-HIATUS- ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇᴍ - ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀᴡᴛʜᴏʀɴᴇ ʟᴇɢᴀᴄʏ (ꜱᴇQᴜᴇʟ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢʀᴀᴍʙꜱ?) -HIATUS-

Chapter 47

Walking in oh my lord. I don't know how long I have been standing here, how long I have been frozen... What on earth are they playing?! They are stripping and bowling? Looks like a Hawthorne game. Avery, Max, Rosie, Grayson, and Jameson are playing... what on earth.

"Oh my god- what on earth are you doing?!" I ask not meaning to, it was meant to be thought to self. They turn to look at me and I just laugh. I just laugh. "Seriously though Avery, I never thought you would play such a thing. Rosie on the other hand, this seems like something she would, and I have been standing here way too long," I shiver at the thought of what I had witnessed. No one says a word, no one. Grayson stays facing the bowling alley. "And yes I have finally arrived."

"We started because we didn't know where you were! Well... You're here!" Avery smiles but she looks at my arm, horror, and anger visible on her face. "You're here," Avery repeats.

"No s***, Sherlock," Avery still looks at my arm, she isn't okay. If this were her usual self she would yell at me for swearing. Jameson notices and he looks at Avery and then back at me, I shrug... a one-shoulder shrug? I don't even know if I raised my other.

"How are you feeling?" Avery asks and I laugh. She asks me how I am doing?! "Amber."

"You're asking me? You're the one playing- Whatever this is! And for the record, I am completely fine, I don't remember a thing, therefore nothing that happened matters and it is not like I died. I was only... Well... Okay, I'ma leave now before this gets really awkward and mushy," I laugh wrinkling my nose.

"No, don't leave. You came here to join the game!" Rosie pipes up glancing at the boys, what is she thinking?

"Rosie, do you know me?"

I start to back out of the room, I was only at the door after all. Stepping closer to the door Rosie gives me a look. I should make a run for it, but I hear footsteps rushing toward me. Footsteps, whipping my head to the side I am lifted up into the air. I let out a shriek, Xander looks at my face. "Xan Deer! You scared me half to death!" Xander laughs and carries me further into the bowling alley carrying me by the waist. I fold my arms in frustration, why am I so small...

"Seriously? You started playing strip bowling without me! I was the one who organized it! Never mind. Focus! This is me focusing." Xander says panting as he lowers me down, he holds my wrist and I watch as his gaze wanders to Max. I am a million percent right. Max and Xander. But does Max feel the same way about Xander? Because I swear if she plays with Xander's feelings she is dead.

"Focusing on what?" Avery asks and Xander stops looking at Max but at Avery.

"What kind of news?" Max asks and Xander glances at Max, polka-dotted bra and all. Max knows he looked, she gives a grin. "Focus, what kind of news?" My phone buzzes in my pocket, I didn't even know it was in there. I pick up and the others continue their conversation.

"Hello?" I say and Xander lets go of my wrist walking towards the others.

"How'd you like my surprise?" The Sheriff asks and I nod.

"Yeah, I'm fine now Alisa. I'm in the bowling alley... No, I didn't find it enjoyable," I say getting a laugh from The Sheriff, I laugh as well.

"He wasn't meant to shoot you you know? I was meant to do that to you on the roof you know? But you called Oren and left him with no choice," The Sheriff says... what? Is he on the inside now?

"I know and no I am not going back to my room," The Sheriff laughs again and I walk out of the room. "Spill," I whisper.

"Ask dear Ave about the note Libby-dear found. Get a conversation going," The Sheriff says and then he hangs up. I put my phone away and barge into the room.

"Ave? Can I have a word?" Avery nods and follows me out of the room. "Ave, what did Libby find? What did the note say?"

"How do you know Libby found a note?" Avery asks and I shrug.

"Nash told me. I don't know what it said though, he said I should ask you about it. You know, socialize?"

"The note said," Avery walks into the bowling alley and comes back with her phone. She shows me the note. STOP LOOKING. "It came from Toby, and no Toby didn't give it to Libby. He dropped it off with some random man," sighing I walk back into the bowling alley with Avery right behind me. "And catching you up on what Xander just told us- Toby's mother? Mallory Laughlin." I freeze. Mallory Laughlin is my- Grandmother?! So Rebecca is my aunt?! Mrs. Laughlin and Mr. Lauglin are my great-grandparents- "Amber? You're okay there?" I shoot my head up.

"I- I'm a Laughlin?" I say and Avery pauses and nods. Everyone seems to. "So Mallory is my grandmother?! Mr. and Mrs. Laughling are my GREAT-GRANDPARENTS?! And Rebecca is my AUNT?!" I exclaim and once again everyone nods silently. "But- Doesn't that mean Mallory was underage when she gave birth to Toby? Think about it. The ages-"

I look around at everybody as they seem to be thinking the same thing. My wandering gaze stops at Grayson who doesn't even look at me, he stays facing toward the bowling lane. He has been this way ever since I came down, I ruined everything. He blames himself, he shouldn't have to. He blames himself for me getting shot.

"Gray-" I start and Grayson shoots around refusing to make eye contact with me no matter how hard I try.

"I don't want to hear it, Amy," he says calmly his hands in a fist, he picks up his suit jacket and marches past me and out of the room. Did he just call me Amy in front of everyone? Everyone in the room stands in silence as they watch the short event. I can clearly see the muscles in Jameson's arms tensing...he is shirtless and... yeah let's stop there. I close my eyes, I want to go after him, but he made himself clear.

"He blames himself," Jameson says coming to stand next to me, his arm draped around my shoulders. His bare skin warming the back of my neck. I know Grayson blames himself... I mean it is sort of his fault but he shouldn't have to! This will break him... He is already broken.

Grayson, don't do this. It doesn't matter, I don't have to matter Grayson stares me down. He doesn't want me saying such a thing. The others are shouting at us. Shouting at Grayson. Grayson throws himself onto Michael and I duck just in case the trigger is pulled. We all fall into a pile on the floor. Grayson pins Michael down as I sit with my legs turned to the side and my hands supporting my weight. I feel weak with guilt and fear. Michael holds a gun aimed at Grayson. No, he is going to get himself killed. Grayson you are going to get yourself killed! MICHAEL! Stop this! I shout and throw myself onto Michael. Pushing Grayson to the side he grabs me by my arm. A loud bang. I can't feel anything in my arm, just an immense burning feeling. I feel myself collapsing onto him. Onto Michael. Michael shot me. A pair of hands grab me and pull my body to the side. I can't feel, see... I can't breathe. No, no, no- Amber, listen to me. Amber! Can you hear me? Amy- The person says as I am lifted up off the ground. Do it, Oren! Another gunshot-

Oh my god, I am crying again, aren't I? In front of everyone nonetheless. I hear the bracelets on my wrist jingling... Am I shaking as well? My body- Why am I so weak? Why am I such a crybaby? My knees buckle sending me to the floor in a quick second. Jameson comes down with me. He starts to touch me gently, comforting me. I barely feel it among the thoughts in my head.

"He shouldn't have to. I was the one who went to the roof, I am the reason Michael came, and I am the one Grayson tried to protect. He doesn't understand, does he? He doesn't understand that not everyone needs saving, and not everyone needs protection. Michael wasn't even going to shoot me, the gun was just to intimidate me. He could have shot Grayson, he never liked him or you Jameson. I did what needed to be done, if I hadn't gotten myself shot, Grayson would be dead. I know why he blames himself, but that is his problem, he always puts others first... He doesn't understand, I need him to understand. I didn't care if any of you object, I am going after him whether you like it or not," Jameson backs away from me and nods. 

(1531 words)