"You just look like you need to relax a little." Heh," I stuck my tongue out at him, trying to ignore how good his hands actually felt. "Don't do that..." Do what?" Troy asked."Massage me like that," I said, shrugging my shoulders. "Stop it." Why?" He narrowed his eyes. "What's wrong with this?" Troy!" I giggled and he had such big hands, strong and gentle and he was rubbing the heel of his palms right against my shoulder blades, you know? It felt really good."Betsy!" He laughed softly. "Come on,. Elated, I got permission to record the publisher's offer so I could impress Cathy. I called Cathy and told her we were going to celebrate. I told her to hire a baby sitter and put on her best; I was taking her to Green Pastures, one of the best restaurants in Austin, for dinner.Her lack of enthusiasm should have set off red lights and warning bells. Hell, her not being ecstatic about going out, in the middle of the week, to the best place in Austin? It should have set off flares and air raid. We make love while I provide her reward for the risks she took on Chaos. The first week on Crossroads with a Damsel is always the same: making love, restoratives, meals, and making love with very little sleep. After a week they seem to settle down a bit and I get time for a regular sleep as well as a little time to do other things, but not much.On the twenty-sixth day after our return I get an odd feeling about Nina. It strengthens on the next day and is very strong on the day after. I get up. We’re fortunate to have such quick thinking, capable students in this school. We are the Spartan Nation and we’re Spartan proud!!’ It took a few days, but school returned to a new normal. Basketball season resumed and the first home game was difficult. Everyone that entered the gym couldn’t help but think about the violence and death that took place there. The floors had been sanded and refinished so there was no sign of blood, but most people had seen the video and knew where the pools had.