Jamie and Isaac stood on the porch at home after the movie. Jamie sat on the stairs with Isaac, looking up at the stars.
"I had a wonderful time, Isaac."
"Despite the movie?" Isaac asked.
Jamie smiled. "It was good...except for the gore." Jamie looked at him. "I was pretty comfortable there."
Isaac smiled. "So was I."
Isaac turned and leaned towards Jamie when the door opened behind them. "Jules, Moni's in trouble," he heard.
Jamie opened her eyes. "I'm coming," she said softly. She reached up and brushed a curl off Isaac's forehead and kissed his cheek, whispering, "Does this mean we are together?"
"Most definitely," Isaac answered back. He watched Jamie get to her feet and go inside. He looked up at the sky and whispered, "Thank you."
~~~
Jamie hurried inside anxiously, following Zac who had called her in. Taylor was slumped over on the couch, staring into space.
"What happened, Zac? Taylor?" she asked.
"Karen called," Zac said quietly.
Jamie gasped. "And...?" she said.
Taylor sighed deeply, nearly breaking out in tears. "She...she said that Monica is on her side now. Oh, Jules," he cried, running to her, "what if it's true?"
Jamie pulled Taylor into a hug. "It's not," she said softly. "It can't be. Moni loves you, you know that now. And she and I have been friends for so long...there's no way she would betray that friendship. She's not that kind of person."
"I know, but..." Taylor paused, "I...I just can't stand the thought of losing her again."
Isaac walked in just in time to hear Taylor's last words. "What happened, Tay?" he asked, concerned. "Did Karen call again?" Taylor, Jamie, and Zac all nodded silently. "Oh, man...what did she want this time?"
"She said that Monica is on her side," Zac replied. "But it can't be true, because she'd never betray us like that."
"You're right," Isaac said. "And I am through with letting her push me around. I am going to call her right now and tell her to let Monica go." He turned to do just that, when Jamie touched his arm.
"Ike, are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked softly. "Remember, she told us not to call again, or bad things would happen...she didn't say what. Do we really want to find out?"
"Probably not," replied Isaac, "but if that's the only way to get Monica back, then that's what we'll do. But maybe you should get on the other line, just in case."
"All right," agreed Jamie, and the two of them left to call Karen. Zac and Taylor followed, to listen in on the other extension.
The phone rang at Karen's house, and Monica jumped to answer it, but Karen shoved her away and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" said Karen.
"Karen, it's Isaac. Let Monica go!"
Karen started laughing. "You idiot! You actually think that I'd let her go just because you want me to? I guess I gave you too much credit." Suddenly she stopped laughing. "I thought I told you not to call here, anyway! You wouldn't want your little friend getting hurt, now, would you?" She slammed the phone down.
In the next room, Monica came out from where she had been hiding, listening to the conversation. She realized now just how big a mistake she had made in ever going with Karen. She shrank back as Karen entered the room. "You didn't hear a word of that, did you?" Karen asked threateningly.
"Hear what?" Monica asked, trying to sound innocent.
Karen didn't answer. Instead, she grabbed Monica's arm and started dragging her to the front door.
"Where are we going?" Monica asked.
"We are going right now to tell the press the whole story. And you," she pointed at Monica, "will do your part, or you will wish you had. Got it?"
"Got it," Monica replied softly. She knew she had to warn Isaac, Jamie, Taylor, and Zac somehow. Then she got an idea. She started groaning softly, than louder and louder.
"What's your problem?" asked Karen harshly.
"Ow...my stomach," moaned Monica. "I think I'm gonna be sick." She moved as though she was about to throw up.
Karen quickly stepped back. "Okay, okay! You have exactly five minutes to go to the bathroom. And if you're not out by then, I will come find you, so don't even think about trying to escape!"
"Fine," Monica said in a weak voice. She staggered back inside, then straightened up once the door was shut. Quickly, she found a scrap of paper and scribbled a note on it in case her friends came by the house. Then she went to the phone to call them.
~~~
Isaac had been furious when Karen had hung up on him. "Let's go, Jules," he said.
"To Karen's house?"
"Yes. Let's go now."
"All right," she agreed. Turning to Taylor and Zac, she said, "You guys stay here, in case she calls again." They nodded, and Jamie and Isaac left the house.
Five minutes later, the phone rang, and Taylor and Zac jumped. Cautiously, Taylor approached the phone, staring at it as though it were an animal that might bite him. He picked up the phone and said, nervously, "Hello?"
"Taylor?"
Taylor's mouth dropped open. "Monica?!?!?! Is it really you??? What happened? Where are you?"
"Yes, it's me. I don't have time to talk. Karen and I are leaving for the press office right now. Please, hurry!"
"Monica," Taylor began, but his heart sank as he heard the dial tone. He immediately rushed to get his brother. "Zac, we have to leave right now! That was Monica, and she said she and Karen are on their way to the press office! Come on, let's go!" He grabbed Zac's hand and practically pulled him out the door.
Chapter 20
Forbidden Angels
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