Chapter 6

The hot water rained down from the shower head and pounded down on Pogue's shoulders. A thick layer of steam hung throughout the small bathroom, completely fogging up the large glass mirror and the tiles under his hands. A deep sigh echoed in his throat. The water felt great against his tense shoulders and it loosened them up greatly but it did nothing to subdue his long train of thoughts.

(Caleb...)

Pogue sighed and dropped his head. Was that all just a dream? It felt like one but at the same time it almost felt real. Was it possible that he missed his friend that much for his mind to conger up that strange vision? No, it was real, he was damn sure of it. Caleb was alive somewhere...he could feel it.

"Pogue, save me."

A deep weight settled inside of Pogue's chest and he fought against a sob that was fighting its way up his throat. He knew that was Caleb's voice that cried out to him. It sounded so frightened and weak.

"Pogue, save me."

Save him from what? What was going on? What was Caleb so frightened of? And who was the second voice he heard?

"Pogue, save me."

"Save you from what?" Pogue yelled and pounded his fist against the wall, ignoring the pain that shot through his hand. "Where the hell are you?"

The only answer he received was the sound of the running shower head as the water pelted down on his bare shoulders. Moister started to gather on Pogue's cheek and it only took a few short seconds for him to realize that it were tears.

(Caleb...I'll find you. I swear I will.)

--

"Pogue. It's almost eight." Tyler yelled at the bathroom door.

He waited for a few seconds and knocked again when he didn't receive a reply.

"Pogue!"

Tyler was about to knock again when he heard Pogue yell from the other side.

"Save you from what...where the hell are you?"

Tyler paused and pressed his ear up against the door. Over the noise of the running water he could hear a loud pounding noise followed by a few quiet sobs.

(Is Pogue crying?)

He listened for a moment longer, his heart slowly swelling inside of his chest. Why was Pogue crying like that? What was wrong?

After listening silently for a few seconds longer Tyler sighed and pulled himself away from the door. Even though he was worried, he deiced to let Pogue have some privacy. After all he didn't like it when people fussed over him when he was upset.

After giving the bathroom door another curious look he slowly retreated down the hallway into Pogue's living room.

--

"Think you'll be able to sit through school today?"

Pogue shrugged and continued staring out the window at the passing scenery. "Probably not, but I don't really have a choice."

"Well, you can always stay home I guess."

"Not with my stellar grades." Pogue replied and continued gazing at the passing buildings.

He knew Tyler's eyes were on the back of his head again. The younger boy had been giving him concerned looks all morning and after the first few Pogue realized that Tyler probably heard his little crying fit in the shower. He started cursing himself afterwards for forgetting that the walls of his apartment were thin.

Soon the familiar stone gateway of Spencer came into Pogue's view and he had less then a second to prepare himself for the normal onslaught of teen angst that flooded through his head. Tyler drove into the student parking lot and a few minutes later and both boys started drifting towards their morning classes.

"So what was it about?" Tyler asked out of the blue.

"Hmm?" Pogue directed his gaze away from the gravel towards Tyler.

"What was your dream about?"

"It was nothing." Pogue sighed; he knew the younger boy would bring this up eventually.

"Well, it must have been something because you were yelling really loud."

"It was nothing Tyler. Really." Pogue sighed and stared down at his feet again. "It was just a nightmare."

Tyler's eyes darkened slightly and soon the dark feelings of fear and dread passed through Pogue's mind.

(Of course Tyler would know all about nightmares.)

"What was it about?" The younger boy asked quietly.

Pogue mentally kicked himself for walking into this conversation.

"Look Ty, seriously, it's nothing for you to worry about. People like me get nightmares a lot because we pick them up from other people."

Tyler swallowed slightly and his eyes were glossy when he looked at Pogue again.

"Have you ever picked up any of mine?"

(Yep, you walked strait into that one genius!)

"No." Pogue lied.

Tyler remained quiet and lowered his head. Pogue knew he didn't believe him; lying was something he wasn't really gifted at.

The rest of their walk was unbearably silent. Tyler's eyes never left the ground and Pogue elected to stay completely silent; fearful that he would upset Tyler even more. Pain, fear and anxiety were already scratching around inside of his head and the last thing they needed was more company. As they rounded the corner of the main building Pogue instantly recognized the blond lounging on the railing in front of the main door.

"There you are!" Reid groaned loudly and jumped down from the railing. "Where have you two losers been?"

"Don't ask." Pogue said, trying to force a smile.

"That bad huh?" Reid grinned and turned his attention towards Tyler and spoke in his usual smart-ass tone. "What's up baby boy, why are you so sad?"

Tyler lowered his head and brushed passed the two of them and headed into the building.

"Jeez, what's got him all bitchy?"

"Reid, you fucking idiot." Pogue sighed and brought a hand to his forehead.

--

"What'd you get for number five?"

Pogue diverted his attention away from the book he was reading and skimmed down his worksheet.

"The Crimson Tome called for three main items to work properly. The blood of the warrior fallen and of the enemy who slew him, four talismans; each representing a cardinal direction and a stone called The Nexus Stone."

Reid scribbled most of Pogue's statement down before looking up. "Uh, that's more then three things."

"Well that's what the damn book says. I guess you have to combine most them." Pogue shrugged and went back to his own homework.

Reid sighed and pushed his history book to the side. "Why do we have to look up all this shit anyway? How the hell is this going to be important in the Real World?"

"Don't know, but it's important to us because we're both failing this damn class."

Reid grumbled and buried his head in his folded arms. Pogue glared at him and grumpily went back to his homework. The Librarian brushed by their table a few times on her way towards the "History and Culture of Ipswich" section but aside from that, no one wandered near their corner of the Library.

"What's a good answer for six?" Reid asked a moment later.

Once again Pogue looked away from his book and read his answer to the blond. "The Crimson Tome was only preformed on a night when there was a full moon."

Reid quietly wrote the answer down and dotted his sentence angrily. "Where the hell's Tyler at? He's the one getting the A in this damn class."

"What, I'm not good enough for you to copy off of?"

"No, you're worse then me at this junk."

"Gee, that hurt." Pogue chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "I dunno I haven't seen Tyler since this morning. You told him we were meeting here right?"

"Yes!" Reid said as he tried to find the answer to his next question.

"Well, we're in a good mood."

"Kiss my ass." Reid grumbled, giving up on finding the answer to the next question on his list.

"Love too darlin'." Pogue chuckled.

Reid's pencil bounced of his shoulder and landed on the table with a quiet thud. Pogue picked it up and threw it back at him.

"You throw like a girl."

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Do not!" Reid growled and once again tossed the pencil at him.

Pogue ducked and the pencil sailed over his head and hit the person walking towards them.

"Hey!"

Both boys turned their heads and saw Tyler standing behind them reaching for the pencil that hit him.

"There you are!" Reid yawned as he stretched. "Where the hell you been?"

"Sorry, my math class ran long." Tyler said as he spun the chair next to Reid around and sat in it. "How's the homework going?"

"Oh perfect, Pogue and I have already accepted the fact that both of us are going to fail this damn class."

"What the hell do mean we? I only have to bring my grade up a few more points to pass." Pogue said, trying to keep the proud look off his face.

Reid sighed and thumped his head against the table loudly. "Fine, I've accepted the fact that I'm gonna fail this damn class."

"You're not going to fail." Tyler said, patting his friend on the shoulder. "Mind if I take a look?"

Reid didn't even raise his head. "Knock yourself out baby boy."

Tyler shook his head and pulled Reid's worksheet over towards himself. He was quiet for several moments before he reached for Reid's pencil and started scratching some of his answers out.

"Number three's wrong... four is way off...what the– Reid this isn't even a real word." Tyler sighed loudly and started digging through his school bag and pulled his own worksheet out. "Here, just copy mine."

Reid raised his head and blinked. "Seriously?"

"Well I wouldn't be a true friend if I let you turn that in."

Reid grinning and threw his arms around Tyler.

"Oh baby boy I love you!"

"Hey! Get off of me!" Tyler yelped and tried to fight the blond off.

"Come on, you know you like it." Reid laughed evilly and tightened his grip on the younger boy.

"Ugh. I'm surrounded by children." Pogue groaned loudly and started shoving his books into his bag. "Are you two done over there?"

"Yeah Reid, get off!"

Reid pouted and released his arms from Tyler's shoulders. He gathered his stuff up as well and the three of them left the library.

"Do you need a lift home?" Tyler asked as they made their way down the empty hall.

"Yeah." Pogue replied gruffly. "Hopefully I can get my bike fixed soon."

"What happened to your bike?" Reid asked behind him.

Tyler was about to respond when Pogue cut him off.

"I crashed it again."

He heard Reid mumble a few things behind him but the blond didn't ask any further questions. They rounded a corner and halfway down the connecting hallway Pogue's head started throbbing. He groaned and touched the side of his head.

Tyler stopped next to him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Someone's around here, that's all." Pogue replied as he tried to focus on the feelings that invaded his mind. "Fuck, its Aaron."

"Oh great." Reid groaned. "Doesn't he have anything better to do?"

"Apparently not." Pogue sighed and continued walking.

Reid moved up in-between him and Tyler as they neared the main doors. Sure enough, Aaron Abbot and two of his friends where standing off to the side of it.

"Well, lookie here boys. It's the Ipswich bitches."

Aaron's two friends laughed loudly.

"Wow Aaron, spend all day thinking that one up?" Reid asked in his usual smart-ass way.

Aaron's eyes lowered as he approached the group.

"So, where's the almighty Caleb been lately? You know finals are only a month away?"

"Are you gonna move Aaron or do I have to move you myself?" Pogue growled, getting annoyed.

Aaron looked taken back by Pogue's brash behavior but it was short lived.

"Come on tough guy. Why don't you show me that not all of you Ipswich girls are fags and can actually fight, unlike Garwin and Sims over there?"

Pogue felt the anger that coursed through Reid's veins and instinctively held his arm out to block Reid from rushing Aaron.

"I'm giving you one last chance Aaron. Stop being a prick and get the hell out of the way."

"Why don't you fucking make me Perry! Stop being a pussy like Caleb and fucking do something or–"

Before Pogue could blink Aaron's body was thrown back against the wall forcefully, along with his two friends. All three bodies slid to the ground and fell over with a loud thump.

"Reid!" Pogue yelled and whipped his head around.

He was about to yell some more when he noticed that Reid's eyes were normal and he was standing there looking just as shocked as Pogue was.

"It wasn't me."

Pogue blinked and turned his head towards Tyler and froze. The younger boy's eyes were black as coal and his fists were clenched together tightly.

"Tyler..."

Apparently Tyler didn't hear him; his eyes were still locked onto Aaron's unconscious frame, waiting for any sign of movement. Dark thoughts started swirling around inside of Pogue's mind as he tried mentally to reach him. Anger, disgust, resentment... the list went on and on.

Pogue stepped towards him and shook the other boy's shoulders forcefully.

"Tyler!"

Tyler's body jerked awake and his eyes soon faded to his normal color as he was pulled out of his trance like state. His eyes wandered towards the sight of Aaron and his friends and his body completely froze.

"Tyler."

A quiet gasp came from Tyler's mouth as he slowly backed away from the sight he just caused. A new emotion touched Pogue's mind. Fear.

"Oh shit." Pogue whispered and moved closer to the frightened teen. "Tyler look at me."

Tyler's eyes were still on Aaron but he looked away when Pogue shook him once again.

"Pogue–"

Somewhere down the hall a door opened. Pogue swore loudly as he saw someone's shadow round the corner.

Reid shifted his eyes and snapped his fingers quickly and the sound of it echoed around inside of Pogue's head, forcing him to close his eyes. When he opened them he saw the hall had dawned a cold grey lighting and two female students frozen in mid-stride as they rounded the corner.

(Reid's a godsend sometimes.)

Pogue sighed relieved and glanced over his shoulder at Reid. "How long can you hold that?"

"A few seconds." Reid replied, keeping all of his focus on holding everything in place.

Pogue nodded and grabbed Tyler around the shoulder and herded him towards the doorway. Reid lingered for a few moments before backing towards the front doors and releasing his hold on the space around him.

He snapped his fingers one last time and dashed out the door after his friends.