Edited on August 25, 2011.
Robby's hand flew to her forehead as she walked out of the room, Pogue on her heals.
Her face was scarlet red with embarrassment and she couldn't get the picture of Pogue's butt out of her mind. She felt like she had violated his privacy even though he had actually undressed in front of her.
But then again he had trusted her not to look. So really, she decided, she had invaded his privacy. And the fact that she had liked seeing him...naked...made the guilt all that stronger.
"So what had you so freaked out last night?" Pogue asked. His voice was low like he knew it had something to do with the Covenant.
Robby paused, slowing her footsteps so Pogue could catch up and walk beside her. Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to figure out a way to form her words.
She finally decided and turned her head towards him to look at him while she walked.
"You remember the guy that was in the woods that one day, the one that was chasing me? Well, last night in the bathroom, Sarah," she paused again. "You remember her don't you?"
After an annoyed nod from Pogue she continued.
"Well, she said that she felt like someone was watching her in the showers. So, all three of us went into the bathrooms to check it out. Reid said he didn't see anything so he and Sarah left. I was all alone and this voice...It was really creepy. Whoever it was, was saying how well I danced." Robby shuddered, remembering the fear that had come over her.
"So, anyway, it was just this voice. Nobody or anything and it carried on a little conversation with me before it faded away. I was really freaked out," she finished finally.
She took a deep breath before looking away from Pogue. She was already tired of seeing him look at her like she was crazy.
"That's weird..." he said slowly, his eyes darting every which way so he didn't have to look her in the eye.
"I'm serious, Pogue. I was tired last night but not that tired," Robby snapped back.
An awkward silence fell on the pair as they headed down a few flights of stairs and toward the exit. It wasn't that Robby didn't want to talk to him. It was just that, well, what was she supposed to say?
'Pogue, you have the nicest ass I've ever seen'? She figured that would blow over well.
Robby snorted but she didn't really realize she had done it out loud until Pogue turned to her with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh..." she trailed off, trying to find an excuse for her randomness.
"Whatever," Pogue said with an impassive expression and a wave of his hand. He was obviously waving off the oncoming conversation and Robby couldn't decide whether to feel hurt or grateful. Before she could ask him what she should have been feeling, though, he opened his mouth.
"You still have your leather?" He questioned, an eyebrow raised as he stopped in front of the doors that led out of the dorms.
"Yeah. Why?" She asked. This change of subject, she decided, wasn't any better than the one just a few seconds ago.
"Go get it. After my bikes fixed we'll go out on the country roads and have a bit of fun," was all he told her before he turned away and pushed open the doors. A gloomy glow swept over her and Robby held her hand in front of her eyes to keep herself from the glare that almost blinded her.
She sighed but turned around and raced back up the stairs anyway. The promise of racing in the country was enough to make her jump out a fifth story window in excitement. She loved the feel of Pogue's powerful machine between her legs, no pun intended.
After she had successfully grabbed her red and yellow leather jacket from her closet she raced back down the stairs. By the time she reached Pogue's bike, he had his helmet on and was ready to go.
"Are you sure it can make the trip in town?" she asked, letting the slick inside of her jacket slide against her skin to rest on her shoulders.
"Yeah," was Pogue's one word answer. She couldn't help but feel like something had happened in the amount of time they had woken up and the time that had passed until they left the dorms. Pogue was acting differently than he had been the night before. Colder, almost. And that was never good.
Pogue Parry, the hottest rebel of Spencer, had a very, very cold side, and you didn't want to be on the receiving end of it. The way Robby was going, she figured she would be on the wrong end in a very short amount of time.
She wondered if it had anything to do with the night before and the talk he had tried to have with her in the parking lot. She had waved him off and told him she was too tired.
But, she reasoned with herself, if it is about last night, why did he let her in his room in the first place? Wouldn't he have turned her away? Told her to go ask Reid or something?
Reid was, after all, closer to her room then he was. But that hadn't been the case at all, she admitted to herself with a heavy mental sigh.
He had just recently started acting like this. He had been fine that morning when he woke up and fine when they had walked out of his room. But as they kept walking he had gotten colder and stiffer.
This wasn't good.
Pogue's shoulders were stiff under her hands as she used them to help get on the back of the bike. She had gotten used to the uncomfortable position she always had to sit in when on a crotch rocket, but the way Pogue was sitting made it even more difficult.
When she had secured her arms around his waist they shot forward with break neck speed. Pogue wasn't worrying about crashing or cops or anything of the sort and Robby was glad he had told her to get her leather.
The picture of her own skin being torn off as they crashed made her shudder and hold tighter to him, her face hidden behind his shoulder. Her cheek rested on his cold leather jacket. She loved the smell of it. It still held the natural spell of leather but at the same time held a whiff of Pogue's cologne. She could never guess what it was, as he changed it every year and she never asked.
By the time they had reached the mechanic shop in town, Robby thought about throwing herself on the concrete face first and kissing it. That's how glad she was to see it with all her limbs still attached.
Pogue shook hands with a rather young looking mechanic who had a bit of stubble on his chin and short black hair matted to his head with sweat. They spoke a few words that Robby couldn't hear before they shook hands again. Pogue turned a few seconds later and walked by her, muttering something about walking around.
She reached out to grab his arm at the last second and Pogue turned to look at her over his shoulder.
"What's up?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow to stare at him quizzically.
"Nothing," he snapped, pulling his arm out of her grip. She tripped back with the force he had used and her eyes widened.
"Obviously something's up, Pogue. You've been treating me like crap since we left."
She tried her best to stare him down but when he turned around and she could see his eyes fully, she faltered and looked away. His eyes were colder then she had ever seen them, as if he was looking at a mortal enemy. They pierced her heart and she wanted to gasp at the pain that shot through her.
His eyes took on a daring look, then, a daring look that told her to try it. Just try and figure out what was going through his head. And for the first time in a long time, she was actually scared of what would happen if she did.
"Okay," she mumbled softly, finally turning away from him before shrugging off her jacket and making her way down the street. She wasn't really sure where she was going or what she wanted to do. She had expected to be spending the whole day with Pogue, but now that he was acting weird and treating her completely different, she knew that that wouldn't be happening.
A few minutes later she had made it a few blocks away. She guessed Pogue had either gone in a different direction then her, or had just stayed back at the shop. Either way, it still made her feel flushed, angry, confused, and sad all at the same time.
She paused when she heard screeching tires and turned just in time to see Aaron's blue Eclipse pull up next to her. He rolled down the window and gave her his earth shattering smile.
She thought about how many hearts he had won with just that one smile and how many detentions and suspensions he had gotten out of after flashing it at the female teachers.
And she couldn't help but wish she had fallen to his charms instead of Pogue's. Aaron had been after her for so long when they were younger but for some odd reason, Robby wasn't interested. He had flirted with her to no end and was always doing this and that to try and get her to go out with him. After countless turn downs, he had decided if he couldn't have her as a girlfriend, then he wanted her as a friend.
She could still remember how angry he had been when she and Pogue had finally gotten together. She had been ecstatic, yeah, but worried about what her brother would have said. When she had asked Aaron to help her out a bit and give her some tips on dating and what not, he had totally blown up on her.
Now she realized how easy life would have been if she had just succumbed to Aaron's charms instead. He was a womanizer now, but he had never been that way when they were younger. He had been sweet and persistent, always there when she needed him. There was no doubt in her mind that he would have been good to her.
Maybe she wouldn't have ended up as such a wreck.
"Hey," Aaron said, not breaking his smile as he leaned out his open window.
Robby forced a smile as she walked to the side of his car. She bent over and leaned her arms against the door before letting out a small sigh.
"Hey," she said softly. For once in her life she actually sounded defeated and she felt it, too.
"What's up?" He asked, his smile dropping from his face as he took in her still forced smile.
"Just Pogue," she told him hesitantly. She expected him to tense up and maybe utter a few curses and he didn't let her down.
"You always date the dicks," he said a few moments later. She could tell he had calmed down considerably but it took her a few seconds to realize he was joking around with her.
"I do not!" She cried, mocking hurt as she slapped him on the arm. He shook his head at her with a small smile before turning his attention to the road in front of him.
"Listen," Aaron started, his face serious and stone like. "I was heading home for a while before I go to Nicky's to meet up with some of the guys. You want to come?"
He looked bored now and Robby wondered if he really wanted her to come or if he was asking her out of pity. But then she realized that it was Aaron, her best friend, and let herself smile.
"I'm coming," she told him, jumping away from the driver's side to skip to the passenger's.
So the whole thing was forced. Big deal. She wasn't really happy and she didn't really want to go to Nicky's. But if being around Aaron made her feel better and less put down, then that's what she was going to do.
Not to mention a part of her was saying it would really piss Pogue off and she couldn't skip the chance to do that.
"What in the hell are you listening to?" Robby cried when she was finally buckled in and got situated. Some kind of pop slash rap stuff was blaring from his speakers and she almost laughed at the implied lyrics.
Before he could even answer her she was fiddling with his buttons and trying to find a decent station. Parts of songs started to come out of the speakers before she would change it again.
"Pick one already," Aaron said, a little annoyed as he peeled away from the curb and started towards the country. "You want to go home to get clothes?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow.
"You know me so well," she answered with a fake bright smile. She hoped, though, that he didn't notice it was fake.
Has someone taken your faith? Its real, the pain you feel The life, the love You die to heal The hope that starts The broken hearts You trust, you must Confess
Robby smiled, finally stopping on a radio station that was worth listening to. She turned to smile at Aaron before turning the volume up. She started to beat the rhythm on her thighs as she let the music blare from the speakers.
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you? Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you? I've got another confession my friend I'm no fool I'm getting tired of starting again Somewhere new Were you born to resist or be abused? I swear I'll never give in I refuse Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you? Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you? Has someone taken your faith? Its real, the pain you feel You trust, you must Confess Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you? Oh...
"Aww, it's over!" Robby pouted and turned the volume back down before starting to fiddle with the dial again.
"Oh, how sad," Aaron mocked. She could tell he was relieved to get rid of the song and the expression on his face made her laugh.
"Let's go!" Robby yelled from Aaron's car. Her head was pounding for some excitement and Aaron was taking forever to lock up his stupid mansion. She was ready to head to Nicky's and do something.
After spending a little time with Aaron she had started to feel considerably better but the way Pogue had acted still haunted her thoughts. Not to mention the fact that someone was Using and taunting her.
She could have sworn she saw some sort of darkling through the mirror in the bathroom at Aaron's when she had gotten out of the shower but it had disappeared when she turned around to get a better look.
"Put a sock in it!" Aaron yelled back suddenly. He was finally making his way down the walk, though, and she smiled at him with triumph. She couldn't help but notice the way his jaw muscles stuck out when he clenched it in anger and it made her smile widen. The boy had some pretty good features…
"Don't even think about touching the radio or I'm going to cut off your hand," Aaron snapped when he got in the car. Robby looked at him in mock shock before shaking her head with a soft 'tsk'ing noise.
"That's attractive," she told him sarcastically. She let her hand hang out the window as she turned her head to face the other direction. The car gave off a low purr when Aaron finally started it up and she was reminded of why she loved it so much. Despite the fact that it was her favorite color, she had loved the car the first time she had set eyes on it. Aaron had bought it a few weeks before she had moved away and she had only gotten to ride in it a few times.
She had joked with Aaron when she left that she was going to miss his car more than him. She could still see the offended look he had given her.
They were speeding down the back roads before she knew it and the trees from the woods were passing quickly. They were now a rush of green, black, blue, and brown and Robby took the time to study them as they all fuzzed together.
It was actually really pretty…until something caught her attention.
She squinted and stuck her head out the window some more. It looked like that darkling she could have sworn she saw in the bathroom and when she looked closer she could almost put a face to the thing that stood in the woods. It was like the thing was floating as fast as they were but it wasn't going fuzzy like the trees. It was creepy.
A few seconds later she decided it actually was a darkling and that she couldn't ignore it anymore. She had to tell Caleb when she saw him.
"Earth to Robby!" Aaron snapped. Robby's attention turned to him quickly, her eyes reluctant to leave the scenery in front of her even though it had long sense been replaced by a large brick building.
"We're here and how you didn't notice is beyond me," Aaron joked as he opened his car door.
"Why are you so mean to me?" Robby pouted, hoping to pull off her act. It was bugging her, the darkling, but it wasn't like she could just turn to Aaron and tell him about it.
"Cause it's easy," Aaron answered slowly, giving her a suspicious look as he held out his hand to her. She shook her head with yet another forced smile before linking their hands together and letting him lead her towards the 'bar'. The place was packed and smelled like smoke and sweat. It was a typical night for Ipswich's teenage community, really. But that wasn't going to stop Robby from at least trying to have a fun time.
The Sons were most definitely going to be at Nicky's if they weren't already, which would make having a decent time really hard, especially if Tyler felt the need to look after her every move. Not to mention the little feud Reid and Aaron always had going on.
And Robby wasn't even going to think about Pogue. She just couldn't bare it.
Trying to get Pogue's attention again but still somehow avoiding the dreaded 'talk' was like pouring raindrops back into the clouds, which was, to say the least, impossible.
Aaron squeezed her hand and practically drug her towards a table near the pool tables. She remembered from when they were younger that that spot was where Aaron liked to hang out.
He was always trying to hustle someone in pool and his whole entire 'gang' of friends was always backing him up. Most of the time it just amused Robby but sometimes Aaron got into a game with the wrong people. Sure, there wasn't anything she could do about it, but that didn't stop her from worrying.
By the looks of it he hasn't changed, Robby thought as she took a seat in the darkest place she could find. She was pretty much planning on sitting there the whole night, trying to go unnoticed by anyone that had anything to do with the Sons.
Damn near impossible, that was!
"What do you want to drink?" Aaron asked, his eyes trailing around the pub. She wasn't sure if he was looking for a certain girl or if he was looking for someone to hustle, but either way it made her laugh.
"I just want a Pepsi," she told him with a firm nod of her head. She knew he was going to try and talk her into drinking something stronger, since he always managed to get it, but she wasn't in the mood to fight with him.
"Actually," he started after a few seconds of just standing there, "can you go get them? There's this girl over there…" his voice trailed off as he left Robby behind, all by her onesies. She scoffed, not even giving it a second thought as she threw herself out of the chair and through the crowd towards the bar.
"Hey Nicky!" She yelled, slapping her hand on the bar. She gave a wide grin when the 'bartender' finally looked up at her with a look of utter horror. She almost collapsed on the ground in a fit of laughter.
"Come on, Nick. We gotta leave that behind us. I know better now. You're way too old for me!"
She had been thirteen…or was that twelve?
She could still remember it clear as day. She had come in one day with her dad to get some burgers. It had been the first time she had been in the place and when she laid eyes on Nicky, everything else was lost.
She fell madly in love with him right there.
Now-a-days she blamed it on hormones but deep down inside she knew it was for a different reason. She wasn't sure what reason that was exactly, but it wasn't hormones.
Robby mock scoffed at the skeptical look he gave her and then turned it back into a grin.
"I just want a Pepsi!" She cried, sticking out her bottom lip a bit. Finally, the old man turned around with a clean glass in his hands.
She was about to start taunting him again when someone's elbow drove home into her stomach. She let out a sound between a groan and a gasp as she leant forward.
When she finally set eyes on the person closest to her, she tried to shake it off. It was some girl she didn't know and had no intention on knowing.
Why the hell would a stranger elbow her in the gut?
"Fuck!" She yelped when this time the elbow landed in a spot right over her ribs. A sharp pain charged through her lungs and she held her breath. She could tell her face was getting red, probably from a combination of lack of oxygen and anger.
"You did that on purpose!" She hissed, her hand grabbing onto the girl's shoulder to twirl her around.
Pogue let out a grunt as he shouldered his way through the crowd. His head was pounding from all the thoughts swimming inside of it. The jealous sort of rage burning in him over Kate wasn't helping anything either. He didn't exactly trust that Chase fellow. The guy had come out of nowhere and just jumped right into the whole 'social scene' and as far was Pogue was concerned, no one had invited him.
The fact that the guy was actually hitting on Pogue Parry's girl was just a bonus in pissing him off. He couldn't exactly say he didn't feel anything for Kate. They had been dating for a while and on certain levels he thought maybe he actually loved her. But then things would happen to make him seem not so sure anymore.
Tonight was one of those nights.
Walking in after that stupid little stunt with Robby to find his girlfriend flirting with another guy, well, anyone would have called that 'one of those nights'.
The fucker even had the nerve to mock me, he thought darkly. He found his eyes wondering down the backside of a pretty blonde as he passed and he couldn't help but smirk.
It was gone just a few seconds later.
His head had been driving him crazy all day. He had been fine that same morning but when he finally started talking to Robby and waking up, thoughts of the previous night had come back to him.
He had wanted to talk to Robby about everything that had happened before she left. He had wanted to tell her he still had feelings for her, no matter how he had acted back then. But she had brushed him off with the crappy reason of being tired. Being tired had never stopped her before and it was only at the mechanic shop that he finally came to realize she was just trying to avoid the discussion. She had known it was coming and the first excuse that came to her mind was the one she used.
He had honestly felt let down and a bit hurt. He felt like he wasn't even worth thinking up a good excuse for. But then again, it was Robby he was thinking about.
He had grown up with the girl, after all, and he had thought he'd known her like the back of his hand. The moment she walked back into his life had changed that.
He had seen her, standing there in a screaming match with Tyler, and he couldn't stop staring. Her eyes weren't even dancing with the fire of anger and rage like they used to. They were cold, colder than he had ever seen them before.
She had gotten good at hiding her feelings he had realized. And that thought made his heart ache and wonder if he was the cause of it all. He had hoped a thousand times over that she would have at least called him or maybe even Tyler, just to let them know she was alright, to let him know.
The thoughts running in his head were just so confusing. There was Kate and there was Robby and then there was Caleb Ascending.
And that new threat that was obviously out there.
He had retold Robby's story to Caleb and right in the middle of it Caleb had seen a darkling. If that hadn't been a sign that someone was after them, he didn't know what was.
He reached the counter finally. His eyes were narrowed as he stared at the scene in front of him.
He recognized that ass.
He watched with vague interest as the girl next to her jabbed her in the side with an elbow. He wanted to snort with laughter but he stopped himself just in time to watch Robby shoot a quick glance at the girl before turning round again.
A few seconds later the same girl jammed her elbow right into Robby's ribs. He winced visibly, knowing that it had to have hurt. He had taken a few elbows to the ribs in his day and they weren't fun.
By the time he turned his attention back to Robby, she had her hand clenched around the girl's shoulder and she looked very pissed off.
His feet carried him forward before he could even think about it and he latched onto her arm, pulling her back against him. The girl who had elbowed her gave him an astonished look before looking a bit frightened and hurrying away. He couldn't help but roll his eyes as he ushered Robby forward.
"For once in your short life," a deep, annoyed voice said, "try and stay out of trouble!"
