Night had fallen and Rose and Annabelle were getting ready to turn into bed. Katarina had called Annabelle's parents, saying that the girl would be staying with them until she felt that it was safe to return home. Surprisingly, there was no protests from her parents, much to Annabelle's relief. She didn't like the idea of her brother in jail, but at least she was out of the line of fire where her parents were concerned.

Rose sat on her bed with her laptop on her lap, skyping with Jack, who had been restricted to early evenings in by his miffed guardians. They really hadn't appreciated Jack staying out so late the night before, even if it had only been with Rose and not gallivanting around town causing trouble.

"They're acting like I'm out of control or something," Jack rolled his eyes.

"They're just concerned Jack. You almost went to jail...not to mention you beat the crap out of Cal and you're still grieving. They're just trying to get a handle on how to best help you."

"Help me by letting me live my own life. I'm going to be 18 next month for goodness sake," Jack sighed. "I'm sorry Rose. I shouldn't be burdening you with my annoyance at my aunt and uncle."

"Hey, it's okay. I meant what I said. I'm here for you," Rose smiled.

"So any word on Derrick yet? They can't seriously think he did it," Jack asked.

"My parents seemed convinced and that's enough for Mr. Hockley," Annabelle answered the question, feeling like breaking down in tears again. She didn't know why they were doing this, helping Nathan Hockley railroad her brother. All he did was protect her. Maybe that was the crime. Defending her honor instead of drinking the "Caledon Hockley is a good boy" kool-aid that everyone else seemed to be drinking.

"This is not fair. Can't your father force the issue and take up his case?" Jack asked.

"As long as Derrick is still 17, he has to go with whatever our parents provide, which is a public defender, probably on the Hockley's payroll."

"How are things going otherwise? Are they just letting you stay the night with Rose or is it a permanent deal?" Jack asked curiously.

"I don't know. Probably just for the night and then they'll send me away again," Annabelle sighed, feeling hopeless. No matter what her friends did to help her, the final decision was still with her parents, people that rather send her away than face the truth.

"Everything will work out, Anna. They have no proof that it was Derrick. None," Jack said, trying to sound confident, a confidence that he really didn't feel after the justice system had failed his sister.

"I hope you're right Jack. I don't think I can stand it if he had to go to prison for this."

"Jack, say good night. It's time for bed," Aunt Beth was heard in the background.

Jack sighed, annoyed. "Well ladies, that's my chariot. Have to go. See you tomorrow."

"Night Jack. I'm sure they'll calm down sooner or later. Just give them every reason to trust you again," Rose advised.

"Easier said than done," Jack chuckled. "Good night Rose, Annabelle. See you tomorrow."

"Good night Jack," Annabelle waved as Rose signed off. "He's so handsome..."

Rose arched a brow. "So is his friend Tommy, who likes you."

Annabelle blushed at the mention of Tommy then paled when she realized what she said must have sounded like. "Oh no, Rose, I didn't mean...I mean...I know Jack and you are together, and I would never..."

Rose laughed and waved away the stammered apology. "Don't apologize for speaking the truth. He is handsome. There's no use ignoring that. I was just trying to guess where you and Tommy stood, especially after what had happened..."

"Oh...I...well...I haven't really given much thought to that. He's nice...and maybe if Cal hadn't...I'm just not in the shape to date anyone at the moment, I guess," Annabelle sighed. "All the progress I had made is pretty much gone. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get back to where I was..."

Rose sighed and sat on the bed, feeling sorry for what had happened. Caledon Hockley had not only destroyed Annabelle's trust once, but twice. And now Derrick may go to jail over that piece of shit. It wasn't right. "I'm sorry Annabelle. I should have gone to the police when it happened to me...I shouldn't have just let it go because I was afraid..."

"Or I should have gone to the police instead of to my parents..."

"But at least you tried. I didn't even do that. Instead I tried to throw myself off a balcony of the tallest skyscraper in town..."

"What?" Annabelle stared, surprised by this news. Rose seemed so strong and put together. It shocked her to learn that Rose wasn't as put together as she seemed.

Rose sighed and placed her laptop back on her desk, thinking back to that time, which was only a few months ago, but now felt like it had been years. "When we first transferred to JFK, they had a welcome dance for the White Star students at the Belvedere. It was on the top floor. I was such a mess. It was a week after Cal's attack and I was sure that no one would be on my side or believe me...and my suspicions had been proven right, so I decided to just end all the pain right then and jump off the building. I went to the balcony, climbed over, and was preparing to jump when Jack appeared and talked me back over. He was so kind and gentle...he even helped me leave without being seen...since that night he's been my knight in shining armor."

"Jack saved you?"

"From doing something insanely stupid, yes," Rose nodded. "Then he did it again when my mother tried to send me away. He didn't even know me and helped me...this handsome boy just came into my life and stopped it from falling apart completely."

Annabelle bowed her head and sighed, feeling a little envious of Rose. Rose was attacked by Hockley, but Jack had come along and helped her out of a bad situation. Now here Annabelle was again in a the same bad situation as before and this time it was worse because her brother could be sent away. Where was her knight in shining armor? Where was her "Jack"?

"Annabelle...I know we don't know each other all that well and we both just met Tommy really...but...like Jack, he's a nice guy that likes you and only wants to help you. I doubt very much that he'd ever push you into anything you're not wanting or ready for. My point is...when Jack came along...I didn't push him away. He wanted to help me and I let him. If Tommy wants to help you...accept it. Don't shut him out. After all, boys make great friends as well. I heard that they're even better friends than girls."

"Heard that too," Annabelle giggled, thankful for the advice. She did like Tommy. He was friendly and nice, and not once had he ever judged her for what happened with Cal. He had put the blame where it had belonged. On Cal. Maybe Rose was right. Maybe she should let him help her. "Thank you, Rose...for the advice."

"Anytime," Rose smiled. "I guess we should go to bed now. The sooner the night is over..."

"The sooner you'll get to see Jack," Annabelle laughed.

Surprised, but pleased that Annabelle told a joke, Rose smiled. "Yeah."

As Annabelle got into bed in a house she was not familiar with, she didn't feel half as scared as she was the night before. Derrick may be in jail now, but somehow she felt that things will be alright now that she had friends to stand by her.

…..

The next day at school found Rose in homeroom, staring intently at where Madeline and Constance normally sat. To her surprise, neither girl had shown up yet. Normally, it was a given that they'd be in school with both of their parents being sticklers about education and making a good impression by never being tardy or absent. It set Rose on edge to see that neither one of them were there that day.

"Where have the cheer squad gotten off to?" Helga asked, also noticing their absence.

"Probably crying somewhere that their idol is no more," Tommy shrugged, not really caring where the two girls were just as long as they left his friends alone.

"It's weird. Their parents are strict when it comes to school attendance, especially Constance's parents. I can't see them allowing them to miss, not even to mourn Cal," Rose frowned.

"Why are we worrying about those two bitches? If they're not here, they're not harassing anyone. It's a good day," Julie shrugged, not looking too happy herself. She found herself missing Derrick Watson. She had been so used to seeing him in the parking lot, with him ready to make her angry over something stupid, she missed that he wasn't there to do so and hoping that his absence was temporary. "Has anyone heard anything about Derrick? I take it that he's still in jail."

"I called my parents this morning...they said that a public defender will take his case," Annabelle rubbed her eyes. "They won't even try to get him a decent lawyer. They're just going to let him take the fall for this and be sent away...it's not fair!"

"When will he be eighteen? I was thinking, if he'll be eighteen before this goes to court or he's sentenced...it'll take his legal choices out of your parents hands and put it in his own and then he can get my father to help," Rose's eyes lit up. "He was brilliant saving Jack, he can do the same for Derrick!"

"That's a nice thought, Rose. But your father is expensive. There's no way my brother can pay them. He only went pro bono for Jack because of what he had done for you."

"Why are the good lawyers so expensive?" Julie huffed.

Rose had no answers. She just shrugged and sat back in her seat, thinking about the injustice of it all. Nathan Hockley had the world at his feet. He brought any and everyone, just about. The lawyers that weren't afraid of him costed too much for a poor guy like Jack, or a young man in trouble with no support from his parents, like Derrick to afford. What was the point of being a lawyer when the truly helpless was too poor to be defended? If she was a lawyer, she'd make sure that her rates were never too expensive and always had a way for the truly helpless to be helped.

Jack saw the pensive look on Rose's face and took her hand and squeezed it in reassurance. "Hey. It's going to be alright. Whoever killed Hockley will come out before it can come to trial."

"Why would they do that, Jack? Especially when they have the perfect scapegoat in Derrick? No parents willing to fight for him, he's unable to afford a lawyer that can help? All Derrick wanted to do was to protect his sister and now he may pay the price for it."

"I know sweetie. I know. But we have to hope for the best...or it'll just make us unhinged. Take it from someone who knows," Jack gave an embarrassed smile, his own rage coming to mind.

Later in English, things became weirder. Constance and Madeline showed up, but they sat far away from each other, as if they were angry with each other. Rose watched as Madeline went to her old seat and Constance went to sit where Derrick usually sat.

"Jack, are you seeing what I see?" Rose whispered.

"The cheersquad is back," Jack nodded, keeping his eyes on his book.

"Yes, but not together. Look,"She nodded with her head.

Jack took notice to where Rose motioned and frowned. "That is weird. Those two usually are attached at the hip. You'd think Hockley's death would make them stick together. And pardon me, but Constance looks like shit. Say what you'd like, but she never looked so bad a day in her life. I'm telling you, something is not right with those two and I bet Cal is at the center of it."

"Maybe Madeline was the jealous one and she was projecting that jealousy onto you, yesterday," Jack snorted.

"Perhaps..."

"Hey, don't waste time on them, alright? Think of more pleasant things."

"Like me attempting to sculpt you today?"

Jack groaned as he's reminded that he had agreed to be the sculpting model for today's art class. Rose had indeed found that she liked working with her hands making things, whether it was clay or wood or some other material. She particularly looked forward to sculpting Jack out of clay.

"Don't remind me," He sighed. "I don't know what I was thinking."

"About how happy it'd make me to get the chance to carve you out of clay. It's going to be my first masterpiece!"

"It better be," Jack grumbled, going back to reading his book.

Rose wanted to kiss his cheek, but there was a no pda in class rule going on and she didn't dare break it. So she gave one last longing look at Jack and went back to reading her book. She was turning her page when she felt something warm and pleasant on her cheek. She gasped in surprise and turned to look at Jack, who seemed to be reading his book, but there was a small smile on his lips, causing her to smile as well. She slipped her hand beneath the table and placed it on his knee, where it was covered by his hand, giving it an affectionate squeeze. Happy, she continued to read her book, happy that her affection was returned.

After lunch was over, Rose was rushing to her next class when she accidentally bumped into Constance. The girl stopped and looked at Rose with wide eyes.

Frowning, Rose stepped back. "Sorry. Wasn't watching where I was going..."

Constance didn't say anything. She didn't snap at her, snark at her, or anything like she normally would. She just turned pale and ran in the other direction.

"What the hell was that?" Rose frowned, finding Constance's behavior stranger and stranger by the minute. Shaking her head, she continued on to class.

After school was twice as strange. Rose was meeting Annabelle, Jack, Julie, and Tommy at her car when she saw Madeline and Constance in what looked to be a heated discussion. Rose couldn't hear all that was said, but she heard enough words coming from Madeline like "Betray" "How could you" "He'd never" "Threw yourself" And the last parting word "slut. Then she stormed off, leaving Constance alone looking a wreck with tears streaming from her eyes. Rose was tempted to go to her, but she left before Rose made the move.

"What was that?" Julie stared. "The cheer squad had a falling out?"

"Something's not right with those two," Rose shook her head, not comprehending what could have happened to change the friendship between the two girls.

"Whatever it is, it looks like the lasses are done with being friends. I wouldn't even talk to my dog like that," Tommy placed a cigarette in his mouth but didn't light it. "Something's not with with two. Not at all."

"Rose should find out what's up," Julie suggested.

"Me? Are you crazy? We hate each other. She'd never talk to me about whatever had just happened between her and Madeline."

"It wouldn't hurt, though," Jack scratched the back of his neck, wincing when Rose turned on him.

"What was that?"

"Look, you two haven't been enemies for that long. You were once best of friends! Maybe she'll tell you what's up. Why she's not talking to the other one," Julie explained.

"I don't know...," Rose frowned, not liking the idea of having anything to do with Constance after her behavior towards her.

"What do you have to lose?" Tommy asked.

"Maybe...we'll see," was all Rose said, not wanting to commit to anything. Yes, she was indeed curious about what had caused Madeline and Constance to fight, but she highly doubted her ability to find out.

…..

School was over. Tommy was going to take Annabelle to Rose's, but things didn't turn out as planned.

The drive was quiet. Tommy kept his eyes on the road, wondering what he could say to this girl to draw her back out of her shell. Things had gone so well at the dance and now, it's like the dance had never happened.

"Did you sleep well last night, at Rose's?" He asked, deciding to break the silence.

Annabelle looked at him, startled that he was talking to her. "Yes. There was no nightmares..."

"You have nightmares?" Tommy frowned, not liking the thought of her waking up afraid and alone during the night.

"Yes. But they're normal after...I didn't have them last night though. It was a good sleep," Annabelle stammered.

"That's good."

"Derrick...he's usually there for me when I have nightmares...but with him in jail now, there will be no one. So I am glad that they stayed away last night," Annabelle explained, twisting at her slender hands.

"Do you miss Derrick?"

"Of course! He always had a joke to make me laugh or was ready to sit and just listen. He's the only member of my family that I can say that I truly love and that loves me back. He was the only one to believe me about Cal...the only one that wanted to protect me. Now he's paying for that loyalty."

"Him being in jail is not your fault you know..."

"Well then whose is it? He wouldn't even be a suspect if I wasn't his sister. They'd be willing to get him a good lawyer...they wouldn't be standing at the side of the father of the man that raped me, but they are! Turning both of their backs on us, their flesh and blood! How messed up is that?"

"Very messed up. I can't imagine having parents like that, myself. My mum and pops would defend me to the moon and back," Tommy smiled. "Not that I make it easy for them, mind you. I can be a rather mischievous lad."

"I bet," Annabelle smiled before turning her attention to staring out the window to watch the scenery go by. She hated that she didn't know how to talk to Tommy now. She had done so well at the dance and now she's just freezing, despite all intentions to follow Rose's advice.

"Anna...would you like to go see Derrick? I mean...he'd still be in jail, but you'll get to see the lad. Make sure he's okay...," Tommy offered.

Annabelle looked at him. "You'd take me to see him? When?"

"Right now, of course," Tommy chuckled. "I know it's last minute, but I tend to be a spur of the moment kind of lad and well..."

"Yes. Yes, I'd love to go see him," Annabelle smiled. "Thank you, Tommy."

"Ah, no need to thank me. Anything for a friend."

They made the rest of the drive in silence. Neither one of them knew what to say to the other, so there was no point in trying to hold a conversation. Five minutes later, Tommy pulled up in front of the police station and Annabelle was out of the car as soon as it stopped moving. Catching up with her, they approached the desk.

"We'd like to see Derrick Watson, please," Tommy stated their intentions.

"Only one person at a time is allowed to go back," The secretary answered, not bothering to look at them as she typed on her computer.

Annabelle turned to Tommy, who just nodded his head.

"Go on ahead, lass. I'll be out here waiting for you. Tell Derrick I said hello," Tommy smiled, taking a step back.

"Thank you," Annabelle smiled, grateful for everything Tommy was doing for her. Perhaps Rose was right. Letting Tommy in was leading to a new friend. Maybe he was indeed her "Jack."

Tommy just smiled and went to sit in one of the chairs lining the walls.

"I'm Annabelle Watson, Derrick's sister. I want to see him," Annabelle turned her attention back to the secretary.

"Here, sign in," The secretary pushed a clipboard with a sheet that listed names of visitors. "I need your name, the date, and the time. Then you put on this," She pushed in front of her a name tag that had visitor written in black marker. "You'll have five minutes. I recommend you keep the conversation short. Oh and no touching."

"Yes ma'am," Annabelle sighed, signing her name and putting on the name tag before following an officer into the back, where they kept the prisoners. There weren't many people in the cells, at least not at this time. Derrick seemed to be in a cell by himself, dressed in an orange jumpsuit. "Oh my god, Derrick!"

Derrick gasped and got up from the cot he was sitting on and ran to grip the bars. "Anna, what are you doing here?"

"I asked Tommy to bring me. He says hello by the way," She quickly explained. "I was so worried about you. I still am."

"You shouldn't have come. Mom and dad are incensed. They really think I killed Hockley!"

"Oh Derrick...I'm so sorry. It's all because you believed me...they wouldn't even dream of siding with the Hockley's if you hadn't argued with them when they sent me away."

"You were telling the truth, Anna. I wasn't going to stand by and let them sweep it under the rug. I can't say I'm surprised for their lack of support. Hurt, but not surprised."

"How are you doing in here?"

"Lonely. Scared. But other than that, I'm alright. How about you?"

"I'm okay. I'm staying with Rose. I haven't been back home since your arrest. I'm afraid to go back there with you gone."

"I'll be back, Anna. I promise. They have nothing on me. I'll be 18 in a few weeks as well and I'll be able to move us both out of that house and we'll never have to bother with them again. I promise you that," Derrick ranted.

"Derrick, how do you plan to do that? You're still in high school..."

"Don't tell mom...but Grandma and Grandpa left me a trust fund...I get it when I'm 18. They had it set up by a different lawyer that works for them only. They came to see me a few weeks after Grandpa's death. It should be enough to help us."

"Oh Derrick...maybe you should use it for a new lawyer instead...I mean...that public defender can be brought by the Hockley's..."

"It'll be okay, Anna. You'll see. All they have...it's circumstantial. There's no way they can prosecute with circumstantial evidence."

"But Derrick..."

"I'll be fine. You just take care of yourself, alright? Keep staying with Rose. Do not go back to that house. There's no telling what our oh so loving parents are planning to do next."

"Alright..."

"And don't worry about me. I'll be okay."

"Alright..."

"And tell Julie not to get too comfortable. I'll be back to piss her off in no time," Derrick chuckled, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"Why must you always do that? Make girls that you like so mad at you that they want nothing to do with you at all?"

"It's fun. And it keeps them on their toes...and to be honest, I think Julie likes it. She likes to know that I'm not afraid to make her angry and that I can handle her reactions."

"Five minutes is up," The officer returned.

Annabelle sighed, not ready to leave just yet. "Fine. Take care Derrick. We'll get you out of this."

"You just take care of yourself, sis. And remember what I said," Derrick answered, watching the officer escort his sister away.

Tommy stood up when he saw Annabelle return. "How is he?"

"He's lonely, scared, but being brave for me. We have to get him out of this, Tommy! Derrick may have a temper, but he's not a killer! He'd never do this! We have to find out who did so my brother can come home!"

Not sure if it was welcomed, but doing so anyway in a move to comfort, he placed gentle hands on her shoulders. "We will, Anna. I promise, we will find out who offed Hockley and we'll turn them in. Your brother won't be in this place for long."

Annabelle could only look into Tommy's warm gaze and for a reason she couldn't explain, she trusted him. She believed him. Things will turn out okay. They had to. Tommy Ryan said they would.