Epilogue

Ring, Ring.

“Class dismissed,” Ms. Bauer called from her desk.

Jennifer gathered her books and neatly slipped them into her bag.

“Come on, Jennifer, let’s go,” her friend Faith called out.

“Let’s stop and get something to eat,” Emily suggested.

“Jennifer, can a talk to you for a moment?” Ms. Bauer said pleasantly from her chair.

“Sure,” Jennifer said, smiling. “Hey, Faith, Emily. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”

“Don’t forget to call me!” Faith said in farewell. She watched her friends walk out the door.

“I heard about your swim meet,” Ms. Bauer said. “Fastest 16-year-old female backstroker in the state. That’s pretty impressive.”

Jennifer felt herself glowing with pride.

“I’m going to try out for the Olympic team next year.”

“Well I certainly hope you make!” Ms. Bauer said, smiling. “But I wanted to talk to you about school.”

Oh no. Not again.

“I’m very impressed with your work in class lately.”

This is new.

“I think that vacation you took to Italy did you some good.”

Jennifer smiled to herself. She’d told everyone she had gone on vacation to Italy.

“More than you know,” Jennifer said, laughing.

Ms. Bauer smiled.

“That’s why I’m recommending you for Honors.”

“What?!” Jennifer cried, shocked. “Are you serious?”

Ms. Bauer looked like she was trying very hard not to laugh.

“Yes, Jennifer. I’m recommending you for honors. I think you’d do well there.”

“Oh, I definitely will!” Jennifer cried eagerly, her eyes wide with excitement. “Thank you, Ms. Bauer!” She resisted the urge to throw her arms around her teacher.

“My pleasure,” she said good-naturedly. “Now I believe you’re late for picking up your sister.”

“Oh my God, I forgot!” Jennifer cried frantically, glancing at her watch.

“Thanks, Ms. Bauer,” she called again, dashing out the door.

---

“You’re late,” Ellen said humorously, a teasing smile on her face. It was their joke now, just between the two of them.

Jennifer popped the trunk and helped Ellen load her books into the car. Ellen reveled in the attention her cast brought her. All the boys swarmed around, eager to help her in any way they could. It was broken all right, but the doctor said it would heal.

“All my friends want your autograph,” Ellen laughed. “They said they want to have it before you win the Olympics.”

Jennifer laughed, smoothing her stylish mini-skirt. “Tell them I'm willing to do anything for my loyal fans.”

Ellen waved goodbye to an adoring crowd of boys as she hopped into the car.

Jennifer raised her eyebrows in question.

"Don't worry," Ellen said mischeviously. "Mom can only handle one boyfriend in the family at a time."

Jennifer turned crimson as she let go of the wheel for a moment to slap her sister.

---

Jennifer bounded into the kitchen, her face glowing with excitement. Her parents looked up as she came in. They were sitting at the table, chatting.

“How was school, Jen?” her father asked, smiling.

“Ms. Bauer recommended me for honors!” she burst, unable to hold the words in any longer.

“That’s wonderful!” her mother cried. “I knew you had it in you!”

“Sit down, tell us about it,” her father suggested, pulling out a chair. Her eyes lingered for a moment upon the jagged scar on his forehead. Her father had done pretty well; the bruises had healed, leaving only the scar behind.

Jennifer was about to sit down when she glanced at the clock.

“Oh no! It’s almost 5:00!” A frantic look crossed her face. “I’ve got to go!”

“Where are you going?” her mother asked.

“Out,” Jennifer said simply, smiling mischievously.

“Oooh,” Mr. Weller said, drawing out the word in understanding. “Kids grow up so fast.”

Jennifer dashed upstairs and threw off her clothes. She pulled on her old jeans and her favorite white sweatshirt. It’d been ages since she’d last worn these. She shook her hair out of the ponytail, letting it fall around her shoulders. She washed her face in the bathroom, wiping off any excess make-up.

She grabbed the car keys and rushed out the door.

---

“Hey,” Paul said, kissing Jennifer on the cheek as she stepped out of the car.

“Wow,” Paul said, stepping back to survey her. “Haven’t seen you wear that for a while.”

Jennifer grinned. Then gasped.

“Paul, your bandage is gone!”

As soon as the Italian police had come, Paul had been rushed off to a hospital. The doctors told him he was lucky, that the bullet had only grazed his shoulder. But he still had to be treated. He’d been wearing a big gauzy bandage over his shoulder ever since. And now it was gone.

“Yep, they said I could take it off. Now all that’s left is a nasty scar.” He pulled his shirt to the side, revealing a lumpy and twisted patch of skin.

Jennifer reached out to touch it instinctively.

“How could you stand that?” she asked seriously, drawing back.

“Aw, it was nothing,” Paul shrugged. “I’d gladly be shot by bullets any day.”

Jennifer snorted as she turned up his driveway.

“How’s your dad?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Couldn’t be better!” Paul said jovially.

They sat down on the porch step, watching the sunset.

“Ms. Bauer recommended me for honors,” she murmured sleepily, leaning against Paul.

She didn't feel awkward around him anymore. Being with Paul had become almost, well, normal.

“That’s great!” he said, excited. “I always knew you were smart enough. I bet you'll get into a great college. Plus, you’re an incredible swimmer.”

"I don't care where I go," she murmured, "So long as I end up with you."

Paul chuckled softly as he stroked Jennifer's hair.

It felt so lazy, so calm. Just sitting out side on the porch of Paul’s house. Paul wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close.

“Bruno called today,” he remembered.

Jennifer sat up quickly, awake once again.

“Really?” she asked curiously. “What did he say?”

“He’s feeling great. So are Erickson and Scottsdale.”

Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone was okay; everyone was going to live. For a while, Erickson had been teetering at the brink. That was a lot of Demon's Breath she'd inhaled. But Erickson was strong; they didn’t make her an agent for nothing.

“You know,” Jennifer said with a twinkle in her eye, “There’re some pretty strange stories floating around school. Something about a couple of kids running away to Venice and blowing up the headquarters of a foreign gang. Crazy, huh?”

“Outrageous!” Paul cried, throwing up his hands in mock horror.

He sat in silence for a while, staring off into the sunset.

After a moment, he said seriously, “How does the story end?”

Jennifer turned to face him, looking him straight in the eye.

“All the good guys made it out alive. But one of the kids, a girl, fell in love with the guy she thought she hated most. And together, they lived happily ever after.”

“I like that ending,” Paul said, amused.

He leaned over and kissed Jennifer on the lips.

When he drew back, Jennifer smiled.

“So do I.”