"Well...it's only easy if you like geometry. Which I happen to. It's so...logical." Chloe shrugged as she struggled for a way to express her like for the math. "I'd give you my jacket," she commented, catching Rosamunde's movement, "But I wouldn't want to rick getting my camera wet." She gestured to the camera in her hand. "Talking about hobbies, what do you like to do in your free time?"

(((The same ol' Chloe. I love that girl. I wonder why she doesn't have a boyfriend yet.)))

Staring at the hand that was offered, Maya wasn't sure she could trust this guy; he had just thrown her across the stall. He could be dangerous.

As if he had read her thoughts, he said, "I'm not gonna hurt ya." He looked at her beaten face. He hadn't done that; someone else must had. He grew cold, and his other hand drew up into a fist at the thought. He pushed it into the back of his mind. She didn't trust him enough to tell him how she had gotten into his barn and why she was beaten so badly. He needed her to trust him before she would tell him what had happened.

"Ya already did," she retorted.

"And I apologize."

She just stared at him, his hand still offered. He apologized as if where as easy as to breathe. How did he do it. She slowly excepted his hand and he pulled her to her feet.

"Sorry. Are ya okay?" He looked threw her battered face and into her eyes. He saw the pain and the fear and wanted to tell her there was nothing to be afraid of.

She shook her head, but he knew she wasn't telling him the truth. She slipped her hand out of his grasp and looked down.

Ro shook her head. "Oh, no, it's alright." She pulled the sleeves of her tri-colored plaid shirt down and said, "I like to draw." Motioning to Chloe's camera, she continued. "I'm a bit of a photographer, too, but I prefer drawing pictures, rather than taking them."

Brian smiled at her and took a breath "Well...I like some fantasy, but thrillers are my favorite. Tom Clancy...things like that." he said "Though I must admit.." he said blushing "I once read a mushy book for a book report and actually liked it"

*****************

Abigal looked up, drowsiness hanging in her eyes "Guns? No....why?" she asked, sitting up straighter and rubbing her her eyes sleepily. He friends question puzzled her "I don't even know how to use them!" she said waking up more. Her question was answered by another knock on the door, the urgency in the tone of the sharp wrap, made her raise an eyes brow and shrink back into the couch "Who is that? Do you know?"

*

The man waiting outside Abigal's house, grasped his side in attempt to hold the blood in. The small droplets that escaped dripped down onto the stone walked below his feet, staining it permanently. The pain burning through his side from the open bullet wound was almost unbearable. "Let me in please!" he gasped in a horse whisper, his body trembling from pain. Her heard the sound of feet, and the sound of breathing, but no one opened the door..

**

Melisha ran until she reached the fence that roped it's way around the school yard. She ran into it and clutched it with her fingers, determined not to let go. Large tears rolled down her cheeks, and she felt her bruises aching with new pain. "Ow..." she whimpered sliding down next to the metal links, and crying large tears all over her hands and arms. She glanced behind her and saw the girl with two boys standing there staring after her. She wished they would leave her alone..

**

Maralyn awoke on the hospital bed, to the soft cooing of her new baby daughter. Blinking she slowly sat up to see Justin tenderly holding the little bundle that was their baby. She sat and watched them together, and how he always smiled. She smiled some too, then picked up a book that had been left for her on the stand next to her bed. She figured she would let Justin have time with his new daughter. For now...she would read..

***

Ian was depressed the whole way to Milania's apartment, where he would be staying the night. As they pulled up in front of the building he gulped, and sighed slipped out from her low convertible "I'm still sorry"

Amanda wa sjust about to answer when she heard his plea. Groaning, she answered the door, praying for her and Abigal's safety. She saw he was all covered in blood. "Come on in. Who are you? Are you okay?" Looks like i didn't need to shoot him after all, she thought.

Logan shrugged. "Maybe. I wouldn't think we're so intimidating..." He glanced up at the darkening sky once more and held out his hand to catch the rain. "You'd think she'd want help; she looked pretty banged up. And it's getting cold and wet out here."

-------

"I like fantasy and thrillers, too." She looked at him curiously when he mentioned the 'mushy' book, and wondered whether it was one she had read before. "Really? What was it called?"

Justin held Sarah in his arms, still amazed at God giving him a second chance to have a child when he had caused the first to be aborted. He sroked her dark hair, knowing she was a miracle from God. He thanked God over and over for his mercy and his little girl. She was so soft so blemish free.

"Where are you hurt?" He asked so gently, she couldn't refuse his request.

Slipping her hand away from her ribs, she said,"It don't hurt no more."

"Any more," he corrected her gently. He sighed, wondering if she was going to tell him who she was and why she was in his barn. "So, who are ya. What's yer name," he inquired.

"Maya," she labored. Her ribs hurt so much. As she walked to where her duffel bag had lander in their scuffle, she closed her eyes agaist the pain. When she reopened them, she felt the world swirl and growing black. She tried to shake it off, but only saw the floor come up and almost hit her in the head, then saw only black.

The young man caught her before she hit the barn floor.

Amanda waited for a reply. "Come on," she groaned as she dragged the man inside. "Tell me what happened."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter could feel the rain growing harder and harder. He heard a voice snicker, "My my if it isn't the little freshmen."
Gasping, Peter turned around to see burly senior boys with buzzcuts. He gulped, turning to Logan and Jen.

Declan O'Hara walked through the school yard, rain peddling on his shoulder. He was whistling Raindrops Keep falling on my head as he usually did when it started to rain. He walked past Peter, Logan and Jen, who were looking off into the same direction. He walked past, stopped whistling for a moment to wave to them and say "Hi". Then he walked past. Suddenly he stopped walking, turned around, and noticed the three intimidating Seniors staring at his three friends.
"Hey, You." Declan said, pointing to the main senior's hair. "You should duck next time you are going through a door."
"What are you talkin' about whimp?" The senior asked.
"Your hair," Declan said, motioning at his own head, "You're kinda missing somethin' up there."
"Are you making fun of my hair?" The senior asked.
"No, I'm just making a smart remark about your hair." Declan said, then he leaned in forward and whispered "That means yes. Perhaps you should fire your barber."

The first thing Maya felt when she started coming around was something warm and strong under her back and across her shoulder blade. Opening her eyes, she looked up into a handsome face--the younger man's face.

His arm under her back gripping her shoulder tightened as she tried to get up. "Don't get up jest yet. You'll get dizzy. That won't be too good."

"I'm fine," she argued.

"Last time ya said thaet, ya fanted."

"No I didn't," she protested. "I jest blacked out."

"Yer one fighter, ain't ya? What's yer name?"

She thought a little bit, then spoke. "Brooklyn."

Jen held in stiffled laughter, relieved for Declan's rescue. She jumped when she felt a hand on your shoulder, but was relieved to find it was Peter.
"Run," he whispered.
She obeyed, running as fast as she could to where Miley, CHloe and some other girl were.

The senior Declan insulted wouldn't go after Jen, because he was too busy grabbing Declan. and pointed at Peter and Logan. "Perhaps I can take your little friends to a barber instead."
Peter gasped and yelled, "Leave us alone!" He started having flashbacks of when he used to eb a bully and the bullies at his middle school during eigth grade.
The senior, ignoring the little twerp, gripped on to Declan tighter and yanked his glasses off his face. "Want these back?" he taunted.

Declan looked down at his wrinkled shirt in the bully's hands. Then he looked to his glasses, "Yes, I would like them back. But apparently you need them more then I do considering the urgency you took them."
The bully pulled him in closer, "Listen punk, quit it with the smart remarks before I make you eat your words."
"Whoa now Fred Astaire," Declan said, "If you want to tango all you got to do is ask."

Logan watched curiously as this sophomore kid smart-talked the bullies. He's kind of asking for it... I guess he knows what he's doing though. Gotta admire that spunk. Logan stepped up to the bullies, trying to act very calm. "Hey, guys, maybe you don't know me... I grew up in Ditto Monstropolis. Ever heard of it? Big city, lots of towers, lots of thugs? You guys are nothing compared to the bullies they have there. Maybe you should reconsider... but if you want to mess with me and my friends," - he motioned to Peter and the sophomore kid - "Then bring it." In all actuality, he was hoping his show of toughness would just make them leave; he didn't really want to fight.

Rosamunde happened to glance up and see her cousin and a few other people. "'Scuse me," she said to the girls she was with. "I have to go rescue my slightly dimwitted cousin."

"Hey!" She yelled, walking across the yard. When she got closer, she looked at the bully and then at her cousin. She addressed the bully, "Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you. My cousin is really skilled in karate. Remember Bruce Lee in the Way of the Dragon? Yeah, Lee's nothing compared to my cousin."