Ryan held her close. "I know. Hey, I have to go back to home soon. Chrissa texted me and started freaking out 'cause I've been gone so long. Will you be okay?"

Chrissa received Ryan's text mesage and then closed her phone, not bothering to reply. She was annoyed. He had avoided her question about where he was. Well, she would ask him again when he got home.

Miley blinked back tears. "Please let me come with you."

Then, she turned to Jen. "Take Maralyn home and do not leave her side." She knew that was what her brother would want her to say, so she said it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin sighed. "Look, I do not regret defending you. I just wish I went about it a different way." He glanced out the window.

"You still there?" said Johny after a long pause. He flipped his shoe over and squeezed his foot in. "Wait, where are you, Peter?"

------------

"Stacey," sighed Ally. "That's not relevant," she told her friend as Stacey prattled on about the various degrees of good looks of Peter's relatives. "I said--" Ally cut in as Stacey began to debate how much beards affected the Beast Rating System (trademark, Ally Graham, mind you).

------------

When Jen didn't answer, Meghan disconnected and left her a text message. She bounced into her house, blocking the cats out of the doorway. "A sucker is born every day," she told them, easing the door shut.

Meghan shook the mouse, adjusted the mouse pad, and logged in. Ditto News... Justin Thomas? Why did that sound so familiar... Jen, no. Peter? Nope. Oh, WAIT! Peter's cousin?

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Peter said, "Im at the hopspital, checking on Nate and now I'm leaving. Why don't you call the jail? Justin should be there by now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Maralyn, Peter, Lyn and Jen got to Maralyn's house, Maralyn fingered their wedding picture, sobbing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stacey blushed. "Sorry. So why do you all of a sudden think Peter and his family are ugly anyway? HAve you seen his girl cousin Miley? SHe is so pretty she looks just like Georgie Henley!"

Jen put a comforting arm around Maralyn. "You love him, don't you?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
Lyneya stood by Peter. "Hey, Peter!" She whispered to him. "I think I see some hair coming in!"

Maralyn gulped. "I do. Imagine if it were Peter."

Peter felt a surge of excitement and rushed to the bathroom to see if it were true. Looking in the mirror, he noticed his hair was still extremely thin. He ran a hand through his hair and there was the bald spot. HE thought back to the accident, losing Jen, her being with a better guy, the news Nate was joining the army, Mr. Pole pulling his hair out and Justin getting arrested. THe thoughts swarmed in his head, causing him to sob.

"Peter?" Lyneya stuck her head through the door. She heard him crying and went to him. "I'm sorry, Peter..."

"Then don't regret that you never saw it coming! You married him because you loved him, and that's what counts," Jen said.

((at least, I thnk so. I'm not an expert on these things..))

Peter wiped his tears. "That's okay." He sniffled. "My cousin is in jail and my hair won't grow back." He put his head on Lyn's shoulder and wept. "And I still can't see Jen other than the project." He gulped. "Does Nate really have to join the military?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin nervously anticipated Johnny's voice, when he called him form the jail cell. He braced himself for any yelling from Johnny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amanda an Diane were visitng Kevin's cell. Amanda asked, "Are you okay?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maralyn thanked Jen. SHe prayed that God would let Justin otu of jail and maybe have him do community service or probation instead of jail time."

Chrissa jumped as the front door slammed open. She hurried out to the hallway to see Ryan and Miley entering.

Chrissa gave Miley a hug, forgetting about asking Ryan where he had been. "Miley! How are you doing?"

MIley collasped onto Chrissa's shoulder. "They took him away, Chrissa." She started to cry. "The took my brother wawy. They are making him spend an ight in jail and probation until trial. Youth group will never be the same wihtout him leading us."

"What?" Chrissa gasped, shocked. She stared at Ryan, who nodded his head.

"It's true," he said.

"Oh Miley!" Chrissa hugged her friend. "It was in self-defense that he killed the man. It has to be all right in the end. It has to."

Miley sobbed. "How can it ever turn out all right? WHat happened to Peter? Did dance turn out alright when Mr. POle pulled his hair out? Did shopping for dresses tuen out all right when Pam threatened me? My family is JINXED!"

"Miley!" Chrissa had never used a sharp tone on her friend, but now she did. "Miley, don't think that," she said, her voice becoming gentle again. "We'll do everything we can to help Justin. And, if he's put in jail, we just have to trust that it's God's will."

Miley yelled, "God's will? Really? Does He hate us that much?"

"Miley, please don't say that." Chrissa was beginning to panick. She didn't know what she could say that would help Miley calm down. "Look, I know life seems like a horrible struggle at times. Please, Miley try to calm down. Don't think about Justin right now. Try to relax."