Author: Vix
Email: Vix_Chic@hotmail.com
Rating: Pg-13 (Insinuation to sexual visions and abuse)
Summary: If you read you’d know.
Spoilers: Not that I know of but just to be safe everything in first and second season.
Author’s Notes: You won’t get the title till you read the story. Hope you enjoy it. And I’d like to thank Shanova, Ange, and Kori for their support and feed. You chicks are absolute dolls! And I love you all!
Dedication: This FC is dedicated to Lori, who suggested the dating plot…
*
“Thought I’d find you here.” Eddie said as he slowly walked into the abandoned weight room.
Julie stayed silent as she worked the military press with her arms showing strain.
“You’ve been dodging me the past week.” Eddie continued standing right behind her.
Julie dropped the bars and turned around, “I didn’t know you were looking for me.”
“Yeah right, so that’s why you literally ran the other way every time you saw me?” Eddie asked totally not believing her attempt to lie.
“I didn’t run.” Julie snapped.
“Fourth period.” Eddie said blankly.
“I jogged. I was late for class.” Julie said in an even harsher voice, she would not let herself be cornered.
“Well since school is over and its Friday we have plenty of time to talk.” Eddie said smiling.
Julie maneuvered herself off the stool and some how around Eddie and made her way outside to the water faucet.
“Again with the avoidance.” Eddie said following her.
“So Edward, is this your first time stalking?” Julie asked as she straightened up after taking in some H2O.
“Actually it is. How am I doing so far?” Eddie asked still smiling.
“Terrible.” Julie said with the same grin.
“Come on Jewels, talk to me.” Eddie said taking a step closer to her.
“About?” She asked taking a step back from Eddie and closer to the corner.
“Us.” Eddie said taking another step.
“What us?” Julie asked trying to move away again, but this time she did hit the corner.
“Come on you and me both know what happened at my house.” Eddie said putting his hands on either side of her body keeping her right where he wanted her.
“You kissed me.” Julie said a smile flashed across her eyes, put not her lips.
“And you kissed me back.” Eddie said softly as he leaned in ever so slowly- as if to give her time to move away.
Julie leaned up on her toes ever so slightly and caught his mouth with hers.
“Like I was saying,” Eddie began when they pulled away, “Us- what are we?”
“Dating.” Julie said firmly looking him in the eyes.
“Tonight?” Eddie asked worried.
“Yeah- tonight.” Julie said shaking her head decisively.
“Well I sort of promised my cousin that I’d go out with them.” Eddie said regretfully.
“Oh.” Julie said not bothering to hide her blatant disappointment.
“And I doubt you want to tag along with Josh, Amanda, Randy, Nicole, and Thomas so maybe we could do something…” Eddie began looking at the floor.
“I’d love to tag along.” Julie said immediately.
“When’s your curfew?” Eddie asked looking back at her.
“I don’t have one.” Julie answered her blue eyes sparkling.
“So I guess I’ll pick you up around 8:45? We’re going to see a movie then we’ll probably hang at the crashdown for a while. Is that OK?” Eddie asked unsure of himself.
“Perfect.” Julie said leaning up again… she really was becoming addicted to the sweet and spicy combination they had going on.
*
“Hey Girl.” Maria called out as the brunette walked through the front door not bothering to knock.
“Hi Mrs. Maria.” Amanda said as she dropped her bag on the living room floor and walked into the kitchen.
“You live here now or something?” Mark asked in amusement as he watched Amanda went to the through the refrigerator looking for a beverage.
Amanda instantly straightened up and turned around, “Sorry.”
“Don’t be babe. Ignore the twins. We all ways do.” Maria said smiling as she bustled around the kitchen setting the table for dinner.
“Thanks mom.” Mark said as he and his brother grumbled.
“Hey.” Michael whispered into his wife’s ear as he snuck into the kitchen and caught her around the waist.
“Hey yourself.” She said back leaning into his arms.
“Hey Amanda.” Michael said, finally acknowledging the other people in the room.
“Hi Mr. Michael.” Amanda said as she looked towards the clock then to the stairs.
“You staying for dinner?” Matt asked as he stood up to find the extra bottle of Tabasco for their meal.
“She’s staying the night. Her and Nicole have plans later.” Maria said smiling at the young girl.
“With?” Michael asked.
“People.” Maria said calmly.
“Hey Amanda, Hey dad.” Nicole said as she came down the stairs.
Amanda waved and her dad looked at her stone faced.
“Where and with who are you going out tonight?” Michael asked immediately, not returning the greeting.
“Amanda, Julie, Randy, Eddie, Thomas, Josh, and I are going out tonight. We’re going go catch a movie then we’re going to probably hang at the crash down for a little while. No worries dad.” Nicole explained with only one breath, a smile on her face.
“Shall we eat?” Maria asked before her husband could open his mouth.
“I’m starving.” Mark and Matt said together.
“As all ways.” Nicole said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.
*
“So you have another date tonight? Who’s the lucky girl this time?” Kyle asked as his son walked around the living room trying to find his keys.
“Julie Bradfield.” Eddie said smiling.
“You go on a lot of dates son. And I know we’ve had this talk before but you need to be careful.” Kyle began again.
Eddie panicked- not again!
“Dad, stop right there. We already had the sex talk. I don’t need or want it again.” Eddie said shaking his head vigorously.
“I just want you to understand the consequences.” Kyle said trying to make his son understand why this was so important.
“I do dad. I do.” Eddie said shaking his head in nausea.
“I remember my times when I was young and I was careful. You should follow my example and…” Kyle began a way inappropriate lecture as Eddie plugged his ears with both fingers and hummed.
*
“Come on girls, Josh is waiting in the living room!” Michael yelled up the stairs to his daughter and her friend.
“We better hurry.” Nicole said running a hand over her hair perfecting the golden ringlets.
“Problem!” Amanda hissed as she gestured to her still wet hair.
Nicole ran her hand across Amanda’s locks “Problem solved.”
“You look nice.” Josh said to his girlfriend as they made their way down the stairs and to the front door.
Moments after the other three had left Mark and Matthew discretely walked towards the back door hopefully unnoticed by their parents.
Once they were outside they got into the Jetta, but when Mark started the car and turned on the lights there was a figure illuminated by the bright light.
“Busted.” Matt said to his brother as they exited the car.
“Where are you boys going?” Michael asked as his sons came closer.
“We were going…” Matt began as he looked from his twin back to his father.
“Hold on- let me guess. You two were going to go catch a movie, the same one Nicole is at, and then you were going to go to the crashdown, where Nicole is going to be at, and hang out. Am I right?” Michael asked eyeing both boys.
They miserably shook their heads as they began to walk back to the house.
“Where do you two think you’re going? Get back in that car and spy on your sister!” Michael ordered.
They looked at their dad in surprise before jumping hurriedly into the car and speeding away.
Michael quietly made his way back into the house where his wife was tapping her foot impatiently.
“Hi honey.” Maria said through gritted teeth.
‘Busted.’ Michael thought as his eyes widened.
“Hi.” Michael said walking cautiously towards the kitchen, away from his wife.
“So? What do you have to say for yourself?” Maria said walking closer.
“I love you.” Michael said before he took off running through the house.
“Come back here SPACEBOY!” Maria yelled after him as she too began to race around their house trying to catch and maim her husband.
*
There stood seven teens outside the Movie Theater contemplating which movie to go see.
“OK, I vote we go watch ‘Love Mates’” Nicole said turning slightly in Randy’s arms so she could see the other couples.
“I still think we should go see ‘Rages of Empire Galatica’.” Thomas said in protest.
“Any other suggestions?” Josh asked the group.
There were none so he put it to a vote, “All in favor of ‘Love Mates’ raise your hand.”
Instantly Julie, Nicole and Amanda raise their hands.
“‘Rages of Empire Galatica’?” Josh asked raising his own hand along with Randy, Eddie, and Thomas.
“Four against three. ‘Rages of Empire Galatica’ it is.” Thomas said happily.
“I know where you sleep.” Nicole glared at her three cousins.
The three targets of her death glare swallowed… hard.
*
“I think he’s a little too close to her if you ask me.” Mark said as he scowled at the back of Randy’s head.
“Want to have a little fun?” Matt asked eyeing Randy as he took a sip of his soda.
“All ways.” Mark said as he watched Randy’s soda lid give, spilling soda all over Randy and Nicole.
“She’s going to kill us.” Matt said smirking at his twin as they slouched even lower in the back row.
“Only if she finds out.” Mark said in a conspiracy like tone.
“I won’t tell, you won’t tell, we won’t get caught. So that only leaves one loose end to the crime, dad.” Matt said as he looked over at his brother thinking about their father and praying he could keep his mouth shut.
*
“You let them do what?” Maria cried as she corned Michael in the kitchen.
“Honey, you have to understand where I am standing here.” Michael began trying to sweet talk his wife.
“You’re standing this close to death’s door buddy-boy.” Maria said as she put her fingers together emphasizing how close he was to being hurt.
“Baby…” Michael tried again knowing that it most likely wasn’t going to work.
Maria glared.
Make that definitely wasn’t going to work.
*
“That movie sucked the big one.” Nicole said as she sat down in the booth next to Randy and beside Thomas.
“Tell me about it.” Amanda said between Thomas and Josh.
“What are you two talking about? It had robots, heroes, half-naked chicks and violence. It rocked.” Thomas protested.
“Were the guys half-naked?” Nicole asked evenly.
“No.” Eddie answered for all the guys.
“So if it didn’t have half naked men what was the point of the movie?” Nicole asked.
“Exactly!” Julie and Amanda cried out from their places around the circular booth.
“Hey!” Randy said nudging his girlfriend.
“Come on, that’s not even fair.” Josh protested that as he threw Amanda a joking wounded look.
“I’d look better half naked then they would.” Eddie said as he pretended to pout.
“Sure.” Nicole said making a gagging noise as everyone busted out laughing, even Eddie.
*
“What are they talking about?” Matt asked as his brother used his hyper sense to try and catch the conversation that was going on across the café.
“The only thing I caught of that discussion was something about Eddie being nude.” Mark said as he quickly tuned out the seven teens.
“You poor thing.” Matt said with genuine pity.
“I’m hungry.” Mark said shaking his head trying to rid such a disturbing image.
“Man if you can eat after that image you deserve a metal.” Matt said calling a waitress over.
“Hey Tweedles. What can I get you?” The girl with long black hair asked.
“Why don’t you ever address us like normal human beings?” Mark asked annoyed.
“Because you’re subhuman little twirps.” Veronica Martin said with scorn.
“Where’s your other half. She not up your…” Matt began.
“Door-Matt! How are you this fine evening?” Vanessa asked as she came behind her twin sister.
“If you’re not calling me Door-Matt you’re calling me…” Matt began annoyed.
“Tweedle Dumb. And of course your other half is called Tweedle Dee. So fitting.” Veronica said glaring at Mark.
“They’re only mad because we used to call them…” Mark began smirking like his father.
“Don’t you dare!” They both hissed in unison.
‘Twins!’ Mark sent the message to Matt.
‘Aren’t they adorable though?’ Matt sent back the question.
Both Matt and Mark took a long appreciative look at the girl in front of them. Both had straight black hair and the prettiest cat eyes. Cat eyes by nature- not contacts. The color of their eyes were a striking violet… their skin nicely tanned.
“Oh the kittens got their whiskers in a twist?” Mark and Matt asked back at the same time giving both girls a twisted smile.
“What do you two want?” Vanessa asked in a menacing tone quick to get away.
“I think I’ll have an alien blast and a number four twister.” Matt said not bothering to actually look at the menu.
“And I would like a Blood of Alien smoothie with the same twister meal. Oh and Cherry lime liquid.” Mark said.
“We’ll be back with our orders.” Veronica said about to turn around.
“You want a CL too?” Vanessa asked Matt.
“Sure.” Matt answered before the girls turned to fill the orders.
“They’re totally into us.” Mark said to his twin settling down in the seats.
“And did you see them in their uniforms?” Matt asked checking out Vanessa out of the corner of his eye.
“Oh yeah.” Mark said raising his eyebrows and wagging them for emphases.
*
“Bye!” Jenny called as she watched her so called friends get up and leave.
She had told them she’d find a ride home, that there was no need to worry, when really she had no ride. She was just going to walk.
Jenny gazed out the front window of the Crash Down only to find it was blurred by rain!
She scanned the patrons for anyone she knew… Thomas Whitman and a group of his friends were sitting on the other side of the crash down. Randy… Julie… Amanda… Nicole… Josh… Eddie…
The only other people there and she couldn’t even associate with them… or him… not that she’d ever let anyone really give her a ride home… not on a Friday and especially not after payday.
She took a book out from her purse and began to read. If the rain didn’t let up till closing then she was going to be one very wet Jenny Selles.
*
“OK you ready?” Josh asked Nicole and Amanda ready to take them home.
“I’ll take Nicole home.” Randy offered grabbing Nicole’s hand as they stood up.
“All right.” Josh said leaning towards Amanda.
“Bye.” Eddie said kissing Nicole on the cheek.
“Later guys.” Julie called as Eddie lead her out of the restaurant and to his car.
“Bye.” Thomas said kissing Nicole on the other cheek before her, Randy, Josh, and Amanda left.
He sat back down in the booth picking up his Cherry Lime Liquid.
He caught sight of two a spiky heads sneaking out the back door…
Thomas laughed to himself taking in the rest of the café. His internal laughing stopped when his eyes feel on the only other person besides the twins that were working.
He casually stood up making a decision to either leave or keep her company…
He swallowed hard and walked towards her. After all it would be kind of fun bothering the Ice Queen.
“Jenny the Great! What are you doing here this fine evening?” Thomas asked as he sat down across from her uninvited.
“Reading.” She said in an even tone not taking her eyes from the book.
“Robert Frost,” Thomas commented looking at the cover of the said book, “That’s a big favorite in my house.”
“What’s your favorite poem?” Jenny asked putting the bookmark on her page and closing the book.
“The Road Not Taken.” Thomas said instantly.
“Me too.” She said with a small smile.
“Two Roads diverge in a yellow wood.” Thomas challenged.
“And sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler,” Jenny continued.
“Long I stood and looked down one as far as I could.” Thomas added the next line.
“To where it bent in the undergrowth,” Jenny said smiling at him.
“Then took the other, as just as fair,” Thomas continued giving her a grin.
“And having perhaps the better claim, Because is was grassy and wanted wear, though as for that the passing there had worn them really about the same.” Julie said putting her head on her balled up fists.
“And both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way,” Thomas began to next memorized stanza.
“I doubted I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh some where ages and ages hence-“ Julie continued before Thomas joined her in the last line, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
“I didn’t know you liked Robert Frost.” Thomas said looking from the book back to Jenny’s beautiful eyes.
“Yeah he’s one of my favorite poets.” Jenny said her cheeks changing from ivory to the lightest pink.
“Do you read a lot?” Thomas asked taking one of the fries from her abandoned plate.
“Some times. When it rains I like to curl up with a candle and read a really good book.” Jenny admitted brushing the hair back from her face.
“Who have you read that has really left an impact? Ever heard of Lois Duncan?” Thomas asked taking another fry but this time dipping it in ketchup.
“Yeah she’s pretty good but I actually favor Ann Rice more. You ever heard about her?” Jenny asked before an after thought popped into her head and right out of her mouth, “Or how about Vix Heaven?”
“Heard of Ann Rice, I really enjoy her stuff… but Vix Heaven? I live with her books beside my bed!” Thomas said shaking his head at the author’s greatness. *AUTHOR NOTE: I just HAD to do that =0) *
“I know what you mean.” Jenny said glad she was no longer by herself…
“I love rain.” Jenny said her vision fluttering towards the darkened sky.
“I like the sound of rain on the window, and I love playing outside in the rain.” Jenny said her eyes going from the window to Thomas deep hazel eyes.
“That’s one of my favorite actives too!” Thomas said his face brightening with a grin.
“Here’s your check, you can pay at the counter.” Vanessa smiled at them as she placed a piece of paper face down on the table and walked away.
“What time is it?” Jenny asked as she gathered her stuff and stood with the ‘check’ in hand.
“It’s,” Thomas said standing and glancing at his wrist where his fossil lay, “almost ten o’clock.”
“Great.” She said sarcastically as she walked towards the counter, Thomas at her heels.
“I better go call my parents to come get me… I road here with my cousins.” Thomas said shrugging as he watched Jenny pay Veronica.
“Yeah I should probably start walking.” Jenny said her eyes instantly going back towards the window.
“Walking?” Thomas asked his eyes blinking a few times and growing considerably in size.
“That’s what people do when they don’t have their car.” She said slowly as if talking to a child.
“Why don’t you call your parents?” Thomas asked confused.
“I don’t feel like calling my dad.” Jenny said her eyes cementing themselves to the floor.
“You can’t walk.” Thomas said sternly, “I’ll have my parents give you a ride.”
With that he was at the back room’s door.
“No!” Jenny called out quickly.
“Why not?” Thomas asked wheeling around at the desperateness in her voice.
“I’d just rather walk. I really don’t mind. Like I said I love the rain.” Jenny said offering what she hoped was an encouraging smile.
“All right, but at least let me get you a bag to put your stuff in so your book doesn’t get ruined.” With that Thomas was in the back room and out again in a flash holding a plastic bag.
“Thanks.” Jenny said as she placed her purse in the bag and closed it tightly.
Jenny looked back at him and waved as she exited the Crash Down’s front door. As soon as she was outside she felt the rain pelt down on her at a rapid pace.
She hugged herself close, as she looked both ways then ventured across the street the street lights leaving an eerie glow on all the shapes do to the raindrops.
Suddenly she heard footsteps… more then her own…
‘Relax Jenny, more then one person walks on the street per day… it is public after all’ Jenny metaly chastised herself as her body tensed.
She experimented despite the foolishness she thought… She stopped… and so did they. She immediately whirled around and her jaw fell.
*
“So have you ever been to Buckley Point?” Eddie asked turning the radio down so that they could listen to each other.
“Why?” Julie asked suspiciously as she turned in her seat and leaned against the car door.
“Just curious.” Eddie said shrugging his shoulders a little.
“Really?” Julie asked her eyebrows going up, “And why are you curious?”
“No reason.” Eddie said letting out a small sigh.
“I hate rain.” Julie said her eyes sliding from Eddie to the window behind him.
“Why?” Eddie inquired titling his head so that it lay against the window.
“Cause you can’t play sports in the rain. The ball gets slippery, the ground gets muddy and you slip, plus it never works really well to run in a wet uniform.” Julie said pulling on of her legs underneath her.
“So you play basket ball and base ball?’ Eddie asked intrigued.
“And tennis, and bowling, and I swim, and I play soccer, and I enjoy playing handball, plus there’s always…” Julie began to count off the sports on her fingers.
“I get the picture.” Eddie said laughing slightly, “I had no idea you were in to so many different sports.”
“You don’t know anything about me Valenti.” Julie said a small frown claiming her mouth.
“That’s why we’re on a date right now… to get to know each other a little better.” Eddie said smiling, that line had all ways brought to mind hormonal induced fantasies for him. That was, of course, before now not that he wouldn’t mind having hormonal induced fantasies about Julie it was just that now he meant it, he wanted to know more about her personality and body, but the body would come later.
“What’s your favorite movie?” Eddie asked starting one very long and informing conversation.
*
“I don’t want to grow up- I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us kid. There’s so many toys at Toys ‘R’ Us that I can play with. From trains to planes to video games.” Nicole sang out loud in the shower to her own beat.
Amanda looked at the phone as it started ringing.
She put the science magazine she was currently engrossed in beside her on the bed before rolling over to retrieve the ringing annoyance. Unfortunately for her she misjudged how far she had to roll because before she knew what happened Amanda found herself sprawled out on the floor, the phone above her head still ringing loudly and persistently.
With a huff she pushed herself to her knees and took the phone off the hook and put it to her ear, “Hello Roswell Insane Asylum to whom may I direct your call?”
“Amanda?” Randy asked with a snort of laughter.
“Hey.” Amanda said back finally on the bed.
“Did my girlfriend teach you that one?” Randy asked shaking his head slightly.
“Who else?” Amanda asked amused.
“Speaking of Insane Asylum, would you mind directing my call to one Guerin, Laurie Nicole Guerin to be specific.” Randy said trying to keep a straight tone and not laugh.
“That would be in the shower section at the moment.” Amanda said as she picked the magazine up and read the picture caption.
“Really. Is that her in the back ground?” Randy asked as he strained to hear Nicole’s voice over the shower.
“You betcha.” Amanda said as she glanced over to the bathroom door as the water cut off and Nicole started singing full force.
“It’s the biggest toy store there is, GEE-WHIZ! I don’t want to grow up cause if I did I wouldn’t be a Toys ‘R’ Us kid!” Nicole sang even louder as she came out of the bathroom in her pajamas, which consisted of baggy navy blue satin pants and a small tight strap top that matched in material and color.
“Who’s that?” Nicole asked as her eyes flashed from the phone to Amanda.
“Catch.” Amanda said as she tossed the phone in Nicole’s direction.
“Hello?” Nicole asked into the phone.
“Nice lyrics.” Randy said as Nicole groaned.
*
“Thomas!” Jenny screeched out of panic and surprise.
“Yeah?” Thomas asked; his hands stuffed way down in the pockets of his coat.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Jenny asked as she walked straight up to him.
He extracted his hands from their burial place, “Walking you home.” He said shortly taking her arm in his and turning her around so they were walking forward.
“Oh no you’re not.” Jenny said in protest as she stopped in her tracks.
“Jenny, you can’t walk all the way home by yourself, especially in this weather.” Thomas said taking her arm yet again and trying to pull her along in the rain.
“Thomas I said no.” Jenny said this time standing in front of him.
“I’m going to go with you. Deal with it.” Thomas said starring down at her.
“Why? Why do you insist on baby-sitting me?” Jenny asked shivering from the cool temperature.
Thomas, being the son of one Alex Whitman, instantly noticed and slipped off his warm jacket and pulled it around her wet shoulders, “Because if I don’t walk you home I’m going to worry about you all night.” With that he tucked a stray piece of golden hair behind her ear.
This time he took her arm to lead her she did not fight, and he didn’t let go.
*
“I had a great time tonight.” Julie said as Eddie walked her to her front door.
“I’m glad. I have to admit that the best part of the night was at Buckly Point.” Eddie said grinning at his date.
“You mean the hour of make out time…” Julie began her questions.
“No, I mean the hour and a half of talking.” Eddie said feigning hurt.
“So you didn’t like making out?” Julie asked a hint of disbelief in her voice.
“I didn’t say that!” Eddie said quickly, “That… was very fun. But putting that aside I liked having you to my self and getting to know you better.”
“Really?” Julie asked leaning against the railing of her porch.
“Yeah.” Eddie whispered as he removed his hands from his jacket pockets, one clenched into a semi-tight fist.
“That’s why I wanted to ask you if,” Eddie coughed from the dryness in his throat and smiled nervously, “If you’d like to be a steady thing?”
“You mean…” Julie began pushing her self off the railing slightly.
Eddie brought his hand up eye level and released its contents. From a bright sliver chain hung Edward James Valenti’s varsity football ring, “I mean just me and you.”
Julie took the step that separated them and captured his lips with her own erasing all traces of nervousness or unease.
*
Jenny shivered as they past by the park.
“You want to stop some place dry?” Thomas asked as he gestured to the playgrounds where there was a covered picnic area.
Jenny just shook her head yes and they slowly made their way towards the dry shelter.
“God I look like a mess.” Jenny said from under the tin roof as she ran a hand through her soaked hair.
“No, more like Marlyn Manson with the eye streak things.” Thomas said gesturing to his own face where the well titled “eye streak things” were.
“Mascara.” Jenny explained as she examined the substance that she retained on her hand by brushing the top of her cheekbone.
“Come here.” Thomas said moving closer.
She did as asked. Thomas ran his long skilled fingers across her face, wherever a streak was.
“Much better.” Thomas said removing his hands from her cold and damp skin.
When his warm hands left her face she involuntarily shivered from loss of contact, “Thanks.”
“You’re freezing.” Thomas said as her movements confirmed his observation.
“I’m fine.” Jenny said as Thomas walked around her and put his arms around her shoulders.
“You’re freezing.” He repeated his statement leaving no room for an argument as he began to run his hands up and down her arms.
Thomas began to concentrate on her and her alone. He was trying to make a small connection, small enough she wouldn’t notice but large enough so that he could share his body warmth better. His motions stopped and he wrapped his arms around her so that he could receive a better and stronger link.
He had expected an image but nothing close to the one he received. He got a flash of Jenny staring in the mirror. Her reflection was shocking She was wearing only her underwear and bra. That wasn’t what had stunned him. There were bruises and blood all over her body. Suddenly the vision was replaced of one with a man, he assumed to be her father, holding a beer bottle.
Thomas shivered from the disgust and anger those two images brought to him.
“Looks like you’re the one that’s cold now.” Jenny said teasingly as she turned in his arms.
She had a simple smile on her face but it didn’t come close to reaching her eyes.
“I’m fine.” Thomas said his mind returning to the present.
“Sure you are.” Jenny said again shaking her head in mock agreement.
Thomas smiled a little, more for her sake than for any actual amusement. Nothing could really amuse him right now. Nothing could take the sour taste of revulsion from his mouth.
“Want to go watch a movie?” Thomas asked suddenly.
“Now?” Jenny asked her eyebrows drawing together quickly.
“Yeah we could go catch the last show. It’s only 10:30.” Thomas said going over the movies in his mind.
“We could go see that new movie ‘Love Mates’ if you want. It starts in about fifteen minutes.” Thomas said double checking his watch.
“Thomas this can’t be a date or anything like that.” Jenny began to pull back.
“I was thinking of going as friends.” Thomas said taking his arms from around her and holding them up in the air hostage style.
“The theater’s only about a block from here. We could make it easily, but I don’t want to go see Love Mates. When does Rages of Empire Galactic play?” Jenny asked her head cocked to one side.
“10:40.” Thomas said as he gestured with his arms for her to walk in front of him.
“Come along buddy!” Jenny said grabbing the front of his shirt as she passed him.
*
“It’s now Midnight and it’s still raining.” Jenny said as she looked through the glass into the black night.
“That it is.” Thomas said looking out the glass.
“Come on we should get you home.” Thomas said as he opened the door in front of them and nudged her outside.
“Where do you live anyway?” Thomas asked.
“Not far from here actually. About a block down from Gazer Ave.” Jenny said as her half-dry clothes started to become wet again.
“Cool.” Thomas said nodding right behind her.
“You know, I can walk from here.” Jenny said taking a side ways glance at him.
“I insist my lady.” Thomas said stopping to do a fake bow to her.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve walked down these streets a million times.” Jenny said stifling a laugh from Thomas impression.
“At Midnight?” Thomas asked in amazement.
“Even later at times.” Jenny said shrugging her shoulders.
“Why?” Thomas asked his mind flashing back to the images he had received from her. Images that still repulsed him to the core.
“Sometime you just got to get out of the house you know?” Jenny asked turning around so that she was facing Thomas.
“Yeah actually I do understand. I mean sometimes you’ve got to let reality fall away and leave you just… purely you I guess… That made no sense.” Thomas said his eyes cast on the ground.
“I understand what you’re saying perfectly clear. Sometimes you just can’t deal with life so you… you distance yourself from it all. And even if it’s only for a short time frame it’s worth it.” Jenny said touching the bottom of his chin so that his eyes meet hers.
“I usually escape to my roof. I have a room on the second floor so I just sneak out my window and look at the stars.” Thomas said softly his eyes even gentler then his gaze.
“I usually walk. Where ever I end up I just end up.” Jenny said her eyes now straying but a smile plated on her red lips.
“You know judging by the company you keep I would never have guessed that you were so… real I guess. You know the whole you feel thing is a little hard to believe.” Thomas said and instantly regretted it as the small grin on her face dwindled then blanked out.
“They’re not really my friends.” Jenny said as she turned around and started down her street.
“Then why hang with them?” Thomas asked watching her eyes glaze over.
“If you hang with people who don’t care you don’t really have to worry about questions. You don’t have to share the real you and they can’t judge you for what they don’t know.” Jenny said her pace quickening with every step.
“Jenny,” Thomas called as she walked down her drive- his tone bringing her to a halt, “You can be yourself around me.”
Jenny looked up to the house just feet away and then back at the quickly approaching boy.
“I can?” She asked her voice barely above a whisper.
“I know I don’t know you very well, but if you need me, you know where I am.” Thomas said resting a friendly hand on her shoulder.
“Thanks for the offer, and the movie, and the walk.” Jenny said her lips twisting into an angelic smile.
“No problem.” Thomas said squeezing her shoulder before removing his hand completely.
“I’ll see you later.” Jenny said and on an unexplained impulse she hugged him.
“Good-Night.” Thomas said leaning his cheek against her wet hair for a moment longer than needed, all he wanted at that moment was to take her home with him and protect her… but things weren’t that simple- not on this planet.
With that thought he pulled back and watched her until she was safely inside. Then he began the long walk back to his own house.
His mind was racing so fast that he didn’t notice the numbness that claimed his body. His mind couldn’t stop going back to the images… the frightful things that would no doubt plague his mind for many nights to come.
As he stepped through the doors to his house he wasn’t surprised by the sight that found his consciousness. There, bundled up, in front of a fire were his parents, they both looked worried and nervous.
“Where were you?” Isabel asked as soon as she sensed Thomas.
Thomas opened his mouth but was cut off; “Do you have any idea what time it is?”
“Isabel.” Alex said calmly waking up behind his wife, “Give the boy time to explain.”
“I walked a friend home and we stopped to watch a movie.” Thomas said shrugging.
“It’s one in the morning! You didn’t think to call! You’re an hour over curfew!” Isabel said loudly as she ran her hands over her son drying his clothes and hair.
“You’re freezing!” Isabel said as she felt her sons ice cold arm, “Where’s your jacket.”
“My friend has it.” Thomas said his mind returning to his earlier thoughts.
“Who is this friend?” Isabel asked suspiciously.
“Nobody.” Thomas said trying to keep his voice up to its usual tone but failing miserably.
“Thomas…” Alex began worriedly.
“Can I go take a shower?” Thomas asked a small plan formulating in his mind.
“Call next time.” Isabel said as she gave him a hug.
“Yes ma’am.” Thomas said hugging her back before racing up the stairs.
Thomas felt some of the feeling return to his limbs as he washed his body in steaming water. He washed as fast as he could before turning the water off and slipping into a pair of boxers that were covered in guitars. He walked out of his personal bathroom before finding the candles Nicole had placed around his room for when she stayed over.
He lit the ones that were guaranteed to calm your senses and he turned off the lights leaving his room bathed in a dim glow.
He picked his yearbook off his book shelve and went to his bed. Laying down he flipped through the pages till he found what he had been looking for. Her face smiled back from the page as he ran his long fingertips across it turning into liquid almost.
He laid his head back and thanked whatever God existed and watched over him that he had inherited the dream walking talent from his mother.
He was surrounded by blackness… suddenly it was if a switch had been flipped. The entire enclosure was painted in a darkened gray and lighting was striking outside a window. Everytime the live fire would spring to life the room would be cast in light briefly… but it was enough for Thomas to know, or at least for him to guess, where he was. He was standing against a wall in Jenny’s room.
He searched with his quickly accustoming eyes. She was on her bed… she was crying… her head and body were covered by a deep black bedspread that was coarse to the touch.
Thomas reached for the top of the covers to pull them down. What he thought was Jenny was not… It was a horribly disfigured body… The creatures skin hung of the bones and was covered in blue and black bruises… the hair was stringy and gray… and the face? It was buried in the pillow where the painful wails could be heard.
The bruises…Thomas swallowed the bile that had risen in his throat. He mustered his curiosity and courage as he reached out and gentle turned the body over to expose its true identity… In front of him lay a half clothed and by the looks of it half-dead Jenny Selle.
‘Was this really how she saw herself? Was this what he made her feel like?’ Thomas couldn’t stop the questions that bombarded his brain.
The next flash of lighting scared him, but only because it illuminated a real corpse… lying on the other side of the bed. The man that had been the key character in his earlier visions was now dead in this reality and Thomas would have bet his guitar strings Jenny had indeed envisioned herself killing him. And strangely enough, for a person who didn’t believe in violence, he was oddly pleased by the thought.
Thomas walked back towards the window. But before he could disappear as he was planning he heard a small noise behind him, “Thomas.”
The scratchy sound of Jenny’s voice made his own throat ache.
“Yes?” He asked turning around to see her struggling to sit up. He was beside her instantly to help her.
“You can’t be here.” She said the strain apparent in her voice.
“You can’t see me! I’m a freak!” She began her voice losing strength instead of gaining it.
“No you’re not.” Thomas said kneeling in front of her despite her words for him to go.
“Close your eyes.” Thomas said an idea springing to his mind.
He placed his hand over her eyes as he concentrated on changing the things around them. When Jenny opened her eyes again she was surprised to see that her room had disappeared.
In it’s place was a safe open haven where nothing could hurt her. And there was no lighting or clouded skies, just a full moon and brilliant stars. The most surprising thing of all was her appearance. She was no longer the rotting body. She looked as she had the day before. Her hair hung loosely around her and Thomas was sitting beside her his arms around her shoulders.
“Welcome to my roof.” Thomas whispered into her ear before leaving. He knew her nightmares were gone and he left her where she’d be protected.
The End