Here is the next installment. I lost the original version of this chapter in the midst of moving and my computer going kaput….but I like this version a lot better. Enjoy and thanks for reading. Amber

Chapter 11

Luke and Matt pulled up to Bayport High the next morning. The drive had been a grim and quiet one to say the least. They locked their van and proceeded to the front door. Hannah and Tiffany were both waiting on the same bench they always did along with their cousin Olivia. AJ had managed to sneak up behind her and tickle her sides. Olivia shrieked and turned around. "Stop it! That…." The sight of their approach obviously silenced her she jumped up and was first to reach them.

Her beautiful blue eyes studied both of her cousins critically. She was speechless. Both of their eyes were blood shot and bags were under them. Matt hadn't even shaved he looked like he had slept in his clothing. She knew why of course…her father had come home terribly upset after receiving a call from Captain Riley…when he got home which was very late she over heard him tell their mother what had happened. She was truly lost for words. She did however pull them both to her. "I overheard dad talking to mom last night…I can't even imagine."

Luke swallowed and made a feeble attempt to smile at her. "We'll be okay Liv…"

AJ came up behind her and shook his head. "The hell you are…look don't shut us out okay…we are here to help if you need it alright."

Luke felt an arm snake around his waste and a sent of Lavender beside him. He didn't even have to look to know that it was Tiffany standing there. He put his arm around her and squeezed. Luke looked to his left and saw that Hannah was clinging to his brother's hand tightly. Suddenly he was very grateful for their support. "We know." They stood there for several minutes and didn't move until the bell rang.

Matt cursed. "Damn it…I'll get detention if I don't get to English Lit!"

"Me too!" Hannah gasped. They both took off at a dead run.

Luke looked at AJ and Olivia. "What the hell does that mean?"

Olivia giggled. "Oh four times last week they were late for the tardy bell after one minute…Mr. Simpson threatened them both with detention if they were late again."

Tiffany laughed… "No wonder Hannah ran…Her mother would ground her for a week."

"Speaking of tardy we'd better move it. We have Calculus Tiffany." Luke said. He took her hand and they went their separate ways.

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Matt was sitting in his Trigonometry class trying to concentrate…but he couldn't get the image of his sister's broken bloody body out of his mind. Not to mention what the sick bastard did to his sister's soul. She was always so vibrant and feisty. Now she was a shell. Her soul seemed to be lost in a pit of despair and her heart full of fear. Tears stung his eyes as he thought about it. The lunch bell finally rang shocking him out of his reverie. Olivia and Hannah all gathered their things quietly. Matt did too and pulled his book bag over his shoulder. They headed to the cafeteria in silence. It was broken by a cocky voice from behind them.

"Jade did you hear?"

"Hear what Chris?"

Olivia tensed Chris Vance and his girlfriend Jade Hall were both slimy, selfish, awful, human beings. And as far as she was concerned they deserved each other…but Chris always tried to get Matt to go off on him. Chris tried cornering her once under the bleachers in the gym after a volley ball game…saying that the daughter of Joe Hardy had to be a prude and would want some variety. She was shocked at first…then when he reached for her and forced her to kiss him…she did what her father would have done and decked him. Luke had overheard a struggle unaware that it was his cousin in trouble at first and came to do the right thing…That was until he saw her kicking Chris Vance in the jewels while grabbing his hair. Luke had to pull her away and actually cover her mouth to get her voice under control. Ever since then the tension between the Hardy friends and Vance friends had been very tense.

"Oh my dad got a juicy lead about Chloe Hardy."

Jade's fake sweet voice asked. "What is that sweetie? We can even put it in this month's school paper. I'll put it in the feature section just for you?"

Matt wheeled around and approached Chris with a look of utter fury. Olivia knew and she could see so did Hannah that his was about to be bad? She looked over Chris's shoulder hoping that AJ or Luke was around…Matt hissed. "You shut up about my sister…you slimy bastard."

Chris gave Matt a fake look of understanding. "Oh Matt it's not entirely her fault…I mean your mother seduced every male journalist in the state of New York…Chloe's just following in her mother's footsteps. It's just a shame that your father had…"

What ever else he was planning to say was cut off by a crunching sound. Olivia tried to grab Matt but he was already on top of Vance punching him. Chris lashed back out at him with a solid kick to the ribs. Jade jumped on top of Matt's back pulling his hair trying to get him off. That was when Olivia tackled her and they began to roll across the floor. Scratching and pulling each other's hair. Hannah tried to pull them apart. But it was hopeless. "Oh my god! Help! Someone HELP!"

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Luke was leaving his English class holding Tiffany's hand when AJ approached them along with his brother Robert. No far behind was Tiffany's sister Ruth Ann and his cousin Rachel. AJ had just left gym and the rest had left World Hisory. They were all heading towards the cafeteria. They heard Hannah cry "Oh my god! Help someone HELP!"

Luke ran towards the noise not believing what he was seeing. His brother was in a fit of rage with Chris Vance his cousin Olivia was pulling Jade Hall's hair they were both slapping each other. They all acted instinctively. Luke, AJ, and Robert pulled Matt away from Chris. Three of Chris's friend from the paper had done the same. But both boys resisted pulling at them trying to impose as much harm to the other as possible. Rachel was screaming at her sister and pulling her arms. "Olivia! Have you gone crazy! What are you doing?" Ruth Ann had her other arm. Tiffany after assessing that the boys were for the moment under control went to Olivia and hissed "Olivia Hardy what has gotten into you? What the hell happened?"

Hannah was finally able to get in front of her boyfriend. "Matt stop he's not worth it!"

Tiffany was looking at Hannah her best friend trying to find some answers. But all she got was a look of barely controlled anger.

"What is going on here?"

Tiffany turned on her spot and Ruth Ann looked up and paled. They both stuttered. "D..d…daddy?"

Teachers were now coming from every direction along with their one security guard.

Tiffany watched as her father eyed the group of teens. It didn't take him long to figure out who to speak to. "Hardy clan…office conference room...and step on it. Newspaper group…high tail it to your editing room and stay put."

Jade shrieked. "But Chris's jaw is broken! It's all Matt's fault! He did it! You're only doing this because your daughter." She pointed to Tiffany. "Is sleeping with HIM!" She gestured towards Luke then pointed madly, "And you grew up with their dads!"

Chet Mortin remained calm. "Young lady I will send the nurse to evaluate everyone. Plus I will be looking at the surveillance tapes. I will treat everyone fairly. Now move it!"