Three months later

You and Karen are a steady couple. You work for your Uncle and Karen gets a lot of hours at the Smith's grocery store. She has recovered from her scare of the night of the party. She has no emotional problems from the night of the big party. Your dates are often short and or 'real' study dates as you both are working hard to bring up your grades. You both plan to go to State University in the fall. Neither of you drink much at the few parties you have gone to as you get there late and some of the people are stupid drunk.

Amber is not doing so good, especially after the recent events in Green River City. While she went on a few dates with Bobby, she could never get close to him. She thought she could love a guy like Bobby. After a few dates, she realizes she likes money more than boys. She also is inexperienced in dating and Tom steals her away by telling her she could do better than Bobby-by dating him. He tells her about how badly Bobby treated past girlfriends. Most of it is lies. She started dating Tom Bradley three weeks after she was tied up in the woods. He is richer than "trucker's son" Bobby.

She tells Tom her problems and he comforts her with presents. She also gives him lots of oral sex. She doesn't see it but Tom gives Bobby looks that say, I got this one from you. She has started drinking a lot on her dates with Tom. She lets Tom drive her car home from these drunken escapades. He still doesn't have his license and often is as drunk as she is. After two months of dating, Tom convinces her that he will pull out after their first fuck but he doesn't do it and she is too drunk to know. He does this a few more times.

She won't go to the grocery store as the Smith's hired Arron and Josh. Ashley and her brothers told them that they are on an extra probation after their actions in the woods but will be given a second chance. Amber can't figure out how Karen can work with them. She can't figure out how Karen can date you, either. Sure you defended her and Karen the night of the attack, but Tom has told her stuff (all lies) that confirms her lifelong distrust and hatred of you. Amber rarely talks to Karen, mostly as you are around her or Karen is at work.

Last weekend turned Amber's life up side down. Tom was hanging out with some guys and one of them was Josh. Josh got Tom real drunk and convinced him to drive a stolen car. The silver Lexus belonged to Ashley Smith. Tom told Amber that Josh got those slutty Higgins-Smith twins in the car. Josh was the one driving and he **** the 16 year-old girls. Tom said the girls lied and said they were 18, that Tom **** them with Josh, and that Tom was driving not Josh. The car was totaled after Josh bounced it off a sub-compact and killed the elderly driver and his wife.

Tom told Amber he didn't do anything wrong but get drunk. She was out of town for a basketball tournament. Josh didn't last 24 hours in lock up before he was beaten to ****. It wasn't believed to be from the charges against him but his mouthing off to other inmates. Tom has been isolated ever since, as a safety precaution. The test came back and showed Tom's sperm in both girls and Josh's in one. When the cops arrived at the scene both guys were trying to flee and both girls were knocked out in the back.

Bobby is sad from Amber's rejection of him and drinks heavily and hangs with Joe a lot. They hung out at Joe's family's hunting camp, but drank more than hunted. You, Joe, and Bobby have nothing to do with Tom. Karen feels sad that her cousin rejects her because of you. It's her choice not Karen's. You and Karen are taking Bobby to Deputy Brown' Hunting camp on New Year's Eve. Deputy Brown and Bobby's Dad are lifelong friends. Deputy Brown has known Bobby and you all your lives. His camp is very remote and is a safe place for teens to have a little fun. You don't know it but Karen has a surprise.