Episode 4.17

Davis Hall 817

Cassie Williams dragged to the door of the room, which was slightly open. She pushed it open with her foot, “Hello?” She called out as she walked in and found no one there. But one side of the room was already claimed. Boxes sat on a bed; posters already adorned the wall, the desk already set up with the laptop.

Sighing Cassie went over to the other side of the room and put her suitcase down. A moment later her father and brother followed with boxes. “You know its not too late to decide to go to the Fort.” Larry Williams reminded his youngest daughter as he put the boxes down.

“Yeah she can stay in her room, still have a curfew, and never leave home except to go to a pageant. Sounds exciting.” Gary Williams rolled his eyes at his father before looking over to his older sister, “This will be good for you.”

“You just want me out of the house so you can get away without a curfew of your own.” She reminded her younger brother, “Just because your starting high school.”

“No, besides Dad and Mom have to agree on all that stuff.” He picked up one of her stuffed animals and flopped backwards onto the bed, “Besides how much trouble can you get into here. Mom and Maggie are both in town.”

Larry sighed, “Point taken.” He took out his wallet and revealed a credit card, “This is for books and emergencies. Ariel and I will check the bill.”

Cassie nodded and put the card in her back pocket. “Shouldn’t you be getting back to Durango?”

“You just don’t want Dad to embarrass you in front of the roommate.” Gary announced just as a young brunette walked into the room. Gary sat straight up and watched what he hoped was his sisters roommate enter the room.

“You must be Cassie, I’m Amanda your roommate.” She put her hand out and Cassie quickly shook it.

“Nice to meet you. This is my father Larry and my younger brother Gary.” Cassie gestured to each. “They were just leaving too.”

Gary rolled his eyes and tossed the stuffed animal on the bed and looked at his father dejectedly, “Oh well time to hit the road. Besides Dad, Cassie needs time to make friends before you scare them away.”

Larry was about to protest when Cassie spoke up, “Besides Dad it’s going to be a long enough drive with Hardy crying in the back seat. I mean he’s going to miss his big sister oh so much.”

“Fine, we’re leaving. Call me everyday.” Larry pulled Cassie into a hug and she gave Gary a warning look to save her.

“Dad, come on or Mom is going to start calling wondering if we can have dinner with her.” Gary pulled his father to the hallway before looking back at Amanda, “It was nice to meet you Amanda.”

Amanda gave the boy a wave goodbye and looked at Cassie, “Are they always like that?”

Cassie nodded as she began to unpack her things, “Usually a lot worse. Like if my friend Eric Savoren was here, Dad never would’ve left.”

“You know Eric?” Amanda blushed slightly as she mentioned his name.

“Yeah, he works for my…brother-in-law. Wow that sounded so weird.”

“Conner McKay is your brother-in-law, you mean Maggie’s your sister?” Amanda looked at her new roommate curiously.

“Yeah.” Cassie hung up the dress bag in the back of her closet, “How do you know Conner and Maggie?”

“The Mall, I work at Sparkle. It’s just across from Film Magic and Imagination Clothing.” Amanda went over to her desk and logged onto myspace.com while she spoke, “So if you know Eric your probably going to the frat Party tonight huh?”

“He invited me, I promised I would go and that I would invite my new roommate, you want to go?”

Amanda turned around, “I’m not really a frat party kind of girl. I’m more of the chill out in the dorm room, surf myspace.com and thefacebook.com for people, watch movies on TV, cheesy, nerdy stuff like that.”

“If you say so, but the offer’s still open if you change your mind.”

The Garden’s Hotel—Jet Ski Pier

Conner looked out at the water, the sky was perfect with its bright blue hue. Maggie came up next to him, “You ready for this?” She asked as she led him over to the jet ski’s.

He nodded, “Yeah, though are you sure your ready to teach me how to ride one of these?”

“Of course I am Mr. McKay.” She took his left hand in hers, “Its not as scary as you think it is. Trust me, you won’t get hurt. I promise.”

Conner kissed her lips for a moment, “Thank you Mrs. McKay.”

Conner got on the first jet ski and listened to Maggie’s instructions before she climbed onto the second one.

“Are you sure about this?” Sean McKay asked Brighton Simpson as they watched his brother and sister-in-law on the jet skis.

“Yes, this is the perfect revenge. You’re brother ruined your life and Bethany’s. Because of Conner McKay you can’t be with the woman you love.” Brighton handed him a remote control that had a timer counting down the seconds.

Sean took the control and watched the numbers go down, before hitting the activate button.

Everyone on the beach heard the explosion; they saw the flames on the water. Sean and Brighton watched in disbelief. This was better then they had planned. Lifeguards jumped into the water, searching, rescuing. They returned with only one person of the two that went out into the water. The other was lost.

Hallow Hills

Doug Davis sat in his desk chair, watching the sight of his grandchildren playing outside by the pool with one of the maids. Chad Davis looked over several papers on the desk, “Dad, if Uncle Jeff was so concerned about that deal the other day then why are the papers right here?”

Doug looked up and saw the papers for the McClintock Merger and flipped through them. He hadn’t signed a single part of it. “What the hell?”

“What’s wrong?”

“If this is the McClintock Merger papers, unsigned what the hell did I sign the other night for Jeff?” Doug’s fingers raked through his graying hair as his son looked around the room.

“Maybe these are just copies of the papers.” Chad suggested as he flipped through them until he came to a post-it note. “Uh Oh.”

“What did you find?”

Chad took the note from its spot in the contracts and showed it to his father, “An address in the Dominican Republic. What if the papers you signed were divorce papers?”

Doug shook his head, “Couldn’t be. Your Mother would have to sign them as well.”

“She did sign them.” Jeff stood at the door of the room looking at his older brother, “You my dear brother are no longer married to Adel.”

Doug stood up and charged towards his brother, his son between the two trying to keep them from hurting each other. “How the hell is this possible? What did you do Jeff?”

“Uncle Jeff, please don’t egg him on. Just be—“ Chad never finished he statement as his eyes caught the gold ring sitting on his Uncles left ring finger.

“I got married. A wonderful woman, I think you’ll both just…love her.” Jeff smiled until he felt a fist crack his jaw.

Chad shook his hand trying to eliminate the pain that was building after punching his Uncle.

Doug was pale as he sunk back into the desk chair, “You married Adel?”

“Yes, Adel and I were married this morning. About thirty minutes after you and she were divorced.” Jeff rubbed his aching jaw, “I just thought I would come by and share the good news. I must return to my bride and my step-daughter.”

“Where are they Jeff?” Doug stood up again, worried about his daughter.

“Don’t worry dear brother, Adel would never let anything happen to Isabella. She loves that little girl as if she were her own. Just as she did with Chad and Kip.”

“Uncle Jeff, were are they?” Chad yelled out as he followed his Uncle out to the front of the house.

Jeff turned to his nephew and looked him straight in the eyes, “They’re somewhere safe from Doug. Safe from Preston Layden. Safe from all of this.”

Chad grabbed Jeff’s arm forcing him to drop the car keys, “Tell me where my mother and sister are.”

Jeff shook his arm free, “I can’t do that Chad, I just can’t.” he picked up the car keys from the gravel sidewalk and got into his convertible. “I’ll send your mother your love.”

Before Chad could respond, Jeff sped away down the long driveway.

Delta Alpha Delta House

Jack Forest sat on the ratty couch-watching people getting drunk around him. Here he was his first night in college, and he was the designated driver. The techno music blasted from loud speakers that were right next to him. All he could do was try and enjoy the entertainment that all these drunk college students could provide. He paused for just a moment when he saw the two girls walk into the room. One was blond, the other brunette. Polar opposites, and yet for the moment at least they seemed bonded. That was broken the moment the tall older frat boy picked the blond up in a huge, tight hug.

Jack cracked open his Nalgene and took a long drink of powerade as he watched the brunette move about the room, obviously uncomfortable. She felt out of her element, and then she found a spot standing, near Jack.

“Why don’t you sit down?” He asked, his voice just a tad louder then the music.

“I’m fine standing.” she answered as she looked around, tapping her foot.

“My name’s Jack.”

“Amanda.” She sighed and ran her hands through her hair, “This is such crap, why waste your youth on this stuff?”

“Because its fun?” Jack asked looking up at her with puppy dog eyes.

Amanda looked down at him a smile graced her lips, “Sorry, my roommate dragged me to this tonight.”

Jack nodded, “Mine too, plus I lost him in the crowd.”

“I lost mine to the head idiot.”

“Ouch. Come on sit down.” Jack patted his lap.

“I’m fine really.” She insisted.

Before she could refuse anymore Jack pulled her down onto his lap. “This works.”

“I guess it does.” Amanda looked around hoping to find a friendly face but she found none.

Eric put Cassie down on the staircase and he looked her over, “Well college lady, how does it feel?”

“Intense, but good.” She smiled with a slight blush.

Eric took her hand in his, “Lets go up to my room, its not as crowded.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Cassie followed Eric up the stairs and down the narrow hallway until they reached his door.

Eric led her inside and Cassie suddenly found herself surrounded by the posters of action movies, Animal House, and Carmen Electra. Eric sat on his bed, covered in black sheets and comforters. “Come sit down.”

Cassie stayed where she was, “Your not trying to sleep with me, are you?”

Eric laughed, “Of course not. You’re one of my best friends.” He stood up and pushed some stray blond hairs behind her ear, “I would never think of doing that to you at all.”

“Good, I just wanted to make sure we were on the same level.”

“Don’t worry. If things were to ever change between us I don’t think I could handle it. Besides I gotta keep and eye on you. I know how these frat boys are.” Eric went back over to his bed.

“So should I be worried about my roommate down stairs?”

Eric shook his head, “Not at all. She’s in good hands I’m sure.”

“Good then. So what do I need to know to survive at Pinõn Hallow?”

210 Shavano Court

Ariel was stretched out on the couch, the basinet with Hardy near by her as she dozed. Gary and Larry were in Maggie’s kitchen making dinner. “You know Dad you don’t have to worry about the girls.” Gary announced as he mashed together a ball of ground beef.

“I don’t huh, and why is that?”

Gary shrugged, “Maggie’s a smart girl, she finally did it right and married Conner. As for Cassie, she’s super independent. She’ll be fine. You have to let her make some mistakes for herself.”

Larry stopped what he was doing and looked at his son, “So I should worry about you and Hardy still, right?”

“Hardy, yeah of course. Me, well I’m becoming a man. You should only worry if its what you feel you really need to do.”

“I’ll keep worrying. That’s what I do as your father.”

Gary sighed, “If you say so Dad.”

The ringing of the phone ripped through the somewhat silent house. For a moment Larry just looked at it, unsure if should answer. As he picked up the receiver and hit on he felt his stomach sink, “Hello?”

“Is this Mr. Larry Williams?” The voice on the other end had an unidentifiable accent.

“Yes this is.” Larry found himself leaning against the wall.

“This is the Manager of The Gardens Hotel, where your daughter and son-in-law have been staying.” The voice sighed, “We have some bad news sir. There was an accident this afternoon on the jet ski’s.”

“Are they alright?” Larry could feel the color leaving his face.

Another sigh escaped the managers lips, “We need you to come down to the island immediately. We’ll have someone waiting for you at the airport.”

“What happened to them?” Larry asked again into the phone.