Expanding blog to life

Whelp, I got to thinking and I came up with a conclusion.  I'm not a professional on writing. I can give advice and ideas, but I'm no professional, so while some posts will be on writing(and show more of my writing) this little ole blog is going to also show some insight into my life. You can get a lot more information on my mom's blog here: http://dkwhitakerfamily.blogspot.com  on the whole family in general. 

What can I say?  We're a pretty interesting group, and a day is never dull.  (In a good way)

Well, its been raining and it looks like it will be raining more.

I got a reply on my query letter.  It was a no, but still!  A REPLY!  So now the great search for a new agent begins. Nights usually consists of sitting in bed searching on the laptop, and eating a pop tart. Thrilling as usual.;)

And when the search is finished for the night these two desperado's join me for bed.
                




Lucy



Skeeter

 

Good night!

Outlines can be fun?

You bet! 
It not only shows you the major events that are on your book, but how things fit together like a puzzle. 
I decided to go visual with mine for one of my stories.


Quite the jumble of paper!









 

What I did was I picked the major backrounds, listed the events that happened under them, and then had arrows going from one place to another so I know what happened in what order.  It was quite the fun project!

Ah, pinterest

I don't know what I did before pinterest. Probably didn't spend hours on the computer at one time thats for sure.  ;)    From the grumpy cat, sarcasim, crafts and ideas, it pretty much sucks you in.
Apparently, it can also be used to advertise your writing. 
Rachelle Gardner had a guest blogger talking on the subject.  http://www.rachellegardner.com/2013/04/5-ways-authors-can-use-pinterest-as-a-marketing-tool/

I was on Pinterest and found this.
 Me and my brother have yet to stop laughing about this. Not quite sure why.  Maybe because we stayed up too late .
Again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=S1k86fWsmRE

 Calvin on writing.....

For those that don't know me, I LOVE Calvin and Hobbes comics.

My Fair Lady:Chapter 9/Note

Well, this is the end.  I hope you enjoyed it.  The things I would do differently is probably make the chapters shorter, and add more to the book.  So yeah...

I'm thinking what I'm going to do is wait a bit before I do anymore blogging of my books.  Perhaps do some in between posts, then do the synopsis's of a couple of my books and have a voting of which one to do next. 

 

WEEKS LATER……………

 Jack dodged people as he walked through the celebrating crowd.  Prince Lionel had been pronounced king, and celebration had begun.  “Why do I feel so down?”  Jack thought.  “This is what I wanted.  This is what I have waited, dreamed, and trained for, yet I feel empty.”  The new kingdom had been set up in Tula since the castle in Melkola was in ruins.  He hadn’t seen much of Turner since that day.  He had gone through the wreckage of the castle, searching and calling her name. 

“Kezia!”  Turner shouted.  His voice broke.  “Kezia.” He cried falling to his knees.  Jack watched him.  He didn’t know what to say or do.  He went over to him, and helped him to his feet.  “I’m sorry was all he could muster out.

 Jack stepped into the library, and sat down on one of the couches.  He had been placed back in his proper position, and had his old mansion back, yet he felt empty.  His mind wandered.  He felt numb, and unsure.  He walked to the window.  He stared down at the crowd. 

Someone slipped their arm through his.  “You always did steal away to the library.”  The voice whispered.  Jack looked down at his side.  He turned the woman so that he was fully facing her.  “Abigail?”  He whispered in disbelief.  He hugged her, embracing her.  “I thought….”  He whispered. 

“I know.” Abigail said.  “I’ve been in captivity this whole time.  I only was able to keep living at the thought of you.”  Tears ran down her face. 

Jack took her in his arms again.  “Will you still marry me?” 

“I will.”  Abigail said laughing softly.  “I said I would before the first war, and I intend to even after this war.”

********************

Kezia blinked.  Nothing around her seemed familiar.  She was in a strange room and bed.  Someone stood up and hovered over her.  “He looks familiar.”  She thought.  Her forehead scrunched up.  “I can’t remember how, but I’ve seen him before.”  .  She opened her mouth to speak. 

The man hushed her.  “Save your breath.  There’ll be plenty of time for that later.”  He said shushing her.  Kezia stared up at him.  “I can’t remember.”  She thought frustrated.  She felt strange.  She couldn’t seem to move.  She closed her eyes feeling extremely tired all of the sudden.

My Fair Lady: Chapter 8

Kezia opened her eyes a crack.  Again, there was a knock at her door.  She slid out of bed, and headed for the door.  Her body ached from the night’s fight.  She slowly opened the door, and peeked her head out.     “What can I do for you, Jack?”  She asked. 

“I just wanted to make sure you were all right.  You got it pretty hard last night.”  He said.

 Kezia shrugged.  “I’ve gone through worse.” 

“You didn’t have to do it.” 

Kezia shrugged.  “Not many can beat me.  Besides, I had to prove that I can keep my own.  Can’t having the rest doubting me.”    She studied him for a moment. “Was there something you needed for me to do?” 

Jack shook his head.  “Turner was busy, and he wanted me to check on you for him.” 

“I see. Well, I’m fine.”  She closed the door and headed back to bed.

  Jack sat at the table, his fists tight. 

“Is there something wrong?”  Turner asked. 

“She closed the door in my face.  She has no respect for me.” 

“You told her to rest.”  Turner said. 

“That’s not it.  I should have beaten her when we were fighting.  Since she’s beaten me, she acts like she doesn’t have to listen to my authority.” 

Turner cocked his head slightly.  “I don’t think that’s right.  She’s tired that’s all.” 

“I need to beat her.”  Jack said standing up.  He marched out of the banquet hall, and headed to Kezia’s chambers.

There was a rap on her door.  Kezia groaned.   She started to slip out of her bed when Jack burst into her room.  He grabbed her by the arm and drug her down the hall.  “Jack, what is the matter?  What is going on?”  Kezia exclaimed.  She was so stiff that she had a hard time walking.  Jack didn’t answer.  He drug her to the gym, and closed the door. 

Kezia stared at the wild man that was before her.  “What is wrong with you?”  She whispered fiercely. 

Jack shoved her to the ground.  Kezia stared up at him, bewildered.  He had his fists in front of him, ready to throw a blow. 

Kezia shook her head.  “What is this about?” 

“You mock me.”   He said. 

Kezia frowned.  “Is this because I beat you when we were fighting?”  She asked.  “Look, I closed the door because I was tired.   I beat you because, well, I can.  But just because I did, does not mean I have lost respect for your authority.”Kezia said cautiously standing up. 

Jack sighed and lowered his fists.  “I can’t figure you put, Kezia.  Just something about you makes me feel like I need to prove myself.” 

“It’s from the tension of war.  Things will seem to come together when we start. After that we’ll go our separate ways, and probably never hear from each other again. So if it’s alright with you, can I go back to my chambers?”  She asked.  Jack nodded his head.  Kezia walked past him, and headed back to her room.

***********************

Everything was ghostly quiet except for occasional noises from the horses.  The time had come. 

War.

 Kezia stood with her feet firmly on the ground.  She only stared in front of her, motionless.  Bow and arrows hung on her back.  A sword hung from her belt with a dagger on the other side.  The generals and officers were the only ones with horses.  The soldiers were stamping their feet anticipating for what was to happen.  

“My brothers, the time has come.”  Jack’s voice boomed.  Kezia couldn’t see him because she was somewhat in the middle, and because she was a good couple feet shorter than the rest that were around her. 

“We will fight courageously till the death.  If any man wants to leave do so now.”  He said fiercely. 

Not a man moved.  To leave now, would be a certain death.

“Lets move out.”  He shouted.   

The army moved down the path through the woods towards Melkola, where the king’s castle was located.  Allies were to come and meet them so that they could attack from all sides.

****************

Turner exited out of the commander’s tent, and walked through the camp. The soldiers were sitting down and eating supper.  They had been walking all day and were tired. He stopped at the end of the camp where the horses were tethered.  Amongst the rows of horses, was Kezia, taking care of them.  She was rubbing them down, and checking their hooves and legs to make sure they were alright. 

“I swear, you never run out of energy.”  He said walking towards her. 

Kezia laughed softly, and dropped the horse’s hoof to the ground.  “I like to stay busy.  Someone needs to take care of the horses anyways.”  Kezia said walking over to the wagon and dropping her tool bag into it.  “So you’re officer.”  Kezia said turning. 

“That I am, and you’re….?”  Turner paused.

Kezia shrugged.  “I don’t really have a position.  I’m a here and there.” 

“I see.  Well, I guess you’d be the first here and there person I’ve met, and from what I have seen they are very good at their work. Quite fascinating really.”  Kezia started to walk through the camp. 

Turner ran to catch up with her.  “You don’t take compliments well, do you?” 

“I don’t believe in flattery if that’s what you mean.”  Kezia said picking up her pace. 

“I wasn’t flattering you.”  Turner said. 

“No one compliments a person with no position let alone in a low class especially someone with class.” 

“I don’t judge people by their classes or place.”  Turner said.  “You’d be the first then.” 

“I thought you didn’t care about classes.”  Turner said.

 “I don’t because I have none.  All higher class people draw the line somewhere.”  Kezia said.

 “But isn’t that what you’re doing now?”  Turner asked.  Kezia stopped quickly.  Turner turned around to face her.  She stared at him. “Is it because you’re surrounded by people of lower class and feel out of place?”  Kezia asked. 

“No, Kezia!  I simply told you that you’re a hard worker.  I’m trying to belittle you in anyway.”  Turner said. 

Kezia searched his face.  She rolled her eyes and sighed.  “Thank you for telling me I’m a hard worker.” She nodded her head then turned and disappeared into a tent. 

**************

  Jack looked through the scope and searched the ridge for the sign.  Sure enough there were two red flags waving back and forth in the wind confirming that the two ally armies were there. Waves crashed against the bottom of the cliff. He looked through the scope at the castle. One of the spies had reached the tower, and had the signal flag hanging out, confirming that the battle was in their favor. 

Jack wrote something on a piece of paper, and attached it to an arrow.  He drew his bow back, and let it fly.  He looked through the scope.  The general signaled back to him.  Jack closed the scope, and turned his horse.  “Gentleman the war has now started.”

Kezia ran as fast as she could so that she wouldn’t get ran over by the men behind her as they charged towards the castle.  She had tied the bands around her arms as tight as she could to make sure they didn’t fall off.  It was to make sure that no one mistaken the wrong person for the enemy.  The spies had attacked the gate watchers, and had opened the two tall gates for them to enter through. Arrows hammered down on them, but few were hit by them since they were holding their shields above themselves for protection.  The other armies soon formed behind them as they entered through yelling their battle cry. 

There was great confusion from the enemy.  Men everywhere rushed to fight against them, but were plowed down within seconds.  The enemy had caught on that they were going to attack a day before.  Little did they know that there were already a few of them inside the castle. 

Jack rode his horse to the steps and jumped off, running into the castle.  There was already skirmishes going on inside.  He swung his way through heading for the throne room.  Turner was right behind him.  Jack pushed open the doors, and rushed in.  The king sat on the throne, smiling evilly at him.  The doors slammed closed.

 It was a trap.

*****************

“So good to meet you face to face.”  The king said tapping his fingers together. 

Jack looked around the room.  Hundreds of soldiers had arrows pointed at him. 

“Drop your weapons and call this scandalous war off.”  The king demanded.  “Did you really think that you could win?”  He taunted.  “Look at your army.  Disorganized and untrained just like in the first war.  Was it your plan to just storm the castle and kill the king?  Did you really think that was going to work?  Well, it doesn’t matter what you think now does it?  I’m going to kill you, and then the rest of your army.”  The king said raising up his sword above his head.

 

Movement above in the balcony caught Turner’s eyes.  He saw sparks, and then Jameson peeping over the side of the balcony. 

“Sir, look!”  One of the soldiers pointed.

 Turner grabbed Jack by the arm, and raced for the door.  Jameson threw the bomb over the side into the middle of the balcony.

   Turner barred the door shut, and ran down the hall.  Jameson ran out of a side hallway.  “We’ve got to get out of here.  The whole place is set to be blown up.”  Jameson shouted as they slashed their way through. 

The army was trying to escape out the gate.  Jack and the others raced to the gate.  Jack’s eyes widened.  The gate was starting fall.  He and Turner dove underneath before it slammed to the ground, shut.  He looked back over his shoulder.  His heart stopped.

 Kezia hadn’t made it.

 She frantically ran to the gate.  Turner, Jameson and him raced back to the gate.  Turner tried to lift it up.  Jack and Jameson joined in.  They could barely lift it up off the ground. 

“I’ll try a different way.  You guys go.”  She said. 

Men streamed out of the castle.  They had broken out of the throne room.  Kezia ran away from the gate towards another entrance in the castle. 

Jack and Turner ran away from the gate to where the others had gone.  The enemy army tried to lift the gate and get out of the castle.  Apparently someone had broken the lift.  As they lifted it up, the army shot them down so that they couldn’t get out. 

**********************

  Kezia ran through the halls looking for an escape.  She was running out of time.  She exited out of the castle and ran along on top of the wall.  It was too far down for her just to jump.  She stopped at the part of the wall that hovered over the rapids below. 

“Kezia!”  Cole shouted angrily striding towards her. 

Kezia took off in a dead run.  Cole followed.  She dove through a window that was close to the wall.  She ran down the hall till she had crossed across the entire castle to the other side.  The other side showed no promise of escape either.  She rubbed her forehead, anxiously.  “Think, Kezia think!”  She ran up and down the wall looking for solutions.  Her side burned.  She held her hand against her wound to try to block the stream of blood.  She had been shot which had stopped her from escaping in the first place.

She raced back through the castle looking for something that could help her down the wall.  A bomb exploded somewhere shaking the whole castle.  Kezia raced looked in each room she past, but nothing showed any sign of help.  She started to run. 

A bomb exploded nearby, forcing her to the ground.  She couldn’t go back the way she had come.  Kezia struggled to her feet, and continued looking. 

Another bomb went off.  They were setting off faster.  The wall caved in closing the doorway off.  The only way she could go was up the stairs that led to the tower.  The timbers caught on fire forcing her up the stairs.  She swung open the door, and raced about.  It was a laboratory.

 She scanned the tables, but to no avail.  Kezia fell to her knees and cried.  She didn’t want to die.  She put her face in her hands and sobbed.  Her shoulders shook.  Another bomb exploded.  The tower shook.  Things crashed about in the room.  Turner looked through the scope searching for Kezia.  The bombs were really going off now, and still no sign of her.  His eyes darted about searching for her.  “Where are you, Kezia?”  He murmured.  Then all the bombs exploded.  His eyes widened.  “Where is she?”  He shouted.  He ran towards the flaming ruins.

My Fair Lady: Chapter 7

   Jack looked out his window at the smithy.  He hadn’t seen Kezia all day, nor had anyone else.  He looked at the clock.  It was two in the morning.  “When does she sleep?”  He thought.  He pulled on some clothes then left the room, and headed for the smithy. 

  Jack slowly opened the door.  Kezia was sharpening a sword.  “What are you doing?”  He asked. 

She jumped to her feet.  “What are you doing up?” 

“I might ask you the same question.  Do you ever sleep?”  He asked.  He sounded like he was teasing, but he really wondered. 

“Of course.  Besides I can sleep some other time.”  Kezia said returning to her work. 

“You won’t be able to fight at the pace you’re going.”  Jack said sitting down on a chair. 

“I know.  I wish I could work faster.”  Kezia said.

 “That’s not what I meant.  I mean the way you’re treating yourself, you won’t be able to fight.”  Jack said. 

She looked up at him.  “I thank you for the concern, but it isn’t needed.  Besides, you have a whole army to worry about.”  She gestured towards the gate, where outside it were hundreds of tents set up for the soldiers.  “And soon more will be coming.  Not to mention King Lionel as well.”  She paused.  “And I haven’t seen you taking care of yourself that well either.”  She pointed at him. 

“Probably better than you.”  He muttered under his breath. 

“So take care of your own problems before coming after me about mine which by the way, I don’t have any.”  She said. 

Jack scoffed. 

“Has anyone been in town recently?”  Kezia asked. 

Jack shook his head.  “I’ll probably send someone tomorrow.  I’m sure there’s some suspicion.” 

“Well, I tried to do a cover up before I left.”  Kezia said. 

Jack cocked his head.  “What are you talking about?” 

“I made it look like there was scarlet fever going through, and that people had left to get away from it.  You know, putting postings up, boarding up some houses, stuff like that.  Not saying it will work, but hey, it was worth a try.” 

“You astonish me.”  Jack said shaking his head. 

“It was that dumb of an idea, huh?”  Kezia said looking down the sword blade. 

“No, the genius behind it.  You’re quite the trickster.”  He said. 

Kezia shrugged.  “I doubt it’ll work.  Suspicion will be aroused when the other towns are found empty except the ones that are loyal to the enemy.” 

“There aren’t many around here.”  Jack said. 

“There’s no way to really tell till it comes down to war.  That’s when faces are unveiled showing the true person behind the mask.”  Kezia said.

 ***********************

The courtyard was loud and busy that morning.  The troops had arrived, and there wasn’t a moment to lose.  Horses were being prepared, weapons being counted and made; soldiers preparing for war. 

Kezia walked to her chambers ready to collapse with fatigue.  She about reached her door when Jameson called out to her.  “Can you help with a couple things down in the stable?”  He asked. 

Kezia sighed.  She let go of the doorknob, and followed Jameson to the stable.  He showed her a stack of saddles.  “You don’t have to tell me.  I see the problem.”  Kezia said.  Jameson nodded his head then left.  Kezia sighed.  “I’ll have time to sleep later.”

Turner stopped in the doorway of the stable.  He shook his head.  “Kezia, what are you doing?”  He asked walking over to her. 

“Fixing some saddles.”  She mumbled.

 “Everybody else stopped working a long time ago and are in the banquet hall chowing down.”  He said pulling the tool out of her hand. 

Kezia sighed.  “I had planned to only be out until the afternoon, but people just kept on coming over with more jobs.  I guess I lost track of time.” 

She and Turner left the stable and went inside the castle.  She headed towards the stairs. 

“Aren’t you going to come to the banquet hall?”  He asked.  Kezia hesitated.  She looked towards the top of the stairs.  “I guess I can for a while.”  

 Jack caught sight of Turner coming in with Kezia.  He frowned.  He hadn’t noticed that she was so pale, and where had those dark circles come from?  “I guess I never really noticed.”  He thought.  He left the crowd that he was standing in, and went over to Kezia.  “Glad to see that you actually showed your face.  All the other times I see you, I can barely make out your face.”  He said.

 Kezia shrugged.  “I’ve been busy.” 

“And it’s showing.”  Jack said folding his arms.   Kezia rolled her eyes.  A low growl echoed from her throat.

 “From here on out you’re going to rest till the day we leave.  You aren’t going to do any work.  If anything, you take some training.” 

“But….”  Kezia objected. 

“That’s an order.”  He said.  His eyes narrowed.

  Kezia folded her arms.  “Fine, but if its absolutely necessary, I will work.”

“That moment will not arise.”  He said.  The men started to exit the banquet hall. 

“Where’s everybody going?”  Kezia asked.

 “We’re going to have some fighting in the gym.  Just to see who is the best.”  Turner said.  She followed close behind. 

Kezia watched from the sidelines.  She noted each of the men’s’ weak spots and strengths as the two men that were in center ring lunged and threw blows at each other.  Men from the side shouted orders, encouragement, and mockings. 

She stood there motionless. 

“Pretty exciting, huh?”  Turner asked, walking up beside her. 

“More like showing of strengths and weakness.  Jack and the other generals should take note of such so that they can work on them.”  Kezia said. 

“I think they should be more concerned for the use of weaponry.  It’s not too often that a soldier is without a weapon or at least have someone covering him.”  He said. 

Kezia looked at him her brow risen, she didn’t say anything though, and turned back to the men fighting.  One of the fighters fell to the ground, and called it quits. 

Jameson reached into the bowl with all the names of the men, and called out the names.  “ Nate Turner.”  He shouted over the roar of the noise.  Turner nodded his head.  “Watch this.”  He said. 

“Oh, I’ll be watching.  Course I already know your strengths and your weakness’s.”  She stopped Turner.  “His left arm is what he uses to knock people out.  Grab hold of that and knock him to the ground.  Once he’s on the ground, he’s at his weakest point.”  Kezia said quickly. 

“I can handle this girlie, my way.”  Turner said going through the crowd. 

Kezia shook her head.  “Let’s hope so for your sake.”

Turner stumbled back to her. 

“I told you his left arm was a killer.”  She said. 

“I almost had him.”  Turner grumbled.

 Kezia shrugged.  “Suit yourself.”

 “Kezia Stirling and John Cabot.”  Jameson shouted.

 Kezia scanned the crowd looking for Cabot.  He stepped out in center ring.  Her eyes widened.  He was a giant compared to her.

 Turner shook his head.  “You should back out.” 

“And be mocked for the rest of my life?” Kezia walked to the center of the room. 

Cabot laughed.  “Is this some kind of joke?”  He asked looking at Jameson.  The crowd broke into laughter.  “I could break her in half.”  He boasted. 

Kezia wasn’t quite sure if she wanted to see if she could take him or not.  She was having a hard enough time trying to function as it was. “Are you done?”  She asked. 

“You can’t be serious about her being in the army.  She’ll be…” 

Kezia landed a blow to his face, and knocked him to the ground. Funny, she was more irritable since the lack of sleep.  She jumped in the air, and slammed her leg against his face as he tried to sit up.  The room was quiet.  Kezia stood in place and waited. 

Cabot staggered to his feet, his eyes bulging.  Blood ran from his lip and nose.  “I’ll fix you.”  He said charging her.  He swung at her, but Kezia dodged and landed a blow to his stomach.  She kicked him in the side, and swept him off of his feet. 

Again she stood in place, waiting. 

Cabot stood to his feet.  He held his hand out.  She hesitated to take it.  She eyed him, suspicious.

 “Shake on it?”  He asked.  Kezia reached her hand out.  He grabbed a hold of her hand and slammed her to the ground. 

  Kezia’s vision blurred.  Her eyes blackened on and off.  She rubbed at her eyes.  Her head throbbed. Cabot smiled from ear to ear. 

Kezia set her jaw.  “Why that no good scoundrel.”  She thought angrily.  “When I get back up, I’m going to finish him.”  She stood quickly to her feet.  She felt a bit unsteady at first.  She planted her feet firmly to the ground.  Cabot chuckled. 

Kezia glared at him.  “You can’t win on your own strength so you cheat.”  She huffed. “You couldn’t take a girl down when you’re four times bigger than her.”  She taunted. 

There was a stir in the crowd.  Cabot’s grin disappeared and was replaced with anger.  Like she had planned, he charged at her.  At the split second, she jumped over him before he collided into her.  She turned around, and knocked him to the ground.  She pounded her fists against his face.  He tried to grab her hands as he tried to sit up.  Kezia leapt behind him, and latched her arms around his neck and squeezed as hard as she could.  Cabot struggled to his feet.  He fell back hard to the ground crushing Kezia. 

  Kezia struggled to breath.  Desperate, she bit down on his neck. 

Cabot roared. 

He pulled harder on her arms, making her only bit down harder.  She dug her nails into his skin.  Cabot stood up.  Kezia squeezed his waist with her legs.  She let go of his neck, and put her hands into one fist, and clobbered him in the side of the head.  She let go, and leapt off of Cabot pushing against him.  Cabot laid there for a couple seconds before trying to stand back up.  Kezia punched him in the back sending him back to the floor.  She was breathing hard, and was having a hard time catching her breath.  Her eyes were blurry; everything unfocused. 

Cabot stood up, himself breathing hard.  He breathed in, then swung with all his might.  Kezia didn’t dodge in time.

The blow connected.

There was no way that this can continue on.  She thought.  She shakily pulled herself to her knees. Her side burned where the blow had hit.   She stared up at the sweaty, breathing hard Cabot who grinned down at her, victoriously mocking her. 

The crowd grew excited as she again stood to her feet. 

She wanted to say that she was finished, but she knew that if she tried hard enough she could win.  There was only one person who could defeat her and that was Cole. 

To be beaten by this slug of a man would be disgraceful. She reasoned with herself.  She clenched her fists ready to fight once again.

 Jameson stepped to her side.  “Kezia you’re going to get yourself killed.  Let it go.”  He whispered. 

Kezia looked up at him, her eyes black and glaring.  Jameson stepped away like a dog that had been stared down by a cat.  Kezia turned back to Cabot.  They stood there for a moment just staring at each other.  “Well?”  Kezia shouted at Cabot.

Cabot frowned flustered.  He lunged towards her, ready to land a blow on her once again.  He missed, but Kezia’s blow connected making him stagger back.  She tripped him to where he fell.  Kezia was upon him in seconds, whamming his head against the floor for a good measure till Cabot threw her off him, smashing her into the floor. 

Kezia let herself lay there this time.  To her astonishment, Cabot called quits.  She forced herself to stand up, only to fall back down.  Her cheeks grew red.  She could see that Turner was starting to come towards her.  She put her shaking legs underneath her, and forced them to carry her towards the door. 

“Are you alright?”  Turner called as she started up the steps. 

Kezia gripped the rail.  She forced a smile onto her face.  “I am fine.”

“You should have backed out earlier.”  Turner said angrily. 

“Like I said, I am fine.”  Kezia growled.  She headed up the stairs before Turner could say anything else.