The next day:
Kris braked her bike, and watched as the red Ford Falcon leave the driveway of her house. As the large car passed her by, the fat face of Reagent was visible. Her body turned cold.
Anytime Reagent isn't in his bloody limo it is bad, she thought. She slowly pedalled into the drive, and dropped her bike onto the grass.
With a great feeling of dread, she opened the front door.
At the dining room table, the whole family sat, silent. Kris stood there, fidgeting.
"What's going on?" she asked quietly. Jamie and Jessie looked at her, but then quickly glanced away. It was a guilty look.
"Mr. Reagent stopped by to tell us about your horrendous attitude towards him." Heather Browning told her stonily.
"What?!" she shreiked.
"Sit." Drake motioned for her to sit down. She remained standing.
"What did that slime tell you?!" she hollered. Her choice of words tallied a mark against her case.
"That 'slime', Kris, said that you hit him! Hit him for no apparent reason!" Heather snapped. It was apparent that her foster mother had already passed judgement on her.
"Oh, did he now?" Kris said sarcastically. By telling her parents this, either Reagent was really, really stupid, or really smart. It was up to her to decide whether his gamble was a good move or not. This game was that either she could tell the Brownings that she was sorry, wouldn't do it again, and get grounded or worse, or she could tell the truth, and everything with it. This was something she did not want anyone to know.
Her voice shook as she said: "I hit him for being the arrogant, stuck up sleaze bag of a dick head he is!"
The others sat, stunned.
"He is a respectable man!" Heather told her. Drake watched Kris carefully.
"And how would you know that?!" Kris cut. "You don't have to work with him every day. See his filthy face around all the time!"
"Nevertheless, he is hardworking-"
"Bullshit! That is a lie! He has cut spending down by half! Half, Heather! All so he can buy a hot little convertible! Wake up!" Kris' voice was hoarse, and her face was wet with angry tears. She slammed her fist onto the table, and ran out.
Taylor flopped onto the large hotel bed, and lay on his back, feeling miserable. But the strangest thing was that he did not know why.
"Tay?" Zac asked quietly from the doorway.
"What?" he asked grumpily. Zac sat down on the edge of the bed, and studied his older brother.
"What's the matter?" he asked. Taylor shrugged.
"Nothing."
"There is too something the matter!" Zac accused, and was rewarded with a glare. "Fine, be that way. See if I care." Zac said, and stood up to leave.
Taylor just stared at the ceiling of the hotel room.
"Oh, by the way. We've been invited to a bar-b-q at Kris's house, but I didn't think you'd care." Zac said over his shoulder.
Taylor winced.
Kris sat at the edge of the river, wild tears tracking down her face. She savagely pulled the weeds out of the ground, and threw them into the current.
"Why? Why is it always my fault??" she yelled to the oblivious water. Boats passed by serenely, and she grew angrier.
"Why?" she whispered brokenly, and pounded on the earth with her fists. A cool breeze wound up, and she hugged her thin shirt closer to her body, shivering.
Isaac, Taylor, and Zac stepped into the Browning's house. Jessie and Jamie greeted them, but looked upset. The usually ever present Kristen was missing.
"Where's Kris?" Ike asked Jess in a whisper, automatically feeling the tense atmosphere.
"I don't know." Jess whispered back. The others knew that Jess knew where Kris was.
The Hansons and Brownings chattered cheerfully, ignorant of their children's behavior. Introductions were made, and the customary compliments on the house and sucess of the group were traded. The teens just rolled their eyes.
They followed the adults into the backyard, where a large iron and brick bar-b-q emitted mouth watering smells. Large padded chairs were offered, and everyone sat around and chatted.
After about an hour, Taylor stood and excused himself for the bathroom. Soon after, Jamie got up to get a drink.
Once Tay got out of the bathroom, he met Jamie.
"What?" he asked.
"It's Kris."
"What's wrong?" he asked, apprehensive.
"Reagent! That damned asshole! He came over and told a bunch of shit about Kris that's not true!" Jamie cried vehemently. Tay started.
"What did he say?" he asked the fuming girl.
"He spewed all this crap about her hitting him for no apparent reason!! You were there! You remember!" she shreiked. He nodded.
"Well, Mum believes him, but Dad's not sure. Kris is feeling really, and I mean really bad at the moment, and she has no one to talk to." she said.
"Yes?" he asked her uneasily, not wanting to hear what Jamie would undoubtedly say.
"Go talk to her!"
"Why me? We hardly know each other!" Taylor argued.
"But you two got along great when you got together, even though she thought she hated you. If she really hated you, she would make your life a living hell!" she told him. "Taylor Hanson, you and Kris have... have.." Jamie flung her arms wildy as if to grab at an elusive word. "... you have a.. a.. bond. Yes! A bond! I don't know how I know it, but you do! Okay?"
Taylor shook his head, confused, and slumped against the wall for support. "I don't follow."
"Oh, for crying out loud!" Jamie yelled. She grabbed him, and shook his hard. "You can experience her pain, her thoughts, and her happiness. Help her!" Taylor only stared at a total stranger shaking him. Jamie's voice was low and hoarse. "She has gone through so many things that it would take us lifetimes to catch up with what she's experienced! Go help her, please!" Jamie pleaded, and her eyes welled with tears.
Tay nodded dumbly. Anything to get away from the mad girl in front of him. "Where... where is she?"
Jamie calmed, her face smooth. Her voice quietened, and returned to it's normal pitch. "She's out along the river." she whispered, pointing to a long ribbon of blue water across the road.
