The World's on Fire! But here's Chapter 7! :) I'm super sorry, I've had this done forever but was editing and well…work got busy lol.

Special thanks to; bjq, haze47, and BoondockSaints01 for reviewing the last chapter!

And thank you to all those that added this story to alerts and favorites! :)

Disclaimer: I'm just visiting this world. Lena & Abby however belong to me.


"At the end of the day, I'm a person. I have feelings. I get tired. I get sad."

-Summer Walker


Caleb sat against the library table as he listened to Abby tell them of her dream or memory or whatever the hell it had been. He'd had premonitions before but this didn't sound like that either.

He was exhausted.

Sleeping for only two hours was one small part of the reason he was so tired.

Truthfully, he couldn't remember the last time he didn't feel tired. Was it before his father got ill from misuse of his powers? Or had it been way before his freshman year of high school?

He didn't know, perhaps he'd been tired his whole life.

Caleb is jolted from his wandering thoughts when he felt Sarah place a gentle hand on his arm. He looked at her and she smiled softly at him before taking hold of his hand.

A gentle reminder to breathe.

And with it he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, before focusing on the conversation just as Lena interrupted.

"Okay, so you were talking to me?" she asked. "But it wasn't really me?"

"Right," Abby said. "She sounded like you and she looked like you, but it clearly wasn't you. I know this sounds crazy but I'm telling you it was real. That place was real and I wonder if it was the same place you were when you…" Abby trailed off and Lena smiled though it didn't quite meet her eyes.

"You wondered if it was the same place I went when I died," she said. It wasn't a question but a statement. Caleb watched her carefully, her demeanor had shifted compared to when she had first walked into the room.

When she had first come into the room she had been hanging close to Reid, the two of them whispering to each other as they sat together on the couch. It was a complete 180 from a few hours ago.

A few hours ago, Reid seemed determined to avoid her and keep his distance from her. While Lena had seemed like she wanted anything from Reid, but had kept her own distance. Perhaps a fear of pushing him further away.

Caleb curiously wondered what had happened to change that but it was a curiosity he would have to file away for the time being. As right now she had shifted into something more serious and contemplative.

She leaned back into the couch, "I can't say no or yes," she said. "All I know is that I definitely died but not where I went. Mostly what I remember was the pain of drowning and someone pounding on my chest to resuscitate me."

"There's a really good chance that you went there," Kate said. "I mean assuming this isn't some crazy dream—no offense Abby—you could very well have gone to the same place."

Lena shrugged, "I guess."

Reid glanced over at her for a long moment before looking at Abby.

"This is all great," he said. "But is there anything useful this chick said?" he asked her. "Her telling you that you were between doesn't exactly give much to go off does it? If anything it's just more of an annoyance."

Caleb frowned as Abby glared toward Reid.

That's odd. He thought. There's something different with her.

Caleb ran his hand down his face. He was so tired.

"Excuse me, Reid," Abby growled. "I was getting to it. I'm sorry I'm not sharing fast enough." she snapped. "But anyway, the girl said that she had wanted to help Lena. When she met her that she liked Lena and helping her was easy because Lena had been on a leyline."

This made Caleb perk up, "A leyline?"

He turned back to the table and grabbed a book he'd initially ignored.

"Share with the class, Caleb," Lena said quietly. "What's a leyline and should I be concerned?"

"Honestly, it depends," Caleb muttered. "For the most part it explains what happened to you," he said as he flipped through the pages. "Leylines are an interconnected web that circle the earth, they tend to connect one phenomenon to another, uh, say from Stonehenge to Easter Island. They're large sources of energy and if you died on one and were brought back on one…"

"It could have changed me into something else," she finished. "So what are you looking for?"

"A map," he mumbled. "I know that there's one in here—Found it...it's not the most up to date but…" Caleb paused and turned back to the group. He instantly made eye contact with Lena. She shook her head, knowing what his unasked question was.

"Maybe we should just hold off before having her relive the day she died," Pogue said. "I mean last night was—"

"It's fine," Lena interrupted. "We were at Cayuga Lake," her left eye twitched as though the very name itself irritated her. But she wasn't done, it was like the mere mention of the Lake made her sit up and she started to play with her hands as the words started to spill.

"It wasn't our actual campgrounds, we'd been there that day to go paddle boating mostly," she frowned. "We'd gone there earlier that summer and I'm super familiar with Cayuga, my parents and I would go there all the time," she paused. "My parents and I loved it there…"

"But then that day happened," her leg started to bounce in an irate rhythm. "Our canoe tipped because of some assholes on a speed boat and a friend and I both went over…I pushed her back over into the canoe and before I could be helped I'd gone under the water, a current in the water I think it was…" she ran her hand through her hair. "We weren't wearing our life vests because we were a bunch of dumb confident kids and counselors. We'd been there before we were all strong swimmers. Nothing like the stars of the swimming team," she gestured quickly. "Just strong enough to deal with it…but not that day…"

"I remember going under and not being able to fight my way back to the surface. I'd been so shocked, scared, I choked on water and there was pain, so much pain and then…relief and nothing, all at once. Then more pain and…"

Lena had long stopped moving her leg and started to ring her hands together so hard they were turning red.

"Lena," Reid said quietly. Caleb had never heard his friend sound so soft. She looked toward Reid and she instantly crossed her arms to keep herself from assaulting her own hands, before turning to look at Caleb.

"Then I woke up on the shore, counselors fussing over me and freaking out…I'm sorry…I guess you just needed to know where…I—" she frowned. "I don't know why I told you all of that…"

Caleb shook his head, "No, it's okay…" he said and meant it. It was clear she had never talked about it. At least never talked about it to people who actually would listen to her. Believe that something more had happened to her. She trusted them.

Lena nodded a little before asking, "Did, um, that help?"

Caleb nodded back before looking at the map that he had found. After a moment he looked up again.

"Judging by the look on your face, I one hundred percent died on a leyline," Lena chuckled, though there wasn't any humor to it. "Alright great," she continued. "Now what? I died on a leyline, I've clearly gained some supernatural ability that I suppose means I can bring people back to life or kill them. Something I clearly can't control by the way."

"How do you know for sure you can kill them?" Tyler asked her quietly. "You could just have the ability to give others what was given to you. And what Chase said to you last night doesn't hold much truth."

Lena dropped her gaze to the floor as she started to work her hands again. And for a moment Caleb was sure he felt a spark of something filter through the air. By the sudden alertness that came from Tyler and Pogue made him sure he wasn't just feeling things. Even Abby seemed to wince. However, it was Reid that moved.

He grabbed Lena's hands and gripped them in his own. His jaw was noticeably clenched. But the magic that had surged through the air was dissipating. The sudden contact made Lena look at him, her eyes wide. Her gaze dropped to their connected hands. Her mouth worked as if she was trying to find words but instead she let out a breath and Reid let her go.

What is going on between them? Caleb wondered as Lena sighed again and stood up and started to pace.

"Can't act like that didn't happen," she mumbled. "See, I'm fucking weird. You felt that. Reid, did I—did I hurt you?"

"I'm fine," he muttered as he watched her.

Lena scoffed, "Yeah. Sure," she ran her hands through her hair. "I'm sorry…I'm not sure why it happened, I was just thinking of—" she trailed off.

"What were you thinking about before?" Kate asked hesitantly. "If you'd rather not say that's fine. You've been through a lot."

"No, it's okay," she said. "I—well," she frowned. "How do I say this?"

"It's not so much of how she was thinking," Abby muttered. Caleb looked at her and he thought perhaps she was going to be sick. "But…how she was feeling…fear and anger…I could feel it building the more we talked…"

Lena stopped pacing and an odd look crossed her face as she looked at Abby.

"How could you possibly…" Lena laughed. "I told you last night empaths were real, then I went and brought you back to life and now you're…" she ran her hand down her face. "This is all a clusterfuck of mess. Bringing you back did something to you. Didn't it?"

Abby shook her head, "I don't know, Lenny…" she trailed off. "She mentioned I'd be different but I don't feel that different. I just…I've always been perceptive but listen this isn't about me right now. I'm fine, you're not."

Lena's jaw clenched a little, "I should have never have come here," she muttered. "But to answer Tyler's question. I have to tell you about what happened on the Ninth of September, a little before midnight."

The room stilled and Caleb dropped the book he'd been holding.

"What?" Lena asked looking around at everyone. "What is it?"

"That was the night of the dance," Abby said.

"Caleb's birthday," Tyler added.

"The same night I fought Chase," Caleb finished.

Lena's eyes widened and she shook her head.

"When you told us last night, I didn't realize that that was the same…" she started pacing again. "None of this is a coincidence," she said. "Not me getting into Spenser weeks after the semester started. Meeting Tyler and Reid the moment I showed up. Chase showing himself to me on my first night here. I was always supposed to be here." Her expression turned grim as she stopped. "On your birthday Caleb…it was the same night I killed my classmate…"


It was the end of their first week back at school, marking it to be the first party of the new semester. There was only one way to welcome them into their senior year and that was to throw the biggest party that they'd ever experience…that was until the next party, or course. And the one after that.

Lena had arrived at this particular party around ten that night with the sole intention of showing her face and maybe have a drink or two before promptly going home where she'd try to do the responsible thing and search for schools to apply to.

The further the better.

After all, the people she'd gone to school with weren't exactly her friends. They were friends because they'd known each other since at the very least kindergarten.

They'd be more likely to backstab each other than to fall on any type of sword themselves.

It hadn't always been like that but they all started to go through puberty and the summer leading into ninth grade made Lena feel as though she couldn't relate to her peers any longer. It probably didn't help that while everyone was sharing stories about how they'd traveled and met cool new people.

Lena was telling the story of how she drowned and had to go to therapy because of the incident.

It certainly didn't help that she started getting into trouble at home or the rumors going around that she was visited by the devil which was why her neighbors could sometimes hear her screaming in the middle of the night.

Eventually the rumors faded as did her night terrors, however, every year since freshman year her classmates used her as the scapegoat for trouble and she disliked them more and more.

Though the invites to these parties never stopped and she continued to go.

Like an idiot.

Or perhaps it was easier to pretend and party off someone else's dollar for a few hours than to sit in her room moping on a Saturday night.

However, tonight she had a growing unease in the pit of her stomach. Maybe she shouldn't have come…

"Lena!" She was pulled into a hug. And her dislike grew as they pretended to be her friend. "I'm so glad you made it!"

"Yeah," Lena said, detangling herself from Heather Markin. Her one time best friend, now they were…whatever one would call someone that chose to leave you in your time of need. "I wouldn't have missed it. You know I love a good party."

"Of course," Heather grinned. "You always bring out the fun in everyone! It's so stupid that you're not more popular. I mean you're hot, smart, funny, adventurous, athletic. Need I go on?"

"I'm fine at my current status," Lena laughed lightly. She wondered if she was getting too good at this.

"If you say so! You should get a drink!" Heather said. "And by the way, Daniel's been asking about you and when you'd show up."

Lena followed Heather's eyes across the room where Daniel Davies stood with a few of his teammates. He smirked at them and Lena looked back at Heather.

"Now why would your ex be asking about me?" she asked. "More importantly why are you clearly trying to hook us up?"

Heather smacked her lips, "Well obviously because I'm a good friend and not a bitter ex. Plus, I know you two have hooked up before we ever got together, it's whatever. So talk to him already! Besides, I've had my eyes on Matt Donohue since I ran into him at the mall before school started. A summer tan goes a long way, honey. Have fun! Catch you later, sweets."

Lena didn't have time to respond as her kind of friend skirted away to some other part of the house. Though she wasn't left alone long when the place Heather had been in was instantly occupied by Daniel.

His brown eyes danced as he looked at her.

"I'd been looking for you," he said, "I thought you weren't coming, babe."

"Don't call me babe, Daniel," she said. "I'm not your babe."

"You always do this with me," he rolled his eyes. "You always get so angry and irritated so fast."

"It's easy when you're so irritating," Lena said. "How Heather ever put up with you for so long is a mystery. I'm literally shocked she broke up with you."

"I'm irresistible, obviously. And it's completely her loss wouldn't you agree?" Daniel grinned. Her sarcasm did not deter him in the slightest. Lena would be a liar if she said he wasn't attractive because he undoubtedly was so. That was also very irritating about him. "But enough about my ex. I'm seriously glad you're here," he said moving closer to her.

Lena didn't move as she looked up at him, "Oh is that so?" she asked quietly. "And why's that exactly?"

"I thought we could take a moment and chat privately?" he said. "Catch up. It's been a long summer Lena. Longer that we've spent time together."

Lena wasn't stupid she knew what he was insinuating. But she was also feeling restless and was trying to get the knot in her stomach to go away. Maybe Daniel would provide her a much needed distraction. Maybe Heather wasn't such a bad friend after all.

"Well, lead the way," she said.

Daniel had led her into one of the back bedrooms of the house. The door had barely been closed when he had pushed her against it and kissed her hard against her mouth. Lena pushed him back a bit.

"Aren't you moving a bit too fast, Daniel," she said. Daniel grinned before pulling her back to him. They were moving and before Lena realizes it she's between him and the bed. She entertained his kissing for sometime. It isn't the first time they'd done this. They'd make out a bit, he'd get bored or maybe she would and they'd part until the next time.

But something this time didn't feel right.

His hand was gripping her waist, while his other was tangled in her hair.

But was it her or was he being a bit too rough?

Lena broke away from him, "Danny, maybe we shouldn't," she said.

"You haven't called me Danny since we were like twelve," he muttered against her neck just before he pinched skin with his teeth. Lena hissed and pushed him. His hand coming from her hair a lot rougher than she meant it to. She cursed again as she pushed him completely off of her.

"Don't change the subject. I'm not sleeping with you," she said getting up from the bed. "Let's just cool it and we'll maybe talk at school—" Lena froze when he grabbed her arm to keep her from walking any further.

She looked at his hand around her wrist and then down at him.

"What's gotten into you?" she asked. "You've never crossed my boundaries before. Let me go."

"You know, Lena, you always think you're so much better than the rest of us," he said. "I see the way you turn your nose up and how you act like you don't care about attention. But you crave it as much as the next person. And here I am, willing to give you attention you crave and you act like you don't want it."

"What?" Lena exclaimed, wrenching her arm away from him. "I've never acted like I was better than you guys," she said. "How could I when you're the ones that turn your backs on me? Only caring about me when you want something. Like you need someone who's going to make the most out of a party, someone that you can blame later? Or you? You only want me around when you want someone to fuck. I bet it pisses you off that I refuse to give it up to you."

Daniel laughed as he stood up and Lena instinctively took a step back.

"You think I care about sleeping with you?" he asked. "Joey said you're not that great anyway. Basically called you dead weight. Which is fitting considering the whole, you died or whatever."

Lena barked a laugh, "Do you really think I care what Joey and his two brain cells has to say?"

"Please Lena, it's not a secret that you're an attention seeking slut," Daniel rolled his eyes. "That's why you continue to come to these parties. You want to be wanted because you don't have a single friend. Probably gives you validation or whatever."

The knot in her stomach tightened and her hands started to shake and she balled them into fists. Lena blinked a few times as she felt a familiar burning at the back of her eyes. She will not cry over something that Daniel fucking Davies said to her.

Even if there was an ounce of truth to it.

"I haven't got friends but that doesn't mea—" she paused as he drew closer. "Danny, back away from me or I swear to god I'll—"

"You'll do what, Lena?" he asked. "You love promising threats but you never follow through. And even if you did who would believe you? Your parents hate you and everyone else just tolerates you. I could do whatever I wanted and no one would believe weird, lonely, Lena Shaw. The Bitch Who Died."

The band that had been wound tight snapped and Lena's fist connected solidly with Daniel's cheek effectively shutting him up. He looked at her, his eyes wide as though he were surprised that she'd actually hit him. Had it not been that her head had started to pound and the anger that had been overwhelming her, she might have cared.

She might have left then.

She should have left.

She wished she had.

Lena grabbed him by his collar, "Shut up, Daniel," she said before releasing him and pushing him back onto the bed. Her peripherals had blurred and all that mattered was what was in front of her.

Him.

"You have a lot to say about me," she said. "So let me return the favor. You walked around as though you're god's gift to the world. You act like everyone adores you, when really they use you because your family's got more money than theirs. At least I know they don't like me. See you'll peak here in high school and everyone will forget you. You're sad and kind of pathetic and you will crash and burn. In fact I hope you do burn. Burn and die."

She shoved him hard against his chest one last time before turning on her heel and storming out of the room, slamming the door loudly behind her.

Lena swayed, catching herself against the wall in the hallway, dizziness falling over her. She swallowed hard as she pushed off the wall and hurried toward the stairs. She had gotten to the bottom of the stairs when she was stopped.

"Lena what's wrong?" Heather asked her, holding her arm. "Are you okay? You look—" she looked at her hand around Lena's arm. "You're burning up! What's—"

"I have to go," Lena muttered, pushing past her and out the door. She ran out the front door and kept running in the direction of her home.

She was far from the party when she finally slowed to a walk and breathed in the cold night air. She was bent over, her hands on her knees when she realized her hands were shaking.

"Calm down," she mumbled as she stood up straight. But they shook and they ached.

She jumped as she heard the wailing of emergency vehicles in the distance. If she listened closely she could just make out shouting and…roar of a fire. She thinks she can get the smell of it in the night air. She started to move again at that. Her heart pounding and her head and hands still hurting.

Lena wasn't sure at what time it was she was back home and in her room, but she was rubbing at her face of the tears she wasn't aware of that she had cried. She sat on the floor of the foot of her bed trying to understand and bring her breathing to normal. To stop crying and to stop shaking as her phone continued to buzz incessantly.

She picked it up and skimmed through the messages. It was just a little before midnight she realized. All of the messages read more or less the same.

There's a fire and we can't find Daniel.

Is he with you?

Lena laid across her floor, her throat tight before a sob tore through it, leaving her chest hurting and her body tired.


"Longer story short, there was an investigation on the fire, it was blamed on faulty wiring, but my classmates blamed me for it. My own parents wouldn't listen to me because of course they heard I'd been there and you know where I went trouble followed. Didn't help that I'd been the last to be seen with Daniel moments before the fire started and that I left in a hurry. No one would listen to me and honestly, they were right not to. Because it's my fault he died."

Lena sighed, "The outcasting had gotten really bad. No one spoke to me. Even my teachers and coach gave me very little recognition. My parents started to look into private schools, which expanded into boarding schools. It might have been the nicest thing they could have done though I wasn't happy about it. Because to me I hadn't done anything wrong. And who wants to be carted off from home by force? Whether they hate it or not. Especially when no one would take me…expect Spenser…though not without a hefty donation of course."

"None of this is a coincidence," she repeated from earlier. "Even though at first I thought it was. But the truth is, I lost control that night and Chase knew because it was the same night you fought him Caleb. He said he was lucky I'd lost control. Then for me to come here…of all the places that would take my parents' money and allow me in…to make friends with you all…" she stopped and sighed again.

"So yeah, I'm pretty damn sure if I'm not careful, I can kill someone," she said. "Honestly, you should put me out of my misery now. Save you and myself the trouble of probably having to do it later. I could hurt one of you by accident."

"Lena, you're not going to hurt us," Tyler said. Lena simply shook her head. "You're not!" he insisted.

"I may not mean to Tyler," she mumbled, glancing at Reid briefly. "Listen, I needed to share that with you because you might be able to figure out what I am. Stop me if you have to before Chase tries to use me because obviously he needs me to do what I did to Abby. But much bigger I guess."

There was silence that filled the room, but Lena didn't mind. After all, how was someone supposed to respond to all that information? It was a lot to take in and a lot to process. In fact, in the last 24 hours they had provided each other with a lot of information that needed to be processed and worked through.

It was like the moment this morning with Reid had never happened and she was feeling a little like before. As though she was stepping back toward the edge she'd been on. Just one step back but a step she didn't want to take nevertheless.

"I think we should probably stop for now," Sarah broke the silence. "We haven't eaten, I'm sure everyone is starving. Maybe we can order pizza or something."

Lena doubted that they were hungry after all that but she didn't comment, but the others seemed to agree that they should stop talking about it for now and eat as they slowly started to make their way out of the library.

All but Reid.

He had stood but rather than leave he walked over to her, stopping just close enough that she could touch him if she wanted to.

He was looking at her calmly as if trying to gauge her before speaking. She wondered what it was that he thought of when he looked at her like that. Why was it that this usually very vocal and spontaneous individual seemed to pick his words and actions very carefully with her?

"About before, were you lying when you said I didn't hurt you?" she asked. Reid shook his head.

"I wasn't lying. It felt like being lightly electrocuted over and over again. The type that you'd probably find in someone's S&M Dungeon," he said. This made Lena laugh. And her laugh seemed to make him relax a bit as well.

"You know a lot about kinky sex, Garwin?" she asked.

Reid smirked, "I know enough, Shaw," he said, though he was looking serious again. "But seriously, you didn't hurt me. And this is stupid to ask but I'm not the brightest, but are you okay?"

"You're not stupid, Reid," she rolled her eyes. "There's a difference between being stupid, reckless, and not caring about school. Plus you're not even close to failing by the way. So stupid is the last thing you are."

Reid looked thoughtful before he shrugged.

"Then you won't take offense when I say, you didn't answer my question," he said.

"I was wondering whether you'd believe me if I lied," she replied. "But I guess…I don't want to lie about how I feel…Abby's clearly going to make that hard anyway. Gotta figure out what's going on with her…but in any case I don't want to lie to you. I'm not okay, Reid," she let out a breath. "I'm not okay and honestly I don't know what I'm doing or what I'm supposed to do or how I'm going to control this power. I'm freaking out, babe."

"Hey," he said tentatively, moving closer. "It would be weird if you weren't freaking out," he said.

Lena laughed a little, "Hey, um…can I get a hug?"

"You don't have to ask," he said, opening his arms to her. Lena closed the space and wrapped her arms around his middle and buried her face into his shoulder.

She felt better there.

As he rested his cheek on the top of head and wrapped his arms around her, she felt safe there.

"For what it's worth, I'm glad you came here," he muttered.

"Hm," she hummed. She turned her head so she could speak clearly. "To be honest, I'm not in the mood to sit around with everyone right now," she frowned and tightened her hold on him. "Any appetite I had is gone."

"We don't have to," Reid said.

Lena pulled back slightly so she could look at him, "We?"

"Unless, you'd rather be alone," he said.

"No, it's just—Reid, you don't have to stay with me if you don't want to."

"It's a little irritating that you think I'm doing it because I don't want to," he said. "Lena, in case it wasn't clear earlier, I like you. A lot. Anything I do isn't just because I feel like I should. It's because I want to."

"I know, I'm sorry," she smiled. "I guess I just…"

"Listen, you don't have to explain," he told her. "And you don't need to apologize. So what is it that you want to do?"

Lena thought for a moment, "Do you think Caleb will let me borrow his car?"

Reid shrugged, "He's feeling guilty, he'll definitely let you borrow his car."

"He shouldn't feel guilty, Reid," she sighed. "It's not his fault."

"I agree, but you can't tell him that," he said. "So, you want to borrow his car. Why?"

"Because I need my own clothes and that seems like a perfect excuse to get away for a little while. Can't stay here forever like this."


Just as Reid suspected, it took very little convincing to get Caleb to loan Lena his car. Other than a "be careful," "come right back," and Sarah handing over her keys to bring her car back for later. It could have been that the last 24 hours of their lives hadn't happened.

Lena was already in the car and sliding into the driver's seat before Reid was even fully out the door.

"Reid," turning at the sound of his name, Reid looked at Caleb and should have known it was too good to be true that they'd get to leave without some kind of lecture.

"Don't you dare give me one of your lectures on not doing anything stupid, Caleb," he said. "I'm not a complete fuc—" Reid stopped at the look on Caleb's face. "What?"

Caleb shook his head, "I wasn't going to lecture you, Reid," he said. "And I know you're not a fuck up," he added. "There was something I wanted to ask you," he paused and Reid followed his gaze to Lena sitting in the car. She was leaned over fiddling with the radio.

"Well what is it?" Reid asked, turning to meet Caleb's eyes again.

"What's going on between you two?"

Reid raised an eyebrow, "Is it your business?"

"No, it's just that…" Caleb sighed and ran his hand down his face. What was he trying to ask but couldn't? Reid didn't always show it, but he was concerned for him. When was the last time his friend slept?

"Listen, Caleb," he started slowly and looked over his shoulder briefly at Lena. She was still messing with the radio. "You don't need to worry about us," he said. "We're fine, we're…" again he looked back at Lena, she looked up at that moment and he turned back to Caleb. "Don't worry, alright? And stop feeling bad about what happened. You can't hold on to guilt for what happened to her that night. She doesn't even blame you. It wasn't your fault."

"Wasn't it?" Caleb asked, but shook his head again. "You two just be careful, alright?"

"Yeah," Reid patted him on the shoulder. "Caleb, go rest, man," he said. "We'll be back before you know it."

He didn't wait for his friend to respond before turning and jogging toward the car. He only looked up to see Caleb closing the door. With a sigh, Reid pulled open the passenger side door and slid in.

"What was that about?" Lena asked.

"Just Caleb being worried," Reid answered as he pulled on his seat belt.

"Hm," Lena hummed. "He's going to make himself sick with all that worrying…I really hope he knows I don't blame him."

"I told him that, but he's still blaming himself," Reid told her. Lena hummed again.

"I get it," she said. "Well, let's go and let's hurry back."

Reid didn't argue as she threw the gear into drive and the car started rolling down the driveway, "Alright, you're my GPS, Reid, so you gotta tell me the way."

"Or you could have just let me drive."

"Or you could just tell me the directions."

Reid rolled his eyes as they came to the end of the driveway, "Turn right and go straight."

A slight smile came to her face as she did as instructed.

She had found some classic rock station that was filling the car quietly, he listened as she hummed occasionally and drummed her fingers against the steering wheel. Reid watched her as she looked far too at home behind the wheel as though she owned it. As if the accident the night before hadn't phased her.

Maybe with all things considering it didn't.

Every once in a while he would speak, giving her directions.

And when they didn't talk it was comfortable. Reid wasn't sure the last time he'd been with a girl he liked where the silence was comfortable. He thinks perhaps never.

He realized he did a lot of talking…or no talking at all. Just action.

"How are we supposed to go to class tomorrow?" Lena asked suddenly. Her eyes darted to him for a moment before settling on the road again. "I still need to finish a paper."

"Wow. And I thought Abby was the nerd," he snorted. "Take the next left and it's straight until you see the school." he added. "Just ask for an extension, you have a legitimate excuse."

"You're right," Lena said, Reid could already hear the sarcasm dripping in her tone. "I should just walk right up to her and say, 'sorry, teach, couldn't do my report on the failures of reconstruction and how we still suffer from them today because I was too busy bringing my roommate back to life and finding out I'm some supernatural being all thanks to the fact that I died nearly five years ago on a leyline.' Does that sound good?"

Reid breathed slowly through his nose, "I mean the car accident, Lena," he said. "Minus the whole bringing your roommate back to life of course."

Lena seemed to deliberately keep her eyes on the school that had just come into view, but he could see her cheeks tinge read a little.

"Sorry," she mumbled. "I should have realized that's what you meant."

"Nah, you're good," he replied. "Can't say I wouldn't have reacted the same way. Actually I probably would have."

Lena scoffed as she turned the car into the school parking lot.

"I hardly find comfort in that," she told him.

"I didn't mean it as comfort," he responded. Lena shook her head but didn't reply as she scoped the parking lot. Clearly searching for Sarah's car. Upon finding it, she pulled into the spot beside it.

After parking the car, Lena killed the engine and leaned back into the seat. Silently Reid watched her as her eyes darted over the school grounds, her jaw clenched. He was having a moment of wanting to reach over and soothe the tension in her shoulders.

She'd been relaxed earlier and now she was slowly becoming more wound up. He could feel it as though it were his own.

It was always like this with her, but now it felt stronger.

She turned to him suddenly, "Do I really not scare you?" She asked. Reid tilted his head to the side in question.

"Why would you ask?" He asked. "And if you say because there's a possibility that you could kill me, I'm going to laugh."

"No," she said. "I just can't help but worry because you seem hesitant about everything you do with me. Which I never thought you to be one to take his time. But it took me saying I needed you to kiss me for you to do it."

"Because I wasn't going to do something you didn't want," Reid said. "Like I should stop calling you, babe, because you've said that you don't like it."

"I kind of like when you call me that," she rolled her eyes. "But thank you," she nodded. "Most people don't care what I want."

"I've gathered," he said. "Lena," he sighed. "You're right, I don't usually hesitate. I go after what I want, be damned what happens. Fear doesn't usually stop me. Trust me, I wanted to ask you out. But I couldn't because of all that shit of just trying to figure out what was going on with you before. I kept thinking if you find out, you'd hate me and I couldn't have you hate me, y'know?"

Lena tilted her head to the side, "What I thought of you mattered that much?" she asked.

"Yeah," Reid shrugged. "It does. How many times and how many ways do I have to tell you that I like you for you to stop worrying? And besides you should be scared of me and you're not. You should hate me to be honest."

Lena laughed and looked down at her lap, "Hate you?" she asked. "I don't think I could hate you if I tried…and you're not scary, Reid," she looked up at him slightly before looking down again. "You're basically the only thing that feels right."

Reid couldn't help himself then, he reached across the console and cupped her cheek. She looked up at him as she leaned into the touch.

He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. It was a brief, light kiss. He pulled back and locked eyes with her.

"What was that for?" she whispered.

"Just because," he said.

Lena laughed a little, "well, come here," she pulled him back to her, her lips grazed his when the phone in the cupholder buzzed. "I'm going to bury that thing," she muttered against his lips before releasing him.

Though it was her phone, Reid picked it up. Pogue had sent a text.

"We've become the errand runners," he said reading the text. "He said he's going to order pizza but wants us to pick it up on the way back."

"It couldn't be delivered?" Lena raised an eyebrow.

"It's cheaper this way," Reid answered.

Lena snorted and went for the door handle, "You rich kids are something else," she said stepping out of the car. Reid followed suit and looked at her over the vehicle.

"You're one to talk, Rich Girl," he said. She grinned and shrugged.

"Whatever," she said, starting toward the school building. Reid followed though not without absently thinking he'd do anything to get that girl to smile.


Abby rubbed her temples as she leaned against the counter. The headache had come and it wasn't trying to go away. In normal circumstances, she would have suspected that she had a concussion, but these weren't normal circumstances by any means.

Everyone was anxious.

Anyone with a pair of eyes could see that, but she could feel it as though it were her own. She'd be lying if it wasn't also making her feel a little sick.

However, thank god, Lena wasn't there. She had been the loudest of them all.

She wondered if the guys could feel whatever it was she was inadvertently doing because Tyler would constantly look over at her, while Pogue had busied himself with discussing food choices with Kate and Sarah, and Caleb…he'd given her a considering look before disappearing somewhere.

She thinks that perhaps this was why Tyler and Reid had looked at her so strangely earlier. They could sense something new about her.

Abby thought that Kate and Sarah were lucky.

Though it could be argued that it was dumb luck that they were involved to begin with. Though still lucky that they were at least…normal.

She sighed and closed her eyes.

Okay…just breathe. She told herself. If it works for her when she's dealing with her own internal panic surely it had to help with what she was getting from those around her. Find your center and breathe.

With her eyes closed she started to even out her breathing. Slowly, Abby was finding that everyone else was fading away, along with her headache.

Breathe. She thought one last time before she slowly opened her eyes again. The buzzing was still there but she felt better. Her headache had ebbed away further and a part of her hoped it would stay that way.

God, let this work. How am I going to get through class tomorrow otherwise?

The stool next to her scraped against the floor before Tyler sat down beside her. It was odd that now that he was closer to her she felt more peace than she had before.

How could he feel peaceful?

"Hey, are you doing okay?" he asked.

"Hm," Abby hummed. "I'm…managing," she said looking over at him. "I'm more concerned about Lena…"

"Yeah," Tyler agreed. "Abby, I'm really sorry you got dragged into all of this."

She shook her head, "Don't apologize," she said. "My high school career was kind of boring, this has significantly livened it up. Imagine how my personal essays to colleges are going to sound now!"

Tyler laughed, "I guess when you put it that way. I haven't even given college much thought lately."

"Honestly the same," she sighed. Talking to Tyler was helpful. He made everything seem easier. Lighter somehow. "Before last night, I'd just been enjoying myself more, college was just kind of a side thought. I've filled out applications of course, but it all kind of seems small with everything now. I mean I think I'm a sentient mood ring," she laughed in the last part, which Tyler smiled a little at.

"We won't be able to hide our true feelings from you," he said. "But you were always kind of good at figuring that out anyway, huh?"

Abby nodded and then sighed, "Yeah. But now it's like it's settling in and it's…a little overwhelming to tell the truth." Tyler bit his lip before turning to face her completely.

"I understand a bit," he said. "I'm connected to the others and at times it can be a bit like that. It's more intense when we use, but even still I'm never not aware of them if that makes sense. Not only do their emotions sometimes seep through but their personalities. Like Pogue as calm as he is, he's fired up in a second."

"It's because his scales are off balanced. Libra stuff," Sarah grinned, while Kate chuckled. Pogue rolled his eyes, unable to respond as he had his phone to his ear. Abby thinks he's calling in to have pizza delivered.

"Caleb's as solid as they come and he keeps all his own worries to himself but it does very little to stop us from sometimes feeling that ourselves. And Reid—"

"Reid's wild," Pogue interrupted. He was texting now as he leaned on the counter. "Comes in like a fucking hurricane. But lately," he looked up and Pogue's hazel eyes were thoughtful. "Sometimes it's like he's hardly there at all."

"How's that possible?" Abby asked. "Is it like he's just disappearing?"

Pogue shrugged, "Nah, he's just quiet. It's more like he's settling," he said. "But we all know about a calm before a storm, right?"

"Are you saying he'll blow up at any given second?" Abby asked. Pogue shook his head and then ran his hand through his hair.

"I just think that he'd do anything to keep Lena safe," he said, his eyes cut to Kate for a moment as if remembering something before he looked back at Abby. "You don't need to have powers to know that he's been different since she showed up. And with the threat of Chase…" he trailed off. "In any case," he was changing subjects. "How are you feeling, Abby? Really. In case Baby Boy didn't say it, we can totally tell you're different now."

Rubbing her shoulder a bit, Abby sighed, "Yeah, I am…I was telling Tyler, I was feeling overwhelmed. But since Lena's left and trying my own self coping exercises I'm feeling okay, I guess? Talking to you guys is helping too."

"I just…" she hesitated, "I just, I'm more afraid than anything. Chase is going to come back, right? What's he going to do to Lena…to all of you? I…I knew you guys were weird but I didn't know that it was this kind of weird."

"Do you regret hanging out with us?" Tyler asked her. Abby glanced at him and was shaking her head before she realized it.

"No," she said. "I don't regret it at all," she looked at Sarah and Kate. "Knowing what you know now, would you have still said yes to Caleb and Pogue?"

"Hell yeah," Kate said. "Look at him," she laughed and Pogue grinned at her, but she sobered quickly. "Seriously, vanity aside, I'd still say yes. I don't have any regrets."

"I couldn't agree more," Sarah nodded. "It's like regardless of what happened a few months ago or what's happening now, I don't think I'd run away from any of it. No regrets."

Abby contemplated this as she picked at the bandage around her arm. She herself said she had no regrets but she wondered if Lena felt that way as well…if her words from earlier were just out of frustration or if she was actually glad she had come.

Because as far as Abby could see had Lena not transferred she herself wouldn't be able to call the Sons of Ipswich and Kate and Sarah friends. And Abby found that she did not want to not be friends with them now that she was. No matter how dangerous it had become so quickly.

The conversation lapsed into lighter topics as they sat around the kitchen snacking on what chips Caleb had in the cupboards. The longer they sat there the longer Abby was feeling even less like she was holding onto a heavy burden that didn't belong to her.

But how long until I have to bear it again? Will it always be so painful and sickening?

Abby heard the front door open the voices calling out breaking her from her thoughts.

"We're back!"

There were footsteps and before long Reid was standing at the entrance with two backpacks slung over his shoulder and three to four white bags in each of his hands. He was glaring at Pogue.

"The fuck did you order dude?" he asked. "You said pizza!"

As if on cue, Lena shimmed her way past him carrying four boxes of pizza into the kitchen.

Abby hadn't realized she was tensing up until Lena drew close and set the food on the counter. She realized that her friend wasn't feeling like she had been when she left. In fact, she would go on to say that she wasn't feeling anyone but herself at that moment.

"Well maybe we wanted wings and soda too," Pogue retorted. "And of course dessert, you have to have the dessert."

Reid moved further into the kitchen and put the bags on the counter. He took one of the black bags and handed it to Tyler and the other he gave to Abby.

"Don't worry," he said to her, "Lena packed your bag," he turned to Sarah, "And you owe me money for gas," he said to Sarah as he gave her her keys.

"Well, as long as I owe you, you'll never go broke," she grinned. Reid rolled his eyes. "But you two look refreshed. Have a nice drive?" Sarah asked.

"You could say that," Lena replied. "A little fresh air was needed."

"Or making out," Kate teased. Lena's eyes narrowed but she went to the sink and started to wash her hands rather than respond.

"Where's Caleb?" Reid asked. Abby noticed the slight furrow in his brow. She may not be able to feel what he was feeling then but there was no denying that he was troubled by something. Was he worried about Caleb?

"Laying down, hopefully," Sarah said. "But I'll go check on him. He really needs to eat."

She pushed away from the counter and left the kitchen.

"I don't know about you guys but I'm starving," Kate said, breaking the lapse in conversation. "Let's eat! Babe please tell me you got one of these with hot peppers."

"What am I? An amateur?" Pogue dramatically brought his hand to his chest. "The nerve, Katherine."

Kate smiled as she pulled a box toward her opening it, clearly finding the one she wanted on the first go.

Abby's shoulder was bumped and she looked to see that Lena had slid onto the stool there.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Abby replied. Lena looked her over. There was something clearly on her mind that she wanted to say but didn't. "Are you?" Abby asked her instead.

"You can't tell?" Lena inquired. When Abby didn't answer Lena made a noncommittal sound. "Hm, I hope you continue not to feel what I feel then. But I'm going to um…try to fix this, you know? Try to not let myself get too…worked up I guess. Maybe I'll take you up on your god awful six in the morning yoga routine."

For the first time in what felt like days but had honestly only been less than twenty-four hours, Abby laughed at something her roommate said.

Lena looked at her startled at first before she laughed a little.

"You're going to be okay, Abs," she said. "I'll make sure of that. I'm going to fix this."

Abby shook her head and reached over to grab Lena's hand.

"We're both going to be okay, Lena. There's nothing you need to fix."

Lena gave her hand a squeeze before she let go and slid off the stool, "Let's eat," was all she said before she pushed Tyler and Reid out of her way to get to the pizza. "Tyler, please tell me you're not going to pick off the pepperoni. Just get a cheese!"

"I'm going to eat the pepperoni, mind your business, Lena!"

Abby shook her head before getting up and going to grab her own plate, just as Sarah came back into the kitchen, Caleb in tow. He looked no more rested than he had when she'd seen him last.

But Abby figured that for now, none of that mattered for the time being. They'd all just eat their pizza, wings, and whatever the hell the chocolate monstrosity dessert was. After all, Abby was too tired herself to want to talk anymore about what was happening to them or what might happen.

For the next couple hours they could just be regular teenagers bickering over whether pineapple belongs on pizza or not.


It had been late when they had started to make their way out of Caleb's hair. And even then Lena found that if any of the guys had had it their way there was no way that the girls were going to be leaving that night. Alone at least.

"One of us will come with you," Tyler said. "It'll be safer that way."

"We appreciate it but we'll be okay," Sarah said. "We can't keep living in fear."

"Sure, but it would be better if one of us were there. Just to be on the safe side, y'know?" Pogue said.

"It would just be a precaution, Sarah," Caleb added. Lena couldn't help but watch him. Even when Sarah had returned to the kitchen with him, Caleb's mind had been elsewhere and she thought he seriously needed some sleep. She also wished he'd stop trying to avoid looking at her. She'd have to talk to him when they'd all had some time to decompress.

However, she didn't think that decompressing was in Caleb's vocabulary.

While the arguing continued, Lena stayed quiet as she leaned against Sarah's car. She wasn't going to argue whether someone would be going with them or not. Truth was the cynical part of her was thinking it didn't matter if one of the guys came with them. If Chase wanted them, he'd get them. Others there or not.

But she had a feeling that what he did the other night was him feeling bold and had probably taken a lot of out him.

Or perhaps she just hoped that was the case.

As she pulled out her phone to check the time Reid leaned against the car with her.

10:58PM

"Not going to argue that you should come with?" Lena asked pocketing her phone. It was nearly dead.

"There's no point," he responded. "Tyler's going."

Lena raised an eyebrow at his certainty. She looked over at the ones still arguing. Tyler looked more adamant than she had ever seen him. Determined.

"No one can say no to the baby, huh?" Lena reckoned.

"Something like that," Reid said. "If you think I'm bad, Tyler can lay it on thick when he wants to. It's not often but when he does—"

"Oh fine," Sarah threw her hands up. "Tyler you're coming. Now let's go before I decide that no one's going and we're just going to skip class tomorrow and stay here."

"Honestly, that doesn't sound like such a bad idea," Kate interjected.

"Told you," Reid smiled as more bickering started. "When we were kids Tyler was the one we'd send to butter up the parents before we told them we did something we shouldn't."

"I can totally see it," Lena said. The idea of them being kids getting into trouble put a genuine smile on her face.

Suddenly, Reid turned so that he was facing her completely, she turned to mirror him.

"You'll let me know when you're back?" he asked.

"Yeah, of course," she answered. The others were starting to move and get into the car, apparently whatever argument they'd been in had come to an end.

Reid opened the back door and Lena slid into the car, but Reid didn't close it yet. On the other side of her, Lena could feel Abby bump into her but she didn't turn to look at her friend. The only thing she could think of doing was to continue to stare into Reid's icy blue eyes.

"Lena don't hesitate to call me if you need anything, okay?" he said. Lena nodded. "Alright, I'll be back on campus before long. Um, Tyler," he bent a little to look past Abby and at Tyler who had sat on the other side of her. "Take care of them, I'll see you in a few, man."

"Yeah," Tyler replied. "Reid, they'll be okay"

"I know," Reid's eyes moved back to look at Lena. He gave her a once over before standing. "See you, babe." And he closed the door and tapped the roof of the car before taking a step back. Lena watched him through the window, his eyes never leaving hers. Not when the other two boys came to stand beside him, not even when the car started to pull away.

Lena only stopped looking until she couldn't look any longer. With a sigh she leaned back into the seat and closed her eyes.

Why did she suddenly have a tightening in her chest?

"Lenny?"

Opening her eyes she looked at Abby.

"You okay?"

So she really can't tell right now...good but for how long though?

"Yeah," Lena breathed, resting her head on her roommate's shoulder. "I'm okay."

Lena thought perhaps if she said it enough, it would be true.

I'm going to be okay. Chase Collins, you will not get whatever it is you're looking for from me.

God, she hoped so.


I know I'm late and I'm sorry about that, but here's the update! Happy Holidays!

I hope that you're all safe and healthy.

I'm reworking chapter 8 and 9 simultaneously so though I can't promise an update in a week, I can say it should be quicker than the last! The next two chapter we're going to see a pick up in action.

Much Love & Take care,

TR