So, what color stitches do you want?"
Starr glanced up sharply, having been zoning out in her dark thoughts as a hospital intern took care of her arm, and cocked her head with a small smile when she saw him motioning to several different color options.
"I thought we adults automatically got stuck with black and only six year olds got to choose a color."
"Nope- six year olds and people who look like they need cheering up."
"Because nothing says cheer up like bright pink stitches?"
"Pink, you said pink! Nice choice, very easy to coordinate with an outfit." She couldn't help herself and laughed slightly, and he grinned. "Knew I'd get ya. Alright, I'm gonna stitch you up now- arm's all nice and numb?"
"Might as well be asleep," she confirmed.
"Okay, it shouldn't be too bad, but there is a chance this might hurt a little," he warned. She shot him a look.
"Probably not worse than getting cut with the knife did."
"Point taken," he chuckled.
He had her arm stitched up and bandaged in no time at all, and started to hand over the cleaning medication until Starr informed him they had plenty at home; he nodded in understanding.
"I saw in your file that you've had stitches before; do you remember how to take care of them, or would you like me to go over it with you again?"
"Nah, injuries are old hat for me, I know what to do."
"Okay, well, in that case, you're free to go."
"Oh my God, really?" Starr asked eagerly, perking up for the first time since she'd been separated from Schuyler. He nodded, and she hopped off the bed. "Do you know where any of the people I came in with are at? Did my dad's surgery go well? Are my mom, Tea and Mr. Joplin okay, the gas didn't do anything to them? Is Hope-"
"Whoa, slow down; I'm sorry, but I don't know anything,' he told her apologetically. "I'm an intern, we're always in the dark. They just gave me your chart and all they told me was your name and that you needed stitches." Starr sighed heavily, disheartened, and hung her head low. "And there was also something about you being in here every week and a reassurance that you could walk me through it if I forgot what to do," he cracked, trying to cheer her up.
"Good to know my reputation precedes me," she laughed. "Thanks so much for your help; I guess I should get going if I'm gonna track everyone down."
He said goodbye and Starr wandered out of the room, digging her fingers through her hair in frustration as she took a breath; she hated not knowing where anybody was. She was just wondering if she should try to find her father's doctor first, or go check on her mom and Schuyler and see if they knew what was going on, when a loud, hysterical shriek interrupted her thoughts.
"Starr!"
She whipped around in surprise and saw Langston rushing down the hall towards her. As soon as she was close enough, she nearly tackled Starr, throwing her arms around her in a hug so forceful that it almost sent them both crashing to the ground.
"There you are! They said you were fine, but I was so worried! Is it me or is this hospital friggin impossible to navigate? I feel like I've been looking for you for hours, I swear, and I've been freaking. I know you said something bad was going on but I didn't think it would be this bad- holy crap, look at your clothes!"
"What are you-"
"Oh my God, what happened to your arm?!" Langston cried, her eyes wide as she noticed the bandage. "I heard part of what happened from Jess, but I didn't hear anything about you being hurt!"
"Oh, well, um, when Powell kind of snapped, he cut my arm with a kni-"
"You got stabbed?!" Langston all but screamed, her eyes wide with shock and horror. "Oh my God! Are you okay? Does it hurt like crazy? Oh my God, that's so scary! I can't believe you got stabbed! Oh, Starr, you-"
"Langston," Starr interrupted her, to her shock a slight giggle escaping her in response to her friend's hysteria. "I didn't get stabbed, I was cut, very shallowly. Honestly, it didn't hurt all that much, I needed less stitches than the time I wiped out on my bike when I was little, and I can get them removed really soon, it's not a big deal- I'm not even going to get a cool scar for my troubles."
"Alright, you sure?" she asked anxiously, still looking her over. Starr nodded. "Okay, good- whew!" she laughed nervously. "Sorry for losing it- I'm not good in high pressure crisis situations. Man, I could never have your life, Starr; put a gun to my head or a knife to my throat and I'd screw anyone over in a heartbeat."
"Langston, what are you even doing here?" Starr asked in confusion. "Shouldn't you be home with Jack and Sam? And you said you talked to Jess? Have you seen anybody else? Schuyler and I had to stay away from each other once the cops showed up," Starr sighed, feeling a pang as she recalled how guilty and pained Schuyler had looked when they'd had to separate. "And we all got taken to different areas of the hospital once we got here, I don't know how anybody is. Are they all okay? Have you heard anything about my dad's condition? Is Tea stable? My mom and Schuy and Hope are fine, right? Has anybody called Cole yet? And what the hell happened to your hair?" Starr finished her ramble of questions breathlessly, having been in such a fog that she had literally just now noticed the absolutely hideous orange streaks scattered messily through her best friend's locks.
"What happened to my…oh, that," she laughed, fluffing her hair. "I'll get to that in a sec, start with the most important question- everybody is totally okay as far as I know. We were all so worried back at the house, so when the cops called to tell us you were all at the hospital, Dorian offered to watch Sam so Jack and I could come check on everyone. Your brother went straight to intensive care to wait for your dad to get out of surgery- oh, Tea's up there too, and she's pretty beat up but stable- so I went to find everyone else. But before you have to ask, yes, I've been checking in with Jack, and your dad's surgery is over, he made it through with no complications, doctor said he should make a full recovery."
"Oh, thank God," Starr choked out, tears of relief piercing her eyes as she nearly wilted. "Can I see him?!"
"Jack said no visitors right now- he's not even conscious yet, but he's gonna text me or send someone to find you when there's a change."
"Okay," Starr sighed, swallowing her disappointment as she rubbed her eyes. "What about everybody else?"
"So far I've seen Jess, Brody, Marty, and Schuyler- I found you before your mom. Hope is perfectly fine, and Brody's got a concussion and looks like he took a baseball to the forehead, but will be okay. Marty's also fine, and I heard from her that John's alright, just still unconscious, and that your mom's a-okay too, but out like a light because they gave her a sleeping aid to help with the exhaustion."
"And Schuyler?" Starr prompted, her heart leaping to her throat when Langston hesitated; please, God, she could not take any more terror tonight.
"Oh, nothing's wrong with him physically!" Langston assured her quickly. "It's just that he was totally freaking out about not being able to be with you. It's not like this is new for you guys, and you both normally seem so okay with the way things have to be in public, but he was having a really hard time with it tonight. Like, even once I reminded him why he logically can't show any concern or care and go rushing through the hospital to be at your side, I practically had to sit on him to keep him from doing exactly that; and, for the record, you might see him as just your boyfriend, but to me he's your boyfriend, a new friend of mine, but still my teacher too, so all but pinning him down was wonderfully uncomfortable for me," she muttered, rolling her eyes before growing more serious when she saw Starr's heavy expression. "Starr, did…did something else happen at the frat house, beside your arm? Something that's making Schuyler act even more protective of you than usual?"
"I don't really want to get into the details of tonight right now," she sighed, unconsciously rubbing her neck once again and reassuring herself she was fine as she shivered at the memory; even just the mental image of Powell coming so close to slitting her throat was sending sharp spikes of fear through her heart.
"That's fine, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. I just noticed you seem a little more upset about having to stay away from him than usual too."
"I am," Starr groaned. "It just really sucks having to stay away from the one person you need most after a night like this; this night has just been disaster after disaster and it's wearing me out."
"Um, well, I have one more possible disaster in the making to add, unfortunately. I wasn't sure if I should say anything, but I figured you'd probably wanna know. Okay, um, keep in mind that I could just be crazy paranoid, but…I think Jessica totally knows about you guys!" she blurted out.
"What? Why?" Starr cried.
"I don't know, it's just that when I was talking to him about you, I could see her just staring at us with this look this really knowing look- you had to see it to understand, but I just got a feeling she knew."
"But how could she possibly…oh. Oh."
"What?"
"I just realized, maybe she knows because I repeatedly told Schuyler I love him two feet away from her and was practically sitting in his lap until the cops came," Starr groaned, rubbing her temples as her head throbbed. "God, I'm a moron; one near death experience and I forget not to tell my teacher I love him in front of my cousin. What are the odds I can convince her he's just become a really good friend of the family and I meant I love you like a brother or something?"
"Uh, not good, but you never know until you try?"
"Great, and now I have to be even more careful around him tonight," Starr muttered miserably. Langston took pity on her friend, squeezing her shoulder.
"If you guys find a good supply closet, I promise to guard it for you," she offered. Starr gave a slight laugh, winding her arm around Langston's shoulders and lightly hugging her side.
"Thank you, Langston. Hey, have I mentioned how sorry I still am for telling you to shut up earlier?"
"Your parents were being held hostage by a murderer, I think that gets you a free pass," she told her with a grin, shaking her head. "No worries. So, want me to take you to where everyone else is?"
"Yes, please, I want to see them."
"Alrighty, come on. Oh, by the way, I did call Cole, he's on his way over. I didn't know about Marty getting her memories back yet, though, so I guess that's gonna be a surprise," Langston informed her as she led the way down the halls.
"Did he seem…okay?" Starr asked hesitantly; they both knew what she was really asking- did he seem like he was going to handle this stress by running off to Asher.
"I think so," Langston replied cautiously, her tone dark, before softening and adding in a whisper. "I really hope so. I'll tie him to a chair if he makes me, I swear."
There was a moment of silence as they waited for the elevator, and Starr glanced at Langston, an amused smile on her lips.
"So, now can you tell me why you look like a tiger?"
"Oh God, I do, don't I?" Langston asked, cracking up. "Well, Jack was really quiet and shaky when we got home, and he still seemed really scared and worried about you after a while, so I was trying to think of some way to distract him and make him feel better. I remembered that he used to be like, totally fascinated by my hair and thought my streaks were really cool, so I let him do them for me. I probably shouldn't have let him mix the color too, but hey, you live and learn," she laughed. "They'll wash out eventually anyway."
"Eventually? Lang, are they even going to be out by graduation?"
"Probably, but I'm not sure."
"And you don't mind that?"
"Nah; Jack thinks it looks cool, and it got his mind off the drama for a while and made him calm down, that's all that really matters."
"You're such a good sister," Starr remarked, smiling at her softly as they entered the elevator.
"What?" Langston asked, startling. "I'm such a good what?"
"What, you don't think Jack sees you as a sister by now, just like I do?" Starr asked. "I'm positive he does- Sam too. You're there for them just as much as I am."
Langston slowly smiled to herself as she mulled that over.
"I guess you're right- I know I see them that way. I have brothers," she reflected, a giddy note of happiness to her tone as she grinned. "It just hits me all over again sometimes how cool this is."
"What is?"
"That I went from being all on my own, having nobody, to having a sister and brothers and a mom and the greatest guy in the world, and…whatever Cole is to me," she laughed. "I went from having only myself to a real family."
"A crazy family," Starr laughed tiredly as the doors opened, nodding around the hospital much of that family was currently in. "But yes, you definitely have one that loves you."
"And one I wouldn't trade, crazy or not," Langston added firmly as they stepped out and walked down an empty hall.
"Starr!"
Starr's head shot up at the sound of Schuyler's voice, and she saw him speeding towards her from the other end of the hall. All thoughts of logic and keeping up appearances vanished from her mind, as the relief she felt to see the person she'd been longing so fiercely for overwhelmed everything else. The feeling she got around Schuyler in situations like this was so powerful that she couldn't fully explain it; it was just a total sense of peace, assurance, that she had no reason to worry or be afraid anymore because everything would be alright as long as he was with her.
The second he was close enough, Starr threw her arms around his neck, even as some part of her registered how stupid this was. Schuyler seemed to be feeling the same way, because he wound his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair.
"Uh, guys?" Langston piped up awkwardly after they held each other in silence for a minute, shuffling over and trying to hide them the best she could with her small frame as her eyes nervously darted around the hallway. "I understand how you're feeling, but-"
"You okay?" Schuyler asked her simply, his voice soft but heavy with concern as he eyed the bandage on her arm, and they both seemed completely oblivious to Langston or anything but each other.
"Fine now," she answered warmly.
"Aw," Langston couldn't help cooing, before shaking herself out of it. "This is really sweet, but guys, you-"
"Starr, I'm so sorry I had to-"
"Don't, please. You couldn't have done anything differently- I'm the one who reminded you to stay away from me, remember?"
"Hate to intrude, but, that's probably what you should be doing now," Langston spoke up nervously.
They finally seemed to hear her, and Starr gasped as reality set back in and she realized how dangerous what they were doing was; she instantly, though reluctantly, let go of Schuyler and they stepped away from each other.
"Sorry; you have this strange way of making me act really impulsive," Starr remarked with a smile as she and Schuyler gazed at each other intently.
Langston quickly averted her eyes; she didn't really know how to describe it, but Starr and Schuyler just had this way of looking at each other, the way they were now, that seemed more intimate than any kiss. It was like they were having a complete conversation with only their eyes, and even though they weren't saying a word, even when it only lasted a moment, you felt like you were intruding on something really private.
"So, you heard that everyone is okay, right?" Schuyler asked her after a moment; Starr nodded.
"Have you by any chance seen my mom? Langston found me before her and I would just feel better knowing you've seen she's fine for yourself."
"I have, and she is- looks very tired but peaceful, you have nothing to worry abo-"
"Starr!"
Starr glanced behind her when yet another person yelled her name in greeting, and gasped when she saw Jack rushing their way. She quickly spun around so she was standing next to Schuyler and awkwardly positioned herself so that she was partially behind him. Schuyler glanced at her in confusion for a second, then his face lit up with understanding as he realized she was hiding her bandaged arm. The sight of his sister covered in their dad's blood would probably shake Jack up enough as it was, he didn't need to see that she was hurt herself at the same time.
Shaking his head in amazement over Starr's ability to consider everyone else's feelings first, even now, on a night that would have left most people a quivering, self-concerned mess, Schuyler quickly shrugged out of his jacket, and placed it on Starr's shoulders.
"Thank you," she whispered gratefully, not surprised he'd understood so quickly- he always did.
Starr shoved her arms through the sleeves and wrapped the jacket around her tightly; luckily, it was long on her, so it hid most of the blood, as well as her arm.
"Hey, Jack," Starr greeted her brother with an affectionate smile as he reached them, opening her arms to him. Jack put up none of his usual 'Ew, sister cooties' fight and instantly hugged her waist, releasing a shuddering breath.
"There you are," he grumbled as he let her go, his voice filled with lingering traces of anxiety. "Langston said she'd let me know when she found you but it was taking forever, I thought I was gonna have to do it myself. You…you're okay, right?" he asked hesitantly. Starr smiled playfully.
"Of course I am- didn't I promise you everything would be okay? And am I ever wrong?"
"You don't want me to answer that," he replied darkly, easily falling into the whole bickering brother and sister act, just as Starr had intended.
"Ouch- I'm gonna get you back for that one, you little brat. Hey, so um, Jack, before you left to come find me, did they tell you if there was any change with dad?" she asked casually. Jack frowned.
"No…but he'll be alright, won't he?"
"Of course he will," she stated confidently. "Again, I'm never wrong, so you have no reason to worry, okay?"
"Okay," he replied, still appearing nervous. Starr tried to think fast.
"So, anything interesting happen at the house after we left, other than you giving Langston those really cool streaks?"
"Well, uh…oh!" Jack suddenly gasped as he recalled something, turning his attention to Schuyler as his eyes lit up and he suddenly seemed much more at ease. "You broke that Kyle guy's nose!" he announced. Schuyler flinched, and looked at Jack apologetically.
"I didn't mean to lose my temper like that, I shouldn't have-"
"No, I'm telling you because it was cool," Jack informed him with a grin. "There was blood all over, and they had to straighten the bones back into place and it was so gross and neat," he told them gleefully, in the exact same way he did when describing whatever recent horror movie he'd seen to Starr- always with far more detail than she wanted to hear. "And you only punched him once; that makes it even cooler. Besides, he almost made Starr cry," he added darkly, shrugging. "He deserved it."
"I can't disagree with you there," Schuyler said, clenching his fists just at the thought of Kyle.
"What did he do?" Langston asked Starr in confusion.
Starr turned to Langston to quickly explain what Kyle had said, and as they were talking, Jack nervously tugged on the sleeve of Schuyler's shirt to get his attention. Schuyler looked down at him with a friendly smile, kneeling so he was at his level.
"What's up, buddy?"
"Jessica and Brody told me you saved my dad's life; I know you guys don't really like each other, so I just wanted to say thanks," Jack told him sincerely.
"I just did what anyone would have, it was the right thing," Schuyler replied, shaking off the compliment.
"But anyone didn't save him. you did," Jack said firmly. "Just like you saved my sister from that other guy. You didn't have to do those things, but you did."
"I don't ever want to see anything happen to your sister or anyone else in your family, Jack," Schuyler told him softly. "As far as I'm concerned, I did have to- I never could have lived with myself if I didn't. I will always do what I can to keep your family safe," he vowed.
"You really like my sister, huh?" Jack asked Schuyler after studying him carefully for a moment. Schuyler ducked his head and smiled broadly at the understatement.
"I really do."
"Good," Jack declared. "Starr's sad too much of the time; I want her to be happy." Then, as little brother instincts kicked back in and Jack seemed to grow paranoid someone might have heard him say something so mushy about his sister, he added, "But for the record, I think you're too good for her."
For a multitude of reasons, Schuyler was unable to help himself and burst into hysterical laughter over the comment, catching Starr and Langston's attention.
"Uh-oh, what's so funny?" Starr asked.
"Nothing," Jack answered quickly, exchanging a secretive grin with Schuyler as the man stood back up and they both returned their attention to Starr. "So, now that you're here, can we go to the cafeteria?" he asked his sister. "I'm hungry, and I wanna get dad some chocolate chewies for when he wakes up."
"Can you wait just a few minutes? I want to check in with everybody really quick."
"I can take him," Langston offered. "All I've had since breakfast is greasy movie popcorn, I could use a real meal myself."
"Thanks, Langston," Starr said gratefully.
Langston and Jack left, and Starr immediately turned to Schuyler with an inquisitive smile.
"Okay, really, what was so funny?"
"Oh, just the fact that your brother thinks I'm too good for you," he chuckled. Starr's jaw dropped and she couldn't help laughing herself.
"What? Already? Damn! I thought I was going to get at least a few days of protectiveness out of them before they started wishing they could trade me for you. You totally cheated with the whole punching Kyle thing- that's too flashy a move, I had no chance to keep him from liking you better at that point," she giggled for a moment before getting quiet and growing serious. "By the way, Schuy, this is going to sound a little weird, but I didn't get a chance to say this back at the house, so…thank you for punching Kyle for me," she told him in a rush. "I know I'm normally all 'Violence doesn't solve anything, just talk it out or let it go!' but he went too far, and I really appreciated what you did- what you always do, jumping in to defend me no matter what."
"Anytime," he promised her, his voice quiet but intense. "That's what you do for the person you love, Starr, it's not something you have to thank me for." Starr mulled that over for a moment, then smiled at him sadly.
"I guess in some ways, I'm still kind of getting used to having someone whose feelings for me aren't conditional," she remarked, shrugging.
And it was true; sure, Todd and Cole would both defend her tooth and nail…when she was on their good side. Whenever she did something that pissed them off or they disagreed with, she was out, they didn't seem to have any problem throwing her to the wolves or even being the first to attack. Hell, even Langston, the person Starr had her healthiest relationship with up until Schuyler, could be capable of it- as evidenced by how cold and unsupportive she'd been of Starr's feelings for Schuyler when she was still on Team Cole, or the fact that she'd basically blamed Starr for Cole's drug problem until Markko opened her eyes.
"Starr," Schuyler began quietly, feeling greatly pained that she had to say something like that. "I want-"
"I know you're about to say sorry that I've gone through that or something, but please don't," Starr said earnestly. "They've made mistakes, but I love all the people that are close to me and I'm lucky to have them…and now I have you," she added softly, her eyes warm. "And you make up for every bad thing that happened before you came along, you make it all worth it, because what I have with you is more than what most people even get to hope for. I am very lucky, and I am very happy now, so don't look like you're sad for me, okay?"
"You know you're the only person in the entire world who would call themselves lucky after a night like the one you just had, right, crazy person?" Schuyler asked in amazement, chuckling as he shot her a grin filled with pure love and admiration. "I can't believe you sometimes." Starr laughed.
"I have to throw you curveballs like that- keeps you on your toes, keeps you interested."
"You never have to work to keep me interested, trust me," Schuyler told her, with a sly, seductive smirk, that was completely unfair of him to shoot her when they were in a public place.
"Schuyler Joplin?"
The smirk instantly disappeared and Starr and Schuyler both jumped as a police offer rounded the corner and saw them.
"That's me- what can I do for you?"
"You and Miss. Saybrooke are the last people I need a statement from; sorry, I know it's not as though you have anything to tell me that I haven't heard from everyone else, but it's protocol," the officer apologized.
"It's no problem. I'll see you later, Miss. Manning," Schuyler called to her as he walked away with the officer.
"Bye, Mr. Joplin," she replied with a secretive smile.
Starr was then left alone in the hallway, the complete silence so jarring after the chaotic noises of this night that it was making her ears ring. Her head ached as the quiet allowed the thoughts she was trying to block out to come creeping back in, and Starr wrapped her arms around herself tightly, nuzzling her nose against the collar of the jacket and inhaling deeply. Schuyler's comfortingly familiar scent enveloped her, and Starr sighed peacefully; it was the next best thing to actually being in his embrace, and it did the trick to clear her head- she was good now.
Starr was just about to search out her mother when her phone rang, and she quickly grabbed it, nervously glancing around the halls for any angry nurses.
"Hello?"
"Starr?!" It was Cole's voice, strained and frantic. "Where are you?! Are you at the hospital?" he demanded.
"Um, yeah," she answered slowly, thrown off by his behavior.
"You and Hope are okay, right?"
"Completely fine."
"And my mom?!" he shouted back almost the instant she got the words out.
"Also fine! Cole, calm down, take a breath- everybody is okay, there's nothing to get upset over." Nothing to go pop a few pills over, she added to herself silently. "Where are you?"
"I'm in this goddamn hospital but I can't find my mom, and everyone I've asked either doesn't know or looks too terrified of me to answer!"
"Okay, well, again- calm down, that might help with the latter issue," she muttered. "Look, I'll come find you, alright? Where are you at right now?" she asked, walking down the hall.
"Hell if I know, every floor here looks exactly the same," he grumbled. Starr huffed in frustration.
"Take a look around- are you surrounded by trauma patients, babies, what? Give me something."
"I don't know- there's not that many people here, and none of them look all that sick."
Starr frowned, cocking her head as it was like she heard his voice echoing. She walked in the direction she'd thought she heard the noise, and said his name into the phone.
"Yeah?" he prompted impatiently. Starr gave a short laugh, definitely hearing his voice 'live' this time as well as over the phone.
"Cole, I think we're like, ten feet away from each other."
She rounded a corner, and sure enough, there he was; she hung up the phone with a laugh, shaking her head. If she were less tired and distracted, Starr was pretty sure she could have made the fact that they'd been so close to each other but had no idea into some kind of metaphor about their relationship.
"Hey," she said softly, giving an encouraging smile as she walked to his side; Cole looked like he was about to put his fist through a wall, throw up, or possibly do both. "Cole, are you alright?"
"Me? Am I…you're actually asking me that? I didn't know for sure until thirty seconds ago that that my mom and my daughter and my girlfr…and you, were all safe, so I'm not feeling too great!" he hissed back. "I just get a call from Langton, who sounds like she's losing it too, and she can't tell me what's going on, and I didn't know if I was going to lose everything," he added weakly, clenching the phone still in his hand a little tighter; Starr saw that his hands were shaking violently and she felt a rush of worry.
"Cole, everybody is more than okay, I promise," she reassured him, pulling him into a hug without thinking, just wanting him to feel better and calm down- nothing good ever came of Cole getting worked up.
He held her so tightly that it hurt, but she didn't say a word; she could feel his heartbeat slowing back down as he inhaled at a more normal rate, and she knew this was succeeding in getting him to relax.
"You didn't lose anything," she murmured soothingly. "Everybody is safe, you have nothing to be afraid of now."
Cole nodded weakly. After a couple minutes of just hugging in silence, Cole lightly nuzzled his head against Starr's shoulder, breathing deeply, and then Starr suddenly felt his entire body grow tense and stiff as his grip on her instantly loosened. She frowned in confusion for a second, before realizing what was wrong; she didn't smell like her usual self right now, which was what Cole had been wanting- thanks to the jacket, she smelled like Schuyler.
Cole pulled back slightly, enough to look her up and down, and he flinched at the sight of her all bundled up in Schuyler's coat, eyes growing hard again as he released her and took a step back.
"So, let me guess- everyone's okay because Saint Schuyler saved the day again?" he asked flatly.
Starr gazed at him in disbelief, slowly shaking her head as she felt a rush of anger; even now, in the aftermath of a life and death situation, he thought his pissiness about Schuyler was what he should focus on?
"No, actually, Brody did," she replied tightly, before giving him a pointed look. "Not that who saved the day really matters, just that someone did, right?"
"Right. Sorry," he added in a mumble, at least having the sense to look shamefaced. Starr softened again.
"It's fine. You should go see your mom now, okay?" Starr told him. "And Cole, um…prepare yourself. Not only did you not lose anything tonight, you actually gained something, and it's something good, but it's really big, so you should just be prepared for handling it."
"I gained something? And it's…Starr, what the hell are you talking about?" he asked anxiously, the shaking in his hands returning.
"Look, it's better if your mom tells you herself."
"But I just-"
Cole was cut off as his trembling hands caused him to drop his phone and hit the ground. Starr laughed gently, reaching to grab it for him.
"Wait, don't…"
Cole trailed off anxiously as she picked it up, and Starr felt her stomach twist when she saw that the background of his phone was still that same old picture of the two of them together, the one that used to be on her phone as well until she'd deleted the picture altogether several months ago.
There was a moment of incredibly uncomfortable silence as Starr wondered if she should say something to him, before thinking better of it.
"Here you go," she muttered, smiling tightly as she handed it over, before telling him where Langston said Marty was.
"Thanks, Starr," he replied tenderly, managing to muster up a smile for her.
Starr just nodded, wishing him luck, and slowly exhaled once he was gone, shaking her head.
"Oh boy," she sighed simply, rubbing her aching head. She'd already known Cole wasn't totally over her, but she'd been hoping he had at least moved on beyond the point of having her picture on his phone and nearly calling her his girlfriend.
Knowing there was nothing she could do to change how Cole felt (but seriously considering asking Langston to set him up on a blind date all the same) Starr decided to just let it go and went to visit with Jessica. She finally found her outside a small overnight room, and couldn't help but smile at the sight of her, Hope and Brody together, the couple talking quietly with soft smiles as they cooed over their daughter. Starr hung back to give them privacy, and after a minute, Jessica pointed into the room with a look that said it was pointless for him to fight, and Brody sighed dramatically, reluctantly walking inside after kissing her and Hope.
"Hi, Jessica," she announced her presence. The girl quickly turned, obviously on edge, then smiled tightly when she saw her cousin, though Starr noted curiously that she didn't quite relax either.
"Hey, sweetie- good to see you, I was worried. How's the arm?"
"Still numb and painless, and I have pretty pink stitches now," she told her with a small smile. Jessica laughed slightly, sitting in one of the chairs outside the room, and Starr sat down next to her, leaning over and rubbing Hope's hand as she talked. "So, what was that little moment with you and Brody just now about?"
"Oh, the doctors said he should stay overnight for observation just so they can guarantee he doesn't have a friggin' surprise aneurysm or something," she said, raising her voice pointedly as she turned towards the room. "And Brody acted like a big baby and tried to weasel out of it, insisting that he would somehow magically know if there was a clot forming in his brain."
"I can hear you," Brody called.
"I know," Jessica shot back, laughing. Starr couldn't help but grin- she couldn't recall the last time she'd seen her cousin so happy and comfortable with anyone.
The girls talked for a few minutes, and Starr was anxiously waiting for Jessica to confront her about Schuyler or at least give some sign that she was suspicious, but to her surprise, it never came. Instead, once they were done talking, Jessica just fell silent and seemed to zone out as she clutched Hope to her chest.
"Jess? You okay?" she prompted.
"What? Oh, yeah," she said a little too quickly, not convincing her in the
slightest.
"You know if there's one person you don't have to lie to you, it's me, right?" Starr asked softly, not wanting to push, just for Jessica to understand she was a good person to talk to if you needed someone to hear you out.
"I was just, um…wow, this sounds so stupid now that I'm hearing it like this," she laughed anxiously. "But, I was, uh, just…thinking about some stuff Powell said," she admitted quietly. She looked like she was about to add something about knowing better, and Starr quickly jumped in.
"You too, huh?" she asked. Jessica looked startled.
"You…?"
"Some of the things he said were all I could think about when I was waiting to get my arm stitched up," she confessed. Jessica gave a heavy sight.
"I know it's wrong to let the things a psycho said get to me, that it's exactly what he wanted, but…"
"Just because he's a psycho murderer doesn't necessarily mean he was wrong about everything," Starr finished for her in agreement, shrugging. "Even a broken clock is right twice a day and all that."
"Yeah," Jessica murmured, nervously biting her lip as she averted her eyes. "Starr, I can't even tell you how sorry I am," she blurted out in a rush. "I can't blame you for thinking about what Powell said about me, and Hope, you have every reason to hate me and I can't believe you didn't alrea-"
"What?" Starr cried in shock, her eyes widening. "Oh, Jessica, no! That's not what I meant! I was thinking about a bunch of stuff he said about me and my dad, not anything he said about you or the situation with Hope! I didn't listen to any of that, not for a second, because that was complete crap."
"But the thing is, it's really not," Jessica said weakly. "Yeah, he's twisted, and believe me, I hate him, but what he said about me was just a fact. I kidnapped your baby, and I got to keep the daughter I love in the end… I just got away with kidnapping without suffering for it at all."
"Because you've suffered more than enough as it is, Jessica- you deserved to have something good, finally."
"Do I?" she asked miserably. "I deserve to have something even after I stole it?"
"Jess, that wasn't you."
"Yes, it was, Starr," she sighed. "I can't keep giving myself a get out of jail free card by pinning everything on Tess and Bess. It's not like I'm getting possessed or something- Tess and Bess are just parts of me. I'm the one who kidnapped your baby, I'm the one who made you and Cole suffer for months, and there were no consequences for that. I got to keep this little girl that I love more than anything but don't deserve at all, and be the happiest I've ever been. And after everything Powell pointed out, that just doesn't feel fair to me. I owe you…more than I could ever possibly give."
"No, you don't," Starr insisted firmly. "Look, what Bess did with Hope was horrible, I'm not denying that, but you were sick, Jessica, and you got help, there's no reason to keep beating yourself up for it. And no, you don't owe me anything; I didn't do anything special by leaving her with you, it was just…right. I might be Hope's biological mother, but you're her mom. I can barely take competent care of myself, I never could have raised her- even if I'd tried, she would have ended up being taken care of by my mom and a bunch of nannies, which is so unfair to her. With you, she gets to experience a real family. She gets a fantastic mom who loves her, and a great dad and big sister who both adore her. It's more than anyone else I know could have offered her. If anything, I owe you for giving my baby such a great life, the kind I prayed she could have when I was carrying her."
"Yeah, but… the only reason I bonded with her as her mother is because of what Bess did, stealing her away," Jessica said, reluctant to let Starr relieve her of her guilt when she felt so horrible.
"Jess, since I forgive you, there's no reason for you not to forgive yourself," Starr pointed out, pausing and taking a nervous breath, hoping she could make her understand. "Look, I hope this doesn't sound really awful and callous, like I'm saying who cares that I spent half a year thinking my baby was dead, because that's so not what I mean, that will always matter, but…what Bess did, oddly enough, may have caused everything to turn out for the best. This is going to sound really corny, very chicken soup for the soul, but I don't care- I think maybe it's true that everything happens for a reason. If you hadn't had that ordeal with your alters, you wouldn't have met Brody in St. Anne's. Who knows if you would have met him at all, or if you still would have fallen in love with him under different circumstances, and think about how differently your life would have gone this year if you didn't have him- and that's a change that would have affected Bree too, she wouldn't have a father figure like she does now. If I hadn't thought Hope was…gone, I think I would have let my dad get off a lot easier for planning to steal her, and I think I might still kind of be under his thumb, letting him control me- because losing Hope was the last straw that made me decide he wasn't going to screw up my life anymore.
"I was never going to raise Hope, so she'd be with Michael and Marcie, and I'm positive I wouldn't get to be in Hope's life the way I am now if that were the case. You let me be like a sister to her, which means so much to me; with Michael and Marcie, I would have just been a passing friend of the family. And Schuyler and I wouldn't have had that connection through his mom and my baby, we wouldn't have bonded. I'm sure I still would have had a crush on him, believe me," she laughed. "But it would have just been a schoolgirl fantasy. He never would have had a reason to talk to me, we wouldn't have become friends, let alone anything else. I would have gone crazy dealing with some of the stuff I have if Schuyler hadn't been there to support me, and Zach Rosen would have come after me one way or another, but he would have…gotten what he wanted if not for Schuyler," she muttered uncomfortably. "A lot of things would have gone horribly wrong for me without him, actually. And, don't get me wrong, I know Michael and Marcie would have been great with Hope and loved her, but I just…I have this feeling she was meant to be with you guys. I can't imagine her being as happy anywhere else. I could go on and on, but I'm sure you get the idea. It's hard to believe, but a lot of really amazing things came from what Bess did. Life's kind of funny that way."
"Wow," Jessica murmured thoughtfully, rubbing Hope's back as she cocked her head. "That is a mature and surprising perspective. It's nice, though."
"And a valid point, right?" Starr pressed.
"Well, you are very convincing," Jessica conceded, the tension in her body easing out. "I guess it's just still hard for me to accept that I might actually deserve good things once in awhile when I've been so horrible in the past."
"Well you do, so accept it, okay?" Starr told her firmly, nudging her shoulder playfully. "Or else."
"Okay, okay, please don't hurt me," Jessica laughed. "Really though, Starr, thank you, I could never say that enough- you have given me the life I always wanted, and you won't even let me feel guilty about it. Thank you."
Starr just smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. There was a moment of silence afterwards, as Jessica slowly began to grin, and she looked at Starr with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"So…what was that, about how Schuyler wouldn't have been your friend, let alone anything else?"
"Oh my God!" Starr shrieked before she could even attempt to cover, her eyes widening as her hands flew to her mouth in shock; oh, crap, how had she not realized what she was saying?! Why was she such an idiot tonight?
"Ha, I knew it!" Jessica shouted gleefully, unable to help laughing at the deer in the headlights expression her cousin was sporting. "No offense, but I have no idea how you've hidden this so long if you're just blurting it out left and right like that," she teased. Starr gaped at her for a moment, just blinking as her mouth hung open.
"I'm better at hiding it on nights when I haven't nearly been murdered," she told her in a high, dazed tone, before managing to shake herself out of it and let the panic seep in around the shock. "Jessica, please don't freak out, just give me the chance to explain, okay?! I know it looks bad, and you're probably really upset-"
"No I'm not."
"But I love him, and he- wait, what?"
"I'm not upset," Jessica told her calmly, shrugging. "And honestly, it doesn't look that bad."
"…really?" Starr questioned hesitantly, starting to feel a twinge of hope.
"Yeah, really. I mean, I did freak out a little when I heard you tell him you love him and I realized what was going on, because he is your teacher, how could I not? But I just really thought about it, and…I don't know, he seems like a nice guy to me. I mean, he probably saved your and Cole's lives that night with Zach, and he saved you from…" Jessica trailed off uncomfortably, unable to finish the sentence, and there was a moment of tense silence, both knowing she was thinking that he'd saved her from Zach's sick revenge plot too. "The fact that he didn't run screaming into the night after learning what life with the Mannings is really like and was there with you tonight at all is impressive enough. But throw in him putting himself at risk in a room leaking gas to rescue your mom and Tea, and him saving your dad even though it seems like there's some seriously bad blood between them, and it seems pretty clear he's a good person. I mean, it's obvious that he's definitely not some sleaze just looking to hook up with a teenage girl he's teaching, and I know how smart and strong you are- you wouldn't be with some guy who's just trying to take advantage of you. Plus…believe me, Starr, there's no way anyone who saw his face when Powell had the knife at your throat could doubt that he loves you," Jessica informed her softly. "And you really love him too?" she asked.
"So much, Jessica," she told her earnestly, grinning happily as she thought about it. "It's like…I can't even put it into words, everything I say sounds totally inadequate compared to how I feel, y'know?"
"I do, actually," Jessica answered softly, her eyes flickering to the room where Brody where was still getting settled in for his overnight stay. "It's a good feeling, huh?"
"The best," she giggled.
"Aw, see, look at that smile," Jessica cooed as obnoxiously as possible, nudging her. Starr laughed, batting her away. "You're just too happy for me not to be okay with this."
"You're okay with it?" Starr repeated with a grin. Jessica nodded.
"Unless he suddenly gives me some reason not to, I guess…I approve. Like I was saying- I trust you, Starr, so I trust your opinion of him. Especially since, ah…" Jessica hesitated, looking like she wasn't going to finish the thought, but pressed on, a clear note of curiosity in her voice. "Especially since it seems like he's important enough to you for you to have introduced him to Hope."
"How did you…?"
"That day you, Cole and Langston came to the hospital with me for Hope's check up, when Schuyler came by, it seemed like Hope recognized him, so I just assumed…"
"Oh, um, yeah," Starr said nervously, explaining in a rush. "Whenever I have one of my visits with her, I usually take her to see Schuyler. He really adores her, and I just love being able to have the two most important people to me in the same place, and I love getting to watch them together, and he's really good with her, I swear; I hope it's okay that I do that."
"Hey, Starr, you don't have to explain or defend yourself, or ask me for permission. Your time with Hope is exactly that- your time with Hope. You get to do whatever you want, no questions asked- I know she's safe with you, it's why I was saying I know Schuyler must be trustworthy if you'd let him be around her."
"Thank you, Jessica, that means a lot to me."
"Of course. Besides, Hope wanted to see him that day, she seemed to like him, and babies are excellent judges of character," she declared, smiling to herself for a moment before glancing at Starr thoughtfully. "Hey, does your mom know about you and Schuyler?" she asked cautiously. Starr nodded.
"Believe it or not, I get the feeling she already really likes him too. And apparently Jack is already idolizing him, which is so unfair," she scoffed.
"Wow, wasn't expecting that. That's good, though! Well, between the three of us, sounds like you've got the family on board- oh!" Jessica suddenly added in a rush. "Speaking of family- for the love of God, do not let Natalie find out," she laughed. "Unfortunately, I can pretty much guarantee you that she would freak out and have him fired in two seconds flat. You know, even after Brody has proven himself time and time again, she's still kind of iffy on him just because of where we met, it's so irritating. I mean, I love my sister, and I know her intentions are the best, and I know you can't really blame someone for assuming the worst about a teacher and student or a couple of people who met in a mental institution, but…none of it makes her any less annoying when she's trying to keep you from the guy you love," she said with a slight smile. Starr just grinned, shaking her head in amazement.
"I can't believe you're taking this so well."
"Honestly, Starr, if anything, it was about time for something like this to happen," she joked. "I always knew you'd eventually take after the rest of the family; you were a good girl for way too long. Part of me was starting to think you were adopted, because there was no way Todd and Blair combined could have resulted in someone so pristine," Jessica laughed brightly.
"Hey, I got kicked out of school for fighting at the age of 5, I stole from people left and right- do you know how many credit report ratings I have ruined throughout my life? And I've already been placed on probation once, not everyone can say that- why do I never get credit for these things?" she demanded playfully.
"That's true, you were pretty insane as a child- you seem to have reached a happy medium now. So! Tell me about him," Jessica prompted.
"Well, what do you want to know?"
"Everything! Just tell me his history, what he's like, how you two became you two; sounds like it should be a juicy story."
Starr filled Jessica in on everything, from the events in their past that had led to them to each other- Schuyler's drug addiction and stealing from the hospital, his mom being her doctor, and her father blackmailing his mother and setting the events of the baby switch in motion as well as causing Leah's suicide, all the way up to their break-up and yesterday's (God, had it really only been yesterday? It already felt like ages ago) reunion. Jessica seemed amazed by all of it, and slightly amused by the end as well, which Starr questioned her about.
"Oh, I was just thinking that someday, you need to make a movie based on your and Schuyler's story, because that would be a total blockbuster," Jessica remarked with a grin. "I mean, girl gets pregnant, girl's dad uses the doctor's son to blackmail her, leading to tragedy, but then boy and girl meet when-gasp-it turns out he's actually her teacher. Despite the fact that they should hate each other and blame one another for their losses, and how forbidden they are, boy and girl actually become best friends, discover they're perfect for each other and fall in love, and have to face prior mentioned father and a bunch of psychos from his past while struggling with the whole student/teacher thing as is- it already sounds like a professional writer came up with it," she said in amazement, laughing.
"So…I take it this means nothing you heard changed your mind about giving your approval?" Starr asked nervously, needing to be sure; she was so hesitant to believe that she was really lucky enough to get through both her mom and Jessica finding out about them with no conflict.
"No! Honestly, Starr, he sounds like he's good for you. And, actually, he kind of sounds like someone else I know."
"What are you talking about?"
"Hmm…he used to be very messed up and dark, but it's almost impossible to believe based on who he is now, how he's turned it around. You had an unexplainable connections from the start, even when everyone tried to warn you away from him. Even though the circumstances you met under were supposedly so 'wrong', he actually ended up becoming the most functional, healthy relationship you ever had. You face opposition left and right. He would both die and kill for you. He's like your own little family now. He put you back together again at a time when you were at your absolute lowest, when you thought you'd be broken forever, and actually made you feel better than before the break in the first place…Starr, hello, Schuyler is your Brody."
"…huh," Starr said simply, cocking her head as she reflected. Now that she thought about it, she actually saw a lot of similarities between the two men as well. "Yeah, I guess he is," she realized, smiling softly. "Did we luck out or what?"
"That we did- Brody, I know you're eavesdropping, so don't get cocky now," she called out; Starr caught his low chuckle in response, and grinned.
She was about to say something else to Jessica a moment later when her phone suddenly buzzed and she quickly grabbed it, her smile instantly fading when she saw the text from her little brother.
"Starr? What is it?"
"Oh, um…Jack just texted me to say my dad's awake, and is asking for me," Starr answered her quietly, anxiously biting her lip as she gazed at the phone with a conflicted gaze.
"Oh, that's great," Jessica sighed in relief. "I was so worried about him. Tell him how glad I am he's alright, please- I'd visit him myself but I doubt babies are allowed in IC and there's no way I'm letting go of Hope right now. Starr," she prompted as the girl gave no response seeming very out of it.
"What?" she startled, quickly shaking her head. "Oh, yeah, sure."
"Uh, are you okay? After the way you lost it at the house, I was expecting you to be breaking your neck to get to him the second you could."
"I was too, actually," she said with a sigh. "But…remember what I told you, about how I couldn't stop thinking about some of the things Powell said about me and my dad? Well, those thoughts still haven't gone away, and I guess I just feel like when I see him, I'm going to have to get it out in the open and talk about it, which I really don't want to."
"Oh, well, can't blame you, I know I've had to face a lot of conversations that I would have done anything to get out of it. But, Starr, if you could handle facing down a psychotic serial killer the way you did, I think you can handle a conversation with your father."
"Were my father anyone but Todd Manning, I might agree," Starr laughed darkly, rising to her feet. "But I guess I have to get it over with, one way or another."