Chapter 19: Detained
Aubrey bolted into an upright position, breathing heavy, heart racing. Her eyes wandered around her dorm room. Val was asleep in her bed, the blaring red lights on the alarm red four a.m. So it was no surprise Val was still asleep.
Deciding that she'd rather stay awake, then go back to the hell of her nightmares Aubrey slipped from her bed and grabbed her showering bag. Silently she crept out of the dorm room door and headed for the girls showers just down the hall. A soft chill ran up her spine and she circled around making sure no one was behind her. The halls were still dark and unpopulated, it being such an early hour and all. So Aubrey continued on her way.
When she reached the showers she set her bag down in the changing space of her chosen shower stall and then shut the glass shower door behind her. Slipping out of Reid's shirt and her shorts she folded them neatly and set them on the small bench. She turned the shower on, grimacing at first as cold water poured out the first few seconds and then gave way to hotter more relaxing water.
The stall began to steam up as she washed her hair and then scrubbed down her soft pale skin. When the soupy residue was completely wash away from her hair and body Aubrey simply enjoyed the heated water pouring down on her nerve racked body.
The dreams still came, every night now and they'd just gotten worse over the last two days. Tomorrow would be Reid's birthday and Aubrey shuttered to think what would happen. The last four days had come and gone rather quickly. Aubrey had spoken with Caleb after he insisted on talking to her about the dreams.
Flash back:
"I'm telling you they are more real than you can imagine. And every time it just gets worse. They've become so gruesome I don't want to sleep." Aubrey told him. She was sitting on the hood of Reid's camaro, the group gathered up on the cliffs over looking the dells. Reid was sitting behind her arms securely around her waist as if protecting her from the unknown force that haunted her.
Sarah and Caleb stood arms around each other's waist, Kate and Pogue holding hands to the side and Tyler was leaning against the side of the camaro.
"Have you ever had dreams like this before?" Aubrey wanted to scream her lungs out at Caleb's question, but settled for glaring at him.
"Are you trying to say I have repressed issues from when I was a child?" She growled.
Caleb sighed. "All I'm saying..."
"All your saying...jesus none of you want to even ponder the fact that he might actually be coming back." Aubrey practically yelled. "If he comes and Reid dies, I'm gonna kill you."
Reid pulled her back since she was leaning intimidatingly towards Caleb. "She doesn't mean that." He said. "She's sleep deprived."
"No I mean it." Aubrey snarled.
Caleb released a heavy sigh hanging his head. "I'll look into it."
Aubrey moved out of Reid's arms and carefully got off the hood of the camaro. "Oh you'll look into it. I feel so much better." She bit out sarcastically and walked away from the group.
Reid started to go after her and Sarah stopped him. "Don't, I'll go." She said giving him a small smile.
He sighed and looked at Caleb. "She's just sleep deprived, really I don't think she could hurt anyone."
Kate gave him a look. "You obviously don't know what a pissed off girl is capable of."
Kate followed after Sarah and they both caught up to the angry Aubrey who was quietly ranting into the empty air. "Aubrey I understand where you're coming from, but you really shouldn't take this out on Caleb."
Aubrey sighed and crouched down leaning back against a tree head looking to the sky. "I know." The tears started to come. "I'm just tired of waking up after seeing my boyfriend a bloody mess. One night it was a slashed out throat, the next his entire insides were outside. It was just so...bloody."
Sarah crouched down with her and put her arm around her shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"That can't happen, Reid's my life. He's the biggest part of my world, I wouldn't be me without him." Aubrey said soft tears falling from her eyes.
"I know what you mean. I can't imagine my life without Pogue." Kate murmured looking down at the two crouching girls.
Sarah nodded. "Me too. Caleb's my better half he makes me feel like I deserve the world." She added with a small smile.
"See, so why is it so hard for them to accept that he might be back?" Aubrey said sniffling and bringing her head down.
Kate knelt in front of her. "Cause he ruined so much and endangered to many years of a well kept secret, it terrifies them that it might not be over. That yet again they might end up being exposed because of him."
Aubrey inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "I get that, I do. But this is not some issue I repressed as a child. They need to accept that he's coming back or is back and they need to do something, before he goes after Reid or Tyler."
"And we will." The girls looked over to find all four standing a few steps away. Caleb stepped forward looking down at Aubrey and followed her eyes as she stood. "But we can't do anything till he reveals himself or his plan."
Aubrey nodded as Reid crept to her side putting his arms around her waist. "Yeah I was afraid you'd say that."
"From now on, the girls go nowhere without one of us." Pogue stated. "I don't trust him not to go after Kate and Sarah for revenge."
Caleb nodded his head in agreement. "Kate, Sarah, Aubrey Pogue's right you shouldn't go anywhere without one of us."
"We can't stick together twenty-four seven." Aubrey said.
Reid smirked kissing at her neck. "I'll stick to you like white on rice."
The girls giggled. "That was the cheesiest thing I've ever heard you say Reid." Kate laughed walking over and standing next to Pogue.
Sarah wrapped her arms around Caleb's waist resting her temple on his chest lightly. Aubrey looked over her shoulder at him and grinned. "Like white on Rice?"
"Yeah." Reid smirked.
Aubrey shook her head. "You nut-case. Look, I'll agree that if we aren't at the school we should have one of you with us."
"Fine." The guys agreed with a nod.
"Shit." Aubrey sighed. "How am I supposed to birthday shop for Reid if he's with me?"
"I'll take you." Tyler offered.
Aubrey made a face. Sarah smiled. "How about just one afternoon you let us shop alone. There'll be four of us."
Caleb looked to Pogue who looked to Reid who shrugged and looked at Tyler. "I don't see how that could be a problem, I mean he can't really snatch all of you at the same time."
"Great we're agreed then, us girls we'll leave school early and go shopping for Reid on his birthday." Kate said. "Now can we please leave the creepy woods?"
The group collectively headed back to their cars.
End Flash back
When the water started to lose it's desired effect Aubrey shut the shower head off and grabbed her towel from her bag. She dried her body slightly and wrapped the towel loosely around her frame. Snagging her shower bag she made her way out of the stall, holding her pajamas in hand as she walked over to the mirrors. She placed her belongings on the counter and decided since she wasn't going back to sleep she would just get ready for classes. Aubrey brushed out her hair, noticing that her purple highlights were fading once again.
When her hair was tangle free she brushed her teeth and then headed out into the hall to go back to her dorm room.
Aubrey noticed that some of the swim team members were up and about, extra practice in the morning, for the swimmers that the coach wasn't fond of. With a soft giggle Aubrey went to Reid's dorm instead and knocked lightly.
The door opened to reveal and sleepy Tyler Simms in nothing but sweat pants and you could see the rim of his speedo. "Morning Aubrey." He said lightly with a smile.
"Having trouble?"
Tyler groaned. "Yes, he wont get up. Coach has been extra hard on us the last week, since Finals are coming up next month before spring break."
"Go. I'll get him up." Tyler grinned. "Don't look at me like that. I promise he wont be late."
"Uh huh, sure." Tyler laughed lightly grabbing a shirt from his desk chair and slipping it on. "Behave." He smirked grabbing his swim duffel and walking out the door leaving Aubrey to close it behind him.
She set her shower bag by Reid's desk and walked over to his bed. With a smirk she removed her towel and slowly lay herself under the covers with Reid. Reid mumbled under his breath and shifted in his sleep. Aubrey managed to get half of her body tucked under his lean frame and her hand came up playing over the shell of his ear slightly.
His face burrowed deeper in to his pillow and Aubrey giggled lightly. She rolled a little pressing her bare front against his exposed torso. Reid slept in boxers, most of the time. He mumbled something in to his pillow, his head turning slightly, face brushing against Aubrey's collarbone. "Reid, baby wake up." Aubrey said lightly.
"Fif mur mints." He muttered into her skin. Aubrey knew he wasn't anywhere near awake, but his hand was traveling up her side and she grinned.
"Reid wake up." She said in a more firm tone.
She felt the flutter of his lashes, before his head lifted slightly. Eyes squinted and he groaned. "You aren't Scarlett." He muttered.
Aubrey gasped an appalled grin on her face at the comment he'd made. She shoved him and moved to get out of the bed. "You jerk."
Reid chuckled lightly wrapping his arms securely around her waist pulling her back in to him. "I was kidding." He yawned.
"Well that wasn't funny." She said trying not to grin.
"I'm sorry." He murmured kissing the blade of her shoulder lightly. "This is a pleasant wake up."
"Yeah well..." Aubrey rolled towards him. "Mine wasn't."
Reid knew what she meant and moved in giving her a soft kiss. "I'm sorry Sweets."
"Me too." She yawned. "I don't want to go back to sleep."
"Well you could come watch practice." Reid offered quietly stroking her hair.
Aubrey gave him a small smile. "Hmm... I'd like that. I haven't been to a practice in a while now. Guess I gotta cheer you on."
"As long as your with me at my meets, I don't really care about practice." Reid told her surely.
"Is my extra uniform still in your closet?" Aubrey asked.
Reid nodded. "Yep."
"So what's been the talk in the locker room about me?" Aubrey asked standing unabashed about her nudity and went over to Reid's closet.
Knowingly Reid chuckled. "Abbot's made it well known what Nicky said the other night. Some guys are terrified to even check you out now, afraid Nicky will find out."
Aubrey giggled. "Really, didn't know they checked me out before."
"Of course they do." Reid stepped up behind her wrapping his arms around her bare body as she dug through his dresser drawer in search of panties to wear, she knew she'd left some there just in case. "Second drawer down Sweets. And they check you out because you're hot."
"Yeah, now." Aubrey murmured.
Reid kissed her shoulder as she proceeded to open the correct dresser. "They're shallow, but it doesn't matter you're mine they aren't allowed to touch you."
Aubrey giggled. "I didn't realized 'property of Reid' was tattooed on my ass."
"It's not but we could most certainly change that." He joked lightly his hands running down the front of her thighs.
"You wish." She pulled out a pair of brown with white polka dot panties and a matching bra. Reid moved his hands back up to her abdomen and pressed his lips lightly along her neck.
"Movie tonight?" Reid asked.
Aubrey slipped in to her panties and slipped the straps of her bra over her arms. Reid grabbed the fastening straps and did them up without being asked, since Aubrey had asked him on other occasions to do so. "Maybe." She said lightly turning around and looking at him. "Anything not gory playing right now? I honestly don't think I could stomach it right now."
Reid pulled her body close kissing her forehead. "How about we stay in then and play monopoly?" Aubrey giggled. He was trying to cheer her up and that was just what she needed. The mental image of Reid Garwin playing monopoly was just incredibly funny. "And if you run out of fake cash you can pay the banker with clothes." He grinned.
This made Aubrey full out laugh resting her forehead on his shoulder trying to catch her breath. Reid chuckled lightly, happy that he'd gotten her to laugh. She hadn't laughed like this is days. When Aubrey finally managed to get herself in control she looked up at him with the sweetest calmest smile. "You know that doesn't sound half bad. Don't forget the girls and I are going shopping today after classes." She said kissing him lightly and then letting him go and making her way to the closet to retrieve her uniform.
"Have I told you how uncomfortable I am with that idea? Chase still hasn't made a move and it really worries me. He should've done something by now." Reid said with concern.
Aubrey pulled her uniform from the closet and turned back to him as she headed back over to his bed to dress. "Yes, you've voiced that particular concern for two days now. It'll be fine he can't nap all of us together. Jack will be there, Sarah and Kate I think we'll be fine."
"Aubrey..."
"Reid I promise everything will be fine. Now you need to get to practice." Aubrey said looking over her shoulder at him and giving him the look that said it was final.
Reid groaned and made his way in to the bathroom. "I hate early practice he complained not even bothering to shut the door as he changed out of his boxers in to the speedo he had hanging over the towel bar.
Aubrey slipped on her white oxford shirt and began buttoning it with a quick roll of her eyes. "Yeah you joined the team though."
"Dad thinks it'll help me get in to college." Reid chuckled lightly making his way to his dresser and grabbing out a pair of sweats and a white shirt.
"You mean you haven't told them?" Aubrey asked.
Reid turned casting a glance over his shoulder at her as he put his pants on. "No. Dad thinks I applied to Boston U, Dartmouth, Princeton, Harvard, Brown and UCLA just for laughs, but I haven't told him I never sent in those applications."
"Reid, you have to tell them. I don't think they are going to be upset."
"You don't know my parents. They've eased up a lot with you around, but their still my parents. And as a Garwin I'm supposed to take my father's place in his business someday, but I just don't want that. He's going to be mad, so I'm waiting till graduation to tell him."
"Reid..."
"Aubrey please don't. I already know it's going to disappoint them that I'm not going to an actual school I don't want you disappointed that I'm taking my time to tell them." Reid said after slipping the shirt over his head. He slipped on his canvas chucks and turned towards her.
Aubrey moved forward, letting her untucked shirt hang over her plaid skirt. She lifted her hand and placed it on his cheek. "I'm not disappointed. Don't ever think that. I just think you need to talk to them about your plan. If they want whats best for you then they'll support you."
"I highly doubt they'll support me in this." Reid murmured kissing her hand lightly. "I have to go." He kissed her lips quickly and then grabbed his swim duffle from the floor and left the room.
Aubrey sighed and started to finish redying herself for school. After tucking in her shirt and putting on her sweater vest and tight she slipped her blazer on and grabbed her black ballet flats from Reid's closet. Upon looking inside she found his both his uniforms still hanging. Two uniforms was regulation at school, in case something should happen to one they always had a spare.
Sighing to herself with a smile Aubrey pulled the uniform from the closer and laid it out on the bed. She folded each piece careful not to cause many wrinkles and then slipped them in an old handle bag from pacsun that Tyler had sitting on his side of the room. She quickly brushed out her hair and used some of Tyler's hair gel to calm the frizzy curls before heading out of the room with the bag in hand.
Her school things were in her locker so she wouldn't have to worry about that. Making her way out of the dorms to the rec building Aubrey briskly walked to get out of the cool spring morning air.
Once inside the building she headed straight from the pool and found Reid warming up with the others.
"Reid!" She called walking in the door. Reid's head lifted and he smiled at her.
Aubrey gave him a playful grin holding up the bag and Reid jogged over around the other swim team members. "What's this? Kinky outfit for my birthday?" He joked lightly.
"No." Aubrey rolled her eyes and handed him the bag. "Your uniform that you forgot."
Reid looked inside to indeed find his uniform. "You in my uniform could be considered kinky so I was right." He whispered to her.
Aubrey shook her head but couldn't fight the smile playing on her lips. "Your coach is giving me the stink eye so I suggest you take your uniform and I'll go sit with Sarah over there." Aubrey pointed to Sarah who was indeed seated on the bleachers across from the boys.
Reid gave her a soft kiss. "Thanks."
"Welcome." She murmured and went to sit with Sarah.
"Morning." Sarah chimed brightly.
Aubrey smiled back. "Morning. Good night?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Not really." Aubrey muttered.
"The dream again?"
"Yeah."
Sarah sighed. "I wish I could say I sympathize but if it's really him he's gotten even crueler with you than he ever was with me. I had one nightmare about spiders and that was it."
"It's ok. I'm dealing with it. And let's face it tomorrows Reid's birthday and if he doesn't show, than maybe the dreams will stop."
Sarah nodded. "I know that's kind of what worries me and relieves me at the same time?"
"What do you mean?" Aubrey asked.
"Well, I really didn't know much about them until that dream caused me to do research. Ty's birthday is in May what if..." Sarah trailed off as a swim team member walked by them to the block.
"Worried about Jack?" Aubrey asked watching as the boys lined themselves up for a quick five lap dash.
Sarah looked over at Aubrey and nodded again. "Yeah."
"Me too." Aubrey said. They watched the four boys lined up on the blocks dive in to the pool at the sound of the coaches whistle and swim quickly down to the other end of the pool. This continued for a while.
That Afternoon:
"I don't know what to get him you guys." Aubrey said milling around the mall in Boston with Jack, Sarah and Kate at either side of her.
Kate looked over at her and grinned. "Get yourself something sexy and model it for him. I do that for Pogue."
"Oh ew Kate we don't need to know about your kinky bedroom behavior." Jack teased shoving her. The beautiful blond was fitting in well with the girls and Tyler was simply falling for her.
"What?" Kate laughed. "I'm just saying."
Aubrey shook her head. "I don't think so."
"Ok how about a watch. We all know that boy is never on time." Sarah joked.
"A watch wont help that." Kate concluded.
The girls tossed out random ideas for twenty minutes before taking a table in the food court and just sitting no shopping bags in hands only their purses. Aubrey sighed her head rested in her hand, elbow propped up by the table. "I think that lingerie is sounding better and better." She said defeated.
Aubrey was never good at buying gifts for Reid. The last few times had just been lucky, but now she was seriously out of ideas and nothing was jumping out at her screaming Reid.
"Wait what about getting him a book." Sarah said.
Aubrey laughed. "He's not Caleb Sarah."
"No, I mean a book like a scrapbook. You guys have tons of pictures we could help you scrounge up a scrapbook tonight."
"I don't really think Reid would appreciate that." Kate said lightly.
Aubrey nodded. Sarah huffed and gave them a playfully annoyed look. "He will if the last page is blank with a post-it that says something like 'I'll pose for you tonight.'"
Kate and Jack both grinned. "Oh my god that's perfect." Jack said and then looked at Aubrey.
"Guys..." She said pleadingly. "Come on I'm not sexy."
"Reid thinks you are and that's all that matters." Kate told her. "Now come on what else have we got. You'll do a scrapbook and buy some lingerie it's perfect."
Aubrey thought about her other options. Really she had none. This was a good idea she had to admit she was just wary. She told Reid she wouldn't dress up to turn him on and what was she doing, buying lingerie. Then something hit her, something she'd said to him. "I have a better idea." She grinned.
After they finished shopping for Reid's presents Aubrey and the girls decided to do a little shopping of their own and headed in to Macy's. "Aubrey that is so cute you have to try it on." Jack said shoving the dress in to her hands. It was a slinky black number and Aubrey thought it might be cute with some leggings and flats for a night out with Reid at some point so she headed in to the dressing rooms and switched her street attire for the expensive dress. When she looked up in the mirror she about screamed seeing none other than Chase standing behind her.
Chase wrapped his hand around her mouth turning her around and slamming her against the mirror. "Aubrey you alright in there?" Kate called from outside the room.
Aubrey watched horrified as he smirked. "I'm fine, just stumbled in to the wall." He spoke, but in Aubrey's voice.
"Ok, well Sarah, Jack and I are going up to the second floor Sarah needs some new towels. Text us when you come out and we'll tell you where we are."
"Ok." Chase said still with Aubrey's voice. They heard Kate's steps fade away and Aubrey began to struggle against Chase's hold. He chuckled mirthlessly. "Little red riding hood cried wolf and alerted the fag four to my presence. This was the only time I could snag little red." He said in his own voice. Aubrey bit in to his hand and he cried out releasing her mouth. "You bitch." He hissed.
Aubrey tried to get around him but he just slammed her back in to the mirror, the glass cracking under the pressure. "What do you want?" She bit out.
Chase grinned and laughed again no joy in it at all, just evil. "I want power. I want youth and I'm going to get that from Reid."
"No." Aubrey shook her head angry tears leaking from her eyes.
"Yes." Chase leaned close his lips just centimeters from her own. "You know you're really something. I honestly believed you and Reid were through, I could've used you to get to him and bided my time instead of going after Caleb, who I will give credit to is strong, not as strong as me let's face it I'm still here. But he his stronger than Reid. Reid's weak."
Aubrey pushed against him but he didn't budge. "He is not weak."
"Feisty. I like that." He moved in to kiss her and Aubrey turned her head.
"Not in a million years." Aubrey growled. He grabbed her chin forcing her to face him and he pressed his lips on hers forcefully.
Aubrey was repulsed as he forced his tongue into her mouth. She bit down and he jumped back growling at her. "Wrong move." With a lightning fast reflex Aubrey had never seen her lunged forward grabbing her by the throat and her eyes closed for a split second and when they opened they were in what looked to be an old abandoned house. "Like my new digs." He dropped her to the floor and Aubrey gasped for breath crawling to get away from him. "Yeah it's nothing like the rich Spencer dorms but it's homey." He bit out in evil sarcasm.
"They'll..." Chase shoved her sidekick under her nose and growled deep in his throat.
"Text the girls, tell them something came up and you had to leave." He said angrily.
"No." Aubrey defied.
Chase laughed viciously. "No? No? Seriously you told me no. I can skin you alive and you said no?" He stood kicking her in the ribs making her roll and fall to her back with a cry of pain. She definitely felt something crack. It hurt so bad. "Do it." He snapped shoving the phone in to her hand.
"No." Aubrey murmured in pain.
"You really are a glutton for punishment aren't you Aubrey Higgins?" He said an evil glint in his eye as a smirk formed on his lips, he hovered over her and watched her. Aubrey breathed heavily from the pain. "How about this...Either you do it and I strap you down to a chair or you make me do it and I strap you to my bed and punish you in a more physical manor." He growled and he sounded almost aroused at the idea.
Aubrey wanted to gag at even the thought. "Why aren't you doing it in the first place?" Aubrey tried rolling over and getting up but Chase kicked her shoulder and held her down crushing her torso in to the floor. Aubrey bit her lip not to cry out at the pain it was causing. When he kicked her shoulder it felt like something popped out of place.
"Mannerisms, it wont sound like you." Chase said casually. "Even I can't mimic text messages. Girls have their own code and guys are not privy to it." Aubrey scoffed and he stepped in to her shoulder harder. "Do it." He yelled.
"Alright, get off!" She cried out in pain.
Chase lifted his foot and Aubrey slowly gathered herself to her knees. "Almost a shame really, I was looking forward to spanking you. I still might." He grinned as Aubrey flipped the screen on her phone and began to text message the girls. "And don't even think about sending something to lover boy got it. I'll talk to him shortly, after you're detained." He smirked deviously and a shiver ran up Aubrey's spine casting a glance at him.
"There." She sent what she'd typed in and Chase snagged her phone. He flipped it open and searched.
When he read what she sent his eyes flashed fire bleeding to black anger evident when he spoke. "You stupid bitch." He growled. "You'll ruin the surprise!" It wasn't a joke it was pure evil.
He dropped the phone and smacked her across the face so hard when her head hit the floor she was out could. Chase lifted her up over his shoulder and carried her away, leaving the bright screen of the cell phone open on the floor.
Girls,
Ran in to my brother had to go.
Aubs
AN: Hey all sorry about the delay. I knew exactly how I wanted this chapter to be, but unfortunately right now it's hard to sit on my bed with my laptop and not get serious back pain. My chiropractor said I need a desk so it's on order as well as a chair. My back is seriously jacked from my accident so chapters are taking a lot longer to write since I can't stand to sit for very long anymore. Anyways I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I hope everyones sticking with me. Please review I love hearing from you guys even though my chapters are taking forever to come out. I haven't forgotten the story I swear. Let me know what you think about the turn of events! ; D