07 October 2011

Something Short Of Amazing, Prologue

Home Broken Into and Burned Down

A small local home was broken into late yesterday evening and completely destroyed as fire struck. Simon and Ryann Tibbault were relaxing last night at home when their home was broken into. Shortly after their 911 call, fire took to the house. Ryann, 6 months pregnant, escaped. But sadly her husband did not. Police and Fire Fighters are still searching for the burglar, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.


It's quite sad, when these things happen. You never know when or why. You don't wake up in the morning knowing that your house will be burned down later that night. You come home from work, eat dinner, blissfully unaware that your life is about to change forever.

I am the woman in that article, and this is my story.

The Boy Next Door, Chapter 4

"You do know how completely lame we're going to sound, right?"

"You, not we." I roll my eyes and think briefly of running but Lyss is holding my arm and her other hand is making it's way to knock at the door. Before I can grab it she knocks and 'coming!' is called from inside the house. A minute later Mrs Findlay opens the door.

"Oh, hi girls. What brings you over tonight?" I glance back at Lyssa before answering.

"We were wondering if Adrian is home?" Mrs Findlay smiles and ushers us into her front hall. I've never been inside her house before, so this is interesting.

"He just got home. I'll just let him know you're here." Once she's out of sight I turn back to Lyssa and glare at her. I know she's wondering why I'm being so weird about this. And honestly, I have no idea. I usually have no problems telling someone what I think or feel about them, boys included. Lyss nods behind me and I turn back around to see Adrian coming down the stairs. Shirtless. Oh God. I almost yelp when Alyssa pinches my arm.

"Oh, hey Alyssa, Emma. How're you two tonight?" I have a hard time keeping my eyes from straying from his face, so Lyss answers for us.

"We're good. Em, didn't you have something to ask?" I catch my eyes before they travel too far down.

"What? Oh, uhm, yeah. I was wondering if you had plans for tonight, right?" Lyss pokes my back hard. "Ow."

"Nope. Not yet, at least." Lyssa squeezes my arm so I shake it away from her.

"Well, if you don't mind hanging out with us, we could show you around town." Adrian smiles. He looks slightly amused.

"Sure, sounds good. Just give me a few minutes to change and I'll meet you outside." I watch as he walks back up the stairs. I sigh and let Alyssa pull me back outside.

"This was such a bad idea. I'm not going to be able to concentrate with him around, looking all greek godlike."

"You'll be just fine. So where are we going to take him?" I shrug.

"You're the mastermind, not me, remember? I'm the victim here." Lyss rolls her eyes.

"Oh please. You didn't look so victim while you were in there, staring at him."

"Shut up. So where are we going?"

"Club Domino?"

"We don't even know if he likes going to clubs."

"Well then ask him."

"Why don't you ask him."

"Ask me what?" Lyss and I turn around to see Adrian standing in the door, pulling on his left shoe. Thankfully with a shirt this time. Lyss elbows me.

"We, uhm we were wondering if you like going to clubs? Club Domino opened a few weeks ago." He glances at Lyss.

"Aren't you underage?" She puffs up.

"That's for me to know and you to find out. Besides, I'm friends with a guy that makes fake I.D's." Adrian chuckles as we all head down the street. We live in a pretty quiet part of town, but we're only two blocks away from the downtown area.

"So you volunteered at that thing tonight?" I glance over at Adrian as he sticks his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah. When I told grandma I was coming into town for the summer she hooked me up with a few jobs and such." Wow, it's weird hearing someone call Mrs Findlay 'grandma'.

"Have a girlfriend?" I give Lyss a quick glare while Adrian chuckles.

"Nope. I'm going away to school for the summer so it didn't seem right to start something when it'd have to end soon anyway."

"Which school are you going to?"

"Heard of McMaster?" Lyss elbows me so hard I actually stop and poke her forehead.

"Would you stop nudging me already?" She just smiles and pulls my arm to keep walking.

"Well well, that's interesting. Emma is going there this September." Adrian gives me a surprised glance as we turn a corner into the downtown.

"Really? What are you majoring in?" I feel myself blushing.

"Music, actually. I'm a band geek. You?"

"Journalism mostly." I'm about to ask him another question when Lyss yawns loudly and obnoxiously.

"Boring. Anyway, I'm going to call Dusty and see if he wants to come. I'll catch up with you in a second." She walks down the block a bit more and stops, phone to her ear. I glance over at Adrian and give him a smile.

"You'll learn quick that she needs to be the centre of attention at all times." He smiles and I feel my chest flip.

"Oh, I'm beginning to see that already." I chuckle.

"Just you wait. You're in for a treat."

"Well he's lame and not coming, so I guess it's just us three." Lyss steers us both into the direction of the club we're going to. Suddenly, I don't feel like going out at all. I feel like going to a quiet coffee shop and asking Adrian every question that pops into my head.

While Lyss babbles on about what's she's heard of this club I sigh. I can already tell this is going to be a long night and it hasn't even started yet.

Someone Else's Happy Ending, Chapter 14

Monday January 19th [36 w 0 d]

I yawn, stretch as best my big belly will allow, and turn onto my left side. I open my eyes when my face comes into contact with a piece of paper.

Bell,

You were sleeping when I left and I didn't want to wake you. I have a few things to tell you, so I'll see you at lunch.

Draco


I yawn again and look at my watch. 10:19. I get up and shuffle over to the bathroom. I pee and take a shower, deciding to do my hair today. I french braid it and waddle back to my bedroom, picking something to wear for the day. I usually just wear my p.j's since I don't go anywhere, but today I pick out a nice pair of jeans and a flirty t-shirt. Draco rarely tells me anything personal so this must be big.

I sit around and read until I see the portrait swing open. Draco walks in just as Libby gives me lunch. Mac and cheese and a glass of orange juice. "Will Mr Malfoy being wanting any lunch?" Draco shakes his head as he sits on the love seat across the coffee table. Libby hops off as I take a gulp of my juice and look at him.

"So?"

"How does your back feel?"

"It's fine. You're stalling." Actually, my back has been cramping for a few days. It's gotten worse since I woke up this morning. After lunch I'm going to go see Madame Pomfrey to see if there's something she can do for the pain. Draco runs a hand through his hair.

"It's not exactly the easiest thing to say, Bell." My stomach does a flip flop.

"You're not de-friending me, are you?" He looks up at me.

"No! Of course not. That's not it at all." I take a few bites of my lunch while Draco doesn't tell me what he wants to say. I sit forward a bit to take another sip or juice and get a sudden cramp in my stomach.

"Ow.." Draco looks sharply at me.

"What?" I put a hand on my back.

"It's nothing. Just another cramp. Go on, tell me what you want to tell me." He sighs. My stomach tightens up again but I ignore the pain, intent on getting Draco to tell me.

"Well, I just figured, that since Richards isn't around, and we're good friends, that I'd kinda stick around once she's born and, you know, help out. If you want me to." He takes so many pauses between words that it's hard to focus on what he's just said. While I'm trying to figure it out another pain makes me curl up around my belly. "Bell, are you okay?" I gasp.

"No. I'm not. Get me to Madame Pomfrey. Please." I pause while my stomach tightens painfully again. "Libby! Go and tell Madame Pomfrey that we're coming right now. Go!" She rushes off while Draco helps me to my feet. He walks me to the hospital wing, stopping every few feet for me to catch my breath. The door opens as we come to it, Madame Pomfrey ushering us in and to the closest bed. They help me onto the bed and I lay back, clutching my stomach, crying from the pain. "Make it stop. I can't take this."

"I'm sorry dear, but I don't have the equipment here for a delivery. You'll have to be transferred to St Mungo's."

"What? No. This is still too early! I'm not due for another month! I am not.." I can't finish telling her I'm not having this baby as another, stronger, wave of pain hits me. I grab onto Draco's hand for dear life. He strokes my forehead.

"Shhh, Bella. It's all right."

"Don't you even Draco Malfoy! I do not want to hear how all right this is! Where's Keelan? I want to kill him! He did this to me, he's going to die!"

"I couldn't agree with you more Bella, but you've got to calm down. You don't want your baby under stress, right? Breathe, Bella, breathe." I'm about to tell Draco off again when another contraction hits.

"Draco, I can't do this. It hurts.."

"I know love, just breathe."

"Okay dears, we're going to St Mungo's and you're going to have your baby today."

"No, I can't have her today. She's not supposed to come yet. Her room's not ready. I'm not ready.." Draco takes my face in his hand and makes me look at him.

"Bella, you're more than ready for this! You've been waiting months to see your little girl. You're going to be great!" I start crying again, but not from the pain this time. In that moment I suddenly realize how great Draco's been. He's been there every step of the way. "You hear me? You're going to love that little girl, and she's going to love you!" Before second guessing it, I grab his neck and bring him down and kiss him.

Which is the last thing I remember before blacking out.

Mind Over Matter, Chapter 18

The alarm wakes me up at 7 AM, as it's done every other morning for the past two weeks. Two weeks since meeting Jackson, and one week since he moved into the house.

Zee doesn't like it at all, and he's being a complete pain in my butt. Jackson makes Tessa really nervous and she doesn't like to stay in the same room with him for more than a few minutes. Sam keeps to herself anyway and I hardly ever see her. And Will, he doesn't care much for Jackson either.

As for me, I don't know. I know he's killed two people and was somehow stalking me from the across the country, but whenever I'm around him I seem to forget all of it. I try to occupy myself with other things to keep away from him, but he always seems to turn up at the most random times. The only peace I get is in my room.

I've learned how to detect him in my head, too. It wasn't easy, cause he always seems to be in there. One morning I was awake before him in the kitchen eating breakfast by myself. In the middle of my cereal I felt this fog like feeling in my mind. It was alarming, to say the least, because then I'd realized how often the fog was there, just at the corners, keeping tabs on everything I did. I've since learned how to block him from most of my thoughts, but it's not easy. He's a lot stronger than me mentally.

I sit up groggily and walk over to my desk, grab my toothbrush, and head down the hall to the bathroom. I'm surprised that I'm the first one in this morning. Sam is usually the first one. I don't think much of it and go about my morning routine, until I feel awake and refreshed.

After getting dressed I bound down the stairs and enter the kitchen, excited for breakfast. Everyone's sitting at the table, all but Sam, emotions ranging from sad to worried to bored to hungry. I look to Liz. "What's wrong?" She looks like she's been crying.

"Sam ran away last night." I raise my eyebrows.

"What? When?" Liz shakes her head.

"Sometime after I went to bed and before I got up. Did anyone hear anything?" Everyone shakes their heads, except Jackson, who does nothing. I slept like a log last night, and probably wouldn't have woken up if a hurricane had hit. I catch Jackson grin and shoot him a glare. He shrugs at me. Liz misses this exchange. "There's been a search team sent out and there won't be any testing today, as I'm going to help them soon. I just wanted to let you guys know what's going on."

She leaves soon after, letting us fend for ourselves for the day. Tessa and Will leave, going their separate directions, and I'm left in the kitchen with Zee and Jackson. Zee is the first one to speak up. "What do you think happened to her?" He speaks only to me.

"I don't know. She kept to herself, but I never pegged her for the type to run away."

"It's the quiet ones you gotta watch out for." I roll my eyes at Jackson's comment.

"Do you know anything about it?"

"Even if I did, you wouldn't believe me."

"Why not?" Jackson just shakes his head as Zee rolls his eyes. "You do know something." For all my efforts, I can't seem to get into Jackson's head.

"Doesn't matter if I do or don't, you won't believe it."

"Why?"

"Because you only see what you want to see."

"What does that mean?" Jackson stands up to leave the kitchen.

"You'll figure it out." He leaves and I watch as the door swings shut.

"That's some weird guy." I turn back to Zee and sigh.

"Don't I know it."

"Do you even know why he's here?" I shrug and finally grab a box of cereal, pouring a huge bowl of it.

"I don't know. I try not to be alone with him too often, you know."

"I've never seen him go for testing, he does whatever he wants and no one cares, he's killed people and it's like everyone ignores it. Including you." I look up at Zee.

"It's not like that. I know he's killed before."

"Sure don't act like it. You act all buddy-buddy with him. I think he's a creep and he doesn't belong here." I glare at him.

"When do I have the time to act all 'buddy-buddy'? I'm never alone with him for more than a minute or two at a time. And I know full well what you think, in case you'd forgotten." He suddenly stands up and hits the table with his fists. Jealousy and rage are just pouring off him. His brown eyes are tinged purple.

"He even knows something about Sam but isn't telling anyone! He probably killed her himself!" I stand up and hold up my hands. A cringe as a glass shatters against the wall.

"Zee, calm down, okay? I don't know what he knows, but I'm sure he didn't kill her. I would have felt it from him." It takes a few seconds, but the anger finally subsides until just the jealousy remains. He sits heavily on the chair, his eyes back to normal. I don't know if I should move, so I just stand there until he looks at me.

"I'm sorry. You can sit down, I'm not going to hurt anything." I sit back down and look at him from across the table.

"What happened?" He shakes his head.

"I don't know. I just know that I got really mad, and then I kind of blanked out for a second."

"Why are you jealous?" To my surprise, he blushes.

"Ah, I plead the fifth?" I smile a little.

"I'll get it out of you sometime, you know. You can't keep it from me forever." He smiles back, his usual calm, happy demeanour returning.

"We'll just see about that. So, what do you wanna to today?"

"First I'd like to finish my breakfast. Then I'm all yours."

03 October 2011

The Boy Next Door, Chapter 3

I flip my phone closed and sigh extra deeply. She's crazy if she thinks she's dressing me and getting me to go over there. "Emma! Come down here please." I groan and get up, locking my bedroom door behind me. Jackie likes to snoop and I learned a long time ago that if I want something to stay private I need to lock it up.

I tromp down the stairs and groan again when I see what Bren's got on the table. "Good, there you are. Come here and help me." She's been talking forever about redoing the bathroom, and apparently she picked tonight to volun-tell me that I'm helping her. Quick thinking.

"Can't, Alyssa and I are going out tonight. She'll be here in a few minutes." She looks up at me with a frown on her face.

"It's a week night." I go over to the fridge and grab two Cokes.

"So? Despite all appearances I am an adult and it is summer vacation."

"You need to be up early tomorrow morning."

"I don't recall planning anything, so sorry Bren, no can do."

"I'm going to Bed, Bath & Beyond and need someone to come with me."

"So why don't you take Jackie, you know, your actual daughter?"

"I'm letting her sleep in tomorrow." I snort.

"Whatever Bren, I'm not going with so save it for someone else."

"Well what time can I expect you back?" I shrug.

"Dunno. Maybe I'll spend the night at her house. Either way, don't wait up for me." Just as I'm starting back up the stairs my cell rings. I hurry to get up and unlock the door, but whoever it was that called hangs up before I can answer. I check caller ID and smile. Brax. I hit redial and open my Coke while it rings. After the 4th ring Brax finally answers. "You just called, how could you be that far away from the phone?"

"Bathroom. Anyway, how are you?" I shift on my bed and cross my legs.

"I'm fine. I don't have too long cause Alyssa's coming over. She tricked me into going out tonight."

"Tricked you?"

"Well, sorta. Some guy moved in next door and she's determined to get us together for the summer. I made the mistake of going downstairs cause Bren was waiting to ambush me with bathroom samples. Snore. Anyway, my quick thinking came up with going out with Alyssa." Brax laughs.

"I thought you didn't have any neighbours with kids?"

"That's what I thought, too. But apparently Mrs Findlay was married and has a daughter or something. Adrian is her grandson."

"Ooh, first name basis, huh?" I look up as Alyssa enters my room and shuts the door behind her.

"Not really. Gotta go though. I'll call you later."

"Keep me updated." I chuckle and hand Lyss her Coke.

"Will do. Love you, Brax."

"Love, Em." I shake my head as I close my phone. Brax, also known at Braxton, is my twin brother. Instead of staying with our dad and Bren, he moved in with our uncle, our mom's brother. I haven't seen him in weeks. I'm supposed to be visiting him for a few days before I leave for school.

"How's Brax?" Alyssa has had a crush on him since she was 7. I keep telling her to give it up cause she's not his type, but she doesn't listen to me.

"Fine I guess. Dunno why he called." She takes a long sip of her Coke and then goes to my closet, surveying her options. "I told Bren we're going out. She wanted help with bathroom stuff."

"I know, I saw the books. Warm enough for a skirt tonight?"

"Depends on how short we're talking." She holds up my favourite pale blue skirt. "And that's definitely too short." She rolls her eyes and tosses it to me.

"Oh please. You can always wear leggings if you want. Or a sweater or boots. Hey, that's not a bad idea." I sit back and watch as she goes through my wardrobe and mumbles to herself. I'm not sure which is worse, her having a boyfriend or her not having a boyfriend. When she doesn't have one she drags me out every weekend looking for potentials. When she does have one, she seems to think I need one, too.

Half an hour later she's finally done rifling through my clothes. "Here, put this stuff on." I look down at what she's picked. That blue skirt, my calf high leather boots, a semi-form fitting tank top, and a 3 quarter hooded sweater. I look up at her and roll my eyes.

"Alyssa, seriously. I'm gonna get picked up by the cops for being a whore. I'm not wearing that." She goes back into the closet and takes out a pair of jeans that I could wear as a second skin. Where do I get all this stuff?

"Then wear those instead." I sigh and give up. She won't back down until she gets me dressed and out of the house.

"Ugh, fine, but you owe me." She smiles and crosses her arms.

"I think landing you Adrian Mill will be owe-ance enough. Now hurry up, you're wasting precious time."

"He's not even home yet, chill out." As soon as I say that a car pulls into the driveway next door and Adrian gets out. Alyssa shoots me a smug look and I roll my eyes. I grab the clothes she picked out and head to my bathroom. I'm lucky enough to have a door connecting my room and the bathroom together. Pretty handy considering the other door to get in the bathroom is on the other side of the top floor.

"Hurry up, Em."

"I can't get the stupid pants done up. Give me another pair." While I'm waiting I look at the tag. Size 2? Where on earth did I get these? "Hey, I don't own any size 2's."

"Oops, sorry, those must be mine then." She opens the door and hands me another pair of jeans and takes hers from me. She's always leaving her stuff here. She's probably got dolls here from when we were 6. "Done yet?"

"Jeezus chill out, eh?"

"Emma, did you know you can see his bedroom from your window?" I ignore her and finish putting my clothes on. I look at myself in the mirror and sigh. "God, your hair. Where's your brush."

"You know, you're kind of annoying sometimes." She grins and shrugs and picks up my brush. I glare at her. I have this thing about people touching my hair. I won't even go to the hairdressers and usually cut it myself. And Alyssa full well knows that. "Get that thing away from me."

"Oh please, Em. It's not gonna kill you."

"That's what you think. Just let me do it." She rolls her eyes but hands me the brush. I put it half up-half down with a clip that Brax got me for our birthday last year.

"That'll do. Now come on. We need to get over there before he makes other plans."

"And what exactly do you plan on saying to him?" She shrugs.

"No clue. You're gonna do all the talking anyway." I just stare at her.

"I think not."

"Oh come on. Since when are you shy?"

"Since never. But like I said yesterday, that'll sound totally lame.

"Oh please. You saw him earlier and you said 'see you later'.

"Yeah but I didn't actually mean tonight."

"Well you do now. Come on."

"Yeah, fine, let me lock up first." She also learned the hard way that I need to lock my room. Jackie found the diary that she kept at my house and showed Bren, who in turn showed Lyssa's parents. Short story, big drama. I grab my cell and my keys and follow Lyssa down the stairs. Brenda's now harassing my dad with the samples. I give him a sympathetic smile as we walk by and out the house.

"Okay, here's what's gonna happen. We're gonna go over, you're gonna say you're just welcoming him to the neighbourhood, and you're just gonna casually mention that you're going out tonight. If he's got half a brain at all he'll ask where and you'll invite him along. Good?" I roll my eyes at her in the dark. She's pulling me along the street to Adrian's house.

"Doesn't look like I got much of a choice, does it." She throws me a look over her shoulder before pushing me up Adrian's front walk. "You so owe me."

Someone Else's Happy Ending, Chapter 13

Friday January 9th [34 w 4 d]

"Miss Leed?" I look up from my book to see McGonagall opening the door.

"Yeah?" She steps in the room, her hands clasped together.

"Your new living quarters are finally ready. If you'd like, you can come down and see them now. I apologize that they weren't done sooner." I mark my page and grab my robe. I'm grateful that everyone's in classes cause I look slightly ridiculous when I walk. My belly seems to be getting bigger by the hour. "Some house elves will be along later to bring your personal things down. One will be assigned to live with you to help with meals and cleaning since you're on bed rest."

It's slow going down to my little apartment within the school. It's weird walking more than 20 steps, since that's all I've been doing for the past two weeks. It's also worse cause this school has so many damn stairs. "I'll be living near the hospital wing?"

"Yes. If you're alone and go into labour we don't want to risk you having your baby on the stairs." Makes sense.

"Is anyone allowed to visit me?" She gives me a sideways look.

"Certainly." We finally make it to the little apartment. "The password is jellybeans but you can change it any time you like. Just know that if you do it will automatically show up on the master list of passwords." I chuckle.

"There's a master list?" She ignores me, instead giving the painting (a bowl of jellybeans) the password. It slides open and I enter first. The first room I come to is a nicely sized living room. Off to the left there's a kitchen, attached to that a small dining room. In the right corner of the living room is a hallway with 3 doors. Behind one of the doors is what I assume to be my bedroom, behind one is a bathroom, and behind the last is a smaller room, which will be the nursery.

"So, what do you think?" I walk back into the living room.

"It's great, thank you." I start crying, much to my surprise and Professor McGonagall's. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm crying."

"Oh nonsense, don't apologize to me." It takes a few minutes but I finally stop bawling. "Your dormitory bed will be brought down for you along with your trunk shortly." I look around at the empty rooms, an emotion I can't place running through me. How am I going to afford all of the stuff I'll need? Why did I leave this until last minute?

"Can I have the rooms painted? I don't like the white all over very much."

"Of yes, of course. What colours would you like?" I shrug, looking around.

"I'd like the nursery to be a light pink. I'm not sure about the other rooms yet."

"Think on it and let me know." I nod, rubbing my belly as the baby kicks me. I realized that there was no need to worry about her. It's like she's trying to make up for the time she wasn't kicking the crap out of my insides. "Madame Pomfrey has requested to see you today once you're ready to go over."

"Did she say why?"

"Just a routine checkup. She wants to make sure that your baby isn't under any stress." I nod and look around again. I walk out of the apartment, deciding to change the password later. McGonagall walks me to the hospital wing, opening the door for me. I head over to the same bed, noticing a small step stool beside it. I laugh to myself, using it to get up on the bed.

**

Saturday January 17th [35 w 5 d]

"What about this one?" I point to a dark brown crib, showing Draco.

"I like it better than the other one you picked."

"Me too. Crib, check. What's next?" Draco looks at the list I've put together of baby items that I still need.

"Bassinet?" I flip through the pages, looking for the bassinets. I've been in my little apartment for just over a week. Right now Draco and I are looking through catalogues, looking for my baby furniture.

"Should I get everything to match?" He nods. "Okay, then it's this one. Bassinet, check. Next."

"Change table." I flip through and mark off the matching change table.

"Check. Next?" We go through my list, picking out a rocking chair, a stroller, dresser and car seat. I have no idea how I'm going to afford it all. Babies are so expensive. Once done I pick up another catalogue, this one for clothes, blankets and baby necessities. I pick a bunch of sleepers and cute outfits, lots and lots of diapers and wipes, and some bottles. "Could you go send these off for me?" I hand him a slip of paper with my account info on it.

"Sure thing Bella. I'll be back soon." Once he's gone I rub my back and sink down in the couch.

"Would miss be liking anything?" As if on cue, my stomach rumbles, telling me I'm hungry.

"Sure. What do you got?"

"Would miss like a sandwich?"

"Yes, I think I'd like one. A BLT would be great." Libby, my house elf, goes off to make my sandwich while I make a trip to the bathroom. After I finish up and walk out to the kitchen my sandwich and a big glass of milk is waiting for me on the counter, Libby nowhere to be seen. I pick up the sandwich and glass of milk and head back to the couch. It's still weird having someone cater to my every need, but it's nice, too. She's nice to talk to at 3 in the morning when I can't sleep and no one else is here.

I'm just about done my milk when Draco walks back in. "You didn't change it this time." I grin. For the past week I've been sending Draco off to do something just so I can change the password on him. He gets really mad when I do it, saying "What if something happened and I was stuck out there!" I keep telling him I could just get Libby to open it, but he's irrational.

"Naw, thought I'd put you through enough for this week. You get weekends off." He rolls his eyes and plunks down at my feet. I wiggle my toes. "Foot rub?" He feigns annoyance but does it anyway. I think he secretly likes rubbing my feet and massaging my back. Of course he'd never tell me that.

"Better?" I nod, relaxing into the couch.

"Much. My feet have been killing me lately. Same with my back, it's been cramping on and off for like two days now."

"Have you asked Madame Pomfrey about it?" I close my eyes.

"No. I'm still not due for another month. It's probably just nothing." He hmm's in response.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"Wanna move to the bed? It's probably more comfortable than the couch. Especially if your back is bothering you." I hadn't realized I was even tired, let alone falling asleep, but now I feel completely exhausted. Draco helps me to the bed and pulls the covers over me as I lay down. He pauses then kisses my forehead. I grab his hand.

"Stay with me?" He hesitates but pulls the blankets back and slides in behind me. As I'm falling asleep he slides his hand over my belly and kisses my shoulder.

"Goodnight, Bella"

Mind Over Matter, Chapter 17

Liz glances over at me across the back seat of the car. "You okay?" She's asked me this about five time already, and my answer is always the same.

"I'm fine." She sighs and turns her attention to Geoffrey. I'm on my way to see Jackson Forte. Zee offered to come with me for moral support, but I declined. I need to do this on my own.

"We should be there in just a few minutes." The place where he's being held is a couple hours away from the school, the land just as remote and bare of people. About 5 minutes later I finally see a building. It's big and white and gives me the creeps, for some reason. It just looks.. wrong. I give myself a mental scolding. It's just a building, Gemma, grow up. The car stops in front of the front steps and Liz gets out. I follow behind her closely, still creeped out by the building.

The front door opens into a main lobby of sorts. Thick white carpets, a dark brown wooden desk, glass coffee table, some scattered metal framed blue chairs. A short guy wearing a dark blue suit leads us down a few halls, past some doors. The mental energy I'm getting from this place feels all wrong and I want to get out. I remind myself that I'm here for a reason, and I'm going to see that reason through.

There are 4 other guys standing at the end of the hall, kind of crowded around the end door. Our guide clears his throat and they all step aside to let us through. I look at each of them as we pass. They're all confused, and even a couple are scared. I'm surprised I know this, since I've never been able to tell one's emotions. Now that I think about it, there have been other strange things going on. I've been able to sense where someone is in the house since I got there. I'd chalk it up to my powers getting stronger, but the timing seems a little odd.

Suddenly we stop at a door with a small square window. "He knows she's here?" I glance over at Liz while the short guy nods, looking me up and down, as if to say This is what he wants? I sneer at him and his eyes widen. Serves you right. Still looking at me, he presses a button on the wall.

"Jackson." He's got a deep voice for such a short guy. I hear a rumbling chuckle come from the speaker beside the button.

"You can go now."

"You know we can't do that, Jackson. It's this or nothing." A few seconds of empty static.

"Fine. You can restrain me, I won't fight." Shorty lets go of the button and talks into a walkie talkie. Really? A walkie talkie? I laugh under my breath and Liz gives me a warning look. I shrug innocently and cross my arms across my chest. We wait a few minutes until five big, beefy looking guys come walking toward us.

"Is this really necessary?" Everyone looks at me as if I'm crazy. Liz finally answers me.

"Yes."

"Stand back and wait until he's properly restrained, then I'll let you come in." As if I have any other choice but to do as he says. I stand against the opposite wall as the five guys go into the room on the other side of the door. Once all is secure one leans out and gives the okay. Jeez, I feel like I'm in a gang movie or something.

The short guy goes in first, and then Liz. I take a deep breath and follow them. The first thing I notice is the big guys, one in every corner and one beside the door. Liz and the other guy are standing off to the side. Shorty looks bored and Liz looks slightly nervous. I look at the guy in the middle of the room, the one causing all of this, and he smiles at me.

It's a knowing smile, but what could he know? We've never met before this. Unless he was stalking me without my knowledge, then he can't possibly know a thing about me.

"Au contraire, mademoiselle, I know a lot about you." I narrow my eyes and tilt my head a little.

"What am I doing here?"

"I don't know, what are you doing here?"

"You asked for me."

"You didn't have to come."

"You would have broken out and found me anyway." His smile is so icy, is gives me chills. "What do you want with me?" His eyes never leave mine.

"I'd tell you, but not in front of these guys. Besides, you wouldn't believe me anyway."

"Oh sure. You'll get me alone and kill me like you did those other people, right? I'm not stupid." His smile doesn't falter, but I get an impression of guilt, regret.

"I don't want to hurt you, Gemma." Somehow, crazy as it seems, I completely believe him. He may be crazy and have killed two people, but I believe 100% that he doesn't want to hurt me. How odd. A few minutes go by during which Jackson just watches me. Shorty interrupts the silence.

"So is that enough for you, Jackson? Are you happy now that you've seen her?"

"Yes."

"Then you remember our agreement?" His eyes never leave mine.

"I remember." I look at Shorty.

"What agreement?" Liz answers for him.

"He'll be staying with us at the school, if that's still all right with you." My automatic response is No way in hell but I find the words die in my throat. I look back at Jackson, who is still watching me. A slow smile spreads across his face.

"Sure, that's fine." I blink after the words leave my mouth. I don't remember wanting to say that. Jackson has a self satisfied grin on his face, and I wonder if he had anything to do with me saying that.