Author's Note: Wow. I feel really touched. This story is getting pretty far, and I honestly couldn't have done it without all of your support. Your criticism and encouragement are really helping me grow and because of all of you, I've pushed myself to be a better writer. I pray I've been able to give you something good to read. Now originally, I was going to write a chapter revolving around just Ralph and Angela, but I want that to come later. Now this may seem icky, but I'm going to split this chapter up into four parts. Four for each of the focused on characters. It's easier to read and write that way, so this first one is around Jack. One more thing! We will be meeting another new character with a very interesting way of reading people…And once again, flashbacks are in italics like so. Enjoy cuz this is a long one!
-------------------------
Chapter Eight
A single beaming face pressed itself against the fogging glass of a quaint flower shop. The sky finally ended its heavy downpour and the flowers would soon get their much needed sunshine. "This is wonderful. The flowers won't have to drown. I was a bit worried," spoke the sole shop owner who now stood at the doorway. Nearby, the dewdrops left on the leaf of a dropping flower dropped into a puddle beneath it. "Oh, I'm glad you're alright too. I thought you of all the flowers would have drowned," laughed the smiling face to the golden flower below him.
"Hurry up Jack! You're slowing me down!" Puddles everywhere were exploding as boots kicked into them, the toe dragging ever so slightly into the gravel. Roger pranced around gaily with Jack lagging behind. "Roger must you do that?" Jack moaned while dodging the ripple of water flying at his face. His eyes rolled as a tongue stuck out at him. "You're so dumb Jack! Let me have fun! After all, YOU left me alone all day, remember?" Roger slid to a stop and threw himself on Jack who resisted pushing him off. "But don't be guilty. I mean, you had your reasons, right?" Pried the deeper voice with the same grinning face it always appeared with. Roger seemed to keep his eyes level with Jack despite their height difference. The eyes that appeared behind the black curtain showed more than human's gaze. He's such a… "OH!"
The leather of Roger's jacket snapped Jack's arm as his eyes followed a couple strolling past them. "What a pretty pretty girl." A look passed in Roger's eyes that only came in his weakest moments. They were soft, almost proud of what he saw before him. "I'll be right back…" Before his booted feet could drift through anymore pools of dirty water, Jack gripped the back of Roger's collar, flinging him backwards. As a tiny yelp of surprise escaped his lips, Roger began struggling against the hand that held him. "What are you doing?! You aren't my mom! I can wander!" "Yeah but…not them…because…"
The same devilish eyes were clawing into Jack's skull and forcing words to gag on his tongue. "Because what?" "Be…because…I…they…" Roger overpowering glares sucked words into the clearing sky and they were gone in thin air. The same as always. Domination, in a shorter, skinnier version. "Wow, I guess Jesus has your tongue, huh?" Roger mocked, bobbling his chin up and down the same way Jack had been while he babbled. "I'm off!"
The impish boy had already turned a few corners before Jack was conscious enough to notice his lack of presence. "ROGER!" His panicked heart beat harshly against his chest in a feeble attempt to speed up his feet. Everywhere he seemed to be, Roger wasn't. Does he have any idea he went after Ralph and his g…girlfriend?! Tailing his associate was pointless and Jack just traced his steps and held his arms close to keep warm. "Why…?"
"Excuse me, but you seem to be either lost or just confused. Come in please!" The choir boy turned to find a tall blonde with a pleasant smile stretched across his face. The blue in his eyes had a mysterious look of wisdom, yet held the glimmer of fish scales. "Simon!" Jack suddenly found himself spurting out. The little blood in the man's face ran down to his feet and he took a step closer. "Did you say…Simon?" Jack's hand was already over his mouth and his feet began reversing their previous movement. That name itself was so simple. Simon.
"Please wait!" The hand that snatched Jack's wrist was tight and warm with dirt. He shivered at the thought of what these hands were capable of. His tender looks caused the man to back off a little, regaining his composure and his smile. "I'm really sorry about that. You just said Simon and I…" Jack nodded, questioning him to make sure. "Are you related to Simon? The Simon who died five years ago." "Heh. Five years ago. Such a long time…"
The red head sat on an old stool propped beside a counter holding potted flowers. He scratched his head and took in the jungle like sights around him. Why am I here? Roger will be looking for me soon and if it's anything like last time…His head bumped repeatedly against the smooth surface to shatter the remaining thoughts of Roger. Jack didn't even have a clue why he followed the man inside the flower shop. Maybe it was the overpowering calm that seemed to beckon him into a safe world. Or, it could have been the sight of the forest within the eyes of the smiler. Simon was with Jack the last hours of his life. His body became home to Jack's spear, as well as the burn of his fear and rage.
Honey and earl grey mixed together in the air and hinted of the man's nearness. The aroma sent Jack straight and he eagerly accepted the offered cup. The blonde man busied himself by laying out two plates and cutting thick slices of bread for them both. "I hope you're fine with bread and butter. I haven't bought any more groceries," chuckled the man with a shrug before adding, "But I do have some summer sausage if that's alright." The plate of browned meat sat before Jack and his stomach turned corkscrews. "I…I don't eat meat. I'm sorry." "Ah. Vegetarian I see. Compassion for animals?"
Jack's teeth grinded against each other and he dug his hands over his stomach. The taste of greasy fat and dripping blood from long ago popped into his taste buds and nearly took Jack's sanity. "Sort of. I've seen some pretty horrible things done to animals," he managed to cough up a quick reply before resting his head on the table again until the plate disappeared. The tea was gushed down his throat as quickly as drunkards take whiskey. The shopkeeper gave an apologetic grin and poured another cup of tea in an attempt to redeem himself.
The now interested man rested his elbow on the counter and watched as Jack silently prayed over his meal, breaking the bread in half before taking a polite bite. His eyes caught the short twinkle of something beneath the young man's sweater. A gold chain hid itself and complimented the milky skin it was wrapped around. "What's that you've got there under your sweater? It looks very beautiful." After swallowing another mouthful of bread, Jack revealed the cross that swung back and forth around his thumb. "My, you're a very dedicated worshipper, aren't you?"
"It's that obvious?" Jack gasped, for no stranger had ever brought up the matter to him. When he gave a sheepish expression and scratched his freckled cheek, the owner burst into a fit of giggles. Jack sat and listened to the sound coming from the man across from him. It was like that of a child, fast and frequent. It was an innocent laugh with no sign of ridicule in it. Once the man put a hand over his mouth and shut his eyes, the gestures' past owner became clear again.
Lowering his eyes, Jack tried his hardest to block out the similarities between the dead boy and his relative. It was so sickingly sweet he couldn't bare it. Luckily, the laughter died down and a grave face built against the bright bangs hanging on the man's face. "You're troubled, aren't you? Did I say something wrong?" Blinking a few times, Jack shook his head gradually but never took his eyes off the man. "By the way, can you tell me a bit about this place? I'm curious."
The jovial face that greeted Jack earlier had returned and the man plopped himself down opposite his young acquaintance and cleared his throat. "Well, a long time ago, my family won a lot of money during a trial and I decided to use my share to build the dream shop my brother and I had always wanted. You probably couldn't see the sign since it's covered in moss, but its called The Lord of the Fl…" One of the people sitting in the room flinched. The voice speaking to it was a dull buzzing and an unknown speaker became present.
You still remember me Jack. I drove you crazy. You killed me so I drove you crazy. That's right; you're going to be mad. Your life will be ruined and it's all because you killed…SIMON! Simon is dead and I loved Simon. Jack took Simon and ruined everything. Jack is disgusting! Jack sinned and Jack makes everyone miserable. The flowers all turn to graves because of Jack. Jack took Simon. Jack to Simon from Sage. ALL JACK'S FAULT!
"Sage…?" The man cocked his head, replying, "Yes? How did you know my name?" Jack was still partially in the confines of his own mind and didn't even know the answer himself. It bothered him, just as much as the idea of having this man be related to Simon. He was just as generous and their care for flowers was very important. To think…Jack ruined this compassionate man's life through his own mistake. He probably doesn't recognize me, but I know for a fact…he was in the second row at the courthouse during my trial…"You have quite some sadness in your eyes. It makes them bluer…Something IS the matter," observed Sage slowly.
Jack waved his hands clumsily in front of him and hurriedly reassured him he was wrong. "I just get caught up in my thoughts. That's all. That's all it ever is…" Sage sighed loudly, shaking his head and giving another light laugh. "You're a mystery, aren't you? But that's all you ever are, right?" He watched as Jack's cheeks showed his shame with their color, staring at his features for a moment. "How about I show you something? Would you come with me please?" Jack's answer was given to the man's back, since he knew what the answer would be despite the nervousness.
Catching up to Sage, Jack kept close as they traveled down a long hallway. The walls were covered in paintings of exquisite flowers of every shape, size, and color imaginable. Also, a few pictures where there as well. One caught Jack's eye and he halted immediately. In the photograph was young Simon. He was sitting amongst a garden of five pedaled flowers. There were ones with the same light yellow color as Simon's own hair, a few had the same pastel blue he found when gazing into Ralph's wide eyes. He even found the deep fuchsia that Roger had on one of his favorite necklaces. Even though the surrounding flowers were breathtaking, the tiny one within Simon's cupped hands was most noticeable. "A daisy," Jack recognized, lifting his fingers to touch the glass protecting the image.
"That's right. I see you know a bit about flowers yourself." Sage had noticed where Jack stopped and joined him. He put his hands together, pressing them against his lips as though he could not speak. Jack peered out of the corner of his eyes to see the look of pure elation on Sage's face. "Simon was always so content among flowers. I could always find him in these. They're primroses." Simon was like that until the end… "You…You must miss him." Jack was gently nudged forward into a bright light, Sage's voice behind. "I do, but he's still here. Right here."
The sun had finally broken the sky's grey cover completely, blowing rays of light into every square of glass that surrounded the two entering the room. "Such a wonderful greenhouse," Jack whispered dreamily, his hand touching the velvety petal of a flower hanging on a vine. "I knew you'd like it and that's why I wanted you here. Do you think you could help me?" Sage held out a wicker basket that looked woven with angel hair. A few pieces stuck out here and there, but it looked professional. "What do you want me to do?"
A smooth hand pressed lightly on Jack's shoulder to signal him to follow to his knees. "All I want you to do laddie, is help me choose a bouquet. Sound alright to ya?" The red head willfully nodded, furrowing his brow at the difference in his acquaintance's voice. Sage caught it himself, putting his hand over his mouth again. "You're Irish? But Simon's your brother, right?" Rubbing a long nail along the coloring on his cream skin, Sage explained himself. "I ran away for a bit, to Ireland. Simon's death wasn't easy for me. Can't say I wanted to come back here, but for some reason, I couldn't stay away. You're probably too young to understand what I'm saying though," sighed the blonde as he ruffled Jack's waving locks.
Before any further questions could be asked about the subject, Sage was crawling in between two bushes, squeezing past two shaking tiger lilies. "Hurry up la…Jack!"
Jack tried to make his way through the tangle of olive leaves, his eyes squinting against the breaks of sunshine that peeped in through the holes. Every move he made, a new flower would welcome him with a kiss on the cheek and a sweet smell. Eventually, he caught up to the ecstatic owner who knelt in the middle of several patches of flowers. "All I want you to do is pick three. I promise I'll be back in a minute. I need to water some flowers over there. Alright?"
Once again, the cheerful shopkeeper jumped into an assumption and disappeared with a watering can in his hand. "I don't even know how to do this…" Jack's hand moved back and forth in search of the perfect flower, but deciding wasn't easy. The colors burst out in ever direction, the shapes becoming endless patterns of god's handiwork. To his right, a white and red flowers stretched towards him, its long petals waving as it bobbed around its stem. Leaning closer, a voice echoed within it. "S…Simon?" But…
A thin figure sat on a flattened rock overlooking the beach. The breeze swept his golden locks against his eyes, the bunch of flowers gathered in his arms tickling his bare skin. A shadow suddenly cast over him and an impatient voice called to him. "Simon, where were you while we were hunting? Have you been sitting here all day?" Simon turned towards the voice, finding Jack with a monstrous expression on his tan face. He squinted as the sun shone around the powerful hunter's outline. "I didn't want to see any more dead animals," Simon admitted openly, pressing his chin into his discoveries.
"What in bloody hell are you going on about now? We have work to do! Where were you?" Simon's lips had disappeared within the flowers, showing Jack silently he refused to answer. The question was repeated, yet each time, more of Simon's face seemed to melt with the silky plants. Drips of crimson ferocity escaped from Jack's fist onto the ground, spreading out in bloody pools. "LOOK AT ME!" The wrath of his oppressor came in the form of a fist, scattering the flowers and knocking the silent Simon to his back.
A flash of remorse rammed into Jack's heart when Simon flipped himself over, peering out into the tropical sky to see the cascade of petals and stems fall away into darkness. "T…That's what you get! Now let's go!" The savage was quick to turn his back, scrambling down the rock. Midway down, he saw Simon rise, almost as if he was in the sky himself. "To Jesus."
"What?" Unusually willing to hear Simon's nonsense, Jack hopped back onto the rock, standing beside the smiling boy. "You destroyed the flowers, but now the wind must have taken them back to Jesus. That's all…" With that, Simon turned to Jack with a sunny smile on his face, one that had been hidden since they had been brought to the island. "HEY! Wait! What are you trying to say Simon?!" "Never mind Jack."
The knots in his stomach tightened again and pulled Jack out of his semi consciousness. "I'm going crazy…that wasn't…" He opened his eyes, gasping as he was face to face with flowers that exploded right into him with a blush the same color as his own. Once again, a ghostly murmur spoke words Jack could hardly make out. "The what…?" Now, Jack felt alone for the first time since entering. The glass walls reflected his sudden fright despite the sun's many arms reaching through the roof for him. "Sage?" Sage had to be the only option; no other living creature was present when they entered.
Jack pulled up one side of his sweatshirt as a drop of dew fell upon the exposed shoulder. The sudden pop of the orb of water heightened the anxiousness in Jack's body. His hands lay flat against the grass and he prepared to spring at any moment, it was an old instinct…an old habit. "This is crazy," he scolded himself, his ring finger tapping the bridge of his nose. His other hand loosened the tense grip it had on his sweatshirt, letting it slide back to the edges of his shoulder. Just as soon as he did, tiny bell shaped flowers dipped against him, kissing the curves of his wound gently. The flowers that rubbed into him so, they all reminded him of someone. The flowers! The final call of the eerie spirit that hid itself…Who is it?
"Jack, are you okay?" The nineteen year old's eyes fluttered open to Ralph, who was wrapped up in the blankets of Jack's bed. "I'm fine," he replied quietly, brushing the loose strands of hair hanging around his face aside. Ralph watched shyly, keeping a short distance so his naked flesh would no longer touch Jack's as it had a few moments ago. "Why are you hiding your face like that? You look like the Virgin Mary the way you wear that blanket." The very uncomfortable Ralph dodged and rolled from every movement of Jack's hand as it tried to remove the cover on the blonde hair. "Ralph! Why are you acting so afraid? You know I'm not…"
"I'm not afraid of you, okay?! I'm not, but aren't you confused or worried?! We just…we just…" "We made love. What's wrong with that?" Jack lifted himself up halfway, stretching his body over to the other side of the bed where Ralph tried to cover himself. "But I don't love you Jack! You don't love me either! We haven't seen each other in five years, and then all of a sudden, I'm in your bed!" Ralph's entire body curled up closer together as Jack laid his arm on the cool pillow his partner's head rested on. "I can explain it simply like this…"
His backing up brought Ralph to a teeter on the bed's edge, and the fall would be painful. It was the ground or Jack. "Uh…" "There are a lot of things I've never had the chance to tell you and I might not ever get the chance to tell you..." An ivory arm swooped around Ralph's lean hip, pulling him into an inescapable embrace. "But I don't think it's impossible for me not to love you now despite what you're telling me. Every time you push me away, I'm just going to keep holding you tighter. I hope you understand that."
Jack was pleased to see a calmer expression on Ralph's face, and even though the young boy kept his arms in between the two, he didn't pull away. "W…Well!" Shot back Ralph after forcing himself not to fall to Jack's charms, "I can't say it…now…I mean. I won't say it ever…or…" Accidentally, Ralph looked towards the eyes that intently watched him. They knew everything…"Yes Ralph? Or what?" "Or…!" Ralph attempted to pull himself away, but the chains of their necklaces had tangled and as soon as he pulled, Jack went right after him.
The blonde covered his eyes with his arms as he hung half off the bed, his entire body covered by Jack's warm press. The cool chain rubbed slightly over Ralph's exposed nipple, and his blush was more evident now than ever. His position forced him to stare into those eyes…the angelic eyes that knew everything he thought. Before he could excuse himself, a hand was behind his head, pulling him into the shoulder he'd been holding onto. "I'm very glad Ralph that I can protect you for now since I know you're going soon. I hope that's okay with you."
Ralph's eyes followed a single spot of blood that had come from the 'lovebite' Roger left behind. Jack got it for defending Ralph instead of himself. The pale and thin choir boy went against the puppet master for Ralph's sake. All he wanted was…Ralph. "I…" His lips just barely touched the bloody skin, the drops painting them a deep and painful red. The words he spoke as kisses healed the painful wound were only loud enough for just him to hear. "What…?" Jack questioned, getting no answer for the one who spoke was too unsure of the words himself to repeat it. "Never mind Jack…"
"Simon…and Ralph…" Before Jack could put his hand to his eyes, they'd already been overcome by a rush of tears. Just thinking of them was devastating, but nothing else could be done. They were not his. Simon was with God…Ralph was with his girlfriend. The friend was murdered. The love was unrequited. "I deserve this punishment. I deserve all the pain and suffering because of what I did to them," Jack sobbed through clenched teeth. It's just like Roger said. "It's sad you think of yourself that way, because I certainly don't."
Jack, startled, looked up to see Sage watching over him with the same look he had earlier. "I should have told you this before, but it seems people have strange thoughts in here. Nostalgic ones usually, and I can see from your eyes that you've had the same experience." The ashamed Jack took his eyes away hurriedly, trying to finish his tears. "Well, I also see you did not pick any flowers. I suppose I'll have to help you then," Sage grinned.
After dusting off the soot that had gathered on his pants already, the smiling blonde rested beside Jack. "Did you at least find anything you thought interesting?" Thinking back to his time alone, Jack remembered the three flowers that he ran into. "Those ones…" He pointed them out one by one, watching the shopkeeper take a pair of clippers out of his pocket. "You have quite good eyes. This first one is called an Amaryllis."
Jack watched quietly as Sage swiftly cut a handful, placing them in the basket as he spoke. "You parents must have been very proud of you as a child. You were very handsome and intelligent, yeah? Always the best student, the best son. You had a perfect childhood." The oddly accurate speech confounded Jack. "How did you…?"
"Oh! And the second one you picked is the peach blossom, a very rare flower around these parts. You must have had traumatizing experiences some time ago. It seems now you are in someone else's debt. You have become a captive of your own past. Someone has control over you…Someone has tamed and broken you to a point where you aren't even yourself anymore." A pulse in Jack's heart felt sharp. "Wh…" Once again, he watched the flowers cut and placed in the basket facing him.
"The last one you've chosen is one of my favorites. The Lily of the Valley. It seems you have found a new happiness, a love possibly. Whoever he or she is, I'd say they're bringing you a glimmer of hope. You do question it, and it isn't easy, but I see things working out for you." The last flowers were placed carefully inside the basket and Sage was already making his way back. "Hurry up now. I still have a gift for you."
The choir boy was alone again, his words jumbled in every which way. "He knew everything…" As he began crawling back, Jack kept his head low and thought to himself. Could this man be dangerous? He must remember me if he knew of my past. If he's like Roger…will he torment me with Simon's memory? I'm completely defenseless now…Emerging from the lush greens, Jack rushed to the hallway. "You're in quite some hurry to figure me out aren't you?"
Once Jack was on the other side of the counter, Sage looked him directly in the eye. "I will not lie to you. All I am is Simon's brother and nothing more. You seem afraid of me, but I can assure you, I will never hurt a stranger." Stranger. So he doesn't recognize me after all…" Then how did you know those…parts of my life. Even what hasn't completely happened yet?" Jack questioned everything, his suspicions higher than ever. "A simple guess from your mumbling back in the garden," Sage replied calmly, moving some loose hair behind his ear. The mistrust seemed silly now. Jack knew he wasn't exactly a closed book. Anyone who knew him could guess what he was thinking, and this man could be no different. "I'm sorry…"
The man laughed it off as if it were nothing, taking out some tissue paper. "Think nothing of it. You were just curious. People tell me I'm strange all the time, so I'm used to questions." Jack, still embarrassed by his behavior remained soundless and kept his eyes down at the flowers being wrapped up. Each one cuddled into another, complimenting one color to the next. It was strange to think Jack was able to even find such flowers on his own. His life was grey and everything seemed missing. "I suppose I should reward you. Here you go," offered Sage, pushing the bouquet towards Jack's hands.
Trying to act courteous, and also to be polite to the one he suspected, Jack took the flowers and thanked him in a low voice. Sage excused himself for a moment, leaving Jack alone. He turned on the stool so he was facing the windows. The streets were filling again and it looked as though everyone in the city was excited for the overdue sunshine. "Still no sign of Roger either…he must not be looking for me yet." Jack relaxed himself, breathing in a calm manor. Shutting his eyes, his head rested against the counter. I'm still free for a bit.
A jingling sound disturbed the quiet and something clamped down on the top of his ear. The sound of his surprise caused another chuckle from the returning shopkeeper. "Don't worry. No needles, it's a clamp earring." Removing it to get a better look, Jack held it up towards the light. The small clamp was colored a dark purple, silver chains dangling from its bottom. "What's this flower on the chain called?" Jack inquired. "I'm glad you're getting so into this now. It's a lilac. On this earring, it's a replica of a branch. They usually grow in bushes, but that would have made for a gaudy earring, don't you think?"
Turning it over in his hand, Jack listened to the tiny ring that came from it. "Why are you giving this to me?" "More questions I see. Well, I don't know if I want to tell you what lilacs mean just yet. You'll have to come see me again to find that out." Shutting his lips together, the man pointed to them as Jack went to speak, showing him that he would not explain another word on the matter. Just like Simon… Knowing it was pointless; Jack groaned and put the clasp back in place. "I'll come back then. Is it okay if I bring someone?" "Oh? Might this be the someone you were talking about before in the garden?"
The flush had returned and Sage was already mocking Jack's dramatic expression of shock. Another explosion of joyous laughter hit the walls and swirled around them. The man seemed to live to embarrass his new young friend. "G…Goodbye!" Jack shouted and gathered his things. Once the door shut, the man blew out the extra air of his amusement. "I hope Jack brings Ralph around. I want to see how he's doing," he said to himself, resting his head on his hands to watch Jack take off down the street. "I want to see the one who changed him." I'll see him again. I know that.
Mortified by the peculiar man he'd just met, Jack made sure to rush into the crowd before he could be made fun of again, though he found himself enjoying it. The feeling slowly faded as Jack remembered what he had to do. Roger in a large crowd was never a good idea. It had happened before and…God… The crowd swarmed in all directions and the red head struggled just to move a few paces from his spot. "Excuse me! Pardon me! Sorry!" He hollered over the chatter, getting nowhere. When he finally found a break in the bustle, his feet dashed for it. The flowers remained tight in his arms just as he had seen Simon do on the island. Unfortunately, the flowers were brushing against his face and his eyes were covered. The next thing he knew, he'd knocked someone flat on the ground, dropping Sage's gift on top of them.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" He apologized, pulling the loose ends of his sweatshirt back in place. The voice that replied to him was muffled, but it was a voice he'd burned into his mind. "R…Ralph!? I…" Jack bit down on his lip, not knowing what to say. He'd just been thinking of Ralph and he wanted to see him, but what was there to say? "Oh…Jack," the blonde replied in a mellow tone while handing back the bouquet. "Angela took off with some strange guy. Have you seen her anywhere?" Strange guy?!
Jack's hands whipped to the sides of Ralph's shoulders, jolting him forward to jog his memory. "What did the person look like?! Tell me!" The aggression was surprising, but Ralph answered anyway. "He ran too fast for me to get a good look at him, but he was really thin and had a lot of dark hair. I think it covered his face. Do you know him or something…?" That's right. Ralph hasn't see Roger since the island. He only knows what I've told him, but Roger knows more…He might do something to Angela… "We should look for her. It might be dangerous for her to be with…a stranger." Ralph, worried only about this girlfriend and not the identity of the man, nodded in agreement. "Okay."
The two were just about to leave when Jack realized the bouquet was still in his arms. It would be wrong to endanger the delicate possession he'd just gained. "I'll be back Ralph!" He called and hurried to a small alley before he could be questioned. After searching gingerly through broken glass and garbage, he found a box just big enough to hold the flowers. I'll have to figure out what to do with them later…Roger will destroy these if he ever found them. "JACK! HURRY UP!" Shutting the box, the choir boy got to his feet, giving one last glance before taking off after his friend. Where could Angela be?!
----------------------
Author's Note: OH NO! Where has Angela gone?! Roger a bad bad man! Anyway, this chapter was much longer then expected. I know the other ones will be shorter. So, Sage is Simon's brother, and as you can see, he can read people's thoughts through flowers. I wanted to do something with tarot cards, but I thought this would be more fun. Well, this is the last chapter before 2007! I hope you keep reading The Curse You Gave Me once we reach a new year! Thanks again and have a great holiday! Sadly, school starts again for me on Tuesday, so I probably won't be updating this story for awhile. Thanks for your support!