Diligo Est Amicitia

Chapter 23: A Mystery Such As She

Special Congrats to Babaksmiles who cleverly guessed the first scene of Chapter 23!

Caleb made his way into the dorms building with purely one intention, the small red cellphone gripped firmly in his palm.

"Caleb!" Sarah.

He turned around. Sure enough, there was the blonde beauty; ready for another day of Spencer. She advanced towards him, her face excited and curious. "What're you doing here?"

"I…uh… Jamie left her cellphone in my car so I just…wanted to return it to her." He stuttered slightly, wondering what his girlfriend would think about that.

Indeed, her face seemed to have fallen slightly as she realized the implications his words carried. "Oh. Well, then… don't let me keep you."

She walked past him quickly as Caleb stood rooted to the spot. "Just--" But it was too late. She had already gone. Growling slightly in frustration, he trudged up the stairs, preferring it to the elevator. He knocked on the wooden door, feeling the urge to just barge in considering his mood but when it opened, he was rather glad he hadn't gone in.

Peter Lycan stood before him, almost naked save for the skimpy checkered boxers he had on which barely covered his privates. "Uh…" Caleb started to stammer as the other male blinked groggily at him, leaning casually against the doorframe. "I—well... is… what… have I--- have I got the right room? This--- this is Room 24, right?"

"Yeah, Caleb; this is Room Twenty-four." Peter answered with an edge to his tone, suggesting that it was by pure concentration of willpower that he was being patient with him. "What dya want, bub?"

Caleb raised his eyebrows. Peter must have surely been watching too many X-Men cartoons… "I… was looking for Jamie… you know; the owner of this room? Is she here?" Say no… say no…

Peter smirked as if he had read Caleb's mind and found ultimate pleasure in claiming otherwise. "Sure." He tilted his head toward the inside of the room. "Come on in." Caleb wasn't sure he wanted to; who knew what the heck he'd find in there? Jamie lying naked in bed with only a blanket wrapped around her? Yeah, that'd be a great way to start off a Monday.

"Pete, who is it?" Jamie asked through a mouthful of toothpaste as she started to rinse.

"Caleb." Peter answered, jumping onto the bed and lying there. Caleb didn't like the way he lay… it was as if he was used to the bed… considering it was the only bed in the room and he was doubtful Jamie slept on the floor…

The last spit sound Jamie made was forceful; as if it had shocked her. She wiped away the water on the edge of her mouth and whipped around. Wide eyes, wide smile; full surprise. "Hey!"

Caleb copied her. "Hey!"

"Whatcha doing here?" She asked.

He held out the cellphone. "You uh… left this in my car last night. I thought you might like it back."

"And you came all the way to the dorms just to give it back to me?" She smiled. "Caleb Danvers… you are a sweet guy." She said as she took the phone and placed it randomly on a dresser. "Hey, are you okay? You want some water? You're looking a little pale."

"Uh… yeah, okay." He answered, his voice rather small as Jamie bustled around to get him a cup of it. Peter just lay peacefully; staring up at the ceiling as he started to throw a ball up to see if it could bounce back, then catch it. Caleb had to admit the guy had some nice reflexes as he sipped on his water.

"Peter, what are you doing on my bed at eight o'clock in the morning? Chop, chop… time to go and wash up!" Jamie admonished.

"Your bed?" Peter leaned on his side, an elbow propped up on the mattress to support his head. "Baby doll, I thought after last night, it was our bed."

Caleb choked on a big gulp of water – not that anyone noticed. Baby doll? Our bed?! But Jamie had simply shook her head. "Honestly, Pete… you're incorrigible."

Peter had merely shrugged, jumped off the bed and headed to the small little sink. Caleb left after a few minutes later – and a few more of the couple's flirting – feeling a lot worse than when he'd came.

-

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing." Jamie growled at him as soon as the door swung shut.

"And… what am I doing?" Peter asked as he wiped shaving cream off from his chin.

"You're trying to make sure that we don't get too close with the Sons of Ipswich." She accused.

He faced Jamie. "And why shouldn't I?" He asked as he took a step closer to the lithe brunette. "It's my job. That's why I'm here. Dad forbade any such close contact with the Sons of Ipswich and since you broke that rule, this is the upshot."

"Oh yeah… right. Lie to me Pete. Lie to me and tell me that there wasn't a single second that you cherished the fact that William called you to Spencer." Jamie said seriously.

Peter didn't hesitate, his amber eyes glaring into Jamie's cold silver ones. "I'm gonna tell you the truth and say that I regretted every moment that I stepped into Ipswich."

Jamie suddenly broke out into a laugh. "Surprisingly, I believe you. You regretted every moment that you stepped into Ipswich…"

"That's right." Peter nodded curtly.

"… because you met Delancey." Jamie finished. "And fell desperately in love with her." She beamed cheekily at him.

Peter's jaw must have dropped around his knees as Jamie grabbed her towel and made for the door, the smile still in place all the while. "See ya later, lover."

-

Fin slung the bag over her shoulder before making her way out of the classroom. "Hey, Tyler; see you later man." She paused for a moment at the voice. She hadn't seen Tyler in ages. Or at least, she hadn't talked to him, much less made any eye contact. Whenever she had tried to make eye contact with him, he'd always be looking someplace else. But she guessed that it was for the best. After all, what could she say to him? 'Hey, how's it's going with your life? Yeah, mine's okay too.' After all, she was dating his best friend for God's sakes! And she was still having these little butterflies for him. It was so wrong.

"Hiya, Tyler!" A familiar voice greeted the guy whom she found was so often in her thoughts that she'd lost count. Her eyes widened as the owner of the voice came into view.

"Hey, Lils." How many times had it been now… six, seven? Seven times that she'd caught them together and yet there didn't seem to be anything going on other than the fact that they were just friends.

"Hey!" Reid suddenly swung around Fin, placed a quick kiss on her cheek while wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "You ready to go?"

Fin jerked slight, caught off guard but managed a smile on her face nevertheless. "Yeah… all set."

Reid was to take her to a little restaurant by the jetty today. She had told Lilith that she might be back a little later with non-descriptive details but she suspected Lilith knew anyway. Lilith was many things but she wasn't daft. Neither was the population of Spencer. They were all going to Ivy League schools for a reason, after all.

"Then let's grab some chow. I lent Tyler's car; I bet Lilith will drive him 'round for the day if he needs anything." There was a little strain in his voice, not that Fin noticed it. She was too busy thinking about what he'd just said.

The sun hung high in the sky but it was perfect weather to sit outside; not too hot. They'd just sat when the waiter bustled over with menus and a large beam on his face. They'd ordered and just made small talk as how it had been for the past few dates. "So, when will you tell me?"

Fin was sent crashing back down to planet Earth with Reid's question and was completely surprised. "Wha--? Huh?"

Reid chuckled softly at her expression. "You seemed occupied." Her gestured with his hand.

Fin let out a shaky laugh. "It's nothing, really." She gently massaged her forehead. "Just… stressed with school… and everything."

"Uh huh. Including me, right?" Reid mocked a serious look.

Fin absolutely took it for real and quickly tried to deny the accusation. "Wha--? No… of course I didn't mean you…"

"Fin, I was just kidding." He shook his head, offering her a smile. She returned it demurely.

How much I love this girl… Reid shook his head. And yet… wouldn't the truth hurt us all? He sighed. Nah, heavy talk like this never much appealed to him. There were too many emotions, too much feeling… "So how was History?"

-

"Can I take a seat?"

The girl leaning over her sketchpad, waved distractedly at him, mumbling a 'Sure'.

The male immediately sat down before his hands found the newspaper. He hesitated. "Can I take a look at this?"

"Sure." That same inattentive voice again.

Peter grinned and leaned forward. "Can I get a kiss?"

He must have asked her at the wrong time because she leaned back from her seat with a satisfied look on her face, seemingly not registering what he'd just asked of her. "Su--." She caught herself at the last moment, and then glared at him.

"Peteeer." She elongated his name, her voice warning him gently.

"Delanceeey." He copied her.

But she only shook her head before leaning over her sketchpad yet again. Peter cocked his head curiously at her. She'd never shown him her work; never really talked to him about it though they had discussed their mutual interest of poetry. "Such a mystery." He whispered.

Her head shot up. "Hmm? You say something Pete?"

His amber orbs widened and he quickly pointed to the headline on the newspaper. "I said, 'Archaeologists Debate On Jericho's History'."

Her forehead creased for a second. "Oh. Okay."

Yup; Delancey Lane was indeed a mystery and though Peter would never claim he had been a fan of those Nancy Drew books that Fin had been so crazy about in her adolescent years, he felt himself looking forward to solving her out.

A/N: Whoa, there folks… how long's it been that I haven't updated? Close to two weeks now, I reckon? Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I, for one, thought it was a pretty good title because it vaguely describes of how the four girls in the chapter are mysterious, each in their own way. Oh, and by the way, don't take Jamie's comment of how Peter 'falls desperately in love with Delancey' too seriously because, after all... she might have been joking around. Only time will tell of how it will all end. Anyhow, review and tell me what you thought about it.

Crickes