Agnes in JackieLand

Epilogue

8 months later

My cell phone rang, and I clumsily rummaged through my locker for it. "Hello," I answered.

"Aggie?" Jackie said on the other end.

I smiled. "Who else would be answering my phone?"

"Ha ha, very funny. How's high school?"

"It's high school," I said dryly. "What happened, Jackie? Don't keep me in suspense."

Jackie laughed on the other end. It was good to hear, and obviously, it went well. "Well, the verdict is in. I got two years' probation and eighty hours of community service at the hospital, and they lifted the restraining order."

I smiled at the equal parts of glee and disdain in my friend's voice. Jackie started college in the fall; she was going for a degree in counseling. She wanted to help women in trouble. Jackie and I had formed a friendship even though no one liked it. Being my friend meant that she knew that I didn't like hospitals.

"Eighty hours will fly by in no time," I told me.

"Easy for you to say you want to be a doctor."

I had decided to be a neurosurgeon. The whole coma experience intrigued me. "At least you're not going to jail."

"Thank god. Orange really doesn't look good on me."

"At least they lifted the restraining order. Now we don't have to sneak around to talk or hang out."

"Pfft, maybe I won't talk to you anymore," Jackie said.

I laughed. "Ya, maybe. I have to get going to class."

"Brown noser," Jackie chided.

I laughed again. "Talk to you later tonight."

"Pizza at Vito's?"

"You betcha," I said and hung up.

"You betcha what?" Graham said in my ear.

I jumped and kicked out half-heartedly behind me. He laughed low in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. It had been eight months since that first kiss, and I loved him more than I could even fathom.

Snuggling back against his firm body, he put his strong arms around me. "Was that Jackie?" he asked. He was coming around to Jackie, slowly, like at a snail's pace, but it was something.

I nodded my head. "Two years' probation, eighty hours community service, and the restraining order lifted."

Graham kissed the top of my head, now with hair to my chin. It was a start. "She did better than Quincy did," he said to me.

I nodded. Quincy had been charged with attempted murder and got six years, four if good behavior. I had a feeling that he would come after us all when he got out. I shivered, and Graham held me tight.

"He won't get to you," Graham said, reading my mind, which he did a lot.

I shut my locker door and turned in his arms. "That's right, my avenging angel will be there to protect me."

Graham cockily grinned and flexed his guns. I swatted at him and grabbed his hand, linking our fingers together. I sighed. It felt so perfect. "Come on, boyfriend of mine. I don't want to be late for class."