Chapter 7: Falling

-a week after the meeting, Garwin resident-

Reid was sitting in the dining room, trying to reach his son, yet again.

"Ax, this is the 5th time I called u today. Call me back we need to talk."

Reid closed his phone and sighed. He tried "investigating" his son's odd behavior, but decided to go straight to the source, or at least trying to. Over the pass week, Reid, began to notice his son was a lot like him at that age….and not in a good way. At that age, all Reid did was party, sleep around and use. It was the last thing that would of killed him, if not for the guys and Kenndle. A smile formed on his face thinking of his amazing wife. She was his salvation. He owed everything he had to her, his job as a counselor, their club, and his son. Reid sat lost in his train of thought, staring at the phone locked in his grasp.

-Meanwhile somewhere in Ipswich-

A blond haired, hazel eyed, young man awoke in a strange place, his head pounding, muscles aching as he sat up and look at the girl, passed out next to him, not rememberinganything about her or his time spent withthat he cared, hell,he didn't even bother with names, they were all "baby" to him, as long as they were hot and willing, he really didn't care.

He slide out of bed and in to his jeans. He turned to look at her, seeing she was asleep, his eyes went black and the rest of his stuff, flouted towards him as he pulledon a shirt, before stuffing the rest in a bag. With everything in hand, he left, no note , no number. As he head towards his turbocharged, 1997 Acura IntegraLS, Ax checked his messages and was surprised to find so many from his dad, claiming they needed to "talk".

"Kind late for the birds and the bees.." He muttered to himself, as he slid into his car, deciding to deal with his dad later he head for the dorms.

-Outside Spenser dorm building-

Axel pulled up to the building, seeing his friends, standing near by. He put on the trade mark smirk and open the his door, headed for the group. As he got closer, he noticed who was in the middle of them. And She didn't look happy.

"I said, I was sorry. What was I suppose to do? let him fail?"

Kari's voice echoed in Axel's head as his smirk fell and was replace with a scowl, as he stopped next to Den.

"Yes, he has other friends, that are rather smart, surprising I know. He could of had them help. But you decide to ditch us, yet again."

A green/grey eyed girl yelled back. Ax was throw for a loop, seeing sweet little Arden yelling. He turned to Den and asked what was going on.

"The girls had plans last week, Kari ditched. Then this morning, she made Scarlett cry, 'cus she asked if she was alright or something, then disappeared for the last 4 or 5 hours."

Den whispered/explained as the guys watched the screaming fight go on.

"So what! You can live with out me, you just don'twant me to be happy."

Kari snapped back to something Arden had said.

"HAPPY! you call That happy. I never want to be that kind of out with the boys.." Arden paused to gesture at the 4 guys around them, " Or,me and Scarlett, Who you should apologizeto by the way, Or being with your family should make you old happy, the warm smile, bright eyed happy. Not this, shun your family and friends, faked smile, happy."

Arden's voice grew withevery word, filling with angry and every emotion and thought, she had been holding on, about Brodyand Kari, came out.

" I"M SICK OF WATCHING YOU TEACH THE GUYS LIKE SH*T FOR CARING ABOUT YOU, OR IGNORING AND CANCELING PLANS WITH THE GIRLS,AND AND AND...."She paused, her fists clenched,

"AND ALL THE SECRETS. DON'T THINK WE HAVEN'T NOTICED THAT YOUR HIDING SOMETHING. I LOVE YOU BUT BUT..."

Her voice shook as she struggled to finish her rant in a sad whisper,

"Me and Scarlett are done with you, until you decide whats really important or make time for people that you once cared about."

With that said a tearful Arden turned away from her former friend and ran into the building. The remaining people stood in stun silence until a phone went off.

"What!..." Kari's harsh reply went over the phone, her face paled slightly,

"Sorry Baby, rough day, yeah....of course...right away..."

The guys stood in disgust at thier fellow "Ipswich child", how could she act as if nothing had happen.

"Love you too." Kari hung up her phone, turning to get into her car.

"Where are you going?" Theo ask, hoping he was wrong.

Not turning to look them in the eye, she responded,

"Bro....I mean Milo needs me." Charlie, her sweet Char Char, snapped.

"WHAT! Your kidding, two of your best friends, just dumped you and you act as if it was nothing. Are they right do we truly mean nothing to you anymore...."

Charlie had stop but Den picked it up,

" Your act as if he's your life, love breaking it to you, but He's not, you are your own person. You were an amazing person...once....."

Kari fought her tears and the urge to tell them everything and let them tear her down, knowing she some hoe deserved it.

"I will always love you, Sis. But every ones right. It all adds up to...."

Theo cleared his throat, before finishing,

" We HATE, who you've become and we are finished withit too."

Kari felt tears fall, wanting to turn towards them but she stayed with her hand gripped on the door, waiting for Axel's remark.

Hear nothing, she slow turned around to see, four figures walking away from her. She lost it, she jumped into her car and torn out of the parking lot tears streaming down her face, her breathing short and shallow. Her heart braking. Axel turned at the sound of the car leaving and whispered,

"I'm Sorry Karizma."

Fighting the urge to go out and drink, he joined his friends as they went looking for the girls.

-The dells, sunset-

A lone car sat, its owner standing a few feet away, curled up on the sands, tears streaming, her voice breaking.

"Why?" left her mouth over and over, she was so lost, that even the people, who once knew her so well, couldn't even see her troubles, her pains.

"because they don't really love you..." A far off voice seemed to say to her, " they don't understand, that your doing this for them..." the voice continued" That in the end, they'll be sorry, they ever crossed you."

It seemed to hiss Kari was scared for a brief moment, before she shook it off,

" I'M just over tired, long day." She said, pulling her legs closer to her,unaware of the truck pulling up next to her car.

" KARI, WHAT THE HELL, WHERE...."Brody had started towards her, fist curled, feet aching to kick her, his eyes dark and brooding, until he saw her curled up, so weak, so broke.

Not knowing or really caring why, he knelt down next to her briefly, as he lifted her into his arms,his eyes soft and caring and look she had long forgot, he could have.

"shh...Shh.." He kept hushing her, rocking her back anf forth, as he tried not to say it would be ok, 'cus deep down, he knew the worst was to come and it would be his fault, weather he liked it or not, but for now he felt like himself, the one he was before. So their they sat, quietly, as the night closed in around them,. It seemed like hours upon hours, before Kari's tearful sobs, slowed, and her breathing evened out. Sighing Brody lifted her a up and headed for his truck,softly laying her across his back seat,he kissed her gently, before closing the door. Pulling out his phone, he called for a toe truck to come and toe her car, back to Spenser's. Satisfied, he climbed into his truck and head back to the dorms, hoping, he would still be the "old" him, when the sun came up.

-Brody's dorm room-

He watched as she kicked and squirmed in her sleep, from across the room, seeing as he was staying on the extra bed, ment for his non-existent roommate. Slipping in to sleep, Brody didn't see the figure lurking about his room.

"My plan going swimmingly, You made it so easy, as did he, but his part is almost through, then I'll have you all to myself. Soon Little Danvers, soon." The figure ran their fingers through her hair before the disappeared into darkening night.

All her friends are gone, Reid and Axel's Talk looming over head, Brody's being sweet, does he sense his"part" ending? And what does the voice want from our little Kari. Read and find out as the story contues to unfold before our eyes.
Hope you enjoyed it,if not sorry. A little different then what i originally planned but i think it turned out good.
Loving her readers,
Taffyrose