Dominique POV-

I got dressed in my lace, baby pink, old shirt with another underneath. It was the middle of February, so it was very, very cold, especially since it was New York. I pulled on my skinny jeans and ended with a pair of UGGS in a matching color to my top. They were the cute kind with the bows on the back. I put my hair half-up, half-down and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. As I was walking forward, I saw the bathroom door open and out come Jeff. My only problem was… He was only wearing a towel. His upper body was open completely and he was buff! He was ripped, totally muscle man, but not TOO muscly! I picked up my jaw when Jane's words came back.

"Remember your boundaries."

I would. I wanted to stay out of the drama and be friends with everyone who could possibly kill me here. which was everyone who was here. I just put a smile on my face and went in when he came out. I locked the door and starting acted like it was my normal home, trying not to think about the blood-stained walls or my mother's crying when she saw that her little girl had "moved out to find herself" as my note said. I took a breath and did act like it was my house, so, to try my hardest, I did what I did every morning in the bathroom while getting ready. I sang "Boom Boom Pow" and "Dirty Bit" on the top of my lungs. I heard banging on my door as I finished my face. my hair was in a messy bun and my face was covered in a gray scrub my mom got me to get rid of my acne, which was long gone by now. My face had gray everywhere and my eyes had a red treatment in one eye and a blue in there other for my contacts. It was a medical thing, so don't ask. I opened the door and after .15 seconds, I heard a high pitch scream.

"JEFF! JEFF! SOMEONE POSSESSED DOMINIQUE!" Ben ran downstairs and tackled Jeff and I had to laugh.

"I'm not possessed! I'm washing my face!"

"And your eyes?"
"My eyes have a rare condition, so before I put in my contacts, my eyes get special colored drops in them."

"You look…"

"I know, that Homestuck character, Sollux! Let's not land dwell on it!" I laughed because 1. That was a funny reference I made and 2. I knew no one would get it. EyelessJack got it, though. He laughed a lot.

I washed off my face and put in my contacts and walked downstairs. "Do I look better?"

"Much!" Ben was still gasping for breath. I giggled and started making breakfast. I made everyone eggs with bacon except for EyelessJack, but he wasn't hungry. I finished and started to the car.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ben called.

"To school." I laughed and walked through the first. Jeff came up from behind me.

"Race you there!"

"You go to my high school?"

"Signed up a couple days ago." He smiled and laughed.

"Well, you can't go in that!" I looked over his bloody sweatshirt and crazy, but cute face. I dragged him into the house again. I pulled him into my room and started by lifting his shirt.

"Don't you have school?"

"I can skip one day, Jeff! I'm a big girl now!" I went through my stuff until I got my big, men's tee-shirts I slept in sometimes. I gave him one and just said "put this on." I looked at his jeans and sighed after seeing the blood stains. "God, Jeff. Don't you have anyone clothes without blood on them?"

"No, but someone else might."

"I'll go ask Ben for some pants for you." I walked to Ben's room and heard something I really didn't want to hear. I just blushed and walked back to Jeff.

"Did he have any?"

"He was too busy."

"Doing what?"

"I… Nothing. It was nothing." I turned away, but he grabs me and pulled me back.

"Dominique. what happened in there? What did he do to you?"

"He didn't do anything to me, but he was… doing something." I couldn't finish my sentence fast enough. He was already marching down the hallway to Ben's room. "Jeff! Wait!" Jeff yelled i surprise.

"JEFF GET OUT!" Ben screamed.

"No problem bud!" Jeff turned to me as my eyes were wide. He closed Ben's door and started smirking at me.

"What are you-" Jeff scooped me up and started running out of the house. "Oh my god! Jeff What are you doing?!"

"Taking you out!"

"But… your shirt!" I screamed as I noticed he was shirtless. Did he taking off the shirt I gave him? I blushed as I was slung over his shoulder, his hand very close to my butt. I laughed a little nervously and flailed my arms! "Jeff!" He carried me out to the forest and put me down near a tree. "Why?" I was out of breath.

"I wanted to get you alone. I wanted to ask you on a date." He was blushing and he looked up at my under his washed, but messy hair. "Please?"

"Jeff…" I sighed. How will I tell him about Jane without him getting mad? "Jane said that I wasn't… allowed to be more than friends with you. She said you were hers. Don't be mad at her?"

"How could I NOT be?! She's trying to make sure that I'm her guy, but I don't want to be her's! I don't like her that way! She's like a pesky little sister!" He grunted and made his hands into fists, staring at the floor. "I want you to go out with me. It's your choice, not Jane's."

"You are right about that, but she said it because she loves you!" I tried to smile, but it came off as pain and regret from saying that. His next answer burned in the pit of my stomach.

"Maybe you're right… Maybe I should try again with her." Now, I smiled my fakey-fake smile and started for the house.

When I knew Jeff wouldn't hear me, I mumbled "crap," and started to tear up. I was startled when I saw Jane and Jeff hanging out by the couch. I stood behind one of the walls and listened around the corner. This is what I heard.

"Jane?"

"Yes?"

"Will you… Why did you tell Dominique to stay away from me?"

"That little brat told you, didn't she?"

"No, Sally was eavesdropping. Why?"

"Jeff, I don't want you getting your hopes up for her. She gets Starbucks and wears UGGS, you stalk people and kill them at night. You two don't mix."

"That's not for you to figure out."
"Jeff. I stopped you from killing her for rejecting you. You should be thanking me."

"You… You're right. I'm sorry." He sighed and then said "Do you hear breathing?"

"Jeff-"

"No. I mean, the only person I know who breaths that loud is Dominique." He turned to spot me for a second, but just said "I must be imagining her."

"You should open those big eyes and see that there is more to life than protecting Dominique."

"You're right again. Jane, will you go out with me again? Take me back?"

"Yes!" She hugged him and they fell back on the couch. I didn't have to see to know that they kissed. I don't know why I was hurt. Why do I feel like I lost something? He was never mine in the first place. I just walked past them on the couch and into my room upstairs. I locked my door, closed my eyes, and cried silently. I did this often, every night when I went to bed. My only friend I had and I told him to go after another girl. I am so stupid. I walked out and went to Slenderman. He was in the living room with Jeff and Jane, also Ben playing video games. It was obvious I was crying.

"Dominique-"

"Slenderman. Please take me home." I think thats when Jeff saw my suitcase packed.

"No! Slendy, don't!"

Slenderman saw the pain in my eyes. "I'm sorry, Jeff." He grabbed my hand and I was crying again. He brought me home. It was 7:00. My mom was in the kitchen crying. I could hear her outside.

I hugged Slenderman. "Thank you."

"He will be back."

"I'll talk to him when he comes." I nodded and whispered "Tell him I'm sorry and that I hope he's happy with Jane." I started to my front door and knocked. My mom opened the door. "Hi mom."

She flung her arms around me and cried more than I did.

"Don't ever leave again!"

"Mom, it's ok. I'm home." I walked i and set my stuff in my room. She followed me and kissed my face. I blushed. "Ha! Mommy, please!" That night, Slenderman was right. He was back. "I was expecting you." I was painting a landscape of a huge, purpley-blue mountain.

"Why'd you leave?!" He had his knife, holding tight. He was rip-roaring mad.

"I couldn't stay. I needed to be back."

"I could have protected you."

"Jane wouldn't like that."

"IT'S NOT JANE'S CHOICE! IT'S MINE!" His eyes were blood shot and his mouth was baring his teeth. I stayed nice and calm.

"I know, but I stand for peace."

"That's crap!"

"No. You don't know what peace is."

"I know what peace… I used to know what peace is." He sighed and cupped my face with his bloody hands. "You are my peace."

"No, Jane is your peace."

"I can't be with her."

"She better than me-"

"STOP SAYING THAT! NO SHE'S NOT! YOU'RE BETTER THAN ANYONE AND EVERYONE!" He held my shoulders and picked me up gently, but forcefully. "You're coming home."

"I am home!"

My mom came in, holding a gun and pointing it at Jeff. "Put her down."

"Mom. Put down the gun." Jeff put me down and I walked in front of him.

"Dominique-"

"No! He will not be shot! He's my only friend!" I was about to cry. "He is staying alive." She put down the gun and dropped it on the ground. I was smiling now, then everything went black. I woke up at the mansion. Jeff was looking at me.

"Where's my mom?"

"She's home. I convinced her that it would be better if I took you back. She told me to keep you safe."

"That's so much like her." I laid down and realized that Jeff was laying next to me, his arms under my head and my head facing his neck. He was taller than me, so I had to look up and him. He had me in his arms and was so warm. His sweatshirt was washed, so most of the blood stains were out. Slenderman, I thought. I smiled at him and said "I missed you." Then, I fell asleep.