Disclaimer: I don't own any copyrighted characters.
Story: Perfect Image
Email Me At: Authoress: lilyqueen777
Continued Off: A Dad's Wish
A/n: BTW, I'm a Junior/Kris shipper, but in this story, it seems the boat has sunken…
Summary: Her dad left her mother, and her mother left her. Now it's her turn to leave and save herself.
Character Count: 7,247
A/n:
mowrocks: Yeah. I had her pegged at 18, then I finished writing the last chapter and reread it about 800 times before deciding to play safe and go with 19 because I didn't know when her birthday was, so I really had no clue if she'd be turning 19 in next week's episode or what. College… Hmm… Maybe. Anyways, I'll change it back to 18 as soon as I get the chance. I've been haggling in-between for a bit.
Fortunetellers Melody: Here's that update…
GreenEyedBabe: Enthusiasm is one of things I thrive on.
Malfoy's Fair Maiden: This is the update. I'm afraid it was neither soon nor very long to make up for the time lost. I'm really sorry. Work has been hectic, and I can barely find time to breathe. I'll try to update more often, I really will. For now, I forsee this story being at least 15 chapters, at most 40. I know. Huge difference, but I barely began with it, so in a few more updates, I'll be sure to give you a more definative answer.
Chapter Three
Fairy Dust
"OK… Stop being mean. The coffee machine broke on me, so I don't have any caffeine in my system, and the house is low on sugar. Go easy on me." Matt finished, and Kris gave him a sympathetic look.
"That would explain why you're being so stupid right now." Kris mused, and Matt scowled.
"Coffee deprivation can do that to people." He defended himself.
"I'm sure it can." Kris assured him with a pat on the shoulder and walked into the Ritter household.
"Hi, Kris. How's it going?" Charlie asked, passing her by, and Kris shrugged.
"Pretty good, thanks. You know how Pablo can be." She gave a light laugh.
Charlie nodded before continuing out the door.
"He's always around." Matt informed her as they made their way to the kitchen. "Always. He has a million dollar home, and he barely ever lives in it. Instead, he hangs around here. It's really getting on my nerves. Not to mention he's taken a liking to talking to me about how he's proud of my turnaround."
Kris sat down at the table and waited for Matt to do the same before starting up. "He's really getting on your nerves, isn't he?" She winced, and Matt's scowl only grew deeper.
"Depends on what you mean by 'getting on my nerves'. If you're referring to the way he seems to enjoy acting nice every damn time I do something wrong, then yes. If you mean that it's just me being selfish and this is a common stage for kids who have divorced parents, then no. First of all, I'm 19 and I'm in college. Second… well… there is no second, because I know that that's not what you meant." Matt finished, and Kris just looked at him.
"Yeah. I meant the first one." She confirmed, and Matt scratched his head a little sheepishly.
"That's what I thought."
Kris's eyes wandered around the room and fell on the clock. "Damn, I need to go. Sorry Matt. I'll see you later, alright?" She asked frantically gathering all her stuff together. Checking to make sure she had her cell phone and riding schedule, she bolted out the door.
"Bye to you too." Matt grumbled to an empty room, and stood up.
-
Kris scanned the area for Pablo's familiar face.
"Pablo?" She quickly caught up with him. "I need a favor."
"What kind of favor?" He questioned, his arms folded across his chest like they always were when he was waiting for her to say something to make him respond with a no.
"I was going to visit a friend at LeGrange, and I thought maybe you could drive me…?" She trailed off and sighed. "Forget it."
Pablo gave a small smile. "I'll drive you." He said, and Kris's eyes widened as she looked up.
"You're serious?" She questioned, the disbelief in her voice obvious.
"Why wouldn't I be?" He shot back, and Kris jumped up and gave him a hug.
"Thanks! Thank you!" She said, beaming. She couldn't wait to see Gabby.
-
The next day rounded the corner soon enough, and Kris found she couldn't bring herself to sleep.
I'm going to see Gabby. I'm going to see Gabby. The verse played in her mind repeatedly, and she lay wide awake in the bed, her eyes wide.
When the sun rose, she couldn't get out of bed any quicker. Saturdays always were her favorite. Sundays she had to work thru Friday, with the exception of Wednesdays. Wednesdays were also good, unless, of course, Jean needed her to do something or fill in for somebody. As much as Kris resented admitting to it, Wednesdays weren't an official day off for her. They just happened to be slow days.
"Pablo!" She called, knocking furiously on the trainer's door. She was practically dancing on her toes. "PABLO!" She called, this time louder than the last. "You there?"
A lazy drawl she knew all too well spoke up from behind her.
"If you'd stop banging my door down, I'd be able to tell you to get into the car. Now; get into the car." Pablo ordered her, and Kris flushed as she slowly spun around on her heels.
"Sorry." She muttered, down three shades of red.
"No use apologizing. Let's go." Pablo said, and Kris willingly obliged, still a bit embarrassed.
Jogging to catch up with his long strides, she looked at him through the side of her eyes.
"Why do you always wear the same coat?" She asked, her face scrunched up in question.
"It's comfortable." He replied shortly, and Kris cast her gaze downwards once more.
"Oh."
She climbed into the truck and waited patiently as Pablo started the engine.
"So who you visiting?" Pablo spoke up, shattering the silence as he reversed the car into drive.
"Uhhh…" Kris began stupidly. She winced upon hearing her own voice. She sounded like an idiot. "Ummm…"
Pablo cast a curious glance her way.
"Gabby." Kris put down finally. "You know, Gabriela Fisher?" She mumbled the last part, and Pablo's eyebrows shot up.
"The murderer?" He asked, his voice impassive.
Kris glowered at him, and he sat back.
"You still worked up over that?" He inquired quietly, and Kris turned her head in shame.
"No. Sorry. I really do trust you, Pablo." She whispered, regret taking its place in her voice. "Hell, you're like a dad to me."
Pablo's grip tightened on the steering wheel, and he mentally cursed as he narrowly avoided swerving off the road.
"Sorry." He replied at Kris's unnerved look. "Thought I saw a crow." He said, tactfully avoiding her last comment.
Kris looked satisfied with this answer, and visibly relaxed.
"Yeah. Anyways, I mean what I say." She told him. Pablo was the closest to a father figure that she'd ever had.
"So, what're you going to talk to Fisher about?" Pablo inquired noncommittally.
"Oh, you know. Just say hi." Kris replied, staring down at her hands as she wrung them.
"Hi." Pablo repeated, clearly not believing her.
"Yeah… you know… hi." Kris responded, her eyes darting around the truck nervously.
"Sure." Pablo agreed, and Kris winced.
"Yep." She seconded.
Pablo rolled his eyes.
"Cut the shit, Kris. Now why the hell're you visiting a girl like Fisher? She's guilty of her crime, and she never expressed any regret or loss. That girl murdered her father, Kris." Pablo snapped, and Kris's eyes flashed.
"It was never proven!" She shot back, and Pablo fought back another roll of his eyes.
"Of course it wasn't. Just because her finger prints were on the gun, she admitted it to 3 friends, one of them being yourself, and did it in front of a crowd… Now, that doesn't mean that she did it. After all, she could've been possessed or someshit." He retorted, and Kris bit her lip.
"She had a reason to." Kris argued feebly, and Pablo nodded disbelievingly.
"You'd like to share with us today what her reasons were, Kristy?" He asked, his voice clearly fake and tone mocking.
Kris set her focus on the road and stayed silent for a moment before starting up once more.
"Only she can tell you." She said softly.
Pablo didn't answer.
-
Pulling into LeGrange, Pablo studied Kris's face carefully for any signs of discomfort. It had to be strange coming back after so long, this time having no excuse of professions to support her.
She just stared stoically at where a group of girls were jogging on the track, in LeGrange sweatpants.
She still had hers.
Kris opened the door and walked out, hugging her arms around herself, as if trying to protect and ward off the unseen.
Unseen dangers.
Unseen remembrances.
Unseen revelations.
Undiscovered.
Her breathing steadied, and Pablo followed her out to the main building. Luckily, it was a visiting day, so they wouldn't have to worry about getting kicked out.
Not to mention that basically everybody from LeGrange—occupants as well as staff—knew her name, face, and profile after the little stunt she had pulled her last visit.
They signed their names and Kris flashed her ID as Pablo gave his driver's license and picture ID. He still worked at the stables LeGrange rented from time-to-time.
"So, who did you say you were going to visit?" The lady at the desk questioned, looking as if she had seen better days.
"Gabriela Michaels-Fisher."
Dedicated To: Lilyqueen777
-Thanks for letting me continue this!-