"I'll see you after school, Jaz," Nikki said before smiling at me andrushing out of the classroom."Hi," I said shyly to Mark. I couldn't believe how d...ifferent he couldmake me feel!"Hi," he responded more confidently. I found myself gazing into thoseeyes again, and I was starting to get lost when he brought me back toreality. "What's your next class?" Um," I said, my brain actually started working for once around himand I looked at my schedule, hoping to keep up the pretense that I wasa new. ”“Mom, first of all I'm 17 I don't need a babysitter. Second of all where are you going, and how long will you be gone? Also you know he hates it when you call him that.” “See this is why you need a sitter, you don't listen. I'm going to a conference in Sacramento for two weeks. And that is the name his mother gave him.”“That's why he hates it, mother.” We were getting pretty loud at this point, my mom and I yelled at each other everyday, not because we didn't like each other that's just how we. ” Amber loudly let out her breath, shaking her head. “I guess Jackie doesn’t need to know how we showered tonight, but if she finds out and is not happy, I’m going to punish you two after she’s done with us.”Kim walked around Amber and turned on both shower heads, one at either end of the large, walk-in shower that would easily accommodate the three of them. Actually, they had all been in there together a few times, with Jackie too, the last time after a fun experience with chocolate syrup. "Your paltry toy will do little to save you when I decide to end ourlittle game child. The time is drawing close when I will end this... Youcarry a life spark stronger than ever have I seen." Francis snarled in away that hinted at excitement. "I have often wondered. Will the taste ofyour blood be worth the loss of all of my children?"The realization of who faced her left Maudite momentarily stunned. For aninstant Samantha was let loose into her mind, a moment that Francis usedto his advantage..