A/N: Ha, ha! I loved kiiiren's review that simply read #fucktrey. We'll probably need to hang on to that sentiment for one more chapter after this one. Then, no more Trey…
Just to clarify, in the South, men often name their sons after themselves. I think this is common outside the South, too, but down here (even though I'm not currently there—DC is not the South, y'all, no matter what you are told) we come up with nicknames for these kids to distinguish them from their forebears. So it's not uncommon to meet people called Junior. Guys who are named Trey or Trip are almost always Something Or Other the III. I even knew one guy called Cinco. Yep, he was Something Or Other the V. So, we go from there. No, I don't know if the real Trey was a III or not, but I'm using artistic license to tie in Twilight.
Chapter 9
January 8-20, 2008
The rest of the week went on like that. Trey terrorized the clinic and OR staff, all the while belittling his attending, Dr. Cullen, and me. And no one said a word to try and stop him. He seemed to take great pleasure in making me feel useless and took every opportunity to make little digs about me being a weak, little girl. I was learning a lot from Dr. Cullen, but growing more and more disappointed in his lack of assertiveness in dealing with Trey. I couldn't understand why he didn't drop the hammer.
Trey and I took call together on Wednesday night, covering Ben Taub General Hospital for emergency consultations. There was a list of general emergency orthopedic skills I was supposed to learn on this rotation regardless of the subspecialty I shadowed during the day. As Trey had pointed out on the first day, he was in charge of checking me off on these, and if I didn't get them all, I would fail the rotation. And have no hope of ever matching in Orthopedic Surgery, especially at Baylor.
Thankfully, we were truly busy on Wednesday night. Trey actually needed my help to juggle all the consults from the ER, and he even had to call in the attending to take a patient with a tibia shattered by gunshot to the OR for emergency stabilization. We didn't sleep at all, so the call room was not an issue, although Trey had already warned me that he had no intentions of allowing me to share the room with him. I wasn't sure what he expected me to do during down time, if I weren't going to be catching some ZZZ's in one of the four bunk beds in the room dedicated to Orthopedics. I guess I'd just sit in the cafeteria.
Edward was distracted all week with baseball practice. He arrived at my apartment late in the evening each night, and we didn't talk much to be perfectly honest. His physical touch soothed me in a way that I was coming to crave and require. His age and future plans continued to weigh upon me, but I forcibly ignored what was coming. I just wanted him, and I felt satisfied that my demonstrations of love seemed to help him, too. Even though we weren't unloading on each other, we grew closer and closer by the day.
Sadly, the first weekend of my rotation, I was given Saturday off, but Edward's biggest day of baseball practice was that day, and he was given Sunday off. I was scheduled to be on call all day and night on Sunday. Alice called me halfway through the week, and I agreed to crawl the Galleria with her on Saturday afternoon. I picked her up around midday, and we drove over there to enjoy lunch at La Madeleine, while watching the ice skaters in the indoor rink that formed the hub of the giant shopping center as they tried to pretend that winter actually existed in this sunny, Texas city.
We started off slowly, peering into many of the stores we passed, almost as set on getting good exercise in air conditioning as truly meaning to purchase anything. We chatted superficially, and it felt good to spend time with her. She finally broached the heavy topics while we were making our obligatory turn of Saks Fifth Avenue. I couldn't afford anything in this store unless my mom bought it for me, and in that case she'd be doing the choosing. But it was fun to browse.
"So, Jasper's not happy," she began. I glanced at her with concern. I'd really liked him, but I'd cheerfully kick his ass if he were going to dump Alice, whether he was a friend of Edward's or not.
"Is it over?" I asked cautiously. She looked stunned for a minute and then burst out laughing.
"No, of course not!" she continued to chuckle as she ran a hand over an impossibly tight Herve Leger dress. Alice had told me that this style had been all the rage last season. It would look fabulous on her, but Alice didn't like to try on things she couldn't buy. "Jasper doesn't think he wants to enter the business world per se," she explained.
"Well, what does he want to do?" I asked a little confused.
"He'd like to go back to physical therapy school when he finishes at UH this summer. Then, he wants to open up his own physical therapy practice. He's really enjoyed working with Edward. I don't think he really left the baseball and sports world behind," she told me.
"With a business background, he'd probably be able to establish a good niche here in the Texas Medical Center," I mused. Alice nodded. We finished our circuit of Saks and returned to the main corridor of the mall.
"That's what he's hoping," she agreed. "Once he's done with school, we're going to get married. When the business is off the ground, I'm going to quit Teach for America and work with him." She said it matter-of-factly, but I was glad she hadn't brought it up while we were eating. I swallowed weird and start coughing uncontrollably as it was.
"What?' I croaked out between gasps. She glanced sideways and smiled coyly at me without a trace of nervousness.
"Yeah. I know it's only been a month, but we both know it's right. It will happen, Bella," she assured me. I was quiet for a minute, trying to decide what the best response would be. It wasn't that I disagreed with her decision. I just had a hard time wrapping my head around such a big step. For a split second, I thought about marrying Edward, but I enjoyed the fleeting fantasy a bit too much. I crashed back to Earth quickly as I realized how impossible something like that was for us, not just now but for many years to come.
"I don't doubt it, Alice," I finally settled on. "Jasper is a great guy. He'd be great as a physical therapist, I think."
"Did you know his brother Peter plays for UT?" she prattled, oblivious to the dark turn my thoughts had taken. I nodded and tried to smile.
"Yes, I think Edward mentioned that," I murmured.
"Well, anyway, he's not likely to get drafted, so he's probably going to get his PT degree, too. They can found the business together," she told me cheerfully. We continued our tour of the Galleria, and she continued to delineate Jasper's grand plans. I bought a top at Forever 21, masochistically enjoying the irony. Finally, I guess she noticed I was only half-heartedly involved.
"What's wrong with you? You're quiet," she observed after a while. I shrugged.
"Nothing much. My resident is an asshole. I'm dreading taking call with him tomorrow," I told her, and it wasn't a lie. I tried to put my reservations out of my head and just enjoy the day. In the end, I think I succeeded pretty well.
Edward was back at my apartment already when I arrived. He was sitting in an undershirt and boxer briefs on my couch watching a basketball game. He was sipping a half empty Shiner when I unlocked the door. He set it aside with a beaming smile when he saw me.
"I'm so glad to see you," he breathed and set aside the bottle. "C'mere." He gestured for me to sit on his lap. I giggled and settled there as he tickled my cheek with his day old stubble. I dropped my purse and the shopping bag on the floor as the kiss got more heated. Lips, teeth, and tongue were now involved. His deft fingers slid underneath the hem of my little knit dress, and I shrugged off my denim jacket.
"Mmmm, I miss having you to myself," he muttered into my neck, nuzzling it with his nose when we both required breaths.
"I miss you, too, Edward," I admitted, and he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the bedroom. Our clothes were shed quickly, and he was inside me with a groan before I knew it. I clutched his body to me greedily, wanting contact with as much of his skin as possible. But he rolled onto his back, bringing me on top of him.
"I'm tired today," he said cheekily. "Why don't you do the work for awhile?" And he raised one hand to tease my left nipple, while the other dipped between my legs, making me impossibly wetter as my limbs tingled with desire and pleasure. I threw my head back and rode him with abandon until I could feel my climax building. Then, I looked back down at his face, running my fingers along his strong, handsome jaw.
"God, I love you, Bella," he ground out and tensed as he spilled into me. My orgasm tore through me at the same time, and I collapsed on top of him, gasping for breath. He'd said it a few times since New Year's, but I hadn't said it back yet. He didn't seem worried or concerned with my lack of a declaration. I wanted to say it back to him, but for some reason, I just couldn't.
Afterwards, we sat by the pool with Shiners until the sun set. Then, we ordered Chinese take-out. We started to watch a movie but ended up in bed for another round. He really did make me insatiable. Unfortunately, I had to go to bed early since I'd be on call for 24 hours starting at 8 am the next morning. Sundays weren't as bad as Saturdays, but I knew it'd be busy.
Edward declared his intention to hang out with Jasper the next day, and I told him what Alice had told me about physical therapy school. Edward said Jasper had already talked to him about it a little bit. We both decided it was great idea and wished Jasper well.
"Maybe someday, you'll work with Jasper, too," Edward said while stroking my hair as I drifted off to sleep. And I allowed myself that fantasy for those few short minutes, Alice, Jasper, Edward, and I as a foursome far into the future.
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We were busy immediately on Sunday morning, inheriting several train wrecks from the night before. Trey and the attending of the day were headed back to the OR, and I could tell he was getting fed up with me. He'd tried valiantly all week to get a reaction out of me, but I wouldn't bite. Unfortunately, I think he'd decided it was his mission to get me to cry before the end of the rotation. I avoided specific talk about him when I was with Edward because I knew he wouldn't react well.
"You're annoying the shit out of me, Bella," Trey grumbled while I fumbled with writing admission orders for a guy with osteomyelitis. "Get out of my hair and hang out with the Cast Room resident for a while, will ya?" That sounded like a good plan to me. Maybe I could get some actual casting experience and possibly get a check off on that skill despite Trey.
I made my way down to the small room housed in the back of the larger ER. Several plastic chairs were arranged haphazardly outside the entrance, and they were overflowing with miserable-looking people whose weekends had taken an unpleasant and unexpected turn.
A guy in a torn bicycle jersey and pants rested his bandage wrapped foot on the empty chair next to him. A Hispanic man with an enormous mustache cradled a crying little girl in a frilly pink church dress on his lap, her small, dark arm lashed to her body with a sling. The hallway smelled horrendous, and I hurried past the makeshift waiting room into the Cast Room.
The Cast Room was cluttered with casting equipment and a large C-arm fluoroscope for instant X-ray ability. There were three Ortho techs working, their heads bent over various projects. The resident was crouched next to the C-arm, holding the hand of an obviously intoxicated man over the imaging platform. He studied the imaging screen while moving the man's thumb back and forth. The guy shouted obscenities at him. It was a chaotic scene, and just being there made me feel excited. I approached the resident and stood next to him, waiting for him to acknowledge me when he had a moment.
"Hey, Baby," the drunk slurred when he saw me walk up. He smelled like stale booze and probably urine, and I wrinkled my nose in distaste without answering him. The resident glanced up at me, then pulled a little harder than necessary on the man's thumb. He gave me a wink before bending his head back down.
"Ooowwww!" cried the drunk, but he didn't speak to me again. I stifled a laugh. The resident stood up.
"Thumb spica!" he called out, pointing his index finger into the air above the man he'd just examined. A middle-aged African-American lady with flaming red hair and purple scrubs acknowledged him with a nod of her head as she finished up with the current patient she was helping. The resident swiped his hands together like he was brushing off dirt and turned to address me. He had smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. I thought it would be fun to work with him.
"I'm Jake," he introduced himself. "What's your name Student Doctor?" He was tall and Hispanic with thick, dark hair and gleaming white teeth. He wore his scrubs a bit small, and the arm cuffs were tight around his biceps. He was a little too groomed, and I just knew he took longer in the bathroom in the morning than I did. I couldn't place him, but he looked really familiar. The feeling nagged, but I just figured I'd seen him in the morning conferences.
"I'm Bella. Trey kicked me out of the OR and sent me down here," I told him hesitantly. I didn't want to be a bother, but I hoped he would let me stay.
"Man, that guy's such an asshole," he exclaimed forcefully. He motioned for me to follow him over to the chart rack, so I figured I was accepted. "If he weren't such a hot commodity, I'm pretty sure Dr. Volturi would fire him." I raised my eyebrows.
"What do you mean, hot commodity?" I asked. Jake pulled the next chart and settled into a rolling chair placed in front of a computer, which had been crammed onto the limited counter space. He pulled up an X-ray film and started inspecting it.
"Well, let's see how to describe Dr. James Hunter, III, AKA Trey? He has a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from MIT. He went there after he graduated top of his class from Harvard. He made a perfect score on his MCAT and then went back to Harvard for medical school. That's all hearsay, but I'm sure you've seen how he never gets an answer wrong in conference, not to mention how good his hands are," Jake told me with narrowed eyes, glancing at me briefly before returning his attention to the screen in front of him.
"Yeah, I've noticed," I admitted leaning over the counter to see what he was looking at. It appeared to be a greenstick fracture of the humerus, probably the little girl I'd seen outside. "I can't believe how he treats Dr. Cullen, though. You'd think they would try and put a stop to that." Jake huffed out a sarcastic laugh. Then, he pointed at the screen.
"Greenstick fracture of the humerus," I said, and he smiled at me with satisfaction.
"Cullen needs to grow a pair," he declared. I felt disloyal, but I couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Trey calls him by his first name since he's older than Dr. Cullen. Those two years of grad school, remember? He says he won't address anyone younger than him with a title of respect." I gasped in astonishment.
"Surely, Dr. Volturi doesn't accept that?" I asked. Jake just laughed again.
"Oh, Trey doesn't do it in front of any of the other faculty members. And Cullen's never reported him. Trey's going to end up with some high-powered faculty position and make our department look good when he graduates. It's all politics. Are you sure you want in on this game?" Jake explained. This news didn't make my disappointment in Dr. Cullen lessen, but it did make me feel very sorry for him. He was bearing this treatment for the good of the department.
"Don't worry. You'll be fine," Jake reassured me when he saw my expression. "Let's go examine our little lady, shall we?" And he called out the name on the chart, and the man I'd seen before carried the little girl into the room.
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Jake was a great teacher, and I really enjoyed working with him. We continued to gossip about the department as we made our way through the sea of patients waiting. I filled him in on all the dastardly things Trey had said and done to me, and he was appropriately appalled.
"Are you thinking of reporting him?" he asked. I shook my head reluctantly.
"I'd support you if you did," he declared. I just shook my head again, and he dropped it, obviously easily grasping my hesitation in doing so.
"You seem really familiar," I remarked at one point. "Have we met before?" He smirked at me.
"That's a great line, but I've got a girlfriend," he quipped. I smacked his arm.
"You dork, I'm serious. That's not what I meant. And I have a boyfriend," I responded. A thrill went through me at the statement. I'd never called Edward my boyfriend before, but I guessed that was now the correct term. Jake shook with suppressed laughter.
"I'm kidding," he finally said. "I don't know. You didn't go to Rice did you?" I nodded enthusiastically. That must have been it.
"Yes, I did, as a matter of fact," I told him. "I was at Brown. What about you?"
"Baker," he told me. "Can you believe my brother's at Martel?" He shook his head at his poor brother's misfortune. Warning bells went off.
"Your brother's at Rice now?" I asked for clarification. He smiled and nodded.
"Yep, and he's on the baseball team. Luckily, I got the brains and the looks in the family. I'll let him have the brawn," he waved his hand grandly. I looked at Jake closely and realized why he looked so familiar. His younger brother was his spitting image: Sam, Edward's roommate.
I was racking my brain for a way to change the subject. I wasn't ashamed of my relationship with Edward exactly, but I didn't want it to interfere with my standing as an individual within the department. I wanted my reputation to be of my own making, based solely on my accomplishments, not my association with a local sports star. Plus, I doubted I'd work with Jake again. Shockingly, I was saved by Trey barging into the room.
"What the fuck, Bella, I thought you were supposed to be helping me," he bellowed loudly even though there were several children within hearing distance. Then, he turned and stalked out of the room. I rolled my eyes at Jake and quickly followed him.
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My routine with Edward continued. I worried a little about the fact that we were practically living together, but I enjoyed his company too much to say anything about it. At least, he stayed at his house and did stuff with his friends when I was on call overnight. But because I spent all my free time with him, I barely saw Alice anymore. I spoke to her on the phone a few times a week, but Edward ran into her more than I did.
Baseball practice was getting more intense as the season opener approached. It was only natural that the guys would want to let off some steam. This became a problem for me over MLK weekend. The team had practice daily over the long weekend, but the holiday Monday one would be abbreviated. As luck would have it, I was given both Sunday and Monday off over the weekend, too. It was rare to have two days off in a row on a surgical rotation.
The baseball team decided to throw a party on Sunday night, and Edward's house was chosen as the location since Cindy Brandon, and her crowd, were once again agreeable to co-hosting. Edward wanted us to go, and I was very against attending. He radiated displeasure when I told him to go on without me.
"Bella, how is this relationship going to work if you refuse to get to know my friends?" he asked with frustration. "I've taken the time to get to know Alice."
"Edward, we've talked about the underage drinking thing," I pleaded. "And I don't refuse to get to know them. I just don't think a kegger is the right venue. Plus, I don't have a lot in common with them." I avoided mentioning our age difference again because that really got him going. He frowned at me.
"But you have a lot in common with me, right?" he asked. I could hear the vulnerability in his voice, and it made my heart ache. I didn't answer because I didn't know what to say. Finally, I capitulated slightly.
"I can stop by early, but I've got to be gone by the time it starts to get rowdy. No later than 11," I said with what I hoped he'd see as compromise.
"Whatever, Bella," he huffed, and we went to bed fully dressed lying next to each other but not touching. I wondered if this were the beginning of the end, I'd come to dread.
But, I was awakened several hours later by his desperate kisses. He peeled our clothes away, and I knew he was attempting to physically express his feelings for me. And I tried my best to do the same thing. Further words on the subject would only hurt us.
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Edward and I both slept in a little on Sunday morning. I meant to try and get to church, but it felt too good to lounge in bed with my many overnights the last few weeks. Edward had to be at practice by noon, and he left the apartment a couple of hours early to get some work for school done, too. I agreed to meet him at his house around 6 with take-out from Chuy's.
I went over to Alice's place and sat with her by her building's rooftop pool. It was too cold for a bathing suit, but I was comfortable in a sweatshirt and cut off scrub pants. Alice scoffed at my lack of fashion sense. We alternated reading magazines and just chatting
I was disappointed to learn that she and Jasper wouldn't be at the party, and I was even more disappointed to hear that Cindy and Al had broken up. I guess he'd gotten tired of her petulance. So I'd be on my own with Edward's roommates. Surprisingly, Alice agreed with my insistence that I leave the party early.
"I never said I didn't think being cautious around underage drinking was a good idea, Bella," she said to me. "I work with kids for God's sake. I merely thought you were being close-minded about Edward. Thank goodness you came around." She smiled at me from behind her giant sunglasses. I nodded uneasily in agreement with her.
I went home and showered and changed, somewhat offended when Alice implied I might have been planning on wearing the makeshift shorts to the party. In jeans, a short-sleeved cashmere T-shirt, and ballet flats, I picked up the food, Chuy's Special for both of us. Edward usually went with carnitas, but the combination of blue corn with the pulled chicken at Chuy's was hard to beat.
I parked on the curb at the far end of the block, so my car would be out of the way and ready for a quick getaway if I so needed it. Edward met me at the door in jeans and a t-shirt. His beautiful hair was still wet from the shower, and he smelled amazing. I was uncomfortable being here, but I didn't pull back when he leaned into greet me with a kiss. He took the food from me with a smile and ushered me inside.
Sam, Jared, and Paul were in the living room playing video games. They all grunted hellos when we passed through the room on the way into the kitchen. Edward and I dug into our food and chatted superficially, sharing tidbits of our days. Edward was growing more optimistic about the upcoming season with every passing practice. I was so proud of him and couldn't wait to see him play, even though I knew the game would take him away from me. I was pretty sure seeing him on the field would be a ridiculous turn on.
When we threw away our trash, Edward handed me a bottled Shiner, and we joined the guys in the living room. Paul tossed Edward his controller and headed through to the back yard. Edward rolled his eyes at his retreating back.
"What's wrong with him?" I asked. This question earned me chuckles from Jared and Sam. "What?" I asked again, confused.
"Oh, I just threatened him, if he said anything untoward to you," Edward explained darkly. They didn't say any more about it, and Edward and Jared's match got kind of heated. I sipped my beer quietly and just watched. Sam got up and moved over onto the couch next to me. He gave me a friendly smile.
"So, Edward tells me you're a medical student at Baylor," he began, and my heart started to pound a little. Just the person with whom I did not want to have this particular conversation, I thought. But I couldn't lie or be rude to him. He was obviously trying to make me feel more comfortable being here.
"Yep, third year," I confirmed and took another drink. His smile got bigger, probably because he thought he'd found a topic that we'd have in common. I felt guilty because he was making an effort with me for Edward's sake. He was a good friend. And I was a terrible girlfriend.
"My brother is an Orthopedics resident at Baylor. Have you done any of those rotations?" he asked. I managed a forced smile.
"Yes, actually, I'm doing one now," I had to tell him. "I like it quite a bit," I added honestly.
"Wow, that's a coincidence!" he laughed with delight. "His name is Jake Black. I'll have to tell him to look out for you." Thankfully, he didn't ask if I'd already met him, and he was distracted because his girlfriend, Emily, walked into the living room at that moment. I breathed a sight of relief. I moved over so she could sit between on us on the couch.
"Hey, Bella," she said as Sam threw his arm around her and pecked her cheek. I said hello to her, too. We'd met once before briefly. She was also a junior at Rice, and I was pretty sure she'd said she was a computer science major. She was very tall with long, straight dark hair and black-framed glasses. She had on a midriff shirt with her distressed boot-cut jeans and sandals. She complimented my top, and we started to chat about the Galleria and some other stores in Rice Village.
I saw Edward glance up from his game to watch me briefly with what I thought was approval. It gave me a thrill of happiness to think I was pleasing him. And I wasn't so sorry that I was here after that.
I had a couple of Shiners over the next few hours and mostly sat in the living room taking to Sam, Emily, Jared, and his girlfriend Kim. They were all very nice, and we managed to find some things in common to talk about. They were down to earth and fairly serious, not at all the partiers that I had figured the baseball team and their groupies to be. But, this wasn't the whole team, I reminded myself.
Paul remained mostly in the back yard with a couple of other guys who were surrounded by young co-eds who I suspected were the underage attendees I had worried about. The girls were silly and giggled their way through the house when they arrived in tiny denim shirts and skimpy shirts, completely inappropriate for the cooler weather. I noticed they threw wistful glances at Edward as they joined the rowdier group in the back. I scooted closer to him and gripped his bicep every time one of them approached him. Finally, the party got louder, and it got later. I told Edward it was time for me to go. He nodded and led me to the front yard where it was quieter.
"Can you drive?" he asked me. His face was a bit flushed, and I knew he'd had quite a few. I considered and took stock of myself, but I didn't answer quickly enough.
"C'mon, Bella, let's walk for old time's sake," he grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together, tugging me down the front walk.
"No, Edward, I don't' want you to miss the rest of your party," I resisted. He let out a frustrated sigh.
"Hey, I've got practice tomorrow, too, even if it's shorter and later," he told me patiently. "It's best if I go now, too. Plus, there's no way I'd let you drive if you aren't completely sure you're able. And you know I won't let you walk alone," he teased. I didn't argue long because I selfishly wanted him with me. So I let him pull me along. We walked about a block in silence, our hands swinging between us.
"Thanks for making an effort tonight," he said quietly. "It really meant a lot to me to see you try and get to know them." He turned to me with a serious expression, but then let a cheeky grin take over his face. "I think I might be finally winning you over," he added.
"Oh, Edward," I exclaimed as my heart melted at his sincerity. "I'm won over." I stopped walking and pulled his face down toward mine, allowing my fingers to tangle in his lovely, wild hair. My emotions and thoughts regarding him were still a mess, and I had difficulty expressing myself, so I just tried to convey through my kiss how much I felt for him. I think, I hope, he could feel it. Too quickly, he stopped me and pulled away. But I could see the desire in his eyes.
"Let's hurry," he whispered and grabbed my hand again. And I followed him, willingly this time, along the same path we'd traversed together a month ago. And when we arrived at my apartment, he made my hurrying worth my while.
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A/N: First, relax. Jake is only a very peripheral character in this tale.
I'm grateful beyond belief for all the reviews I've been receiving. Most of you are far too kind. I'm used to taking in constructive criticism from previous fics and appreciate that every time. I've been known to make changes in posted chapters based on feedback because I strive for accuracy. Nothing pisses me off more than inaccuracies with military fics (and there are many), and I will often post corrections in a review but always in a respectful way. If I really can't handle what I'm reading, I just stop reading it.
I have never really had to deal with the bitter, borderline hateful and completely unhelpful things that I've heard some people will write before this story. I guess I knew it happened from reading other A/N's but was unpleasantly surprised to find it directed at me. It is especially interesting that the most egregious and unhelpful reviews are posted under the Guest feature. Please, if you have something really negative to say that probably won't help me improve this story, post it under your account, so I can respond. That's only fair. Otherwise, don't be surprised if I delete it.
Most of the upset seems to stem from the "past chapters." There is only one of these left, and then we'll go back to the present. So stick with me if you will. If you're too angry with me for making you sift through the back story, then I understand if you decide to quit following.
EG