Disclaimer: I don't own The Covenant or anything you might recognize. I own some OCs and the plot.
A/N: This will be a three shot...
There are some of us in Ipswich that were born into old money. We all grew up together; we were raised in the same egotistical high society environment. Our families are only a few of the most powerful families in Massachusetts, hell, in America.
There is a lot of prestige that comes with this title. We are taught to always be courteous and to never embarrass yourself or your family. We must present ourselves with the highest poise. When we turn a responsible age we are given a trust fund with more money then there are people in Massachusetts.
As children we tried ever so hard to follow these rules. There were several of us, Aaron Abbot, Justin and his sister Abigail Michaels, Elizabeth Cleary, Caleb Danvers, Pogue Parry, Reid Garwin, and Tyler Simms. The last four were different then the rest of us. There are stories that go all the way to when Ipswich was founded; they say there were five families and that they were witches. The Ipswich stories are thought to be the original witch stories. That it's what started the Salem witch trials. The fifth family was killed during the haunt, leaving Danvers, Parry, Garwin, and Simms.
Even though witches and magic are not real the other families always treated these four differently. I didn't, though. Witches aren't real and they were my friends.
The nine of us kids were suppose to be close. We were supposed to rely on each other and not need anyone else. Ha! We all butted heads, we all had totally different personalities. But we were at any rate, friends.
There was always some sort of party or charity event to go to. Our parents always made us dress in our best clothes, which we had plenty of. Usually, they were uneventful and just plain boring. When I was eight Mrs. Cleary had a party to celebrate something or another, I forgot. As children our jobs were to not show our age. We had to act mature and try to keep out of everybody's ways.
The nine of us were upstairs in Elizabeth's bedroom, it was our thing, we'd usually hung around down at the party then slowly disappear and settle in someone's bedroom and stay awhile, then go back down and chat with the guests, and repeat. Anyways, we were all in our clothes. I was in my favorite dress it was brown silk with light blue polka-dots, and a matching bow in my perfectly curled red hair. Abby and Lizzie were wearing a dark green ruffled dress, and a peach flower patterned dress, respectively.
We were all sitting together; I was in between Lizzie and Reid. He was playing with my hair watching it bounce as he tried to straighten the curls. Tyler was watching him but he didn't say anything. That was the thing with Tyler; he was the quietest person I knew. Where Justin talks for hours about pointless things and never owns up for his mistakes, Caleb talked about important things and took charge. Abby is independent and was already planning her life after high school even then; Pogue was already planning on getting a motorcycle when he turned sixteen. Lizzie is crazy and is the blondest person I know; Reid knew everything about comic books and wanted to start his own someday. As for me, I was the outgoing girly girl. I had always wanted to fix peoples hair, maybe because I hated my own so bad but my mom wouldn't let me do anything to mine.
Anyways, Tyler was watching and didn't say anything. I wish he would have. In the following years these moments happened more and more often.
Reid and I were close. I thought we could go through life together and nothing would change our friendship. But things happen, things I couldn't stop.
The greatest schism happened the year we all turned thirteen. Justin was fourteen already and had reached the age where he didn't want to hang out with a bunch of middle-schoolers. At Lizzie's birthday party we were all having so much fun, but Caleb was acting all irritable. I thought it might be because his birthday was soon, and his father was very sick. His father had been very sick for along time, and I thought that seeing everyone having fun at Lizzie's party was making him sad. After he turned thirteen, he wasn't the same. He stopped hanging with us as much, and kept acting all weird.
Pogue's birthday came a few months after that and the same happened with him, only he stopped hanging with us altogether. Pogue and Caleb started hanging out by their selves, and if we tried to talk to them about it they'd shrug it off. Um, okay. Whatever. My birthday came around and they didn't even show up! I was hurt. I think we all kind of were. My parents didn't even notice or care, I think. My mom never liked Pogue to start off with. She was in love with his father years ago, but then he cheated on her with Pogue's mother. The rest is history. My parents were trying to separate themselves from the Danvers then too, Mrs. Danvers excessive drinking was getting ridiculous apparently.
I had started to like Reid, somewhere down the road. I think he started to like me too. I had a huge tree house in my back yard that we always hung out in. He kept most of his comics there because his parents told the maid to throw them out. I decorated the walls with posters of flowers, and random boy bands I can't stand today, which made Reid blench. He eventually warmed up to the idea, and added a poster of the fantastic four.
One day we were hanging out in the tree house arguing over who was better Nirvana or Alice in Chains. Neither one of us was willing to give up, we felt like we had to defend these bands. Finally he said, "You know what?"
I nearly yelled in response, "What?"
"I really want to kiss you right now." I really didn't know how to respond to that. One second we're fighting the next he wants to kiss me, what a friendship. Knowing him and myself I did what we both wanted. I stepped closer and pushed my lips up against him. We were kids so it was awkward but at the time it was the coolest thing ever.
He pulled back wide eyed, "Whoa."
A few weeks after the kiss was his thirteenth birthday, I wore my best dress and made sure my hair was down. He loved my hair down so he could play with the curls. I don't think he even noticed. Reid was acting so neurotic and weird. Tyler seemed freaked out by his behavior and he didn't understand it either. Even weirder the boys were there.
God, it hurt me when he didn't return my calls the next couple of days. Tyler said Reid wasn't talking to him either. None of it made since to me. It still doesn't. It was like one by one, the guys were leaving us. Reid wasn't suppose to hurt me like that. We had that connection and I felt like he abandoned me.
About a month later, we all had gotten use to being split up. Caleb, Pogue, and Reid in one group and then me, Lizzie, Abby, Tyler and Aaron in the other group; plus Justin with his high school friends. Tyler was depressed, Reid was his best friend and now he had three girls and Aaron. At school it was sad for us all. The guys avoided us and we avoided them for reasons we didn't even know. But then it became a way of life.
For Tyler's birthday I wanted to do something special for him because he was so alone. Abby bought him an expensive palm pilot; Lizzie got him an exclusive bottle of cologne from Italy. Aaron gave him a diamond encrusted Rolex. It always bothered me when we gave each other things that cost a lot. Our families are all rich so we could buy ourselves these things if we really wanted it. So for Tyler I made him a list of all the things that were great about him. It was framed in a sterling silver frame with all sorts of cool designs. It seemed really dinky and small compared to everyone else's gifts, but Tyler said he loved it. Even if he hated it he wouldn't have said anything.
The strangest most bizarre thing was that the three guys were there. They were watching Tyler like they he was a gazelle and they were lions about to eat him. After the people that were not as close friends with Tyler left the guys came close to the group. I watched their movements. Caleb and Reid seemed to be arguing. Pogue looked frustrated. Tyler went to get a piece of cake, and then Caleb and Pogue followed him. Reid watched his two friends leave and looked at the rest of us. I quickly looked away.
"Hey guys."
The silver forks fell from our hands. Mouths gaped and we all looked at each other.
"What do you want?" Aaron asked with a snide undertone in his voice.
"I'd like to talk to you girls." Reid meant it as a joke, but Aaron didn't take it as one.
"Garwin, what the hell is with you? You abandon us, don't return our phone calls and now all of a sudden want to talk to us? What the fuck, man?"
"Well I came to apologize but I don't know now…"
Lizzie playfully smacked his hand and said, "Oh, Reid! Ignore Aaron, he's just jealous he didn't kiss Kira."
"Shut up!" I exclaimed, my cheeks then matching my hair color.
"So, here's the deal." He then went on to explain he and the other two would probably not be friends with us anymore. He then said that Tyler would have to stop hanging out with us too.
"I don't understand, Reid. Why can't we all be friends anymore?" I asked, upset. Obviously, I had gotten used to Caleb and Pogue not talking to us but Reid and I were very best friends! We had even kissed. I couldn't believe what he was saying. Plus, why would Tyler abandon us, too? Tyler wouldn't, I thought. Little did I know.
"Is this some weird cult thing?" Lizzie asked.
"Sort of." Reid answered Lizzie. "Kira, there are things I can't say. It's best if we all just stop hanging out, okay?"
"It doesn't make sense, Reid. Are you forming a gang, and we're not cool enough to join?" Abby made a face. "We can be cool!"
"It's not that at all! Just –"
I cut him off, "Just you don't want to be friends with us anymore. The famous Sons of Ipswich want to go off and play with each other."
"Kira, it's not that we don't want to be friends with you."
"Then tell us." Aaron prodded.
"I can't guys." Reid hesitated. "I really wish I could."
"Then when you walk away from here you all are dead to us." Aaron told him.
Reid looked at us for confirmation. Abby looked at him and shrugged; she hated being told to hate someone. She would decide for herself.
"Reid, you can't expect us to be happy about this. I'm sorry but I have to agree with Aaron." Said Lizzie. His eyes then made their way to me. I peered into them and nodded my head. There was no way I could ever forgive him or the others for leaving us.
Explaining everything to our parents was weird. Especially since none of us even knew what any of this was about.
Tyler tried hard to talk to us, but after what Reid said none of us wanted to deal with any of them. I felt bad for him but he chose his friends.
Eventually we began to forget each other. I think. When it was time to enter high school of course we all became students at Spenser Academy. It's where all the privileged kids go, we're all snobs in our own right. Justin didn't hang out with us, but we didn't care. We had gotten use to him not being around, and I know Abby didn't want her brother constantly hanging around her. Even though she didn't want him around she needed him.
Aaron and I became close, but it wasn't like an "I like you" close like it had been with Reid but more of an "I'm there for you" close. He had always been the cocky, loud one but ever since the split up of our group he had gotten even more so. He wanted to protect us, being the only guy in our crowd. Aaron let it get to him and he became this person that I wasn't sure I wanted to know. He became so reckless and snobby but he was my friend. I stuck with him.
He wasn't the only one that changed. Abby fell in love freshmen year, or so she thought. She was willing to risk everything for a guy. I never thought she would ever want to give up her friends, life, and family for someone that she barely knew. I never thought anyone could ever feel like they wanted to throw their life away over some boy. Her parents forced her to go into therapy. Of course this went on during Christmas holiday when the Michael's were supposedly skiing in the Alps.
Caleb, Pogue, Reid, and Tyler became the famous Sons of Ipswich. Every guy wanted to be them, and every girl wanted to have them. But they stuck together and didn't let anyone get to them. They were the most talked about people in all of the school.
For the most part Lizzie and I stayed the same. We talked about going into cosmetology together and started dreaming of what college would be like. For us, our freshmen year was filled with everyone changing around us, everyone but us.
In the middle of my sophomore year there was a huge party, everyone was going. Everyone but me. Parties always annoyed me, back then. I didn't like the idea of seeing the same people I see in school outside of school. I might be an outgoing person but, why did I have to prove it? I didn't stay in the school dorms that night. I went home that night. I found my parents leaving for a social event in New York. I watched reruns of Dawson's Creek. I ate a pint of Rocky Road ice cream. I danced in front of the mirror and sang to obnoxious pop songs. I had sex with Reid Garwin.
It was nearly midnight by the time I decided to go to bed. Walking down the hallway to my room I thought about how much fun my friends must've been having at that exact moment. I turned my light on and was about to undress when I heard knocking on my window.
Turning around, I was surprised. It was Reid. Outside my window. Which is two stories up. Huh?
I ran over to the window and slid it open. "How did you get up here?"
"I'm good at climbing." I looked down; he was sitting on a tree branch. I helped him into my room.
"What are you doing here?" I was surprised that he had come to my house, and waited on a tree branch to talk to me. "Why were you outside my window?"
"Well I didn't want to ring the doorbell and disturb your butler."
"He's not here. Neither are my parents."
"Oh." He hesitated. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Yes I got that, thank you."
"I need you to understand."
"Why now? Why not then?"
Reid didn't answer right away. Or at least with words. He pulled me close and kissed me. It was one of the last things I expected to happen. I never thought I would kiss Reid again.
He pulled back and I could tell it was done in reluctance.
"Well are you going to tell me or what?" I asked.
"Kira, don't you see? It's killed me to not be around you. I care about you so much."
"You got a funny way of showing it."
"I know you don't understand why we can't be friends again, but I want you to understand how much I wish none of this happened."
"You say we can't be friends again, yet you just kissed me. You say you can't tell me why, yet you're here. When I said you were dead to me back then I meant it." I said. I felt vulnerable even though we were talking in my room. My domain. But Reid wasn't the Reid I had known. He had changed; he was more outgoing and more daring. It was like he wanted people to think he was in some punk alt band. His clothes were so different with the fingerless gloves and the beanie. A bit melodramatic, eh?
"Okay. But, tonight I realized something -"
I interrupted him. I couldn't help it. "That you make absolutely no sense?"
"No, I haven't realized that yet."
"God, Reid! You're so infuriating."
"So I've heard. I realized I made a huge mistake when I left you, Lizzie, Aaron, and Abby. I can't change who I am, and I can't go back. It's never going to be the way it was."
"Okay?"
"But that's the thing it's not okay. You and I are not ever going to be together."
"I didn't know we were ever going to be together." I smiled though. He thought we could have been together.
"Kira, that's not the point. I want to be with you."
"But you said we are never going to be together."
"I snuck away at the party, told Tyler I was going back to the dorm. They won't expect me to be here."
"Reid, are they like keeping tabs on you? That's not normal."
"The point is, tonight we can be together. We can catch up."
Even though I knew I would get hurt I went against that feeling. We talked for maybe half an hour, he kept asking me questions. He wanted to know what was going on in my life, and my friends' lives. I gave the answers, and thought it was time that I asked him questions.
"What about you? What have you been doing?"
Reid looked at me, a bit surprised. "Oh you know."
I raised my eyebrows. "Actually I don't."
"Sorry, I forgot…"
"If you don't want to tell me then fine, but I just thought you wanted us to catch up. Why won't you tell me? We used to be best friends." I reminded him. He sighed.
"I've just been being me. Hanging with the guys, and stuff."
"That's so descriptive."
"Well…"
"It's okay. I'll get over it." I lied. "Maybe."
"That's what I like about you, Kira." Reid leaned over and kissed me again. The old Reid would have realized I was lying.
"I have a question, what is up with you kissing me?"
"I told you, tonight we can be together."
"Why? Nothing's going to come from it. After tonight we're going to go back to not talking."
"Haven't you ever wanted to try something and damn the consequences?"
"Well sure….but…" That's when it all began, we just kissed then it started to escalate. My brain went all fuzzy and I had a hard time concentrating. The only thing I could think of was that I wanted Reid.
When I woke up the next morning he was gone. It was the most cliché thing to ever happen. He even left a note on my dragon fly stationary. In the note he told me, what happened had to be forgotten and I needed to just forget and get over him. It would never happen. We would never happen.
After that I didn't know what to do. For awhile I went on as if everything was alright, but then I noticed Reid's behavior changed. My Reid was gone, and this wannabe badass took his place. Rumors were circulating soon after that he was sleeping with a lot of the girls. I didn't believe them at first, but then I saw girls giggling and whispering about Reid. It didn't help that he winked and gave them that smug grin of his. Well, that hurt.
It hurt so bad I wanted to die. Did Reid use me? I hadn't told anyone that I had slept with Reid but suddenly I felt the need to. I needed to cry, I needed someone to tell me everything was going to be okay. That I hadn't thrown my virginity away to someone I thought cared.
It all hit me all of a sudden. I had to talk to someone. If anyone would understand it would have been Abby, except I was in the middle of Latin and she wasn't in that class. Neither was Lizzie, but Aaron was. The subject was an uncomfortable thing to talk about with anyone, but with Aaron it was even more so. I probably shouldn't have told him. I just couldn't wait to talk to Abby.
Our teacher had left the room, and everyone began talking. Our classmates were distracted with their own conversations so we could talk about whatever.
Aaron spoke before I could. "So what are you doing later?'
"Uh, probably doing homework then hang out with Abby and Lizzie. Why?"
"Just wondering if you wanted to go to Nicky's with me."
"Oh well, I really need to talk to the girls." I hesitated. I was a bit unsure, but I had to tell him. "About what I'm about to tell you. I haven't told anyone this, and as far as I know no one knows other then the person it involves."
I studied his expression; he seemed genially interested in what I had to say.
"Remember that party two months ago at Phil Verdon's house?" I asked.
He nodded, "Yeah, but you won't there."
"I know, I stayed home and watched TV. Well something happened."
"Kira, what happened?"
"Reid came over and we talked. And had sex."
"WHAT?"
"Shush." I nervously looked around, even with Aaron's loud outburst no one seemed all that interested in what we were talking about.
"After everything that asshole's done?"
"I know. Haven't you ever just got caught up in the moment?" I asked. He doesn't respond and I stare at him. "I know I made a mistake now."
"You should've gone to the party." He said quietly.
"I can't change the past."
"He's not the same Reid we grew up. He doesn't care about you or any of us, now."
I looked at Reid; he was sitting about three rows down from us. He was wearing his new black beanie over his blonde locks and a black hoodie. Pogue was talking to his new girlfriend, Kate Tunney, and Reid looked bored to tears.
"Yeah." I said solemnly. He was right; if Reid really cared he'd stop playing games. They all would.
"He messed you up, though. I have an idea… he became a different person why don't you?"
I laughed. "Two wrongs don't make a right."
Aaron replied, "In Ipswich it does."
I thought about it for a few minutes. I nodded slowly, "Okay, then who would I become?"
"What would get under his skin? He always cared about you and while I seriously doubt he does now, but there's always a chance. You need to be someone that would piss him off." He explained.
"I think if I am to do this then I'd have to let myself go, be a bitch, slut, you know."
"Eh, I'm not liking the idea of you being a slut."
"Well there could be rumors, that's it."
"Rumors will only get you so far." He said. "What if, we acted like we were screwing around?"
"That would piss Reid off so freaking much."
"I like that then."
"I have to talk to the girls about this, and I do need to do my homework. But later I'll go to Nicky's with you. We can start tonight, okay?"
Aaron told me it was a plan and we agreed he'd meet me at my dorm room.
When I was telling Lizzie and Abby they were less then happy.
Abby frowned, "Trust me, Kira, this is no way to go." I was digging in my closet for something to wear that night.
"I cannot believe you didn't tell us you had sex with Reid Garwin!"
"Lizzie, forget about that. That's focus on the topic at hand!" Abby snapped at our friend. "The only reason Aaron suggested it is because he wants to sleep with you."
"Aaron's our friend." I said taking a ripped graphic t-shirt off its hook. "He's only trying to help me. Besides, so what if he wants to sleep with me? Is that so bad?"
"Of course not! Just this plan is stupid. Why do this? Forget Reid. Why are you going to change who you are? I've been there and it doesn't end pretty."
"This is nothing like what happened to you." Lizzie pulled out a pair of dark blue jeans from my closet and handed them to me. "Thanks."
"It's pretty damn close."
I didn't respond to her, I was too annoyed. I wouldn't have agreed to it if she was in my freaking Latin class!
Lizzie broke the silence, "So was it good?"
That night the old Kira like the old Reid died. Kira Snider the biggest bitch in Spencer Academy was born.
It was the most pivotal night in my whole life at that point.
I stopped taking care of my hair, possibly the biggest sacrifice I made. It started to frizz out and made me look sort of like a hag. Aaron said I looked beautiful though. Pfffft, liar!
Every year my dad buys my mom a new Chevy Camero, each car is a different color. She keeps each of them for five years then sells it back to the dealer. When I got my driver's license I began to drive her yellow Camero. Everyone at school was jealous of me, it didn't help that I referred to it as Bumblebee. Then Tyler got a Hummer for his birthday and everyone wanted to be him, as if they didn't already. Though for whatever reason Reid always drives it. Uh, hasn't he heard of getting his own car? Caleb received a black Ford Mustang. That annoyed me because I wanted one, but I got over it. I'm happy with Bumblebee. Pogue's wish came true when he bought himself a super fast motorcycle. I heard it could go at least 150 miles per hour.
I started to hang all over Aaron and while it was so totally demeaning it was sort of fun. In public we had to act like we were some screwed up dysfunctional couple, but in private we were just really good friends. Even if he does have feelings for me. If we'd have a class together I'd sort of not pay attention to the professor and play with Aaron's hair or he would slide his hand on my leg causing me to giggle.
Abby wasn't happy about it. She never got over it but she went along with it.
We were all having a good. Sure, people called me names but why should I care what they think? It was all part of the plan. But then somewhere I forgot that it wasn't me, that I wasn't really as bitchy and trashy as I appeared. At some point I lost who I was.
