Disclaimer: I don't own anything, it's all Janet's characters. Lol.

Chapter 2

I woke up the next day to the sound of my alarm. I muttered a curse and pushed it off my bedside table but the blasting beeping just turned into a shrill whine. I pulled out my gun from beneath my pillow and shot it to shit. I would probably be getting a police officer knocking on my door but to hell with them. I didn't like being woken up especially by loud beeping.

I trudged into the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine whilst putting on some toast.

I turned on my radio and listened to some music whilst I got out some hamster nuggets for my darling Rex. I put some down and he scampered towards them, taking a sniff and grabbing one in his little chubby cheeks then he scuttled back into his soup can.

I went and changed into some sweat pants and a Rangers Jersey, with my SWAT cap on my head to cover my untidy, bed hair. I heard my toast pop up and the coffee ding.

I poured a cup and grabbed my toast putting some peanut butter on it. Yum!

After I'd had my yummy breakfast and found my long lost mp3 player and headphones, I headed out of the apartment and started my usual run. It was a 2 hour run and I wasn't exactly jogging it was more of a medium speed sprint. So after I'd trailed up the stairs to my apartment feeling my lungs threatening to implode I took a long, long, long shower and when I was fairly sure every ounce of sweat was gone along with the smell I had acquired, i got changed into some casual clothes and my trainers and drove down to nearest mall to find my perfect work outfit.

I found a cute black suit that fitted me perfectly. It had a satin shirt and a black jacket with satin trim and satin belt, I looked gorgeous in it and I got away without wearing pantyhose! It cost a bit though, but it was worth it, I think…

I found some great black boots to go with it too so I was sorted tomorrow. I was going to look amazingly hot.

I drove back to the apartment and checked my messages. The monthly one I got off my mother… and something else. It was my sister, Valerie. Valerie had recently given birth, gotten married in Disney land to a guy who looks like a Pillsbury dough boy and bought my apartment off me, when I'd moved, so she could stay in Trenton. I listened closely to the message.

'Hey, it's Val, I know I haven't called you at all since the whole, 'I'm moving thing' and I'm sorry. How are you? I guess your not there, phone me back! I'd really like to talk to you. Lots of gossip. God I sound like Mary Lou. Bye.' I laughed slightly and picked up the phone and dialed her number.

'Hello?' I heard shouting in the background and I frowned.

'Hello?' I said smiling.

'Steph! Is that you?'

'Yes, how are you Val?' I said walking into the kitchen and getting some bread out of the fridge making myself a small peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

'I'm great. Omigod! You sound so different, really foreign. How are you? I'm sorry I haven't phoned before.' She said and she did sound sorry.

'I'm fine, what's the whole sudden deal with your sudden need to phone me?' I said biting into my sandwich.

'Steph…it's err…Mary Lou, I've only just heard, Lenny and her are on a break.'

I choked on my sandwich, 'Are you serious! Lenny? Lenny was always so nice and loving and Mare loves him to bits. What about the kids?' I said suddenly my brain went on overload.

'Steph, cool it. It's okay, I think. Mare is well…she hasn't spoken to anyone, she's moved into a small flat not far away from mine. Lenny's looking after the kids for a while until Mare can calm down and take it all in.' she said slowly. I felt a rush of sympathy towards Mary Lou, who's been my best friend since forever. I'd lost contact since I'd moved. I had with most of Trenton except my mother and now my sister.

'Poor Mare. She must be devasted.'

'Like I said, she hasn't gone out of the house or spoken to anyone since she left the house, Lenny and the kids. Steph…you have to talk to. Lula, Connie and me have tried but your closer to her. You're the one she'd open up to. You have to help her Steph, this happened weeks ago.'

I sighed. I couldn't just leave my best friend to rot in self pity and hysteria.

'Okay, I'll be there soon as I can, I've got my first day at a job tomorrow so I can't come tomorrow but I promise it will be soon.'

'Thank you Steph, I dunno what we'd have done if you hadn't come. I have to go, call me tomorrow about your job thing, I wanna know exactly what happened. See ya Steph.'

'Bye Val'

And I disconnected feeling a huge load of emotion pile onto me. The journey to New Jersey was around 5-6 hours. It was 3 o clock now. How was I going to do this?

You know what? Screw the job, my friend needed me.

I picked up the phone and dialed the number in the yellow pages,

'Hello'

I recognized the voice of the receptionist at Security Central.

'Hey, this is Miss Plum. I was wondering if I could change the date of my appointment with Mr Aundre, I'm going to be away all this week due to a family emergency. Is it possible to re-arrange it?'

I heard some tapping, 'Yeah, sure, that would be fine, what date are you available?'

'How about the next Monday.'

'Sure, that's fine. See you then.'

'Thank you, goodbye.' I said and grinned. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Then I re-dialed Val's number, 'Hello?'

'Val! I'm getting on a plane now, I'll be at your apartment in about 7 hours. Okay?'

'OMIGOD! Yes that's fine! I just can't believe I'm finally getting to see my sister after two years!'

I smiled, 'Is it okay if I stay with you for a week?'

'Of course it is.'

'See ya then Val, don't tell too many people'

'Sure whatever'

'Bye'

And I disconnected.

Right now for some plane tickets…