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I wait up in my apartment room with Amara, looking up at the clock and tapping my fingers out on the coffee table. He said he'd be here ten minutes ago. What's going on?

Amara slumps over on the table and shoves a graham cracker into her mouth. She looks up at me innocently and the crumbs spill down the front of her shirt and dribble down her mouth. She grins at me, and dimples form at the corners of her mouth.

Jack and Amara have the same smile......Why am I thinking about smiles?

I shake my head and avert my eyes, keeping them glued to the clock set up above the stove. I really wish I had Astrix with me. She'd know exactly what to say at such times, but I thought it was smarter if I talked to him alone.

I sigh and flop down on the table. I close my eyes for a minute to think about everything going on. Ever since I was a little girl, Delilah has always tried to find ways to ruin my family. And now that she's succeeded, she needs to be punished. Thoroughly.

And that punishment has not yet expired. She can't get out of jail so soon, it's just...Not...Fair.

I feel someone jab my arm and look up to see Amara hunched over the table, trying to shake me awake.

"Jack's here. The doorbell rang."

I nod and get to my feet, walking down the short hall and pushing the buzzer to let him into the complex down in the lobby. He should be coming up in a few minutes.

I usher Amara into my bedroom to leave me and Jack some privacy to talk about the issue, and then I spread out the forms on the table.

The crumbs are tumbling over on my chair, so I sweep them onto the floor and shove it under my rug.

At that moment, I hear a knock on the door. I slowly open it and see Jack standing outside and whistling tunelessly. Like he could be doing anything else in the world...

I grumble under my breath and open the door all the way to let him in. He flashes me a smile and his jaw tirelessly chews spearmint.

He walks into my house and I notice him examining everything in great detail. He makes it a point to notice the family photo hanging above my small fireplace, and he even notices the crumbs I raked under the rug.

Then he looks up at me and stares at me peculiarly. He reaches a hand into my hair and pulls out a cracker.

"Looks like Amara's been a pain in the ass lately."

He throws the cracker aside and seats himself at the table. I roll my eyes and sit across from him.

"Not as much as you've been."

He mockingly winces. "Ouch, that hurts."

"Sorry." I say.

"Not..."

He smiles. "I see we're being as hard to work with as always."

I open my mouth. "Hard to work with? Me? Hey, I'm not the one who threw myself into a mess that didn't involve me. I never asked for you to talk to me, involve yourself in my life or even acknowledge me."

Jack leans into his fist. "If my memory serves me well...Then it was you who invited me here to help you with your problems. I didn't mix myself into anything."

I'm so angry that a squeak escapes my lips. "Excuse me? You were the one who had to do an entire background check on me, for no reason. You were the one who found about everything and suddenly wants to throw me a pity party!"

He glares at me. "I don't want to throw you a pity party. I want to help you. Also, my motives for researching you have already been explained."

I roll my eyes. "Somehow the phrase 'because I wanted to' isn't sufficient enough."

Jack shrugs. "Well, that's not my problem. Now are you going to sit there and insult me or take the help and valuable information I'm offering you?"

I bite my lip and sigh, choosing not to reply. He raises an eyebrow and smiles.

"Good. Now, here's something you should probably know before we move onto this."

He reaches into his vest and pulls out a sheet of typed paper. He slides it across the table to me and I accept it, holding it out to the light and rapidly scanning the words.

Astrix was right after all. She knows something we don't. Especially if she's putting a big-time lawyer on this case...A big-time lawyer like Aaron Travels...

Jack's father.

I rip the sheet of paper and toss it into a waste basket.

"Is that what this is about?"

Jack shakes his head. "Come again?"

I harden my gaze and my voice. "Your Dad is taking over this court case, and he's the attorney for Delilah."

I struggle out of my chair and back away. "You're not trying to help me. It all makes sense now...That's why you've been doing all this research on me...You're trying to help your Dad help Delilah get out of jail!"

I spit the words out in his face and back away from the table. "I can't believe you! What are you still doing in my kitchen? Get. Out."

Jack's eyes widen. "Wha-No. No I'm not trying to help my Dad at all...I'm doing the opposite."

"You're trying to help Delilah."

"No, of course not. My Dad is working on this case, which is how I found out about you. I know what Delilah did is wrong, which is why I'm trying to help you."

I get to my feet. "Likely story."

Jack rolls his eyes. "You think I'm like my father? I'm nothing like him. I hate everything he is and everything he stands for. In a way, helping you is like helping me."

I cross my arms in front of my chest. "And I'm supposed to believe you?"

Who does he think I am?

Jack runs a hand through his hair. "I knew you were going to act like this...You're so stubborn."

"Only around you." I hiss.

He knits his eyebrows together. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You make everything difficult! How am I supposed to believe you? You're not going to help me go up against your father. I know that."

I pause and cross my arms. I want to accept the help he's giving me. I have no other option...But what if I'm wrong?

"Look. It's a pro situation. We're both benefiting from this arrangement, myself more than you may think, all right?"

He picks up the paper I threw away and smooths it out on the table. I purse my lips.

"What the hell do you gain from helping me?"

Jack lets out a deep breath. "Let me put it this way. How do you feel about Delilah?"

I sigh. "I hate her."

Jack nods. "That's what I feel about my Dad. He's not even my Dad anymore, if we're going to be honest here."

I widen my eyes. "Really? You hate him that much?"

Jack nods seriously. "You have no idea."

I study his face and sense the sincerity in his eyes. His gaze is pleading. He wants to bring Delilah down, because it also brings about his father's downfall. He seems to have his own personal reasons for attacking his father, and he see's me as the perfect opportunity.

But what if I'm wrong and he really is just trying to help his Dad?

I can either accept his help and gain hope, or refuse it and lose everything.

I shake my head and turn away. "How do you...Know...About the case in the first place? How did you find about it?"

Jack purses his lips. "I snuck into my Dad's office one day and found an interesting file about one of his clients. It's how he makes money, you know? He takes bribes from people in jail and works from the inside out. I read through it and learned about you. Your picture was on the cover sheet and when I saw you at school the next day I transferred, I took it as a sign. I'm helping you."

He sighs and quietly laughs. "Now are you gonna accept it, or turn me away?"

I sigh and hold out my hand. "Let's agree to bring an end to their case."

He shakes on it, making it final.

I'm going to have a lot of fun on this one.