I'm back! Sorry, this story is taking so long to take off. I promise though that it's worth it. I'm just trying to set the stage.

--VIVKELLER23

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In Sailor's Port, nothing ever stayed private for long. After two weeks without a word from Simon Hayes, it became fairly clear that people suspected Simon took a page out of Vance Brock's guide to escape and took the high road because Collins was a basket case.

After all, the mayor's son had been the last guy Collins had been remotely serious about, and he'd publicly humiliated her by leaving without a backwards glance.

She would have been fine with their assumptions if she hadn't been pitied for it. Since she'd gotten back from the hospital, Collins had stayed home, preferring not to be seen waddling about on crutches. But she could only stand her own company for so long before she started hearing voices in her head at night, and no matter how much she loved Jonah, he wasn't Simon.

She missed her best friend.

It was with that set of mind that Collins convinced herself to walk into town to get some snacks for the movie she and Jonah were planning to watch later that night. The Fugitive with Harrison Ford was set to air tonight, and that was almost enough to lift her out of the slump she was in.

So Collins stumbled her way into town, since Jonah claimed he was too busy covering a story to drive her. She wasn't stupid though, and something about the way he'd been smiling a lot lately told her that her brother was out with one of his lady friends. Well, at least one of the Estradas wasn't cursed with chasing everyone away.

Once she reached the town's marketplace, Collins knew it had been a mistake. She'd lived in Sailor's Port long enough to know that she was an acquired taste and not exactly the town's cup of tea. She'd always been a thorn among them, someone they liked to pick apart under their lens of self-righteousness. But if they were so superior to her, wouldn't they realize the hypocrisy in their actions? A simple look at the town's history would have confirmed what any eighth grader with a fifth grade reading level should already know.

They were more like her than they realized. Thanks to the first settling families that had founded the town over a hundred years ago, Sailor's Port was mainly populated by people of European descent after they successfully pushed out the original natives that had lived on the land.

But if they wanted to remain ignorant, Collins would keep the truth to herself.

As Collins stepped into the local supermarket, she smiled and waved at Miss Susannah, who seemed the only sane person besides Jonah and herself left in town. She was cradling her fat tabby, Mr. Fuzz, as she picked out an assortment of jams to take home.

"Oh, sweetheart, I heard the news about that Hayes boy leaving town," she whispered in an octave too high to be ignored. "It's a real shame, too, after the picture you two made. I think the town as a whole was expecting you two to make it to senior year and leave us."

Collins knew for a fact that the people had only been interested to see how long she could keep a guy around before she sent him packing, too. But Miss Susannah was too pure to think badly about anyone besides Lucifer and Carole freaking Baskin.

"It's okay, Miss Susannah," Collins replied, watching the frown that came over the clerk's face as he rang up the older woman's items. "I'm sure we'll be seeing Simon again soon since his sister lives here and all."

That seemed to give the clerk something to mull over. He glanced at her with narrowed eyes. "So you admit you sent that boy packing?"

Collins laughed and shook her head when Miss Susannah made an angry sound of indignation. "I didn't say that, but thank you once again for proving that the narrow-minded people in this town will always hear and see what they want to."

The man was bald and as pale as alabaster with a mean streak in his eye that was only amplified by the strange tattoos running up and down his muscled arms. Every time Collins had ever visited the market as a young girl, she'd thought the man was evil. His name was Cash for crying out loud, and he was working as the shopowner and cashier of the only food store in Sailor's Port. There had to be something shady in that, right? The thing that had always given her chills was the way he looked at her with those soulless bird's eyes he had that were the color of spoiled grapes. She'd always had an imagination, but something about the man convinced her that if he ever turned up on the news as part of a list of America's top ten most wanted men, she shouldn't be all that surprised.

He did that awful thing where he curled his top lip and flashed his million dollar smile. No, really. Cash at SeaSaw's Market probably wasn't the first person in town you'd suspect of having a lot of money, but for someone with pretty banged up teeth it was a mystery how half of them were capped in gold.

"They only have things to say about you because you've given them reason to," Cash replied, looking her up and down.

She just barely managed to keep herself from gagging. Instead she looked at Miss Susannah who was off talking to a couple of bird's randomly set up for sale in the store. Mr. Fuzz was looking at them like he could taste them. "You know, I don't even care why they do it anymore. I just can't wait to get out of this stupid town and leave the rest of you living in the Gold Rush."

She didn't wait to hear his response as she turned towards the store aisles to pick out the treats for tonight. Popcorn was always a must, then came the Skittles and peanut butter cups to satisfy her sweet tooth. She grabbed a few bags of gummy worms and chips in case one movie turned into a marathon, and rounded the corner to locate the drinks. She had just reached the freezer aisle with the intention of looking at the selection of ice cream, when she stumbled into the bee's pit.

Literally, the three debutantes-turned-insecure-housewives huddled in a circle at the back of the store were the definition of gossiping bees. They had golden blonde curls that looked as stiff as a Barbie's and witless blue eyes the color of glass. All they did was buzz, and sometimes people wanted to swat at them.

If spraying people with bug repellent hadn't specifically been addressed as a punishable offense in town, Collins might have emptied a can of the stuff on them.

Instead she had to smile while Mrs. Adalia Moss whisper-hissed, "I swear that girl's going to die all alone if her brother doesn't do something."

"Well, better alone and free than trapped in a loveless marriage with the town gigolo, right, Mrs. Moss?" Collins spoke up, rolling her eyes at the way the woman reached for the cross around her neck. "Or do you ladies compare notes on who has had which husband throughout the week? Is that the game you women have going on?"

Collins knew these women were practically blue bloods among the town, but that didn't mean they were bright or good. They were just a bunch of bitter old pageant ladies who were losing their beauty with each passing season so they turned to drinking, tearing others down, and sleeping with each other's husbands to stay afloat.

"What a terrible thing to say!" the youngest of the buzzing bees exclaimed. Ironically, her name was Beatrice May Holliday, but she loathed being called 'Bea'.

If you buzz like a bee, sting like a bee, look like a bee... well, ma'am, you are a bee.

"Only terrible because it's the truth, huh?"

Beatrice sputtered and crossed her arms. "You, young lady, are going to find yourself in a great deal of trouble one day for the way you come off on folks who just want the best for you."

Collins rolled her eyes at the way they turned the tables on her. Made her the one in the wrong for daring to speak up when they wanted her to lay low. "That's cute." She shook her head at them, making it clear that she wasn't falling for their false excuses. "But if you really wanted the best for me, you'd see I'm a young girl, not the color of my skin, the place I came from, or relevant only when I have a guy on my arm."

She hadn't expected to have an audience, but Miss Susannah's, "Amen, Sister!" shocked her out of her determination to put the women in their place. Even creepy ol' Cash looked impressed with her from behind his cash register.

Collins gave the women one last hard glare before she hauled her stash of snacks up to the front to check out.

Cash smirked when he saw the amount of junk she'd picked out. "You going to that party the mayor's daughter is throwing tonight?" he asked.

"No," she told him, used to the fact that Regina Brock was no longer someone who thought to include Collins in such things. "It's movie night with the big brother."

He nodded and waved a careless hand when Collins slid a twenty towards him. "Today, for you, it's on the boss," he explained with a genuine smile. "The way you told those old hyenas off back there, that was payment enough."

She thanked him and took the bag with her snacks, feeling just a little bit sorry for thinking about turning him in if he was one of America's most wanted criminals.

vVv

Mayor Neels Brock was the town's version of Chuck Norris. He was the coolest, nicest man you'd ever meet, which was saying a lot when he oversaw a town like Sailor's Port. He was divorced, had been for close to ten years now, and had practically raised his two children on his own. Vance and Regina Brock had grown up into wealthy, grounded people who lived as close to a picture perfect life as possible.

Collins knew more about what their life was really like from all the visits and family gatherings she had been a part of growing up. Regina had always been very bubbly, but there had been a few nights during sleepovers when Regina couldn't hold back the tears that came whenever she missed her mother.

Vance, however, was a tougher shell. He was handsome and cool and drove all the girls crazy with just one cocky look. But beyond all of that, he buried a deep mistrust for anyone who tried to get too close. She remembered he'd made her cry one of the countless nights she'd stayed over at the mayor's house. She had gone downstairs to get a glass of water when she noticed a sliver of light coming from Vance's room. He'd been looking through some old photographs of the family back when his father and mother had still been together, and he'd blown up at her for disturbing him.

In hindsight, she realized his anger had been more about being caught in a vulnerable situation than him actually hating her for disturbing him, but at thirteen, all she'd heard was the furious things he'd said to her. Collins recalled how the sight of her tears had completely thrown him off guard. Vance had opened his arms to her, wrapped her up in a blanket like a human burrito, and showed her the collection of pictures he cherished so much.

That was the Vance she'd fallen for, so it had come as a complete surprise when their relationship ended and she'd gotten a glimpse into who that boy had really become.

Collins shook her head and treated herself to a bubble bath to help relax her aching muscles from the walk into town. She was so out of shape since the injury to her leg, it would be hell when school finally started up again on Monday and coaches actually expected students to run. Jonah left a note for her on the refrigerator about maybe being a little late for movie night tonight, which sort of annoyed her. But it just meant she had more time to get ready.

She was halfway through blow drying her heavy mane of hair when her brother texted her saying he was caught up with a work dinner, but would make it home as soon as he could slip away. Typical. Collins simply shook her head and decided she was way too young to pass up the perfect opportunity to live a little.

With a smile on her face, she pulled up her text conversation with her brother and set her plan in motion.

Collins: Actually, I was looking forward to hanging out with some of the other seniors in town, if you don't mind?

She ran a brush through her nearly dry hair, setting bobby pins strategically to try to twist the wild mess into something decent.

Her phone pinged, with Jonah's text flashing on the screen.

Jonah: As long as you're careful and home by ten tonight.

It was only seven now. Collins smiled and shot him a quick 'thank you' for being the best brother in the world. It saved her having to sneak out of the house, which she would have done if he'd told her not to go.

She glanced at the mirror and saw that half of her hair was twisted back and up nicely, leaving only the bottom half free to bounce in curls at her shoulders and back. Then she turned to her closet and pulled out a green V-neck shirt and her lucky pair of black skinny jeans with holes at the knees. The shirt was low-cut enough to look like something she'd only wear for special occasions so she paired it with a lacy black bralette underneath for modesty's sake and called it a night. Her feet, she shoved into her beat up black Converse on her way out the front door.

It wasn't too far of a walk from her side of town to the Brock's house. She enjoyed it actually, with the sun mostly down, but just enough light left to paint the sky in vibrant red, pink, and purple hues. She walked along the edge of the dirt road and practiced what she would say when she saw Regina tonight.

Regina Brock completely erased Collins from her circle of friends following her brother's escape to Europe. No one even questioned it. The shift was so immediate, by the time Collins realized what had happened, it was too late to try to change it. That didn't mean Regina ceased to exist in Collins' world. Every year, on March 5th, Regina found a bouquet of sunflowers and her favorite snacks placed on her doorstep because Collins was the only one who remembered the girl's birthday without needing a party invitation. She also made sure to leave Regina a little note every year on the day Mrs. Brock left town to remind her that she wasn't alone.

How strange that Regina would choose to throw a party tonight out of all nights, when it marked the ten-year anniversary of the mayor's divorce.

Collins took a deep breath to clear her mind of the sobering thoughts. She wanted to have fun tonight, and in order to do so, she needed to stop dwelling on things that were a part of her past. She pasted a smile on her lips as she came up to the grand house set in regal white with grecian columns adorning the front entryway. She didn't even have the chance to knock as the front door was wide open.

She stepped inside gingerly, immediately noticing that most of the partygoers were already halfway drunk and the sun had just set. There were empty beer cans littered across the granite counter when Collins stepped into the kitchen. The pizza boxes were open and set on every available surface throughout the house. There was toilet paper hanging from one of the ceiling fans in the living room, and the long strands of white paper were wrapping around the necks of people who got too close.

Collins scanned the large living room for Regina but couldn't find her. All she saw was the countless, sweaty faces of teens who would regret the amount of shots they downed come tomorrow morning. The huge two-story home with six bedrooms and over an acre of land felt too crowded, at least on the ground floor.

So Collins chose to wait in the kitchen and help clean up a bit. She began collecting the empty beer cans and placed them in a plastic bag. Once the counters were cleared of that clutter, she turned her attention to the many pizza boxes before she started tossing the ones that only held half-eaten crusts.

She really should have stayed home instead to watch the movie by herself. At least then she wouldn't be tempted to laugh at herself for dressing up only to clean up at someone else's party.

The commotion began when Collins neared the stairs, intent on finding Regina. Someone slammed a door which seemed to resonate throughout the packed house. Then there were screams mixed with curses as the arguing couple finally came into view over the stairs' railing.

Regina stood at the top of the stairs, fuming with her lovely cascade of honey gold hair tangled and half her silk shirt unbuttoned. Her bright green eyes glared at the shirtless, tattooed man who stared at her with a cigarette between his lips. He gave her a little smirk and that was all it took for Regina to launch herself at him.

The man lost his footing and fell down the stairs. There was a tense moment of silence even with the blaring music while the crowd held its breath to watch the drama unfurl. Miraculously, the man stood up, the only bruised part of him appearing to be his ego.

He chuckled. "Just my luck that I should choose to bang the one chick with mommy and daddy issues in this Godforsaken town!" he bellowed, taking a long drag from the cigarette still in his mouth.

Collins stared wide eyed as the guy cursed at Regina, more shocked to find that her long ago friend had apparently slept with a man clearly in his twenties and from somewhere far beyond the boundary lines of Sailor's Port.

"You weren't even that good of a lay!" Regina hissed back. "I didn't even get off, bastard!"

He shrugged like he didn't care in the slightest. "That's not what I hear from my wife every time I get her into bed," he taunted.

Well, dang. The moron had just admitted to being a lowdown cheater.

"You should probably get out of town before her father, the mayor, sends the sheriff to book you for sleeping with a minor," Collins warned the piece of trash. She wasn't trying to help him escape, she was doing it more to spare Regina the humiliation that would follow if the entire town were to witness what she'd done in a moment of weakness.

The fool was smart enough to take her advice and left, throwing Regina one last assessing look. "Call me if you ever want a round two, babe."

"She's seventeen, idiot!"

With a careless shrug, he turned his back and walked out into the night.

Collins turned back with every intention of helping Regina upstairs and into bed to sleep off the alcohol she'd overindulged in. But she hadn't been expecting to find Regina on the bottom step with such hatred on her young face.

"Who the hell let the Puritan in?" Regina spat. She stood so close to Collins that it became crystal clear Regina had mixed drink with smoke.

Collins blinked. "The door was wide open," she explained. "And I only stopped by to see how you were doing."

"Why would you care?" Regina hissed. She threw her head back and laughed, nearly losing her balance in the process. "Or have you forgotten that no ex, piece of crap, goody-two-shoes flame of my brother's is a friend of mine?"

She could handle being called out for her past relationship with Vance Brock from just about anyone. But listening to the slurred, angry, and hurt words coming from someone she'd once considered a sister cut deep.

"Regina-"

She made a disgusted sound in her throat. "You know what, no. This is perfect. You just witnessed exactly what it takes to keep a man interested in you." Regina's red painted lips were swollen and smeared, no doubt from all she'd been doing with the married man. "Too bad you didn't get to see it before Simon turned tail and ran, Collins. Perhaps then you would have had some way to make him stay."

But the guy took off, too, even after being with Regina. She knew better than to point it out though. "You don't mean what you're saying."

"And you didn't really mean it when you told Vance you loved him, did you, little angel?"

Maybe it was the way she said it, with such spite underlying the words. Perhaps it was everything she'd said leading up to it on top of all the other things she knew the town said about her. Whatever the reason, the end result was the same.

Catastrophic.

Collins hand arced through the air and slapped Regina's cheek with enough force to snap her head back.

The angry red handprint left behind made Collins take a step back. She'd never raised her hand to anyone, never so much as talked back to Jonah the few times he decided to be unreasonable. But she'd hit the mayor's daughter, someone she still cared for as a sister despite the distance between them.

"You phony little tease! Go on, pretend you're one of us again!" Regina cried.

"Stop it!" Collins didn't have the presence of mind to apologize, not when everyone thought she was worthless. "I know you're hurting and not thinking clearly, but, I swear, I'll make you sorry for saying all these things to me when I've done nothing but try to make things up to you!"

Regina shook her head, took a step back, and fell onto the first step. "Leave!" she raged.

With a sense of shock, Collins noticed the music had stopped some time ago and everyone watched the scene unraveling before them. She'd come to help her, not hurt her, but no one would see that.

So Collins left.

She walked not really seeing where she was going through the mist of tears in her eyes. She'd cried a lot in private following the news that Vance had left town. She'd cried even more the first time Regina ignored her while walking down the high school hallways. She'd even cried when Simon last visited her and told her of his plans for the future. But none of the tears she'd cried then had felt like she was burying a part of her soul away forever.

She ended up in the middle of the town marketplace once more and stopped in to see Cash since his place was the only one still open. He greeted her, taken slightly aback by the tears. "I thought today was movie night? What, did you watch Old Yeller?" he asked.

Collins shook her head. "I think I just ruined everything."

Cash didn't ask her to clarify, and for that she was grateful. Instead he let her just rest her head in her arms on top of the check out counter, offering her a bag of Hot Cheetos Fries when she'd finally stopped blubbering.

"Thank you," Collins whispered.

He nodded. "You aren't walking home at this hour though. Not alone."

"I don't have my phone to call Jonah," Collins explained.

"Use my phone," was all he said as he walked away to finish organizing the store.

Collins dialed Jonah's cell number and explained that she'd lost track of time since she'd left her cell phone at home. He was a little upset, but promised to be there as fast as possible. So Collins waited and helped put up some of the new items Cash needed to shelf.

Fifteen minutes later, Collins was safely in her brother's truck and on her way back home.Jonah didn't speak much during the drive. He took one look at her face and frowned like he could read everything from just what he saw on her face. But he gave her space and helped her out of the truck when they reached the house.

Then she froze.

Her sweetheart of a brother had set out two blankets on the couch and an assortment of candy on the table in the living room.

Jonah rubbed at his bearded chin, giving her his best smile. "I figured its still pretty early if you want to watch the movie with me?"

Collins nodded and settled in to enjoy the show. At some point during the movie she must have nodded off, because the next thing she knew, she was being shaken awake by her brother.

Collins blinked her heavy eyelids to focus on Jonah. "What?"

His handsome face looked ashen, like he'd seen a ghost. "Collins, Regina's gone."

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Sorry the ending seems rushed. I realized I was nearing 5,000 words (yikes)! 

Anyway, let me know what you guys think!