Title: The Lake

Rating: T

Summary: She was just a girl, and he was just a boy—it was just their summer vacation, and it would be just to say that nothing would be the same. Julian had just three months of sun, lake water, sunscreen, and no Tom to get Jenny to fall for him. Forbidden Game AU, JennyxJulian.

Disclaimer: Don't own the wonderful trilogy of the FBG, but this plot is 100 mine.

A/N:  Yay, there are actually people reading this! A big thank you to those of you who have already reviewed. Personally, like most of you, I assume, I LOVE the anti-Tomness!! I hope this can be allowed while not being too ooc, because Jenny likes that the summers provide her with some time to get away and think about her life. However, now that Julian is in the picture, her thoughts on this matter will move a whole lot faster… And for those of you who are reading this who haven't reviewed, please do. Even if it's just one kind word, that really makes a difference in how fast I want to update.

Okay, on with the story!

Chapter 3: Wet Hair, A Sprained Ankle, And Electricity

Joey was sprawled on his four-poster bed, his legs dangling over the edge. Though the air con was whistling softly through the room, a lazy fan sat atop the antique dresser, waving its steel blades at him in greeting. A minute, rainbow plastic toy glowed in his small hands: a Game Boy. Joey shouted in delight when he won a game, and noticeably pouted when his character lost. As he raced the car down the virtual track, Joey paused. There had been a scream… was it Jenny? It had sounded like her voice. But, no, there was no way. It couldn't be Jenny. His big sister would never go by the water without their parents. After all, she was Jenny. His responsible, kind, and caring big sister Jenny. She would never do anything dangerous. It must've been a skier, he finally decided, and went back to his racing game.

Inside the Matthews' house Julian wasted no time berating himself for transporting himself and Jenny into the living room in the daylight, where everyone could see them. It didn't matter, he thought. It was a simple and clean-cut matter. She was Jenny, he loved her, and she was in trouble. Nothing else mattered. The shadow prince soaked the wood floor as he tried to rid the girl's lungs of lake water. Jenny's head turned slightly, and she moaned and began to cough.

With a blink of sapphire eyes warm furs and blankets surrounded her, and the temperature in the room rose slightly. Looking at her, so vulnerable, so helpless, Julian had an urge to touch her. So as not to completely freak her out, he grabbed his discarded navy towel and gently dried her hair with it. A mug of impossibly sweet liquid steamed near his feet and he lifted it slowly to her soft lips, pouring some into her mouth. Jenny coughed violently and her limbs shook, and with that her Nile green eyes opened. His breath whooshed out of him as she looked straight at him.

The water left her burning lungs, a comforting liquid slipped down her throat, and Jenny looked up. She was no longer floating, no longer drowning. She was warm, wrapped in a pile of blankets and furs, and she was safe. As her watery vision cleared, she could see on the sides of the figure in front of her familiar walls and rooms, but… no, this couldn't be the place. Jenny had zero seconds to comprehend what was happening before the beautiful boy in front of her spoke.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concern visible in his electric blue eyes; Jenny had never seen a color like that before. Pure white bangs were swept across his forehead, and she had to at that precise moment notice his lips and his bare chest. She attempted to speak, but couldn't get the words out. It wasn't that she was in pain, or that her body was still filled with water—he was just so unbelievably handsome. Being under the lake seemed like heaven compared to this. Here, she really couldn't breath.

"Here", Julian said, raising the mug to her lips again. A feather light touch brushed her cheek as he did so, lifting the drink to her mouth. After a few moments and some sips of the liquid Jenny forced the words that were exploding inside of her to come out.

"Um, who are you?" she asked bluntly, lost in his eyes. He cleared his throat. "Julian", he said fluidly, with a strong voice like water running musically over rocks. "I saved you from the lake," he continued, "you must have fallen in. Are you okay?" As he repeated his question for the second time her cheeks warmed, noticing the situation. She was lying on the floor of what seemed to be the Matthews' house (why were they in there, anyway?), and he was mere inches from her face. Her heart was stampeding through her chest a million miles a minute. Tom had never made her feel this way. Tom. She remembered now. The reflection in the water, the falling into the lake, Tom's bracelet, and the pain in her leg. She looked up at Julian. Her rescuer.

"I…I think I'm alright," she said, trying to sit up. Strong hands closed around her arms, helping her. Now she really couldn't believe. Jenny swore her face was redder than tomato she had ever seen. As she wiggled her legs her face contorted in pain. Julian's eyes widened at he expression, and he glanced at her ankle. "I think something's wrong with it", she whispered. Cool fingers made contact with her right ankle and foot, almost… stroking them. His eyes never left hers. Electricity buzzed in her ears. "I think your leg is fine. It's definitely not broken, it's probably just a sprain or maybe a rip in the muscle". She nodded, and then blushed again, looking away as she suddenly remembered her manners. It felt odd to stare at him for so long like that. "I'm Jenny", she said softly, playing with the edges of the blankets beside her. "I live in the house next door."

He nodded, understanding. Julian could barely understand what was going on, all he knew was that she was here, beside him, and that she felt the exact same way as him. His brain felt like it was slamming against the walls of his head, trying to think of something rational to say. "I just moved here," he replied, "I, I mean, my parents just bought this house and they let me come to the lake to check it out. I am going to be staying here for the summer." Julian watched a smile spread across her face—so she liked him already. "That's great! I'm staying here for the summer too with my parents and little brother. Maybe we could do something sometime? There's lots of stuff to do here, and—" Julian held up his hand, mirth in his eyes as he tried to stop the waterfall of words that were gushing out of her mouth.

"That would be great", he said, and they grinned. "Okay," she smiled shyly, remembering her position and what had happened, "thanks for saving me, by the way." Julian's eyes brightened. "It was no problem," he said with a wink, "I'll always come running to the rescue of a pretty girl." Jenny's face got redder, if that was possible, and her pearly teeth exposed more of themselves. She tried to stand, but stumbled slightly. Muscular arms stopped her fall. She looked up into Julian's eyes. "Thanks for…well, everything. I better go get cleaned off…" Julian didn't believe that either of them wanted to move from their current spot, but he nodded. Her dress was soaked, and…clinging to places. And he really, really needed to think up his next move. What had just occurred was perfect for his first real meeting with Jenny, but accidents aren't always factored into the plan.

"Alright, go ahead," he said first, "I'll walk you out, you can get changed, and maybe we'll see each other later?" Julian asked. She nodded happily, and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. A hand wrapped around hers as he walked her to the door, a stained glass piece that looked very familiar. And that spiral staircase… hmmm, she thought. Julian opened the door for her and she smiled, thanking him again and walking out with a wave goodbye. As she left the house the air that met her tanned skin seemed Arctic, compared to the heated feeling she had had inside with Julian. She shivered, and, while she quickened her pace, she couldn't help looking back.

Julian closed the door and leaned against it with a sigh, sinking to the floor. She was beautiful. Gorgeous, pretty, and impossibly light and innocent. And he had touched her! He remembered her smile, her skin, her blush, and it seemed light years ago even though it had only been seconds. He missed her already. Julian stood up and walked upstairs. He needed a new plan, and fast. He smiled. Without those annoying friends or hers and that arrogant boyfriend, Jenny would fall for him just like he had fallen for her.

Jenny glanced back at the house as she limped away, her chest ablaze and her skin burnt with her blushes. He was so handsome, and sweet… Jenny made her way back to the back patio and slipped through the door, already wondering what she should put on next. A bathing suit? Another sundress? Jeans? A goofy smiled played across her features, and her golden hair and pale dress clung to her skin as she thought of him. Julian. Uncaring that Tom was hundreds of miles away and that she had never asked about Jess (who cared about them, anyways?), Jenny suppressed a giggle as she thought about her new summer romance. Summer was awesome.

A/N: Reviews are loved. They are my food, and it is very difficult for a girl to write if she's starving! Comments are appreciated, and feel free to PM me if you have any questions about The Lake.

TravelerOfTheNight