Part 5

Trixie watched out the corner of her eye as he looked the letter over again. She wasn't sure how he was going to respond. She felt she had done the right thing. Jim's future plans were important and she couldn't ruin them. He would end up hating her if she did.

"No," Jim said.

Trixie looked up as Jim tore the paper to shreds.

"We are not breaking up,"' Jim said as he tossed the pieces in the garbage. "It's not going to happen." He looked her in the eye. "I know what you're doing and I'm not going to allow it." He took her right hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "Trixie, my future will be fine. I have always pictured you as part of that future, since the day we met and I'm going to do everything in my power to guarantee that."

Trixie shook her head. She grabbed the marker and wrote. "But I will ruin your plans."

"No, you won't." Jim took the marker from her hand. "Listen to me, Trixie. You know that's not the reason you want to break up with me. All the stuff that has been going on has made you think you aren't good enough for me. Amelia has made it obvious that she wants me to date her, but those feelings are only one way. As I said, I've always pictured you as part of my future. I don't think I'm worthy of a person who is so loving, thoughtful, caring, expressive, athletic, good-hearted and beautiful as you are, but I'm not letting go of you."

Trixie shook her head again feeling that none of those words described her.

"That is you," Jim said. "You might not see that because of what other people have said, but that is how I see you and always will."

Jim reached up and cupped her face in his right hand, caressing her cheek with his thumb. "Trix, I need you in my life. You gave me everything I have and I need you to stay. Without you, I would be lost. I can't live without you, Trixie."

Trixie felt the tears start streaming down her cheeks. She had thought breaking up with Jim was the right thing to do. She knew she would've been miserable afterward, but never thought Jim would feel the same way. She thought he would be okay. His words touched her heart knowing that no matter what was going on, he still cared for her.

"I'm sorry," she mouthed.

"Shh," Jim said. "There's nothing to be sorry about. You've been through a lot and I understand your confusion. Let's chalk it up to a learning experience and go from there, okay?"

Trixie nodded.

"Good." Jim leaned in and gave her a kiss.

When they broke apart, Trixie wiped the tears from her face. She couldn't believe she had tried to break up with Jim. He was the best thing in her life and she had been willing to throw that all away. She must be crazy.

"You okay?" Jim asked.

Trixie nodded and tried to stifle a yawn.

"Go ahead and rest," Jim said. "I'll be back later. I promise."

Trixie closed her eyes as he body succumbed to exhaustion from the emotional roller coaster she was on. She felt Jim's tight hold on her hand and another kiss before she drifted off.

Over the next several days, Trixie continued her recuperation. She spent a lot of time in the guest bedroom sleeping. Her strength was returning and she was staying awake for longer periods of time.

Every afternoon when school let out, Jim arrived at the farm with her homework. He would sit with her as she worked through the assignments.

During those days, Trixie saw very little of her older brothers. She still could not forgive them for their accusations, especially since they hadn't apologized. She felt they truly believed what the other students had been saying.

She knew she was right because she had overheard Brian and Mart arguing with her father about Jim being allowed to see her. The yelling had gotten really loud with Brian and Mart pressing the issue and arguing that Jim didn't want anything but sex from their little sister. Peter had lost his temper saying that they had little faith in Trixie and that neither she nor Jim had done anything to deserve such comments.

The argument quieted down a little, but her brother's never apologized. She doubted they ever would.

It was now Friday evening and the night of the Snowflake Ball. Trixie was disappointed to be miss it. She had been looking forward to going after Jim asked her and had even been excited about dress shopping. But with her injuries, it would be almost impossible to attend, let alone dance.

Jim had arrived just after dinner to spend the evening with her. She had told him to go to the dance, but he declined saying he'd rather watch movies with her.

And so, the two of them were settled on the couch in the living room. Jim was sitting at one end with Trixie leaning up against him. His left arm was wrapped around her, resting on top of her left arm, which was in a sling. The table in front of them held snacks and drinks.

They were a short way through the first movie when they heard the kitchen door open and several people enter the house talking animatedly. Trixie involuntarily winced when she heard her older brothers' voices. She was certain there was going to be a scene.

"Moms? Dad? You here?" Mart called out.

"They're probably in the living room," Brian said. "It sounds like the TV is on."

The footsteps came closer and Trixie heard a yell.

She felt Jim get pulled off the couch, making her fall against the arm. She tried crying out in pain.

"You were told to stay away from her!" Mart yelled.

"Don't you listen?" Brian asked angrily.

Trixie turned her head to see Brian throwing punches at Jim who was on the floor, covering his head with his arms.

"Stop it," Trixie mouthed, no sound escaping her lips. "Stop hurting him."

"You will never touch our sister again," Brian said, throwing a punch right at Jim's stomach.

"What is going on?" Helen asked, having just entered the room. "Peter! Come quick!"

Trixie watched Helen move over to Brian and grab hold of his arm, but that didn't stop him. Brian had the strength of a lion and flipped his mother over top of Jim as he struggled to break free.

"Moms!" Trixie mouthed.

"Knock it off!" Peter yelled as he stepped quickly over to his eldest son and pulled him off of Jim.

Trixie saw Jim pull his knees to his chest. It seemed he was keeping his hands over his head in case he got attacked again.

"What has gotten into you?" Peter demanded, keeping a tight grip on Brian's arm. "You don't go around punching people."

"He was groping her," Brian said breathlessly as he attempted to take another step toward Jim, only to be stopped by his father's grasp.

"Darling are you all right?" Peter asked.

"I'm okay," Helen answered as she stood up.

"If you three ladies would wait in the kitchen, we need to have a chat with our sons," Peter said in a tone that left no room for argument.

Trixie turned slightly to see Honey, Di and Amelia hurry out of the room.

"You two. Upstairs. Now."

Brian and Mart looked at their father for a moment before climbing the stairs to the second floor.

Trixie watched her parents move quickly to Jim.

"Jim, are you all right?" Peter asked crouching down beside the red headed young man who had finally lowered his arms.

"Yeah," Jim said softly. "I never knew Brian was that strong."

"It's probably from so much yard work," Peter said.

"Do you think you can get up?" Helen asked.

"I think so."

"We'll help you," Peter said. "Just take it slow."

Trixie watched as Jim slowly got to his feet. He tried to straighten, but winced, placing a hand against his chest.

"Here, sit down," Helen said.

"I'm okay," Jim said, sinking into the recliner. "I'm sore. That's it."

"Just relax here for a bit," Helen said.

"How are you, Trix?" Peter asked.

Trixie silently cried. Everything was a mess.

"Sweetie, did you bang your shoulder?" Peter asked.

Trixie couldn't respond. She was crying too hard.

"I'm calling Dr. Ferris," Helen said.

Helen quickly left the room as Peter crouched down beside the couch. He took Trixie's right hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "It'll be all right, Trixie," Peter said. "You'll be all right."

But she didn't believe him. She couldn't.

"Dr. Ferris is on his way," Helen said, returning to the room a few minutes later.

"All right," Peter said, squeezing Trixie's hand again. "I'm going upstairs for a few minutes."

"We'll be down here."

Trixie felt her father let go of her hand and listened as he headed upstairs.

"How are you doing, Jim?" Helen asked.

"I'm okay," Jim said softly. "I'm just bruised. It's nothing serious."

"Well, we'll have Dr. Ferris take a look anyway," Helen said. "I don't think your parents would appreciate it if we don't."

"All right."

"I'm going to go get a couple ice packs," Helen said. "I'll be back in a couple minutes."

"We're not going anywhere," Jim said.

As Helen left the room, Trixie tried to calm down. She squeezed her eyes shut. She tried to catch her breath and started hiccuping, which only served to irritate her injured shoulder even more.

How did things get so messed up? she wondered. We all used to get along so well, and now, we're fighting with one another, fists and all. Where did it go wrong? Did this all happen because I found Jim and helped him get a family? Is it because I've been involved in so many mysteries that the people I really care about no longer want to be with me? Is it because I just really don't fit in and this is the universe's way of saying that I should leave it all behind and go my own way? I just don't know.

Trixie heard footsteps and figured it was her mother returning to the room with the ice packs. The steps moved past the couch to the recliner.

She opened her eyes slightly and saw a light blue ball gown standing in her view of Jim. The long hair told her it was Amelia. It looked like Amelia was leaning toward Jim from the angle of her body.

"What are you doing?" Jim demanded as if he'd been startled.

"Mrs. Belden asked me to bring the ice pack to you while she went to find some pain reliever," Amelia said. "Now, let me put this against your bruises so they don't swell too much."

"I can do it myself," Jim said, angrily.

"You're hurt," Amelia said. "Let me help you."

"I said I could do it myself."

"I've never seen anyone who is such a baby," Amelia said. "I guess that's what happens when you hang out with the likes of her. You have so much potential, Jim, and you're wasting it on this child." She sighed. "I guess what everyone has been saying is true."

"What are people saying?" Jim asked slowly.

"You know what," Amelia said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"Tell me," Jim demanded.

"It's that people think you're only with her because she will have sex any time you want," Amelia said. "I just wonder who she is sleeping with when she's not with you. I mean, the poster must be true if it was hanging on her locker."

"You witch," Jim said angrily as he slowly got to his feet.

"What did you call me?" Amelia asked angrily.

"You heard me," Jim said. "This game you are playing is coming to a stop, right here and now."

"I don't play games," Amelia said.

"You don't play normal games," Jim said. "Your idea of fun is hurting people, both physically and emotionally, to get your own way. But that won't work with me. It just makes me dislike you even more."

"Oh, Jim, you'll get over that in no time," Amelia said, placing a hand on Jim's arm. He jerked it away. "You see, you and I are destined to be together. I've known it since the first day you entered Sleepyside Junior-Senior High School. It will be just perfect for us. With both of our families, we will have the world at our fingertips. We can see everything and do whatever we can imagine."

"You mean our families' money," Jim said.

"Of course," Amelia said. "We are both worth so much and can have whatever we want with the snap of our fingers."

"That's where you're wrong," Jim said. "I don't snap my fingers for anything. If I want something, I earn money for it and then get it myself."

"Why? You have money at your disposal. Why not cash into that bank?"

"Because that's not how I was raised. I know the value of a dollar and the hard work that goes into it. I'm not going to just forget all that because the Wheeler's are my parents."

"Well, I guess that is something we'll have to work on," Amelia said. "And that won't be a problem now since I put that poster up. Everyone thinks that Trixie is with you because she'll put out and I doubt she'll be bored with all the attention she'll be getting."

"You put the poster up?" Jim asked, his face getting as red as his hair.

"I didn't say that," Amelia protested.

"Yes, you did," Jim said.

"Well, it won't matter," Amelia said, shrugging her shoulders. "Only you two heard me and no one will believe you."

Jim smiled. "Wanna bet?"

Trixie noticed Jim looking past Amelia and figured someone was standing out of her line of sight.

"I think we should have a chat with your father, the Mayor."

That voice belonged to Matthew Wheeler and Trixie knew he didn't sound happy.

Amelia spun around.

"Hi, Dad," Jim said.

"Son," Matthew said as he moved into the living room to stand beside his son and glared at Amelia. "Do you want to call your father?"

Amelia stood there, her face pale. She opened her mouth a couple times to speak, but nothing came out.

"That's okay," Matthew said. "I think a face-to-face conversation would be more appropriate." Matthew pulled out his cell phone and began dialing a number.

"They aren't home," Amelia said quickly, a quiver in her voice.

"Hello, Robert? Matt Wheeler here." He paused. "Not bad. Yourself?" Another pause. "Robert, I was wondering if you could come to Crabapple Farm right now. There's something we need to talk about and should do so face-to-face." Another pause. "It is important. If it wasn't, I would wait and call you tomorrow." He looked at Amelia. "All right, we'll see you in a bit."

"My father isn't coming," Amelia said. "You're just saying that."

"Do you want to all him yourself?" Matthew asked, offering her his phone.

"I don't have to put up with this," Amelia said. "I have a ball to get to where I will be crowned the Snowflake Queen." Amelia turned and started to leave the living room.

"Go ahead and go," Jim said. "I think the entire student body would love to hear your explanation of why you've publicly humiliated Trixie with your stunts."

"I haven't done anything," Amelia said as she spun around. "You're trying to blame me so that cheap piece of filth can get away with sleeping around." She pointed at Trixie. "This is all her doing because she knows she'll never be as popular as me and wants to make me look bad so that she can be happier." Amelia took a breath. "I have no idea what you see in someone who is so beneath you. You have an image that needs to be shown to the world and it is only tarnished by having the likes of her at your side."

"So, you put the poster on her locker," Jim said.

"Of course," Amelia said and then realized what she had said. "Of course not. I would never do anything so childish. That is beneath me."

"I think I've heard enough," Helen said, making everyone turn to look at her, surprised she had entered the room. She looked at Amelia. "You will sit down and wait for your father's arrival. Everyone will be here to listen to your explanation of everything that has happened and it had better be the truth."

The tone Helen used left no room for argument. Amelia sank down on the footstool, watching Helen cautiously, but not saying a word.

Helen turned to Jim and in a gentle voice asked, "Do you think you should be standing up?"

"I'm okay,' Jim said, but never lowered his arm that was protecting his ribs.

"Why don't you sit down?" Matthew suggested.

"All right."

Jim moved toward Trixie and settled on the arm of the couch close to her head. He looked down and wiped away the trail of tears left on her cheeks. He offered her a small smile and he mouthed, "It'll be okay."

The tears resumed. Trixie felt it would never be all right again.

A short while Peter came down the stairs with the boys. He came into the living room as Brian and Mart made a beeline for the kitchen. They heard the crunching of tires on the snow. Trixie cast a quick glance at Amelia who appeared to be white as a sheet.

"I believe I have a couple patients here."

Dr. Ferris.

Amelia let out a breath.

He entered the living room and moved right over to Trixie and Jim. "So, who am I checking first?"

"Her," Jim said ad Trixie pointed at him.

"How about I check you first, Jim, since you seem more upright?" Dr. Ferris suggested.

Jim waited patiently as Dr. Ferris gently pressed against his ribs after he had lifted his shirt. He winced a couple times at the touch.

After several minutes, Dr. Ferris leaned back. "I think you have a couple of cracked ribs. We'll need x-rays to be sure, but I'm certain they are not broken. If they were, you'd be in much more pain."

"I can live with that," Jim said as he tugged his shirt down with this free hand.

"And now Trixie," Dr. Ferris said as he looked at her. "Can you tell me what hurts?"

Trixie touched her left shoulder with her right hand.

"I think she bumped it when I got off the couch," Jim said. "She was leaning against me and I moved without giving her a warning."

Trixie tried to hide the pain as Dr. Ferris gently touched her shoulder.

"I don't think it was injured any worse, but we should check it with an x-ray. It needs to heal properly if she wants to use her arm. I'd rather check now than to have a problem in the future."

"That's fine," Helen said.

"We'll take them to the hospital," Matthew said.

"Very good," Dr. Ferris said. "I'll let them know you'll be coming by."

"Thank you for coming," Peter said.

"You're welcome." He looked at Trixie and Jim. "Make sure you two take it easy."

"We will," Jim said.

Dr. Ferris left the house and silence settled on the room once again. Trixie heard the door close and wished the nightmare would come to an end.

"Amelia, what are you doing here?" a deep male voice asked. "Aren't you supposed to be at the Snowflake Ball?"

"Thanks for coming," Matthew said stepping forward before Amelia could answer.

"Not a problem," Robert said. "What's so important?"

Matthew looked at Amelia. "Do you want to tell your father what's been going on or should I?"

"I haven't been doing anything," Amelia said as she stood up. "These people think I've been humiliating Trixie."

"You have," Jim said as he stood up, wincing in pain. "You've been picking on Trixie for weeks. You dumped a drink on her when we were at Wimpy's several weeks ago."

"I slipped," Amelia explained.

"You were the one who put the poster on Trixie's locker saying she slept around," Jim continued as if he hadn't been interrupted.

"I did not put the poster on her locker," Amelia protested.

"Quit lying," Jim said angrily, holding his ribs tightly.

"I'm not," Amelia said. "I haven't done a thing to her. Why would I want to? She's nothing but a poor child who has to learn her place in society and not mess with the natural order of things."

"Amelia!" Robert exclaimed.

"What?" Amelia asked. "I haven't done anything that they are accusing me of."

"Haven't you been trying to break up Trixie and me for weeks?" Jim asked.

"I haven't done anything. If you want to leave the child behind because she is beneath you, that's your decision."

"Amelia, that is enough," Robert said. "He looked at Helen and Peter. "Is there a place I can talk to my daughter privately?"

"You can use the den," Peter said.

"Amelia, now."

Peter led them out of the living room and to the den. He returned a moment later.

"You need to calm down, son," Matthew said as he placed a hand on Jim's shoulder.

"She's lying," Jim said. "And she is going to keep lying."

"Robert is probably getting the truth from her as we speak," Matthew said.

"I doubt it. She is probably lying through her teeth. She's probably saying she is the victim and that someone else put that poster up on Trixie's locker to frame her so that she would get in trouble."

"Jim, calm down before you hurt yourself more," Helen said.

Jim turned away from the others and looked at Trixie who was still stretched out on the couch with dried tears trailing down her face.

"I'm trying, Trix," Jim said.

She offered him a small smile, knowing he was doing his best. But she felt like he did. Amelia was going to get away with it and there was nothing they could do about it.

Trixie knew there was no hope. She closed her eyes, the urge to have the truth known gone. She knew that no matter what happened, the rest of her high school life was going to be miserable. If Amelia did get in trouble, there would be payback. If she didn't, there would be gloating. It was an impossible situation.

She opened her eyes to see Jim still looking at her. She lifted her arm and motioned Jim to give her the writing board which was on the coffee table.

Jim took it and handed it to her before settling on the arm of the couch again.

"Hospital. Now." Trixie wrote.

"Are you hurting more?" Jim asked quickly.

"She's hurting?" Helen asked as she moved closer to them.

"No," Trixie wrote. "Let's get the x-rays done."

"We should wait for Robert and Amelia to come out," Matthew said.

"Don't want to wait. Just want to go," Trixie wrote.

There was silence for a moment. Finally, Peter said, "All right, sweetheart. I'll take you. Let me get the car warmed up and then we'll go. Okay?"

Trixie made the OK sign with her hand.

As her father left the room, Trixie closed her eyes. Her reputation was ruined and she doubted she could show her face at school again. She was certain she would never be going back there. She knew Amelia was responsible and felt it was never going to get fixed.

A short time later Peter returned with he warm winter coat, which he wrapped around her. He draped a blanket over his shoulder before he scooped her up into his arms. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Brian asked quietly as they passed through the kitchen.

"To the hospital," Peter answered. "You sister banged her injured shoulder and Dr. Ferris wants to make certain she didn't injure it more."

Trixie doubted her eldest brother really cared. She figured he had asked just for show.

As they stepped outside, Trixie could feel the cold air on her face, but didn't react, too consumed by her emotions.

"Mr. Belden!"

"Hey, Dan. How are you?"

"I'm okay. Is everything all right here?"

"It's okay. I'm just taking Trixie to the hospital for an x-ray. She bumped her shoulder, but the doctor wants to be cautious." Peter set Trixie carefully into the front passenger seat. She rested her head back against the headrest. "If you want, the others are inside."

"All of them?" Dan asked.

"Yes, all of them."

"I could come along if you'd like some company," Dan offered.

"We shouldn't be long," Peter said, adjusting the blanket over Trixie's legs. "But if you'd like to ride along, I don't see a problem with that."

Dan climbed in the back after Peter closed the passenger door.

When they were traveling down Glen Road, Peter asked, "Why aren't you at the Snowflake Ball?"

"I didn't want to go," Dan said. "It's not my type of thing."

"I was never much for dressing up either, but when I went with my friends, we always had a good time."

"It is nice if you can go with your friends, but I just didn't want to go to all that fuss. It's more for the athletes and cheerleaders and I'm definitely not either of those."

Peter looked in the rearview mirror at the young man. "Why do I get the feeling that you have another reason for not wanting to go to the ball?"

There was silence from the back seat.

"Dan, does this have anything to do with the reason Brian was fighting with Jim?"

"Brian and Jim fought?" Dan's eyes were wide as saucers.

"Technically it was Brian," Peter said. "For some reason, Brian and Mart stopped home before going to the ball. Jim and Trixie had been watching a movie. The next thing we knew there was hollering coming from downstairs. When Helen and I got there, Brian was punching Jim."

"I can't believe it," Dan said. "I never thought Brian would resort to violence."

"It surprised us, as well," Peter said darkly.

"Did Brian give a reason for going off?" Dan asked slowly. "Was it...?"

"Yes," Peter said.

Trixie felt Dan reach forward and squeeze her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Trixie."

Trixie closed her eyes. The tears were gone. Nothing would change.

"Was Jim hurt?" Dan asked.

"He's got a couple cracked ribs," Peter replied. "Matt is going to bring him to the hospital once they finish talking with Amelia and her father."

"She was there?"

"Yes," Peter answered. "She picked up Honey, Di and the boys. They were all going to the ball. They stopped at the house and then the scene happened."

"That girl is nothing but trouble," Dan said.

"I'm getting that picture," Peter said.

There was silence for the rest of the ride. When they arrived at the hospital, Peter carried Trixie inside while Dan parked the car.

Within a short time, Trixie was wheeled out of the ER to get the requested X-rays. She didn't look at anyone. It she was instructed to move a certain way, she did so.

When the film had been taken, she was returned to the ER. She closed her eyes and wished with all her might that time would pass quickly. She never wanted to go to school again.

"Hey."

She opened her bleary eyes and blinked several times to see Dan standing beside her bed. He took her hand in his.

"I didn't mean to wake you," Dan said. "Your dad thought you might want some company while he talks to Dr. Ferris about the results." He squeezed her hand. "Trix, I'm sorry I haven't been around more. I've wanted to. Honestly, I have. But I'm still furious at your brother's for what they said. I don't want to fight them and that's what I feel like every time I see them. It was easier to stay away so I wouldn't get that urge. I don't want to ruin my probation on them."

Trixie squeezed his hand in return. She understood. He had grown a lot since arriving in Sleepyside and felt that he didn't need to lose it all over a brawl with her brothers.

"You're not angry with me?" Dan asked.

Trixie shook her head slightly. She mouthed, "Love you."

Dan's feature's softened and he smiled in return. "I love you too."

Trixie allowed her eyes to close. She was exhausted.

"Just rest, Trix. I'll keep an eye on things."

She squeezed his hand and let the darkness swallow her.

TO BE CONTINUED….