Hey guys! I'm soo sorry I haven't updated in such a long time! I've had a really busy summer...from college prep/SAT programs to bike riding in France to a week long youth mission trip to moving i'm whooped! But not tired enough that I don't have the energy to update my story for my favorite reviewers:D
Comments to my lovely Reviewers:
EasyTiger: Hey! Thanks for the review, Emma! Yeah, I don't think that Rob and Jess would ever do anything in the bed...as much as they both want to lol. Rob's just too gentlemanly for that. I'm sorry that you've had to wait so long for the 14th chapter...but here tis! Thank you for the chocolate and cookies...can never get enough of those!
Uh.Yeah: CLAIRE! Oh man have I missed you! It's been MONTHS since I've talked to you! I think I need to start emailing you reguarly(did i just kill that word?) because I just can't go this long lol. I haven't been on MCBC in such a long time... I'm afraid no one's going to know who I am anymore.I know it's been like 2 months but I am very glad that you're done with all your exams! lol That was really delayed. So, I've just moved into my sister's house. It's kind of wierd because I'd so rather be back at my house with my parents and stuff. But...what can I do? I'm doing ok I think. Thank you for your review :) I saw you updated your story so I'll be going there to review soon i PROMISE. Hope to talk to you sooon! 33
Lauren: LAUREN! Dude, I've missed you so much toooo! It's a good thing that we both have msn messenger because otherwise I don't think i would ever talk to you! Have you been on MCBC lately? I haven't lol. Aw thank you so much for the review! I really miss you and need to talk to you sooon! Love ya lots 33
Anywien: Thanks for the review! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Talk to you soon maybe!
Living2Love: Aw thanks for the review! I'm very glad you thought the review was worth a room cleaning! I'm sorry that it has been so long since my last update but i've been quite busy. I'll try to make the next update quicker for you:D Thanks again!
Not Just A Princess At Heart: Well i'm very glad that you are not confused anymore. :D Thanks for the review!
xXxLOLAxXx: No, my story is not finished. There's a little more to go.I think im gonna do two chapters in the same update so after this one it may be the last chapter.I can't remember. Yeah I'm from the states and I say "eh" all the time. I thought it was a Canadian thing because I know someone from Canada and she says it all the time. But where is this valley and bush people from? lol From the states? Thanks for the review!
Angel Gemman: Maybe you'll find out the answer in this chapter...maybe you won't! You'll just have to keep reading to find out! Thanks for the review!
VIP86: Aw thank you! Yes, this has appeared on MCBC a long while ago. Like..when I first came to MCBC which was almost a year ago lol. I hope this you still think this story is good even through my sporadic updates! Thanks again!
afallenblackrose: You're just going to have to read and find out! Yes, I don't think anyone could complain about Rob being so hott. Really. lol Thanks for the review!
Talan: Well, I'm afraid that this may spoil the books and Meg Cabot is like WAY WAY WAY better than me so I think you should go to the store and get them right away. And then after you're done come back and read this fanfic cover to cover so to say ;) Thanks for the review though! It's really sweet. :D
And Thanks to all those others who reviewed! You guys rock!
Mrs. Nikki Slater, madmaddy, iluvmybeagle, sparklinqt87, skyfire2459, cassie89, RandomMarvelFan
ON WITH THE SHOW! HERE IS CHAPTER 14!
CHAPTER 14: Unexpected Visitors
The first visitor came that afternoon.
Rob was sitting in the armchair in our little room reading a magazine, while I was at the desk doing a crossword puzzle. That shock you? I bet it did. It's not like me to start doing something like that—especially when I don't have to—but I had already read all of the magazines (there weren't very many; I think there were six different titles) at least twice, so I had nothing else to do.
It turns out that crossword puzzles get harder by the day—that means the easiest (the one I should have been working on) is on Monday, and the hardest is on Sunday. Well, I was doing Saturday's. And damn it was hard! I'm not even sure why I was trying to stimulate my brain that afternoon; I could have just as easily sat on the bed and stared off into space. But, no, I went for the stimulation.
I had realized that Rob and I had never really sat together and just, talked. We were either making out, watching TV, finding missing kids, or running away from psycho people trying to kill me. It was kind of weird just sitting there, 5 feet away from each other, and not saying anything. Oh, well, our time will come.
When the knock at our door came, Rob and I just looked at each other. Sure, we've only been here for less than 24 hours, but we've never anticipated any guests. Well, maybe I did, but Rob certainly didn't.
We didn't move. We just sat there, staring at each other, hardly daring to breathe, silently fearing what kind of enemy could be on the other side of that hollow cedar door.
"Wilkins? Open up, it's me, Billy. You've got a visitor here."
Visitor? I thought Rob would have warned Billy about "visitors" that may find out our hiding spot. I hadn't taken Billy to be an educated man, but, come on; he couldn't be that dense, could he?
The blood in my veins turned chill and I stiffened. Rob stood up slowly—and somewhat shakily—gave me a quick kiss and took a hold of my cheek with his hand. He gave me a smile, which I can only assume was one that was supposed to tell me that everything was going to be okay—but I can read those smiles, and this one had "I'm scared, too" written all over it.
Despite his attempt to make me feel less scared he whispered, "Sit behind the bed—out of sight of the door. I don't think it's anything to worry about—but, better to be safe than sorry, right?"
I heard—and felt—his hidden words there. He was as scared as I was. We weren't just scared of those people finding us, but we were scared of not knowing. Not knowing what to expect; not knowing when they would come—if they would ever come; not knowing why they are turning my—and Rob's—world upside down and then throwing it against a brick wall.
I took his advice—well, I really had no choice, since it seemed that if I didn't move, then he wasn't going to open the door, and I could hear Billy's foot tap impatiently on the linoleum floor outside—and crouched on the floor between the bed and the window.
Rob walked over to the door and opened it—just a crack. He asked, "Who is it, Billy?"
I heard Rob sigh and then they started talking in hushed whispers. Damn, I couldn't hear! I think I had a right to know what they were talking about, since they kept saying my name. Well, I couldn't hear much, but that much I got.
Just as I was about to creep closer to the door for a better look, the door burst open. I ducked so no one could see me.
"Jessica! Come out now! Where is she?" Special Agent Johnson? Could that be him? What the heck was he doing here!
"She was looking for her shoe," Rob said, as he came over to where I was, and helped me up.
When I stood up, I noticed that Special Agent Smith and Dr. Krantz was there too.
I felt my eyes go wide at the sight. "Jill? Allan? What are you guys doing here? I haven't seen you in ages!" I said, in a very excited tone.
To my utter surprise, Allan smiled. It was a nice smile, too. I had never seen him smile. I wonder if Jill saw this. If she did, then maybe they could get together. Mrs. Johnson shouldn't be a problem for two FBI agents right?
Cyrus Krantz turned to Billy—who was standing by the door—said, "Mr. Evans, is there somewhere that we—"he gestured to Special Agents Johnson and Smith, a.k.a. Allan and Jill—"could have a word with Miss Mastriani and Mr. Wilkins?"
Billy nodded. "Follow me."
We did as he said, and he led us to the same room Rob and I ate lunch in a couple of hours ago.
Dr. Krantz sat at the head of one of the tables, Allan to his right, Jill to his left. I sat next to Jill, and Rob next to me. I think Rob was afraid that Allan was going to pull a
gun on him again.
"Alright, let's get down to business, shall we?" Krantz said, taking charge.
When we all nodded in consent, he said, "Mr. Wilkins brought Jessica here because he saw what he thought to be the car of the people who kidnapped Sean, Mr. and Mrs. Mastriani, and Douglas. In my opinion, it was bad judgment to bring her out here, instead of an FBI facility."
Rob interrupted him by saying, "Why do we keep having to remind you of what happened last time she went to a FBI facility?"
"You don't have to remind us. We remember very clearly what had happened. But—" Dr. Krantz was cut off once again by Rob, "But, I think that Jess would have preferred to come here, than go to wherever you would take her!"
"He's right you know." I quickly backed Rob up.
"You would rather stay here, where there are no guards to protect you, then go somewhere where you can get 24/7 protection?"
"Yes! I don't like to feel like I'm in prison or whatever."
"Well, I guess I can allow you to stay here. But! The three of us will be on your guard. We will have to get some other agents to find this car before it becomes an immediate danger."
That was such a relief. I really, really, didn't want to go to some safe house. Oh no. I didn't know that Krantz could be so lenient. It was a nice side of him.
With the meeting adjourned, Jill showed us the bags that they had brought. There were two of them and they had clothes for Rob and I. Thank God, because I had been in the same clothes for two days, and I'm sure I smelled pretty nasty.
The next morning I had taken a shower and was wearing clean clothes: a black T-shirt with a star on it and, of course, jeans. I was a fairly happy girl.
But that quickly changed when Rob and I found out that there was NOTHING to do. Nothing at all to do. Billy finally found an old chess set that he had, but Rob and I both had never played. He actually had to get Dr. Krantz to teach us how to play. Well, that got old pretty fast, so Rob took me outside to the garage. No, not to make out.
Well, okay, maybe to make out. But, not at first. At first, he showed me how the inside of a car works. I have to say, it's pretty fascinating. Sure, I still can't name all that he showed me—due to my lack of listening because of Rob's arm muscles—but it was still interesting all that I could remember. Like where you put in the windshield washer fluid.
"Mastriani?" Rob asked, in between kisses. I was sitting on his lap in a chair that was next to this rusty blue pickup. "Yeah?"
"Wait, stop a minute," he said, when I leaned in for another kiss. "What?" I impatiently asked.
"I just wanted to let you know that…I love you. And if anything happens from this point on, I want you to know that I love you, and I always will."
I was so taken aback by this that my breath caught. He had finally confessed his undying love for me! What could I say to that? When I finally found my voice I said,
"Rob—I love you too. Forever."
Our simple yet powerful vows were to be tested when a car showed up. The brown sedan.
(A/N: Okay, I could stop here but how MEAN would that be! Sure, those who read this first on MCBC had to live with that awful cliffhanger, but i haven't reviewed in a long time so i think i'll give you a present! Here is the chapter 15 too!)
CHAPTER 15: Not Again
Rob saw the car first. And let me tell you—he took action. We leapt out of the chair and dashed behind that pickup truck. We just sat there—paralyzed with fear. Where
we were sitting, we didn't have a view of the garage door, so we couldn't know if anyone was coming towards us.
I had never really hoped for Krantz to show up. I could usually handle things on my own—but now, I really needed him. I know these people mean business.
Suddenly, one guy came out from behind me and stood at my shoulder. He was young and tall with blond hair. Not cute by any of my standards. I noticed there was another guy standing next to Rob. This one was short—about my height—and had brown hair.
The blond said to me, "Are you Jess Mastriani?" I honestly had no idea what to say. But, I swallowed my fear and said, as confidently as I could, "No, sir."
I actually thought he believed me. But I thought wrong.
He smiled this sickly grin and kicked me hard in the ribs. What is with them and kicking in the ribs? I really don't know.
I winced and held my side. Next to me, I heard Rob get to his feet. "What do you think you're doing to my girlfriend, here? We just came here to make out! Where's the crime in that!" I wasn't sure, but I think Rob was putting on an act there. Pretending we are just innocent bystanders. But, I don't think it was working. They probably had our pictures. Ugh, I hope it wasn't my school picture—that one is terrible!
"You can't fool us, Rob. We know who you are, and you're not getting away this time." With that, the blond guy grabbed me, pinned me against the nearest wall, with one arm behind my back. At the same time, the Shortie grabbed Rob, but just by the arms.
Did they think I was more of a threat to them than Rob? What a bunch of headcases. If so, they were in for a huge surprise.
The blond one had his body pressed up against mine, making it hard to breathe. He whispered roughly in my ear, "You are going to walk out of here without a sound or struggle, or I will kill you. Slowly and to the extent of your suffering. You understand?"
I wonder if he rehearsed that line. It sounded like it, and I didn't think that this guy would actually say things like 'to the extent of your suffering' on his own time. He seemed more like the guy who would say 'you're gonna die a painful death' and laugh or something.
All the while, Rob was screaming his head off. He was saying mostly, "Get your hands off of her!" and things like that, but with very colorful language.
At the moment I was about to grunt something as an answer to the guy's question, when I heard Shortie moan and say some curse words. Then I heard a cracking noise and the guy who was holding me against the wall, was on the ground, and Rob's hand was in mine. He was propelling me towards the entrance. "Jess, run." I just looked at him.
"What about you; aren't you coming?" He looked at me in my eyes and told me, "No, I have to finish them off. Now, go!"
To make things worse, just as Rob gave me a little push to get me going, Shortie and his friend tackled us. Seriously. They ran, and jumped on us.
As they were about to beat the crap out of us, I'm sure, Jill showed up. She reached for her gun but the blond jumped up and pushed Jill to the ground. At that, I got really pissed.
I turned on my back and blindly kicked Shortie as hard as I could. I ended up kicking him in the shoulder. I was going for the face or his groin. But, it did have the desired effect. The blond started running and Shortie followed suit.
I got to my feet and started to run after them, but Rob grabbed me. "What did you do that for? We have to go after them!" Rob just shook his head. "No, Jess. Look, the FBIare going after them. You're staying here." And he was right: Jill, Allan, Dr. Krantz, and some other guys—whom I can only assume were FBI agents-- were running after those two guys.
I just stood there, watching them run into the forest, hoping that they wouldn't ever come back.
Rob wrapped his arm around my waist and we went inside. He took two chairs and faced them towards each other and we each took a seat. Taking hold of my arm he asked, "Are you okay? How's your arm? Your ribs?" I pulled my arm out of his hand and grunted, "I'm fine," and crossed my arms over my chest.
That really wasn't the truth—my ribs were throbbing painfully and I was kind of wheezing, but I had better things to think about. I was seething inside. I could not believe that I let them get away! Or Rob! He wouldn't let me go after them! The nerve…
"Mastriani," Rob sighed. "Stop. I know you're angry at me because I didn't let you go after them. But that's the FBI's job! Not yours! Your job is to be a normal kid—and have dreams about missing kids—that's all. The rest is up to the feds, okay?"
What about making out with my hot boyfriend? Can that be in the job description?
"But Rob!" I persisted, "How can we even trust the feds! They weren't there when we were in the garage! How can we count on them to catch those guys? We could do a better job."
"No, Jess. We can't. How do you know that those guys didn't have guns on them? You were just going to go out there and do what? Tackle them to the ground and hold them there until they say 'uncle'?"
Where does he get the chutzpah to say that to me? I felt the need to remind him of what he was doing before in the garage. "Me? How about you? You were all ready to go back into that garage and beat the crap out of them! What were you going to do if they had guns?"
I just noticed that there were quite a few people standing near us, eavesdropping. I really didn't want to end this argument there; I was actually having a lot of fun.
Weird? Yeah, probably, but what isn't weird about me? I took his hand and stomped up the stairs that led to the room where we were staying.
I could tell Rob was plenty upset with me. But also that he didn't want to fight anymore. "Listen, Mastriani. I shouldn't have blown up at you like that. Back at the garage, I wasn't thinking about if they were armed or not, I just had my mind on one thing."
One thing? What thing? What is he talking about?
"What thing?" I asked. Rob seemed to tense up at that question.
He took a deep breath and said, "You."
Whoa. Rob Wilkins—the man I love—didn't care if two people had guns or knives or whatever, he just cared about protecting me. You'd think I'd be used to this now, what with him doing that on a seemingly daily basis, but I'm not. He's the first guy—other than maybe Doug…and maybe Todd—who actually wanted to protect me. Me, Jessica Mastriani; Lightning Girl; the girl who fights guys who are twice as big as her without a second thought. That's a lot to take in.
I must have been staring off into space since Rob was shaking me and saying, "Jess? Jess?"
"Huh? Oh, um. What were you saying?" Oh, great choice of words there, Jess.
Rob just smiled and said, "I love you," and leaned forward and kissed me.
So, there is Chapter 14 AND 15! I hope this will hold you guys off for a little while!
Enjoy!
And review please!
3 Catie