Hey you guys. StylishFashionista here. :) I'm finally updating after such a long time! XD I'm really sorry, but like I explained on my new Miss Miami chapter, I had a huge Science project and this and next week, I have like 15 tests, so please forgive me. I was so happy with all of the great response for the first chapter. I hope you guys like this one just as much! We are off to reviews!

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Bonjour10-I know right? I feel so bad for her! No prob really. I like to learn history too, and it's really cool to read about it and read fanfics about it. I always include info about historical stuff in my AN in case no one knows what I'm writing about! XD Some people don't do it, and I find that a bit rude because some people still want to read your story and when they don't know what it's talking about really upsets the mood... :/ Anyways, thank you so much! :)

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*insert disclaimer here*

I think we get that by now... XD

Most of the walk to his house was in silence. My tears had successfully dried up, but my skin was feeling dry and my eyes were burning, especially at the sight of intense light (well, I didn't know whether you would call the full moon and street lights intense, but oh well). I was really craving a wet rag at the moment; I didn't really care if it was filthy dirty or sparkling clean; I just really needed to get that dry feeling off my skin. The windy dirt streets of Gettysburg made it feel like we were walking for eternity. I was getting so annoyed.

At that point, I was even questioning his reliability. He was a complete stranger and I was allowing him to take me to who-knew-where. For all I knew, he could be leading me to an abandoned ditch or a dark alley and leaving me there alone. I would of never expected myself to do this in my life. In fact, I remembered how my dad and mom would always repeat to me, "Never ever go with strangers."

But my mom... My dad... I felt tears rushing to my eyes at the thought of my passed parents. Both of them were dead, and my house was engulfed in flames. I had no choice. He offered, and I would of been an idiot if I didn't accept. I couldn't be homeless for any longer, calling the dirt streets my sanctuary for the rest of my (if I did, SHORT) life. If I did, I wouldn't have any food, water, shelter in case there was a storm coming up... I would die in give-or-take a couple weeks. At least I could hold on to the little piece of hope I had for living in an actual home with the man.

And he even said that he had a son... What was he like? Was he nice like his father or mean and sinister like the Confederates? And were there more people living with them? How about the son's mother? Did they have aunts, uncles, or cousins living there as well? Grandmothers and grandfathers? I had no clue what to expect with this man, and I was shivering out of fear.

He abruptly turned to me, and I looked at him dead into his eyes, hope shimmering through my eyes.

"Hey, Jasmine, I'm happy you're staying with us," he smiled.

I almost raised my eyebrows at that. Almost. If I really did, that would of been rude. But that was seriously all he had to say? Nothing more? Wow.

I ended up smiling back. "Thank you for having me. It really means a lot that you would help me like that."

"No problem," he shrugged it off. "I really love to help people in need, and besides, I don't really mind at all."

I knew he didn't mind at all, but what about his son? And what about anyone else living there with him? "Do you think anyone else would mind. I mean, I would understand if they do because I'm kind of imposing on you guys..."

I ended up trailing off, having nothing else to say or add to that, and he shook his head to that. "Oh, there's no need to feel that way, Jasmine! I apologize for that!" I immediately was taken aback by his outburst, but he smiled and shook his head at his abruptness. "I apologize for that too."

We both laughed, and after our slight laughter died down, I reiterated, "But seriously? Do you think anyone would mind? I recall you saying that you have a son. Do you think he would mind?"

Seeming to remember that I had asked that before, he gasped and shook his head yet again. "My son would most definitely not mind. I mean, he doesn't really have a choice, considering that I'm his father and it's, oh I don't know, MINE. But once he knows what happened to you, I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

I nodded slightly, albeit hesitantly. "Okay." But then something hit me. What if he was fighting in the war? If he was, I expected him to be a Union soldier. He was living in the North, after all; it would only make sense if he was fighting for the Union. But, at the same time, I knew not to assume. My parents also taught me that too. Oh, no, the tears are coming back. The tears... "Is he fighting?"

He shook his head. "No. I couldn't allow him to do that. I would be too scared if he went out to war. I mean, he could die. I'm just lucky that he didn't want to fight for the Union army either, because I know I wouldn't be able to stop him from going if he did."

I nodded in understanding, and then he added, "Oh yeah, his name's Garrett, by the way."

I nodded, making sure to keep that in my head. I liked that name a whole lot. "Oh. That's cool."

He nodded. "Yeah. He's a great guy, and you two are the same age. I'm sure you two will click once you guys meet."

"Sure," I and then asked with wonder, "How about your wife?"

I must of pulled a cord, because he immediately stopped in his tracking, halting walking and as stoic as a rock. I immediately felt guilty, and I regretted it so much. He was taking it very seriously, and I didn't want to be the one causing that. He was letting me live with him, and I said that just shortly after he allowed me to live with him? At that point, I wouldn't be shocked if he took back everything he offered to me and threw me on the dirt streets like I was before.

"I'm really sorry," I apologized, looking at him guiltily.

He shook his head yet again, which was staring to seem like a pattern to me. "No, no, no, it's okay. I'm sorry. It's not your fault."

I shook my head as well. "No, don't apologize. I'm the one that brought it up. I should be the one apologizing."

He nodded, but he didn't respond. He just started to walk again, his head straight on the road. I guessed he agreed with me. I did the same thing as he did, looking straight as we walked in silence. After a while, though, he stopped, and I had to stop too, almost bumping into a building as well. I looked up to see a two-story building, which was a bit more compact than my house over at the Battle of Gettysburg site, but was suitable for me.

"Well, this is where I live," he motioned to the beige building, which I probably wouldn't be able to see if I wasn't paying attention (considering that it was night). "Come on in, Jasmine."

He unlocked the door, and I nodded, following him inside. However, I looked around the room weirdly as all I saw was a bunch of shelves with shoes piled all over them and a huge counter in the middle.

The man, noticing my confused look, explained to me, "This is the shoe store I own. We live in the back and upstairs."

My mouth formed into an o as I nodded. "Oh."

He chuckled and smiled. What was so funny? "Come on Jasmine." He led me through the back door, and he turned on the lantern. It hurt my eyes for a little bit, but once I regained my vision, I could see a small kitchen with a small table with a few chairs and loveseats around it. It looked like a scrunched up version of what used to be my living room. I was not used to the small size - we used to have a huge house with such a nice scenery around it (well, before it was tarnished by the battle) - but hey, maybe I would once I stayed there for a while.

"Sit down, Jasmine," he motioned to a wooden chair; I followed his commands and did. "I'll get you some apple pie. You must be hungry."

My stomach grumbled to that, and I chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I guess I am. Thank you so much, for everything."

He smiled. "No problem. Do you need a rag to wash yourself?"

I nodded in relief. It wasn't a bath like I was used to, but I'd take what I'd get. And besides, I didn't really mind. "Yes please."

He nodded and went upstairs. I looked around. I was starting to like my new home. It seemed very cozy, something my old home lacked. And while my old house lacked color, this one had the most color in the world. I honestly didn't mind the drastic change. It made me forget about what happened previously in my life.

He finally came back down, handing me a dirty but wet rag and a slice of apple pie. I took them gratefully and used the wet rag to scrub myself down. I could already see most of the dirt come off.

"Thank you," I said gratefully, which became yet another pattern to me.

"No problem." And yet another pattern. "Oh, yes, and Jasmine?"

I looked up at him and stopped scrubbing my raw skin. "Yes?"

He sighed. "Would you mind if we set a few ground rules?"

I nodded. "Sure." He was letting me live with him and his son - Garrett, I had to remind myself to call him that. The least I could do was follow some simple rules.

"Thank you." Why was he thanking me? He was doing me a favor! "I just have three."

"Okay," I motioned for him to continue. "Name them."

He nodded. "Okay. You have to tell me if you're going anywhere no matter what, and you have to tell me whenever you're going to buy something."

I nodded, repeating them both in my head to remember them. "Okay then. But what about the third one?"

He sighed, making the third one seem more important than the first two. "You have to promise to never ever break it."

I nodded, motioning for him to tell me what it was. "I promise, okay? I promise with all of my heart. Now, please, tell me what it actually is so then I can stop guessing."

He laughed and then said, "I don't want any funny business between you and my son."

I quirked an eyebrow. That was it? To not date Garrett? "Don't worry. There will be nothing between Garrett and I."

He smiled. "Good. I'm going to go to sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

I nodded as I finished scrubbing myself (admittedly, I looked pretty immaculate and amazing) and picked up the slice of apple pie. "Okay then. Good night!"

"Night," he said, before walking upstairs. I sighed as I finished my slice of apple pie in just a few seconds. Wow. I didn't realize that I was even that hungry. It just feel so good to finally eat something tangible and not something from the garbage. Once I did, I placed the plate and fork I ate it with in the kitchen, before going upstairs, which was where I assumed the bedrooms were, considering that there was none in the lower level. I went up and realized that there was just a hallway with three doors in it. Which one was I supposed to go to? I sighed as I started pointing at each one and chanting in my head, Eenee meanie mieny mo. Catch a tiger by its toe. If he hollers, let it go. Eenee meanie mieny mo. I ended on the first door to the right, and I went in. I plopped myself onto the bed and fell asleep while thinking about the three rules.

Little did I know that I would soon regret that promise for the last one.

Well, this chapter seemed to take forever to write... Even though it only took me a day... XD It was still fun to write though, and I had a blast!

I'm sorry for not introducing Garrett yet... I promise I'll do that next chapter! But that ending though... So much foreshadowing! XD ;)

I have just a few American Civil War tidbits for you guys. ;) With the house, that's actually what they were like during the Civil War. There were three different types of houses. One was a big one that only rich people owned, which is what Jasmine used to have before it burned down. Another was a house inside where they would work, like Garrett's. The last one is a huge one that a bunch of different families would live in. Also, Jasmine had to wash herself with a rag. That was normal at the time. Only the rich could afford a tub, and even if they had one, it was such a hassle to put warm water in it and to put it in a house, so some people who could afford it didn't even bother to get one. And since it was actually cool to not wash during that time, most people only washed once a month or if they had any noticeable dirt on them. So... :/ Plus, apple pie was eaten a lot during that time! Now I'm craving apple pie... And chicken pot pie... Mmm mmm mmm!

That was actually more than I expected... XD

Anyways, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed! Can we please have 10 reviews? It would mean a whole lot if you would type up a review for me, no matter how big or small!