Authors notes: Well, Here we are once again. The next exciting chapter in When Lightning Strikes. Thanks so much for all the great feedback. Well, I am now taking care of my seven month old goddaughter, Evelyn, Monday through Friday from nine to about six, which doesn't leave much time to write, I can tell you. But, since I have gone from to much to not enough time I have lost my writers block (Yay!!) and since I can usually write a chapter in one or two sittings, I think I'll be able to update once a week. Probably on Saturdays, as Fridays and Sundays are still a little hectic for me. With that said, I hope you enjoy the lastest installment, Chapter Ten:

More Close Calls

My room was set up like this: On the right side of the hallway, as soon as you opened the door, my dresser was on your left. Next to that was my closet and across the way was my bed, laid flat against my window. To the left of the door was my bookcase with all my books and on the left, my desk where I did my homework. Next to my bookcase I had a small TV/VCR on a stand and next to my desk, a small table I call my Junk table, where I throw everything until I have a need for it. It also held my phone with an extension to the house line and a radio/tape player.

Matt scanned the room as I sat on the edge of my bed, letting him snoop. He was looking at my collection of books while I looked at him, a small smile on my face. The first time I have a boy, whose not family, in my room and he goes right for my books. Is that a good sign, or a bad one?

"You've got Arthur Conan Doyle's whole collection." Matt said, sounding impressed.

"Only all of his Holmes novels." I replied standing up to join him. Most of my books were mystery novels, some Steven King, my two favorites of his being 'The Green Mile' and 'Hearts in Atlantis.' I also had all five X-files novels, and other paranormal books like ghost stories and true tales of hunted houses.

"You know, if you want to really get to know someone, you should just look at her-their reading material." Matt remarked turning to me.

"Is that right?" I had heard this before, but I didn't want to ruin his fun. "So what do you think of me now?" I asked earning a smile from him

"Ames, there's not enough time in the day to answer that one." He replied softly, hand coming up to cup my cheek.

"Good answer." I blushed feverishly, ducking my head with a pleased smile.

"I will say this though." He added, pulling my chin up to meet his gaze. "You're awfully cute when you blush." Then he leaned down and kissed me.

"Amy? Are you home?" My mother called out, which I can tell you, totally killed the mood.

"Shit, busted." Matt said, trying to sound calm, but I could tell he was freaking.

"Don't worry. It's cool." I leaned up to give him a quick kiss before moving around him. "I'm home, I'll be right there." I called back to my mother, hoping she wouldn't come to my room. "Be right back." I whispered to Matt who was still frozen by the bookcase.

"Hey mom, what are you doing home so early?" I asked, finding her in the living room.

"Amy, what is that?" she asked pointing to something that was hanging on one of the chairs. I walked up to it, picking it up before realizing that it was Matt's leather jacket that he took off before we watched the movie.

"Just a jacket, mom." I replied, tucking it under my arm; but she wasn't buying it.

"I can see that, where did it come from?" she asked, arms crossing.

"Oh, Uncle Ange let me use it when I walked home last night. You know, incase I got cold." I said thinking fast; and apparently fast enough, because she nodded her acceptance and made her way to the kitchen.

"Well, I only stopped in for lunch, then I have to go right back out. You can manage dinner for Alex and yourself, can't you honey? I might go out afterwards for some drinks with the girls." she asked. Since this was normal Friday night routine, I gave a mummer of agreement.

She opened the refrigerator to get the sandwich meat out, then paused. "Looks like we need to go shopping again." She commented. "Well, maybe you can just order a pizza for tonight. We'll get some groceries tomorrow." She said to me, fishing some money out of her wallet.

"Sounds good to me. Well, I'm going to finish up my homework." I replied, taking the money and making my way back towards my room.

"Oh and Amy?" she called out.

"Yeah?" I sighed, turning to see her pick up the two soda cans we left on the table, my heart stopping.

"Please don't leave a mess in here. Just through your can away when your done drinking the first before going to get another." She scolded me.

"Oh yeah. Yeah, sure mom, I'm sorry." I walked back to take the cans from her and threw them in the trash before making my way back to my room.

"Oh, my god." I said as soon as the door was closed behind me. I leaned against the it and tossed Matt, who stood up from his new seat on my bed, his jacket.

"That was good. You handle the whole 'I'm hiding a boy in my room' thing very well." Matt kept his voice low and I could see he had since calmed down.

"Yeah, well, you know. Lots of practice." I shrugged nonchalantly, walking up to him before cracking a smile.

"Lair." He said reaching out for me as soon as I was in his reach.

"I never." Was my reply as I came willingly into his embrace. Matt sighed as he leaned his chin on the top of my head, his arms wrapped around me.

"You sure do know how to keep a guy on his toes, Ames." He said, and I felt him kiss my head.

"Just how I like em. So, feel like pizza tonight?" I asked, leaning back to look him in the face and saw that he wore a mischievous smile.

"I have a better idea." He replied to my raised eyebrow. "How about we let Alex and Jeff get pizza, and you and I go out somewhere." He suggested.

"Leave those little terrors alone and unsupervised in my house?" I asked dubiously. I was totally teasing him, of course; this sounded like a great idea to me. I couldn't let him know that, though. Not right away, anyway.

"They're thirteen." Matt argued, though I could tell he wasn't buying my sudden reluctance to be alone with him.

"I rest my case." I grinned up at him just as there was a knock on my door.

"Amy honey?" My mom called through the door. Matt's face reflected the panic I felt at hearing my moms knock. Before I fully thought it out, I grabbed Matt's arm and pulled him, willingly, to my closet. He backed into it hunched over, though not enough to not bang his head on a shelf. I covered his mouth before he could make a sound with one hand, bringing the other up to caress the new bruise.

"Shhh." I whispered to him while he nodded, hand coming up to claim the spot where mine had just been behind his head. Backing up, I half closed one of the doors so that Matt would be blocked from view if my mother wanted to walk in my room.

"Amy?" My mom repeated, trying the door. I reached for it at the same time, pulling it open.

"Hey. Sorry, was just getting off the phone." I said, incase she had heard Matt and I talking.

"I just wanted to tell you I was leaving." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously and my heart thudded against my chest. "I thought you were going to do your homework." She said looking past me to my empty desk.

"I am, mom. Geez I have all weekend." I rolled my eyes at her. Leave, leave, leave.

"Better to get it out of the way now then to keep putting it off." She lectured.

"Yes, mom. Is that all?" Because Matt Hardy is in my closet and I have a feeling he's getting a little uncomfortable. I would have smiled, you know, if it weren't for the fact I was sure he'd make some sort of noise to tip my mom off and then, of course, I would be dead. What's there to smile about when you about to die?

"Are you okay honey? You look a little pale." She said, reaching out to feel my head.

"Oh yeah. Fine." Except I think I'm going to have a nervous breakdown.

"Hmm. Well, don't let Alex go to bed too late, even if it is a weekend; and No Visitors, that goes for both of you, except of course, for Trish." She recited just like every other week.

"Don't burn the house down, no parties, no boys-- for either of us. I think I got it." I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. If my mother only knew. . .

"Very funny. Call you father if there's an emergency and I can't be reached. Heaven knows if he'll be able to do anything, of course. The day I see him be of any use. . ."

"You'll be late mom." I cut her off. I knew where this was going, and it could go on for awhile.

"Yes well. Have fun, Amy dear." She kissed my cheek and started to leave. Finally.

"But not too much." I added, feeling more relieved the more space she put between her and the closet. She just gave me a look and a minute later I heard the front door close. But it wasn't until I heard the car start and take off did I move from my frozen spot in front of my door.

Authors end notes: Well there you have it. Curlymonic1215, Do great minds think alike or what? I had already had this chapter started when you wrote your review and was debating between two scenarios, but after reading what you wrote I chose this one. Hope you liked it because I know I did. So, until next week....