Here's chapter seven. ENJOY!

Chapter Seven

I awoke slowly, my mind emerging from my dreams gradually. As my eyes slowly focused on the clock in front of me I realized it said 7:45.

"Shit!"

I leapt out of bed, running for the bathroom where I hurriedly brushed my teeth and my hair at the same time. Not quite satisfied I yank the top of my hair back with a clip and then ran to my closet to pull on the Spenser uniform.

I was on my knees half under the bed when a knock sounded at my door. Spotting my other shoe I grabbed it and scooted back out. Hopping on one foot as I tried to get my other shoe on I headed for the door, swinging it open to reveal Tyler, also in his uniform.

"Hey. I..uhh..noticed you weren't at breakfast, so I brought you…" He trailed off as he raised his hands; one holding a blueberry muffin as big around as his palm and the other holding a small bottle of orange juice."

"Oh my God, you're a life saver." I snatched the food before throwing my arms around his neck. "I woke up super late and I was trying to get to breakfast before the cafeteria closed."

I pulled back and reached in to my room for my backpack. I paused and turned back around to pull my cell phone form the clutch I had used last night and slipped it into my sweater pocket.

Pulling the door shut after checking that I had my keys I slipped my arm through the one Tyler offered me and proceeded to eat my breakfast as he walked me out of the dorms and toward my first class. I tell you what; this pseudo boyfriend stuff is pretty cool.

Tyler left me in front of my classroom, kissing my cheek before heading towards his first class. I blushed and ran into the door trying to enter the classroom.

Taking my seat I was immediately set upon by Sarah who also took the class. She pulled the details over our date from me semi-unwillingly until the teacher stepped up to the board and began his lecture.

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I approached my first class slowly, knowing that as soon as I took my seat the questions from the other guys would begin.

"So, how was the date," a voice questioned behind me.

Apparently the questions were starting before I even reached my seat. I turned to see Reid standing behind me.

"It was fine. She's funny."

"Hmm. What'd you do?"

"Dinner and a movie."

"Boring."

I smirked, "Not the way I do it." Pulling open the door I entered the classroom and headed for my seat.

"You get any?"

"It was a first date Reid."

"So, I've gotten some one the first date."

"Picture those girls, and then picture Mara. You see a difference, 'cause I sure do."

"Guess your right there. Well, you get anything?"

"A goodnight kiss."

"No details?"

"No."

"Selfish bastard."

"I prefer gentleman."

As the teacher stood and started roll call I pulled my notebook and pens out preparing to take notes. Reid I knew would sit and half sleep while still retaining enough information to get through his homework, which would teach him enough to get through the tests. His grades weren't nearly as good as mine, but he could keep his spot on the swim team with his steady 3.2 average. Lucky bastard.

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As I headed to the cafeteria for lunch I debated going back to my room and eating there. Sarah and Kate would want to talk about the date, especially since Tyler would be there for interrogation as well. It didn't really seem worth it just to get a warm meal. But if she didn't go what would they think? Not mention that Kate and Sarah would probably come looking for her. Tyler too. Aw shit.

I heard Kate's voice screaming Mara as soon as I opened the door. I turned to see her and Sarah waving frantically. I waved back to acknowledge their presence before getting in line. Grabbing a tray I picked up a cobb salad and roll, passing on the meatloaf. At check out I also grabbed a slice of cheese cake on a whim and turned towards the girls and guys who seemed to be arguing over something.

As I got closer I realized it was about swim practice and whose time was best. I didn't realize that times were negotiable, but whatever. I sat just as Reid was arguing that a good average time was better than a single good time.

"Your average time doesn't win the meets Reid," Pogue scoffed.

"Who cares who beat who this morning," Kate interrupted. "Mara's here and I want to hear about the date last night."

"I already told you it was good. What more do you want from me?"

"Details, Mara. Many, many details," Sarah answered.

"Feel free to put in your side too Tyler," Kate said turning toward him.

"It was nice. Mara's very…uhm…nice," Tyler said as a faint blush colored his cheeks.

"Well we knew that already," Sarah said, exasperated.

"The date was great. Tyler was very sweet."

"We're gonna need more," Kate said.

"Yeah, what's with the secrecy," Reid drawled, his smirk gradually growing as glanced between me and Tyler.

"Jesus! Fine," I exclaimed. "Tyler picked me up and drove me to a giant field where we had a picnic lunch and watched a black and white movie on a giant screen. Good enough."

"Wow. That's a really good date," Kate said in wonder, before turning to Pogue and smacking his arm. "How come we never do anything that romantic?"

"Yeah," Kate questioned, turning to Caleb.

"You've ruined it for all of us Tyler," Caleb muttered as he tried to calm Sarah, telling her that he would come up with something nice for them to do on their date Saturday.

I turned my head to see Pogue whispering in Kate's ear as a blush bloomed under her mocha skin, obviously reminding her about one of their previous romantic outings.

The rest of lunch was uneventful as Pogue and Caleb continued to placate their girlfriends. Reid's teasing continued for a few minutes before he was drawn away from the table by a willowy blonde.

Afternoon classes were without incident as well, though Tyler did sit next to her in English class. He also escorted her back to her dorm after it ended, asking if she wanted to eat dinner together. She agreed and he left as she closed the door behind her.

Booting up her laptop she shed her uniform, pulling on a pair of leggings and long sweater to combat the chill of her room. She sat at her desk and opened her email. Amidst the various email alerts from stores she frequented and the random spam that made it past her filters was an email from Charlie.

Opening it, it contained only one sentence.

One reply, 421-653-2294.

Pulling out her phone she dialed the number.

"Hello?"

"Chase?"

"You're the one who posted the ad."

It was more of a statement than a question but Mara replied with, "Yes."

"What do you want?"

"My name is Mara Blake. I'd like to meet with you in person. The people who are after you and some others, maybe be monitoring me."

"When?"

"This weekend is most convenient for me, but I can make anytime work."

"Saturday. The Kona coffee place in the Atlanta airport."

"Okay. Around 5?"

"Fine. Don't bring trouble with you."

"I'm sorry to tell you this but trouble's already coming. I just want to warn you."

"I see. Saturday."

"Yes," I responded but he had already hung up.

I sat in silence for the next hour. Pulling out my notebook I filled in the little that I had learned from our brief conversation.

He didn't live in Georgia. The Kona coffee in the Atlanta airport was located just past security, so he'd need a boarding pass. He wouldn't buy a plane ticket just for their meeting. He probably lived in the southeast though. He wouldn't fly from California to Atlanta just for the meeting either. His concerns about her bring trouble insinuated that he had more than just himself to worry about. This also led her to believe he lived in the southeast as he would not want to be gone from whoever that was for more than a few hours.

Turning at the knock on her door, Mara called, "Come in."

"Hey. You ready for dinner?" It was Tyler and she could see Reid slouching behind him.

"Yeah." Standing I grabbed my coat and shoved my feet into a pair of black Uggs. I slipped my cell into my pocket and exited the room, pausing to lock the door.

It was a quiet walk to the cafeteria. I was lost in my own thoughts and hadn't managed to keep up with Tyler's questions and he eventually gave up.

As we entered I saw the rest of the group sitting at the table where we'd had lunch. Caleb was there as well. That was good. After getting our food Reid, Tyler, and I headed for the table, taking seats.

Knowing that putting it off would make things more difficult I just blurt it out. "I found Chase."

All five heads swung towards me as their mouths dropped.

A unanimous "How?" exploded from their lips as they stared.

"I had a guy I know put an ad online. I don't know exactly where he is, but I've set up a meeting with him on Saturday. I'll tell him everything then."

"Why you? Why not one of us," Caleb questioned, his face stony.

"He doesn't know me. He does know you. I don't want him spooked. I want him to trust me enough to hear me out."

"He wouldn't trust us. That's true enough," Pogue said

"Are you gonna bring him back with you?" Kate questioned.

"I doubt he'd come back with me, but I'm gonna try to get him to come back here as soon as possible. Every extra person could make the difference between life and death."

"Well that's enough serious talk," Sarah interjected, her voice overly chipper. "When's you guys' next meet?" Her voice quivered slightly and I saw her hands grasped in Caleb's, her thumbs caressing his knuckles in an attempt to get him to relax.

I saw his features soften as he pulled his gaze from his dinner plate and focused on her. "Not for another week."

"Yeah? Who against?"

This line of conversation continued as I zoned out, letting my thoughts drift back to my meeting with Chase as I absently ate.

Sneak peek at chapter 8:

Hunter's eyes flew open as he lay in bed, his arms wrapped tightly around Abby. Sitting slowlyhe looked out the window focusing his gleaming black as his Power awakened scanning the are around the house. Someone was out there.

"Abby," he whispered, shaking her shoulder.

"What is it," she asked her face sleepy until she saw the worried look on his face. "Hunter, what's wrong?"

"Someone's her. Get the bag and go to Bee. I'll meet you in her room."

Abby stood quickly pulling a robe over her jacket and pushing her feet into a pair of clogs by the bedroom door. As she pulled a small green duffel from the closet she saw Hunter pulling on his discarded jeans from the floor. He strode shirtless out of the bedroom ahead of her, passing Bee's door after peeking in to insure she was still in it.

Abby went into Bee's room, and pulled the covers of of her sleeping daughter. She quickly put a pair of sock and tennis shoes on the sleeping girls before recovering her in her favorite blanket. She paused to grab Bee's princess backpack, pushing Bree's favorite toys into it she slipped it over one shoulder.

As her gaze swept the room one last time her body was thrown back as an explosion shook the house. Scrambling to her feet she leapt toward Bridget's toddler bed, her heart in her throat.

Just as she reached it a figure appeared in the door. Before a strangled scream could pass her lips Hunter's soft voice brushed over her.

"It's alright Abby. It's just me."

Hunter quickly came to the bed, easily lifting Bridget in his arms. Grabbing Abby's hand he pulled her behind him, stopping only briefly to grab the duffel by the door.

As they raced down the stairs Abby looked around to see bits of ceiling and wall had fallen. The giant hole in the living room wall seemed to be the culprit.

Hunter pulled her around the corner toward the kitchen where Abby grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter before they contiuned into the garage.

Using the remote on her keychain Abby opened the van's side door and Hunter laid her gently in her seat before grabbing the key and heading for the driver's seat. Abby leapt into the back by her daughter, buckling her miraculously still sleeping form into her booster seat. Chase opened the garage and sped out as Abby climbed into the passenger's seat. Taking a hard right he sped away from their home not looking back.

"What happened."

"Trouble's found me again Abb's. I'm so sorry."

"Oh Hunter." Abby reached over to rest her hand on his as it gripped the arm rest. "Don't be sorry. At least we're all okay."

"Yeah. You're right." Hunter whispered as he turned his hand over grasping Abby's in his own. "At least we have each other."