Title: The Shooting Star That Destroyed Us All
Author: ramen.scurge
Rated: M for Mature
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from The Covenant. All original characters are mine.

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I've been trading ideas with intriguing men, and I...
I perceive an honest solution to all of your plight

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Tyler dropped down next to me on the plush sofa located at the back of the library, Twilight by Stephen Meyers spread across my chest, my eyes glued to the ceiling. I could feel him looking at me through the corner of my eyes and would have slapped him silly if I had the energy. He knows I hate it when he analyzes me …

"What the hell are you looking at?" I grunted as I shut my eyes and inhaled deeply.

I could feel the heat radiating off his cheeks at my jab and couldn't help the tiny grin that spread across my face at his embarrassment. I exhaled when I felt him shift beside me but didn't open my eyes to see what he was doing. I knew better than to try and figure out why did the stuff he did … the massive headache that would surely follow was not worth the effort.

"You know," he started. "All I've ever seen you do since you got here is scowl. I was starting to think you were a robot, programmed to be pessimistic and miserable, but here …" I could feel a smile creeping onto his face. "Do libraries turn you on Adelaide McCarthy?"

My eyes shot open and my head snapped to the side to look at a slightly flushed Tyler Simms, his eyes twinkling mischievously at me before he diverted his attention to the ceiling. I opened my mouth to say something, my book slowly sliding down into my lap, but my brain couldn't come up with something worthy enough of his snotty comment, so, I settled on just sliding back into my seat and pouted.

"I've been looking everywhere for you … what happened?" Tyler asked, knowing full well that people only holed themselves up when something was bothering them. Tyler also knew full well that I didn't like divulging any personal secrets but the tart still probed me for information anyway.

My brows furrowed. "I don't want to talk about it." I grumbled; the remnants of my smile fading in a surly frown I knew looked ugly in my face but felt proud to wear anyway.

"You know you can-"

"I said I didn't want to talk about it. I know being sympathetic is in your nature, Tyler Simms, but you need to learn to leave well enough alone. When someone says no, they mean no. Don't make me smack it into you because believe me, I wont hesitate to."

I heard Tyler open his mouth to argue with me but he shut it as soon as one of my pointed glares reached his eyes. I knew he was only trying to help me and I should be thankful that someone other than my brother cares about my mental well being but my home life is my home life, and to divulge it to someone I barely know is a big no-no for me.

I decided to change the subject. "Dad gave me my first fail notice of the semester. You wanna celebrate?" I asked, turning my head to the side and looking at him.

He turned to look at me and then we did this whole looking thing until a small smile crept onto his lips. At first it seemed almost uncomfortable, forced in a way but that soon melted away and flattery took its place.

God I hate it when he does that.

"Are you asking me out?" he teased, the tip of his pink tongue flicking out and moistening his lips.

A blank expression painted my face, my mouth slightly agape once again at his completely uncalled for and slightly lecherous comment. Since when did Tyler have the balls to … flirt? I blinked, my brows knitting together in confusion and disbelief. Was he being serious or was this just some sad excuse for a joke because if it was it was most certainly not funny. I jolted up into a sitting position and closed my book before I got a firm grip on it and proceeded to clip Tyler across the head with it.

"OW!" He yelped, his hand rushing up and rubbing the now tender spot on his head. "What was that for?"

"I was checking the density of my novel, what the Hell do you think that was for? Who are you and what have you done with Tyler Simms?" I demanded, my hands and book planted firmly on my hips.

Tyler chuckled and pulled his hand away from his head as though he was checking for blood. Boy, if you can't take the heat, get the fuck out of my kitchen. "I was just joking, geez Adelaide take it easy." He assured, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Guess I've been hanging out with Reid too much lately …"

"Indeed." I muttered, giving him one last pointed glare before resuming my position on the couch. "So before you rudely started flirting with me without my permission, I wanted to know if maybe you'd like to go out and celebrate my first fail notice."

"Is that really something you should be celebrating about?" He asked.

"Of course it is," I snapped. "It's a McCarthy family tradition. Everyone in my family does it."

"And by everyone in your family, you mean you, right?" Tyler asked, knowingly.

"Damn straight." I snorted proudly, folding my arms over my chest as I further slid down into the cushy-ness of the libraries plush sofa.

Tyler sighed softly. "If you're having trouble in the course, I'd be more than happy to spend a couple of hours a day going over the stuff you don't understand. Though I don't really understand why you're failing in the first place. Your dad's the professor. Not only that, we're only three weeks into the semester."

I reached over and smacked Tyler in the arm. "Don't get smart with me … smartass, don't you think I know that already? I'm just not a maths type of girl, alright?"

"Well," he said, rubbing the spot I'd just assaulted. "What kind of girl are you?"

I looked over at him through my bangs. "I'm more of a sleep during class and slide by with the help of my charming good looks kind of girl. I hate numbers … shit; I can barely do addition and subtraction without the full usage of my fingers and toes. You'd be wasting your time, blue-eyes, and as selfish as I am sometimes, that's something I wont let you do. You're going to go on to do great things someday and me … I just want to fade into the background."

"You'd suck at being a wall flower …" Tyler added softly, slouching down in his seat so our heads were levelled.

"Such is the fate of the McCarthy women." I sighed, drumming my fingers against my abdomen.

And that was the end of our conversation. Tyler knew not to ask anymore about my family or my problems and I knew better than to try and tell without really telling him. I don't know how long we sat there, slumped down the sofa just staring at the ceiling as though it were the most interesting thing in the world and I didn't really care.

What the hell was happening to me?

RING!

"Fuck," I cursed, the bell signalling the end of lunch screeching through the library. I groaned and pulled myself off the sofa, stretching my arms above my head as I looked down at Tyler, the brown haired boy making no sign of moving. I rolled my eyes and stuck my hand out toward him. "Come on, fat ass, as much as I hate school, some of us have a reputation to uphold and on no account are they tarnishing it on my watch. Up." I ordered.

He took my hand without complaint and to my surprise, as soon as he was on his feet; he pulled me flush against his body. He looked down at me, his face as bright as Rudolph's nose on Christmas. He wound his strong arm around my small frame, leaving his hand lingering dangerously close to my behind. I didn't smile, grin or smirk as I looked up at him.

"Adelaide …" he mumbled softly, his breath tickling my face.

"Hmm?" I murmured, the vibrations in my chest causing him to shiver.

He swallowed, as though he wanted to say something but thought better of it. I hated when he did that. "You said friends could kiss, right?"

I peered at him, thoughtfully. "When the occasion calls for it, sure." I could see my future in his eyes, what he wanted to do here and now, but yesterday was a mistake, I'll admit that. I didn't mean half the things I did or said when around him, and that was most definitely one of them. "But now's not the time, Tyler Simms. We have classes."

His eyes searched mine for some semblance of truth my words. I tried to ice my eyes over, to hide how I was really feeling right now, but he knew better. "Will there ever be a right time with you? I hardly think it's fair you get to take advantage of me and I not be allowed to return the favour …" His free hand cupped my cheek. "What are you afraid off?"

My eyes stung, the defences I'd built around myself slowly crumbling under his steady gaze. I couldn't stop the words from spilling out of my mouth no more than I could stop myself from reaching up and pressing my lips to his. This time he responded to me with wholehearted sincerity. He gently moved his lips over mine taking as much from me as I would let him and healing as many wounds as he could feel.

I don't know how long we stood there, to me it felt like an eternity, but I finally pulled away. Tyler rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed as he breathed deeply through his nose. I swallowed.

"I'm afraid," I whispered, my voice cracking slightly. "I'm afraid because you're the first friend I've had in a long time. I don't want you to be another notch on my belt and I don't want you to be another friend with benefits." I reached back and as gently as I could, unwound his arm. I took a retreating step back and retrieved my satchel and book off the ground. "So I'm warning you … if you ever touch me like that again, if you ever think about me like that again, I will do something very gruesome to you to make sure the thought never crosses your mind again." I threatened, my voice taking on a dark tone.

Tyler looked at me as though I'd just shot his dog but before I could comment on it, he smiled in a mild mannered way and slid his hands into the pocket of his pants. "You're the boss." He said as he walked past me. He stopped after a few steps and looked over his shoulder. "Come on, I thought you didn't want me to be late?"

I'd hurt him again. I could tell. His movements were too fluid, too perfect and his expression was far too serene. But it was for his own good; he had to understand that. With me, there was no consistency. Once I had gotten what I wanted from him I would move on and never look back. It would be easy to just screw his brains out and then walk away and pretend that nothing had ever happened. I'd done it before, but with Tyler it was different. I wanted to be different. I wanted to screw his brains out but I knew I wouldn't be able to leave. He'd make sure of that.

"You still haven't given me an answer," I said after a few minutes of silence. We continued out of the library and down the hall as though nothing had happened. "If you think it's unethical I'll understand. But I thought we could go that new movie theatre that was opening on the edge of town and then maybe get something to eat. The old man's treat." My voice was a little softer this time.

He didn't look over at me. His face didn't even flicker; it was blank. "Whatever you want. Just tell me when you want me to be there and I will."

I could old wounds opening at his words; wounds I thought had healed over a long time ago. I winced at this double meaning behind his words. I could have hit him, I should have hit him. If anyone else had spoken to me like that implied something that I wasn't sure I was fully aware of they'd be in the hospital eating meals through a straw but he wasn't anyone else. He was Tyler and if I wanted him to stay, I would have to develop some patience.

"Thanks," I grumbled. "It … means a lot to me that you'll make it tonight."

Again, he didn't even flinch. "What am I for?"

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The Great Golden Baby © Circa Survive

I had to bump the rating up to M. Adelaide's got a bit of a potty mouth and Tyler is becoming quite the lecher.