Operation W.A.R.

Chapter 13

-Jack's POV-

After telling Sarah exactly what happened, she was so kind as to offer us a place in her home. 

-Thank you, Sarah. We owe too much to you already.

I say to her, a smile widening on her face.

-You don't owe me anything. I'm just happy I can help. You can stay here for the remainder of the day until I get back home. I'm sure Matthew would be delighted to host your visit.

She pats me on the shoulder and her green eyes meet mine. 

-Now, I've got some more work to do. If you don't mind, you bunch of weirdos can help take care of the kids.

She says, being bossy as always and walks out of the office. Branton, Akilah, and Stella follow right behind her, but before Kath can walk out, I grab her wrist, earning me a confused look.

-Kath, can we talk?

-Why?

She's definitely confused. Right now I wish I could read her mind. She's probably reading mine.

-Well, you caught Stella kissing me this morning.

-That's none of my business, Jack. 

Her face became cold, and she notices the light draining from my eyes. I really hope she's listening to my thoughts.

-Actually, it is, because I have a confession to make.

-Well, clearly there is no confession to make. You like Stella and she likes you and I'm gonna be happy for you because I'm a good friend.

-That's not how it is.

-Didn't look like that.

This is getting much harder than I thought. Won't she just listen to my stupid ass mind?

-Read my mind, Kath. Then you'll know.

-I can't.

What? Of course she can, she's Katherine Smith.

-What do you mean you can't?

-I cut you off. 

For some reason I feel crushed. I completely forgot that Kath could cut her minds connection to someone completely off, never being able to read their thoughts again. To restore that connection was basically impossible. She once did it on Joe, and tried to get the connection back but couldn't. I can't believe she cut me off.

-Sorry.

That's all she says. Really? Sorry? 

-I hope you and Stella are happy.

She gives me a fake smile, one that I know too well. She's trying to hide pain, but what kind of pain I do not know. She leaves the room without another heartbeat, and I'm stranded here, unable to cope.

-Katherine's POV-

I just leave him in the office alone. I'm so glad I can't read his mind anymore. Even with the bracelets on, those few times they would take them off of us for training I would try to read his thoughts, but it was always something stupid, like how Branton had beat him while wrestling or some shit like that. I never understood him, never. Now, I don't want to. I just hope that he and Stella are happy. The last thing I want to do is be a horrible friend and come in between of their budding romance. Ugh! Even the thought of that makes me sick. I quickly run out of the hall into the backyard where the others are already playing with the kids. I watch Stella with a little girl with brown hair like hers. She looks like she's four years old. How adorable! Stella is so happy with her, making the little girl smile. She's a good person, and would never do anything on purpose to hurt me, I know that. For a few moments I had considered cutting her minds connection from mine off too, but I can't. She's my best friend, along with Akilah. I would hurt her more by doing that than her making a move on my crush. That's what he is, a crush. Nothing more. Realizing this makes everything much lighter. I feel stones falling off my back, lifting off my shoulders. I'm so deep in thought, I barely noticed someone tugging at my shirt. It's Harry, looking up at me with the most beautiful green eyes this world has ever seen, and his dimples on each side of his enormous smile makes my heart flutter.

-Can I play with you?

I feel a smile growing on my face.

-Of course.

He hands me a little ball, and we start playing catch. I feel my mind starting to create a connection with this little boy, and I couldn't be happier.

-How old are you?

I ask him and he looks up at me a smiles like the proudest boy in the world, holding up his right hand and stretching his fingers.

-Five!

-Wow, you're such a big boy.

I tell him. I wasn't expecting him to be that young. I thought he would be at least eight or nine by how mature he was, but I'm surprised, pleasantly surprised.

-Jack!

He suddenly yells and I look up to where he's looking. Jack's standing at the door, a huge smile on his face as he sees Harry, showing his dimples. His sky blue eyes sparkle in the sunshine, his black hair perfectly gelled, and...No! I won't think of him this way anymore. I look away, holding the little ball Harry and I were playing with, and stand up. Harry clearly like Jack because he just ran to him and Jack picked him up. He started tugging on his hair. I've always wanted to do that, but I was always too scared to ask. Maybe I shouldn't have asked and just done it? Well, anyhow, Harry beat me to it. My thoughts are interrupted by the ringing of my phone. I take it out of my pocket and walk into the shade. My happiness is completely drained when I see who's calling me. Gregory Wilson, that lying bastard.