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Chapter 7:

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Reid stepped out of the registration office to see that Elle was sitting outside waiting for her appointment to register as well. He smirked to himself, loving the sight of her again, feeling like he hadn't seen her in ages. She still had the same worried face, the same mahogany-colored hair, the same baby-blue eyes. She looked so beautiful even doing something as simple as sitting on a waiting bench, unknowing he was standing ahead of her and staring quite appraisingly.

But the thought of what had happened the other day made him sick to his stomach. Sure, he had thought those horrible things in his frustrated mind before, but never so harshly. And never would he even consider saying these evil thoughts to her. Now, somehow, he couldn't control it when it finally came out. He had become what he had always tried to protect her from. He had never regretting anything more in his life, if he had ever regretting anything at all.

When he had taken his fill of the view, he stepped up to her and announced his presence.

"Hey, lady," he said with a smooth smile. He showed her his college I.D. card, flashing it like a police badge. "Check it. I'm official."

She acted like she hadn't heard him. It hurt, but he tried again anyway.

"So are you going to transfer over here with me, or what?"

"I told you not to come near me again," she reminded him coldly.

Reid bent down to her level, but still she refused to look at him.

"But that's kind of hard for me, seeing as I like you so damn much."

"Then I'll make it easy for you," she retorted. "I'll go back to Connecticut tomorrow."

Reid sighed in frustration and took a seat next to her. She turned away from him immediately, so he leaned forward trying to catch her eye.

"I said I was sorry," he insisted. "Let me off the hook already."

"Sorry doesn't make right what happened. You said yourself that it was the real you, even if it was an eviler side."

Reid grabbed her chin to make her look at him.

"That wasn't me, woman… shit… You need get that through your thick skull right now. This is the real Reid Garwin, and the real me demands you stay right here."

"Reid--"

"Nope!" he interrupted, shaking her face slightly for emphasis. "I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. You deal with it."

She frowned, sighed heavily, and took a hold of the hand that was holding her chin. She paused for a moment, stroking his hand gently with hers, as if checking if he was real.

"I don't understand what's going on…" she admitted. "But I believe you because… I have to. Between having you back and evil and having you dead, I'll choose having you back any day."

"You and me both," he agreed. "But I think I can beat this. First, we have to figure out what it is that triggers my evil twin to come out and play. Caleb's all over that right now."

He smirked in amusement, as if recalling a funny memory.

"He's telling everyone I'm dangerous—can you imagine that?"

She put her hand on his face next, smiling shakily.

"I can't believe you're actually sitting here talking to me. I've missed you like crazy."

"Yeah, I know," he replied with another smug half-smile, then danced his fingers above her head like she was a marionette. "Jump through the hoops, my puppet, that's it, jump through…"

Elle frowned at his joke, giving him a look of warning.

"Watch it, Garwin… I'm not saying I'm not still pissed at you."

"Elle Bishop?" the lady behind the admissions desk called out.

Elle blushed with embarrassment for a moment, as Reid raised his eyebrows expectantly at this new development: she never was going to leave him, hell, she had even made an appointment with the registration office to enroll with him! He couldn't help but smirk arrogantly at her, knowing he had had been right. Elle just quickly kissed her man on the cheek and got up to answer the call.

"Shut up," she commanded him, and left.

"Reid!" Tyler called from outside the door, waving him over to him. Reid opened the door and stepped out of the office, fearing Tyler might have a heart attack if he wasn't answered soon.

"Are you all registered and everything?" Tyler said quickly, a wide smile breaking out on his face. Reid nodded, still confused. Tyler was acting like he was on fifty cans of Red Bull.

"Okay, you have to come with me. You have no idea what fine specimen I quite literally ran into the other day, and who's currently meeting me at the dorm to return my shirt."

Reid raised an eyebrow.

"Your shirt?"

"Long story. I'll show her to you only if you promise not to hit on her."

"What the hell are you talking about, Ty?" Reid huffed. "I'm already on the rocks with Elle; I'm not about to go make it worse. Besides, the last time you bragged about some hot chick she ended up looking like my mother. Which I still find creepy, by the way."

"Trust me," Tyler assured him with an even wider smile. "This is the real deal."

Tyler lead Reid across campus and back to the dorm halls, and as they climbed the stairway, Tyler started up again.

"Okay," he said, grabbing Reid to make sure he didn't walk any further. "You remember back in the beginning of Senior year, when we used to do the 'panty bets'?"

"Sure."

"And you remember the infamous 'commando' girl that Pogue won for?"

Reid smirked fondly.

"How could I forget?"

Tyler turned Reid around to guide him toward the sight.

"Yeah, well, her name is Layla."

Reid nearly fell over himself as he spotted the girl, the angel in tight clothing, the long legs, the skinny waist, the big boobs and, let's not forget, one especially fine ass. Choking on his own saliva, Reid hissed out:

"Holy shit!"

"Yeah…!" Tyler nodded in agreement. "See what I mean? In the middle of the night I woke up and remembered her from that day at 'Nicky's'. Small world, huh?"

Reid took a moment to regain his composure, and slung an arm around Tyler's shoulders.

"For once, my good man," he said gratefully. "You are correct. I owe you one."

"You said you wouldn't hit on her!"

Reid shrugged and stalked off in the girl's direction.

"Yeah, well, I've never been known for my honesty."

"One word, Reid," Tyler called. "Elle."

Reid stopped in his tracks, very abruptly. Layla, who by now had noticed the two boys in the distance, watched in confusion.

Reid about-faced and angrily stormed off back the way he had come, growling at Tyler as he passed:

"Must you be my conscience?"

"Well, seeing as you don't have one of your own…" Tyler shot back through a triumphant smile. "Consider us now even for the whole 'Elle' ordeal…"

"Hey, Tyler," Layla said when she finally walked up to him. She spotted Reid hurriedly stomping down the stairs. "Where's handsome off to in such a hurry?"

"Probably back to his girlfriend," Tyler answered hurriedly, hoping to discourage Layla's interest. "They're really serious, you know…"

"I see," she said with a nod, seeming disappointed. "What about your roommate? The tall one?"

"Taken too."

"And Gabe's roommate… Pogue?"

"He's married."

She nodded again, looking unsure if she believed him. After a moment, she put her suspicions aside and held out his shirt.

"I washed it for you," she explained. "But I'm sorry if it still might smell a little girly. I'm a compulsive lotioner."

The door to Tyler's room opened, and Caleb stepped out to find the two standing before the doorway.

"It's—I'm sure it's fine," Tyler stumbled over his words, suddenly nervous in front of his close friend. He wiggled his eyebrows at Tyler, as if Tyler wasn't embarrassed enough.

"Who's this?" Caleb asked in a taunting tone. He held his hand out for the lady politely. "Caleb Danvers."

She seemed surprised.

"You're Caleb Danvers?" she looked him over from toes to hair. "What, is being ridiculously handsome part of the 'Power' deal for the four of you?"

Caleb seemed a little surprised at her flirting, and took a moment to gather his words. Tyler frowned, feeling that all too familiar feeling of jealousy creeping up on him. He quickly stepped up to the plate.

"Hey, Layla, Caleb and I were just going to go for some java, I mean, you can come if you like."

"Sure thing," she agreed with a nod.

"Uh," Caleb said, having seconds thoughts. He looked at Layla and her huge, hopeful brown eyes and reconsidered. "You kids go ahead. I just remembered I have somewhere to be."

"Aw, too bad," Layla fake pouted, and turned back to Tyler. "Guess it's just me and you!"

Tyler was beaming now, utterly grateful at his friend's decision to bail out.

"Guess so!" he agreed, and began to walk off with her, turning his head over his shoulder and mouthing a big 'thank you' to Caleb, followed by a wink and a good 'thumbs-up'.

Caleb smirked and shook his head at his friend, then turned around and left, walking down the hall in long strides.

In the darkness, Gabriel stepped out from around a corner, watching Caleb intently for a moment, as if making sure he was clear of him. He then looked back the way Tyler and Layla had gone, and glared suspiciously.

Then Gabriel quickly and silently padded down the stairway, with the full intention to follow them.

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Pic of Gabriel now up on my Cov gallery. Comments are most appreciated. Obviously, if you wish to see Layla, watch the bar scene in the movie again. Oh yes, and please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue