THE COVENANT

CHAPTER 4: When Everything Goes to Shit

********** After the Explosion **********

"Your tits look good," was all Reid said for the first part of our walk back to my dorm room.

"Thanks..."

He looked down to the ground for a moment before he stopped, "how d'you have the Power? It's first born sons... did you know and just not tell us? What the fu-"

I stopped walking a few paces after he had but I didn't turn around, "I knew, ya.."

"You just decided we didn't need to know..."

"It's pointless."

"How is it pointless? You have the Power... You're one of us..."

I spun around and looked at him through my tear filled eyes, "Ok. Yes. I've always known. No. I never told you. Yes. I should have..."

He looked at me incredulously, "And how?"

I looked at him and all I could see in his face was pure confusion and annoyance, "Reid, I'm sorry ok."

He looked at me without speaking for a moment, "I just can't figure out how."

I looked down, "I know how... and I'm ashamed of how. It's the reason Caleb got so beat up when he fought Chase." I looked up at him and wiped my face off with my shirt before realizing I should probably put it back on, "when our father meant to will his Power over to Caleb... I was walking up the stairs and just as he said the final word I reached the top of the stairs and he looked at me... and I got the Power instead."

He just blinked, "I didn't know that was possible."

"Me neither, believe me I was just as confused."

Reid took a few steps towards me, "does Caleb know?"

"No."

"Does anyone know?"

"My mother and Gorman."

He looked down to the floor before he looked back at me, "I feel kinda betrayed right now... I always thought we were close enough to tell each other anything I just can't believe you didn't-"

I cut him off, anger boiling, "You feel betrayed?! I was just about raped because of you!"

Reid threw himself backwards, "What?!"

I whipped around to face him and stormed towards him until I was right in his face, "Don't play dumb you shithead, Aaron told me you guys had some fucked up race to fuck me. Thanks a lot for that by the way. I'm glad you respect our friendship."

"What the fuck are you talking about?!"

"Don't even. You can lie to teachers all you want and you can fake your way through other girls panties but stay the fuck away from me." I turned back around and started to walk to my doorway, I can see it now, I'm almost there. I can almost lock myself away in there and just cry.

"Y'know what Sidney, fuck you. I didn't have a race with Aaron."

I kept walking, his voice was increasing in volume with every step I took, "He's just a fucked up, bitter, piece of shit that wanted to take something that meant everything to me!"

I stood still, hand on my doorknob.

"And apparently he won.. cause he took you."

There was a long pause, "Clearly you won't ever love me the way I love you thanks to his lies so..."

I still didn't turn to face him but I could see him through my peripherals, he spun around ripping his hands through his hair staring up at the ceiling with a frustrated look on his face, "Whatever. Fuck this. See you in English."

I watched him walk away down the hall and smacked my forehead on my door a few times in frustration, "Uuuuuugghhh."

********** Three Days Later **********

For the past few days English with Reid was very awkward. He ignored me, and I ignored him. It was pretty much a silent code we had to not talk... until one day when I was hunched over scribbling notes down on my paper.

"Sid," he leaned forward so his head was almost beside mine; I stopped writing but said nothing.

He sighed, "Fine, whatever." He leaned back again and a moment passed before the bell rang signaling the end of class. I sighed and leaned back as I gathered my books.

"I'll see you at Nicky's later?"

I got up and brushed past him shaking my head no.

********** Dorm **********

I have zero friends right now. The boys talk to me but they aren't as close as before because of this whole mess, Aaron and Kira were avoiding me now, a little frightened I think.

I actually thought that news of that night would be spread all over the school by now but I guess it was a little embarrassing for Aaron to start spreading around how he was denied sex then injured by a small girl while naked and hiding behind a throw pillow; plus, who would believe him?

Reid is really the only person making some kind of effort to communicate with me. Why? I have no clue. I was an inexcusable asshole to him. I called him names, I swore at him, I ignored him, and I've thought about it for days and really... how did I really believe Aaron's bullshit about Reid and him racing? I know Reid well enough to know he would never do that to me.

"I guess I should try n fix this," I mumbled to myself as I put my books down on my desk in my dorm. I looked in the mirror, completely ashamed of myself, "Fuck you," I grumbled shaking my head and slumping down onto my bed landing in a heap of laundry that needed to be put away. At least it was clean laundry.

********** At Nicky's **********

I found him through the smoke and crowd at the pool tables, as usual. This time he wasn't playing Aaron and the boys though, just some randoms that happened to straggle in the bar and not know what they were getting themselves into.

I conned a random guy in to buying me a couple beers and walked over to Reid. He was just wrapping up his game when he noticed me sitting at a table with two beers and an empty chair.

I smiled a weak smile at him and waved lightly when he started walking over.

"Sid."

"Hey Reid."

He sat down, "This for me?" He pointed at the beer.

"Ya," I awkwardly slid the mug a little closer to him, "so, lemme talk. I wanna explain."

"Alright," he took a deep breath before he took a sip of his beer.

"Ok so, that night with Caleb and Chase and I got the Power by accident, well, I never told anyone 'cause I just felt so guilty." I was talking so fast I don't know if he was even hearing all of it.

"If dad hadn't looked at me it would've gone to Caleb and then he wouldn't have gotten so beat up. He just barely lived and it's my fault! So, I didn't say anything. As for Aaron, I don't even know. You're right, he is an ass, and a liar, and I was naive; just like you said. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, and I'm sorry for being so rude."

I stopped talking and just looked at my hands. Reid was silent. "Ok... now your turn," I looked up at him awkwardly, hoping he'd say something.

Finally he opened his mouth, "So. You're saying that you feel guilty because your dad looked at you? You didn't do anything wrong... you realize that right? You have no reason to feel guilty. I'm just gunna ignore anything you have to say about Aaron; except that yes, yes I am right."

My heart sunk a little when he stopped talking, I'd hoped he'd say something else. Reid looked up at me from under his hair, downed his beer, and walked back to the pool tables without another word. I put down my own beer, "Fuck sake."