Chapter 4: Bad Habits Die Hard

A/N: I do not own the Covenant or it's characters. I was not creative enough to come up with that! I do however own Elizabeth, Bailey, and Skylar (If you imagine him as Channing Tatum in this chapter, it will do you good) Ha! Ha! I do not own any of the lyrics in this chapter either. I have gotten well over 100 hits and I just published it yesterday and for my first fic I think that it very good! I'm so excited! Please continue to read, and PLEASE REVIEW! I really do appreciate feedback.

The next morning I awoke to the bright light flowing into the room from the large, uncovered window. I pulled the covers back and threw my legs over the side, slowly lifting myself and outstretching my arms over my head to stretch, relieving my tight muscles. I began to exit the room to go take a shower when something caught my foot sending me to fall on my face not so gracefully.

Starlight, Star bright

Not the stars that follow at night.

Stars sound, I hit the ground.

No one knows who I am.

It's the drugs and the alcohol that bring me down.

It's the drugs and the alcohol that keep me around…

And it feels, yes it feels like it only rains on me…

Rosenwall's "It Only Rains on Me" (A/N: Rosenwall is a band I found on myspace, check them out) blasted from the bedside table, my cell phone vibrating violently. I tried to untangle my ankle from the strap of the duffle bag and pulled my way over to it. I pressed a button and brought it up to my ear. "What's going on, Sugar!" I smiled brightly.

"Just wanted to see how my girl was enjoying her new home. So I see that you got in safely, couldn't even call me and let me know."

"Sorry, Annabel, I had a rough day yesterday. I crashed after I got here. How's home?"

"Going pretty good, actually…" She trailed off, and I could already see her smiling and biting her bottom lip.

"What is it? Or better yet, who is it?" I inquired grinning.

"How do you always know?"

"Just my special talents!" I replied as casually as possible.

"Yeah, we all know about your special talents…" she giggled. "Remember that guy, Beau?"

"You mean the freshman that thought I was going to kill him that one night when we were riding in the cop car?" I laughed at the memory.

"Yeah, well, we have kind of been, uh, seeing each other…"

"I'll bet. And?" I pushed.

"And, this is weird to say even for me, but we are kind of exclusive now…" Once again trailing off.

"WHAT?!" I exclaimed. "You, my Annabel, have decided to become exclusive…with a freshman?"

"Yeah, you should try it sometime," she giggled, "And since I am older, he tries his hardest to please me which is more than I can say for guys our age."

"That is true," I nodded affirming as if she could see it, "As long as you're happy."

"I am." She stated surely.

"Well I'm glad for you, darlin'."

"Thanks. It means a lot to hear you say that. I miss you so much, E! It's boring without you here!"

"I miss you too, Bel. Tell Grace, Beau, and the boys I miss them too and said 'Hi'."

"Will do, talk to you later, girl."

"Later." I hung up the phone. I had never been more homesick than I was at this moment. Here I had no one. I looked back to the duffel bag sitting on the floor. Well maybe I can go move my stuff into the dorm today and meet my roommate. I used the bed to push myself up and strolled to the bathroom to take a shower.

I drove up to the dreary castle-like place known as Spencer Academy. I pulled the navy blue RX8 my father had purchased for me into a parking space pressing the trunk release as I pulled out my key and opened the door. It was around 11:45, and the students were still in class, but I had chosen to bring my things to my dorm so that I would not have to do it Sunday. That was supposed to be a day of laziness and recuperating, not overworking ones self.

I toted my belongings up to the third floor. I almost lost my balance on the way up nearly falling backward down the stairs but catching myself by shifting the weight of my oversized duffel. I strolled down the quiet hall to find room 316. When I came upon it, I set down one of my bags to unlock the door with my key. Once I opened the door, I threw one bag in and kicked the one at my feet forward into the door.

Once the door was closed, I took a look around. One half of the room had lots of art decorating the walls and pictures littering the surfaces. I peered at the pictures. The girl in the majority of them was slender, held a genuine smile with hunter green eyes and dark brown hair. She was attractive and the way she looked into the camera showed how captivating her eyes were. I think that I would like her.

As I continued examining her part of the room, I heard the door open and two girls talking. Once inside, I noticed the girl from the pictures and a shorter girl with straight, long blonde hair and blue eyes. She caught sight of me first, stopping in her tracks. The brunette continued to talk, but noticing that her friend's stare was fixated more over her shoulder, she halted turning on her feet to see me.

I put on my best toothy smile, "Hi! I'm your new roommate, Elizabeth." I outstretched my right hand, "And you are?"

The brunette finally caught herself, shaking her head slightly, smiling herself, extending her arm to reach mine, "Bailey Carpenter, nice to meet you. I wasn't aware I was getting a roommate." She shook my hand and calmly drew it back.

"Well, I really wasn't planning on attending. My parents decided it at the beginning of the week," something finally hit me, "Are you done with your classes for the day?"

Bailey answered, "No, we are just on lunch right now, I had to come by and grab my physics book that I left in here." She pointed between herself and the blonde, "Oh, how rude of me, Elizabeth, this is my friend Sarah."

I grinned at her and nodded 'hi' as she did with me as well. Shaking hands just seemed so formal for the moment. Her smile was as authentic as Bailey's. I could tell that I could like these girls.

Sarah was the first to speak, "So, Elizabeth, where are you from? You don't sound like you are from up north."

"No, not really, I actually lived in Texas."

"The Lone Star State." Bailey chimed in.

"Yes, maam." I smiled pretending to tip a nonexistent cowboy hat, "So when do you guys get done today? I would like to go out and see the town, try and acquaint myself with the people." I drawled, the last part jokingly.

Bailey answered, "Well I get done at 2. I have a free period. What about you, Sarah?"

"Well Kate and I were supposed to meet with the boys later, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind if we cancelled on them and just had a girls' afternoon. Then we can head out to the Dells tonight. Would you like to go, Elizabeth?"

"Sounds fun already. I am going to head back to the house and change then. I have some errands to run today." I wrote my cell number on a piece of paper I saw on the desk, "Here's my number, just call me whenever you are ready and we can meet somewhere."

"We can go to Nicky's, it's kind of a bar in town. Everyone hangs out there."

"No, Sarah, if we go to Nicky's then the boys will be there too stealing all your attention." Bailey exagerated.

"I'll make sure they don't go, I promise. Like I said, sometimes you just need a girls day, am I right?" She glanced to me.

"Of course," I smiled. I looked at the clock sitting on the desk and noticed that it was a quarter past twelve, "Well ladies," I drawled, "I have to head out, I have to meet someone for lunch."

"Oh shit," Bailey replied, "We need to head back to get to class on time. It was nice meeting you, Elizabeth. We'll meet at Nicky's after we get out?" I nodded. "I'll call you then." She walked over to grab her book and left with Sarah. I, in turn, grabbed my keys and walked out the door as well, locking it in the process. So far, I've been invited for a girl's day out and a kick ass party held at the Dells. This might not be so bad after all.

I stood in the doorway at Nicky's in my tight faded blue jeans, pink wife beater, and navy blue fitted zip up hoodie. My nearly jet black, long, curly tresses that I had just had colored were framing my face as I glanced around the bar. I noticed the tattooed man serving behind the counter and grinned. I sauntered over to the counter and settled onto a stool. I glanced at my phone: 2:10 pm. I still had about an hour or two before the girls would call and meet me here. Nicky noticed me and wandered over, "Well, I don't recall ever seeing you in here before, miss."

He casually leaned onto the counter with his arm looking at me. I intently looked into his eyes with my own, smirking mischievously. A look of recognition passed through his face. "Well I know it's been awhile, Nicky, but damn darlin', how could you not remember me after all the times I donated generously to you after winning all those games of pool with Reid."

He seemed to be thinking for a moment until I saw it hit him. He sluggishly grinned, wrapping his arm around my neck, bringing me into a forceful hug leaning over the counter with my feet kicking in the air, almost causing me the inability to breathe. He pulled back and rested his forehead onto mine, "Elizabeth, honey, why didn't you say so? My, it has been awhile, hasn't it?" He kissed my forehead and leaned back, "You have grown up," he told me looking me up and down, not nearly in a perverted way, but enough to wish he was twenty years younger.

"Yeah, that's what happens when you age." I answered jokingly.

"Did you move back or are you just visiting?" He asked curiously.

"Here to stay. I kind of got into some trouble back in Texas, mom got sick of it, shipped me off, and here I am. I got here last night." I answered honestly. I loved Nicky. He always kept his eye on me never letting me get hurt. He was like one of those uncles that your parents disliked, but would always be there for you if you needed him.

"Have you seen the boys yet?" Nicky inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"No, and I would like to keep it that way." I gave him a stern look and he nodded, "I am just waiting for a couple of new girlfriends to get here. They're supposed to be here within a couple of hours."

"That's good; you were always the social one. But let me tell you, those boys were complete wrecks when you left. It might be nice for you to acknowledge them, you know."

"Yeah, well, the time isn't now." I shrugged callously.

The other patrons at the counter were starting to get pissed that Nicky was spending all his time with this new girl. He gave me an apologetic look, and I grinned and nodded at him. He busily gathered and filled orders and rushed back to me mildly sweating with a heavy grin on his face, watching me laughing at him. "Would you like anything?"

"How about you hang out and we have a drink?" I asked, batting my eyelashes jokingly and clasping my hands together.

"Are you driving?"

"Not anytime soon." I replied shaking my head.

"What's your poison?" He leaned in closer stating in almost a whisper.

"How bout 2 shots of Jaeger and a Vodka Sour?"

"Damn, girl, it's only 3 in the afternoon!"

"Well what can I say, Nicky? I like to start early, and believe me, it won't do too much."

He poured us drinks and we each took the shots. He then poured 2 shots of Jack and we downed those as well. He continued to serve the others at the bar as I spun around in my chair, crossing my legs, sipping on my vodka sour. I noticed several people at the pool tables. I turned back to where Nicky was working, and when he noticed me, I winked and tilted my head to the pool tables.

As I jumped down off the stool, I heard him chuckle heavily. I took off my jacket and threw it over the counter for him to keep a hold of and wandered to the group of tables. I caught the eyes of two individuals playing against each other, then they quickly looked down not wanting to be caught. One had curly hair, dark blonde or light brown hair, quite hot, but he seemed a little too arrogant to me. The other was about 6'2'', well built, hazel eyes, and a nice ass from what I could see while he was bending over the table about to make a shot. His dark hair was shaved closely to his scalp. This was too easy. "Hey there, gentlemen. Mind if I play winner?" I slid onto a stool situated by their table, leaning over slightly to put my elbows on my knees to let them see somewhat down my shirt at my navy lace bra.

Both boys looked from the table at me. The curly haired guy eyed me up and down and smiled wickedly. At that moment, the shaved head guy bent back over the pool table and with one quick motion sent the 8-ball into the corner pocket. He stood up to his full stature, pushing his chest out a little bit and stepped over to me, "Come on, Baby, let's see what you got!"

The boys and I were walking down the hall, when I saw a mocha skinned beauty sauntering our way, in tow with a light blonde chick and a brunette. She walked right into Pogue's arms, wrapping her arms tight around his waist, lifting her head to give him a peck on the lips. Caleb grabbed Sarah and lifted one arm over her shoulder. Bailey fell in step between me and Tyler interlocking her arms with ours as we walked to swim practice. I glanced over at Bailey, she was talking to Tyler. She was one of the hottest girls in school, she was real, and I had already had her. I'm surprised she still talks to me after what I did to her junior year. She was totally into me, and I screwed it up. I fucked her, and I left it at that. She was the kind of girl that you dated, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. There was only one girl for me and she was long gone. If I couldn't be with her, then I wouldn't let anyone in like I did with her. Who cares about that emotional shit anyways when I can get laid anytime I want?

At the doors to the locker room, the girls stopped in their tracks. "You going to come watch practice?" Caleb asked. Sarah shook her head. Well this is new.

"No, we met Bailey's new roommate today, and we're meeting her at Nicky's for a girls' afternoon. That means you boys are NOT invited, so stay away!" She glared at me, I just smirked my infamous smirk, "I mean it! We'll meet you at the Dells tonight. Is that okay?"

We all nodded and headed into the locker room while the girls hauled ass down the corridor. I glanced back to look at Bailey's ass before I smiled to myself, shaking my head, walking through the door. I wonder if her roommate is as hot as she is.

Both boys stood there, mouths open in shock. I just smiled widely casually leaning on my pool cue. "You boys up for another game, or are you tired of handing me your money yet?" I awaited their response.

When I speak I cross my fingers.

Will you know you've been deceived?

I find a need to be the demon.

A demon cannot be hurt.

I hurriedly fished my phone out of my pocket, pressing the button and pulling it up to my ear.

"Hello." I answered.

"Hey, Elizabeth?" Came a familiar voice on the other end.

"Yeah, it's me."

"We'll be up at Nicky's in about five minutes, we just left the dorms." It was Bailey.

"Well I'm already here. I'm playing pool at the tables. See you in a bit!"

"See you." And with that, the phone clicked to silence.

I had been walking around the table kind of pointing my toes to the ground as I was talking. When I looked up, I noticed the boys were fascinated in my movements, or fascinated by my ability to beat their ass at pool. "I'm going to get another drink. I'll be right back. Someone want to rack?" They both began moving, I turned toward the bar and chuckled to myself, giving a slight nod to Nicky who was eyeing me.

I crawled up onto the stool and waited for him to come to me. He set another vodka sour before me and motioned his finger to come closer. "Be careful with those two, they are nothing but trouble."

I handed Nicky a 20 bill from my large stack of newly collected money. "Yeah, but they're too easy." I grinned, causing Nicky to slightly chuckle. He took the money and poured another two shots of amber liquid. We clunk the glasses together and brought them to our mouths, letting it slide down our throats smooth. I winked at him again and grasped my drink heading back where I came from. "Hey boys, I've got a proposition for you," I slightly slurred. This caught their attention.

I glided into the smoky bar following Bailey and Sarah to the pool tables. I noticed that Aaron and Skylar were here playing pool with some girl. Probably one of his many hoe's. I saw that Bailey was kind of looking around somewhat, not necessarily seeing the girl that we came here to meet, Elizabeth, I think her name was.

The girl with Abbott rose up from the table with a cigarette in her mouth. Those things are so bad for you. She extended her hand until Aaron shook it, "Deal!" I heard him say.

She looked about our age, but I saw her slide to the side table and grab her glass of alcohol. Hmm. She looked our way and waved. Bailey and Sarah began strolling towards her. She reached her arm out to hug Bailey then Sarah. She turned to me, "Hi, I'm Elizabeth."

"Kate." I replied. Who was this girl? She was beautiful with her dark black hair, icy blue eyes, and bronze body.

"I didn't even recognize you hardly, girl. Decided to dye your hair?" Bailey questioned jokingly.

"New town, time for a change." She shrugged carelessly looking over at the boy, "Alright ladies, give me a moment, and let me finish kicking these boys' asses." She chalked up her stick.

I laughed somewhat and sat down in the table nearest them. I watched as Skylar broke. He sent two solids in on the first shot. He shot another two in before he missed one while trying to bank it off the side.

I watched intently as Elizabeth sauntered around them, sly like a cat. I glared when I watched her smirk and glide her backside into Skylar as she went to bend over the table to observe her shot. His hands came up to her hips and slowly slid down her legs. She jerked her arm back and shot the cue into the striped ball, knocking it smoothly in. She continued around the table, never missing her shot. This girl is amazing. She would give Reid a run for his money! The thought of a girl beating him as bad as she was these two was slightly more than hilarious, but I couldn't help but think it. She had knocked in all the striped balls in one turn. She glanced upward every now and then, smirking mischievously at the boys who stood in awe before she would push the stick, letting it glide effortlessly in her hand connecting with the white ball.

All that was left was the 8 ball. It looked to be a difficult shot from what I could tell because a lot of the solids were still on the table in the way. She walked around the table, continuing to look at all the possible angles. She tapped one of the corner pockets before lightly grazing the cue ball into the side of the 8 ball. It banked off the side and we all seemed to take a breath as it continued to the intended target. It slowed, and I heard her suck in air sharply. It got to the edge and kind of halted before it went in. She let out the breath she was holding but looked to where the cue ball was rolling into the side pocket. "You've got to be fucking kidding me!" She yelled, slamming the stick on the table.

The boys had a huge grin on their face as they checked out Elizabeth. This doesn't look so good. Aaron was the first to speak. "Wear a skirt!" He grinned more widely, if possible, and set the stick down beside hers while he persisted in walking toward the entrance.

Skylar came up to her and wrapped an arm around her waist drawing her into him. Elizabeth had a scowl on her face as she watched Aaron walk away. Skylar bent towards her ear, huskily whispering into it. Her face seemed to get happier as her lips turned upward. He kissed her cheek and patted her ass causing her to jump forward in somewhat shock before leaving with Aaron. Elizabeth held her hands behind her back and somewhat skipped over to us playfully, in a better mood than a minute ago, a sly smile covering her face. I couldn't help but laugh at her. She seemed alright from what I could tell. She wasn't snobby or arrogant, she seemed...real.

"What was that about?" Sarah asked her, always the nosy one. Like I have any room to talk.

"I just lost a bet." She mumbled, not really wanting to tell us out of embarrassment, "And I had them too! That's what pisses me off the most!" She frowned sarcastically before laughing.

"What were the terms?" I asked.

She stopped for a moment biting the inside of her cheek. "You will just have to see tonight at the party. And please don't think badly of me by what I have to do." She seemed sincere and honest, but it was obvious she didn't want anyone to know yet.

We all looked at each other. I raised my eyebrow, curious, but I knew I wasn't going to get an answer anytime soon. "Alright, let's get some food, I'm hungry!" We continued to the bar where Nicky seemed to be working his butt off. We continued to chat a little bit. I found out a little more about Elizabeth.

"So did you have a boyfriend back home?" I inquired.

Elizabeth about choked on her vodka sour that Nicky had glided to her easily. "N-No. I don't do boyfriends." She replied. This caught Sarah's attention.

"Why not?"

"Nosy much?" She responded teasingly, "I had a boyfriend a long time ago, it didn't work out. I would rather not have to deal with the emotions, I just like the sex."

Sarah then spewed some of her Pepsi out her nose during the last part of Elizabeth's statement causing us to laugh. It was funny how open and honest Elizabeth was while discussing intimate things such as that. It seemed kind of, I don't know, comforting. It was like you know that she would make a good friend because she did not seem judgmental. And the fact that she dressed casually with little makeup here at Nicky's made me believe she wasn't anything like Kira Snider and the rest of the stuck up bitches.

I continued to take in Kate's facial expressions. I do not know if she could tell, but her thoughts were so simple to read. When I first met her, I knew that she really didn't know what to make of me and that she would not have talked to me to begin with if it had not been for Bailey and Sarah. Now, however, I could tell that she was opening up. She knew I wouldn't be a threat to her or be like the other girls from the school. She seemed like a spoiled princess, but she did seem to have a heart which is more than I can say for a lot of people I knew a long time ago, Kira Snider being one of them. I think I had just found my circle of friends. I decided to turn the conversation from me to them, "So what about you all, any boyfriends? Sarah and Kate both nodded a yes, while Bailey just shrugged her shoulders. "Names?" I asked with a slight hand gesture.

"Caleb," Sarah replied, "You will get a chance to meet them tonight." Caleb? There must be some other Caleb's at Spencer. Don't freak out.

"Pogue," Kate motioned a finger to herself. You've got to be fucking kidding me! The people I become friends with are dating the people that I am trying to avoid. Karma's a bitch!

I looked to Bailey. "I'm not dating anyone. I decided against it last year after the whole Reid incident…but that's a long story." My heart dropped somewhat in my chest. Reid? Well at least she didn't say Tyler. "I am kind of crushing on a guy, Tyler, but we're really good friends, so I don't think that it is going to go anywhere. No harm in trying though, right?" She turned to me. Damn.

"Right." I mumbled, sipping on my drink and nodding my head in affirmation, "Let's get out of here. I need to get ready for the party tonight. You girls want to come over?"

"Sure." They replied.

I downed the rest of my drink and stood up slightly swaying. I interlocked my arms with Kate and Bailey and headed for the entrance, turning my head to glance over my shoulder giving Nicky an air kiss. Bailey took my keys and decided that she would drive my car while Kate and Sarah hopped into her VW Bug, following closely behind as I navigated. Within minutes we were pulling up in front of my large empty mansion. This is going to be a fun night. Remember the sarchasm?

"It Only Rains on Me" Rosenwall

"Demons" Guster

A/N: Things get interesting in the next chapter! If I have 10 reviews by 5 o'clock, I'll post it tonight! :)