I'm back?! Hopefully I'll actually stick to it this time around. Last year was a bit of a rollercoaster for me, and I really struggled to find the motivation to write any of my stories. The comments and support I got for the books I've started and sort of abandoned helped get me through some dark times, so thank you! Anyway, here's chapter ten. It's not my best, but I'm working on it :)

--VIVKELLER23

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There was something magical about lying down on a bed of grass in the middle of nowhere with a book in hand. It almost felt like a forbidden luxury in a town that continually proved it was the opposite of peaceful.

It was Saturday and Collins had woken early just to slip out of the house to enjoy the morning sun. Jonah was busy with the rest of the townspeople setting up for the annual Summer Port's Fair. It was a tradition that took place mid September every year. Booths were set up with different games and activities to enjoy while whatever act the mayor had booked for the night put on a show for families.

This year it appeared everyone had decided it was best to have Collins keep her distance. And she was more than happy to oblige them.

Her eyes read over a page of the book Mrs. Rubens had given her. She'd read about some of the most notorious criminals in history, enjoying the way evidence and clues were presented as if the book was designed for amateur detectives. The Killer Instinct ranged from blood chilling mass murders to trigger happy serial killers and everything else in between. Quite a few of the cases portrayed in the book were ones she'd heard about.

But this one was recent.

The book called it the Jaime Family Murders. It'd happened the night before Halloween, just shy of fifteen years ago. And it intrigued her how something so sad, so evil could have occurred without a single answer to the mystery years later.

Mr. Granger, the twelfth grade English teacher, had assigned a book report right before the fair. He claimed it was important to delve into the worlds found in between carefully crafted words, to look for things even the author hadn't known were there. But what if there was nothing to find? What if, like in the case of the Jaime Family, there was only tragedy and loss?

"Collins?"

She groaned, the pain of being interrupted almost a physical hurt. That pain turned to annoyance when she saw who had come to drag her back to reality. "Woods?"

He gave her a wink. "Not disappointed, I hope?"

You have no idea. But she couldn't say she was entirely surprised to see him. Trey had been glued to her side since the day she hosed him down while washing Miss Susannah's car. It was getting old.

"I wanted to ask you something," he continued when she failed to answer. "I thought we could show up to the fair tonight."

The way he clasped, unclasped, and reclasped his hands made her want to scream. "I don't know about you, but I always planned on attending."

"Yeah, but-"

"My brother would kill me if I didn't," Collins told him as she struggled to her feet. "He's been keeping it a secret, but he swears the entertainment tonight is going to be amazing."

Trey laughed, but the sound lacked genuine amusement. "I guess, but I'm trying to-"

"You guess?" Jonah hadn't given her the slightest hint about the performance for tonight. "Do you know who the mayor booked to play tonight?"

"Look, Collins, I'm trying to ask you to go to the fair tonight-" the black glare he gave her when she opened her mouth to interrupt him made her swallow her words. "With me."

She didn't know whether to laugh or puke. Or both. This was the same guy who had taken pleasure in baiting her only a week ago. He was also the guy Regina had dated for over a year. She could ignore for a second that she completely despised Trey to realize that even his so called friends didn't go out of their way to be around him if they could help it.

"Are you stupid?" It was a legitimate question.

"You really need to stop calling me stupid. I'm not stupid." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Not where you're concerned."

She frowned at that. What the heck did that mean?

"Look, at least let me pick you up and drop you off?"

"Why?" That was also a very reasonable question for her to ask.

He shrugged. "To get to know you. I figured it's time I did."

She really didn't know what to think of that. Years of hostility had built up a wall inside her that wasn't going to tumble in a day. Every cell in her body urged her to refuse his invitation. She didn't like him. She sincerely doubted anything he did now would change the way she felt about him.

But she also wanted to see how far Trey was willing to go to try to jump the ditch between them. And maybe he could help answer some of the burning questions no one else seemed willing to ask.

"What do you say, Estrada?"

One night to pretend she didn't completely loathe the guy. She could pull it off.

Collins smiled, picked up her book, and nodded. "But play me for a fool, and I'll make you sorry you ever tried it."

vVv

Sailor's Port knew how to throw together a fair.

She'd been attending the annual event since Jonah had first moved them into town twelve years ago. But each time continued to surprise her as the events became more lavish the older she got. She also began to uncover the history behind the family night.

The first settlers of Sailor's Port had arrived during a cold winter season. Many of the young and old had fallen ill and died during the first few months. Those who survived learned to work the land quickly. They built homes, welded weapons, and made due with the resources available to them. When winter passed into spring and summer, those who survived chose to celebrate the chance at a new life. A new beginning.

The Summer Port's Fair had been a tradition ever since.

Personally, she thought the story was a little too much like that of the pilgrims settling at Plymouth. Inaccurate. A child's fairytale.

But the fair was nice.

Trey rounded the hood of his sleek red sports car to open the door for her. He'd changed into one of his football jerseys and some gray jeans in an attempt to look casual.

"What would you like to do first?" he asked her when she'd stepped out of the car. "The Ferris wheel? Bumper cars? Maybe take a turn about the silent auction?"

She'd like to be left alone so she could go back to reading Mrs. Ruben's book. "I'd like some food."

He blinked a few times before realizing she was dead serious. "Okay, food."

Collins only half listened to Trey as he gave her a play by play of his latest practice game while they waited in line. She eyed the booth in front of her to make certain the churro lady didn't go easy on the cinnamon and brown sugar. After the money Trey had paid for a set of two churros, she expected to get a sugar high at the very least.

"So what's it been like for you since Brock moved back to town?"

Vance Brock was the last person she wanted to talk about, but it seemed Trey was only capable of three things. Making her life hell, boring people to death with his football talk, and obsessing over the Brock family.

Collins shrugged. "This town isn't big enough for the two of us," she stated. "I haven't changed my mind about what I said to him, either, if that's what you're asking."

That made him smile. "Good."

"Why do you care?" She remembered the point he'd made before about her friendship with Regina. "You and Vance have always been pals, even when you weren't dating his sister. What's changed?"

"You ask too many questions, Collins."

He was deflecting. "And you make absolutely no sense."

Trey looked at her with a hooded look in his eye that made her want to squirm. "Is that your way of telling me you're interested in getting to know me, too?" he asked.

Something told her even if she said no, he'd only believe what he wanted to. Besides, it would be much better to keep him self-absorbed. At least then she'd have a chance to get a glimpse into more important things.

Things like how Regina could have wasted her time on someone as shallow and irritating as Trey Woods.

"Two churros and a strawberry lemonade!" the woman working the churro booth called.

Collins glanced at the football jock beside her and smiled. "I'm more interested in giving folks in town something to talk about," she told him. "As you well know, I don't have the best track record keeping people around. I wonder how they'll take seeing you with me tonight."

"I think I know what at least one guy is thinking," he whispered.

She followed his gaze and regretted it instantly. Even from two booths down she could see the storm swirling in Vance Brock's eyes as he glared at them.

He'd never really liked attending before. He'd only tagged along because of Regina. Today, it seemed he'd made an appearance solely as the mayor's son.

"I didn't think you'd make it tonight," Vance said once he was within earshot.

"I didn't know it mattered to you one way or the other."

Trey made a coughing sound in the back of his throat and excused himself to pick up the food.

And Vance wasted no time voicing his disapproval. "I don't get it," he told her, running a hand through his hair. "I know you blame me and resent me for what happened a year ago, but I don't understand why you've allowed your anger to cloud your judgment."

Collins shrugged, and the careless movement made him tense. "Maybe you never understood me then?"

"He's bad news, Collins."

"And so am I, apparently!"

He shook his head, the hard look in his eyes softening. "No, you aren't. But Woods is bad and you're only going to get caught in the middle of it." Vance shook his head, the hard look in his eyes softening. "All for what, Collins? To prove something to me?"

That hit a nerve. How dare he think she did anything because of him? "This might be a shock for you, but I do what I want, when I want, and it has nothing to do with you. Ever."

Trey handed Collins the strawberry lemonade she'd ordered and raised a brow at Vance. "I asked Collins to come tonight, but Alice should be around to keep you company, man."

Collins expected Vance to take the bait. It was clear Trey wanted to have it out with him, she just didn't know why.

But Vance nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks, but I came alone. You really should watch who you push around though, Woods. Don't start games you know you can't win."

Collins watched Vance walk away with a frown. "What did he mean by that?" she asked.

"Beats me. Maybe the time in Europe messed with his head," Trey quipped.

But something told her there was something seriously wrong between the two guys. It was just frustrating that neither one of them cared to share the details with her.

vVv

She'd lost sight of Trey sometime after visiting the silent auction. And since she'd never really wanted to spend time cozying up to the quarterback, Collins didn't try to find him.

She wandered to the center of the town square, right in the parking lot of SeaSaw's Market where the stage had been set for the headlining show.

Mayor Brock had really shot it out of the water this time.

The lights burst on in a kaleidoscope of colors as the crowd gathered in closer to get a better look. Dimitri Hale stood on the stage as the folks of Sailor's Port cheered. Beside him stood his wife, Kaliah, looking radiant as she cradled her small baby bump. But Collins' eyes quickly zeroed in on the others waiting in the shadows behind them.

"Hey, Sailor's Port," Dimitri Hale greeted. "How is everyone tonight?"

A chorus of cheers was the audience's response.

"I'm glad to hear it. Would you mind giving a warm welcome to my wife and our new friends, Forevermore?"

As the singer introduced each member of the band on stage, the crowd got louder. Forevermore was a modest, indie-pop group that had been rising on the music charts since they'd gotten back together a month ago. Collins had dreamed one day she'd get the chance to see them perform live, but she'd never imagined it would happen so soon. Especially since Forevermore had briefly gone on hiatus following a rift between the two lead singers.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to look at her amused brother.

"I take it you're glad I kept this a secret?" Jonah asked with a nod towards the stage.

Dimitri and Kaliah Hale opened the show with a breathtaking take on Love's Ballad. For a moment, watching the way the two looked at each other as if there was no one else in the world made her want to believe love like that was possible. But then she recalled who she was and how her life seemed to be a very grim episode of Pretty Little Liars. Minus the shady A, of course.

Collins sighed and gave her brother a quick hug. "I've always wanted to see them, but never thought I'd get the chance."

He looked pretty smug. "You're welcome."

"For what?"

"I convinced Mayor Brock to book the Hales for tonight," Jonah explained. "He hadn't even heard of them until I mentioned they would make a great choice for tonight."

"And Forevermore?" she asked.

Jonah shrugged. "That was just pure luck."

Collins was reminded once again how fortunate she was to have such a caring brother to look out for her. To be there for her when everyone else appeared destined to leave.

"Thank you," Collins whispered.

She leaned her head against his shoulder and listened to the music as one song transitioned into another. It was moments like these that helped her forget how uncertain life was. She almost felt like she belonged here, in the midst of so many people who would go right back to suspecting and criticizing her tomorrow morning. Collins could even convince herself that this was home when she knew it wasn't.

To her, home had never been a place. Just Jonah.

Her brother cleared his throat, jolting her out of her thoughts. "I have to go find the mayor since the group will be needing a break soon." He glanced around before focusing back on her. "I'll come find you afterwards, okay?"

She nodded and watched him disappear through the crowd of listeners. She sang along with the last two songs Forevermore played before they excused themselves for a fifteen minute recess.

Collins was on her way to the portable restrooms located at the back of the parking lot when she felt a tug on her shirt.

"Collins?"

Kat Hayes was something of an outcast in Sailor's Port. She'd been raised by her grandmother in the town's bed and breakfast, but by the age of sixteen she'd started having to run the place on her own. Her grandmother died when Kat was just twenty, leaving her in charge of the crumbling two story building and her fifteen-year-old brother, Simon.

Her physical appearance alone was enough to send people running the opposite direction, but Collins had always thought Kat liked it that way. The tattoos that curled like vines up and down her arms certainly made her look tough enough to strike you if you looked at her the wrong way.

Collins had never intentionally avoided her. But since Simon had left town, she hadn't exactly tried to seek her out either.

She saw now that Simon's disappearance had taken a toll on Kat. The hollows of her cheeks showed she'd lost weight, and that made Collins feel guilty for keeping what she knew about Simon a secret.

"I'm sorry," Collins breathed because she couldn't think of anything else to say. Nothing else seemed adequate.

"I miss my brother," she said. Her hazel eyes pleaded with her to understand. "I know he confided in you. That he trusted you. I know that the sheriff thinks I'm crazy for insisting he search for answers when there aren't any. But Simon was all I had, and I can't shake this feeling that he needs me."

She was describing a bond that Collins knew existed between two people who cared for each other. Between family.

"I get it. If Jonah simply skipped town one day, I'd search the ends of the Earth to find him, too."

Kat managed a tiny smile. "I have to know he's okay, but the pit in my stomach tells me something is wrong."

Collins had kept the postcards she received from Simon to herself. She'd been trying to give Simon the space he needed. But if those postcards could reassure his sister that he was safe, then maybe it was time she shared them?

"They say he's eighteen so he's free to come and go," she explained, her hands running through her fiery hair. "He called me the night he supposedly left town. Twice. I've tried to call him fifty times since then, but the calls never go through."

"He wrote to me," Collins told her. "Postcards from the places he's visiting. I can show them to you if you want."

The relief that washed over her face reassured Collins that she was doing the right thing by confiding in Kat. "I'm going home to feed Lionel, but we can talk there if you can spare some time?"

Lionel was an old Tabby cat Simon had taken in three years ago.

But she hadn't come alone tonight, and that meant she couldn't just take off. "I have to find my brother to let him know I'm leaving, but I'll be there as soon as I can."

Kat thanked her and left, telling her to use the key Simon hid under the doormat if the front door was locked when she got there.

Collins spent the next fifteen minutes searching for Jonah. As luck would have it, she managed to bump into Trey instead. The way he stumbled behind her and nearly fell face first into a fishing pool game made her want to laugh. He wasn't very graceful off the football field. A downright klutz after a few beers.

"Dooo not run aways from me!" he slurred when he was able to straighten away from the car he'd slammed into.

She could hardly stand the sober version of Woods. Drunk Woods was a whiny, pathetic joke.

"Collie!" he blubbered.

"I'm walking away from you," she corrected. "It's not my fault you can't keep up."

"You really thinks you're better than everybody, huh?" The way he laughed sounded like a dog barking. "So smart. I think it's a trick."

"I'm surprised you can still think at all."

She didn't hear him make a move. She didn't know she'd have to. In an instant, Trey had her pinned against a truck with his hand wrapped tightly around her neck.

"You snotty little con!" he snarled, his teeth bared.

Collins pulled at his wrist as her lungs burned for air. But there wasn't panic so much as an automatic response to survive. Almost like she'd done this before. Fought for breath.

"You're nothing but washed up goods. You should have stayed on your side of the border with that stuck up brother, too!" The murderous rage she could see in his black eyes had cleared his mind of everything but the hate he felt.

For her.

Collins felt herself slipping. Her vision became blurry. Her mind screamed for her to fight it.

And then she was free.

She gasped for sweet, fresh air as soon as Trey's hand loosened from her neck. Warm hands ran up and down her bare arms, removing the chill that had covered them in goosebumps.

Then her eyes focused on the eyes looking over her. Wonderful, deep gray seas, and a face troubled with worry.

"Vance," she sighed, her voice hoarse.

He never said a word. The only sound she heard was Trey as he groaned with pain on the gravel floor.

With one arm wrapped around her shoulders as support, Vance led her away from the truck towards his own car. He opened the passenger door for her and buckled her in, but she noticed the tic under his eye as he left her to get into the driver's seat.

She waited for him to say something as he turned the key in the ignition. But when he'd backed out of the parking space and headed towards the road that led to her house, she gave up.

"Trey is a horrible drunk," she said.

His eyes remained glued on the road, but his hands tightened on the steering wheel.

She touched her neck, wondering how she'd explain the bruises that would be there in the morning. "I really do bring out the bad in guys, don't you think?"

That snapped him out of it. "Dang it, Collins. I told you to stay away from him."

She opened her mouth to... defend herself? Perhaps.

It hardly mattered what she had meant to say because suddenly the blare of sirens filled the silence around them. They were the town's emergency signal.

Vance slammed on the breaks, his eyes watching the scene of utter chaos unfold in the rear view mirror. Then he cursed.

Bright orange and yellow flames erupted from a crumbling two story building.

==