Torn: Chapter 3 & 4
| Chapter Three |
For fifty minutes Jared sat quietly opposite Jensen, and watched as Jensen planned out a list of questions for the interviews that needed to be carried out. “Jensen,” he finally said, leaning forward, his chest resting against the desk. “I’d like us to work together,” he started. “I know you went away and did the Biology assignment, but I’d really like to be involved in this one.” He waited, watching as Jensen’s writing gradually slowed, and then stopped.
“What exactly do you want to do?” Jensen asked as he met Jared’s eyes, a curiosity behind them.
“I don’t know,” Jared said as he leaned back in his seat. “I was hoping we could talk and actually plan something together.”
Jensen looked down at the questions he’d already written. “I need to pass this class. All my classes,” he told Jared and lifted his head. “I can’t afford for you to screw this up.”
“Why do you think I’d do that?” Jared asked, sitting up straight as the class teacher walked behind him.
Jensen waited until Mrs Nelson had moved past them and struck up a conversation with a pair of girls at the back of the room. “Look, you’ve not exactly been A-grade material lately.”
Jared sighed. “I know, but come on, give me a chance.”
“I’m used to getting things done,” Jensen told him. “It’s what I do.”
Jared met Jensen’s eyes curiously. “What you do?” He asked. “You got like OCD or something?”
Jensen pursed his lips and thought about what to say. He needed to pass. “Okay. You do it,” he suddenly said, actual conversation with Jared making him feel uncomfortable. “You do the assignment.” He pushed the notes he’d made towards Jared, a steadying breath as he relinquished control.
Jared raised an eyebrow. “By myself?”
Jensen looked up at the clock at the front of the room, a smile as he watched the second hand move; the lesson was nearly at an end.
“Jensen?”
Jensen lowered his eyes and sighed. “You don’t think you could?” He said, a teasing edge to his voice.
Jared shook his head to disagree. “It’s that I don’t want to,” he told Jensen, and let out an annoyed sigh. “Why are you being like this?” He asked gently.
Jensen frowned. “Like what?”
“Rude.”
“Because I know people like you. I know what you’re like.”
Jared went to say something but was interrupted as the bell rang out for the end of class. He watched as Jensen quickly grabbed his things, Mrs Nelson yelling instructions over the moving students about finishing the assignments by the end of next week. “Jensen,” he tried, only to be left disappointed as Jensen disappeared amongst the mass of student bodies.
~*~
Jared stood at the end of the corridor, his lower lip drawn between his teeth as he watched Jensen at his locker. He waited, students slowly making their way outside and heading home. He was hesitant to approach Jensen, but he needed to try and sort out what the hell was going on. Jensen hated him, or at least what he knew of him, and for some reason Jared cared. There was something about Jensen that Jared just couldn’t figure out.
After a deep breath Jared decided the hallway had emptied enough for him to go and speak to Jensen. He took long strides across the tiled floor, finally arriving at Jensen’s side. “Hi,” he said, a smile as Jensen looked up at him suspiciously. “Can I walk with you?”
Jensen quirked an eyebrow as he slowly pushed his locker closed. “Walk? With me?” He said curiously, and hitched his school bag a little higher onto his shoulder.
“Yeah, part way home or whatever. I thought we could discuss these interview questions.”
Jensen shook his head. “I thought we sorted this.”
“No, you ran away.”
“I didn’t run anywhere,” Jensen insisted. “We were done. There was nothing else to talk about.”
Jared leaned against one of the lockers and looked at Jensen. “Is it because you’re gay?” He said quietly.
Jensen sniffed a laugh. “What?” He sounded surprised.
“You said you were gay. Is it because you think that’d cause a problem?”
Jensen looked up at Jared. “And would it?” He asked, a frown creasing his forehead.
Jared shook his head. “Of course not.” He watched Jensen. Jared could almost see the thoughts running through his head. “Give me a chance. We could go back to mine, or yours,” he added quickly. “And actually do this together. I’m not as dumb as you think,” he told Jensen.
Jensen shook his head. “I never thought you were dumb,” he said. “It’s just I…” He shrugged and shook his head. “Maybe you should just do this by yourself.”
“But I don’t want to,” Jared told him, noticing how quiet it had become, the hall almost empty.
Jensen looked up and found a look he hadn’t wanted to see; large hazel puppy eyes met his.
“Please,” Jared pleaded.
“Fine,” Jensen sighed. “Fine.”
Jared smiled victoriously. “Yours or mine?”
Jensen bit at the inside of his mouth as he tried to decide.
Jared laughed. “My grandma would be home if that helps you decide.”
Jensen gave a small smile. “I don’t think anyone will be at mine.” He paused. “It’s real small. We rent.”
“That’s okay,” Jared reassured him. “I may hang out with Chad and the other guys, but I don’t have their money, cars or charm,” he said with a laugh.
Jensen considered what Jared had said. “So you really want to work on this together?” He asked with a sudden shyness to his voice.
“Sure. It’d be good to get to know you better. Three months, right? Since you moved here?”
Jensen nodded, watching as Jared stepped away from the lockers and started walking slowly down the hall.
“Where did you come from?” Jared continued to ask questions, as Jensen appeared at his side.
“Colorado,” Jensen shared.
“Oh, I didn’t realise.”
Jensen shrugged as Jared opened the door for him, and they stepped outside, grey clouds hanging in the sky above them. “We move a lot,” he said as they walked down the steps. He stopped and looked at the sports field, the school football team running a lap to warm up. “You mind if we don’t talk about me?” He asked, a low sound as he cleared his throat. “Just, this is supposed to be a fresh start I guess.” He met Jared’s eyes, hoping Jared would leave things alone.
“Something happen at your old school?” Jared asked curiously.
Jensen didn’t say anything, a sigh as he started walking; Jared instantly at his side.
“Sorry,” Jared apologised.
Jensen looked up, catching Jared’s eyes. “It was nothing,” he simply said, his pace quickening as they headed back to his place.
~*~
Jared pulled his feet up on the bed and looked around Jensen’s room. It was a lot smaller than his, containing only a bed, a desk, and a small closet on the opposite wall. He looked at the single shelf beside the door, a collection of coloured rocks neatly arranged across the varnished piece of wood. “What are they?” Jared asked. “Those?” He pointed.
Jensen lifted his head and looked over his shoulder to where Jared was pointing. “My mom used to collect them. She’d bring a new one home every now and then. I’ve been trying to keep the collection going,” he said sadly, and turned back to the sheet of paper he’d been writing their ideas down on.
“Where is your mom?” Jared asked. He knew Jensen lived here with his grandfather, but wasn’t exactly sure why
“She died about ten years ago,” he said and looked back down at the sheet of paper. “How do you spell aggressive? Double G and double S, or…?”
“How did she die?” Jared asked, ignoring Jensen’s spelling dilemma.
Jensen shrugged and turned his seat to look at Jared. “I don’t remember much. Just one day she was here, and then she wasn’t.”
“What about your dad?”
Jensen scratched lightly behind his ear, a nervous habit. “Look. You mind if we get on with this? Just, Cyrus will be back soon.”
“Cyrus?”
“My grandpa,” Jensen said, a small smile. “Habit,” he explained, and looked towards his bedroom door.
Jared followed Jensen’s gaze. “You okay?”
Jensen smiled. “Yeah. I thought I heard…” He jumped as his door swung open, his grandpa looking suspiciously from him to Jared. “Cyrus,” he said with a smile. “I was just talking about you.”
Cyrus sniffed rudely and pointed at Jared. “What is he doing here?”
Jensen looked at Jared. “A school project. We were paired off.”
“You have to leave,” Cyrus Ackles said as he looked at the boy sitting on his grandson’s bed.
“I…” Jared met Cyrus’ green eyes; they were darker than Jensen’s, something lurking behind them.
“Cy. He hasn’t done anything wrong,” Jensen tried to intervene.
“I will not have him under my roof,” Cyrus continued.
Jared looked at Jensen, startled, Cyrus’s voice raised and angry. “I’ll go. It’s okay.” Cyrus was a lot younger than his grandma, maybe in his early fifties, a wide chest and strong arms, his dark hair dusted with a layer of grey.
“I’m so sorry,” Jensen started as he got to his feet, Cyrus suddenly butting in.
“Don’t you dare apologise to him. He needs to leave. And you don’t come back here, you hear me?” Cyrus looked at Jared furiously. “Never.”
Jared briefly met Jensen’s eyes as he collected his things together and got off the bed. “Sorry, sir,” he muttered as he passed Cyrus, his head down.
“Ja-” Jensen stopped, his grandpa’s arm held out to stop him passing. He listened as the door to the small apartment swung shut and looked up at his grandpa, frustration getting the better of him as he pushed at Cyrus’s arm. “Why’d you do that? He’s like the first person who’s given a damn about talking to me in three months at that sucky-ass school.”
“You don’t understand,” Cyrus said as he looked sternly at Jensen.
“You’re right, I don’t. We were working on a project for Social Studies. That was it.” Jensen closed his eyes and dropped down on the edge of his bed, his hand curling in the material of the worn bedcover. “It’s what you wanted. Working hard. College.” He opened his eyes and looked up at his grandpa. “Normal.”
Cyrus sighed, a shake of his head. “After everything, why him?”
Jensen shrugged. “What do you mean?”
“Colorado.”
Jensen lowered his head. “That wasn’t my fault.”
“I know,” Cyrus said as he sat down beside Jensen. “But we have to stay safe.” He raised a hand to the back of Jensen’s head and gently squeezed his hand around the boy’s neck, pulling Jensen to him. “He’s not good for you,” he said. “Promise me you won’t bring him here again.”
Jensen nodded and reluctantly agreed, “Yes, Cyrus.”
~*~
Jared sat on the back porch and stared out onto the small yard. He folded his arms around his legs, pulling them closer to himself as he rested his chin on the top of his knees. He looked up at the sky, the grey clouds still lingering in the evening air. He could feel something in his gut, an almost presence; something would be coming through into his world soon, something wicked and hungry.
He sighed and considered the day. He thought things were finally getting better between him and Jensen, but then there had been Cyrus, Jensen’s grandfather. There was something about him that was kind of scary, and it had Jared confused. Hell, Jensen had looked just as surprised by the outburst.
“Pudding,” Grams said as she stuck her head out the back door, a smile as Jared turned to look up at her. “Everything okay?”
Jared smiled and watched as Grams came to sit beside him on the porch, a small groan escaping her lips as she sat down. He met her bright eyes and grinned. “Faker,” he whispered.
“I’m getting some practice in for when I get really old,” she laughed and easily shifted herself to get comfortable.
“You’ll never be really old,” he told her and leaned his shoulder against hers.
“So, what’s wrong?” She asked.
Jared shrugged. “Just this boy at school.”
“A boy?” Grams looked at her grandson. “A friend?”
“Kind of,” Jared confirmed. “I went to his place to work on a project we’re doing. His grandpa came home, and the guy freaked out. Told me to get out and not come back.”
Grams frowned. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “Jensen didn’t seem to know either.”
“Jensen? That’s the boy’s name?” Grams tilted her head to one side thoughtfully.
Jared smiled. “Yeah.”
“I’m sure things will work out,” she said comfortingly. “You’re a great boy.”
Jared sighed and leaned his head on her shoulder. “Something’s coming,” he said quietly. “It feels wrong, bad.”
Grams wrapped her arm around him and held him to her. “It’ll be okay.”
Jared closed his eyes as he told her, “Sure it will, Grams.”
~*~
“Hi.”
Jared looked up, an eyebrow quirked as he found Jensen standing beside the bench he was sat on. “Oh, hi,” he said and sat up properly. He was waiting for Chad to get out of detention so they could go and get some lunch. “You okay?” He asked. “I was kinda worried,” he admitted.
Jensen smiled and sat down beside Jared, his head lowered, eyes trailing over the dirt. “I’m really sorry about Cyrus. I was so embarrassed. He just…” Jensen sighed and looked up to meet Jared’s eyes. “He worries, I guess. Since Mom died, he’s been real protective of me.”
Jared offered a small smile in comfort. “My grandma’s exactly the same. Both my parents died when I was little,” he told Jensen. “I don’t remember my mom. I have photographs, but it’s not the same.”
“What about your dad?” Jensen asked, his fingers brushing the material of his jeans as he looked at Jared thoughtfully.
“I never knew him. He died soon after I was born.”
Jensen nodded. “I barely knew my dad. Cyrus talks about him sometimes. He seems to blame him for everything bad in our lives.” He sighed, his hands moving to tug at the hem of the dark tee he wore. “I really am sorry. I understand if you don’t want to work with me anymore.”
“Do you want to?” Jared asked. “I mean, your grandpa was pretty freaked.”
“If you’d rather not,” Jensen said, and quickly got to his feet.
Jared reached up and grabbed Jensen’s wrist, a small gasp as he felt a spark in his fingertips, a rush of something shooting up beneath the sleeve of his shirt. “Whoa, you wearing polyester pants or something?” He released Jensen’s arm and shook his hand. He rested his hands in his lap and looked up at Jensen, noticing a strange look on Jensen’s face. “You okay?”
Jensen curled his hand into a fist, a small nod as he dismissed Jared’s question. “Anyway, what do you want to do?” He met Jared’s eyes.
Jared smiled and made a decision. “Meet me here at the end of the day. We’ll go back to my place,” he told Jensen.
Jensen shyly returned the smile. “Okay. If you’re sure,” he said and looked towards the school building, a small sigh as he saw Chad emerging from the school building and standing at the top of the steps.
Jared spotted Chad too, his foot nudging against Jensen’s. “I’m sure, and do you want to come get some food with us? It’s just me and Chad.”
Jensen stood and watched Chad make his way down the old stone steps. He considered the offer, his eyes following the swagger of dark jeans as they got closer. “I can’t,” he decided and turned back to Jared, a small smile as he met Jared’s bright eyes. “I have something with me.”
Jared nodded. “See you here in a couple of hours,” he told Jensen, as he got to his feet, a fleeting smile before jogging off to meet Chad.
~*~
“Grams?” Jared called as he and Jensen stepped inside. He glanced over his shoulder, grinning as he watched Jensen take off his sneakers and put them neatly on the doormat. “Grams?” He called again, a smile as he heard singing from the back of the house. “I told her we were having company. It smells like she’s baking.”
Jensen smiled. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had anything home baked.
“Chocolate cake I think,” Jared guessed and dropped his bag in the hall. “I’m sorry if she offers you everything we have in the house. She seems to think we all need fattening up.” He looked at Jensen. Maybe this time Grams was right.
Jensen hesitated, watching as Jared strode down the carpeted hallway and into the kitchen. He listened, Jared’s grandmother cheerfully welcoming him home, a question as to where his friend was. He swallowed uncomfortably. There felt like there was something heavy in the air as he stepped forwards. He slowly emerged from behind the door, a small smile as he met Grams’ eyes. “Hi,” he said quietly. “Jensen.”
Grams stopped and looked Jensen up and down, a strange expression on her face as a familiar feeling suddenly surrounded her. She couldn’t quite place what it was, not right then, but something felt wrong to her. “Jensen,” she said, clearing her throat as she remembered herself, Jared lingering at her side. “Hello, sweetie,” she said politely, and wiped her hands down the front of her favourite apron. “So you’re Jensen,” she said and smiled as she met Jensen’s eyes. “Would you like a drink? Something to eat?”
Jensen shook his head, a weird feeling in his gut as the old lady’s eyes met his. “I’m okay thanks. I won’t be staying long.”
“We have pot roast for supper, you’re welcome to stay,” Grams offered, the smile becoming more genuine, the air suddenly lighter.
Jensen shook his head, shyly looking at the floor. “I can’t,” he said. “But thank you,” he added with a small smile.
“Sure thing, sweetie,” Grams said as she looked back to her grandson. “I’ll clear the table for you.”
“Oh, it’s okay. We were just gonna go to my room,” he said, nodding for Jensen to follow him back along the hallway. “That okay?” He hesitated as he looked at Grams.
Grams smiled widely, her eyes looking from Jared to Jensen, and then back to her grandson. “Of course it is,” she insisted, forcing away the desire she had to keep her grandson close. “Call me if you need anything.”
Jared nudged Jensen in the small of his back. “Later, Grams,” he laughed.
Jensen glanced at Grams as he was ushered towards Jared’s room, the feeling lingering that she disapproved in some way.
~*~
Jensen sat on the end of Jared’s bed. The room was a lot larger than his own at the rented apartment, and definitely a lot more homely he decided as he looked around the array of personal belongings that cluttered the room.
“So where were we?” Jared said as he dropped down on the bed beside Jensen, a smile as Jensen was bounced around on the springy mattress.
“Erm,” Jensen managed as he tried to get comfortable. “We have half the questions we wanted to ask people our own age,” he started as he rested his notepad in the space between them on the bed, “and a handful for parents and grandparents, the older generations.” He turned over the last page of his written notes. “That right?”
Jared nodded and turned his head to look at Jensen’s scratchy handwriting. “How do you read this?” He laughed and gently touched the corner of the notepad, turning it so the writing was a little easier to read.
Jensen sighed. “Do you wanna do it?” He said, a huffy edge to his voice.
Jared shook his head. “It’s fine. What you’ve done is fine.” He curled over the corner of the page as he flicked back and forth through the notes. “You sure you don’t want a drink or anything?” He asked, lifting his head to meet those bright, green eyes.
Jensen looked at Jared and said, “Really, I’m fine. Cyrus will fix me something when he gets back.”
Jared smiled, suddenly aware that Jensen’s hand was beside his and reaching for the notepad. He looked down. It felt like something was prickling across his skin. “Do you feel that?” He suddenly said, moving his hand closer to Jensen’s.
Jensen raised an eyebrow. He didn’t feel anything. “Feel what?”
“Like static,” Jared said, his fingers edging closer.
Jensen quickly drew back his hand, a confused look as Jared’s fingertips brushed his own. “What are you doing?”
Jared swallowed uncomfortably. He had no idea.
“Did Chad and his friends put you up to this?” Jensen asked suspiciously. “Some game to torment the queer boy?” He looked at Jared accusingly.
“What?” Jared met Jensen’s angry eyes. “No. Of course not.”
Jensen bit lightly on his lower lip, his eyes looking around Jared’s room. He let his sight settle on a poster, large red writing spelling out the name of some band he’d never heard of. “Maybe I should go,” he said with a heavy sigh. “This was a stupid idea.”
“No it wasn’t.”
Jensen turned back to look at Jared, surprised to find him sitting forward and stealing into his space. He swallowed uncomfortably, leaning slightly away as he tried to focus his attention on something other than Jared. “Then we should just get this done,” he managed, and gently touched the edge of the notepad.
“We could always talk,” Jared suddenly suggested.
Jensen narrowed his eyes. “Talk?”
“Get to know each other better,” Jared said with a smile, his hand drawing gentle circles over the page of the notepad, a desire to perhaps nudge it against Jensen’s for a second time. “I’m kinda interested.”
Jensen looked at Jared, a bemused expression on his face. “We’re doing an assignment, that’s it. There’s nothing more you really need to know.”
“What’s your favourite colour?” Jared randomly asked.
Jensen pursed his lips, annoyed that Jared was insisting on continuing this game.
“Have you turned eighteen yet? What’s your favourite food? Ever had a pet?” Jared looked at Jensen, waiting for some kind of reaction.
“You’re kidding, right? What do you care about that stuff?” Jensen asked curiously, his eyes meeting Jared’s.
“I just thought maybe…” Jared shrugged, turning his head as he felt Jensen’s eyes on him. “You don’t seem to have many friends.”
Jensen laughed. “Okay,” he said slowly. “And what? Is this your idea of an intervention?”
Jared sighed. “I thought it might be nice to get to know you, is all.”
“And be my friend?” Jensen looked firmly at Jared. “I don’t have friends because I choose not to.”
“Why?”
Jensen frowned. “Are you always this nosey?”
Jared simply grinned.
Jensen rolled his eyes, a sigh as he decided to just give Jared the answers he wanted. “Do you know how many different schools I’ve attended in the last ten years?” He looked at Jared. “Twelve. That’s more than one a year, Jared. I’m kind of tired of making friends.”
“Twelve!” Jared repeated. “Why do you move so much?”
Jensen closed his eyes, the back of his hand pressed tiredly to his face. “It’s complicated, and Cyrus has this job. He doesn’t tell me that much but it means we move a lot.”
“You ever asked why?”
Jensen sighed and opened his eyes. “He’s responsible for me. If we move, we move. It’s not my place to question that.”
“Not even once?”
Jensen shook his head. “He’s looked after me since I was eight. He does what’s best for us. I know he does.”
Jared frowned. He didn’t understand. “How are you going to graduate?” He suddenly asked.
Jensen laughed; the question was unexpected. “By passing all my classes,” he said, and pulled the notepad from under Jared’s hand.
“Are you even going to be here at graduation?” Jared suddenly asked. “Will you move again?”
Jensen shrugged as he rested the notepad in his lap. He wasn’t really sure why Jared would care. “It’s only a few more months. I really want to. I mean…” He lowered his head and let out a sigh. “What I want is to go to college, and then to medical school.”
“You want to be a doctor?” Jared asked, shifting slightly as he pulled one leg up onto the bed. He watched as Jensen continued to speak.
“My mom was a nurse. She helped people.” He lowered his head as he looked down at the notepad lying across his thighs. “I want to help people too.” He smiled and looked back up at Jared. “I want to make her proud.”
Jared met Jensen’s eyes, something he couldn’t describe radiating from inside him as he looked at Jensen and said, “I think I know how you feel.”
~*~
Jared ran as fast as he could. There it was again, that sound pounding in his ears, a screaming echo ringing over and over inside his skull. He continued to run, his weapon bright and held tightly in his clenched fist. He wasn’t sure where he was heading, the screamed sound drawing him onward. He clutched a hand to his chest, a pain ripping through him as he skidded to a halt. He took large gulped breaths as he straightened himself up, his eyes scanning the city skyline.
He turned around as he heard a strange sound behind him. He raised his arms, both hands wrapped tightly around the hilt of the sword he carried. He edged forward, the ghost of the pain he’d felt still aching through his ribs. Slowly he moved toward the scuffling sounds coming from the darkened street to the side of him. He narrowed his eyes as he stepped into the shadows, wary of what he would find.
Jared stopped, his blood chilling as a terrible scream came from the other end of the street, a strange light hovering in the air a short distance ahead of him. He started moving again as the light dimmed. He took steady strides, only stopping as he caught his breath, a demon’s torn body lying on either side of the street. He turned nervously around, something brushing past him. He held onto his weapon tightly, but he found that there was nothing there.
Jared looked around desperately, his eyes scanning the tops of the surrounding buildings; he could have sworn there was something else nearby. Slowly he backed toward the torso of the beast, a heavy sigh as he looked at the empty cavity that was the beast’s chest. The soul was missing again. He rubbed a line over his jaw, and retracted his sword as he considered the scene. It had been mere moments, the scream, the death, and the taking of the soul. He reached forward, his hands starting to glow as he began to burn away the body. He had no idea what could have done this, and he had to admit, that kind of scared him.
| Chapter 4 |
Jared sat in the cafeteria, a grin on his face as he watched Chad try to cram a whole hotdog into his mouth. “You can do better than that,” he teased, as Chad ended up with an inch of bun hanging awkwardly out of his mouth, ketchup dripping down onto his chin.
“Oo-I-en,” Chad mumbled, his hand forcing the bun further in his mouth as he awkwardly tried to chew.
Jared laughed. He had no idea what Chad just said. He watched Chad for a little longer, his eyes gradually drifting around the brightly decorated hall. He smiled, and held a hand in the air as he saw Jensen heading toward him. The smile began to fade, Jensen barely meeting his eyes before heading toward a table on the far side of the cafeteria. Jared frowned. Sure he was with Chad, but this time Jensen hadn’t even acknowledged him.
“You okay?”
Jared turned around, Chad wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. “Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat as he stared down at his own meal. He kind of hated the food served in the cafeteria, despite Chad’s lust for the hotdogs they served.
“You want to do something tonight?” Chad asked, his elbows resting on the table as he yawned. “We haven’t hung out in forever, dude.”
Jared smiled. It was somehow nice to be missed. “I can’t. I promised Grams I’d put up that shelf I’ve been threatening to for the last couple of months.”
Chad laughed. “One of your lamest excuses yet,” he decided with a grin, and popped a fry in his mouth.
Jared sighed and said, “I know.”
~*~
“Hey, Jensen,” Jared said as he sat down beside Jensen in their science class. He dragged the stool forward a little as he tucked his legs under the wooden bench. “Seem to keep missing you. I wanted to show you the final questionnaires. I printed them off last night.” He dropped his bag heavily on the bench in front of him, a frown as he found Jensen was paying him no attention. “Jensen?”
Jensen ran his fingers thoughtfully over the wooden top before lifting his head. “I can’t work with you anymore,” he said.
“What? Why? I thought we were okay?”
Jensen sighed, and glanced to the front of the class where Miss Chapman was setting up some equipment. “Maybe we were, but I can’t. It’s my…” He shrugged. “I just can’t.”
“Is this about your grandfather?” Jared asked, watching as Jensen avoided looking at him. “Because I thought you said that didn’t matter.”
Jensen worried his lip between his teeth as he shook his head. “I can’t. Please understand that.”
Jared watched as Jensen got out of his seat and collected up his things. “But…”
Jensen shook his head as he held his belongings awkwardly in his arms. “I’m sorry.”
Jared didn’t know what to say as he sat and watched Jensen make his way toward an empty seat at the front of the class. What the hell had just happened?
~*~
“You look pissed,” Chad noted as he fell in beside Jared, a cheerful bounce in his own step compared to Jared’s more determined stride.
Jared shrugged as they stopped beside Chad’s car. “Not pissed. More like confused.” He waited as Chad unlocked the SUV, before joining his friend inside the large vehicle.
“Confused?” Chad looked at Jared curiously as he settled into his seat. “What kind of confused?” He asked.
Jared sighed and pulled on his belt. “I know this’ll sound weird. It is weird I guess,” he decided as he clipped in the buckle. “Jensen’s ignoring me, and I don’t know why.”
“Ackles?” Chad checked.
Jared nodded. “We got put together in a couple of classes. I thought we were getting along okay but…” He sighed as he turned back to stare out the front window. “He’s like totally avoiding me now.”
Chad rested his hands on the steering wheel as he listened to Jared’s concerns. “You do know about him, right?” He eventually asked.
Jared looked at Chad and raised an eyebrow. “You mean the gay thing?”
Chad sniffed a laugh. “And the rest.”
“What rest?”
Chad sighed as he leaned back in his seat. He looked out of the front of the car, a small smile as he watched the cheerleaders stretching before their afterschool practice. “Way I hear it, he was dating one of the football team.”
“Dating? Dudes don’t date in high school,” Jared reminded him.
“Exactly,” Chad agreed. “That’s what I told Aiden. But rumour is that he was, and openly. Then things went to shit, leaving three members of the school’s football team in the ER.”
“What about Jensen?”
“He’s the one that put them there,” Chad told him.
Jared sniffed a laugh. “Yeah, right. He weighs like a hundred pounds, if that.”
“I swear it’s true. He beat the crap out of them,” Chad insisted.
Jared shook his head. “He moves around because of his grandfather’s job. He told me that.”
Chad shrugged. “Just telling you what I heard.”
Jared sighed as he rested his arm on the car door. “He’s just kinda weird. He has no friends, and he told me this is like the twelfth school he’s been at.”
Chad shrugged. “People have weird lives,” he noted. “Sometimes they have fucked up crazy lives.” He glanced sideways at Jared. “Unlike you. Just plain old Jared, right?”
Jared sniffed a laugh. “That’s me. Dull as fuck.”
Chad grinned. “Maybe we should change that. Do you really need to put that shelf up tonight?”
Jared looked out of the front of the car. He sighed as he decided, “I guess the shelf can wait.”
Chad smiled as he started the car. “Excellent.”
~*~
“Later,” Jared said as he jumped down from the SUV, a lazy smile on his face as he waved goodnight to Chad and the others. He sighed as he watched the car pull away and disappear around the bend in the road. He turned around and looked at the diner on the other side of the street. It was getting late, and he was pretty sure he was on the wrong side of drunk. He’d asked to be dropped here in the hope of sobering himself up with one of the diner’s oversized coffees, before having to go home and face Grams. He sighed and rubbed at his eyes, a strange ache behind them and in the back of his skull. Looking up and down the street, he considered the feeling. He knew very well that it wasn’t just the five beers he’d drunk that night.
Jared raised his hand and held it out in front of him, his eyes narrowing as he tried to secure his focus. He stared at his hand, and at the familiar yellow tint beneath his skin. He sighed, knowing the alcohol in his system was making his concentration waver, as energy and light flickered awkwardly in the palm of his hand. He could sense something out there, the dull pain in his head slowly getting stronger.
Jared slowly curled up his hand. Sometimes he wished he’d turned eighteen already, the Elders of The Lyend had told him that he would not truly own his powers until that time. For years, he’d trained with Anton Tyrez, a senior member of the group, a man endowed with a strength and an agility beyond anything Jared could ever hope to possess. He’d learned everything he could, how to fight, how to destroy demons, and how to release the souls trapped within them.
Jared waited, the feeling in his head beginning to fade, the demon perhaps moving from his ward. He needed to straighten out his head. With his hands pushed deep into his pockets, he crossed the street and entered the diner. As he opened the door, he was greeted with the warm scent of coffee and food. The smell caused him to smile. It reminded him of Grams, and home. As Jared stepped forward his smile started to fade. A familiar person was standing behind the counter and staring thoughtfully at him.
“What can I get you?” Jensen asked politely, his eyes meeting Jared’s awkwardly as Jared reached the counter.
“Coffee, please,” Jared managed, and distracted himself with examining the loose coins he’d found in the pocket of his jeans.
“How do you want that?” Jensen enquired as he glanced over his shoulder to the large board of drinks.
Jared lifted his head and stared at the array of frothy, creamy, latte-mocha-cino coffees, an eyebrow raised as he decided it was far too late for such a serious decision. “Just coffee, please. Cream and lots of sugar.” He held out the change in his hand, aware that Jensen was still staring at him.
Jensen took the money and sorted through what Jared had given him. “Are you drunk?” He asked as he held out the coins he didn’t need.
“No,” Jared insisted. “What makes you think that?”
Jensen shrugged and rang the price of the coffee through the register. “Nothing, I guess.” He looked at Jared again, whose eyes seemed unfocussed as they reluctantly met his. “Go sit over there. I’ll bring it over in a moment.”
Jared shook his head. “I’m fine right here,” he said stubbornly, and took a couple of short steps to one of the stools at the far end of the counter, perching himself on the edge of the seat.
Jensen sniffed a laugh as he watched Jared gain his balance, and then turned to the coffee machine.
“Did I do something wrong?” Jared said loudly from where he was sat. “I mean, you’ve been an ass all day.”
Jensen glanced around the diner, only a couple of the late night customers paying Jared any attention. “You mind keeping your voice down?” He said, as he took a large mug and held it under the flow of hot, dark liquid.
“But I don’t get it,” Jared tried again. “I thought we were friends, and we-” He shut up as Jensen glared at him. “What?”
Jensen held the filled mug tightly in his hand and walked toward where Jared was seated. “Will you just stop this? We were never friends, you know that.” He lowered the mug to the counter top, turning briefly to get the cream from the refrigerator. “I can’t work with you.”
“But why?”
Jensen sighed as he stirred the cream into the coffee. “There are just a few things I need to figure out. I probably won’t be here for much longer.”
“I thought you were going to stay this time?” Jared said, a sense of loss hitting him in the gut.
Jensen shrugged. “Things change,” he said as he tapped the spoon on the edge of the ceramic mug.
“Like at your last school?”
Jensen cocked his head curiously. “My last school? What do you mean?”
“Something changed and you moved out here. It was the football team or something, right? Chad seemed to think you put a couple of guys in the ER. Did you really date the team captain?” Jared leaned further forward as he spoke. “Like, publicly?”
“You’ve been talking about me to Chad?” Jensen asked sharply.
“He’s my friend,” Jared emphasised as he folded his arms on the countertop.
“And if you wanted to be mine, you wouldn’t be digging up stuff behind my back. It’s none of your business,” Jensen said harshly, his voice louder than he intended as he picked up the container of sugar. “I don’t get it, Jared. I just don’t.” He started pouring sugar into the coffee.
“You don’t get it? How do you think I feel? Before you and that stupid assignment, I’d never even thought about you. You, with your stupid gayness and your stupid notebook. And seriously, what’s with those stones in your room?”
Jensen looked at Jared, and kept his voice low as he asked, “What are you talking about?”
“You’re weird,” Jared stated. “And you make me feel weird.”
“Hey, if you’re confused that’s not my problem,” Jensen said, suddenly aware that more eyes were turning in their direction. “Look. I’m kind of working here,” he told Jared as he slid the coffee forward.
“You’re such an ass,” Jared said as he wrapped a hand around the handle of the mug.
“Takes one to know one I guess,” Jensen sighed and walked away from Jared, deciding that maybe Cyrus was right; it was time to leave.
~*~
Jensen sat on a stool at the far end of the counter and started checking the register’s float for the next day. He knew very well Jared was still sat on the other side of the diner, a silent refusal to budge from his seat. “I’ll lock you in,” he said as he typed the totals into the calculator he had. “Not sure Florence will be all that impressed when she opens up in the morning and finds you still sitting there.”
Jensen raised his head and looked at Jared, lowering the calculator to the countertop. He waited, but Jared didn’t say anything. Instead, hazel eyes watched him closely. “You’re being kind of weird, Jared. I’m not really sure what it is you’re trying to achieve by sitting there and staring at me.” He sighed and got to his feet, carrying the tray of money back to lock inside the register for the night.
“I was waiting,” Jared finally said. “I thought it might be easier to talk to you if we were alone.”
Jensen shrugged as he jiggled the front of the register, the money secured inside. “There’s not really anything I want to talk to you about. A week or two and I’ll be gone. Nothing but a wet dream,” he said with a smirk.
“I’m not gay,” Jared told him.
“If you say so,” Jensen said quietly.
“I’m not. I’ve dated a cheerleader,” stated Jared. “She had huge tits, and she let me-”
“Okay. Stop right there,” Jensen said as he met Jared’s eyes. He didn’t want to hear about anything Jared did to any cheerleader. “You don’t have to explain to me. Like I said, I’ll be out of here pretty soon.”
“You don’t feel it?” Jared asked.
“Feel what?” Jensen said tiredly.
Jared got to his feet and walked the length of the diner. “This,” he said as he placed his hand over Jensen’s, a familiar sensation against his skin. “It’s like electric.”
Jensen slowly pulled his hand from beneath Jared’s. He cleared his throat and told Jared, “It’s just your imagination.”
“No,” Jared disagreed. “The more I’m with you, the stronger it gets.” He watched Jensen closely; looking for any sign that he could feel what Jared did. “It’s strange, and I don’t know what it means.”
Jensen lowered his head. “It’s nothing, Jared. Maybe you should go home and get some sleep.” He looked up, surprised to find Jared leaning forward and into his space. “What…” He caught his breath as Jared wrapped large hands around his face and hazel eyes looked deep into his own.
“I feel like I’m going crazy,” Jared told Jensen, his chest aching as ripples of something washed through him. “It’s like you’re under my skin.”
Jensen raised his hands and wrapped them around Jared’s. He looked Jared firmly in the eye, concentrating on the deep hazel colour as he said, “Go home, Jared.”
Jared’s eyes lingered on Jensen’s. The sensation he described before spiked against his hands as a strange feeling hung around him. “I should go home,” he suddenly agreed, surprising himself. He hesitated, his gaze drifting downward to a full mouth, a lick of his own lower lip before he realised he was staring. “But I want to talk. I…”
“It’s late,” Jensen continued, his hands tight around Jared’s as he caught Jared’s gaze again. “You need to go. Grams will be worried.”
Jared tilted his head as he looked deep into Jensen’s eyes. “She does worry, and it is late.” He found himself agreeing, and yet the desire to stay still circled his head.
Jensen felt Jared’s hands fall away from his face. He waited, Jared standing confused in front of him. “Goodbye, Jared,” he said in a clear voice.
“But…” Jared slowly nodded, a sudden urge to do as Jensen had suggested. “Yeah, goodnight.” He turned and wandered towards the diner door. He stopped as he wrapped his hand around the large handle and looked back over his shoulder. He should go, or maybe…
“Go home,” Jensen said one more time, a relieved sigh as he watched Jared step outside. He closed his eyes. Going home sounded good, however, there was one thing he needed to do first.
~*~
Jared stood silently on the sidewalk outside the diner. He stared out across the dark street, a weird feeling lingering around him. He turned around as he heard a key turn in the diner door, lights being turned off as Jensen made his way to the back of the building. Why had he left? There was so much he wanted to know. With a heavy sigh, Jared looked back to the street. Instead of finding answers, he felt even more confused about Jensen.
Jared closed his eyes as he listened to the night air. The demon he’d sensed earlier was close by, hot ripples across his vision as he stepped forward. The desire to go home had disappeared; all that remained was the need to fulfil the duty that was his. Silently he stepped out into the street, fresh air hitting him in the face as he started to run. The demon was hungry.
~*~
The demon stood and cautiously watched the hunter before it, its nostrils flaring as it breathed heavily, and a flinch of its body as it readjusted its footing. The hunter was fast, faster than anything it’d ever seen before. It could feel the heat of its own blood falling from the wound on its shoulder, a gaping space in its fur covered hide. It snorted loudly and stood up, one of its arms hanging uselessly at its side.
The hunter knelt before the demon and raised his head, his bright eyes meeting the deep red eyes of the demon. He was dressed in dark clothes, a long, hooded jacket hanging open as he kept a silent watch on the demon.
The demon growled as it sensed something else, a heavy scent in the air as something powerful approached. It lowered its head and stepped back, noting how the hunter watched curiously. It knew very well what it could sense, another hunter was heading this way. Slowly it moved back into the dark shadows, low sounds as it saw the blue glow from beneath the hunter’s jacket. This would be no easy retreat.
~*~
Jared caught his breath as he skidded around the street corner; the demon’s presence was beginning to fade. He stopped, his eyes wide as he looked over the scene before him. A dark figure stood over the corpse of the demon, a blue glow rising from within the lifeless body as the figure pressed their hand to the demon’s skin. The smell of singed hair filled the air, and Jared watched as the demon’s body began to shake and tear. He stepped forward, amazed as flesh started to fall away, the soul being pulled from the demon’s chest.
Jared stood silently, hypnotised by the way the soul danced above the demon’s body, and then fell into the waiting hand of the mysterious figure. He watched as the hand closed around the soul, the light slowly fading to nothing. “Hey,” he suddenly dared to call out. He had no idea why he did, but the urge became unbearable.
The figure turned, and Jared jumped slightly as a weapon was raised in his direction, a strange blue glow emanating from the figure’s hand. He stood and watched as the figure stepped around the still warm carcass. “Who are you?” He managed, aware that the weapon trained on him was a crossbow. He watched as the figure placed what had once been the demon’s soul into the pocket of their long, hooded jacket, and then raised a hand to the dark hood and pulled it back from their face.
Jared stood open mouthed, an ache in his chest as he met bright, green eyes. “You?”
Jensen grinned, and tilted his head gently to one side as he looked Jared up and down, his weapon never leaving the other boy.
Jared went to step forward. He had so many questions. He caught his breath, his hand at his chest as air rushed past him and Jensen disappeared. He was left alone. He took a steadying breath as he tried to make sense of what he’d just seen.
~*~
The street was empty, and yet the scent of the recent kill still lingered in the night air. The atmosphere started to crackle, small sparks as a tear began to form between the demon and human worlds. As the night sky was torn open, a long, leathery limb reached through into the world, plentiful with souls. It had waited so long for this moment, for a time when a doorway large enough would appear and allow the ancient demon free from its fiery cell.
The night continued to break apart, the tear widening as a second limb reached forward, long, clawed fingers scraping against the concrete sidewalk. The demon dragged itself forward, its huge body crashing through into the human world as the tear sealed behind it. Resting on all fours, it raised its head, its back arching as it stretched centuries of imprisonment from its body. It breathed in deeply and stood to its full height, fourteen feet of bone and muscle. It moved its head gently from side to side as it smelt out its surroundings. It was home.
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