moulin-Rouge-Pirate: DUDE! I GOT $200 FOR CHRISTMAS! WE'RE OFF TO FRANCE! Now what about that plan? LoL The scary thing is that dream was one I really had, me and my friend had a Johnny Depp movie-fest and when I finally fell asleep, that was what I dreamed! LoL It was weird. I'm dieing laughing over your review, I love it and I'm glad you're happy with the story! Now you don't have a reason to throw glass objects at ME! LoL ::ducks as a glass flies through the air:: HEY! TED'S THAT WAY! Merry Christmas, Lylms!

Evil Duckie of the BlackLagoon: Lylms Care! All capitals? I'm flattered! LoL Don't worry, Amy and her ugly ass Ted ::shudders:: WILL get whacked! And I'll write that scene with a smile on my face and a Christmas song in my heart! LoL Merry Christmas Lylms!

LiTtLe SpArRoW: WOOO! Pumpkin Pie!

Mort- ::full mouth:: FANK OOO!

Translation, thank you. LoL Well, this took forever to get out and I'm reviewing your story now…it's kinda weird, writing and reviewing at the same time, LoL Wow, I didn't thing about it until you said it but I'm turning 17 in 5 months! Whoa, time really flies! Well, Merry Christmas Lylms!!!!

Miss Rainstorm: Whew, I was worried about that last chapter b/c it didn't seem to flow right but everyone seemed to like it, what a relief! Sorry this chapter took so long to write but it's really been busy around here! I'm glad you caught onto how I'm trying to build Mort up because to me, he is a great guy and every time I watch the movie, this little part of me keeps thinking, 'maybe this time Shooter will be real and Ted sent him' but that's just how well the movie was made, LoL Christmas And Happy Holidays!

Pyrate Rose: WOOO I've gotten someone inspired to write! I read the book and honestly like the movie better, sorry Stephen! LoL When you have your story up, let me know and I'll drop you a review! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!