Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Covenant movie except for the original characters and the plot.
A/N: Kill me later…read first!
And many many thanks to Red Rogue who beta-read my crappy grammar yet again.
Step 3: Letting Things Unfold?
Thinking back on it, I thought the discussion went fairly smoothly, too much so maybe. There'd been a few uncomfortable silences and choice words, but nothing I hadn't expected. Not having known Reid for long had me expecting the worst, an earth-shaking catalyst would have been just about right. His reaction or rather lack there of, worried me. I couldn't help but feel like a blind person trying to avoid a hurricane.
Fatalistic? Maybe. Realistic? Definitely.
But then again, I hadn't been to school for the past week, which was not helping to relieve any of the stress. I knew I would have to face them again, but I'd wanted to give him time to digest the information. Hoping that he would have already come to terms with the situation would have been too much like hoping for world peace. I sighed.
Whether he was ready or not, Reid and I were going to talk. Standing in front of the school exactly two weeks after I'd transferred to Spenser, I once more debated my choice to return so soon. After all my husband-to-be did need time to think things through and I was pretty sure I'd used up all the luck I'd been allotted this lifetime last time we'd spoken. I looked wistfully behind me; the gates of the academy had never beckoned as they did now, while the steps that led to the entrance of the school had never looked so ominous.
If only I'd had a few more weeks to prepare.
I fought off a shiver and quickly walked up the stairs of the school before I could change my mind. Looking at the clock, it read 7:45. Perfect, I had enough time to talk to a few of my teachers about making up the week I'd missed.
Thankfully, the first two classes of my day were son of Ipswich free and with friendly teachers who simply assigned me some work. The day could not, however, go on as it had, third period was study hall. An hour of free time, which I happened to share with Tyler…the man on whom I was currently holding responsible for the current situation. I wasn't blind to the fact that things would have eventually unfolded this way. But I still held him accountable for the timing.
I was among the first students to enter the library. I quickly scanned the crowd for signs of Tyler. He was already sitting at the far left end corner of the library studiously doing his homework. Unsure of my welcome, I nonetheless walked to the back of the room to join him.
He didn't look up as I sat down across from him, which meant I'd have to say something first. My mind went blank. What was I supposed to say to this boy-man? I wasn't even sure he wouldn't look up, see me, and decide to hex me. Okay, maybe that was more Reid's style and Tyler was more likely to simply get up and leave, either way, what I really needed to know was what they were thinking now that they knew the letters they had received weren't just some stupid chain letters.
"Hey." Simple and effective, even if unimaginative.
His head snapped up as he stared at me. He didn't look angry, but wasn't being exactly friendly either. Annoyed maybe? As the minutes trickled by, I began fidgeting, becoming increasingly uncomfortable with his silence and intense scrutiny.
"So…how have things been with everyone since the last time I saw you guys?" I hedged, attempting small talk.
Silence reigned.
"How's Reid handling things?"
Nothing.
"Anything new with you? A peculiar someone come seeking a husband maybe?"
His eyes narrowed, but still he said nothing.
It was my turn to get annoyed. I knew he had every reason to be wary; I couldn't really blame him for being on his guard, but that didn't stop me from doing so. Although we hadn't known each other long, I had hoped for more trust from him.
"Look, I know I should have said something from the beginning, but imagine how things would have turned out if I had suddenly come up to Reid and declared myself to be his future wife?" I asked, praying for some sort of reaction.
He didn't speak, but I could see some of the tension in his posture ease as he shifted in his seat. I took it as a sign to go on.
"I didn't even know who I was looking for when I first came to Spenser. All I knew was that the guy I was supposed to marry was named Reid Garwin. Our meeting at Nicky's that first night was completely random. I never thought I'd find him so quickly. It was a complete…"
He held up a hand to stop me and sighed. "You still should have said something."
"You're probably right." I readily agreed.
When he simply returned to his work, I began to wonder again. "So, you're not mad at me?"
He looked up once more and looked pensive for a moment. "Not really... I'm just… confused? Maybe that's not the right word for it. Uncertain? I mean a hidden magical community? Arranged marriages? It all sounds so… Harry Potter."
This time I was the one whose eyes narrowed. "You still don't believe me." I made it a statement.
He shrugged. "Sorry?"
"So you guys pretty much think this is some kind of elaborate hoax?" I asked disbelieving.
He once more offered a nonchalant shrug as answer.
"Why would I invent a magical community, an arranged marriage to Reid, and tattoo more than half my back?" I paused as something dawned on me. "Wait, you don't still think that I'm one of those Reid worshipers do you?"
He looked as though he wanted to answer, but didn't know how to go about it without being too harsh.
"Well, do you?" I demanded.
"I… don't know what to think. But that's the theory Reid's been operating on…along with Tyler and Caleb."
I groaned. Just great, they weren't taking the whole thing seriously and worst I was being reduced to the level of a crazy Spenser fan club member… again. I should have welcomed the burning hatred Reid had throw at me before.
"Well, if this is some kind of plan to make Reid fall madly in love with me, it's a really bad one." I grumbled, pouting slightly.
"My thoughts exactly," he said smiling hesitantly, offering a flag of truce.
And just like that it seemed like we were back to where we were before the "revelation". I wasn't sure what that made us exactly, but I was going to take all that I could, at least he didn't seem to think I was one of the lovesick puppies that constantly followed Reid around.
"So…" he began.
I turned away from my depressing thoughts and gave him my full attention; I owed him that much. I waited for him to go on, but instead of continuing he shook his head slightly as though breaking free from a spell, smiled at me, and shook his head again in a "never mind" kind of way.
"So…what?"
"It's nothing."
"Really?" I asked becoming curious.
Still he kept quiet.
"Go on, I promise to try not to get mad for whatever you're going to say next. And even if I do get mad, I promise it won't be against you. I'll be against Reid because I know if I find it insulting it probably stems from something he said."
He laughed at that, just as I'd hoped.
"Seriously though, you can ask me anything." I urged. "I'll do my best to answer."
He straightened in his chair looking uncertain, but decided to speak anyway. "I know you enough to say that I don't think you're part of the RRFs, but I don't know what to think about the rest, I..."
I stopped him mid-sentence. "But you need to be convinced. I get it."
He nodded.
"Fine then, go get your buddies."
He looked surprised. "What?"
"You're going to meet my family." I elaborated. "Go get the rest of your Covenant."
He had that why-would-I-want-to-do-that look on his face.
"You want proof or not?" I asked.
"But what does meeting your family have anything to do with…"
I interrupted again. "Go now, before I change my mind." And before I lost my nerve.
"Fine," he said with a longsuffering sigh.
"Meet me in front of your locker in 10 minutes."
I could hear him mutter under his breath what sounded like: "Just like Reid." And chose to ignore it; how was I like Reid? As he began to walk away, I remembered something.
"What's the RRF?"
He smirked. "The Rabid Reid Fanclub."
"Oh."
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I'd had no problem clamoring my way out of the library but belatedly wondered how Tyler was going to get the other Sons of Ipswich here, let alone convince them to come. I was reassured a few minutes later when I saw Tyler coming my way with the rest of the covenant in tow. They didn't look too happy to be breathing the same air as me.
"Okay, let's go then." I said pushing away from the lockers where I had been leaning, walking towards the school entrance without looking to see if they were following. We made our way out of the school without once being questioned. Apparently being a son of Ipswich came with some perks.
I partially got in my car before finally turning to face them. "How do you want to do this? Wanna ride with me or would you rather drive yourselves?"
Caleb stepped forward and decided for the group. "We'll just ride with you," he answered, much to Reid's dismay.
"I can't believe we're doing this," the blond muttered as he got in the back seat.
"Where are we going exactly?" Pogue asked from his seat between Caleb and Reid.
"Montreal."
"What?" Reid exclaimed shoving his way between the passenger seats. "That's at least six hours away. Isn't there some sort of Diagon Alley we can use?"
I rolled my eyes. It'd only been a matter of time before he said some disparaging comment. "First of all that's not how Diagon Alley works. Secondly, you guys read way too much Harry Potter."
Reid scowled, Caleb sighed, Pogue smirked, and Tyler snorted.
This was going to be a long ride.
A/N: I am so sorry it took me…a few months to get this chapter out, but once again life got in the way. I know crappy excuse. And the chapter isn't that long but it didn't make any sense for me to cut it somewhere else…Still I will try to update every week or two from now on.
P.S. Critics are always appreciated…just as are reviews…hint hint.