Diligo Est Amicitia

Chapter 16: Use Your Power

To bajan-martini: Hah! Boxing Day... lols!

"Guess who's got another date with the lady?" Reid sneered at Tyler.

The brunette, who had been getting ready to take his shot, paused and stood up straight.

It was another night at Nicky's with only the two of them and Jamie in attendance. The rest had taken a rain check. Reid had mysteriously disappeared in the middle of the game to take a phone call leaving Tyler to finish it with the biker dude now snarling at him.

"Reid, I thought we agreed on it." Tyler said, keeping his voice composed and low. He didn't want Nicky throwing him out of the bar. "That dare was null."

"Uh-uh. Think again, baby boy." Reid shook his head. "You left, I stayed. If not for the night, at least longer."

"The dare was that we stayed overnight." Tyler took a step towards the older boy. "I don't care if you stayed longer; you still left before sunrise. Crashed at Pogue's, hoping I wouldn't find out, didn't you?"

"I'll be staying there awhile." Reid told him, emotionlessly. "I'll tell you something, Tyler. Maybe both of us lost that bet but we both know whom Fin is dating. Me."

Tyler narrowed his eyes at Reid. The hostile electricity between them buzzed stronger than ever. "Guys!" Jamie stepped in between them. "Let's not get things ugly here."

"Stay away from Fin, Reid." Tyler warned him, ignoring Jamie.

"You first." Reid spat.

"Oh, God; are you people still on that argument?" Jamie groaned. Before either of them could answer, she had already grabbed them both by the front of their shirts.

"Both of you listen here and you listen hard! Yeah, I meant you as well, Garfield! Fin is my best friend; she's not the prize at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box. Meaning if I find both of you trying to win her the way you did last night… I'll just… kill you. How 'bout that? Then maybe she won't have to be fought over anymore!" The two boys clutched at the hand Jamie was using to hold them by their shirts fearfully. Apparently, no one messed with Jamie Chapman when she was in the highest level of 'protect best friend' mode.

"Is that clear, amigos?" She leaned in towards them, narrowing her eyes to make a point. Tyler and Reid nodded.

"Good." She sighed as if defending her best friend's interest was something she did everyday that was extremely exhausting. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need a vodka."

"You think she's PMS-ing?" Tyler asked as they watched the brunette strut off to the bar.

Reid only snorted, reminding Tyler that for the moment, they were rivals. Cautious rivals, probably because any open fights might lead to their shirts getting torn. Even worse, their throats.

Jamie yawned as she parked her Cadillac in the school's parking lot, jumped out of the vehicle and made sure the hood was fixed over with the windows rolled up before she locked it and headed to the dorm entrance. She was glad she had cleared up that little problem with the two Sons of Ipswich; maybe next time, they might not be as foolish.

Since the elevator was out of order, she was forced to take the stairs but that was okay; she needed to kill off some nervous energy anyway. As her boots clicked on the floor, Jamie couldn't shake off the feeling that someone or maybe even something was watching her. She felt it on the back of her neck and she rubbed her neck to try get rid of it.

Jamie was suddenly brought back to six years ago; she was thirteen and the darkness had been overwhelming… she couldn't see… what was those shadows over there; so still and unmoving. The house was so quiet… why was this happening? Why was she suddenly trapped again inside her old house where her parents had been murdered? William had brought her away… she shouldn't be here anymore.

"Hey." The sudden sound startled her and yet it was so distant. "Hey!" This time it was a bit louder, snapping Jamie from her trance.

When she saw who had been calling for her attention, she narrowed her eyes. "What're you doing here?"

Aaron Abbot leaned against her door, a smug smile on his face. The lingering smell of alcohol wafted in through her nostrils and Jamie grimaced. The odor was overbearing and from the pinkness in his cheeks and the way he couldn't hold himself upright without something to lean on, Jamie would bet her tail he'd been out drinking.

"Just looking 'round, babe." His words were rather slurred. He reached out a hand to stroke the side of Jamie's face. Jamie slapped his hand away harshly.

"Don't hold back… I know you want me." Aaron leaned in towards her.

"Go away, Aaron." She warned as she shoved him away - hard.

"Bitch!" He backhanded her. The impact turned her head away momentarily… and it was enough for Aaron to attack. He pinned her by her arms. Terror; it rushed through her entire body and she struggled. But it was no use; he was so strong and his hands were big enough to cover her arm. She was aware of his lips on her neck but she didn't care… she had to get free. She tried to tap into her power but had as much success with it as she had trying to escape. Powers worked on emotions and right now, she was too scared. Too angry. Too shocked.

She did the next best thing. She begged and cried out. "Please don't do this! Stop! Please, stop! Let go of me!" But there was no stopping Aaron. Darkness started to claim her and Jamie was glad for it. Maybe when she woke up, all this would be over…

Fin laughed as Pogue made a joke about one of the drunken guys they had seen at the restaurant, who had - fortunately for the rest of the patrons - been thrown out before they did any real damage. She glanced at Lilith sitting beside her. She had been awfully quiet throughout dinner. Truly, it had been only her Pogue conversing. Caleb had been rather quiet but at least he had talked a little. Lils had been rather chatty at first too but then Fin had taken that call from Reid. He asked her for a second date and after a second of hesitation, she had agreed. After all, she couldn't deny that she had enjoyed that coffee. It wasn't exactly a date… maybe a heart-to-heart.

Pogue parked Lilith's Mazda into a free space and pulled out the key. After the car had been locked, he handed it back to Lilith who gave him a small smile and thanked him for driving.

"No problem." He grinned.

"We'll send you up to your room." Caleb offered.

"No, that's okay." Fin shook her head.

"We insist." Pogue said.

The girls just shrugged, not bothering to put up any more of a resistance. They climbed the stairs in silence, so as not to disturb the other students. Fin pushed open the door and froze. Two teens were making out… right in front of Jamie's door. She snorted and pointed it out to Lilith who narrowed her eyes at the couple. Suddenly, she cursed and broke her strides, running towards the couple.

"Lils!" Fin hissed, taking off right after Lilith. The guys were confused, jogging behind them.

"You bastard; let go of her!" Lilith had already reached the guy and with a clenched fist and punched him. Blood - and a tooth - splattered onto the floor and Aaron screamed in pain.

When Fin finally took a look at the girl, she almost screamed. Jamie fell to the floor, her buttons undone and the straps of her bra hanging on her arms. She looked dead. Trepidation struck her, quickening her heartbeats. Fin dropped down beside Jamie, relieved to hear her steady breathing. Quickly, as she heard the boys approaching, she buttoned up Jamie's blouse. There were no obvious serious injuries but they had to check her thoroughly to make sure.

"What---" Caleb started but a look at Jamie answered his question. He stared in horror at her disheveled hair, the bruises around her wrists and back to Aaron, still writhing on the floor and clutching his right cheek. He nodded at Pogue and without a word; they grabbed Aaron by his arms and headed off to the staircase. Fin didn't ask where they were taking him; they could throw him off the roof for all she cared. She struggled to unlock the door; her hands were shivering so badly. When she finally pushed it open, Lilith picked up Jamie effortlessly and carried her into the room, lying her down on her bed.

When Caleb and Pogue entered Fin and Lilith's room minutes later, their hands were covered with streaks of blood and they quietly washed it in the small bathroom before speaking again.

"How is she?" Caleb asked quietly.

"Alive but unconscious." Lilith replied.

"We could try cold water." Pogue suggested.

"You know what?" Fin sat down beside Jamie, stroking the brunette's hair gently. "Let's leave her to sleep; she'll probably be awake for the whole night if we wake her up."

Lilith nodded. "Go sleep in Jamie's room." She offered. "I'll watch her. I don't think I can sleep tonight."

Fin wordlessly took her up on the suggestion and took the keys from Jamie's bag. She left with Caleb and Pogue who waited until both girls had locked the door before leaving.

The next day didn't turn out all that cheery either, much unlike the previous days. It was probably the start of the darker days in Ipswich, Lilith thought. She had tried to wake Jamie up without much success. She had even tried the cold water but it was as if Jamie was in a coma. Tyler had suggested they take her to the Medicare Center in the school but Fin and Lilith had declined with a passion.

First of all, they had no idea what the Center was going to do to Jamie. Poking her with needles might startle her and surprising a pyrokinetic was never a good thing; especially if she had been almost sexually abused the night before. Jamie might burn the whole place down if she was incensed enough.

By the end of the day, Lilith was exasperated. She had tried every means possible that could return Jamie from vegetable to on the go.

"You know." Lilith suddenly said. "Maybe all this doesn't have anything to do with Aaron."

"What?" Caleb raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe it's got something to do with her past." Lilith continued.

"Wh--- wait. What are you talking about?" Caleb asked.

"You heard her. Jamie said she wasn't sure of how her parents died. She was thirteen. Not remembering is impossible."

"So she suffered a traumatic incident." Tyler argued. "If your parents had been murdered as well, would you wanna remember it too?"

"Look, all we're saying is that maybe… maybe we should try… poking a little."

"Poking?" Reid asked warily. "Poking where?"

"Her memory." Lilith blurted out.

All four of them widened their eyes. "No." Caleb shook her head. "No way, no how."

"Oh, so you'd rather she suffer like that forever… is that it? The Medicare Center can't help Jamie, guys, and you know I'm right. They'll probably just put her on a life-support machine until she's eighty and what then?"

There was a silence. All four boys avoided eye contact.

"Look…" Lilith started slowly. "There's a reason she's acting like this and I wanna find out why. Use your Power."

A/N: Right... I'm so sorry that this chapter had to be short but if I tried to add the next part in, it would be long, draggy and boring. Yikes! Hopefully, there'll be a New Years' update but I'm not promising anything.

Crickes