"Wait!" a voice cried. I looked to the back of the courtroom, where someone was running up to the witness stand. I noticed Gabby's eyes narrow as a teenage guy ran up to Ellie on the stand. "Who is that?" I whispered to Gabby.
"I want to testify against Randi Walters," the guy announced.
"Jeremy! What are you doing?" Randi cried. "You promised!"
This is Jeremy?! No wonder why Gabby is so mad!
"I want to testify," Jeremy demanded. The judge nodded and Ellie went back to her seat next to Zac.
"Jeremy, you're Randi's boyfriend, correct?"
"Yes."
"Do you know where Randi was the morning of July 5?"
"At the airport, kidnapping Ellie and Zac."
"Jeremy!" Randi hissed. I detected some worry in her voice.
"Any proof?"
"Well, Randi had been telling me about her conspiracy for weeks. I thought she was joking, but she gave me these pictures to prove she wasn't."
"Interesting," the prosecutor murmured. "Your Honor, I think we should dismiss for the day."
"Agreed. We'll meet here tomorrow for the verdict. Court is dismissed."
I stood up and watched Jeremy come over to Gabby. "I did that for you," he said. Then he went to talk to Randi.
"What did he mean, Isaac?" Gabby asked me as we walked out of the courtroom. I looked over at her. She looked so pretty in her summer green dress.
"I don't know," I answered truthfully, but I suspected we would find out soon.
I was so nervous as I walked into the courtroom the next day. Isaac had assured me Randi would be put away, but Jeremy's comment from yesterday worried me. I frowned when I saw him sitting in the courtroom.
"Don't let him near me, Isaac," I whispered.
"I won't. Promise." Isaac sat down next to me.
Finally, the jury member stood to give the verdict. Randi, Ellie and Zac stood. "We find the defendant, Randi Walters, guilty of premeditated attempted murder and kidnapping."
"No!" Randi screamed. "How could you do this to me, Jeremy?"
"Order!" the judge said. He dismissed the court. I leapt to my feet and threw my arms around Isaac's neck.
"Yes, we won!" I screamed.
Ellie, Zac, Taylor and Celine joined the hug. I felt incredibly relieved. It was all over now.
It was late in the afternoon, and I was resting in my room upstairs. I felt fine most of the time, but sometimes I had to lie down for a while, considering all the excitement about the verdict that morning. The warm August breeze blew through my open window, lifting the curtains.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and I saw Zac's blond head stick through.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
"Of course," I said. He came in and plopped down on the bed next to me, favoring his broken arm. His normal goofy smile was plastered to his face.
"What are you so smiley about?"
"I'm just so glad to see that you're better," Zac explained, shrugging.
"Will you sing something for me?" I pleaded.
"Sure. What do you want me to sing?"
"Lucy," I said. He started in and I was amazed by how much his voice had changed since the recording of Middle of Nowhere. It had changed from the high boy voice to a deeper, stronger, more beautiful one. I leaned on his shoulder.
When he finished, I looked up at him. "You won't ever leave me, Zac, will you?" I asked.
"Of course not. I love you, Ellie…more than anything," he added.
I smiled and blushed. Zac had just told me he loved me for the very first time! "But you are leaving," I complained. "At Christmas."
"We have to leave to do our tour, but my heart will never leave you."
"I know, but I want to be with you, to see you every day."
"I'll be with you in your dreams," Zac whispered. "Anyway, the next four months are gonna be the greatest of our lives. Now that my parents and the kids are staying here, they said you and Gabby can be home schooled with us here in Montreal."
"Really?" I exclaimed. "Is it okay with my mom and Gabby's parents?"
Zac nodded. "We're gonna have so much fun."
"But once you leave, Zac, I don't know what I'll do. I'll have to go home, you won't be here, Celine goes back on tour and I'll have to deal with Gabby's problems with Jeremy. I don't know if she'll ever recover."
"Yes, she will," Zac said. "Gabby is strong."
"I just don't know what to do."
Zac put his arms around me and held me as the sun slowly slipped out of sight, filling the sky with brilliant oranges and reds.
It felt so wonderful to be in Zac's arms. I felt so safe there.
Just then, the door flew open. "Ellie! Zac!" a voice exclaimed. "What are you two doing?" I whirled around to see Celine standing in the doorway. Zac quickly drew away from me and ran a hand through his blond hair. "I was just hugging her," he explained.
Celine looked at me. "I swear!" I said.
"All right," Celine relented. "Zac…you can't be in here alone with Ellie anymore."
"What?!" Zac said.
"Zac, what I saw didn't look good…"
"Celine, he was just giving me a hug!" I defended.
Celine sighed. "Room is off limits for a week," she said to Zac.
"Fine," Zac said. Celine pulled him out the door.
A few moments later, Gabby ran into the room. "Ellie, did you hear?" she asked me.
"Yeah!" I said, knowing what she was thinking. "Guess what? Zac was giving me a hug and Celine walked in and thought we were…well, you know…"
Gabby burst out laughing.
"It's not funny!" I said.
"I'm sorry," Gabby laughed. "You just looked so mad!"
"Hey, why are you so happy?"
Gabby immediately stopped. "Ellie…what's the possibility of Isaac asking me out?"
"Uh…it's very possible."
Gabby plopped down next to me. "Ellie…I have a feeling he's going to. I can't say yes!"
"Why not?" I demanded.
"I'd be constantly second-guessing myself and wondering if he really likes me."
"Look, Gabby, why would he ask if he didn't care?"
"Jeremy did," she retorted, looking at me. The wind flew through my window again and Gabby's curly hair blew with it.
"Okay, bad example. He's saved your life! He's been there for you. He likes you!"
"I know, but…" There was a quiet knock on the door and Taylor popped his head in. "Gabby, there's someone who wants to see you downstairs."
I got up carefully and followed her out of the room.
I walked into Celine's living room to see Zac and Isaac sitting next to a person. The silence was eerie. I didn't like it.
"Gabby," a voice said. I looked up.
"Jeremy, what do you want?" I asked stonily.
Jeremy looked back to Zac, Taylor, Isaac and Ellie. "Could we be alone, please?"
I begged Ellie not to go, but Zac and Isaac pulled her out the room.
"Gabby, I have to tell you something."
I was silent. I didn't want anything to do with him. Didn't he get it?
"Gabby, look at me," Jeremy pleaded. I glanced up at him. "I understand how badly you must be feeling, but I…I love you, Gabby."
I stepped back. "What?"
"I love you!" Jeremy said.
"Oh, no…I'm not falling for this again!" I exclaimed. "You really hurt me, Jeremy. I ruined my chance with Isaac because of how much you hurt me! And now you come back, telling me you love me?!"
"I want to help you," Jeremy said softly.
"I don't need your help. Get out of here!"
"Gabby…"
"I said get out!" I screamed. "I can't take anymore of your lies! Leave me alone."
Jeremy stared at me for a minute, then started to walk past me. "I'll always be here for you. I love you," he whispered, reaching out for my hand. I drew away, my arms crossed over my orange tank top. He sighed and walked out.
I plopped down on the floor where I had been standing. I knew he'd be back again. He thought I was still in love with him, and since he didn't have Randi, he could get me back to play with for a while.
"Gabby, what happened?" Ellie asked, running over to me with Hanson close behind.
"He told me he loved me," I said angrily.
"He what?" Isaac asked.
"He thinks he can just waltz in here and get back together with me. Well, I don't think so! I'm done with him!"
"Good for you," Taylor praised.
"Come on, do you want a brownie?" Zac asked.
"I'd love one!" I got to my feet and started to walk out of the room. "Isaac?"
"Yeah?" He turned and looked at me.
"I don't believe he loves me, and I won't let him into my life again." With that, I walked out of the room.
"Whoa," Taylor murmured. "That was some statement!"
I was silent. "Taylor…should I ask her?"
"I don't know…"
"Come on, Taylor! I admire her for having the courage to say that to me. Help me!"
"Ask her then," Taylor commented. "Tell me when and how you want to."
"I did have an idea…"
"Here ya go," Zac said, setting down two big bowls of ice cream with a brownie in front of us.
"Thanks, Zac," I said.
"Anytime, sweetie." I blushed.
"Hey, guys," Taylor said, coming into the kitchen.
"Hey! Where have you guys been?"
"Talking," Ike cut in. "Gabby…would you mind meeting me here tonight?"
"Here?" Gabby pointed to the table.
"Yeah. I want to talk to you."
"Okay," Gabby said, eating her brownie.
Zac and Taylor went off into the corner for a minute, and when they came back, Zac whispered something to me. Something about how Ike was planning to ask Gabby out…
I gave him a thumbs-up, telling him I understood. This was gonna be so much fun!
"Where are you guys going?" I asked later that night.
"Upstairs," Zac answered, putting away the Monopoly board. "You have to meet someone in the kitchen."
"Oh, yeah." Quickly, I patted my head. Ellie had done my hair in a tight French braid, which hung halfway down my back, surprisingly, and had pulled out little curls to frame my face. I loved it. I walked into Celine's kitchen.
Isaac was waiting for me at the door. "Hey, Isaac…" My voice trailed off when I noticed he was wearing a pair of nice pants and a purple top underneath a black jacket. "Isaac, what's going on?"
"Come here," Isaac instructed me, pulling on my hand. I followed him into the dining room. Celine was laying out two plates of food. When she saw us, she smiled and said, "Enjoy." Then she left.
I felt very underdressed in my orange tank top and black jean shorts as Isaac seated me at the table and handed me a long-stemmed pink rose.
"What is this all about?" I asked, my cheeks burning as I held the rose tenderly.
Isaac didn't answer, but instead stepped over to the piano. Quietly and quite beautifully, he sang More Than Anything to me. I almost cried when I heard his quiet, soothing voice.
He came back over to me and we started to eat after the song was over. "Isaac, please answer my question," I said softly, not wanting to wreck the mood.
"I just wanted to treat you to a nice dinner," he answered just as quietly. "How are you doing after today?"
I sighed and played with my fork. "Okay, I guess."
Isaac moved his plate next to me and looked at me. "How did you feel when he told you he loved you?"
"Like I'd been lied to," I answered angrily.
"You felt nothing for him?"
"No! Why would I?"
"Gabby…" he sighed. "I'm not signing your death sentence if you tell me the truth."
"What do you mean? I am! Do you believe me?"
"Of course."
"Good," I said, making my tone tell him this conversation was over. "Why do you care anyways?"
"Because I care about you," Isaac said, putting his hand on my arm.
"Really?"
"Yes. If I didn't, why would I have sacrificed Celine's curtains for you?"
I laughed. "Thank you for dinner…and the song…and the rose."
"We still have dessert." Isaac jumped up and brought two plates of chocolate cake to the table. We were silent as we ate again.
My thoughts drifted. Since my breakup with Jeremy, I hadn't been able to trust anyone except Ellie. I had so many protection walls up. I glanced at Isaac. His hair framed his face, the natural waves falling to his shoulders. His brown eyes were fixed to his cake. I knew once our cake was gone, Isaac was going to ask me out. Even with someone as sweet as Isaac Hanson, I just couldn't trust him. I wished I could. I wanted to be with Isaac. Truthfully, I needed him to love me.
"Gabby, I brought you here because I want to help you…" Isaac started.
"I don't need help."
"Gabby, I need you to tell me what you went through so I can help you."
"Do you have any idea what I've been through?"
"I think so…"
"Oh, you think so. That means you don't."
"Calm down, Gabby. I didn't invite you here to fight. I asked you here because I want you to trust me so we can be together."
I stared at him. How I wanted to tell him so we could be together, but something inside me snapped. "You can't help me, so don't even try."
Isaac looked up at me, amazed. That wasn't exactly the response he was looking for. "Fine, Gabrielle. I tried…I don't think this is a good idea anymore."
My heart plummeted to my feet when I heard his words. Everything we'd been through…my near-suicides, the rescue, the trial…that was for nothing? "Fine by me. I don't ever want to see you again."
"Good, because I don't want to see you," Isaac said angrily.
"Didn't you just tell me you cared for me?" I asked, hoping I could change the course of this conversation.
Isaac stood up and threw his napkin down. "I lied, Gabby," he said. "I never liked you. Is that what you wanted to hear?!" Then he stormed out of the room.
"Oh, God, what have I done?" I whispered. I dropped my head onto the table and cried.
