Chapter 12: All of Fate's a Chance

It had been weeks since Vincent and JT helped Evan take down the serial rapist. The suburbs of New York could rest a little easier knowing he was put away. It only took JT and Vincent a few days to narrow down the list of Biochemists working with the chemical found at the scene. Most of the suspects had legit alibis at the time of most of the murders except one guy. Lester Crest a very sick individual they would found out once a search warrant was delivered to his house, he had diaries and articles of newspaper clippings of each victim. What makes it worse is his mother knew all about his murders he told her every time he committed them. She did nothing to stop him and made excuses for him when he got arrested. Vincent and JT were flabbergasted they never imagined anyone could be so low.

Evan solved the case because of their help and he thanked them. Ever since then, Evan has called on Vincent every once and a while to help with really hard cases. It was hard to believe but Vincent and Evan had sorta become friends over their days of working together. They had a lot in common, bonded over likes and dislikes. That left him slightly conflicted. While he and Evan had become friends his feelings for Catherine were still there.

Vincent saw Evan more than he saw Catherine most days but when he did he always felt this pull. It was something he couldn't explain it ate away at his soul and something in the way she looked at him he knew she felt it too.

One day JT came up with the bright idea to send Vincent on a blind date. Vincent wasn't too fond of the idea but he went along with it cause he knew he needed to move on. He couldn't just sit around being sad about not having Catherine in his life anymore. Maybe there was a woman out there for him.

Vincent sat at the bar of a restaurant waiting for his date to show up he didn't know if he would like her or if this date would be horrible so he ordered a glass of bourbon just to get rid of his first date jitters. He looked down at his attire hoping he looked ok. He had on a button-up and dark jeans so he was kind of dressy but still causal as well. He had gotten a haircut earlier that day so he felt confident in his appearance.

"Hello you must be Vincent" he heard a voice say. He turned just in time to see a pretty woman with red hair.

"yes, I am and you are?" He says reaching his hand out to shake hers.

"Tori" she smiles as she took a seat next to him. "wow, your pretty hot, I am so glad. I was afraid my friends were trying to hook me up with an unattractive guy" she giggled.

Vincent smiled ok so far so good.

"So tell me a little bit about you," Vincent says as he watches her get the attention of the bartender.

"Well I am in graduate school getting my master's in business, I plan on opening a boutique. I just love fashion, everything from hair to make-up and clothes and accessories. Oww! you should let me give you a makeover"

Vincent frown, she didn't even know him and already she wanted to change his look.

"why is something wrong with how I dress?" he asked.

"Ummm... well you could use a little more designer in your life."

Vincent looked over at her attire and knew immediately the kind of girl she was. Materialist and high maintenance. Everything she had on from her jewelry to her nails, to her hair, her dress, and her heels are looked very expensive. Vincent was never really into being flashy and showy. If a shirt was nice and it only cost ten bucks he would get it. He wasn't the type to only shop brands because it was trendy, he got what he thought looked good on him nothing more.

"I think I am fine with what I have" Vincent responded.

"I hope I didn't offend you it's just I can see you in a Stuart Hughes suit with your hair slicked back and VVs cufflinks. What kind of car do you drive?"

"I have a jeep"

Tori scrunched her face in disapproval "A Jeep! oh no any guy of mines has to have a Benz, Bently, or a BMW"

Vincent sighed he knew already this was going to be a long and horrible date.

Vincent called the bartender over he was going to need another drink.

Vincent was correct, Tori talked about herself the whole time. He now knows she was a hedge fund kid her daddy, makes a plethora of money on the stock market. she never worked a day in her life which is why she is so used to having expensive things. She drives a jaguar and she also had a Tesla. She lives in a million-dollar condo in downtown Manhattan. Tori never have to work a day in her life if she doesn't want to. Vincent couldn't keep up with a girl like Tori nor did he want to. Vincent had money but he did not need to be flashy about it he preferred the simple life of going camping, fishing, hiking, swimming at the beach and lakes. Tori would rather hang out on an expensive yacht and party with her elite friends.

By the end of the night, he couldn't get out of there fast enough. Tori was so stuck on herself she didn't even notice Vincent wasn't interested in her she thought she was going to go home with him tonight, she tried to kiss him when he said goodbye. He told her would call even though he knew for sure he wouldn't.

When Vincent got home he went straight to JT in the basement of his lab.

"You really thought me and Tori would hit it off," he said amused.

"To be fair I had only met her a couple of times and she seemed nice. She is definitely beautiful" JT says looking into the lens of his microscope.

"She was a self-centered and a materialist woman who talks about nothing but herself. She hardly even asked anything about me, and she told me I needed a makeover"

JT snickered.

"I am sorry I had no idea she was like that honestly"

"I am never going on a blind date again," Vincent says as he sat on a chair.

JT chuckled and said "Are you sure you gave her a real chance? You weren't just finding something wrong with her because you still pining over Catherine, are you?"

"No Definitely not, I actually didn't think about Catherine at all the whole date" Vincent frowned it rare for her not to cross his mind.

"Well, that definitely means you need to go on more dates. Once the right woman comes around you won't even think about Catherine anymore. By the way, a reporter called for you"

"Reporter?"

"Yea she said she wanted to do a story on you, Dana was her name she left a message"

"Oh I know Dana, Evan calls her a hound he said she will haunt you down for a story and do anything to get the scoop. I wonder why she wants to do a story on me?"

"Maybe because you were in a coma or because you've been helping the police solve cases," JT says

"Maybe," Vincent says as she scratches his beard "What are you looking at anyway?"

JT looks up from his microscope "Your blood"

"Why?"

"Because ever since I gave you that serum to heal you it's been changing. By the way, have you had any new symptoms?"

"Not that I know of, all I have is heightened senses, should I be worried?"

"I am not sure yet"

"I am not going to start sprouting fangs and talons am I?" Vincent asked.

"Ummm I hope not," JT said not sounding so sure.

"What did you make that serum out of anyway?" Vincent asked stretching his arms.

"Umm couple chemicals, a few DNA properties from some self-healing animals like sea cucumbers, starfish, and axolotls among other things"

Vincent didn't know if she should feel amazed or worried.

"If I start turning into a fish or a reptile I am going to kill you," Vincent says as he stood up to head upstairs.

"I doubt that will happen I didn't take those parts of their DNA, although this is the first of its kind so there is a possibility" JT chuckled.

"That is not funny, I won't ever get a woman with scales and a lizard tongue.

"I don't know a really kinky woman might be into that" JT laughed.

Vincent rolled his eyes. "I am off to bed, that date with Tori was exhausting"

"Night" JT says as Vincent makes his way up the stairs and to his room.

Once Vincent got upstairs he took all of his clothes off until he was down to his boxer briefs and climbed in the bed. He started to settle into his comfy warm sheets when his phone started ringing. He looked at the screen and saw it was Catherine.

"Hello, Catherine" Vincent smiled.

"So how was your date?" she asked.

"Who told you?" Vincent asked.

"Evan told me without really telling me"

"what?" Vincent chuckled

"I heard him talking to you about it earlier he never really said anything to me exactly"

"Arent you supposed to be in bed?" Vincent asked changing the subject.

"Umm I was but I couldn't sleep, besides I wanted to know how your date went so spill"

Vincent was debating on lying to see if maybe she would get jealous or just telling the truth. He chose the lather.

"It was great for about a min and then it went downhill from there"

Catherine laughed "no way what happened?"

"She was materialistic and self-centered, she talked the whole time about herself. She was awful"

Catherine chuckled again "I'm sorry, I was hoping you would find someone to connect with. Maybe I can hook you up with a friend of mines"

"No, no, nope, no thanks but that was my one and only blind date. I will find a woman my own way"

"Fine but if you ever change your mind"

"I won't"

"Anyways another reason I called is that, VJ has practice tomorrow and I thought maybe you would want to come"

"Yes of course," Vincent said suddenly excited hadn't seen VJ in a while he still wanted to get to know him.

"Great I'll see you tomorrow at 3:30 ok"

"yep, sounds good"

Vincent hung up the phone and laid back on his bed, he stared up at the ceiling in deep thought. Everyone was so adamant about putting him with someone. Especially Catherine maybe she thought it would help him get over her, but did mean she was completely over him?

Vincent never felt like that especially when they made eye contact he always felt a longing there. Had he misread it? Her heartbeat whenever he was around told him the opposite. Her heartbeat danced whenever he was near just like his heart did for her.

Vincent thought about how so much had changed between him and Catherine. They were both no strangers to the loss of each other, this wasn't the first time Vincent lost Catherine. In fact, he was the one who drove her away once. He remembered it like it was yesterday.

Twelve-year-old Vincent was awakened out of his sleep to the sounds of his parents arguing. He opened his eyes when he heard a crash, which sounded like glass shattering.

"I can't believe you thought this was ok, that this wouldn't affect the whole family. How could you do this to us" Vincent heard his mother say?

"Come on is not like I cheated, cheated. I just flirted a little and had a couple of harmless conversations with her. It meant nothing." His dad yelled.

"If it is harmless and it meant nothing why do you have this damn secret phone huh? Why?" Vincent heard another crash, he was guessing his mother threw the phone.

"Liz stop before you wake the kids" His dad replied.

"Oh now you want to think about the kids" She yelled. "you didn't think about them or me when you made such a stupid decision did you?"

"I'm Sorry ok"

"you're not sorry, you only saying that because you got caught. Get out!"

"what?"

"Michael get your shit and get out of my house"

Vincent slowly got up from his bed and went to his bedroom door cracking it open.

"you're kicking me out over some stupid texts"

"Yes, now leave!"

"Liz... I .."

"get out!"

"Fine"

He watched his dad come walking down the hall and he hurried to close the door. He jumped into the bed and laid there listening. He didn't hear anything for almost ten minutes. Then he heard his dad's heavy footsteps walking down the hall towards the front door. He listened as the door slammed, then he heard his mom walk into her bedroom and close her door. The house was quiet again, but he was wide awake sad, and angry with his dad. He didn't know exactly what happen only what he heard. That his dad was caught talking to another woman and he hurt his mom.

Vincent got up again and opened his door, slowly creeping out into the hall, and walked over to his parent's bedroom door. He put his ear up to the door and listened.

He heard the light sobs of his mother and felt rage take over. He was furious how could his father do that to his mom. Vincent loved his mom to death his mom was Vincent's favorite person in the world she was kind and sweet and loving and his dad betrayed her. Vincent walked back into his room and buried his face into his pillow he hated his dad so much at that moment and when he saw him he was going to give him a piece of his mind.

The next morning Vincent woke up sad as ever, he got to school and didn't talk to anyone didn't want to be bothered. He saw Catherine and walked right past her when she waved to him. Vincent and Catherine had only a couple of classes together since Catherine was in Advance Prep classes and he wasn't. Catherine kept trying to get his attention and he ignored her. He was too mad to talk, he knew deep down he shouldn't take it out on his friends but he couldn't help it everything, and everybody pissed him off. His parents might be getting divorced he would never be ok with that. He always thought of his parents as the perfect couple. Childhood sweethearts who would be together forever. He wanted that to be him and Catherine but now that his parents are fighting what did that say about him and Catherine. Was he destined to do something stupid and hurt her too? Maybe marriage is a waste of time. Maybe there are no fairytale loves and he should just quit being stupid and naive and face the truth. True love is not real.

Catherine finally caught up to Vincent at lunchtime he was sitting outside alone sulking. His life was falling apart and Catherine didn't even know what was going on.

"Vincent I've been looking all over for you," she said sitting next to him.

Vincent didn't respond he didn't even acknowledge her presence he just stared straight ahead.

"Vincent, what's wrong? Why won't you talk to me" she asked tilting her head to look into his eyes.

Vincent finally spoke for the first time since yesterday. "Get away from me"

"What?" Catherine looked confused "are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong"

"I said get away from me!" He yelled.

Catherine was startled she had never seen Vincent so mad nor had he ever raised his voice like that at her.

"Vincent, why are you being mean? What is wrong?"

"I said get away from me" Vincent stood up pushing past Catherine, he bumped her so hard she almost lost her balance and fell.

She watched as Vincent kept on walking her eyes started to tear up, she didn't understand. Vincent was her best friend and right now he was being the meanest she has ever seen. It made her sad and it also made her worry.

Vincent didn't go back to class after lunch that day he left the school. He went to the park and sat there for a while, then he went to the woods near his house and sat by the creek for the rest of the school day then went home. He was hoping maybe his dad was back, and that his parents made up. No such luck the house was quiet, his mother had been in the room crying again. Only she hurried and wiped away her tears when she heard Vincent's approach.

"Vincent how was school?"

Vincent never even responded he just went and sat next to her and gave her a hug.

"Mom are you and dad getting divorced?"

"Vincent that is between me and your father to figure out and even if we did we both love you and your brothers so much and nothing will change that"

Vincent felt tears coming down his eyes, he knew nothing would ever be the same. Vincent's dad spent the week at his uncles and saw the boys on the weekend. Vincent was still mad at his dad so he hardly spoke to him when he came by to check on him and his brothers.

Vincent started skipping school and hanging with the kids who made a habit of being in detention. He even started smoking cigarettes, Catherine didn't even recognize him it was like he changed overnight. He went from nice respectable Vincent to bad boy and rebellious. Vincent felt like Catherine deserved better than him he was convinced he would hurt her just like his father did his mother and that magic love he always thought they would have would never be.

Vincent's rebellious stage came to a screeching halt when Vincent's father got word of Vincent cutting class and getting in trouble all the time. His dad found Vincent skipping with his new bad-boy friends at the park. He wanted to give Vincent a hard time but he knew why Vincent was being so rebellious it was because of his mistake so he was going to fix it.

Michael took Vincent away for the weekend they went on a fishing trip just the two of them. They argued and then they talked he allowed Vincent to express his disappointment in him and he explained his actions and they came to an understanding. Vincent's dad didn't want to divorce his mother and he promised to he would do whatever it took to get the family back together and trusting him again.

Vincent came back from the trip with a new understanding. He shouldn't have put his parents on a pedestal and he definitely shouldn't define his future relationship with Catherine by his parent's example either. Vincent's father helped him realized he was in charge of his own destiny, that he shouldn't base his relationship with other people on his parent's lives.

Vincent had walked into art class for the first time in two weeks and Catherine was surprised to see him. She hadn't seen or heard from him since the day he yelled at her. Catherine had learned about what happened with Vincent's parents a day later when she eavesdropped on her mother talking to Vincent's mom on the phone. So knew Vincent was having a hard time dealing with what was going on with his parents. So she decided not to hold it against him when he finally came to his senses.

Vincent sat next to Catherine placing a lily right on her desk, she looked up at him and smiled. "are you ok?" she asked him.

"I should be asking you that after the way I treated you I would think you wouldn't want to talk to me ever again"

"well... at first I had convinced myself I wasn't going to speak to you again, but once I found out about your parents I changed my mind"

Catherine picked the Lily up and put it to her nose "This smells so pretty. Thank you, Vincent"

"you're welcome and I just want to say I am sorry for the way I acted. I was being a jerk to you and you didn't even do anything. That definitely was cool and it will never happen again.

"Vincent I forgave you when you gave me the flower" she smiled. Catherine picked up her charcoal pencil and started to draw.

The art teacher walked over to Vincent "I see you are back in class, have you decided what you are going to draw for your art project?

"Ummm..." Vincent looked over at Catherine who was concentrating on her own drawing. "I am going to draw Catherine"

Catherine looked up at me and smiled "me?"

"yes, you" He watched as her cheeks turned pink.

Vincent sighed as he turned to his side and closed his eyes. He was tired but he thought about that drawing. He had drawn Catherine that day and surprised the whole class. His teacher was very impressed, Vincent a knack for drawing people especially Catherine Chandler. The drawing was a portrait of Catherine and it was incredible. Catherine had no idea of this hidden talent of his, he never let anyone see his art until now. His uncle had taught him how to draw like a professional artist Vincent practiced all the time drawing random things. He sketched picture after picture at times and then would put them away in his closet and forget about them. He wondered if Catherine still had the picture that got him an A. He thought about maybe someday showing VJ his drawing skills and passing them down to him. He got excited about tomorrow he was so glad Catherine invited him to VJs practice.