Title: Conventio Custodis

Author: Calex

Rating: 18-ish

Disclaimer: Not mine. The Covenant belongs to its creators etc. I just own whatever you don't recognize. Neither does the song, 'My Sharona', by The Knack.

Taine looked up when Pogue tensed. When she followed his gaze towards the entrance, she sucked in a breath. Her reaction was a little more obvious than Pogue's so Reid, then Tyler, looked as well. When Reid let out a low whistle, Caleb and Sarah turned to look at what their friends were looking at in curiosity. What they saw mad Sarah pale, and then look worriedly at Pogue, as did Caleb. But Pogue… Pogue was completely still in his chair, like he was a statue. The only sense that he was even remotely not at ease about the situation (apart from the unnatural stillness, of course) was the white knuckled grip he had on his glass. Taine didn't even think, she just automatically went for his wrist, squeezing gently in warning. It was enough to make him snap out of it, so that he loosened his grip, and he looked away.

Taine couldn't believe the nerve of Kate, going to a place that she knew her ex always went to. But then again, there wasn't really anywhere else she could've gone. Nicky's was a really popular hangout spot, after all. But still, and with a guy that was renowned as the Sons of Ipswich's rival. That was pretty damn low. That was about the time when Kate noticed their presence – and the presence of Taine's hand on Pogue's wrist. She dropped her hand quickly in her lap.

"Son of a bitch," Reid hissed, eyes locked on Aaron's face. His hands were clenching and unclenching and his eyes were hard. Tyler looked at him worriedly, then at Caleb, Pogue and then at Kate and Aaron. Then he went back to Reid. Even Sarah looked worried. Caleb levelled a glance at Reid, looking pointedly at his fists.

"Reid."

"Do you not see this, Caleb?" Reid demanded, eyes flashing. "Aaron's got Kate. Aaron. This ass whoopin' has been a long time coming."

"I don't understand," Sarah whispered. "She told me that Aaron was a first class jerk to women. Why is she with him?"

"Jealousy, pity, friendship, revenge. She's had a change of heart and thinks he's a great guy… who knows?" Taine shrugged. "But my bet would be on revenge."

"Revenge for what?" Pogue finally spoke, his voice quiet enough that they had to strain to hear him over the music and chatter. "She broke up with me."

"Son of a – " Reid started swearing again, but Taine clapped a hand over his mouth, glaring at him. Now was not the time. She turned her attention back to Pogue, ignoring Reid's attempt to get her hand off his mouth. She was stronger than she looked and short of licking her palm, it was not going off his mouth.

"We don't have to stay here," she said quietly to him. "We can just walk out if you want to. It would be understandable."

"I – " Her heart broke just a little at the insecurity that appeared in his eyes before he squashed it down. He took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. "I don't want to give them the pleasure of seeing me run."

"Good boy," she murmured, squeezing his arm gently. Pogue smiled weakly at her and she felt the butterflies doing somersaults in her stomach again. She shared a look with Sarah before the blonde girl jumped up as did she. They smiled at the boys.

"Be right back," they chorused, then laughed. Then they made their way to the jukebox. They were of one mind, that night: to have fun. To help Pogue get his mind off the fact that his recently ex-girlfriend was with his rival. They went through the selection when she spotted the song. Not exactly the sexiest dance song ever, but it was upbeat and it never failed to make her smile and want to dance along.

"My Sharona or Living on a Prayer?" she asked Sarah. Sarah looked thoughtful, chewing her lip as she looked over to their table.

"My Sharona's more danceable," Sarah decided. The girls looked at each other, then nodded. Taine produced the quarter and punched in their selection. When the first strains of My Sharona came up, they practically skipped back to their table. "Come on," Sarah said, laughing, as she pulled Caleb to his feet. He laughed at his girlfriend but followed, knowing better than to refuse her. Taine walked up to Pogue and grinned down at him.

"Dance with me?" she asked, as the verse started. He was going to refuse, he really was, but then she looked at him pleadingly with that half smile on her face and he couldn't say no. So he smiled weakly and let her pull him to his feet and onto the dance floor. She turned to face him, a grin splitting her face as she mouthed along with the song.

Ooh my little pretty one, pretty one.
When you gonna give me some time, Sharona?
Ooh you make my motor run, my motor run.
Gun it comin' off the line Sharona

She wrapped a hand behind his neck and pulled their bodies close. Really close. His hands settled on her hips, not really knowing where else to put them, but then she moved. She led one his hands to the small of her back, then that hand that lead him traced up to his arm. Pogue couldn't help it, he lost himself in the music, in her. He heard her husky laugh in his ear, felt her body brushing against his, felt her breath against his neck and he danced. He who had never danced with Kate while they were going out danced with this girl who had asked him with such hope in her eyes. And weirdest yet, he was having fun.

He laughed as she pulled away from him slightly, her hand on his shoulder as she moved sinuously around him, singing the bridge and chorus right in his ear, her arm snaking around his waist as she danced with him, pressed against his back.

Never gonna stop, give it up.
Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch
of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona...

Pogue surprised her by turning around and grabbing her by the hips, before pulling her into his arms in a very traditional waltzing position. She looked at him questioningly, but he just grinned at her, seeming to wait for something. Then he led her in the dance. And they were waltzing, waltzing to My Sharona. Taine shook her head, laughing but the butterflies were in full force in her stomach. Dancing was so dangerous, she knew that. Flirting was a game, for fun. Something that could be harmless. But she'd always held on to one belief and that was dancing… dancing was foreplay. Done right and, well… instant Taine puddle coming right up!

She'd never thought she'd react like this to dancing with him, though. All she'd thought about was that she needed to get his mind off Kate and she'd done it the easiest way she knew. They danced. But oh god, he had weapons of his own. There was something about waltzing to a tune that did not ask for waltzing that made it… spectacular. People had turned around to look at them as he twirled her elegantly, somehow managing to keep to the beat. Her eyes caught Sarah and Caleb watching, laughing and she stuck her tongue out at them. Childish, maybe. Did she care? Not as long as Pogue kept dancing with her like that.

Come a little closer huh, ah will ya huh.
Close enough to look in my eyes, Sharona.
Keeping it a mystery gets to me
Running down the length of my thighs, Sharona

They sang the next verse into each others faces, belting out fun and pure suggestion. Both had purred at the last line and Pogue pulled her into him, close. One of his hands was splayed on her back, somehow getting under her top to touch bare skin. Where his hand touched felt warm, tingling, the kind that spread across her body. His other hand was clasped in hers still, but now their position was more of a salsa. She decided to surprise him by pushing a little away.

Never gonna stop, give it up. Such a dirty mind.
Always get it up for the touch
of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona...

With a wicked grin, she kept just the tips of her fingers on his chest before shimmying down, fingers trailing. They stopped at the dangerous spot of just above his belt buckle. She felt his skin twitching where she touched, and she smiled as she shimmied back up. He took her hand, twirled her and pulled her into his arms again, back pressed against his front. A reversal of roles from their previous position. Now one of his hands was splayed on her stomach and she threw an arm behind her to hook behind his neck. His other hand followed hers, twining their fingers together. They just swayed to the music.

But god, he got her hot. He got her really hot. The boy could dance, could really dance, and she knew how rare that was. Most guys with a cultivated bad-boy image couldn't dance for shit, but Pogue… Pogue wowed them all. She saw Tyler slack jawed and Reid with both eyebrows at his hairline as he danced nearby.

When you gonna give it to me, give it to me.
It is just a matter of time Sharona
Is it just destiny, destiny?
Or is it just a game in my mind, Sharona?

Never gonna stop, give it up.
Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch
of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona...

The last verse saw him spinning her out before catching her hips again, dancing as they had first started out. They were belting out the words to each other, laughing at the end of the chorus, but they just kept on dancing. It was just wonderful, exactly what Pogue needed. She had never seen him so relaxed as he did just then, dancing. One of his hands was cradling the back of her neck, fingers threading through the hair at the base of her scalp. He had amazing man hands, she thought, hazily, as she leaned in and rubbed her cheek against his shirt. He seemed to accept that, except he then tensed up and so did she. She pulled away reluctantly. He was completely tense.

"Sorry, I didn't – "

"Pogue."

Taine swore. Of course, Kate. She had completely forgotten. In her fun with Pogue, she had completely forgotten the reason why they had begun dancing in the first place. She hadn't been looking and now Kate and Aaron were almost right next to them. She shivered in revulsion as she saw Aaron's eyes boldly traced over her body.

"Kate," he acknowledged, nodding slightly. His voice was so aloof, so distant. Taine couldn't help but tense up in his arms, and he absentmindedly ran a hand over her back. Kate saw the gesture and looked a little hurt. Then she looked angry. Finally, the flit of emotions on her face settled on blank. But the smile she shot Taine's way was sharp as a knife.

"I don't think we've met."

"No," Taine agreed, softly. She disentangled herself a little bit from Pogue and offered the other girl her hand. "Taine Crawford."

"Kate Tunney. You're new, right?"

"That's right. I transferred here at the beginning of the term." Pogue shot her a sideways look, and although she chose to ignore it, she knew exactly what that look meant. Her accent, predominantly British, always thickened when her emotions went haywire. At that moment, she was going to bet mortification, guilt, embarrassment and anger on Pogue's behalf was the reason to why she turned into Frosty the Snowman. With an accent like Rupert Giles on his most starchy, stiff upper lip British. But Pogue couldn't have figured out about that, yet. She only really knew him a day. Then again, there had been quite a few occasions in the day that required her to go British.

By that time, they'd drawn some attention. Namely, from the rest of the Sons of Ipswich, not to mention the rest of the Spencer students in Nicky's. Taine took one look at the situation, and made a decision. She grabbed Pogue's hand, threw a cheerful smile at Aaron and Kate, then tugged him forward, motioning for Tyler to throw them their jackets as they moved towards the entrance, going past their table.

"Uh, nice to see you guys but Pogue and I need to be…somewhere."

"Huh?" Pogue looked confused, and she fought to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Boy, seeing Kate sure messed with his mind.

"You know, that thing you were going to show me."

"The…thing?"

"Yes," she hissed. "That thing." Understanding dawned in his eyes, and a smirk spread over his face. He threw a careless wave at the dumbfounded Kate and Aaron. To Taine's surprise, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"Right, that… thing," he purred. He grabbed his jacket as Tyler threw it to him and saluted his friend. "Bye."

"C'mon, let's blow this popsicle stand." She muttered. At his sideways glance, she blushed. "Sorry, I've just always wanted to say that."

"You're one weird kid," he said, bursting into laughter. She pouted, but couldn't help the grin that tugged at the corner of her mouth. Finally, she laughed along with him, surprising him by pulling him along by the hand. By the time they left Nicky's, Pogue had completely relaxed. He walked over to his Ducati and threw her the extra helmet. She caught it by pure reflex, looking at it in confusion, before turning her attention back to Pogue.

"What's this for?"

"You ever been on a bike?" he asked, easily. Her face and her good mood fell, just like that. It was like the question had completely flipped a switch. Of course, Pogue would have no idea, no idea why it would make her act like that. He looked so confused as she stared at the helmet in her hands. She looked up and shook her head.

"Thanks, but… I can't."

"Can't or won't?" he challenged, raising a brow. Taine's jaw was working tightly and she looked away, refusing to look at him. He prodded her. "It's won't, right? Don't tell me you're scared."

"I'm not scared," she snapped. Then she immediately looked contrite, releasing a breath and running her fingers through her hair. "Look, I'm sorry. I just… I can't, Pogue. Not yet, it's too soon."

"Hey," he said, gently. He walked over to her and laid his hand on her cheek. "Are you okay? It's okay to be scared, you know. Especially if you've been in an accident, or know someone who has. No one's going to look down on you because of that."

"I'm not scared," she repeated, her eyes glinting dangerously. "If you must know, I've ridden on a bike. A lot. Because of my boyfriend, you know, the one I just broke up with. So forgive me if riding on a motorcycle has bad connotations to me."

"You shouldn't let something like that ruin the experience for you," he chided gently. Then he flashed her a grin. "Come on, Taine. Please. Let me give you a good memory. You shouldn't hate bikes just because of an asshole ex-boyfriend."

"Spoken like a true bike-lover," she said, but she laughed. She sighed again. She was so tempted to just say yes and take a ride with him. So tempted. He was right, she shouldn't let Søren ruin things for her, but it wasn't just that. There were so many things. And the wound of breaking up with him was still too fresh. She'd loved Søren, a lot, and Søren… he and bikes just went together. He loved them. Then she remembered something else, and laughed at her own stupidity. "I can't, anyway. I brought my car."

"So?" Pogue shrugged. "You can leave it here and I'll drive you back after school tomorrow to pick it up. Or," he continued, cutting her off before she could decline. "We can ask Reid to drive it back. You he stays in the dorms like you, after all."

"Pogue…" she bit her lip, looking unsure about the bike. Torn. Part of her wanted to, wanted to a lot. All the time with Søren, she had loved taking rides with him on his bike. It was freedom. She understood why he loved the so much. But the other side of her was screaming for her car. Her baby. Her vintage Jag convertible that she'd had to twist her father's arm to get. Major guilt tripping had to be used to get her baby, and to let Reid drive it? It gave her the shivers. "Pogue, my car."

"Relax," he laughed. "It's not a baby. And despite what he looks like, Reid's a really good driver. He's the best driver out of all of us, to be honest. Tyler's the safest, but Reid? He's something."

"I just…" she looked torn. Her eyes travelled to her car, just lying there waiting for her, all shiny and loved and expensive. He followed her gaze, and let out a whistle, his eyes widened in disbelief and admiration.

"That's your car?"

"That's my baby," she said, proudly. "1956 Jaguar Roadster. I call him Sebastian."

"You bought a car out of Cruel Intentions, and named it after the character who owns it in the movie?" Pogue said in disbelief. Taine found herself blushing under his gaze, and fidgeted, picking a nonexistent piece of lint off her jeans. Pogue's low laugh made her snap her head up, and she saw him shaking his head. To her surprise, he gave her a quick hug. "Man, Crawford. You really are a trip."

"Yeah, well," she muttered. Then she looked at it again, biting her lip. "You sure that Reid won't trash him?"

"Promise," he said, solemnly, though his eyes were laughing. "You know, most people refer to their cars as 'she'. Not you, though. Always original."

"Correction," she said, haughtily. "Most men refer to their cars as female. Why should I call a penis mobile anything but a he?" Pogue just started laughing. She felt her lips twitching, but it was true! There was a reason why they were called penis mobiles, after all, and while hers might not be the stereotypical sports car in cherry red, it was still a penis mobile. The car had mid-life crisis written all over it. But it was the distinguished gentleman's mid-life crisis. The car called for drinking port and smoking cigars, she'd always thought, and that was one of the reasons why she loved it so much. He slung his arm around her shoulders.

"Come on, hand over your keys. At this rate, our ride's going to be a short one." With grumbling on her part, she tossed him the keys to her car, then yelped as she found herself being dragged along with him back into Nicky's. When he spotted Reid, he grinned. "Yo Garwin!"

"Didn't you leave already?" Reid asked, eyebrow raised. The eyebrow got higher as he saw the comfortable way Pogue's arm rested around her shoulders. Actually, Reid wasn't the only one. Tyler noted it. So did Caleb and Sarah. More importantly, Kate noted it. Pogue didn't notice, or at least he did a very good job of pretending that he didn't. He just smirked at Reid.

"I'm giving a ride to the lady. Do us a favour and drive her car back to the dorms, okay? It's the dark green 1956 Jaguar Roadster." He tossed Reid the keys, and Reid caught them in pure reflex as he stared at Taine in disbelief.

"You own a 1956 Roadster?"

"It's out back, next to Caleb's Mustang. It's a hot ride," Pogue said, grinning. A slow smirk spread across Reid's face, and Taine had an awful sense of foreboding.

"Don't hurt my car," she ordered him. "I expect to see him in the exact same condition I saw him last. Not one scratch or dent or anything. I mean it, Garwin. And I will know."

"You worry too much," he said, dismissively. Then he cocked his head to the side. "Dude, did you just refer to your car as he?" Taine blushed and this time she dragged Pogue out of Nicky's. But before they stepped out, she turned back again.

"Don't hurt my car!" Pogue laughingly pulled her out before she could start again.

This time when Pogue handed her the helmet, Taine put it on. Although she did pull a face beforehand, and when she did do so, she let out a heartfelt sigh. Then she carefully got on the back of Pogue, wrapping her arms gingerly around her waist. He turned around and shot her a grin at the gentle action as he gunned the engine.

"You're going to have to hold on a little tighter than that," he said, smirking. Before she could ask why, they took off. Fast. Taine let out a shriek, but tightened her grip on him in reflex. Oh he was so going to get it for pulling that stunt. In response, she held on tight enough that she knew breathing would be an issue for him… and trusted him to be good enough to not crash the two of them. He was. He let out a grunt loud enough that she heard him through the helmet, the roaring engine, the wind tearing at them and the roaring in her own ears. "If you don't ease up, I'm going to end up crashing both of us." With a smirk, she did as he said and loosened her grip enough that she was secure and he could breathe. Which he did, sucking in air greedily before he actually had the gall to turn around to glare at her. "Brat."

"Watch the road!" she shouted, her grip tightening once more. Pogue grunted, but turned around for safety's sake… or at least to prevent him from killing them in their wild ride. Then she figuratively sat back and enjoyed herself as they burnt rubber. Taine let out a delighted laugh as they sped through the long roads of Ipswich, just enjoying the night and the speed, the freedom, the underlying sense of danger and just the peace of the moment, away from troubles. Away from Pogue's breakup with Kate and her presence at Nicky's with Aaron, away from Taine's painful memories of Søren until it was just them. Just him and her enjoying a night ride out on his bike. Finally, after what seemed like forever and just not long enough, they pulled into the school and Pogue let the engine idle. Taine got up on legs that were embarrassingly shaky and let out a low laugh as she pulled the helmet off. Pogue just stayed on the bike, grinning at her.

"Did that help you enjoy rides on a bike again?" he teased and she laughed once more, punching him playfully on the arm.

"You know it did," she said, grinning. Sighing happily, she ran her fingers through her hair only to realise that her hair had escaped from the ponytail she had pulled it into earlier that night. Laughing once more, she shook her head, so that her long dark hair fell out of her face. She was laughing again, but one look at Pogue's face had that laughter dying in her throat. He looked so serious, his light eyes darkened in the night and with something she couldn't name. He lifted a hand to pick up a strand of glossy hair, his thumb running gently over it.

"So soft," he murmured. "I knew it would be. You should wear your hair down more often, it suits you."

"I – " Her mouth felt dry. The air felt strangely charged, now, and she just didn't know what to say. He was sitting there on his bike, all gorgeous and hair mussed by the helmet, his eyes dark and serious on her face. He had such beautiful eyes, so intense that it sometimes seemed that he was looking straight through you. She had always thought that Pogue could probably freeze someone with just a look of those eyes. To have them focused on her was startling and just a little unsettling.

"You helped me out, today," he continued, voice still in that murmur, so distracted even while his eyes remained so focused on her. "With Kate. Talking, dancing. Taking that ride. I needed it, so much even though I didn't realise it. I was drowning and I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't been there to pull me out."

Her heart was beating so loudly that she wondered dazedly if he could hear it. God, did he even realise the power of his words? She felt a little bit drowned herself, in him. The wind carried his scent with it: of light sweat, grease, a cologne that made her head dazed and her knees weak. He carried with him the scent of the wind, of change, and it was such a heady combination and just so him that she felt herself immersed so immersed in it that she couldn't find it in herself to care. Passive suicide, that was what he was to her. At that moment. Then he smiled, his hand trailing to brush the back of his fingers against her cheek, just a slight caress that got her heat skipping.

"What are you doing?" she asked, shakily, and that seemed to be enough to snap him out of whatever mood he was in. She watched in a mixture of relief and disappointment as he withdrew into himself once again and she was left with not even the mystery of what he was feeling. He shrugged slightly as he began to pull on the helmet.

"I don't know. I started out to thank you."

"Oh," she swallowed. "Uh, it was nothing. Really. You kind of did already with the talking of you and drowning and me pulling you out and…" She stopped herself, blushing in mortification as she realised that she had been on the track to rambling horribly. But it did do the trick of relaxing him again, and he smiled that gorgeous half smile before pulling the helmet completely on.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Taine."

"Yeah…" she said, softly. "Tomorrow." As he started pulling away, she found herself with the impulse of stopping him, just a little while. "Hey Pogue?" He turned to look at her, a questioning look on his face. "Thanks too, you know. For the ride. And… and everything. I had fun."

"Me too."

And with that, he peeled out, speeding away from the school and away from her. Taine took a moment to think about things, just a little. She sighed as she thought of the whole evening. It was just so strange. She'd set out to Nicky's just hoping for a little bit of fun and hopefully hanging out with the boys again and sure, she'd got that. But then there was the appearance of Kate, dancing with Pogue, the ride on his bike, the scene that just happened… She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair, letting out a groan of discontent. So much for not 'going there' with Pogue. She smiled wryly as she pressed her hand against her stomach, feeling the butterflies swarming around. Big ones, bat sized butterflies that went crazy when she thought about him, about his eyes, about the rough, low murmur of his voice and the heat of his fingers against her cheek. Oh yeah, she knew exactly where this was heading, knew that that night was just a one way ticket towards Crushville… but she couldn't help it. There was something about him that drew her in. And it seemed that she was a complete masochist after all.

With a last look at where he left, she turned back and started for the dorms. A prickling at the back of her neck made her pause and turn around, but at seeing nothing, she just shrugged and started walking once again. Weird. Whatever. What she missed was the air seemingly forming a shape, a shape that turned into a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties with spiky brown hair and green eyes that glinted with interest and malicious humour.

"Well, well," he murmured. "How interesting. This revenge thing might be more fun that I first thought." Turning towards the dorms, he blew Taine's retreating figure a mocking kiss. Then he smirked, and let out a cruel laugh. "Pleasant dreams… Taine."

Taine stopped once more. She shivered, but not in cold, turning around apprehensively, but there was no one there, as it had been before. She shook her head. She was just being silly, of course there was nothing there. But she could have sworn… she could have sworn, just for a second, that something that whispered her name.

tbc…

A/N: Hmm, wonder who that could be, eh? cue evil laugh

Anyway, I won't be around for a few days, as I'm taking a little break to Bagkok for New Year's. I'll hopefully be able to get a chapter in a few days after I get back.

Happy New Year, guys. And thanks to my reviewers. I'm glad you like the story so far, and especially glad that you guys seem to like Taine.