Chapter 3.1

Earlier the day of the attack

„Happy Birthday Mom. I brought you some of your favorite flowers." the blonde held up a bunch of lilies, a sad smile adorned her beautiful face. She took a deep breath and kneeled down, laying the flowers on a grave, fingers softly brushing the statue of an angel, guarding her Mother.

Clouds darkened the sky.

„I miss you so much. Everything is messed up since you are gone. Dad's moodswings are getting out of control. I do everything I can to protect Ivy, but I'm just 14. There is only so much I can do...I.. I fear that someday it isn't going to be enough, that I'm not able to bring Dad back this time. You know I could swear that his eyes are glowing blue when he... when he starts... I know it sounds silly... but sometime I think he is some sort of.. of Demon. " She slumped down the grass hugging her knees and began to cry.

„I wish you were still here. You always knew what to do, always had an answer for my every question." Her voice started wavering

„I know that I promised you to take care of Dad, but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough anymore... It's getting worse. The intervals are getting shorter and he becomes more aggressive... more...ab.. abusive." Her voice broke and her body started to shake. The sky broke open. Thick raindrops falling down to earth, soaking her clothes.

„I...I... I want my Daddy back... the one who tought me to swim, the one who picked me up whenever I fell from my bike, the one who protected me from the monsters under my bed."

„God.. I'm so pathetic... You can't hear me, but I sit here like some idiot thinking you could. Frightened, pouring my heart out... God Lauren pull yourself together you have to be strong."

„Bye Mommy...I Love you..." she whispered and turned to leave.

She couldn't go home now. It was one of ‚these' days. Meaning to stay as far from her father as possible. She knew Paul was safe at home. Her father had never done anything to her half brother.

She didn't know where her feet were dragging her. Usually she sat in the library every free minute reading, trying to find a reason for her father's behaviour. She already lost her mother, she didn't want to lose her father too, no matter what he did to her. Ivy needed him, Paul needed him.

She knew it wasn't really him, that there was something big behind all of this, but she couldn't grasp what. She felt like she had read almost every psychology book in existence without success, not sure if it was because she didn't understand most of it or because the solution wasn't there.

She slumped down on a bench. It was still raining, but she didn't care, when it suddenly stopped raining. Lauren looked up. An umbrella.

„You're wet"

„You don't say" Lauren snapped.

„You need some dry clothes"

„No I don't"

„Yes you do or you'll catch a cold"

„I won't"

„You are stubborn"

„No I'm no..." Lauren sighed and started to grin.

„Well... maybe a little, doesn't matter though. I can't go home now and I don't have money to buy some dry ones, but it's not so bad. I'm used to it. It's not so bad like you may think"

„You come with me. We're about the same size. Come on." The girl just said. Not asking for the why she couldn't go home, which Lauren was thankful for.

Lauren looked for the first time at the girl holding the umbrella. Warm brown eyes greeted her. The long, brown hair framed her flawless face. She was right, they were roughly the same size and age, but the brunettes curves were more defined, puberty must have hit her early. Lauren blushed.

„My god you are beautiful" she whispered. God, get a grip Lauren. What's wrong with you?

The brunette looked at her quizzically.

„Erm... nothing... I said... nothing"

„So... are you coming?"

„What? No...maybe... I mean.. no... I don't know you and you don't have to. You don't know me, why would you want to help me?"

„You're not used to people wanting to help you, do you?"

Lauren shook her head no.

„So... first of all my mother taught me to help people in need. And about that not knowing you, I'd like to get to know you. So please let me, ok?"

Lauren sighed. What was that girl up to?

„Alright, you won... You're very persistent, you know?" Lauren admitted.

The brunette grinned.

„I'm not really good at this people stuff... Well... erm first of all you don't know my name and I don't know yours. I read in a book that at the first meeting the two partys exchange business cards... hmm well... unfortunately I don't have one... Do you...?"

„Ok...You're definatly not used to this, did you just really ask me for my business card?" the brunette laughed

„I...I guess... Wrong move?"

„Very wrong... but cute" she smiled.

„How about starting to walk to my house. It isn't far and while we are walking we can talk."

Lauren nodded a little embarrassed.

„I really am sorry. I'm getting homeschooled so I don't have a lot of contact with people my age." the blonde apologized.

„Hey that's ok. Everything is fine. I don't bite. So... what's your name?"

„I'm Lauren. Lauren Dumas"

„Well, nice to meet you Lauren, I'm Bo. Bo Dennis" she mimicked Lauren.

„Bo? that's an interesting name, never heard of it before, is it short for something?"

„Yeah... It stands for Isabeau, but I'm not very fond of that name."

„I think it sounds beautiful..."

„Does it sound as beautiful as I do look?" Bo smirked.

„What? Erm... Oh god... you heard that?"

„You weren't as quiet as you thought you'd be... but hey it's ok. It's always nice to hear that you are apreciated" Bo winked.

Laurens cheeks turned a darker shade of red, where did she got herself into?

The warm water of the shower was trickling down her body, pleasuring her achingly cool body. What the hell was she doing here? She didn't know that girl and just followed her home. She NEVER did something like this before. Maybe it was the last days that exhausted her or the miserable state her mind was in, but it felt strangely good that somebody seemed to care. Lauren wasn't sure what made her trust Bo, but that girl had a magnetic personalty, she instantly felt drawn to her and that was the thing that concerned her, because usually she was very cautious.

She turned of the water. Just as she stepped out of the shower the bathroom door opened and Bo casually entered the room with fresh clothes in her hands. Lauren hastily tried to grab for something to cover herself up, but slipped, ripped the shower curtain from it's hinges and landed with a loud thud on the floor.

Bo was instantly at her side.

„Oh god, are you ok? I didn't want to startle you. I just wanted to bring you a fresh change of clothes. Are you hurt? Do you want me to call a doctor?" Bo rambled concerned.

She kind of bruised her butt though she would never tell Bo that, so she just nodded.

A few accidental, awkward and definitely not appropriate touches and stares later they sat (both dressed) in the kitchen sipping hot cocoa, they talked about everything and anything. It was just so easy and refreshing. It felt so good to not think about her father for once.

„Hmmm... I love coco moo" Lauren sighed.

„Coco moo?" Bo raised one Eyebrow.

The blond blushed. „I said that alloud, didn't I?"

Bo just smiled at her. „But it's really yummy, maybe a little bit addicting."

„Well... did you know that cocoa solids contain alkaloids such as theobromine and phenethylamine, which have physiological effects on the body? It has been linked to serotonin levels in the brain. Some research found that chocolate, eaten in moderation, can lower blood pressure. The presence of theobromine renders chocolate toxic to some animals though, especially dogs and cats, believe me. I still miss Mr. Whiskers. He was such a good cat..." Laurens eyes lit up while talking, her hands animatedly emphasized what she was saying.

Bo looked at her with wide eyes seemingly in awe, but Lauren misinterpreted the look.

„And now you possibly think that I'm a creepy freak, what I probably am..." Laurens hands were nervously flailing around.

„What? No I'm just impressed. I mean, wow I didn't get half of it and you remember stuff I never thought about before. Besides... it's totally cute when you geek out like that. Your eyes were kinda sparkling..." Now it was Bo who blushed.

Lauren couldn't help but smile at the brunette in front of her.

„Must be my mothers genes. She always got that look when she explained something or found a solution to a problem or just talked about her work. It seemed like she knew everything, like her wisdom was endless... Sadly it wasn't..." Lauren sighed. She rarely spoke to anyone about her mother especially not with a stranger. It still felt to raw, to personal. suddenly she felt an incredible warmth flooding her body. The brunette had put her hand on the blonds arm as a comforting gesture.

„What happened?" Bo asked, her voice soft.

Lauren took a deep breath. Her brain warned her to stop talking, but her gut told her to trust Bo and frightengly her gut seemed to win this time.

„My...My mom was a doctor. A really good one too. Maybe even the best.." Lauren smiled proudly.

„She had to travel a lot. To be honest I don't really know what her area of expertise was. All I know is that it must have been something special or she wouldn't have been needed all around the world. One day she went to Africa... the Congo. A dangerous pandemic spread through the land. A fever, a disease nobody had seen before. She was able to contain the virus, but she wasn't able to cure it. When she returned... She got sick"

Lauren stopped. Her emotions threatened to gain control over her, when she felt another impulse of warmth flooding her. Bo had tightened her grip on her arm. Eyes full of sympathy and not pity. The brunette didn't say a word. She was waiting for Lauren to continue, whenever she was ready. The girl remained a mystery to Lauren.

„Everything happened so fast... I wished that I could have done anything to help her..." a single tear escaped her eyes. She heard a chair squeak and shortly afterwards felt Bo's arms soothingly around her. luckily the brunette abstained from saying any comforting, but hollow words. So they just sat there in silence. For the first time since her mother had died Lauren felt safe again now in Bo's arms.

It should've been more awkward she tried to tell herself. She shouldn't be so open, so comfortable... so... intimate with a stranger, another girl. Lauren took a deep breath. Damn Bo smelled so unbelievably good.

She could feel her breath in her neck becoming more labored. Bo pressed their bodies tighter together. Laurens heart was racing and hammering against her chest. Her eyes closed with anticipation. Without a warning she felt the brunettes lips at her neck, kissing along her pulse point. She tried to suppress the moan forming in her throat but failed miserably. This was so wrong but also felt so damn good.

„Lauren"

„hmm..."

„Lauren"

„hmm..."

„Hey Lauren, wake up." Wake... up? Slowly the blond opened her eyes only to stare in the concerned face of Bo who kneeled before her.

„Is everything ok? Are you hurt? You kinda fell asleep in my arms and... Well I... I heard you moaning in your sleep. Are you in pain? Is it because of the incident in the bathroom?" Bo rambled.

Sleep? Did she only dream Bo touching her like that? How could she fall asleep and not knowing it? What the hell was wrong with her? Having some kind of wet dream of the first person who is nice to her in years? In that said person PRESENCE? MOANING? And that wonderful person is concerned that she is hurt, not knowing that the blond in front of her was some kind of creepy pervert.

Must be her raging teenage hormones. She were just an ordinary teenager. Those kind of dreams were totally common for kids her age. Nothing to worry about. Right? 'Science help me please' Lauren begged.

"Well... I kinda bruised my butt..." Lauren said flustered. The cat was out of the bag, still better than telling the other truth. Her eyes landed on the clock at the wall.

"Shit..."Without warning jumped up from the chair, almost knocking Bo over in the attemot " I... I'm sorry Bo but I have to go. I have to pick my sister up from school..." How could she almost forget Ivy, especially when it was one of 'these' days. She could still make it she just had to jog, the school wasn't that far away.

"My clothes..."

"Still wet. Sorry. But you can keep mine. Give them back when you have the time. It's not like I need them... To be honest they became a little to... small..." the brunette blushed a little.

They stood in front of the door.

"Bo? I...I want to thank you. Not just for the clothes, the hot shower and 'coco moo'" she grinned but the grin turned into a genuine smile.

"You've managed to turn a day that started as a horrible one into one of the best I had for long. Thank you Bo... For being there. See you soon?" she asked hopeful.

"Yeah.. that would be nice." the brunette smiled.

"Just for the record: You bruised your ass and still consider it one of the best? You must have a shitty life." Bo said half jokingly.

"If you knew..." Lauren whispered.

Bo opened the door and now they stood awkwardly in front of eachother until the brunette leaned forward and pecked Lauren on both cheeks, lingering a second to long on her right cheek.

That earned her a baffled look from Lauren.

"You told me you are part french and... Erm... Well...Good... Bye?" Bo's cheeks turned a darker shade of pink while she selfconciusly rubbed her neck.

Lauren just grinned. "Bye Bo, see you soon" she said and left with a big smile on her face.

The moment she was around the corner she touched her still tingling right cheek. Yep she definately had to pick up a few books about puberty and hormones.

A/N: So that's the first part of chapter 3. Guess you didn't expect this. I thought I give you guys (you are great btw) a bit of fluff before we see what really happened that evening. About Bo's Powers: She is definatly not aware that she has them. It's the start and a really early stage.