You and Karen celebrate your three month anniversary

(This might seem a little fuzzy if you scrolled back at any time in this story to get here, but it is the same storyline.)

The exact date of the anniversary was Christmas Eve but you and Karen are out at Deputy Brown's rustic hunting camp on December 29th. Bobby and Amber are here celebrating with you too, but separately (more about that in the next chapter). It is the first night that you and her both have off from work and family holiday commitments and a few recent rushed weddings. Karen has been working full time at the grocery store, with the holiday rush and school break. You have been busy with holiday photo stuff with your Uncle, and also working at the same fast food place where Bobby works. You and Karen are also studying more trying to make up for three years of slacking.

You were a jock, a scholar, and a Boy Scout until half way through ninth grade when your wrestling coach was fired for bull shit reasons. You and Bobby quit the team in protest. It was later discovered that the new coach and the female athletic director were having sex with each other. This pissed off the school board (and their spouses) and they got fired. Without sports getting good grades and being a Boy Scout seemed less important.

Karen also got good grades until her mom met and married her stepdad when she was in eighth grade. He was so controlling that she let her grades slip just to piss him off. She stayed in cheer leading because she thought it was fun and her step dad hated her doing it. (She also looked great in her uniform.) She quit at the start of this school year to make money working more and because her closest cheer leading friends graduated last year.

The High School hired a new varsity wrestling coach this year. He has been a first grade teacher at the Green River City Area Elementary School for 23 years. He was the coach for you and Bobby from when you were four year olds until fifth grade. You and Bobby try out late for the wrestling team but make it as you both have previous experience and your coach remembers you both from when you were young. You are also the only qualified and interested students in your weight classes.

You tried out to impress Karen and to see if you still can do it. Amber sort of made Bobby do it, but he also gets to hang out with you more and it turns out that you are all back into extra curricular activities as Karen rejoined the cheer leading squad a week before the first basketball game. Lexie Whyte had to quit as her baby bump was showing. She got knocked up by Tom Bradley the night of the infamous Smith party. You were one of his groomsmen at the wedding which was December 21.

Karen's step dad beat her and her mother the day after the party. He had a **** problem that he had thought he hidden, but it all came apart that day. He also had anger issues. Karen's mother was hospitalized for five weeks and is still recovering. Amber dropped Karen off at her house after they dropped off Bobby. Karen walked into an ambush. Amber heard Karen's first (and only) scream. Amber rushed into the house to find out why Karen screamed. Amber surprises Frank Porter and punches him in the face with all she has. He goes down but is not out. He grabs Amber by one foot and she can't break free. Amber sees her cousin on the floor unresponsive and her Aunt in the next room, laying on the floor with her head in a small puddle of blood. She does the only thing she can think of and screams her head off. This causes Porter to try to grab her higher up her leg and she gets free. Amber sprints out the door dialing 911 on her cell as she moves away.

Deputy Brown is the first on the scene as he was less than a mile away. He was just going off duty but heard the call on his car scanner and responded as he lives close to the Porters. After stopping Mr. Porter's escape by holding him at gunpoint, Deputy Brown calls for back up. He doesn't get to bed until midnight and wound up being on duty for over 24 hours.

You found out what happened late that Sunday night after you called Bobby when you couldn't get Karen to answer your calls or texts. You rushed to the hospital. After talking a few minutes to a **** and sleepy Karen, you walk out of her room, happy that she will be okay. You get the rest of the details of the incident from Deputy Brown and go home taking Bobby with you. Deputy Brown says sorry he didn't tell you sooner but he didn't know about your dating status and he doesn't think anyone could have drove out to camp and give you the message as you were in a no coverage area. You say you understand and that Karen will be fine and that is all that matters.

You, Bobby, Amber, and Karen all miss school on Monday. You and Karen miss Tuesday and Wednesday as well. You are by Karen's side the whole time she is in the hospital. Karen stayed with Amber and Amber's mom until her mom got out of the hospital. Mr. Porter got beaten to **** in jail after the other inmates found out what he did. He also may have owed **** money that he wouldn't pay and the suppliers may have wanted to send a message.

You and Karen didn't go on a real date until after Karen's mom was released from the hospital. You haven't fucked since the first night in the van, in the woods, as you are both always busy. Tonight that is to change. You have cold beer out the door in the snow and plenty of Karen's favorite foods.