AN: Pretty much all the vampires and a bit of the wolf-pack belong to SM.
I don't even own Trisha, Ethan, David, Taylor, or any of the other wolf kids. They belong to yay4shanghai. She's just letting me borrow them for a little while because she rocks and doesn't mind sharing!
Big shout out and Thanks to my very awesome friends yay4shanghai (for being the most awesome beta imaginable and pushing me to be a better writer) and KupKakes09, both of which keep me on task and give me the very best ideas! Don't forget to show them some love!
Also, check out these other authors: She's A Boozer, Call Me Embrys, Zuzak, Augustblack, NataliaNicolette, and twihardcaligurl.
I'm assisting augustblack and zuzak with another story called "Sunset." It's a Sam/Bella fic and the first chapter's already up! Be sure to give it a look because it won't disappoint.
One hundred points if you can tell me what song this chapter's title comes from!
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Chapter 19: "Lace Up Your Shoes"
ETHAN'S POV
I had known Billy Black all of my life and had never really seen him as a scary man. Intimidating, yes. But never really scary. He was man to be respected. That was one of the first lessons all new wolves learned, that although he himself had never been a wolf, the legends of our people ran deeper than just words to him. They ran through his veins, in his blood, in his son and daughters, in Trisha. If our pack worked as a monarchy, the Black family would no doubt be the royal family. And the patriarch, Billy, was the go-to source when any type of problem arose. Between him, Sue, Old Quil, and now Sam, no problem couldn't be solved. But now I was the problem.
Sue pushed Billy out to meet us as we piled out of the van. Sam stood back on the porch, leaning on the railing and looking more domineering than I had ever noticed before.
"Ethan, it's good to have you back. We've all missed you," Billy said, shaking my hand.
"Thank you, sir, but I seriously doubt everyone missed me," I said. I nodded up to the porch and watched David Uley open the screen, taking his place to stand next to his father.
"Well, I wouldn't say that, son," Billy said while giving me a small smile.
Sue hugged me. "Why don't we go ahead and get this started?" She said. Sue was another essential element to the pack. Not only was she the mother of two wolves, she was the only woman to sit on the council of Elders. She took her job very seriously and in every decision she made, she looked to the heavens for guidance, including that of her long-dead husband, Harry.
"Sure, sure," I said, following everyone else into the house with Dad on my right and Solace on my left.
As we gathered in the Black's den, I looked around to see who was in attendance. It was no surprise that most of the pack was there, but also most of the retirees were there, as well. Solace noticed too.
"Uh, Billy, I thought this was a council meeting. Why the hell are all these people here?" Solace asked.
"It's a pretty important issue and the whole pack is having to deal with. Not to mention, that it also involves the children of three now retired wolves," Billy said to Solace before looking around the packed room. "That said, this is not an ambush. If you have something to say to Ethan than you sure as hell better make sure you say it civilly and if even one person gets out of line, so help me, I'll kick you all out of here faster than you can say 'Jacob Black.' Everyone got that?"
There was a soft rumble of "Yeahs" and "Uh-huhs" through the den.
"Good. Now, let's get to the actual cause of this meeting," Billy straightened up and Sue sat down next to him. "I want you to tell us why you think you're here. And try to remember that my granddaughter and Paul's daughter is involved and we don't necessarily need details."
Solace patted my shoulder. "You can do this," he said.
I cleared my throat and felt the room tense as I opened my mouth. "I, uh, I had sex with Trisha."
"And who's imprint is she?" David asked from across the room.
"Billy, can anyone just speak out like that?" Dad asked, looking at a tense David.
Billy looked between us and I swear I heard a little chuckle escape his mouth.
"In this case, I think it would be safest for David and Ethan to say what they need to with a room full of bodyguards," Billy smiled. "Now, Ethan answer David's question and continue."
I grunted a bit, mad that I had to continue just to justify David's idiotic routine to get me to admit outloud what I'd done.
"Yes, I get it, David. She's your imprint. I fucked her and that's against 'the rules,'" I said, making the quote signs with my fingers.
"Don't you dare talk about Trisha that way!" David yelled.
"Like what? I fucked her and that pretty much sums it up," I said.
"Did you have feelings for her at the time?" Embry asked.
I looked down to the wooden floor. "Of course, I did. I love, er loved her."
"We get it, dumbass. You love her, la ti freakin' da! The rules say…" David started but I cut him.
"The rules? The rules are idiotic and archaic," I argued back to him. I looked at David who was scratching his head, probably trying to figure out what I had just said. I almost asked Billy if he had a dictionary handy to help him out a little.
"So now our rules and traditions are stupid?" Seth asked. Seth's loyalty had once been neutral, but knowing that he had imprinted on an Uley, he wouldn't be neutral anymore.
"They are when they take away a person's free will," I said. "Since when did we stop letting our women think for themselves?"
"That's got nothing to do with this!" David growled at me. "You fucked her! You fucked my Trisha when you knew she was mine!"
"Really?! She's just a possession to you? An object to have at your disposal, nothing other than a baby maker to carry on your wolf gene? Someone to make you look smarter than you actually are?" I knew I was hitting a little below the belt, but I was sick of losing, of being the only one forced to ever give up anything in this fucked up love triangle. I knew his belief in the imprint held partly on that fact, the fact that she wasn't just his soulmate but had more to do with that fate had chosen her most likely to get knocked up by David Uley.
"Hell, no! You know that's not what I meant!"
"No, or I wouldn't have brought it up," I replied, trying to remain calm, watching David grow angrier with each rebuttal I provided.
"You broke the laws. You had sex with an imprint. I'll say it again, she was and is mine!" David gritted his teeth.
Why must we feel the need to become that person that we aren't? Why did I feel the need to revert back to the primitive caveman inside me? I don't know for sure. But I didn't think about any of that before I opened my mouth.
"Well, she certainly didn't say that when I was inside her," I blurted out.
I've never seen Paul move as fast as he did then. His face was hard and he was speaking through his teeth. "Do not EVER discuss my daughter in that manner, do you hear me?"
I nodded.
"I want to hear you say it!" Paul was in my face.
"Yes, sir," I said.
Billy looked at Paul, nodding, almost as if he was praising him for standing up for this granddaughter.
"I realize Trisha is not the innocent victim in this. She willing participated in having sex with both of us—"David started but was cut off again, this time by Paul.
"Wait…You had sex with Trisha, too?" he asked.
I couldn't help but smile at the hole David had just dug for himself. David's face was a look of horror. I was shocked myself, knowing that Trisha would sleep with him, but I guess I wasn't one to judge, remembering for a moment my interlude with Marissa.
"It would appear that Trisha won't be wearing anything white on her wedding day," Taylor chuckled next to me. I wanted to laugh, as well, but I was enjoying the "go-to-hell" look Paul was giving David at the moment. I should've elbowed him in the gut for talking about my love like that, too, but again, I knew David was probably about to get the beating of a lifetime from Paul, and I did not want to miss that.
"I thought you knew? She said she told you and Rachel she thought she was pregnant," David said.
This kept getting better. Now, not only had the love of my life had sex with my now archenemy, she thought she was pregnant.
"Man, I think Paul's head might actually explode," Taylor whispered. "See how that vein right there keeps popping out?"
"Is she?" I heard Sam ask.
"No, you know that. Or did you forget Mom passing out when I asked how we'd know? And then I told you the day she called and said she got her…her…you know what," David said, raising his eyebrows.
"What was it she got, David?" Now Solace was just messing with him. He knew very well what it was but nothing would be funnier to us and more traumatic to David than to have to talk about Trisha's menstrual cycle.
"You know…she got her thing that comes every month," David said, watching as both Taylor and Solace pretended to have a look of confusion on their faces. "Damnit, she got her period!" David finally yelled out. But the hilarity of the situation quickly faded when we saw the look on Paul's face.
"You knew, Sam?" Paul asked. "Of course you wouldn't say anything, right? It's okay because he's a boy? He looks cool because he's not a virgin anymore and my daughter suddenly becomes the pack bicycle? Everyone gets a turn?" Paul was fuming and I could almost see tears forming in his eyes. His face showed hurt, betrayal and disappointment. Billy flinched at the thought of his granddaughter in this light.
"I'm sick of this," Paul grunted out. "Goddamn, son-of-a- bitch! Trisha, get the fuck down here now!"
How could I not have caught her scent earlier? As soon as she hit the first step on the staircase, my senses were overwhelmed with the familiar apple and cinnamon. She had grown up a little, filled out since I had been gone. She was still as beautiful as I had ever imagined, and I smiled watching her almost flutter down the stairs.
She didn't look at me. Or David. She didn't even look at Billy or Paul. Her beautiful doe eyes stayed glued to the floor.
"You are to stay away from both David and Ethan until we figure out what the hell is going on," Paul said.
My angel opened her mouth. "Yes, Daddy."
Paul looked at everyone in the room with disapproving eyes. "Go on back upstairs now," he said to Trisha. She obeyed, fluttering back up just like she had on her way down.
Sue was the one to finally end this confrontation. "Bottom line is this. Ethan, do you admit to having sex with another wolf's imprint? Just answer yes or no."
"Yes," I said.
"And did you know the consequences of that when you did it?" Sue asked.
"Yes," I answered. If I was going to be facing the wrath of hell, I might as well be honest and hope for a little mercy.
Sue turned to David. "Do you have any intention of following through with your right to challenge him?"
David grunted, blinking hard. "No."
"Then it's settled. No fighting, no more sex with other wolf's imprints, and we'll all get along," I couldn't help but smile at how simple Sue made it sound, knowing it was going to be nothing of the sorts.
"So, I think that concludes our meeting," Billy said.
"One more thing, are you planning on patrolling again?" Embry asked.
I nodded to him. "If that's okay."
"Of course. I just need to work you into the rotation. I'll make sure you and David aren't ever working the same shifts," Embry said. I knew, though he tried to be impartial as the current Alpha, he could only side with David, having been in David's shoes.
"Thank you, Embry," I sighed.
Most everyone was gone as soon as the meeting ended. Trisha was still upstairs and Paul had joined her. I could faintly hear him telling her what had been said and heard her soft sobs as she explained to her father that she was sorry she was such a disappointment and that she wasn't a harlot. I saw David, too, cringing at every tear drop we could hear hit the floor. Paul was trying to sooth her, but it wasn't working. Eventually, I decided I couldn't listen anymore. I made my way out the door, sensing David behind me every step as I stopped in the yard.
"What'd you want, David?" I asked curtly.
"I'm not gonna hurt you, if that's what you're worried about," David said with a smirk. I had to admit I was a little afraid. I was what you could call a lover, not a fighter. Sure, I was a wolf but I didn't really enjoy fighting like the others did. Plus, David was always bigger than me and even as friends I tried not to mess around physically with him too much, because it was just easy for him to lose control.
"Then why the hell are you following me?" I asked him.
I could see David's animal instincts take over, as he started circling like we did when we were about to attack in wolf form. His eyes showed the most emotions I had ever seen from him before, though. He was clearly hurt, scared, confused, worried…all wrapped into his dark eyes.
"David!" Mark yelled from the porch.
I stood perfectly still ready for the impact I knew was coming. He lunged at me, only to be sideswiped by Embry.
"David Samuel Uley!" Sam picked David up, but David was still intent on coming at me. I couldn't help but not laugh at the sight of Mark, Sam, and Embry holding David back, especially after David had just convinced the pack he had no intention of hurting me.
"You stay the fuck away from my Trisha! You fucking hear me! If I so much as see you fucking breathe in her fucking direction, I'll rip your fucking throat out!" David was angry. This was the angriest I'd ever seen him, honestly.
I nodded to him and walked away, hearing him fussing with the men holding him back. So much for my welcome home.
TRISHA'S POV
I watched him walk away, seeing the three giant men holding David back with all they had. I had sat quietly for most of the meeting, just listening and trying desperately to maintain any self-respect I had as they pretty much ruined my already tainted reputation. I almost wondered if I shouldn't just put a sign on the door, have the wolves line up, and I'd just take care of all of them. That's how I felt at the moment, like nothing but a piece of ass.
My poor Dad, forced to sit and listen to boys discuss having sex with me. I hadn't been his sweet, innocent little girl in a long time. But any of his trust I had, I lost that day. I felt…worthless.
Ethan…my first love, my love. Seeing him, smelling him brought it all back so painfully, I loved him still so much. He did and would always hold a piece of my heart.
And then, seeing David so angry. I knew there was no way he would keep up his vow to not kill Ethan. He proved that that wasn't a possibility. Hell, it took three wolves to keep him at bay and I doubt he was angry as he could get.
David would kill Ethan. And then Ethan would be gone and every ounce of life David had would leave with him, knowing the pain he would cause to so many people. Because David, my David, couldn't live with himself, wouldn't be able to face his pack, his friends, his family, Ethan's family, and most of all, he wouldn't be able to face me. And how could I be with him. How could I love someone who killed such a huge part of my existence.
I wasn't choosing, though to some it might seem that way. I couldn't choose, how could I choose between them. No I couldn't, not anymore, not knowing the love I had for each of them. A love, that ironically, was as different as they were. But it didn't matter to me. I love them both, each for different reasons. And I would do what needed to be done to save them, save them from each other and themselves.
I knew. I knew I had made my decision, what needed to be done. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, this wasn't going to be a fairytale, not that it ever was, and when it was over, I would no longer be the girl I once was.
ETHAN'S POV
It was good to be home. To finally have Mom and Dad and my brother and sisters. I'd managed to stay away from her for a week, feeling quite honestly like I'd lost her to David. It was bittersweet, in a sense, knowing that she could finally be happy. I knew, though, that this wasn't over with David. I wanted to be able to put this behind me, but he wasn't going to allow it.
I'd grown up since the last time I'd been in La Push, and fighting like a little boy whose toy had been stolen didn't appeal to me in the least. The only thing that mattered to me anyway was Trisha's happiness. Not that I wanted to have lost her to my former BFF, but hey, what can you do?
I spent that peaceful week doing whatever the hell I wanted. If I wanted to go out, I went out. If I wanted to phase, I did. I didn't worry about David. If he wanted me, he knew how to find me, and if he wanted me dead, then so be it.
Today was one of those days when I decided to explore. I walked through the forest, stopping to spend time meditating and admiring the beauties of nature I'd missed in South America. I went to the apartment above Quil's shop. I hung out with Brady for a bit, not really wanting to, but Seth refused to leave his room while I was there, and at least this way I could lay down the law for Brady as to his intentions for my baby sister. It was bittersweet though, knowing that Seth had once offered me a place of refuge and now wanted nothing to do with me. My final stop was just for old times sake, another reminder of my past, something I could try but could never escape. I decided to end today's expedition at the library.
As usual, the library was completely quiet, void of all but a few high school kids, obviously less than thrilled to be here. I couldn't help but notice the few elderly men in a back corner reading romance novels, strategically placed behind hunting and fishing magazines.
Then I caught the scent. That damn scent.
"Fuck," I whispered to myself, hearing her humming and smiling, shelving books in the Fiction section. I should've turned around and ran like a freakin' Leah Clearwater (who was the fastest wolf I could think of at the moment).
"La, la, la, la, l…" she saw me.
"Shit, fuck, shit," I mumbled under my breath. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. There Trisha stood, with a copy of Brave New World in one hand and 1984 in the other. She nodded her head to the side and pointed to an empty study room.
"Can we talk?" she mouthed to me and against my better judgment, I nodded affirmatively to her. She put the books down on a table and walked to the room, closing the blinds and shutting the door behind her. I waited about a minute to join her, walking in the door to be met by the warmest, most welcoming hug I had received since I got back to La Push. She felt amazing, I had forgotten how good she felt in my arms, the tingling current that ran between us.
"Happy to see me?" I asked, hugging her back, again against my better judgment.
"I am so happy you're okay!" She said, rifling her hands on my shirt almost like she was patting me down.
I could see the torment and internal strife in her eyes. "Ethan…"
"Ray, it's fine. You know, I knew you'd give in anyway." It was true. In the back of my mind, no matter how hard I wished that it wouldn't happen, I knew the imprint was too hard to break.
"Is that what you think? That I've forgotten you, forgotten how much I love you? That's not possible, Ethan. Everyday that you've been gone, I've thought about you, prayed for the day that you would come home, safe and sound," Trisha said. I started to look away from her, knowing if I stared in her eyes too long she would have me trapped, her love not letting me go. "If you thought that for a single moment, I didn't love you, then I should be the one doubting you." She started to walk out but I moved in front of the door, stopping her escape.
"You should never doubt me when I say that being gone, away from you, was torture. Ever minute that I tried to think of something else, tried to live in the moment someplace else, you were there. I carried you in my heart everywhere I went," I whispered.
She moved closer to me, stopping in front of me. "Ethan…I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I drove you away, I'm sorry I took away that part of your life…I never meant to…I'm so, so sorry…Please, please forgive me for hurting you…" Her words were intertwined with sobs. I could see it in her face and hear it in her words. She genuinely loved me. "When you left, I knew I'd made a huge mistake and I screamed for you to come back but you didn't. You were gone, I had pushed you away. I'm sorry…"
I lifted her chin with my finger and looked into her magnificent eyes, seeing their beauty even when filled to the brim with tears. She moved her hand to my cheek and I leaned into it. God, how I loved this girl, I thought to myself. She put her arms around my neck and I lifted her off the ground, pulling her close to me. She cried into my shoulder as I rubbed her back. She surprised me then, placing one single kiss on my neck and causing my bones to turn to mush. I pulled her lips from my neck and looked her in the eyes. I placed a hard, loving, passionate kiss on her lips, not wanting to let go, ever.
I pulled her to look at me. "I knew it was going to be difficult, coming back here. I knew seeing you with him would crush me. And I knew David would be pissed, but I didn't think David would want to kill me so bad, but whatever," I said in a very solemn voice, inhaling the exquisite scent coming from my Ray of sunshine.
"I've been thinking a lot about David's behavior. I'm not going to lie, it scares the shit out of me. Watching him circle you like that. It scares me, and I don't think you're not safe," a look of concern covered my beauty's face.
I tried to convince myself that she was wrong. More than anything I didn't want to worry Trisha, but deep down inside, I knew she was right. I couldn't in my right mind spend the rest of my life living on eggshells, worrying that David Uley was around the corner to pounce on me. It wouldn't be fair to anyone of the three of us.
I thought for a minute, trying to figure out what I should do, and it hit me. I had a flashback to a time long ago in Billy Black's garage. A promise we made to each other…if things got too bad, we'd run. Run as far as we could, start over as the people we wanted to be, not the people we were thrust into becoming. I could see it in her eyes, too. She knew that was our only option, the only way to save all three of us.
"Do you love me? Love me, love me? Because I have an idea, but I won't even tell you unless I know for sure," I said to her, looking deep in her eyes and knowing that even if her words might be a lie, her eyes would always tell the truth.
"I love you very much, Ethan," Trisha didn't take her eyes from mine and I knew she was telling the truth. I could see, too, that she knew that the wheels in my head were spinning and that, more than I probably realized, she knew the idea I had devised.
"You know what I'm thinking, don't you, Ray?" I asked her. Her doe eyes peaked out from under her sultry lashes. She nodded to me.
"I know you just got back, but…"I stopped her.
"I will go anywhere to keep us together and safe. I love you, Ray, I always have," I whispered in her ear, pulling her to my chest.
"I love you, too," she whispered.
Where the hell were we going to go? How were we going to pay for it and what were we going to do when we got there? This was too much shit for me to process right now. I had to go home, think, and then make a decision. One thing I was certain of, however, was that the sooner we got the fuck out of this town, the better.
"Tonight," I mumbled.
"Huh?" Trisha asked.
"We'll leave tonight," I answered her. "I need to go home and figure out where we're going, but I'll be at your house at midnight, okay?"
"Ethan," she whispered. She only said my name like this when she was going to say something she thought might disturb me or when she really wanted something.
"Yes, dear," I said into her hair.
"Don't get mad, okay?" She asked moving to look me in the eyes. "I have to see him, one last time. This is going to crush him. At least let me have the opportunity to spend a few more minutes with David," I couldn't deny her that, especially since my family was going to be devastated.
My Mom…my poor Mom…with the awkward teen life of Taylor and my inability to stay put, I know she was praying my sisters would be less of a handful. I would no doubt miss her more than anything about life here.
"Do what you need to do, Ray. I'll pick you up at midnight, your bedroom, okay?" I couldn't help but smile. We were going to finally be together, the way we should have been for the last few months. Romeo was finally getting his Juliet.
She smiled at me and leaned up to kiss me. I returned her smile, mid-kiss.
"Lace up your shoes, princess," I said to her. "It's gonna be quite the trip."
TRISHA'S POV
I had spent two more hours helping Helen at the library, before heading home at six. Six hours, that was all I had in La Push, and as happy as I was to be leaving with Ethan, I was a little scared. I had never been more than thirty minutes from my parents for any extended period of time in my entire life. Once, I tried to go to camp in Idaho and my parents had to turn around before they'd even crossed the state line to come get me. And Grandpa Billy. I couldn't bear the thought of being away from him for, well, for as long as it took to keep us all safe and alive. I would miss the person that had so quickly become my friend, confidant, and shoulder to cry on when everything seemed to have gone to shit, Mark. There would never be another Mark on this planet, no matter where I was or what I did.
One name hurt my heart more than any of the others…David. He had worked all day today and I called to see if I could come by for an hour or so. I was saying goodbye. He didn't know that yet, wouldn't until the morning, when he found the letter I had just finished writing him. He didn't deserve to feel what was coming, and I couldn't tell him why I was doing this. Why it was important for me to go was something he'd probably never really fully understand. Hell, I was part of the plan and I didn't even fully understand my rationalization of it.
We sat on the couch at the Uley's house and for the first time in a long time, he didn't stop me from touching him or him touching me. His hands were all over me, my ass, my breasts. His lips were on my neck, my mouth, my jaw. It was the most making out we'd done since we had sex. I unzipped his pants and shoved my hand in his boxers, kissing his lips like I would never let them go. I traced his face with my finger tips, not wanting to forget a single line or blemish. The moment I felt him start to release and his breathing changed, I started crying.
"What'd I do, Dollface? Was it too fast? Did you want me to hold out on you?" David asked, only making me cry harder.
"No, you're fine, David…I just…" I couldn't stop crying. "I need you to take me home now, okay?"
It was 10:30 and I wanted a chance to see my parents one last time, even if they were just asleep in their beds. David carried me out to the car bridal-style, trying to keep a smile on his face, but letting it go everytime I cried harder. We pulled up to the house and he kissed me on the cheek.
"Good night, my Dollface. I love you," he whispered to me.
"Good night, my David. I love you. Please don't forget that," I whispered the last part, knowing he would hear me anyway. I ran for the front porch before he could call me back.
As I crept in, seeing all the lights off, Dad popped up from the couch.
"I'm awake! I'm awake! Captain Commando's ready to go again, Rach!" he yelled.
"It's just me, Dad," I said. "That is just so wrong! Captain Commando? Who names their penis?" Obviously ironic since I had in fact named David's penis, Wolf.
Dad was wiping the sleep from his eyes. "Shows how much you know. I was referring to a famous cartoon that was popular when I was a kid."
I stopped and looked at him. "Seriously? A cartoon about a naked army dude? I don't think so. And what interest would Mom have in that?"
I heard him mumble something to the effect of "more interest than you'd think."
I ran to the kitchen, put a note for Mom and Dad and one for Grandpa Billy on the counter, and then back to Dad's place on the couch.
"Good night, Daddy," I said, hugging him around his neck, kissing his cheek, and placing one small red apple in his hands.
He smiled at me and kissed my cheek. "Night, Trishabug. I love you, baby girl."
I walked to their bedroom to see Mom fast asleep, with no interest in Captain Commando at the moment. I watched her for a minute, trying to do the same thing I had done with David, memorizing her face so I could take her with me everywhere I went.
"I love you so much, Mom, and I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me," I whispered next to her ear, feeling a few tears escape.
She rolled over and I thought I'd woken her. "Paul, shut your yap. I'm cold," she mumbled.
I kissed her cheek and went to my bedroom. I had fifteen minutes to pack a small bag. What the hell do you take with you when you runaway? Peanut butter and water? That didn't seem right. So I shoved two pairs of jeans and a couple t-shirts in my backpack, as well as my toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant, and three pair of panties.
The knock at the window startled me and I opened it to Ethan's smiling face. I could see the redness in his eyes, too.
"You ready, my love?" he asked.
I touched my lips to his, softly and slowly. "Now or never," I smiled to him.
"You got your passport?" he asked.
I reached over to my bedside table and pulled it out putting it in the front pocket of my pack. He held his hand out to me. This was it. I took one last look around my childhood bedroom and then grabbed Ethan's hand. I had no clue where we were going, how we were going to get there. The only thing I knew was that I would be with Ethan, and that was all that mattered.
*NEXT CHAPTER: "Are you kidding me?"
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Second AN: So, only the epilogue remains. Then on to the sequel, which is to be called Make Up Your Mind, from a Theory of a Deadman song and recommended by KupKakes 09!