I'm two days late! Sorry! But it's finally here!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own anything, but the plot and any unrecognizable OCs!
Chapter Three
Riley had overslept and spent the rest morning getting ready for the barbecue that her aunt had insisted on throwing for her past 2 birthdays. She had gone for a natural look, only wearing eyeliner and mascara. She grabbed a purple cowl-neck sweater, light wash jeans, black over the knee boots and her leather jacket. She was nearly ready. As she put on the final touches on her hair, smoothing out her waves, she heard a voice from her doorway.
"When I heard that Pogue's cousin had shown up, I never thought that she'd end up looking like this." A young man about Pogue's height was leaning against her doorway. He had light brown hair and his blue eyes twinkled with mischief.
"And who are you?" She arched an eyebrow.
"A sexy accent too." He smirked. "Chase Collins at your service, any kind of service." He winked.
"Oh, please." Riley rolled her eyes. "You're the guy that threatened the lives of my cousin and best friends. I don't like you and it'll take a while for me to not want to kick your arse personally." She glared.
"I'd love to see you try." He chuckled. "I might let you tie me up though." He winked.
"Trust me when I say I can." She narrowed her eyes and they flashed to black.
Chase stepped back with a glare. "They never told me you were a witch."
"They didn't know until I came home." She retorted. "You better think twice about crossing me or my boys again because Using doesn't affect me as drastically as it does you." She smiled threateningly. She returned her eyes to their normal color as she smoothed out her outfit. "Now get out of my room." She pushed him out the door as she walked out, shut it and made her way downstairs.
She walked out to the patio and saw that everyone had arrived. Her uncles were by the grill and her aunts lounging around. The boys were throwing around a football.
"There she is!" Katherine announced and everyone looked at her. Meredith Garwin and Rosalind Simms quickly ran over to her.
"Look at you!" Meredith pulled her into a hug. "You've grown so much."
"You're beautiful, sweetie." Rosalind hugged her tightly.
"You've grown into quite the young lady, Riley." Glenn Simms ruffled her hair.
"No, Uncle Glenn!" She whined fixing her hair.
"Poor girl, Glenn." Joseph Garwin laughed. "She's a young woman now, not a little girl."
Caleb, Reid, Tyler and Pogue walked over to her, all of them hugging her at once. "Happy belated birthday!" They said in unison.
"Aunt Kat?" Reid asked with a wicked smile. "Can we give Riley one of her presents now?"
"Only one." Katherine answered. Tyler walked inside to the dining room and grabbed a large rectangular box, then walked back outside.
"Here." He handed it to her.
"It's from all of us." Pogue smirked.
"It was Reid's idea." Caleb said with a laugh.
"Oh God…" She laughed. "I wonder what it is…" She opened it and saw and old fashioned witch's broom. "Are you bloody kidding me?" She asked with a laugh as everyone laughed as well.
"Welcome to the Covenant." The 4 boys said in unison, making her smile.
"You got me a broom!" She shook her head in disbelief. "You guys are the best!" She said as she mounted it, pretending she was going to fly. Suddenly it shot forward into the air. "Holy shit!" She screamed.
"Did you know it was gonna do that?" Pogue asked.
"Nope." Tyler shook his head.
"No clue." Caleb said as he kept his eyes on Riley, who was actually flying quite well. Then he, Pogue and Tyler turned to look at Reid. "It was you." He narrowed his eyes.
Before Reid could say anything, Riley imitated a witch's cackle. "I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too." She mimicked the witch from the Wizard of Oz and everyone laughed.
She flew back down and landed in front of the boys. "That was brilliant!" She smiled. "Best gift ever!" She hugged each boy individually.
"Thanks." Reid grinned. "I'm the one who spelled it." He winked, earning a glare from Caleb.
"At least now we all know that she knows how to ride." Chase said with a smirk from the doorway that led to the kitchen, earning a glare from each of the other Sons.
"Well it's not like you'd ever find out." She snapped.
"Touchy." Chase smirked and walked in a circle around her, checking her out.
"Children, come eat." Rosalind announced. "The burgers are ready." All 6 of them walked over to the food on the picnic table and began making their own plates.
"Go on inside." Meredith said, pointing to the kitchen patio door. "It's too chilly out here without the grill going."
"I still can't believe that you guys got me a broom." Riley said as they walked into the dining room.
"It was kind of a joke and a welcome to the magical underworld." Tyler said the last part dramatically.
"And I can't believe Reid spelled it!" She laughed. "You guys have to try flying."
"It wasn't supposed to be spelled though." Pogue chuckled. "Well at least it wasn't part of the original plan."
"Well, you shouldn't have been Using." Caleb narrowed his eyes at the blonde young man.
"Oh really?" Reid snapped. "So we can only Use when it benefits you, Caleb?"
"You know that's not what I meant and you know it." Caleb retorted. "Using so often in a short amount of time can be dangerous."
"Well I'm fine, aren't I?!" Reid yelled.
"Guys please…" Riley put a hand on each of their shoulders. "Don't fight. Caleb, it was such a simple thing that it probably didn't take much Power."
"And Reid, Caleb's right. If you use too often it can be the first steps to the addiction." Tyler explained and the 2 boys looked at each other and nodded.
It had always been this was always this way whole they were growing up, Caleb's side and Reid's side. Then it took Riley or Tyler, or sometimes both to make them see each other's point of view. They'd gone 2 weeks without speaking to each other because they argued over which Kool-Aid was better, red or blue, but then again they were only 8 at the time.
"Now let's just eat." Pogue sat down, everyone followed his lead and the adults entered the room, taking their seats
"Later, all of you are taking a ride on my broom." Riley grinned. "It'll work right, Reid?"
"Anyone that has magical powers can ride it." He answered with a smirk.
"Then you all are definitely going to ride." She laughed. "Even you, Chase," She smirked.
"Hell, no." Pogue shook his head. "There's no way I'm riding a broom."
"I don't think I can do it either." Tyler shrugged apologetically at Riley.
"Oh come on, guys." She pouted. "Please?"
"I'll do it." Reid shrugged with smirk. "All I require is a cushion as I ride." He added and Riley and the others laughed.
"You will too, right Caleb?" Riley looked at him with puppy dog eyes.
"I don't know, Jenny…" He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Please, Cale." She stuck out her bottom lip. "It'll be fun, I promise."
Pogue, Tyler and Reid all looks at each other, then at Caleb with sneaky smiles and Caleb sighed heavily. "Fine." He conceded and the other boys laughed as Chase observed the exchange between the 2.
"Thank you!" She smiled.
"Hook, line and sinker." Reid whispered to Pogue and Tyler, and the 3 of them snickered, and all the parents watched silently in amusement.
"But," Caleb began, getting their attention, "All of us guys will be riding." He finished smirking at all the Sons, having noticed the exchange between the 3 he was close to. "Even if I have to tie you to the broom," Caleb added his brown eyes twinkled with victory.
"Deal." Riley agreed. "And I'll help you tie anyone who tries to escape."
"We're screwed." Tyler sighed as Pogue nodded in agreement.
"I should've known that Caleb would have something up his sleeve." Pogue mumbled.
"I don't have a problem with the idea either." Chase said with a smirk. "I just have the same requirement that Reid does."
"I think that goes for all of us." Tyler said as he shifted in his chair and the other boys nodded in agreement.
Everyone ate, laughed and talked about the good times they'd had as the 4 sons and Riley were growing up. Chase sat quietly and watched. This was a life that he'd been deprived of while growing up. The Covenant was a real family. Although he'd never admit it, he was envious of the relationship between the other 4 Sons. They were truly like brothers and Riley was like a sister to them, except for Reid. He could see clear as day that Reid was in love with the blue-eyed girl, and Caleb had a different relationship than the others though.
Chase, though, was sure that there was something weird going on between Caleb and Riley. The way he had caved to her begging had been pretty comical. Caleb was a leader, their leader, and always carried himself as such so seeing him change his mind because of a pout had been hysterical. Riley herself was interesting. One minute she was pouting like a helpless child and the next she was making threats like a mob boss. She had grown up with in the life that he was supposed to be a part of.
From what he had heard just by sitting at the table while everyone talked and laughed, the other Sons had never excluded Riley for not being a part of the Covenant's side of the family or even when they were gifted with their Power and she wasn't. As much as they annoyed him sometimes, maybe they weren't such bad guys after all and maybe one day he could be just as close to them as they were to each other.
"Time for cake and to sing 'Happy Birthday'." Katherine announced as she walked in with a round, 2-layer cake that was decorated with black and silver swirls and a black candle that was already lit.
Riley blushed as her family cheered and stood up. "You guys…" She mumbled in embarrassment as they began to sing 'Happy Birthday'.
"Make a wish!" Reid said when they were done.
Riley smiled, blew out the candle and everyone cheered. "I love you guys." She said with tear-filled eyes.
"We love you too, Jennifer." Raymond said with a smile as his wife moved to cut the cake and hand them out to everyone.
Once everyone had finished eating cake, Katherine ushered them all to the rec room. "Time for presents," She clapped her hands together. "Who's first?"
"Here." Meredith walked over with a small, square box. "This is from your Uncle Joseph and me." She handed it to Riley, who was sitting on the sofa with Reid on her left and Katherine on her right as the others were either standing or sitting around her.
"Thanks Aunt Mer. Thanks Uncle Joseph." She smiled and opened the gift. It was a silver Michael Kors watch with 3 rows of diamonds around the face, her eyes widened. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
"Our turn." Rosalind walked over and handed her an envelope. "From Glenn and me," She smiled.
Riley opened it and it was a gift card with $10,000 in it. "Holy shit." She gasped.
"It's for you to go on a shopping spree." Rosalind explained. "And the best part is that the boys will all have to go with you and carry your bags as punishment for ruining the flowerbed on the front lawn."
"Cool." Riley grinned evilly as the boys groaned. "I get to torture you guys with parental consent." She said and the parents laughed. "Thanks, Aunt Rosalind."
"Here, dear." Evelyn handed her a large yellow envelope.
"Thanks, Aunt Evie." Riley smiled and opened it. It was an all-expenses paid vacation to the Bahamas for winter break with use of the private jet. "Holy damn, Aunt Evie… This is amazing. Why did you book a penthouse suite?"
"So you could take some friends with you." She smiled.
"Boys, we're going to the Bahamas!" Riley announced and they cheered. "Do you want to come, Chase?" she asked looking at the boy, who was leaning against the wall across the room.
"No thanks." He shook his head. "It's not my thing."
"If you're sure…" She shrugged. As much as she didn't like Chase, she didn't want him to feel left out. He was a Son after all.
"I'm just gonna get mine out of the way." Pogue said with a small smile. "Mine is the stereo system in the car that you're not allowed to drive yet. I picked it out and installed it myself." He explained.
"Thanks, Pogo." She walked over to the foosball table and hugged him, then made her way back to her seat.
"Here, Riles." Tyler gave her a rectangular box. "When I saw it, I knew you'd like it."
She opened it and it was a first edition Frankenstein book. "Tyler, this is amazing! Thank you." She stood and pulled him into a tight hug.
"You're welcome, Riles." He returned the hug. "Happy, belated, birthday."
"Ok, my turn." Reid handed her a small white envelope.
Riley opened it and frowned slightly. "A hotel room key?" She looked at him confused.
"Yep." He smirked. "For you and me tonight, Baby Girl." He winked.
"Reid!" She punched him on the arm. "I'm not using that."
"Ow!" He rubbed his arm. "It was a joke." He laughed and handed her a box.
"This better be good." She narrowed her eyes at him and opened it. It was a sexy and classy, one shoulder little black dress. "Wow, Reid… I really love it." She smiled at him. "Did you pick this out yourself?" She asked suspiciously.
"No, I did." Meredith answered for her son, making everyone laugh.
"But it was my idea to get you something sexy." Reid added with a grin.
"Thanks, Reid." She hugged him tightly.
"Now there's only me." Caleb said with a smile and his hands behind his back.
"Boys, go outside and clean up." Katherine said to the other Sons. "The men will clean up the grill area and we'll head to the kitchen." She ordered and everyone left the room to do as they were told.
"Why did everyone leave?" Riley asked confused and stood up.
"Because I told Aunt Kat that I wanted us to be alone when I gave you my gift." He answered. "You know, I had no idea what to get you… I wracked through my brain until I got an idea." He pulled his hands out from behind his back and holding a small, velvet, rectangular box. "This is what I came up with." He opened it to reveal a charm bracelet and Riley's eyes widened. "I asked all the guys to pick a charm that reminded them of one of their favorite moments with you." He pulled the bracelet out of the box. "But the charms are special. Even though I hate Using, I made an exception. The charms are enchanted." He explained.
"What do you mean?" She asked softly and held out her right arm so he could put it on her.
"The charms are enchanted so that every time you touch one and focus on it for a second, you see the memory connected to it. It only works with you though. The guys did theirs and I did the others." He answered and put the bracelet around her wrist.
"This is what Reid meant by the whole 'Using when beneficial to you' thing?" She chuckled.
"Yeah," He rolled his eyes. "Try it then tell me who the charm belongs to because I don't know which ones they picked." He smiled.
"Ok." She smiled back and touched the teddy bear charm first.
A 9 year old Riley was crying on her bed with her knees pulled up to her chest.
"I found it." 10 year old Pogue walked in with hands behind his back. He sat on the bed next to her and pulled out a patched up teddy bear with an old purple bow around its neck. "And I tried to fix him." He said softly and gave it to her.
She smiled and took the bear. "He's perfect." She pulled him into a hug. "Thanks, Pogo."
Riley returned from the memory. "Wow…" She gasped. "This one's Pogue's." She smiled and Caleb nodded. "I lost my teddy bear and he spent all day looking for it and then he found it and had Aunt Kat patch it up." She explained the memory. "I still have that bear." She laughed.
"Really?" He asked doubtfully.
"Yup." She blushed. "I think I know whose charm this is, but I want to see the memory he put with it." She said and reached for a silver 'R' charm.
14 year old Riley and 15 year old Reid in front of the Parry Manor while holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes.
"I'm glad you're my girlfriend, Riles." He cupped her cheek.
"Me too, Reid." She blushed and their lips touched in a soft, innocent and gentle kiss.
"Wow…"She mumbled. "That was unexpected." She sighed, but smiled.
"What was it?" Caleb asked curiously.
"It was mine and Reid's first kiss." She answered with a smile. "I really loved him like that once… It was just odd to watch now." She shifted a little awkwardly, but smiled a little.
"You don't think you would ever get back together with Reid?" He asked the questioned that had been sitting in the back of his mind and nagging at him since she'd returned.
"No." She shook her head. "I'm not the same girl I was back then. I would do anything for Reid. I'd take a bullet for him. I love him, but I don't love him as anything more than a brother anymore."
"I get it." He smiled as an unexpected weight lifted off of his shoulders.
"You always do." She chuckled. "Now the next one." She reached for a mailbox charm.
Riley at 15, was sitting in the driver's seat of Tyler's hummer as he taught her how to drive so that she could get her learner's permit.
"Slow down…" Tyler at 16, advised. "Good, just like." He said as she followed his instruction. "Now turn." He said and she did, accelerating too much. "Riley, no! No! No! No!" He yelled and they hit the Danvers' mailbox.
Riley braked and parked. "I'm so sorry, Tyler!"
Tyler jumped out of the car. "My baby…" He whimpered as he saw the scratch on the front of his car and Caleb, who had been watching, laughed from inside the open garage.
Riley laughed. "It was the day I ran over your mailbox with his hummer." She said with a smile. "It was my second time behind the wheel…" She giggled and Caleb chuckled.
"It took him a month to let you drive his baby again." Caleb reminded and she nodded.
"That's all the guys' charms." She said, examining the others in order to see which one she wanted to try next. "Whose is this one?" She pointed to a handheld mirror charm.
"The rest are some that I picked and enchanted with some memories I thought you might like." He answered, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"Then I'll try it." She smiled.
A little 6 year old Riley was playing with makeup at her mother's vanity as she hummed.
"What are you doing, Jenny?" Victoria walked in gracefully as if she was floating and picked up her daughter. She smiled when she saw the mess on the little girl's face.
"Mama, I want to be amazing and pretty like you when I grow up." Riley answered, her face covered in lipstick.
Victoria cleaned up her face and smiled. "Oh my little Jenny, you'll be much more amazing than me and a hundred times prettier, I promise." She kissed Riley's forehead.
"My mom…" Riley whispered with tears in her eyes. "You were there that day?"
"Yeah…I was standing in the doorway." He answered. "She walked in to tell you that I had come over and asked you come to play outside, and I followed her. I ran back downstairs before you 2 saw me."
"Thank you, Caleb." She hugged him tightly. "That's one of my favorite memories of her."
"She was right you know…" He hugged her back just as tightly.
"About what?" She looked up at him.
"You, being amazing and beautiful." He answered with a smile and she blushed deeply. "Try another." He whispered and took a step back.
She nodded and touched the silver cat charm.
Riley at 15, and Katherine were mixing the ingredients to bake a cake for Raymond as Caleb, at 16, sat at the island waiting for Pogue.
"Now slowly open the bag of flour, Jennifer." Katherine said as she pulled eggs from the refrigerator.
"Ok, Aunt Kat." Riley opened the new bag and a cloud of flour hit her in the face, covering her face completely.
"Jennifer, I said slowly." Katherine said as she and Caleb began to laugh.
"Oh God…" She hit him on the chest playfully. "Caleb! You're an arse…" She grumbled, but couldn't help but smile.
"Oh come on, Jenny." He laughed. "That was a good memory. It was funny."
"Right." She said sarcastically. "Afterwards you'd crack jokes about me 'powdering my nose'." She crossed her arms.
"It seemed to fit with the situation." He shrugged with a smirk.
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes and touched the charm that looked like a rain drop or tear drop.
A young 9 year old Riley stood crying in the rain as all the people that had come to her mother's funeral began to leave. She had pushed everyone that had come to her away, and her father hadn't looked in her direction since her mother died. She fell to her knees sobbing as mud caked her black shoes and tights, and the bottom of her black dress.
"Jenny." 10 year old Caleb said kneeling next to her and pulled the little girl into his arms. He pushed her wet hair away from her face.
"No…" She mumbled and attempted to push him away.
"Yes." He said, pulling her into his lap and rocking her in his arms as she unleashed a floodgate of tears.
"She's gone, Caleb!" She sobbed. "She's gone forever…"
"I know, Jenny." He whispered in her ear. "But I'll be here forever." He promised as held her close as she cried and the rain fell upon them.
"Cale…" She choked out with tears in her eyes.
"That was the first day I took care of you after she died." He said cupping her cheeks. "Jenny that day changed something in both of our lives and we became inseparable. We depended on each other, and I'm still here, Jenny. And I'll be here for you forever." He repeated the promise that he'd made all those years ago.
She nodded as he wiped away her tears. "You're my hero, Caleb." She smiled and he blushed.
"No…" He shook his head willing his blush away.
"You are." She repeated with conviction. "If it wasn't for you, I don't know where I'd be." She reached for the final charm. It was a silver heart.
"That one doesn't have one." He said and she stopped.
"Why not?" She frowned a little.
"Because I wanted to leave it blank for you so that you could put any memory you wanted." He smiled.
"Then why a heart?"
"Because you're my best friend." He stroked her cheek. "I love you and no one can ever take the place that you have in my heart."
"I love you too, Caleb." She leaned into his touch. "And no one can take your place in my heart." She said softly. "I know what memory I want to put in it."
"Which one?"
"This one," She smiled. "The memory of you giving me this bracelet." She held out her wrist.
"Really?" He asked surprised as he unclasped the bracelet.
"Yes." She nodded. "Will you do it with me?" She asked and the Power in him sent electric jolts through his body at the chance to be Used again.
"Jenny…" He tensed. "I don't think that I should."
"It'll be ok, Caleb." She took his hand and a wave of calm overcame him, settling him almost immediately. "I'm right here. It'll be ok. We'll do it together."
He nodded gazing into her eyes as both of their eyes went black. They held the charm, his hand over hers. A small glow shone from inside their hands and soon disappeared. They looked back at each other as their eyes faded back to normal.
As Caleb expected his and Riley's bodies were buzzing, as they usually did as soon as they finished Using, but he was relieved that he wasn't feeling a stronger temptation, just the buzzing. He took the bracelet from her hand and she held out her wrist.
"You're my hero too, Jenny." He smiled as he clasped the bracelet back on her and she smiled.
Riley had just finished her morning routine for school and pulled her uniform out of her closet. Her aunt had a new one made with her old measurements and she was a bit unsure of how it would fit. She slipped on the white button-up shirt and although it did fit, it was a bit tighter around her chest so she undid the top button. Although she wasn't showing an inappropriate amount of cleavage, she knew the Provost wouldn't like it, but the rules stated that the top button could be undone. She slipped on the navy skirt and it was not only a little tighter but an inch and a half shorter. She slid on black fishnet tights and put on her combat boots. She put on eyeliner, mascara and a light brown eye shadow on her eyelids, a clear lip gloss on her lips, and her hair in a high ponytail.
"Pogue!" She yelled, knowing that her cousin was still asleep, as she grabbed her messenger bag and blazer. "Pogue!" She yelled again as she walked out of her room and banged on his door.
"I'm up…" He groaned opening the door in nothing, but pajama pants.
"Good." She yawned. "If you don't leave in 15 minutes you're gonna be late." She informed and started making her way downstairs as she slipped on her blazer.
"Ok, mom!" He yelled and heard her laugh from the kitchen. "Is Caleb on his way here for you and Chase?!"
"Yup!" She answered as she heard him close the door to his room. She grabbed a thermal cup and poured coffee into it with 2 spoons of sugar for Caleb. She didn't like mornings, but Caleb absolutely hated them. He was not a morning person at all.
"Wow, I really like the badass school girl thing, it's really hot." She heard a cocky voice from the doorway. She turned and saw Chase.
"Good morning to you too." She rolled her eyes. "Coffee? Breakfast?" She asked as she poured some into a mug for herself.
"Sure." He shrugged and she handed him a mug. "Here, serve yourself." She pointed to the coffee pitcher and frying pan that had scrambled eggs.
"Not a morning person?" He asked and she shook her head.
"I'm not like Caleb, but I hate mornings." She said as they sat on the island and had their breakfast. They were sitting in a companionable silence when the sound of a horn interrupted a few minutes later. "There's Caleb." She grabbed her bag and the thermos, and she and Chase walked out. "Morning, Caleb." She said as she opened the passenger door.
"Morning," He said with a frown. "You, in the back." He pointed to Chase.
Riley giggled at Caleb's sour mood and pushed the seat forward so Chase could get into the back. "I brought you some coffee." She handed him the thermos.
"Thanks." He took it and began to drink as he drove.
"I forgot how funny your moodiness is." She giggled again.
"Haha…" He said sarcastically.
"What?" She asked with a cheeky smile.
"How can you be in such a good mood?" He shook his head.
"Well, I've been up for an hour so the day already began for me." She responded while playing Temple Run on her iPhone. "I'm not a morning person either, Cale, but I don't think that there's anyone in the world that hates mornings as much as you do."
"Maybe." He handed her the thermos. "Thanks." He smiled a little. "I feel better."
"Good." She smiled. "We can't have Spencer's golden boy showing up to school grumpy." She mock pouted and Chase laughed in the backseat.
"I am not grumpy." Caleb protested.
"Yes, you are." She laughed.
"The girl's not wrong, Caleb." Chase said with a snicker.
"Ugh… It's too early to be ganged up on." Caleb sighed heavily.
"Come on, Caleb… It's not that bad." Riley rolled her eyes. "You have something to make your day better."
"What?" He looked at her curiously.
"Me." She grinned. "Hopefully, I'll have Physics with you because if you're not there I'm going to fail even if there is 3 weeks of the semester left."
"You're a senior?" Chase asked surprised.
"Yes." Riley nodded. "My mom had me tested out of kindergarten and into first grade. So I'm a year ahead of my age group."
"You gotta go see Provost Higgins when you get there, right?" Caleb asked.
"Yeah, he's gonna give me my schedule and probably give me some words of his ancient wisdom." She answered with a roll of the eyes.
Caleb laughed. "Probably because the last time he saw you, his car had been cemented to the school parking lot."
"There's no proof that I was involved with that." She said with a smirk. "But alas, my pranking days are long gone. I retired." She said smoothing out her skirt, and as Caleb pulled into the school parking lot and the 3 of them got out.
"He also will say something about your…adjustments to your uniform." Caleb said as he took in how the uniform looked on her. The shirt was tighter than it had been and accentuated her cleavage deliciously and her skirt was shorter than before revealing more of her toned legs. "I like the tights and the boots." He smirked, loving the way her long legs looked in the tights.
"Thanks." She chuckled. "The booklet says black, low, close-toed shoes not specifically Mary-Jane's. If people actually read the student handbook, they'd find ways around the rules."
"That's what I told her." Chase smirked and Caleb rolled his eyes. "She looks hot."
"You're gonna make one hell of a lawyer with your ability to find loopholes, Jenny." He said ignoring Chase's comment and threw his arm around her shoulders.
All eyes were on them as they walked to Tyler's hummer, people were surprised to see that Riley had returned and people were still adjusting to the fact that Chase had been welcomed into the group of the Sons of Ipswich.
"Morning, guys." Riley smiled at Tyler and Reid.
"Morning." They said in unison then nodded at Caleb and Chase.
"You look less moody this morning, Caleb." Reid leaned back against the hummer.
"The word you're looking for is grumpy." Chase corrected, earning a glare from Caleb.
"Grumpy?" Tyler asked as Reid laughed.
"Yeah." Chase answered. "Her word, not mine." He pointed to Riley who shrugged innocently.
"What?" She asked. "It's true." She laughed.
Caleb rolled his eyes. "I had coffee." He answered Reid's question. "Jenny gave me a thermos this morning."
"Nice." Reid smiled. "Keep doing it. He's more tolerable." He snickered. "By the way Riles, I love the way you're working that uniform. It's hot." He winked.
"So I've been told." She rolled her eyes with a smile. "Thanks, Reid."
"Where's Pogue?" Tyler asked looking around.
"Hey, guys." Pogue ran up to them, followed by Sarah and Kate.
"You made it." Riley smiled and moved out from under Caleb's arm and stood next to Tyler, leaning against the Hummer as well.
"Yeah, thanks for waking me up." He returned with a smile of his own.
"Good morning, Caleb." Sarah walked over to him and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. "Morning boys, Riley." She gave them a small smile.
"Morning, Sarah." He smiled sweetly.
"Morning." Riley, Tyler, Reid and Chase said dully in unison, all of them with their arms crossed.
"So what were you guys talking about?" Pogue asked, putting his arm around Kate.
"How hot your cousin looks in her uniform." Chase answered, smirking.
"Watch it, Chase." Pogue glared.
"No disrespect, man." He shrugged with the smirk still glued to his face. "I was just stating a fact. She's hot any guy with eyes can see that, but she's not really my type." He explained. "Wait…" He added. "Any girl that can make this uniform look hot is the type for the guys at this school." His smirk grew.
"Enough, Chase." Caleb ordered with a glare.
"I hate, and I do mean hate, to say it but he's right." Reid ran a hand through his shaggy blonde hair.
"Shut up, Reid." Pogue and Caleb said in unison, causing Chase to snicker, Tyler shake his head and Riley to roll her eyes.
"Yep, definitely less grumpy." Reid winked at Riley.
"Who's grumpy?" Kate asked confused.
"Caleb." Riley, Tyler, Chase and Reid answered in unison and laughed.
Caleb rolled his eyes and Pogue chuckled. "You are grumpy in the mornings." Pogue agreed with a shrug at his brother.
"But not as much this morning," Tyler smiled.
"Because Riley gave him coffee." Reid added with a teasing smile of his own.
"He never wakes up early enough to make some himself so he's always grumpy." Riley explained.
"Ok, enough with my morning grumpiness." Caleb ordered rolling his eyes even though he was enjoying the playful banter that had been missing the past year.
"What about how good Riley looks in her uniform?" Reid asked with a crooked smile, earning narrowed looks from Pogue and Caleb.
"No." Caleb snapped.
"Reid, stop provoking him." Sarah frowned and Riley laughed. "What?" She asked, glaring at the younger girl.
"It's obvious you haven't been around the guys long enough, "Riley shook her head. "This is how it works." She pointed around her. "Caleb will say something and Reid will challenge and, or, provoke him. They'll fight and yell about it then they'll get over it." She rolled her eyes.
"But they don't have to fight." Sarah retorted.
"Whatever." Riley shrugged. "Caleb's a big boy, and he can handle Reid."
"She's right, Sarah." Tyler said. "Reid and Caleb get into all the time." He assured.
"Shit." Riley mumbled looking at her phone. "I gotta go see Provost Higgins." She grumbled.
"We'll go with you." Pogue said and the other Sons nodded.
They all made their way inside the school, eyes on them which had been expected. They walked up to the Provost's chamber.
"Is the Provost in, Mrs. Robins?" Riley asked.
"No, he'll be right in." The old woman answered. "Welcome back, Ms. Lawrence." She gave the girl wry smile.
"Thanks." Riley mumbles as she walked back over to the group, who were all leaning against the wall. "He's around…" She rolled her eyes. "He'll be right in." She mocked the secretary, ditching her accent.
"It's still weird that you can do that." Reid said, making a face.
"You can turn off your accent?" Kate asked, surprised.
"Yeah I have to concentrate, but I don't do it often." Riley answered. "It's one of the few things I have left of my mom."
"I wasn't expecting the whole posse, but I shouldn't be surprised." Provost Higgins said walking up to them. "Mr. Danvers, Ms. Wenham, Mr. Parry, Ms. Tunney, Mr. Garwin, Mr. Simms, and Mr. Collins, good morning." He nodded to each of them. "Come with me, Ms. Lawrence." He walked into his office and Riley followed silently with a grimace. "Take a seat." He pointed to the chair in front of his desk and she did so. "I saw that you did remarkably well while away at Axford Academy in Boston. As usual, your grades are marvelous, but I truly hope you do not return to the behavior you displayed when you were here your sophomore year." He narrowed his eyes.
"No, sir." She shook her head. "My pranking days and such are long gone."
"Good." He nodded. "Now there's the matter of your uniform."
"Nothing is against school regulations." She smiled victoriously, pulling out the school bylaws and placing them on his desk. "You can check if you're not sure. My aunt had the uniform tailored to my old measurements so I'm not at fault here."
Provost Higgins sighed heavily. He knew she was right because in the years that she had studied at Spencer Academy, she'd found loopholes for everything. She was one of the school's brightest students, and she knew it and took advantage of it.
"Here is your schedule, Ms. Lawrence." He handed her a piece of paper. "You may go, but remember to behave." He warned.
"No problem, sir." She stood up. "I will." She smiled and nearly ran out of the office. "Done." She smiled as she came out.
"What did he say?" Reid asked as they made their way down the hall.
"Exactly what I had expected," She answered with a laugh. "To behave and then he went on to talk about my uniform and I pulled out the bylaws and put them on his desk and told him to check if I broke a rule." She smirked and all the Sons laughed.
"What's your schedule?" Pogue asked.
"This semester is: Physics with Mr. Roberson, Gym with Coach Michaels, AP Calculus with Mrs. Smith, and Health with Mrs. Craig." She said with a sigh at the end. "Oh, God… Craig is so boring! I'm going to fall asleep in her class."
"Pogue and I are with you there." Tyler patted her shoulder.
"Good." She smiled. "Keep me awake."
"No promises." Pogue smirked.
"Don't be an ass, Pogo." She glared playfully.
"Well you can celebrate one thing," Caleb nudged her playfully.
"What?" She asked hopefully.
"We have Physics together." He answered with a smile.
"Thank God!" She grinned. "You're my hero, Cale."
He smiled, remembering the day before. "Yeah, yeah." He rolled his eyes playfully. "Reid's in it too." He added.
"As if Reid could help me." She said with a laugh. "No offense, Reid." She added, biting her bottom lip.
"None taken." He laughed. "The only reason I'm passing is because of Caleb."
"We all have gym together." Tyler smiled.
"All of us?" She gave him a look and he nodded. "Damn…" She mumbled to herself.
"AP Calculus with me." Chase smirked. "And the girls."
"What fun…" Riley said sarcastically and Sarah frowned, clearly not excited about having a class with Riley.
"We have the first lunch block." Pogue said as she checked the paper.
"Cool." She smiled. "Me too. My locker is 514. Is anyone close?"
"You're 6 down from mine," Caleb answered with a smile. "8 above Tyler, 10 above Pogue, 9 below Reid and 12 below Chase."
"Ok, cool." She sighed in relief.
Riley sighed heavily as she walked into AP Calculus, the class she'd been dreading not because of the difficulty, but because of the company.
"Welcome back, Ms. Lawrence." Mrs. Smith said with a warm smile. "Go ahead and take a seat next to Ms. Wenham." She pointed to the empty seat next to Sarah.
Riley sighed heavily and did as she was told, but took off her blazer before sitting down.
"You will be working in groups of three." Mrs. Smith announced. "You must complete the practice packet for the final by the end of the period." She began handing out the 10 page packets and grouping people together. "Ms. Lawrence, Ms. Wenham, and Ms. Tunney." She said to the 3 girls.
'Oh fuck me…' Riley thought to herself as she fought the urge to face palm and the 3 girls moved to sit closely together. "Let's do this." She said evenly to the 2 older girls.
"What are you doing in an advanced placement senior class?" Sarah asked suspiciously.
"I'm brilliant." Riley grinned humorlessly. "Let's just do this please."
The 3 girls worked silently, until Kate heard a slight jingle coming from Riley. She turned and saw a silver charm bracelet. "That's really pretty." She said pointing to the bracelet, and Sarah turned to look at it.
"Thanks." Riley smiled a little. "It was a birthday present."
"From who?" Sarah asked.
"Caleb." Riley couldn't help but smile. "Each charm is enchanted to trigger a memory connected with a person when I touch it." She explained.
"Which one is which?" Kate asked, taking interest in the gift.
"The teddy bear is Pogue's, the 'R' is Reid's, the mailbox is Tyler's, the cat is my Aunt Katherine's, and the mirror is my mom's…" She trailed of and took a breath as her heart clenched with her mother's loss.
"What about the raindrop and the heart?" Sarah asked, feeling a little bad for the younger girl.
"They're Caleb's." She answered with a little smile. "Each one of the guys spelled his with a memory, and Caleb spelled the cat, the mirror and the raindrop. We spelled the heart together with the memory of him giving me the bracelet."
All the sympathy that Sarah had just been feeling disappeared instantly. "Why a heart?" She asked evenly as jealously tore her up inside.
"Because we're best friends." Riley glared at her. "We love each other and we've been there for each other and in each other's hearts our entire lives. So you can get over it." Riley returned to her work.
They worked in silence as the other students talked around them until the lunch bell rang.
"Thank God." Riley stood up, grabbing her bag and blazer.
"Tough partner?" Chase asked sarcastically as they walked out of the class together.
"You have no idea." She glared at the amused look on his face. "I can't believe I'm saying this already, but I wish I was partnered with you."
"Thanks." He laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment, but I do enjoy the tension between the 2 of you because of our very own golden boy." He said as they made their way to the lunch room.
"Well maybe if she got it through her blonde little head that I was in Caleb's life first and respected the closeness of our friendship, we wouldn't have a problem, would we?" She huffed.
"Well you're a hot girl and best friends with her boyfriend so naturally she'd be insecure…" He shrugged as they walked into the cafeteria
"Over a birthday present?" She looked at him incredulously. "Is she going to make a big deal about the broom too?" She rolled her eyes. "She needs to back the fuck off because I'm putting up with her for Caleb, but when I get fed up I won't give 2 shits because Caleb will forgive me eventually. Plus Caleb's too bloody noble to ever cheat even if by some miracle he were interested in me like that, and if she doesn't know that? Then she doesn't deserve him." She walked over to the table with Chase. Tyler and Pogue were already sitting there with their food; she slammed her bag down on the round table and the blazer on one of the chairs between them and went to the lunch line.
"What's up with her?" Tyler looked at Chase, and Chase just shrugged innocently.
"Well whatever it is, she's pissed off." Pogue said as Kate arrived with her food and sat next to him with Caleb and Sarah following with their food.
"What's up with Riley?" Reid asked, sitting next Tyler and the chair with Riley's things.
"No idea." Tyler answered shrugged as Chase on his other side, next to Caleb who had Sarah on his other side. "But you can ask because she's on her way back."
Riley walked back to the table with a scowl on her face. She sat between Reid and Pogue and began eating in silence.
"Jenny, are you ok?" Caleb looked at her skeptically.
She gave him a tense smile. "I'm just peachy. The beginning of AP Calculus was a blast. I can't wait to go back and finish the 10 page packet that the teacher gave me full of information that I will never use again." She said sarcastically and returned to eating her food and Caleb narrowed his eyes at her and all eyes turned to her.
"Whoa…" Reid shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Damn." Pogue sighed and Chase snickered quietly.
"What?" She looked up at everyone. "Can't a girl get angry sometimes?" She snapped and sighed heavily and everyone ate quietly.
Caleb couldn't help but glare at Riley. What the hell was her problem? 'She never snapped at me like that before.' He thought to himself as he began eating. No one at the table said a word as they ate.
"Sorry, guys." Riley apologized with a sigh. "I didn't mean to snap at you, Cale. It's just that my day didn't keep going as well as it had started. Third period didn't start well and I didn't get the chance to cool off." She looked at him apologetically.
"It's ok." He smiled. "I can imagine that your first day back was kind of a pain in the ass."
"Yeah." Riley nodded. "Thanks, Caleb." She smiled. "So Pogo," she turned to her cousin, "your birthday is coming up in less than 2 weeks and Aunt Kat asked me to convince you to have a party."
"No." He shook his head.
"Pogo, you're turning 18 and you're ascending." She threw a French fry at his head. "Come on. It doesn't have to be anything tacky."
"Then convince me otherwise." He challenged and she smiled wickedly.
"It won't have to be anything stupid." She insisted. "We can ban the parents. Party, have fun, but we will sing 'Happy Birthday'. Just have a cool party." She smiled.
"And she'll go for it?" Pogue asked skeptically.
"If I say it's a 'young' people's costume party, she will." Riley winked.
"A costume party?" He made a face.
"Yeah." She smiled. "You know that people will go for it, and trust me when I say that because girls at this school will jump at the chance to where something sexy because of these bloody uniforms."
"She's right." Reid agreed. "It could be cool. Dancing, booze and girls?" He smirked. "It'll be a hell of a party."
"Undercover booze though." Riley reminded. "Deliberately spiked punch, and soda for those that want it because Aunt Kat will flip her shit if she sees alcohol." She explained. "Are you in Pogo?"
He looked around then back at her. "Yeah, I guess."
"Alright!" she smiled and hugged him. "So you'll Ascend on Friday the 7th at 11: 47 and we party on the Saturday, starting at 10 and we invite the whole school."
"Is that a good idea?" Caleb asked unsurely. "He'll only be Ascended a little while and he might be too tempted."
"Well Pogue is the most emotionally balanced out of all of us and he won't be there alone." She reassured. "We'll all keep an eye out for him, right?" She looked each of the other Sons in the eye and they nodded. "Good. Now let's talk costumes." She grinned.
"I'm gonna be the most badass superhero ever." Reid smiled proudly, "Captain America."
"Damn." Riley smiled. "You'd look good as Captain America." She agreed with an appreciative smile.
"I'm going to be a villain." Tyler's eyes twinkled.
"Really?" Chase asked, though everyone looked at Tyler in disbelief.
"But I'm going to be a romantic villain." He amended. "The type of villain that the girls want to go with." He blushed a little.
"Which one?" Riley inquired with curiosity in her blue eyes. "Romantic is so you, Baby Boy."
"Phantom of the Opera." He smiled.
"Damn, the girls are gonna throw themselves at you, Baby boy." She winked.
"What should we go as, Caleb?" Sarah asked, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"I don't know…" He answered. "Any ideas, Jenny?"
"Hmmm." She pondered, her head propped up by her hand. "I got it. Alexander the Great and Cleopatra," She grinned. "You'd make a good looking Alexander, Cale."
"I can't be Cleopatra." Sarah argued. "I'm blonde."
"It's called a wig." Riley retorted in a 'duh' voice.
"That's actually pretty good." Caleb said thoughtfully.
"Or we could do something cuter." Sarah suggested. "Like…" She trailed off in thought and then her eyes lit up. "Rapunzel and Flynn Rider."
"Who?" Caleb's eyes filled with confusion as Riley started laughing uncontrollably.
"What?" Sarah glared at the laughing girl.
"Who's Flynn Rider?" Caleb asked and all the guys shrugged.
"She wants… you… to go… as… bloody… Disney… characters…" She said in between breaths as she laughed and all the other Sons joined her.
"Uh…" Caleb stuttered. "I'm not sure that's the best idea, Sarah."
"Dude…if you go as that… I will…never let… you live it down…" Reid warned in near hysterics.
"Neither will I." Pogue added, laughing a bit more controlled than the others.
"Me either." Tyler agreed as he began to compose himself.
"I'll be sure to have my camera." Riley said as the laughter slowed.
"We might even Facebook it." Chase warned and Caleb's face turned a little green.
"What about you, Pogue?" Riley asked, taking the attention off of Caleb smiled gratefully.
"I dunno yet." He shrugged. "Kate and I will figure something out by then."
"How about you, Chase?" She asked, turning to him.
He shrugged. "I'll throw something together. What about you? You've been asking us, but do you have any idea what you're going to wear?" He smiled wickedly. "Or are gonna show up naked?"
"Haha." She rolled her eyes. "Of course I know what I'm going to wear. It's a surprise." She smirked.
"I think I already know." Caleb smirked.
"Caleb, I swear if you open your mouth I'm going to make you regret it." She threatened with a smirk as she pointed her fork at him. "Even if you're wrong," she added.
"Ok, ok." He held up his hands in surrender. "I won't ruin it."
"Good." She smiled. "Then Pogue's birthday party is settled."
"What about his Ascension?" Kate asked.
"What do you mean?" Tyler asked the question on everyone's behalf.
"Well is there a party or something? Am I allowed to be there?" She asked.
"No." Caleb shook his head. "Only family."
"In other words the Covenant." Riley added.
"Why?" She narrowed her eyes. "It didn't happen that way with yours, Caleb."
"Mine, it's safe to say, were under more excruciating circumstances. Pogue's, thankfully, isn't so his will go by tradition." Caleb explained. "Only those in the Covenant will be there."
"Will she be there?" Kate pointed to Riley.
"Of course." Pogue answered, narrowing his eyes at his girlfriend. "Why wouldn't she be there?"
"Because she's not actually in the Covenant." Sarah answered in Kate's place, earning a glare from Pogue, Reid and Tyler.
"Um…" Caleb stuttered and looked at his brothers.
"Well, actually-" Reid began only to be cut off by Tyler.
"Reid, no!" He elbowed his blonde friend.
"No, what?" Riley arched an eyebrow.
"You know that we have books about our families, right? Just like the ones that you have left from the Salem Covenant?" Caleb asked and Riley nodded in agreement.
"My mom started one for me."
"You've been in our books since you were born and probably more prominently since your mom passed. I brought up to the other heads of the families the idea of starting one on you since you've practically been a Parry all your life." He explained.
"And what did they say?" She asked, biting her bottom lip nervously.
"They agreed." He smiled. "Since you're not actually in a real Covenant but a descendent of one that's been wiped out, they've agreed to add you under the Parry name."
"No way!" She squealed.
"Yeah." He chuckled as did the other Sons. "We were gonna tell you on Pogue's birthday before he Ascended, induct you into it and add your book for you so you could be at his Ascension, but things didn't really work out as planned." He shrugged, smiling. "Then we'll be able to share our books with you, and you can share yours with us."
"You guys keep books about your lives?" Kate asked.
"Yeah." Tyler nodded.
"So how does it keep up with everything you do? Do you write in it every day like a diary?" Sarah asked.
Caleb shook his head. "It's written by magic and it's not every detail, most things that change in our lives, like you 2 who are the first humans, other than Jenny, to know our secret outside of being married or engaged." He explained. "On Pogue's birthday, Jenny will have one of her own which will change her covenant roots because she'll be under the Parry name."
"Can we see the books?" Sarah asked.
"No." Pogue shook his head. "You can't even be in the same room as the books."
"Why not?" She asked.
"You'll burn to death." Riley answered, knowing it was the same precaution left on her books. Her mother had carried them into a room at her father's penthouse, which was where he stayed when he worked overnight, and left them there for her. Her dad hadn't entered the room since because he'd been warned of what would happen.
"It's a magical precaution to keep humans from the discovery of magic and to protect our families' secrets." Tyler explained just as the lunch bell rang and everyone stood up.
It had been a long week for Riley, having class with Sarah was proving to be more challenging than she'd expected. The blonde girl found a new way to piss her off every day and she was beginning to lose it. She'd been practically avoiding Caleb all week which was hard because he drove her to, and from school so she'd kept random conversations going between them while in the car.
She didn't want to end up telling him that she was tempted to murder his girlfriend, but if Sarah didn't back off? That's exactly what Riley was going to do. Sarah made a big deal about every little thing that went on between Riley and Caleb, but never actually around Caleb so he was clueless. Today though, Riley would be spending the day with the boys for her shopping spree, and unfortunately she was bringing Sarah and Kate along. She hated Sarah, obviously, and she was beginning to like Kate less and less every day that went by. She'd caught Kate continuously and openly flirting with other guys even though she was dating Pogue, and that was not ok with Riley.
She put on a simple, black V-neck t-shirt, black jeans, her favorite combat boots and her leather jacket. She put on eyeliner and mascara but no other makeup. She grabbed her black slouchy, studded, cross-shoulder bag with her keys, wallet and cellphone in it. "Let's go!" She announced making her way downstairs, where everyone else was waiting. "Before I lose my nerve…" She mumbled to herself.
Everyone muddled out the door quickly. Riley walked over to Tyler's hummer and got in the passenger seat before Reid could stop her. "No way, Riles!" He yelled. "That's my seat."
"Not today." She winked and he got into the back with Chase. Pogue and Kate sat in the back of Caleb's Mustang as Sarah joined him in the front. They drove to a mall in Boston and the drive went by swiftly for everyone.
"I can't believe that my mom made us do this." Tyler sighed as everyone exited the car.
"It's not that bad, Tyler." Riley rolled her eyes and the guys all voiced their disagreement.
"At least you're not surrounded only by guys." Caleb reminded with a smile. "You have Sarah and Kate."
"Right," She replied with a forced smile. "Whoopee…" She said sarcastically under her breath as everyone made their way inside.
"So what first?" Reid asked with his hands in his pockets.
"I want some stuff for winter break." Riley answered with a smile and they walked into a department store. "The thing is I have no idea what I'm actually looking for…" She laughed.
"Only you wouldgo shopping without any idea of what you want to buy, Riles." Tyler said as the other Sons, Kate and Sarah laughed as well.
"I want a few dresses…" She shrugged. "Will you help? Keep it simple, but cute. Nothing too crazy and no prints." She explained. "I'm in a need to update my summer wardrobe." She said and everyone spread out. Caleb and Sarah went in a direction and Sarah began to go through the racks in an attempt to find something that Riley might like.
"Do you think she'll like this?" Sarah held up a pink, strapless sundress with a ruffled bust.
Caleb shook his head quickly. "Jenny hates pink."
Sarah sighed. "Right." She put the dress back and began going through it again.
"Stop." Caleb said suddenly.
"What?" She looked at him confused.
"This one." He pulled out a black short cotton dress with spaghetti straps and a drapey bodice enhanced by the curve-hugging skirt. "This is perfect for Jenny." He smiled. "Try to find something black or a dark color." He explained. "I'll be right back." He walked away and over to Riley. "Here." He held up the dress.
"Wow…" she took it from him. "I love it, Caleb." She smiled. "It's perfect. Thanks."
"You're welcome." He returned with a smile of his own and turned to walk away.
One hour later, Riley had 3 other dresses along with the dress that Caleb had picked.
"Now we go to Forever 21. All I need there are some shorts and shoes." She smiled and the guys groaned. "Then we can go to GameStop." She added and they cheered, making her and the other 2 laugh.
At Forever 21, Reid picked out a pair of daisy duke shorts and took them over to Riley. "You like?" He asked with a wink.
"I do actually." She chuckled, taking them from him and he grinned triumphantly.
"Aren't they a little too short?" Pogue asked with concern and narrowed eyes at Reid.
"That's the point." Reid smirked.
"It'll be hot, Pogo." Riley said rolling her eyes at her cousin. "I'm not going out dressed like a nun."
"Reid's right." Chase agreed with a shrug. "Riley's gonna look hot." He smirked and Pogue narrowed his eyes.
"Chill, Pogue." Riley nudged her cousin playfully and returned to her shopping. When she was done she had 6 pairs of shorts, 4 skirts, 7 t-shirts, 5 tops, and 3 pairs of shoes. "Ok, boys," she announced, "we may go to GameStop." She smiled. "Pogue, you pick something and it'll be your birthday present." Once at GameStop the boys began to go through the games, all of them making suggestions to Pogue for which one he should pick. Sarah and Kate went into Bed, Bath and Body Works, which was next door as Riley sat on a bench facing the stores with her shopping bags.
"So," Caleb said walking out of GameStop and sitting next to her. "Are you going to tell me why you've been avoiding any kind of real conversation with me the past week or am I going to have to guess?"
"Are you going to tell me about the nightmare you had the night before my birthday party?" She questioned in return.
"You first." He smirked. "I'm not letting you weasel your way out of telling me."
She laughed. He definitely knew her too well. "I'm not sure you want to know." She sighed.
"It's about what happened at lunch on Monday." He stated. It wasn't a question because he was sure that's what it was about.
"Yeah." She confirmed.
"I want to know…" he nudged her. "You've never kept anything from me before."
She sighed heavily and looked at him. "I don't like your girlfriend." She said simply.
"You don't like Sarah?" He repeated in surprise. "My Sarah?"
"Yep." She rolled her eyes. "I don't like her."
"Why?" He furrowed his eyebrows.
"Because, Caleb, she's driving me crazy." She frowned. "She questions me about everything about us. She gets mad every time I bloody say your name. She glares at me constantly and never ceases to remind me that you are her boyfriend as if I'm trying to steal you away from her or something." She explained glaring straight ahead. "You're my best friend Caleb, I love you and if this girl makes you happy then I'm happy for you, but she doesn't deserve you if she can't trust you in our friendship. And if she keeps on my arse about our friendship I'm going to kick her arse in every way imaginable because you were my best friend first, and you're eventually going to have to forgive me for kicking her arse." She ended with a heavy sigh.
"I didn't know…" He said apologetically and looking away from her.
"It's ok." She reassured with a smile and bumping his shoulder with her own. "She made sure to never act that way around you."
"I can't believe she's acting this way…" He sighed. "You're my best friend, she has to accept that and start treating you like it. If she can't accept that, then we're going to have a problem." He shook his head.
"Well if it makes you feel better, I don't like Kate either." She gave him a halfhearted smile, which he returned in like. "Your turn," She said resting her head on his shoulder. "Tell me about the nightmare."
"I was at Putnam's barn, but it wasn't burned to the ground. It was in perfect condition." He began, "It was all dark, then I turned around and felt heat against my back. When I looked back you and Sarah were each surrounded by fire as the whole place caught fire. You were on my right and she was on my left. I looked up and saw a shadowed figure standing on a beam. It told me I could only pick one and I didn't know what to do. All of a sudden the barn began to crumble around me; the voice said that I was too late. I panicked so I jumped in to save you, and then I woke up." He ended resting his head on hers. "It was terrible, Jenny… When the voice said that I was too late, I thought I lost you. I had to try and save you, even if I died too."
"It was just a dream, Caleb." She lifted her head and turned to face him. "We're all ok." She smiled.
"Last time I had a dream like that Chase showed up and tried to kill me." He said as he rubbed his temples.
"Well now Chase is good and recovering from his addiction." She reassured. "He's trying to be better, he's still an ass, but he's not a homicidal sociopath anymore, and whatever comes our way, we'll face it together Caleb, the six of us." She reminded.
"How would you know that about Chase?" He asked curiously.
"We talk in AP Calc." She shrugged. "It's either that or talk to your annoyingly paranoid girlfriend." She said with a laugh in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Just be careful." Caleb said seriously.
"I will, don't worry." She rolled her eyes playfully. "He's not that bad. You just need to give him a chance to prove himself."
"Right." He said sarcastically. "Aren't you going in there to pay for Pogue's gift?" He asked, changing the subject.
"Nah…" She shook her head. "I gave Pogue 2 hundred bucks to spend." She grinned cheekily.
"From the money Aunt Rosalind gave you?"
"No, my dad gives me two grand a month as an allowance." She answered. "Since Aunt Kat and Uncle Ray take care of me and my basic needs, he gives me this money as some form of bloody child support so I don't have to keep asking them for money." She said making a face.
"It's the least he can do for you." Caleb said angrily at the thought of how her father had been treating her since her mother died.
"I guess." She shrugged. "Now let's change the subject because my daddy issues aren't something I'd like to get into in the middle of the mall." She chuckled and Caleb nodded as everyone made their way over to them. "Damn, you guys were in there for like an hour."
"So many options, so little time." Tyler replied with a smile and Riley rolled her eyes.
"Anywhere else?" Pogue looked at his cousin, hoping that she'd say no.
"There's one more place." She replied with a smile as they began walking.
"Aww man…" Reid groaned. "I'm hungry."
"It's only one more than we can go to the food court." She promised as she halted in front of Victoria's Secret. "Here." She smiled slyly.
Reid smirked. "You could've just told me this is where you wanted to come."
Tyler blushed. "I'll just wait out here."
"All of us guys will." Caleb agreed. "You girls go ahead."
"But I'd love to join them." Reid smirked more.
"No, you're staying here." Riley ordered as she and the other girls walked in.
"What are you looking for?" Kate asked as Riley guided them through the store with ease to the bathing suit area.
"New bikinis." She answered as she began going through them.
"Why?" Sarah asked giving her an odd look.
"It's for winter break." Riley answered bluntly while picking up a royal blue halter top with a simple low rise bottom. "Would you guys mind coming with me to tell me how it looks?" She asked, knowing that Sarah would definitely be completely honest with her since she hated her guts.
"Sure." Kate answered as the 3 girls walked back to the dressing rooms. "You do know we're in December though, right?" She asked as Riley went behind the curtain to change.
"Yeah, I know." She replied in an amused voice as she undressed and slipped on the bikini. She walked out, "What do you think?" She spun around.
Sarah looked at the younger, black-haired girl and anger began to grow in her. The girl was perfect! Sarah never had an issue with her body before, in fact she actually felt pretty good about her body even if she was really petite. She and Riley had gym together along with the others, and when she'd come out of the locker room in the gym shorts and t-shirt all the guys in the gym turned to look at Riley, even Caleb! She had a perfect body, a 34-24-36 body and Sarah was truly beginning to hate her for that too. She looked like she belonged on the walls of Victoria's Secret, not shopping in it.
She'd tried her best to keep distance between Riley and Caleb, and it seemed to be working. He had been tense all week though, easily snapping at her for almost any little thing. She knew it was because of the temptation to Use, but between that and Riley it had been hard to deal with him.
"Wow…" Kate said surprised. "You look great." She shifted a little uncomfortably, feeling a bit intimidated by the fair skinned girl.
"Thanks." Riley gave her a small smile. "I feel like it makes my skin look too pale and you can see the blue of my veins." She turned to check herself in the full body mirror.
"Excuse me, young lady?" A well-dressed woman in her fifties came up to Riley.
"Yes?" Riley asked, turning away from the mirror and to the woman.
"Did you know that you look just like a former Victoria's Secret Angel?" The woman asked. "Her name was Victoria James, her pictures graced these walls 10 to 15 years ago. She was a friend of mine." The woman explained with a smile.
"Yes." Riley smiled a little sadly. "She was my mother."
"You're Victoria's daughter?" The woman's eyes widened. "My name is Amanda Rogers. I spent a lot of time here with working with your mother. I used to design for Victoria's Secret." She introduced herself. "You were a little girl the last time I saw you. I was at your mother's funeral." She explained. "You look just like her."
"So I've been told." Riley shrugged. There'd been hundreds of people at her mother's funeral and she didn't remember this woman but her name did sound familiar.
"If you ever think about modeling, let me know." Amanda pulled out her card. "I know you'd be great." She smiled. "It was lovely to see you."
"Thanks." Riley smiled awkwardly and Amanda nodded and walked away. "That was weird." She let out a laugh as she walked behind the curtain to change back into her clothes.
Sarah couldn't believe that Riley had just gotten a modeling offer. What did this girl have that made everyone love her? And apparently she wasn't the only one that thought that the girl belonged on the walls of world-renowned store.
"So why are you buying a bikini in mid-December anyways?" Sarah asked as Riley walked out fully dressed and the three of them returned to the bikini area.
"We're going to the Bahamas for winter break." Riley answered as she began picking out a few others.
"What do you mean by 'we'?" Sarah asked narrowing her eyes.
"Pogue, Reid, Tyler, Caleb and me," Riley answered rolling her eyes. "I invited Chase, but he didn't want to come."
"Why weren't we invited?" Kate asked before Sarah, who couldn't stop thinking about the fact that Caleb would be around Riley in a bikini for God knows how long, was able get the words out.
"Because it was my birthday present from Aunt Evelyn," Riley smirked. "I invited Chase because he's a Son and I didn't want him left out." She shrugged. "There isn't enough room for you two and I don't like you." She smiled innocently.
"Well what did I ever do to you?" Kate snapped.
"Nothing to me." Riley retorted. "You openly flirt with other guys even though you're dating my cousin, so no I don't like you. You don't deserve Pogue."
"This is unbelievable." Sarah said in between gritted teeth.
"Lemme guess," Riley arched an eyebrow. "Caleb and Pogue never told you?" Both girls simply glared at her and walked out of the store, stalking over to the guys that were laughing and joking with each other.
"Caleb?" Sarah asked in a tense voice. "Can I talk to you alone?"
"Sure." He said as she dragged him into an empty space between 2 stores and away from everyone. "What's up?" He looked at her confused.
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to the Bahamas for winter break?" She folded her arms across her chest.
"I was going to." He shrugged. "I didn't think it was a big deal."
"Were you going to ask me to come?" She asked with an arched eyebrow.
"I couldn't." He answered. "It wasn't my place. The trip was Jenny's gift and it was her choice to invite who she wanted."
"But she invited Chase." Sarah reminded.
"Yeah, probably because he's one of us now, and?" He didn't understand why she was making a big deal about this. "The five of us always go away for spring break and winter break, and Chase will probably start joining us soon. What's the big deal?"
"I wanted to spend time with you." She snapped. "You've been acting so distant since you Ascended. I know that it's been tough since then and since your dad died, but you've been so irritable and moody. I wanted to be alone with you!" She yelled with a glare. "Then this girl shows up and screws it all up! All this week she spent time away from you and instead of the 2 of us spending a good time together, you've been tense with these powers! We were supposed to use winter break to have time for us. Now you're going away with her!"
"You have no idea what the past month has been like for me! You can't even imagine or pretend to understand my situation, Sarah! You have no idea the temptation that I fight every single day." He responded harshly. "And so what if I'm going away with Jenny?" He glared, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Reid, Pogue and Tyler are coming too."
"But you'll be spending over a week with her, looking like that, in a bikini!" She hissed.
"What does that even mean?" He argued, his hands forming fists in his pockets as he fought to keep the temptation to Use, which was always there but only grew stronger with the angrier he got.
"Don't play dumb, Caleb." She glared. "Look at her! I know that you have before. While she was in the store trying on a bikini, a woman offered her a doorway into modeling!" She clenched her teeth. "I've seen how you look at her."
"Like what?" He said through gritted teeth. "Jenny's a beautiful girl, but that doesn't mean anything. She's my best friend."
"Yeah, right." Sarah rolled her eyes sarcastically.
"Well, what do you want me to do?" He asked with a glare, his anger fueling the strength of the need and temptation to Use.
"I want you to stay." She said simply. "I don't want you to go on the trip." She looked at him hopefully. She truly hoped he'd stay with her, that he'd choose her.
He laughed humorlessly. "That's not happening." He shook his head. "This is the first trip I'm taking with Jenny and my brothers since she left." He took a deep breath.
"She doesn't like me." Sarah said, hoping to make him feel bad and put him against Riley.
"I know." He said and shrugged. "She told me. She told me that you've been on her case all week because of my friendship with her, but that as long as I was happy she'd try to not to hurt you." He explained as his anger began to rise. "I didn't want to believe it when she told me that you were acting this way, but now I do." He took another deep breath to calm himself. "You have to accept my friendship with her because it will never go away. Jenny's in my life for good. The sooner you understand that, the better." He walked away from her, leaving her shocked and hurt, as returned to his friends trembling.
"Caleb, are you ok?" Riley asked, her crystal blue eyes filled with concern as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Fine." He replied tensely as his shoulders shook slightly less under her touch. "I need to go." He sighed heavily. "Tyler, can you drive Sarah, Pogue and Kate?" He turned to the youngest Son, who nodded in return. "Thanks." He nodded tersely, earning worried looks from his brothers and Riley, and then turned to walk away.
"Caleb." Riley grabbed his arm.
"Jenny, not now." He shook his head. "I'm too…" He paused in order to find the right word, "Overwhelmed right now. I could hurt you."
"No, you won't." She said confidently. "We don't even have to talk. I'll just sit there with you until you calm down." She smiled reassuringly and he nodded in return. As Sarah made her way back to the group whilst holding back tears, she watched her boyfriend leave with the one of the very reasons that they'd been fighting over.
I hope you all liked it! I loved writing the part with the enchanted bracelet!
Please review!
- Major J.
