A/N: I know, this chapter is pathetically short but I'd rather spend more time on Jenny x Julian and Faye x Julian. Heh. I like writing Julian, that's why. But just so we don't forget about the other stars in the story... heeeeeere's Jenny!

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It had taken Jenny more than a week to be confident that Julian wasn't stalking her and that she wouldn't bump into him around the next corner. Of course she'd still expected it to happen. There was always the slight chance...

Her nerves had been shot for a while, waiting in tense anticipation for him to appear outside of school or, when winter holidays arrived, to catch him watching her outside her house. She'd been paranoid that he would - she'd been convinced that he would. However, she'd been wrong.

Tom mentioned still being in contact with Faye. Jenny couldn't blame him for still having feelings for the shadow girl, though she supposed it was easier for her to accept this fact now that Julian had reappeared on the scene.

According to Tom, Faye was on the other side of town though she was vague on where exactly she resided. Tom didn't ask about Julian, and Faye never seemed to mention him either. The only way Jenny knew for certain that Julian was still on Faye's side was from the text message she received from an anonymous number on Christmas eve, wishing her a merry Christmas from both of them.

For the first time in her life, Jenny found that Christmas day was unbearably slow. It wasn't until she admitted to herself that it was because she was waiting, hoping, for more - more than an impersonal text message. A phone call would have been nice; even some eccentric gift would have been welcomed with open arms.

But this is what I wanted, Jenny scolded herself quietly. Time to think, space to breathe... she needed it especially because this was Julian she was dealing with. She'd never contemplated being with someone else before and she thought she had to put a lot of thought into it before leaping blindly into things. Especially because it was Julian.

Though his absence and non-existent contact with her was beginning to play games on her mind. Was he really even here? The night at the dance when she stood face to face with him seemed like no more than a fading dream...maybe it was nothing but a dream. Maybe she was delusional, maybe the traumatic event of his death was finally beginning to raise the side-effects in her state of mind.

In a brief instant of insanity, Jenny seized her phone and dialled Tom's number. She cursed under her breath when the line came back busy. She tried again a moment later and to her relief, the phone rang on the other end.

"Hello."

"Tom, hi! Merry Christmas." Jenny said cheerfully.

"Hi, Jenny. Merry Chris... didn't I call you this morning to wish you merry Christmas?" Tom sounded confused.

"Ah, ha ha, you might of..." Jenny trailed off, her cheerfulness fading as she curled the phone cord around her finger. "I was wondering if you could give me Faye's number so I can send her Christmas cheer."

"Oh, hang on," Tom's voice responded. Jenny waited and heard a distinct click. "Hello?" Tom's voice came back hurriedly.

"I'm here." Jenny frowned in confusion.

"Oh, heck no, your mom finally got three-way calling?" Faye's voice gasped.

Tom chuckled lightly in response and Jenny felt her face go bright red and her heart made a sickening thud in her chest. Great. "Jenny wanted to talk to you."

"Oh?" Faye's voice responded, surprised. "Hi, Jenny."

"Hi, Faye... I just wanted to tell you merry Christmas, that's all." Jenny said feebly.

"Well, thanks. Merry Christmas to you, too. How's yours been so far anyway?"



Trust Faye to want to strike up a pleasant conversation in the most awkward of moments. Jenny wanted to melt into the floor. Was she actually chasing Julian?

"It's been good. We stayed up until midnight as usual to open our presents, and we've been stuffing ourselves all day today." Jenny replied vaguely.

"Mrs. Thornton makes the best ham dish and fruit cakes." Tom added and Faye chuckled lightly.

"Sounds good. I'd be cheeky and invite myself over for lunch if I didn't have to babysit." Faye replied and laughed even harder when Tom responded in surprise. "You're babysitting someone's kid on Christmas?"

"Ah, that's not what I meant exactly. But anyway," Faye snorted. "You all got onto Santa's good kiddies list, right?"

Jenny listened half heartedly as Tom explained what he'd gotten his parents for Christmas and Jenny briefly filled them in on her own gifts.

"So how has your Christmas been, Faye?" Jenny asked in an attempt to be nice.

There was a moment of hesitation. "It's been different. I mean, different as in no big roast, no family, no presents."

"Are you serious? You must be so bored." Tom exclaimed his surprise, although Jenny wasn't all that shocked. Did Shadow Men celebrate Christmas at all? She had her doubts but there was an edge of resentment in Faye's voice.

"Bored? Heck no, I've got entertainment like you wouldn't believe even if I told you." Faye's voice changed again as she laughed heartily. "But... yeah. Ah..." Her voice trailed off when there was an ugly hoarse cough from somewhere in the background. "Just hang on a sec." Faye said to them.

"Are you okay? You sound like a sick dog on its last." Faye's voice was muffled over the phone as she spoke to someone else.

Jenny listened intently, curious to make out what was going on. Faye's voice was completely at odds from what it had been moments before; coloured with worry and fear, and a touch of hysteria. "Hey, I ah... I've got to run out to the store to get some meds, right so I'll see you guys later..." Faye said distractedly before the line went dead.

"That was weird." Tom mumbled and hung up, having forgotten Jenny on the other end of the line.

Frowning, Jenny replaced the receiver in its cradle and stared at it blankly for a moment. Meds? As in medicine? Jenny didn't know much but she didn't think shadow men could get sick.

She still didn't have confirmation on whether she was losing her mind or not. She knew Julian was there in town, but the part of her that was convinced she was going mad was stronger than the rational voice telling her she actually would be mad to go find him.

Still. Jenny had to know. Even if it was only to catch a glimpse of him. Resolving to get Tom to find out where Faye was staying, Jenny decided to call it a day.

A/N: Okay. So I decided to call it a day! Reviews are more than welcome I won't be mean like some of the writers are and say I'm not posting unless I get reviews. Because that's just blackmail! Besides, I'm curious to see where this goes...