Ashley and Tyler both watched silently went their two roommates stumbled into the girls' room an hour later. Reid and Jane both were flushed and smiling.
Tyler caught the keys Reid tossed him.
"Tyler," Jane started, "hate to break it to you, but you drive some vehicle; I'm jealous."
Tyler stopped fighting the grin that had been begging to be released since the two walked in – it was rare anyone understood and empathized with the passion he felt for his monstrous vehicle. "Have fun you two?"
Jane and Reid both stopped smiling and scowled. "No," they declared loudly. They gave each other quizzical looks before bursting out laughing.
"Yeah, we had fun," Tyler was surprised that it was Reid who admitted this. The blonde usually was too cool for 'fun'.
Jane grimaced when she saw their notes strewn about. "Still at it?" She wrinkled her nose in distaste. She pushed Reid's shoes off her bed when he plopped himself down onto it, sitting at the space his feet had vacated. She rolled her eyes when he petulantly put his feet on her lap and didn't bother pushing them off again.
"'Fraid so," Ashley said.
"Bummer," Jane replied. She unnoticeably arched a brow at her roommate, slightly frowning at the other girl's imperceptible shaking of her head in response.
Jane mentally sighed. She was getting tired of having to act as a shepherd to Tyler and Ashley's relationship and the two weren't even in one.
"Guess who we ran into while in town," Reid stated.
"Who?" Tyler asked unnecessarily.
"Brenner," Reid answered.
Tyler looked at the blonde in surprise. "Why isn't he in school?" Brenner was last year's swim team captain who had graduated and gone off to college.
"He's still on winter vacation," Reid explained, arms crossed behind his head. "He's having a party tonight. We should go."
Tyler looked at the school materials strewn around him.
Jane rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on!" she said. "Its like the beginning of the semester. This is only the first project – it's not even a major part of your grade. Besides, I was going to go with Lee since he invited me."
Tyler glanced a look at the girl seated next to him, who gave him an encouraging smile that was out of character. Perhaps she really wanted to go as well. He bit his lip. "I guess," he conceded.
Caleb grinned at his best friend as he opened the passenger door and helped his girlfriend inside. "Hey Kate," he greeted the girl who slid in next to him, keeping his voice uncharacteristically light (1). He ignored his speeding heartbeat when the girl smiled at him in reply. The eldest Son caught Pogue's gaze in the rearview mirror. "Hey, man."
Pogue nodded, meeting his gaze. "What's up?" he asked. "Reid and Tyler going tonight?"
The darker boy nodded. "Brenner only called me because he ran into Reid in town with that Jane girl."
Pogue laughed. "Reid would," he murmured under his breath, running a hand through his hair.
Caleb's lips turned up as well at the sound of the younger boy laughing. "I think Tyler might actually be serious about this girl, though."
Kate pursed her lips. "He's only known her a week, though," she pointed out. She ignored how Caleb's previous grin had made her warm low in her belly.
Caleb shrugged and tried not to look at the pretty girl next to him. "When you feel it you feel it," he said, eyes dark and half-focused on the road.
Ashley and Jane sat next to each other, Ashley's hands steering her car expertly. Unlike how the two girls usually acted when they were in a car (all singing along with the radio and screaming giddiness) the two were silent, oblivious to the other two girls seated in the back.
"You nervous?" Jane asked the girl driving the luxury vehicle.
Ashley scoffed. "Not even," she said unconvincingly. Behind her one of the girls she had agreed to give a ride to, Blair, cooed into her phone, Blair's boyfriend on the other line.
Jane didn't call the Asian girl on her lie. "Good, because you're going to have fun," Jane stated. "Tyler's going to get shit-faced and will be all over you, just watch!"
The girl nicknamed 'Lee' smirked. "Hopefully," she said coyly.
Jane laughed.
"Okay, meet back at the car at one-thirty," Ashley told the two girls, Blair and Michelle, who had hitched a ride from her. The two girls who lived in the room next to Ashley and Jane nodded before trotting off.
Jane slung an arm around the shorter girl. "There she goes again," she sang jokingly as the two watched in disinterest as Blair and Michelle disappeared into the house. "Wonder how we're going to find Reid and Tyler in this mess." The two girls turned in confusion when a car drove passed them honking.
"Hey, sexy ladies," Reid yelled out of the rolled down window, face in an exaggerated leer. "How much for the night?" Next to him Tyler grinned, arm rested against the steering wheel.
Jane posed. "For you two sexy gentlemen? Free," she said in a fake New Jersey accent before laughing.
Tyler's smile grew a little wider as he pulled into a parking space, Reid's cheer floating in the breeze behind the car.
Jane watched the car drive away with a fond smile. She felt Ashley's gaze on her and arched a brow in question. "What?"
Ashley shook her head. "Nothing," she replied, amused smile in place. Ashley wondered what Jane would do when she realized she wasn't just infiltrating anymore.
The four Sons greeted each other while the girls who had accompanied their parties did the same. Pogue clapped a hand on the youngest Son's shoulder. "So, you going to make a move tonight?"
Tyler gave his three expectant brothers a disgruntled look. "I've known her for a week," he pointed out.
The other three shrugged. "If it was me, I'd have taken her out to lunch already," Pogue argued.
"If it were me, we'd have already been to four dates," Caleb interjected.
"And if it were me," Reid started, smirking.
"Shut up, Reid," the other Sons deadpanned.
Reid lifted his hands into the air, smirk still in place and growing wider by the second.
Jane slung an arm around his exposed waist, leaning into the blonde boy. Behind her, Kate and Ashley were talking animatedly about each other's outfit, exchanging the stores they'd bought them from.
"Wassup, fellas," she said as Reid's arm settled around her, perfectly comfortable with the gesture despite meeting him only yesterday. Neither of the two thought anything of their apparent ease with one another, accepting it at face value.
Caleb tilted his head, wondering who she reminded him of with her greeting.
"Couldn't help but hear what you were talking about," she admitted. She continued despite their alarmed faces. "Oh come on, with the music so loud you all basically have to yell over it. And I kind of have bat ears." She shrugged. "Anyway, Ty', what I suggest you do is get drunk as fuck. Drink some liquid courage down, down, down."
Tyler was blushing, looking down.
Jane reached over and touched his arm, peering into his striking blue eyes. "Hey, none of that," she said. "Think of it this way: I wouldn't be encouraging you to drink to make you do something she'd reject, you get me?" She gave him a comforting smile that dropped off her face when the two girls finally finished their conversation and came over.
"Hey, what's going on?" Kate asked, taking in the scene.
The four boys watched in amazement as Jane's face shifted into a playful, carefree expression. Obviously there was more to this girl than what they had all had originally thought.
"Nothing much," Jane said, nonchalant. "Just telling everyone how goddamn thirsty I am. I need a drink," she gave Tyler a pointed look from under her side swept bangs.
"How much liquor did he have?" Jane asked incredulously as Tyler stumbled before dragging Ashley off to the dance floor.
Reid laughed. "You think I can still count?" he asked with a slight slur.
Pogue and Kate laughed. Caleb shook his head.
Jane who, despite her earlier pronouncement, hadn't drank that much, gave him a delighted smile.
Reid emptied his cup and tossed it him behind him, declaring loudly, "Fuck, I just want to dance!"
Jane cackled. "Alright, Dane Cook, let's go," she said, pulling him onto the dance floor.
The remaining three watched them go, the same look on their faces.
"When do you think they're going to realize what the fuck they're doing with each other?" Pogue asked, leaning heavily against the wall, his girlfriend pressed against him.
"How 'bout never?" Caleb replied, keeping his eyes off of the amorous pair. "You know Reid," Caleb stated, "and if she's anything like him, it won't ever come into culmination."
"Culmination," Pogue's mouth looked full when he repeated the word. "That's a big word for you." He guffawed.
Kate rolled her eyes but didn't pull away when his lips latched onto her neck.
The three watched as Reid and Jane came back, Reid's arm curled around the girl. Caleb sighed before coming over to help the girl with the obviously inebriated boy. They seated him onto one of the few free chairs next to a counter. Reid groaned before closing his eyes and putting his head down onto the sticky surface.
"Ew," Jane said, picking up a napkin and putting it underneath his head.
Caleb shared the same sentiments in his mind. "Thanks for amusing him," Caleb stated.
Jane shrugged off his gratitude. "No problem." She gave him an assessing look. "Come on, we're dancing," she said once she had looked him over and found him acceptable.
Kate watched as the two were swallowed by the mass of gyrating students. Something sparked inside of her and she realized and recognized it for what it truly was: jealousy. The emotion took her so off guard that she didn't realize Pogue's lips had stopped caressing her skin. The emotion took her so off guard that she didn't notice it in Pogue's eyes as well.
Kate and Pogue watched as the two dancing couples started walking towards them, Jane and Caleb supporting a teetering Tyler. Ashley followed the three with a blush.
"I think we're done," Jane declared. "I know its early, but Lee has to take our friends home and Tyler and Reid are gone, dude."
Kate pulled away from her boyfriend and watched as he did the same to the wall, although in a much ungraceful manner. She rolled her eyes – her boy was obviously drunk as well.
"Are you good to drive, Pogue? Because neither Tyler or Reid are going to be able to handle the Hummer right now," Caleb said. He sighed when he saw the glazed look in the longer haired boy's eyes. "Fuck, never mind. I guess I'll leave my car here and come back for it tomorrow." His voice ended in a sour tang, obviously disliking the idea of leaving his car behind.
Jane rolled her eyes. "I'll take 'em, I'm sober," she offered.
"No way, it's a Hummer," Caleb argued.
Jane snorted, ignoring the slightly sexist comment. "Dude, my father owns a construction company; all I drive are off roading vehicles. I own a Tundra for god's sake! I'll take 'em!"
"I don't know," Caleb said, frowning.
"Look, I'm going back to the dorms anyway," she argued. "Pogue is sleeping over your place. I'm assuming Kate isn't because he's too drunk to function. I'll take her and the boys back. This way you can just go to your house and we all spend less time on the road. And your car will be safe."
It was the last part of her case that changed his mind. "Okay," he gave in, "but be careful."
"Yeah, yeah," she waved him off. "Just help me bring them to the car."
-
Caleb helped his brother into one of the spare beds, taking off Pogue's shoes before tucking him in. Caleb pushed some of the golden hair out of the dozing boy's face before getting up to leave. Just as he was about to reach the door, Pogue began talking to him.
"Psst, Caleb," Pogue said in what he probably thought was a whisper but in actuality was his normal voice.
"Dude," Caleb said, walking back over, "what the fuck – you're awake?"
"I'm not sleepy," Pogue said, pouting. "Where's Katie?" The name he rarely called his girlfriend in front of his fellow warlocks slipped out, but he continued on, oblivious.
"She's not here, man," Caleb said, sitting next to Pogue on the bed. "She went to school, remember?"
"Oh," Pogue said, brow furrowed. "Okay."
Caleb patted his friend's hand before making a move to get up.
"Well, I guess since she isn't here you'll just have to do."
That's all the warning Caleb got before Pogue kissed him.
TBC.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Covenant, the Hummer, or the Tundra (though I wish I did the latter).
A/N: Its been a near month – sorry! I totally forgot all about my fics. Hopefully I made up for it with a rather juicy, long-ish chapter…
(1) I always thought that how easily and casually Caleb greeted Kate during the bonfire at the beginning of the movie sounded OOC. A slight explanation why he takes that tone when he speaks to her, I guess.
OMFG. I JUST HAD TO SHARE THIS ALL WITH YOU, IT'S LIKE 3:39 AND I UPLOADED THIS CHAPTER HOURS AGO BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW. CHASE COLLINS IS IN HAYDEN PANETTIERE'S NEW VIDEO 'Wake Up Call'. WTF?! He looks really good in it, too...