Thank you all soooo much for reading. I know it gets annoying when I ask for reviews, but I really would love the feedback. I know the story is moving a little fast. I’m getting excited about the next part. I might go back and rewrite it. If I do. I’ll let you know.

But yes, the reviews! Feedback. Whose your favorite character? What could be improved? Who should Chris end up with? What do you think will happen to Amy? What are you thinking? I’d like to know! It only takes but a moment to review:-D (I promise I’ll do the same for your story! All you need to do is ask)

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Where the Heart Is, Chapter 13

For weeks Amy barely spoke except when needed. She was easily startled and hated to be touched. Her job at the psychology building helped her keep her isolated status in tact because she basically sat in front of a computer analyzing data for her boss. Then, she either locked herself in her room or in a little corner of the library and studied until the wee hours of the morning. Occasionally she’d fall asleep in the library. In any case, sleep was rarely had in longer increments than three or four hours at a time. As a result, her average went from a 3.8 to a 4.0 and her weight from 110 to 100.

Jody became very frightened for her friend and was seriously contemplating asking a counselor to intervene. The one time she suggested it Amy blew up and stalked out of the room, not returning until the following night.

Patricia called often.

“Have you looked at the list, Amy dearest?” she’d simper.

“Yes,” Amy would answer flatly.

“Are any of the prospects enticing?”

“One or two,” Amy would lie through her teeth.

Conversation would dwindle over the next few minutes until they both hung up.

Amy didn’t want to sell herself to the highest bidder. She didn’t even want to think about men. They were evil and not for her.

The only consolation came in the form of several letters. She’d been accepted to every college she’d applied to and had received financial aid. It had been a small lie when she called herself independent, but she would soon be in California. She couldn’t wait to be at her first school of choice, UCLA. The day she received the letter she wrote to the school, informing them that she was, indeed, going to attend their institution. Nerves played no part in her thought process about California. Only relief. Far from her parents. Far from Warhol. Far from everything she knew. A fresh start was on the west coast.

In the meantime she would begin looking for jobs and a place to stay over the summer because she would not go home to her parents’ plantation. Matthew was kind in offering her a place to stay, but she didn’t want to encroach on him for too long. Even more, as much as she adored Michael, Amy didn’t want to live with anyone else. She wanted to be alone. It was currently too difficult to be around people unless she had to. As a lawyer she could interact with people in a purely business sense which didn’t give her time to worry about social relations. Be the opposite of what her parents wanted her to be.

Now all she needed to do was get there.

……………

“Mom, I’m home,” Lauren called, dropping her suitcases by the front door of their small, dilapidated home.

“Lauren? What are you doing here, baby?” her mom croaked, putting out her cigarette and rising to hug her daughter.

“I dropped out of school,” Lauren said, hugging her mom tightly.

“What?! Why?” her mother asked in shock.

Lauren sighed and sat down. “I’m worthless mom. I cheated on the best boyfriend in the world and I partied my life and grades away. My scholarship will go to someone worthier.”

“Don’t say that about yourself,” her mother said. “You were wrong but that doesn’t make you a horrible person. And there will be other men.”

“Not like him,” Lauren whispered, staring at the cracked linoleum.

“Well listen, let me throw together some dinner before I have to start my night job, okay? We can eat together and talk tomorrow when I come home from my day job,” her mom said. “Leave it to Elaine!”

Lauren chuckled wearily and swung her legs to the front of the chair, waiting patiently for her mother. Her decision had been made quickly. She told no one that she was leaving, planning to return home, get a job and decide what to do from there. To even see Chris would remind her of her mistake and flawed character. He’d never forgive her.

She’d never forgive herself.

Nicole was probably filling his head with horrible words about her character and it would take a miracle for him to ever take her back.

‘Wait…take me back?’ Lauren thought in surprise, remembering it was she who’d broken up with him. Then she sighed. She was in love with him. Terribly and entirely. He was selfless. She was selfish. He always gave. She always took.

“I took his relationship from him when his past ones were so horrible,” she said to herself and lay her head on her hands as tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

She could feel her heart breaking and it wasn’t only for herself. She knew how Chris felt about her and knew how he must be reacting: with anger, extreme heart break and frustration. ‘How could I do this?’ she asked herself over and over. ‘How?’

Elaine came in with some spaghetti and two glasses of water. “Here you go, baby.”

“I don’t know why I did it,” Lauren said blandly, picking at her food. “It wasn’t even good. It was just…an act. I wished it was him the entire time…I love him.”

Elaine sighed and put her hand on her daughter’s arm. “What’s done is done. This is, however, a mistake you’ve made before. Maybe it’s telling you that you have to change something about your life. It’s a weakness that you can do something about. But, when you’re ready, you should apologize to him…and go back to school. Be the first Waterman to graduate from college.”

Lauren tried to smile but failed miserably. “Right now I just want to die.”

Elaine rose and hugged her. Lauren lay her head on her mother’s chest and let the tears come. Moments later they were both seated on the small sofa as Elaine rocked her daughter gently. She felt as though she’d not been there enough in Lauren’s childhood to prevent the acquisition of such habits: casual sex, drinking, drugs. But her husband had died just after Lauren was born and she spent all her time working to support them. It was no excuse. But maybe now she could make amends too and quit smoking.

“Lets get a bit of food into your stomach and I’ll tuck you in before I go to work. You just call me if you need me. I’ll tell my boss that my daughter is back and I have to be a mother again,” Elaine said, cupping her daughter’s cheek.

Lauren stared into her mother’s tired eyes and smiled gratefully. “Thanks mom. It’d be nice to see you more,” she admitted. They’d never been particularly close but had relied on each other throughout the years. Perhaps they could start over now.

They ate and cleaned up. Then Lauren changed into pajamas and her mother came into her room, sitting on the side of her bed.

“Okay, Laurey Bear,” she whispered. “Sleep well.” She bent to kiss Lauren’s forehead. “Remember. Mistakes don’t mean you’re a bad person, just a faulted one. Faults we can fix.”

Lauren nodded solemnly and turned onto her side as Elaine walked out of the room.

Elaine glanced up. ‘Oh God help me get it right this time. In trying to provide for her and make sure she didn’t end up like me, I let her become like me.’

Then she left for work, strangely happy her daughter was home, even if for the wrong reasons.

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Chris added an extra weight to his bar and sat back on the bench press. It was more than he usually did but during the past few weeks he’d been pushing his limits , trying to drown out his thoughts. He hefted the bar and every single muscle strained under the weight. Tendons made ridges in his skin and sweat dripped down his face.

Despite all his effort, all he saw was Lauren’s face. All he remembered was that she’d dropped out of school and had told no one where she was going. She’d changed her number and hadn’t even bothered to tell him.

His emotions alternated between anger and despair. Right now his anger fueled him. Anger at himself for falling for her so easily. Anger at her for taking advantage of him.

“You should not over push yourself,” Javier said, coming over to spot him.

“You should mind your own business.” Chris gritted his teeth as he lowered the bar.

Javier helped him guide it back to the stand. “You need to stop thinking about her and do something else besides work. Coach is worried about you. The team is too. Nicole…”

Chris scowled at him. “I know that!” He stood, wiping his face with a towel. “It’s just hard when she went out and fucked that asshole Robby.”

Javier put a hand on his arm. “Shh, everyone is looking,” he tried to sooth his friend.

Chris glanced around him. He knew the men were listening and the women were mostly focusing on his body. With a sigh of disgust, he grabbed his things and stormed from the gym. He was done with women.

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Hexic: Thanks! For taking the time to read! I know they’re short. I think I’m just excited to get to the next part

Lilitaliandragon: ya it was hard to dumb down the opera…I was like…sheesh!

Under the influence: I like Nicole. I like Lauren. Amy. Chris! I like em all! Thanks for r/r