Author's Note: Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Chapter 4

Ridgeway High School

September 2011

The school secretary led the Shay trio to the Principal's office. Shay immediately took charge when he entered and ignored Carly and Freddie sitting in the office by asking Franklin, "What's the problem here?"

The African-American was a little surprise at the forwardness of the unknown gentleman. "You are sir?"

Shay heard his daughter and father exchange happy pleasantries seeing each other as he answered Franklin, "Colonel Steven Shay. I'm Carlotta's father. So what's the problem?"

"Colonel Shay? I didn't realize you were in town. It's a pleasure to meet you sir," Franklin greeted the Colonel with an extended hand.

"Principal Franklin," he replied with a returned handshake.

"Well Colonel, Miss Briggs caught Carly and Freddie during study hall being, how should I put it—"

"How about in plain English?" Shay asked curtly.

Principal Franklin was surprised at the abruptness in the Colonel's question. However, he just sighed and answered, "I'm sorry to inform you that they were being inappropriately affectionate towards one another."

Shay narrowed his look towards Franklin. "I just asked for plain English and you gave me a vague answer. Are you purposely trying to waste my time?"

"They were making out in a corner of the study hall," Miss Briggs answered before Franklin could reply.

Shay took a quick glance at Carly and Freddie and realized from their expressions that Briggs was mistaken or a liar. He was betting on liar because he didn't trust that woman as far as he could throw her. If she had told him the sky was blue he would have demanded a confirmation of that observation. He turned his attention to Franklin and asked, "I assume that Mrs. Benson has been called?"

"Yes, she is on her way."

Shay nodded his head. "Well until she arrives, I would like to speak with my daughter in private for a moment."

"Yes of course," Franklin conceded to Shay's request.

Shay nodded his head and looked to his daughter. "Come on kiddo, tell me what happened."

After exchanging a brief smile with Freddie, the brunette got up and headed out the door with holding apparently discard bottled water bottle to keep a purple daisy. Spencer followed her after his father motioned with his head that he should follow his little sister out.

Granddad Shay attempted to follow them out of the office, but Shay held up a hand. "It's just Spencer and I who are going to talk to her."

"You're not inviting me to come?"

"I would, if I valued your opinion," Shay replied sarcastically then shut the door behind him.

Once he shut the door behind him, Shay looked to his daughter and asked, "So what's really going on?"

"We weren't making out," Carly emphatically denied.

Shay smiled warmly at his daughter. "I know that. You can do that at home all you like as long as it doesn't involve actual sex. I want to know what really happened."

"Oh, ah well… it started with me having a bad day-"

Spencer interrupted in a concern tone, "Why? What's wrong?"

"People have been looking at me funny and whispering all day," Carly began in a down tone.

Both Shay men looked to her confused.

Carly sighed, "They think I really don't care about Freddie or that this is just a fling like last time… that it's not real."

Both Shays responded together, "Oh."

"Yeah, so in study hall Freddie showed up with this," she answered holding up the bottle. "He just could tell I was down and was hoping to cheer me up with the daisy. He asked what was wrong and I told him what I just told you. Freddie said he didn't care what others thought and it wouldn't change his opinion about us, that it would never change his opinion and I asked him to promise. He kissed my cheek then promised. Then Miss Briggs started yelling at us and dragged us here."

Shay nodded, "Okay." He rested a hand on Carly's shoulder than kissed her on the forehead. He then looked to Spencer. "Spencer, go ahead and take Carly home. I'll deal with Franklin."

"I don't want to leave Freddie," she rattled quickly.

Shay relented, "Fine, but stay out here with Spencer. I'll deal with Franklin and make sure nothing happens to Freddie."

"Promise?"

"Absolutely."

Just as he was about to reenter the office, Mrs. Benson walked up. She immediately started glaring at Carly.

"Stop that right now Marissa," Shay demanded and pointed his finger at her.

"She just got my Freddie in trouble and I had to come down here."

"Do you honestly believe that without even asking Freddie's side of the story? Putting someone else's word in front of your son's? That's shocking coming from you Marissa."

Mrs. Benson's annoyed looked turned to one of horror as she realized what she had accidentally put someone ahead of her own son and Shay smiled as he had maneuvered her perfectly into the conclusion he wanted her to draw.

She asked in an impatient tone, "What's going on then Steven?"

"Glad you should ask," he replied with a grin.

After Shay explained the situation to Mrs. Benson, the brunette/redhead stormed into the principal's office. "How dare you accuse my son of un-gentlemanly behavior? I demand that you apologize to my son right this instant or I and Steven are going straight to the superintendent to file complaints against the both of you."

"Mrs. Benson—" Franklin began.

"Don't you Mrs. Benson me. Steven's explained to me how vindictive that woman can be and how you refuse to discipline any of your teachers for misconduct," she replied pointing at Miss Briggs who in turned looked shock at the accusation. She turned her head and glared at Shay.

Shay smirked right back at his wife's former rival teacher.

Franklin was evidently surprised this afternoon from both parents. He found it hard to believe that Spencer or Carly could be related to such a man or that Mrs. Benson could react in such a manner.

"Well?" Mrs. Benson demanded.

"I'm waiting for the same apology as well as one for taking up our time," Shay added in a detached voice. "My son is suppose to be setting up his sculpture at the Seattle Art Museum, not wasting time here doing your job."

Franklin sighed in defeat. "I apologize for this misunderstanding."

"Principal Franklin—" Ms. Briggs began, but Franklin held up a hand to silence her. "However, you can understand my position about taking such matters seriously."

Shay answered, "Yes I can, but you should have known better in regards to these two. Now since the rest of this school day is blown, I'm taking my daughter home and I expect full credit attendance for this period for her."

"I'll be doing the same," Mrs. Benson huffed out with an annoyed tone.

Franklin nodded his head. "Of course, my secretary will take care of that."

May 1980

It was the day after Evan had torn up her painting and the nice long haired boy had taken her to the school nurse. Taylor was alone in the art classroom after school, just like she always was. She had to be here this afternoon. She couldn't go home without getting this done. With brush in hand, she was halfway done with her painting of a portrait of her mother. She had her original painting clothes pinned to a neighboring easel and using it as guide to recreate her original work. As she painted she heard footsteps past in the hallway and assumed it was the janitor's as he was making his usual rounds until she realized that they had stopped at the door of the classroom.

She paused for a moment to look to see who was at the door. She hid her surprise at seeing Steven standing at the threshold to the classroom and leaning against the door frame. After a moment of thought, she waved him inside with her free hand. She doubted he wanted to step inside and for some reason that hurt inside. She realized that she may have frowned at him letting him know her disappointment in advance.

He stepped inside and it brought the briefest of smiles to her face and she turned back to her portrait. He didn't run away. From the corner of her eye she saw him walk behind her and stand to her right. He stopped and examined what she was doing in silence.

Taylor pointed to her right gesturing for him to have a seat and silently hoping he would take the offer. He took the spare seat that went with the other easel. He didn't run away.

She started back on her painting with continuing on the woman's eyes. It didn't escape her attention as she painted that he was studying her. She was use to stares or being completely ignored, but not… admired.

She would glance at him between brush strokes and notice him as well. He was taller than her by a good half foot and his brown hair was nearly shoulder length and some brushed behind his ears. He had a sweet and comforting smile. She then realized that to her, he was cute. The artist would bite her lower lip every time she glanced at him and wondered if she could get away with it without him running away.

Taylor was finally done and sat her brush down. She took a moment to admire the portrait. She knew her father would like this one. The only thing that brought her back to the real would was Steven whispering, "Your mother."

She turned to look at him and gave him a nod. She tried to smile at him, but she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her cheek and cringed. Out of instinct her hand flew up to the side of her face. She blinked and tried to push the pain away, but she felt her eyes moistening.

She looked to him in surprise when she felt his hand slip between her fingers and bandage and noticed he was giving her a bashful smile.

He whispered to her, "Just squeeze my hand until the pain stops. Don't worry about squeezing too hard."

Taylor obliged and squeezed hard for several seconds to distract her from the pain in her cheek. After the pain subsided, she loosened her grip, but didn't let go. She held on and laid their clasped hands on her thigh. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want to let go of his hand. Maybe she was afraid he'd run away or maybe she would just wake up.

She turned over his hand and noticed the scrapes and cuts on his knuckles. With her left hand, she gently guided her finger tips over them as if to check to see if they were real then noticed the blood spots on the motorcycle jacket sleeve. They were both real and he had earned them in protecting her. She looked up to see his brown eyes and she reached up to his left eye. With the softest of touches, the pads of her fingertips outlined the yellow discoloration around the eye socket as she just studied his eyes. The brunette was surprised when he slightly leaned into her touch.

The brunette dropped her hand and turned her attention back to the painting. She enjoyed the silence and admitted to herself that she enjoyed the company of the cute boy. He was… nice.

"Your mother's very lovely," he whispered and she smiled inwardly. He was a nice boy, troubled, but nice nevertheless. She knew smiling was not the best option, but since she was still holding his hand, she squeezed it in the hopes that he would understand. What surprised her next was his next question: "Do you want me to take you home?"

She risked smiling and nodded her answer. They got to their feet together and she went about her business to put away her supplies and smock. She almost in reverence took down the two torn pieces of canvas off the easel and into her book bag. She then slung the old military backpack on her shoulder.

"Will that be safe here overnight?" she heard him say over her shoulder. She took a quick glance at the portrait then to him and nodded. As she looked at him again she bit her bottom lip.

"What?" he asked in a curious tone.

Taylor didn't know how to answer him so she decided to risk it and kiss him on the cheek. She couldn't bring herself to see his reaction from being kissed by her, so she looked down at her feet. She heard him clearing his throat in obvious surprise, but couldn't look up at him. What surprised her however was that he replied, "That was… nice."

She immediately lifted her head and smiled the best way she could at him and he smiled back.