Wednesday (Day Thirteen):
"Harassment is a misdemeanor. These are first-time offenders, minors, with squeaky clean records and good backgrounds. Most likely, they'll get fined, a slap on the wrist, possibly some therapy and you'll get a restraining order. But, if we play our cards right, I bet we could get the DA to chalk it up to attempted murder, harassment, and assault. Those are misdemeanor's and felony offenses. They could get the maximum years in prison, with or without probation, and be forced to pay a very high restitution. That could cover medical bills, therapy, whatever you need it to."
Blake stared blankly at the man sitting across from him in the police station.
Jason Jenks was was short and balding. A middle-aged American, paunchy, probably at least fifty-five, and wearing expensive clothing.
He had shown up from his office in Seattle, strutting through the station to shake Blake's hand in a firm grip.
Apparently this, Jason Jenks, fellow was now their lawyer as "a favor to Mr. Jasper and his family."
What did Jasper need with a lawyer? Blake didn't really ask this. For after mentioning Jasper's name, Jason trembled and blanched to a sickly paste color, sweat beading on his forehead which he wiped away with a white handkerchief.
"I worked with Jasper when he and his…twin were in the foster system," Jason had explained when Blake had awkwardly and quietly inquired if Jasper was some kind of drug dealer or criminal, "I helped find their aunt, Esme, if I am correct. Good…good kids. C-cute."
Blake had nodded very slowly and the two had left it at that, getting down to business and back to the matter at hand.
"Prison?" Blake mumbled, unable to hide his shock, "Like, adult prison? With rapists and murderers and all those people?"
"It'll be a women's prison, probably," Jason said, waving off Blake's question, "But it's all kinds of people. And who knows? They might be murderers."
Blake visibly bristled and pushed up his glasses. How dare this random man, show up out of the blue, then say something so crass.
"Look," he fixed Jason with a hard glare, "I don't know what you think this is, but my daughter isn't going to be your pawn, so that you can get some title or have the best case ever, or whatever crap you're trying to pull here."
Jason fixed him with a very hard look as if Blake had been the one to say something offensive.
"I thought you wanted justice?" Jason gritted out, "You said you wanted these girls to be punish—
"Not in prison!" Blake interrupted harshly, "I don't want justice like that—Kit would not want justice like that. I can't—I know my daughter. I do," he said firmly, "And she wouldn't want those girls to rot away in prison. She wouldn't be able to live with herself."
He shook his head at himself. Personally, he was so angry, he wouldn't mind seeing those girls be hauled away in orange jumpsuits, but Kit would mind. She and Katie had once been friends. Those girls were someone's daughters and maybe they had little sisters of their own.
Kit wouldn't be able to sleep at night, wondering what was happening at that very moment to those girls in an adult woman's prison.
"I know my daughter," he repeated with much more confidence, "No attempted murder charge."
Jason didn't look like a happy man, and for a moment, Blake thought he'd pack up his briefcase and walk right out of the room.
"Fine," Jason ground out, "But we can use that charge as leverage. For now, we'll stick with the harassment and the assault, all right?"
Blake nodded, relaxing some.
"Now, you gave Charlie Swan and his officers permission to look through Kit's phone and her computer?" Jason looked at Blake expectantly and he nodded, "Good. If they gather enough evidence, they'll have probable cause to make an arrest, which shouldn't be too big of a show. I doubt these girls want to go public anymore than you do."
Blake nodded again, feeling it was appropriate to do so.
"Now, many states punish first-time harassment offenses as misdemeanors, but given your daughter's current circumstances, it could be punished as a felony. For now, we need to let the police do their job and if the girls are brought in, we'll develop a clearer plan. We'll get back to that. But let's talk about the school. Do you still want to file a lawsuit?"
"Yes, absolutely."
"Well," Jason pulled on his jacket, looking cocky, "This should be easy. Small school districts tend to be underfunded and that will work in our favor. So, statistically, few lawsuits ever go through the full range of procedures and all the way to trial. Most cases are settled by mutual agreement between the parties. You may not even have to file a lawsuit, but if you do, it can be settled way before trial is even brought into the picture."
"Really!?" this was a huge relief to Blake and he relaxed visibly, feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
"First things first," Jason began to root through his briefcase and Blake was starting to think, this man wasn't a complete wackadoo, "Let's go over your administrative complaint."
Jessica bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder. Instead of sitting at her accustomed table, she, Ashley and Katie had picked a different one. Angela was still being a bitch, but besides all that, they needed to talk to Lauren without listening ears.
"So, like, what did you tell her?" Ashley asked and Jessica shrugged.
"I just, like, said, 'Hey, we're gonna be sitting somewhere else today, so that we can talk without anyone listening' and she said: 'Okay.'"
"You're gonna tell her, then?" Katie asked.
"What!?" Jessica hissed, leaning forward, "Are you on crack!? No! Why do I have to tell her?"
"You're her best friend!" Ashley reminded, "Her second-in-command. You were friends with her way before we were," she gestured to herself and Katie.
"But it's Katie's fault," Jessica argued, "If she hadn't gone over to Bella, Rosalie wouldn't have flipped and the rumors wouldn't have started."
"Whatever," Katie snapped and Jessica's eyebrows rose, "It is not my fault! The rumors were there! I've heard your name more than mine and Ashley's."
"You have not!" Jessica hissed, "You are such a liar," this is why she couldn't stand sophomores.
"Am not!"
"Okay, you guys, shut up," Ashley demanded, "Lauren just came in. Oh, God, is she coming over now?"
Jessica felt her heart began to race, but she shook her head and soothed their fears, "No. She buys. So, we still have some time and I am not telling her."
"Well, I'm not," Ashley leaned back in her chair, adamant.
"Neither am I," Katie copied the motion and Jessica glared at the both of them.
"You guys are such—
"Hey."
Startled, Jessica whipped her head around, just as Lauren placed her tray on the table, smiling at them.
"Um, hey," Jessica mumbled.
"Jessica has something to tell you," Ashley blurted.
Jessica couldn't pretend that she was surprised. In fact, if she hadn't just been thrown under the bus, she might have been proud of Ashley.
She tried to school her facial expression into one that looked sheepish as Lauren's eyes swept over all of them.
They sat knee deep in silence, almost as if the other voices in the lunchroom didn't exist and Jessica was quick to take a large bite of her apple, the bite almost too big to fit in her mouth. She was sure she looked ridiculous chewing, but it bought her time to think of what to say.
"What's going on?" Lauren asked, her tone sharp and skeptical, "You guys know I don't like being the last to find out about things," she rested her arms on the table, "C'mon, Jess, spill!"
It was hard to swallow her apple and Jessica took a drink from her water bottle, helping it go down. When she was finished, she licked her lips and cleared her throat.
"Um…" she glanced at Katie and Ashley for help, but neither said anything, "So, like, there's kind of a rumor."
"About us," Ashley mumbled.
Lauren's eyebrows rose and it looked like she wanted to laugh.
"Okaaay," she drawled out, "And…? We're popular. When aren't people talking about us?"
"No, Laur, you don't get it," Jessica said and leaned closer to Lauren, "Rosalie's temper tantrum seriously got people talking. I mean, people were talking before, but now, it's, like, blown up. Everyone's talking about it."
Lauren's lips became a thin line and Jessica quickly glanced at Katie and Ashley again as Lauren looked down at her tray, then back up. She was not happy.
"Talking. About. What?" Lauren gritted out.
Katie sighed and Jessica hoped that meant the redhead would say something, but she didn't. Ugh. Another reason why she hated Sophomores. They were useless.
"Um," Jessica started, "Soooo, a bunch of people are saying…that we're the ones to blame for Kit's suicide and that you're kind of the ring-leader. You started it."
Lauren's eyes darted around and then she brought her hand up to brush away some invisible hair.
"Wait, who the hell is saying this!?" she demanded, "I didn't start shit. Katie's the one who—
Katie chose then to interrupt, "Everyone's saying it," she sighed again, "There are even people saying that they've seen you push Kit in the halls and stuff, and that you and Jess harass her during gym class."
That was news to Jessica and suddenly, she was feeling more nervous than before. She was sort of okay with throwing Lauren under the bus, but not herself.
"That's obviously not true," she interjected, "It's a stupid, made up—
"Everyone," Katie's voice had rose and she looked straight at Lauren, "Is saying that the harassment—all of the harassment and the messing around with her—that's what caused her to do what she did," she looked at Jessica next.
"Okay, well, it sounds like you're blaming me and Jess for everything," Lauren snapped.
"I'm not blaming you—
"I didn't see you look at Ashley," Jessica hissed. She glared at Lauren, "All of this was your idea! You wanted to mess with her!"
"You did!" Lauren countered, "Katie gave us Kit's number. If it wasn't for her—
"You asked for it!" Katie cried. Jessica hurriedly hushed her and Katie lowered her voice, "I never wanted to mess with her in the first place."
"But you did!" Lauren slammed her hand on the table, "You're all trying to blame me—
"I'm not blaming you!" Jessica insisted, "You're my best friend, why would I blame you!?"
"We're just saying," Ashley said, "That if everyone is talking about it like this, then it's going to get back to the teachers and then to Principal Greene. People are going to start asking questions."
"We all did this," Lauren snapped, "You all texted Kit, you all pushed her and called her names! We were not harassing her, we were messing around with her. It is not my fault if she can't take a—
"You set this whole thing up," Katie interrupted, "You said this wasn't—
"You gave us all her number and now you want to pretend that you and Kit are BFF—
"Oh, fuck you, Lauren!" Katie exclaimed. She stood up so fast, her chair was knocked over in her haste to storm out of the room.
"Thank you," Lauren didn't keep her voice down, "Thanks a lot, guys. I was having a great day, but you all want to start this stupid bullshit, thanks a fucking lot."
Jessica shook her head, "Lauren, we're just trying to help."
"Yeah, right," Lauren snatched up her tray to dump, "You started all this pointless drama and now everyone is staring at us! Thanks! Seriously, thanks!"
She stormed off, eyes following her the entire way.
Jessica sighed heavily and looked at Ashley, "I didn't even do anything," she whined.
"She doesn't know how serious this is," Ashley sunk down in her chair, "We're not gonna get in trouble are we?"
"No one's gonna get in trouble," Jessica grumbled, "Jeez, I keep telling you that!"
"Yeah, but people are gonna keep talking and it'll come back to us," Ashley said, "Just like last time. Remember, we got called to the principal's office?"
Jessica shrugged, "So, what are we supposed to do?"
Ashley mimicked her shrug, "Katie is right. People are talking about you, too. And you were really mean to Kit during gym class."
"Are you being serious right now?" Jessica breathed, "How many balls of paper did you throw at her? How many pencils?"
"Um," Ashley interrupted, "You're supposed to be Lauren's best friend. Everyone knows it. You're her girl, her partner in crime. And you threatened to kick Kit's ass."
Jessica gnawed on her lip. Lauren was her best friend. Kind of. Sometimes, the blonde got on her nerves and she didn't understand how Lauren was more popular than her. Personally, Jessica thought she was prettier.
"I'm not about to get in trouble for stuff that she did," Jessica decided, "She wanted to mess with Kit, she tripped Kit when she went to class, she set up the email account, she called Kit fat all the time, she gave Kit the pills, she made us wait for Kit before school so that we could mess with her, and she's the one that made fun of Kit's dead grandma."
Ashley nodded and hummed in agreement, but it didn't ease Jessica's nerves like she thought it would.
"People keep coming up to me," Ashley mumbled, brushing dark hair from her face, "And they ask if I really did bad things to Kit. You know, bully her."
"Me too," Jessica admitted. She shook her head quickly, "But we didn't! When I was a kid, my dad always told me to fight back if someone pushed you around! It's not our fault that she decided to stand there and not do anything."
The words sounded weak to her own ears and she picked at her lunch.
"This is serious," Ashley said. She sounded scared, "If this gets back to my parents, they'll kill me."
"We'll be pariahs," Jessica agreed. She felt a little sick, "We've always lived here, everyone knows us. No one's going to believe any of this crap. I mean, Kit's in a coma. She can't exactly blame us."
"True," Ashley picked up an apple slice and bit into it, "Just…stay cool and don't say anything."
Jessica rolled her eyes, "Obviously."
With that settled, they lapsed into silence and Jessica picked up her sandwich to take a bite. It felt like she had swallowed a rock.
"Thank you, Vanessa," Blake whispered, outside of Kit's hospital room, "This really means a lot."
"Quit saying that," Vanessa made a face, speaking equally as quiet, "I'm her godmother. This is what I'm here for."
Finally, after thirteen days, Everly was agreeing to go home for the night to be with Indigo, and Vanessa had easily agreed to stay overnight and sit with Kit.
She didn't mind. She had been pestering Everly to go home and was glad the blonde was doing just that. She could picture Indigo's happy face when Blake and Everly arrived to pick her up from her friend's house.
"She knows that Kit would be upset if Everly wasn't with Indigo," Vanessa kept her voice tender, "Kit hates it when people fuss over her. Even if it's her own parents."
"Yes…" Blake sighed, folding his arms across his chest and Vanessa eyed him.
He looked odd and not odd in his usual way or odd in his grief-stricken way. Odd, like…odd.
"What?" Vanessa asked, "Why do you look like that?"
Blake shook his head, "I don't know. I mean," he looked behind him and Vanessa took a step closer when he lowered his voice, "I had a meeting with a lawyer this morning. It's happening. The police have started their investigation into the bullying and we're filing a lawsuit against the school. I faxed a letter, withdrawing Kit from school. Indi might have to finish out the year at home, but it's almost over, anyway."
Vanessa's eyes widened, but she nodded slowly. She didn't know much about law or lawsuits, but suing a whole school district sounded like quite the pickle.
"We're gonna have to move," Blake said, before she could say anything, "I feel like we'll all be pariahs, everyone will hate us. I'm still raising my family and that won't be good, right?"
Vanessa felt like the question was rhetorical, but answered anyway, "Right. So, y'all comin' home, then?"
She didn't bother to keep the hopeful note out of her voice. She wanted them home. She missed Kit and Indigo terribly and she missed having Kit in her choir. They needed her and Shelly needed her godsister. Vanessa was sure that Kit would be more than happy to go back to her old violin teacher and she would be back with Katherine.
They could all go back to normal and pretend like the past few months had never happened. Maybe the past two years.
"…I want to," Blake said, still speaking quietly, "But, it's big possibility, that we might have to stay here."
Vanesa had to hold her breath to keep from yelling. After a moment, she let it go.
"What!?" she hissed, "Have you lost your mind!? You just said that everyone will hate you!"
"I think we're gonna have to stay here," Blake sounded so sure of himself, "Hampton was too expensive, especially since we were right near the beach. We moved here for a reason and our finances aren't getting better anytime soon. In fact, they're going to get worse."
Vanessa blinked once, twice, three times, then glanced into Kit's hospital room. Everly was still standing over Kit, saying her goodbye.
"We're going to have to say here," Blake's tone was final and he didn't look happy about it, "Kit…she's going to need help when she wakes up and—
Vanessa interrupted him, "You think the best place to get that is here? The place that caused this?"
"I don't think it's best to move her as soon as she wakes up," Blake corrected, "Indigo has a life here. She's comfortable and has friends and a life. Everly's and my careers are getting to the point where we can live…kind of. We didn't get that in Hampton."
There was something else that Blake wasn't saying, but Vanessa decided not to push him on it.
"Y'all gonna stay in that house?" she asked disbelievingly.
"No," Blake shook his head, "When Kit went to meet Emmett's family, I asked her the address and she couldn't tell me. They don't live in town. It's out beyond Forks and I think that's where we'll go. It's more private, no one will bother us. Esme's an architect, you know?"
No, Vanessa didn't know, but it seemed like that family had every connection and every career under the sun.
"It's not for sure," Blake said quickly, "I haven't actually looked for a house. It's just a plan if we need it. Everly says that we can talk about going back home when things settle down and we get our finances settled and get these hospital bills out of the way. I think that will be awhile."
Vanessa nodded. She was sad about it, but she understood. Having the Algrens back home, wasn't worth putting them into debt and having them homeless.
"Plus, Carlisle's a great doctor," Blake added, "And I want him to continue treating her. He's been her only doctor since coming here. She likes him, I like him," he shrugged, "I don't think he'll be able to see her if we move to Port Angeles or anywhere else."
"Well," she sighed and crossed her own arms, "I'll support you, either way."
"Thanks," Blake said and straightened his posture when Everly left Kit's bedside, going to meet her at the door.
"Guess, it's my shift," Vanessa went back into the hospital room to take Everly's place at Kit's bedside.
"If anything happens, y-you'll c-call us, r-right?" Everly sniffled, trying to stop her tears.
"As soon as," Vanessa assured her, "You have nothing to worry about. Just go home, be with your baby and get some rest. I bet a shower will feel amazing."
"Yes," Blake jumped in to agree, "And you'll feel a lot better, which means you can take better care of Kit."
"Right," Vanessa nodded, settling in the chair closest to Kit's bed, "Take some time, sleep in, eat a good breakfast, all that good stuff. You know Kit worries about you."
"I know," Everly sounded so guilty, that Vanessa felt bad, "Take care of her."
"I will. Honey, it's only one night," Vanessa reminded, "And make sure you talk to Indigo. She wants to come and see Kit."
"We will," Blake said, "Goodnight."
"Night."
Vanessa watched Blake lead Everly away and she could see his mouth moving, probably encouraging her to keep walking, that Kit would be fine. Everly kept looking back.
Vanessa looked at Kit. She looked so much like Katherine, it was crazy. There was by all odds some Everly in her facial structure, but Vanessa saw only Katherine.
Sighing a little, she felt her eyes grow wet and took Kit's hand.
"It's just you and me, tonight, baby girl."
.
.
.
.
Vanessa softly hummed 'Hallelujah' by Lenord Cohen, while she stroked Kit's hand.
It had been Katherine's favorite song and it was Kit's. It was the song she had sung when Vanessa had auditioned her for the church choir. She had been perfect and blew them all away.
Flashback:
Hampton, New Hampshire, 1997:
"Okay, everyone, okay!" Vanessa clapped her hands loudly, getting the attention of the choir, "Everyone hush, now, thank you!"
The choir had settled and Vanessa was pleased to see that Shelly had actually clamped her mouth shut, her lips pursed and hands folded in front of her.
Dominic, however, looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here and was gently rocking from side to side.
"I have an announcement!" Vanessa started excitedly, "We have a new member joining our family."
It was Rebecca who frowned. A strawberry blonde white girl who was eighteen and had an irritating mother that could never shut her mouth. Rebecca, had unfortunately, inherited this.
"A new member?" she questioned, "You didn't audition anyone."
Technically, a person auditioned with the choir. The person in question had a week to practice a church appropriate song on their own, while the choir rehearsed the same song in their spare time and the choir would sing backup while said person sang solo.
Vanessa did not do that with Kit. Not even close.
"I did audition someone," she told Rebecca, "Just on my own time. I don't want to hear nothin' about it. This person is wonderful and she's in the choir, now."
Before anyone could say anything else, Vanessa turned her head and yelled, "Come in, baby girl!"
From the backroom, Katherine appeared first. She was another woman that Vanessa found immensely irritating, but she loved her to death. This week, it was Katherine's turn to pay for lunch and Vanessa was looking forward to it.
Katherine was a tall woman, standing a tall 5'7". She had tan, white skin and long, light cocoa hair with slight waves at the ends, pulled back into a long ponytail by a black scrunchie. The only signs of aging, was that her face was full of laugh lines and she had grass green eyes that were always alight with happiness.
Vanessa grinned, holding out a hand and when Katherine got close enough, Vanessa took the hand of the small girl Katherine was toting beside her and brought the child to stand right in front of her, placing her hands on her small shoulders while Katherine went to take her place at the church organ.
"Everyone," Vanessa announced happily, "This is Kit! She's Blake and Everly's little girl. Katherine's granddaughter and my goddaughter!"
Kit was a tiny little thing for an eight year old child. She was barely 4'0" and was skinny. She had long, dark chocolate hair that was very wavy and went all the way down to her lower back. She had forehead bangs and light freckles dotted across her nose. Like her grandmother, Kit had green eyes, but hers were a true emerald green and the size of moons, way too big for her round-shaped face.
She wore a red, black and green classic plaid dress over a white shirt. On her feet, were ankle-length white, lace ruffle socks and patent Mary Jane heels.
Vanessa peered down at Kit and gave her a gentle shake, "Are you being shy? Say hello."
She felt Kit shift underneath her hands and in a high-pitched voice, she squeaked out, "Hi…"
"Awww," some people in the choir crooned.
"Ain't she a peach?" Vanessa gushed, "Why don't wee see how you measure up to my little Shelly?" she took a hand off of Kit's shoulder and gestured for Shelly to come forward, "C'mere, baby."
Shelly eagerly bounced forward. Vanessa's daughter was tall for her nine-year-old age, standing at 4'3", but it worked to her advantage when she went to her gymnastics class. She was the best on the balance beam.
Shelly's curly hair was pulled into two afro puffs, held with sparkly pink barrettes. Her cute outfit was covered by her dark purple church robe and her bright hazel eyes lit up with excitement.
"Kit, you're gonna have to take off your shoes," Vanessa said. She was so excited. Shelly was the youngest in the church and didn't have anyone to play with. Since she was in the choir, she didn't ever hang out with the other kids and Vanessa was hoping that she would get along with her godsister. Vanessa had always wanted them to grow up together.
"Now," she said, when Kit had taken her shoes off, "Stand back to back."
She gently pushed them together until their backs touched and when Kit lowered her head, Vanessa lifted it to the correct position.
"I'm taller, I'm taller!" Shelly boasted loudly, bouncing on her feet, "Haha, I'm taller!"
Kit's nose scrunched up and she tilted her head back, "You're older!" she squeaked, "Of course you're gonna be taller! It doesn't count!"
"It counts!" Shelly argued.
"Barely!"
"All right, you two," Vanessa laughed, "Come on, give each other a hug. We have some work to do. Shelly, hug your godsister."
Immediately, Shelly threw her arms around Kit and hugged her tightly, going as far to lift her up off the ground.
"Hey!" Kit cried, though she was giggling.
"Oh my gosh, she's so cute," someone commented, "Look how little she is."
"Now, Kit, you're going to be standing right next to, Shelly," Vanessa said, getting back to business, "Shelly, go take her."
She pushed on Kit's back and she watched fondly as her two girls walked to their places hand-in-hand.
End Flashback:
"Y'all were all so dang cute," Vanessa told Kit. She sighed, "And I've missed you very much. You know, Shelly told me that Anthony's been stoppin' by. She asked him to come. He keeps asking about you and he misses you. Y'all were the Three Musketeers and I just wanted to smack you all the time."
She began to rub her thumb over the back of Kit's hand. Anthony, Kit and Shelly were always up to something. They were always giggling and telling secrets and Vanessa knew that some of their conversations had been far from church appropriate.
"They're praying for you," she continued, "Everyday."
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Whoosh.
"Excuse me?" there was a light tap at the door and Vanessa turned her head towards the door.
It was Lina and Vanessa made a move to stand up, "Do I need to step out?"
"No, no," Lina quickly waved a hand, "Oh, good, they brought you a cot to sleep on. The mother never sleeps," Vanessa arched an eyebrow, but Lina continued, "Um, but my shift is over and Addison going to be taking over."
Vanessa had no idea who Addison was. She had never met Kit's night nurses.
"Okay," she said, "Thank you."
"But I did want to tell you," Lina said quickly as Vanessa retook her seat, "Mr. Algren's here."
"He is?" Vanessa frowned and looked at her watch. It would be midnight soon, "All right. Well, thank you."
"No problem," Lina smiled, "Night night."
"Goodnight," Vanessa mumbled, frowning.
She was irritated. Why was Blake here? Had he snuck out of the house while his wife and child were sleeping? She was definitely going to let him have it. She knew that he wanted to be with Kit, but it wasn't right for him to leave Everly. What if she woke up and panicked?
"You're daddy is such a fool," she told Kit, rolling her eyes, "Seriously, what am I gonna do with your parents? Huh?"
She forced out a strained chortle, staring at Kit's closed eyes. She reached out and touched Kit's forehead. She still felt way too warm. Was it possible to ask the nurses for something to help cool Kit down?
When she heard footsteps approach the room, she narrowed her eyes. She couldn't even look at Blake, she was so disappointed. She understood that Kit was sick, but Indigo was just as important.
"Go home, Blake," she told him, when he hovered in the doorway, "It's late, I'm tired and was about to go to bed, myself. Kit's fine. There's been no change."
"Is that a good thing?"
Vanessa jumped so hard that she jostled Kit who's hand she was still holding. She hurriedly let go, worried that she had messed up the tubes, but nothing beeped and no nurses came rushing in.
Shaky on her feet, she stood from her chair and placed herself in front of Kit, holding her arm out to shield her goddaughter from who had spoken.
Because this man was not Blake Algren.
No, this man was older than Blake and taller by three inches, standing at 6'1." His medium-length hair was dark brown and slicked back with a low fade and a tapered neckline. Very preppy compared to Blake's shaggy waves that he just let go wild. There was no stubble on this man's chin and his gun-metal blue eyes looked cold and calculating. Blake's eyes were a clear, bright blue color. This man's beige skin was perfectly tan and he wore a crisp gray suit, his black shoes perfectly shined.
However, she could see how someone could think it was Blake.
"Who are you!?" she demanded.
'Are all these people idiots!?' she thought, 'Gosh, what is wrong with this town!?'
"Marcus," he stepped further into the room, "Or Mark. I was invited here."
"The heck you were," she challenged, "Not by me and not by the parents. You need to leave before I scream this hospital down and have you arrested."
"Go ahead," Mark shrugged, "However, I was invited here. By her," and he nodded at Kit, still motionless in her hospital bed.
Author's Note: This chapter has been reposted. For those who saw the note, you know what's going on.
For those who didn't see the note or are new to my story...long story short: When editing/cleaning up my story, I accidentally reposted chapter one in place of this chapter and it was left up for several hours before I took notice and was able to properly fix it. So, I decided to take it down and repost, which I have obviously done if you are currently reading this note.
Hopefully, this will not happen again and this story will continue on normally. Well, actually, I plan to post the next chapter a little earlier because I feel really bad for what I put my readers through. A couple people, I know, were almost done reading this chapter, when all of a sudden, it disappeared and chapter one was there.
So, expect another chapter in the next few days, then my normal upload schedule will continue!
Thank you,
FictionChic