Chapter 4:

-

"This is just great," Glenn said, slamming his forehead on the bar counter for the hundredth time. "Why did Rosalind have to be Damien's girlfriend. Of all people, the one thing I truly fear in my whole life."

James glanced at Wayne, frowning curiously.

"He's the only thing you fear?" James asked in surprise.

"Ok," Glenn caved. "Him, and my father. And heights. And toasters."

"You're afraid of toasters?" Wayne was the first to jump in and ask.

"Must you ask questions?" Glenn pleaded. "I'm in the midst of emotional trauma here."

"Glenn, Glenn, Glenn," Wayne said, slapping his Covenant brother on the back encouragingly. "Just because she's our enemy's girlfriend, doesn't make her off-limits!"

"It would for honest men who value women more than dirt," Beatrice shot in as she grabbed her coat off the rack, preparing to call it a night.

Wayne grabbed his heart as if hurt by her harsh words.

"Oh my, aren't we feisty tonight!" he laughed. "I think them be fightin' words!"

Glenn raised his hand as if waiting to be called on by a teacher.

"Yes, Glenn?" James did the honor of admitting him passage.

"Um, hi, can we focus on me for a second?"

Wayne bent down a little to Glenn's short level on the bar stool and leaned close as if sharing a secret.

"Listen, Glenn, do you like the girl?" he asked directly.

"Oh, yes," Glenn said with a firm nod.

"Then you have to fight for her, man," Wayne said, his eyes finding their way to Beatrice as he spoke. "Fight to the death, even if it seems impossible. You know it'll be worth it in the end."

Beatrice glared back to Wayne with spite in her eyes, knowing that Wayne was not talking about Rosalind anymore. Taking that as her cue to leave, Beatrice said her goodbyes and practically bolted out the door.

"Thanks, Wayne! I love it that you guys are always here when I need you," Glenn said with a cheered grin.

"Yeah sure, man," Wayne said hurriedly, his eyes locked on the door where Beatrice had just exited out of.

"Oh, yeah… Wayne, I--"

"Gotta go, I'll catch you later."

"But--!" Glenn started, but Wayne was already gone. Glenn sighed heavily in disappointment.

"James--?"

"I gotta bail too, Glenn," James said apologetically. "I think Joe's been gone too long. See ya."

Glenn sighed again.

"Yeah, see ya."

-

"Hey, Bee!" Wayne called after Beatrice, who was just stepping off the front porch and shrugging her coat on. "Wait up, I'll walk you to your car."

Beatrice looked back at him and walked a little faster.

"I'm not in the mood to tolerate you right now, okay, Wayne?" she retorted with annoyance obvious in her tone. "Go back inside."

"I love it when you boss me around like that. Go ahead, what else should I do?"

Beatrice stopped in her tracks, her fists clenching in anger.

"God, I hate it when you turn everything I say into something dirty with your testosterone-driven mind."

"It doesn't have to be dirty. You just like to think impure thoughts about me."

Beatrice snickered her utter disbelief at his gall to even imagine such a thing. Though, she'd known him long enough to realize he was just baiting her, and refused to rise to it.

She turned to him and frowned and shook her head as if in pity.

"Please go away?"

"Ah, but going away would mean I wouldn't get to see your pretty face, and I couldn't bear that…"

"Ugh!" Beatrice threw her hands up in frustration. "I'm going to rip out that tongue of yours with my bare hands."

Wayne smiled broadly, and couldn't resist…

"Is that a promise?"

Beatrice turned her back on his once more, having had quite enough. She opened her car, a red, beat-up old Charger, and got in.

"See you at class tomorrow, Wayne," she said, as she stuffed her keys into the ignition.

"Good," Wayne replied. "Something to look forward to."

She glared right at him and revved up the engine. Wayne leaned into the window.

"Hey, Bee, lis--"

But before he could say another word, she peeled out and sped away, leaving him in her exhaust smoke. Wayne simply nodded in reply to it, frowning his displeasure.

-

The next day, James knocked on Joe's front door of his large mansion, waiting for his friend to answer. Joe stayed at the Garwin colony house by himself, a result of many disagreements with his father. Ever since Joe's sister died, they had never seemed to agree on anything anymore. Joe suspected his father blamed him for Lucy's death. James couldn't help thinking the same, from the way his father looked at him at the council meetings.

As such, Joe had decided to live on his own, under a generous trust from his mother. His parents had decided to build a home from the ground up, called it Garwin Manor and had stayed their on their large estate ever since.

On the plus side, James thought it was cool for Joe to be the first of them to live on his own. It was like getting his license first, or Ascending first.

And speaking of Ascension, Joe did indeed have the honor of Ascending first as well, in any group; Concordat or Covenant. That was probably one of the main reasons that Damien Roth, leader of the current Concordat, had paid them a visit last night. He'd more than likely heard of Joe's recent suspension from leadership of the high and mighty 'Covenant', and the bully couldn't stand to pass up an opportunity to run Joe down.

James had gone to look for Joe after the downhearted ex-leader had left Nicky's behind in his rage, but he'd disappeared and James hadn't seen him since.

James knocked again, but this time, the door fell open.

"Joe?" James called as he stepped inside to get out of the rain. "Are you here?"

James glanced around the foyer, but the place was empty. James closed the large door behind him gently.

"Joe?" he tried again as he shook the raindrops off his coat.

Joe suddenly appeared from the living room, completely silent, grabbing his long jacket off his iron coat rack and heading to the door without a word. James knew immediately that something was not right with him. Not so much by his lack of greeting, or even the look on his face, but his very air about him. The way he moved, the way he breathed. Joe liked to act like there was nothing wrong and overcompensate when something was indeed quite wrong.

Just as Joe was about to reach for the front door, James called after him.

"Joe, what's the matter?"

His head bowed in defeat, and he sighed heavily.

"I'd rather not talk about it—you know that."

"And you know that I'm not about to let you walk out of here without telling me."

Joe turned his head and spoke over his shoulder. He said his words very simply, without emotion or feeling behind it.

"My father was the one who petitioned."

"Wait," James said, not quite getting his meaning. "Your father was the one who put the order in for your impeachment?"

Joe turned around and faked a good smile.

"Guess him and I are even now, huh? I took his little girl's life and now he takes mine. Not quite an even trade but I'll bet he's not through yet."

"Joe," James scolded him. He sighed, trying to find more words to say. "Your leadership is in question because your behavior is scaring us. I have to admit, I thought of petitioning myself. But I figure we're too close of friends for that."

Joe looked at his friend with a whole new light, turning to face him directly.

"Tell me," Joe commanded roughly. "Go ahead and tell me that you think I'm unstable and I'll step down."

"You can't step down from leadership, Joe."

"Why not?"

"Because you're too good at it." James stepped up to his face. "You've been leading us all our lives and all of a sudden I'm expected to be the boss? To make the decisions while you sit back with all that Power in you? I can't lie and say that I wouldn't like the honor, but the truth is… it was made for you. And that's exactly what I'm going to tell the council next week."

Joe looked at him with complete surprise, well, as much as his cool exterior would allow through.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"Yeah," James said, messing up his friend's hair as they stepped out the front door. "Stop dying your hair black, it's creeping me out."

-

Glenn ran a hand over his hair, frustrated at his own lack of concentration. He had gone from his dorm, to the school library, and now the local library, and still couldn't focus.

His mind was swarming with thought, on how he could get Rosie to dump Damien for him. It seemed virtually impossible without getting his butt kicked all the way to the west coast. What did she see in that jerk anyway? Sure, he was buff, rich, and handsome (in a really creepy sort of way), but other than that, what?

Glenn hadn't stopped daydreaming about her since they had met. She was everything he could want in a girl. All the other girls around here seemed tainted, with too many fingerprints. But Rosie, she was pretty in a sweet, cute and innocent sort of way. He hadn't been able to get her out of his head.

But he knew better than to try for her, no matter what the others encouraged. Glenn just wasn't that kind of guy.

"Wow!" he heard a voice say quietly, all of a sudden that very girl he had just swore off, was now sitting before him. "Fancy meeting you here!"

"Hi!" Glenn said with surprise. His mouth hung open after that, dumbfounded by her eyes, and no other words would come out. She smiled and blushed.

"Do you live around here?" she asked as she pushed her brown hair behind her ear.

Glenn nodded.

"Yeah, uh, just up at Spenser."

"Wow!" she said again. "Talk about a small world. Me too!"

"Really?" Glenn replied with even more shock. The first thought that came to mind was that his life was now officially over.

"Was the library too loud for you to study too?" she asked.

"Yeah," he confirmed with a nod. "Wait, if you live around here--"

"How is it that I'm with Damien?" she finished. "He drives out to see me all the time, and we just don't bring up school pride. It's not easy, but it works, you know?"

Glenn nodded and cast his eyes downward, not knowing what else to say. A blond with long hair and sharp features came up from behind Rosie and bent down to their level.

"Hey, Rose, who's this?" she asked intently.

"This is Glenn," Rosie introduced. "Glenn, this is Meredith Slater. Meredith, Glenn. We're off to a movie right now," she explained to him. "Did you want to tag along?"

Glenn had to admit, he was tempted. It seemed so innocent, just a movie with her and her friend. But anyone in their right mind would know better.

"I can't," he said with disappointment. "I have a lot of homework to do."

"Oh," she said with a furrowed brow and a nod. "I understand."

"Yeah, goodbye now," Meredith hinted sharply, practically dragging Rosie away. "We're going to miss the previews."

"Bye!" Rosie waved to Glenn. "I'll—I'll see you later!"

For the second time, Glenn watched that girl get pulled away from him. It was even more heartbreaking than the last, if possible. He wished he had never laid eyes on her.

Then again, he wished life could allow him to look at her forever. Hopefully the others were having a less complicated love life than he was…

-

You can see Rosalind on my Covenant album now, and also why I casted each person for each role. The link is on my profile page. Please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue