I did an outline for the third part of this trilogy yesterday. It's gonna be 23 chapters plus an epilogue. Right now, I'm working on Chapter 15.

This next story is really different. Lots more Gracie. Lots more Devin. Lots more Fax. Lots more drama. Lots of a lot of stuff. Maybe I'll post an excerpt, if you guys want one. I'd face to find a place without huge spoilers…

Anyway. Enough rambles. Enjoy!

Back at work. Joy.

Actually, I'd been back for about two weeks, but I was still having trouble adjusting. After spending weeks doing nothing but laying on the couch watching TV, going to work every day-- and in the midst of the Christmas season, no less-- seemed like cruel and unusual punishment.

Now, there were four days to Christmas, so the store was packed with people rushing to get the last turkeys, looking for toys on sale, and stocking up on food to feed visiting relatives. At some point, I was going to use my employee discount to buy a few gifts for the flock and kids, but as of yet, I hadn't had the time.

"Hi, how are you?" I asked a lady with three screaming kids as I began to ring up her load of toys and different kinds of cookies.

"Good, thanks," she said, trying to pull a toddler's fingers away from her earrings.

I nodded and started bagging her items, glancing at my watch as I did. It was only 10:35. Ugh…

The phone rang behind me, and I reached back to pick it up. "Gertrude's Groceries, lane thirteen."

"I'm forwarding a call," came Marie's very irritated voice, "from your child's school, Max."

I grimaced. Before I could say anything to her, though, I heard Dr. Clement. "Is this Ms. Ride?"

"Yeah," I said, ripping the receipt from the printer and handing it to the woman.

"Devin hit the student teacher, Ms. Drison, again," he sighed. "I'm afraid I need you to come in."

"Um, can I come in later?" I asked, turning my head to look at my ever-growing line. "I mean, I'm at work, and--"

"I need you to come in now," Dr. Clement said firmly. I exhaled loudly. "I have a busy afternoon, with break beginning tomorrow, and we can't wait until after break. This needs to be resolved right now."

I sighed. "Okay, fine, I'll--"

"And Mr. Ride needs to come in, as well."

"What?" The next woman in line was glaring at me, because I hadn't even started ringing her up. I looked behind me at Fang, whose line was even longer than mine. "That's not really--"

"Ms. Ride, this is necessary. I'm hoping that if we discuss this now, you and Mr. Ride can use the holiday break to control him at home, which will hopefully change his behavior at school in the second semester."

I started to say that my son didn't need to be controlled, thank you very much, but decided that the guy was already kind of sick of dealing with my problematic child, so I shouldn't pick a fight. "Yeah, okay. I'm leaving right now."

"Thank you," he said, but I was already putting down the phone and pulling out my 'This Register is Closed' sign.

"I'm sorry," I called out to everyone in my line, who saw the sign and started grumbling. The first woman in line, whose groceries were all on the counter, waiting for me, shot me the dirtiest look I'd ever received. And trust me, I have received some nasty looks.

I took off my smock and bunched it up in my hand, then hurried down toward Fang's register. On the way, I passed Marie's, and she said, "Max, where do you think you're going?"

"I have to go to Devin's school," I told her. "And Fang has to come, too."

"And what do you expect us to do with all these customers?" It was an open-ended question, but there was clearly only one right answer.

"Uh, I don't know…"

Marie leaned toward me, her eyes narrowed, mouth pressed into a long thin line. "I should go tell our manager to fire you. And he will do it."

"Please don't," I pleaded, now bordering on going insane. "I need this job. But the principal of the school says I have to--"

"Max!" I whirled and saw Fang rushing up to me, dodging carts and people. I craned my neck to find his lane: his line was even longer than mine. He reached me and grabbed my arm. "What's going on?"

"We have to go up to the kids' school," I sighed. "Devin hit the teacher again."

"Hey!" someone in Marie's line yelled. "Are you going to help us?"

She scowled at both of us. "Fine, you two go on. Come in tomorrow for your normal shift, but stay afterward-- we're going to discuss your future as cashiers here."

"Alright," I said, hardly bothered, my mind only on Devin and getting out of this chaotic place. "Let's go, Fang."

0000000000

During the drive to the school, I mustered up so much anger and determination that by the time we got there, I was ready to end this once and for all. I got out of that car, shutting the door hard behind me, and strode quickly toward the front doors, leaving Fang to scramble to catch up to me.

"Max," he said in a warning tone, grabbing my hand as he blocked my path. "Calm down."

"We've just possibly lost our jobs, Fang," I snapped, trying to sidestep him, but he mirrored my movement. "I have some words for Devin, and then I have some words for the stupid principal for making us come here!"

"Just don't make a scene, alright?" Fang asked.

I looked at him as he waited for my reply, still holding my hand. Who was this guy? Our entire childhood had been about making a scene. Was this normal life stuff making him forget that, along with where-- what-- we came from? Who we were? Did he no longer understand my need to protect and provide for my family? I hated to think that this might be true; he was the only one who had ever gotten me, through and through, and I knew I could never find another guy who did.

"I can't promise you that," I said airily, and stuck my nose in the air and brushed past him.

Without another word, we entered the school and headed for the office. Dr. Clement was waiting for us with Devin and a young woman with a big red mark on her face who I presumed to be the student teacher.

"Hi again," Dr. Clement said, shaking my hand and Fang's. I was biting my tongue, trying to remain civil, but then I noticed the student teacher. She looked familiar…

"Hi," she said, extending her hand to me. Her voice… "I'm Ms. Drison."

Then it hit me. That name, which had reminded me of another the first time I heard it. Her face, her voice, her long red hair…

It was Brigid Dwyer.

WHOA.

Okay, that's not actually that big of a shock… a lot of you guessed it a few chapters ago when Gracie first mentioned the student teacher… the little clue I dropped as to who it was apparently wasn't all that little…

Anyway, how about a review?