Title - Saying the Words
Author - Nicky
Rating - PG
Category - JMPR
Summary - Jarod and Miss Parker are finally together in a new 
town with new names and making new friends.  So how come they 
keep on finding the same old trouble?
Disclaimer - The characters aren't mine.  I'm just using them for 
my own entertainment purposes.

* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 20
* * * * * * * * * *

Danbury Academy
Bristol, MI

Kylie MacArthur goes through the check register for the fourth 
time, praying that the first three times were just a mathematical 
error.  The total from the calculator hasn't changed, however.  
There was no mistaking the discrepancy between the register and 
the bank statement.  She lets out a deep, shaky breath while 
running her hands through her hair.  What was she going to do?  
This was the last thing she needed to be concerned about.  There 
were bigger, more pressing issues going on in her life right now.

"Hey Kylie," a voice calls, breaking her tense silence.  

Kylie looks up to see her friend Lisa Denton standing in the 
doorway of the student council office.  She must have been just 
staring for awhile because she hears her friend call to her 
again.

"Yo! Earth to Kylie.  What's going on, Girl?"

"Hey Lisa," she sighs, locking away all the documents in the 
bottom drawer.  She'll try again later to sort it all out.

"So what is it this time that has you, Madame Presidente, all 
wiggy?"  Lisa asks her.

Kylie has to laugh at her friend.  Out in Bristol, they seemed to 
be so far removed from the rest of society.  But the girl just 
tries that much harder to be ultra cool and fashionably hip, 
always dressing in the latest fashions and speaking in the most 
up to date slang.

"It's budget time.  As student body president, I have to make 
sure everything is in order so that I can propose a budget for 
next year," she explains to her friend, telling only part of the 
truth.  It really was time to come up with a new budget.  But 
that wasn't what was bothering her.  The money that seemed to be 
missing was what was bothering her.  The *substantial* amount of 
money that was missing was what was making her all 'wiggy'.

"How about you take a break," Lisa suggests.  "We can go to Old 
Navy and get new outfits for this weekend."

"Lisa you know I can't," Kylie says quickly.  "I have to babysit 
tonight.  And this weekend."

"You're cancelling this weekend?" Lisa asks incredulously.  "For 
the Stevens kids?  They're monsters, Kylie.  The sheriff and his 
wife must pay you really well to put up with those kids."

"You know I need the money," Kylie says seriously, thinking to 
herself how truly desperate for extra cash she is now.  "They're 
not so bad.  They're just a little hyper.  But you're right.  
They're a lot to handle.  Which is why Mrs. Stevens asked me to 
help out a little more this weekend.  She's going out of town and 
knows the sheriff is going to be too busy to watch them by 
himself.  And I could use the extra cash."

"We're young, Kylie. We should be thinking about having fun now.  
Not saving money for the future," Lisa whines, trying to change 
her mind.

"I'm sorry," Kylie apologizes, holding her head down.  "I'm sorry 
about this weekend.  And I'm sorry I'm no fun.  It's just . . . "

"Just what?"  Lisa moves to stand next to her, putting her arm 
around her friend's shoulder for support.  "I can see you're 
upset about something.  Talk to me."

"Nothing," she sighs.  "It's nothing."  She ducks out of Lisa's 
embrace and walks the girl to the door.  "You should get going 
before the store closes.  I need to be getting over to the 
Stevens' anyway."

"You sure you're okay, Ky?"

"I'm fine," Kylie swears, pasting on a fake smile.  "Go on and 
have fun.  I'll catch you next weekend."

"I'll hold you to that," Lisa says, flashing her friend a smile 
before walking out the door.

Kylie sighs as her friend disappears down the hall.  She wishes 
she could confide in her.  They were best friends.  Best friends 
since they were kids.  But too much has happened to Kylie in the 
past few months.  She wasn't dealing with kid stuff anymore.  She 
had bigger problems.  Problems Lisa wouldn't be able to begin to 
understand.  This was one problem she would have to keep to 
herself for as long as she could.  

She turns around and goes to get her stuff.  There was no sense 
in hanging around here anymore.  The money wasn't going to 
reappear magically.  She'd worry about that problem on another 
day.  She was exhausted and ready to go.

"Leaving so soon?"  Another voice calls from the doorway.  This 
time, it wasn't Lisa.  She spins around, surprised by her 
unexpected visitor.

"Oh," she sighs with relief.  "It's you.  What are you doing 
here?  Nevermind, I'm glad you're here.  We really need to talk." 

The tall figure approaches her until he's standing right in front 
of her.  His imposing stature is intimidating to most, but she's 
not afraid of him.

"We can talk later," he smiles.  He leans towards her and she 
closes her eyes in anticipation of the kiss.  The kiss never 
comes.  She opens her eyes and looks back at him, the look on his 
face turning sinister.  All the breath rushes from her body and 
she stumbles back, suddenly afraid of this man who knows her like 
no other man has known her.  He's quicker than she is, however.  
Before she can get away, his hands reach out to grab her neck and 
start squeezing.  Without much struggle on her part, she watches 
the darkness descend as she falls into unconsciousness.

* * * * * * * * * *

Jarod tips quietly out of the bed, trying desperately not to wake 
the still sleeping occupant.  Sleep was a valuable commodity for 
her, very precious and very rare.  The more days go by, the 
harder it is for her to find that gem.  Jarod has learned the 
hard way not to disturb her slumber.  He makes his way to the 
bathroom, quickly showering and dressing to start his day.  On 
his way out the room, he sees her start to wake up.

"Mmmm," she groans, reaching a hand out to the now empty side of 
the bed.  "Where are you going?"  

"Go back to sleep," he whispers, leaning his head down to give 
her a quick kiss.  "It's time for me to go to work."  He lines 
the side of her neck with more kisses before releasing her and 
attempting to rise.

"Mmmm," she says again.  This time it comes out sounding more 
like a moan.  Her hands reach up to find the back of his neck and 
she pulls him back towards her.  Through her sleepy eyes, she 
finds his mouth and covers it with her own, taking his lips and 
tongue hostage.

"I'm going to be late if we start this now," he mumbles, not 
trying very hard to free himself from her embrace.

"Don't go in today, Jarod," she pants, pulling his bottom lip 
between her teeth and gently nibbling on it.  "Stay here with me 
and we can celebrate."

"Celebrate what?"

"Our anniversary," she tells him, as if it should have been 
obvious.

"Honey, we've only been married for three months.  We have awhile 
before it's anniversary time," he laughs, finally managing to 
pull himself from her arms.

"We can celebrate each month," she pouts.  "We celebrated our one 
month anniversary."

"Technically, we were still on our honeymoon," he grins, raising 
his eyebrows suggestively.  She blushes suddenly, remembering how 
she barely let him out of the bedroom that first month.  After 
they got married, they realized they had a lot of time to make up 
for.  And her hormones seemed to have been in over drive.

"I can't help it if you're just so irresistible," she smiles her 
best seductive smile.

"Oh no.  Not the smile," he groans, knowing he's powerless 
against her when she's in full seduction mode.  "Seriously, I 
can't this morning.  I told Sheriff Stevens I was coming by 
before my first class.  I can't be late."

"Fine," she huffs, folding her arms across her chest.  They rest 
on top of her enlarged abdomen.

"Don't be mad," he says, walking across the room to sit on the 
bed next to her.

"I'm not mad," she sighs.  "I'm a little worried, that's all.  
Why are you doing this anyway?"

"I told you," he says, grabbing the hand that's now rubbing her 
stomach.  "I found evidence of extortion at the school.  I don't 
want to turn this into a pretend, but I still think someone 
should know about it.  That's why I'm turning everything over to 
the sheriff.  I'll let him handle things from here."

"Are we going to have to move again?" she asks quietly.  "I only 
have 7 weeks until the baby's born, Jarod.  I don't want to have 
him on the run.  This is a nice town.  We've made some friends 
here."

"I know," he whispers, stroking her face and tucking her hair 
behind her ear.  "This is the first place that's actually felt 
like home to me.  I'd love to raise the baby here.  But only if 
it's safe for us.  Which is why I'm not pretending anymore.  We 
don't need the unnecessary attention.  But the kids at the school 
had serious concerns about where the missing funds were going.  
Someone needs to figure out what's going on.  But that someone 
won't be me this time.  I'll tell the sheriff my suspicions and 
then stay out of it."

"You promise?"

"I promise," he smiles, stealing another kiss from her lips 
before rising from the bed.  "But I have to go so I won't be 
late."

"Be careful, Jarod," she says, giving him one last warning.  He 
gives her another smile before turning to walk out the door.  All 
of a sudden, she gets a feeling to call him back.  "Jarod wait!"

He turns to face her, a questioning look on his face.  As quickly 
as her huge belly allows, she struggles to pull herself from the 
bed and waddles over to stand just in front of him.  She wraps 
her arms around his chest and pulls herself as close to him as 
she can get.

"Hey," he says with a bit of a grunt when she squeezes him 
tighter.  "What's this all about?"

"Nothing," she whispers, tears starting to fall.  "I just wanted 
to say I love you.  That's all."

"I love you, too," he returns the sentiment.  She doesn't want to 
let go and he feels her start to tremble in his arms.  He runs 
his hand soothingly up and down her back to help calm her down.  
"You're really upset today, aren't you?  How about we compromise?  
I'll cancel my classes for today.  So that after I speak with the 
sheriff, I'll be able to come back here and spend the day with 
you."

"Okay," she relents, not really feeling much better.  But she 
realizes what a sacrifice he's making for her and decides it's 
about as good as it's going to get.  

"Good," he smiles, grabbing her hand and leading her back to the 
bed.  He tucks her back in and kisses her forehead.  "Why don't 
you wait right here for me.  I'll be back before you know it."  
With one more wink, he finally manages to make it from the 
bedroom.  He sprints down the stairs and out to the car.  The 
sooner he leaves, the sooner he'll be able to get back to where 
he wants to be - in the arms of his love.

To be continued . . .