More Than One: A Novel (32 page)

              He let go of my hands and stepped back even further. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at me with suspicion in his eyes. What was I doing wrong? I studied for years trying to get this down pat. What was I saying that made him look at me this way? I decided not to let him think any further and walked in closer to him.

              “Ash, please understand me. It does worry me that she might be out there plotting her revenge against me, but I just want one day where I am not stressed or scared. Is that so wrong?”

              He loosened his arms a little.

              “I guess you're right. I will keep an eye on things and I promise I won't let anything happen to you,” he said hugging me. “I love you and I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you.”

              “I love you, too,” I said leaning my head on his chest with a big smile.

              After we left the room, my parents rushed us to get our things together to put in the car. I gladly grabbed my own things and went outside. I was so ready to be away from this prison. No one suspected me and I didn't want to stay here any longer for them to start.

              I sat down inside and waited for the rest of the luggage to be put away. Ash walked past me and winked and I giggled. I started to get up and follow him, but Michael walked through the door.

              “Hey, Jamie,” he smiled. “You packed and ready to go?”

              I smiled back. “Yep, all of my things are in the car.”

              He looked around before hugging me and pulling me into a kiss. I lingered there for a minute and then pulled back. I couldn't risk anyone catching us. I know everyone knew Jamie and Michael had a relationship, but I couldn't put myself in jeopardy.

              “Keep it in your pants, Michael. We’re not out of the woods yet,” I said fixing my hair. “You need to go to laboratory and find out what's being said. They found the letter and I need to know what's going on.”

              “Okay, I'm sorry. I missed you last night,” he said.

              “I missed you, too. And soon we will be together, but for right now, I need you to focus.”

              “Yeah, I got it. Call me when you land okay,” he said and quickly kissed me again before leaving.

              I sat back down and watched the traffic going in and out of the door. My mom and dad were putting the rest of the things up and didn't even notice me there. They were engrossed in a conversation of their own. Minutes later, Abigail and Dr. Lewis showed up.

              Dr. Lewis rushed past me without looking, but Abigail slowed down to speak. I was anxious to see if she could tell who I was. She spent the most time with me and if I could pull this off with her, I knew everything was going to be okay.

              “Morning Jamie,” she said.

              “Good morning,” I said concentrating.

              “I know you heard that Elizabeth has run away, but I don't want you to be worried. I don't think she will come looking for you. Hopefully we can find her before anything happens to her,” she said with tears in her eyes. “And like I told you, if you need to talk, you can call me day or night.”

              I stood up and walked to her.

              “Are you going to be okay?” I asked.

              “Yes,” she said sniffling. “I just don't want anything bad to happen to her. I wish I would have known she was going to do this. Maybe I could have prevented her from leaving. I am so scared for her.”

              She was really upset. I knew she cared to some extent, but I didn't know that it was this much. My heart started to ache after her pain. I hugged her and tried to comfort her in the best way I knew how.

              “I am pretty sure leaving you was hard for her. She loves you; she has to. You were there for her when no one else was. I know that if she was standing here right now, she would tell you that.”

              She cried in my shoulder for another minute before she finally let go. I didn't want to look her in the eye. This was too much for me.

              “Thank you Jamie,” she said drying her eyes. “I have to get in the lab. I hope you have a safe flight home.”

              “Thank you and I hope things get better around here,” I said.

              She walked around the corner and I couldn't even relish in my victory. She didn't know it was me, but that was probably because she was overwhelmed with Elizabeth being gone. I paced the floor to get my head together. This was no time for me to fall apart. I cared for her, but I couldn't let that ruin my escape.

              I stopped walking back and forth when Ash came around the corner. He took in my expression and came running as he always did for Jamie.

              “Is everything okay?” he asked.

              “Yeah, I'm just worried about Abigail,” I said.

              “Why?”

              “She was just in here crying and I can't stand to see her like that?”

              “Since when are you two so close?” he asked.

              “Well, we have been here for some weeks and she has helped me through so much. I can't help but feel some sympathy for her.”

              “I understand. I know she will be fine though,” he said walking away. “Everything is in the car and your dad is ready to go. I'm going to say goodbye to my parents and then we will head out.”

              “Okay.”

              My attitude changed immediately. The time had finally come for us to leave and I was more than ready. I grabbed my purse and sent Michael a message from Jamie's phone. Minutes later, he came around the corner. He was breathing as if he had ran to me.

              “I will miss you,” he said hugging me.

              “I’ll miss you, but I will see you soon enough.”

              I kissed him and then pushed him away before anyone came. He retreated to the hallway and I was alone again. I walked around and looked at the house I vowed to never enter into again. It was a nice house; too bad this wasn't where I was living. It didn't matter anymore.

              My parents came around the corner saying their goodbyes to Ash's parents. I walked over and said goodbye, as well. I hugged Mrs. Dean and then walked over and hugged Mr. Dean. I didn't want to do it, but I had to keep up this facade. I quickly let go of him and walked toward the door.

              After everyone loaded up in the car, we headed to the airport. I leaned on Ash's shoulder and he kissed me on the forehead. My mom looked back at me and smiled and I returned the smile to her. I watched out the window as the houses and buildings went by me in a blur. This was my new start.

~

              A couple of days have passed and no one knew I was once Elizabeth. The world that Jamie called her own was better than I thought it would be. I went to class and caught up her failing grades. The teachers loved me more than they loved the old me.

              At first, it was hard to get use to the routine and figure out where to go and when to be there, but Jamie had a detailed book that lead me everywhere I needed to go. She had an outline of all of her classes and all I had to do was research the layout of the school. I finally had it down.

              Even Rachel said I was better than before. She asked me if I was still having the dreams and I lied and told her I did, but they didn't bother me anymore. Eventually I would tell her that the dreams magically went away and all was back to normal.

              As for Ash and I, we were closer. We hung out every day. He opens up to me about everything, his childhood and all that. I have to catch myself at times, because I want to go into detail about my childhood, but I can't remember that much of Jamie's. So, I just nod my head in those times and listen to every word he says.

              I left my last class for the day and headed back to the dorm. I don't have a job to go to since Jamie got fired while she was in Rome, but when my parents found out, they told me not to worry about it. My dad said he would send me whatever I needed.

              I walked in my dorm and Rach was sitting on the bed talking on her phone. I smiled at her and I went to put my things up. I didn't know what to do with myself.

              “Hey, Jay, since you're free for the rest of the evening, I was thinking we could go do something later. What do you think?” Rach said hanging up her phone.

              “That sounds great. What did you have in mind?”

              “Well, I was thinking since you and Ash have gotten so close, you guys could double date with Derrick and me,” she said with a wide grin.

              I didn't know how Jamie would have responded in this situation, so I had to wing it like I've done so far. There were areas of her life that I didn't see, but it was easy to pick up on. I smiled to appease her and she came over to sit next to me.

              “Yeah, Ash and I are closer. Isn't it funny? You never know what good could come out of drama, right?” I said.

              “You're right. I, for one, am happy that it happened. You guys are so cute together. So, what do you say?”

              “I say okay.”

              She jumped up and down and then hugged me while she was screaming. This part of Jamie's life I definitely could do without, but it was worth it to on my own. She ran back to the phone and started dialing.

              “Call Ash and let him know we're going out,” she said before she started talking in her phone.

              I did as I was told and called Ash. I told him about the invitation that Rach had given and he seemed happy. I hung up the phone and laid back on my bed. It was still taking me some time to really feel like I was home.

              Some nights I would sit up and rock for no reason, because that was what I was use to. I had to change my patterns and quick before Rach caught on. I had read Jamie's journal's religiously to see if there were things in there to help. From the journal, I learned she paced a lot when she needed to think and that she rubbed her temples to relieve the tension when she was stressed.

              So far, I had everyone fooled, but myself. I knew I could do this with more practice and if they didn't find out by now, they never would. But I was locked away for so long, some things were second nature to me.

              I turned over and listened to Rach talk to her boyfriend. She was so easy to figure out and just as easy to get along with.

              I tuned her out for a minute and then the strangest thing happened. The pain that I felt so many nights when I was in that room angry, came back. It hit me so hard, I stopped breathing. I balled up and waited for it to leave. The pain spread throughout my body and when it reached my head, I blacked out.

Acknowledgments

              First of all, I want to thank God for His infinite wisdom and everything He has done in my life. Thank You for all the gifts You have given me.

              To my daughter, Tykia, for being my constant. I love you so much. You amaze me every day and give me a reason to keep pushing forward. And just to let everyone know, she came up with most of the names for the characters. My little genius...

              To my parents, Evonne, for being my cheerleader all my life. It doesn't matter what I wanted to do, you backed me. I love you for being the best mother anyone could ask for. My dad, Nathaniel (may he rest in peace and love), thank you for pushing all of us to be better. You knew what we needed. I hope I made you proud.

              To my family, Michelle, Milisa, Mike, Rae, Leah, Rechel and Nacole, I love you guys. Regardless of anything that has happened, we have always stuck together. And Hunter, boo, love you!

              Thanks Nik for making me finish this book. I wanted to quit and you wouldn't let me. Love you, twin. Also, thanks to Rechel for helping me get the book just right. We did some major reconstruction on this thang. And Leah, thank you for being my best friend, for making me try new things and for being the other crazy pea in our messed up pod.

              To my babies, Brooklee, Jonathan, Nathan, Jayden, Nyah, Laina, Kourtney, Kendel, Taira, DJason, Michael, Jamarion, Jamaul, Monique, Larriana (Precious), Shelby, DeMarcus, Tracy, Chris and KP. I love you guys.

              To my friends, Alan Bailey, James Dobbs, Vince Mitchell, Patrick Ballard, Amber and Josh Husby, Patrick Powell, Leslie Doumas, Deidre Stewart, Dennis Shortt, Steve and Janice McDowell, Mily Foraker, Gigi and Conrad Gonzalez, Angie Smith, and Coco Spencer. You guys have been constants in my life, as well.

              More special thanks go to Cyri, for being my favorite person in the whole world. You knew the real me with all my flaws and still had my back. I love you cousin. To Zane, for talking to me about how to turn my struggle into a blessing. You are an amazing person, someone I’m proud to look up to. I love you. To Monique, my niece, for reading my book and saying it was awesome :) and helping me with fixing the problems. To my Pastor and his wife, Johnny and Robyn Porter, thanks for believing in me and telling everyone I was an author before I even published my book. If anyone living in the Villa Rica, Ga area needs a church home, New Bethesda COGIC is the place to be.

              Thanks to the original book cover model, Brittany McGill. You're such a sweetheart. Love ya!

              To an amazing editor, DJ Reznik. Thank you for your help with my first book. You gave me guidance and made this accomplishment even better for me. You helped more than you had to and I appreciate that.

              To anyone I might have missed, you know who you are, I love you. Thanks for reading the first of many books I hope to publish.  

Monica R. Fowler

Coming 2015

The Fallen:

Chains of

Fire

~ Book One ~

Monica R. Fowler