Melissa lay in her room staring at the ceiling. She could hear noises coming from Stephanie’s bedroom and she wondered if they really thought she didn’t know what they were doing in there. She thought about putting on her iPod to drown them out, but in the end, she’d been too lazy to get up and retrieve it from her dresser. At least someone was having fun tonight…she thought.

But the noises had stopped now for the most part. She assumed they must be basking in the afterglow or something. Not that she’d had any experience with that yet. But she’d watched plenty of cable. Either way, she figured they were occupied for the evening and wouldn’t be likely to come check on her. Which made the timing perfect to do what she wanted to do.

She wasn’t even sure it would work. In fact, it probably wouldn’t. She didn’t seem to have inherited any of Stephanie’s psychic talents, but she was willing to try. Maybe now that she was supposed to be some kind of warrior, she’d find some new power she never knew she possessed? It was worth a shot.

She got up from her bed and walked over to her closet. She rooted through the mess of clothes and retrieved the small wooden box. Inside, was the magical thinking crystal that Stephanie had used earlier. When no one had been looking, she had slipped back into Jax’s office and put the crystal into her bag. She was going to give it back, she told herself. So it wasn’t like she was stealing or anything. She was just borrowing it for awhile. And now was the time for her to see if procuring the crystal was actually going to accomplish anything or not.

When she was twelve, Stephanie confided to her about the dreams and visions she had. It was a huge secret and Melissa was excited to be let in on it. Mom hadn’t known, only Melissa. She felt privileged to know what very few people knew. It was like being part of a special club. Only Melissa wished she had something magical or amazing about herself to share with them. Now it seemed that maybe she did. Maybe she was part of this Trinity that would save the entire world from destruction? What could be more amazing than that?

She was feeling a little indestructible at the moment. So it seemed as good a time as any to get this crystal out and do a little experimenting.

She removed the crystal from the box and took it over to her bed. She sat down and placed it in front of her. She placed her hands onto it, just the way she’d seen Stephanie do it earlier. She closed her eyes at first and tried to clear her mind. She breathed deeply and tried to focus on an image of Alison in her mind. Then she opened her eyes and began staring deeply into the crystal. After several minutes, it seemed nothing at all was happening. She was getting frustrated, but she refused to give up.

She closed her eyes again and took a deep breath to calm herself. She opened them again and focused. The crystal began to feel warmer to her touch and a faint blue hue seemed to begin emanating from it. She started to feel dizzy and disconnected from herself, almost as if she were falling asleep. But she wasn’t. She was completely awake as the images started to form in font of her eyes.

She saw Alison sitting on a sofa leafing through a fashion magazine. As her vision shifted slightly, she saw Logan sitting on the floor at Alison’s feet. He was playing a video game of some sort. It seemed like a completely innocent looking scene. Two people just hanging out like any other couple. They didn’t look like two people about to end the world.

She concentrated deeply, trying to find out where they might be. It seemed like a castle to her. But that didn’t make any sense. It wasn’t as if there were any actual castles in Pinewood Lake. It must be some sort of a trick, she realized. Stephanie said the place didn’t seem real. Melissa got the same feeling.

Suddenly, Alison looked up from her magazine. Melissa’s heart began racing in her chest. Did Alison see her the same way she had seen Stephanie? She wanted to let go of the crystal but she was afraid she might miss something important.

Someone’s watching us again, Alison said telepathically to Logan.

Yeah, I know, he answered her.

Alison put her magazine down and put her arms around Logan’s neck. She looked over to where she perceived the intrusion came from. She saw Melissa staring at them with wide eyes.

It’s Melissa, she said with amazement.

Who’s Melissa?

Stephanie’s sister. That’s interesting…she said.

She’s just a kid, he noticed.

A talented one, apparently…what do you want to do?

Ignore her.

No, I wanna have a little fun, she told him as a wicked smile played across her face.

Alison got off the couch and pulled Logan up off the floor. They intertwined their fingers, sparks crackling along their skin. She pulled him to her and they turned their heads in Melissa’s direction. They smiled at her.

Melissa gasped when she realized for sure that they had seen her. They were looking at her, smiling. She tried to let go of the crystal again, but this time she couldn’t do it. Her hands refused to move. Panic crossed her face and Alison started laughing.

“Please don’t do this, Alison!” Melissa pleaded with her, unsure whether or not they could actually hear her.

“Why Mel? Are you scared? Are you gonna cry?” Alison mocked her.

Melissa’s eyes grew wide with terror as she watched them. Suddenly a wall of energy shot from Alison and Logan’s fingertips. It enveloped Melissa, paralyzing her. The energy seemed to grow arms that wrapped themselves around her body. All at once, she was sucked through some kind of magical portal. She landed with a thud at their feet.

They had physically pulled Melissa out of her bedroom and into their world. Melissa’s vision had actually become a reality. She stared up at the two of them with fear. She tried to pull herself together and put on a braver face. She scrambled to her feet and faced them.

“Alison, don’t do this,” she pleaded with her.

“Aw, it’s so sweet of you to be concerned for me. But really, I’m okay. Perfect, actually,” Alison smiled at her.

“Yeah, I’m taking real good care of her,” Logan smirked as he kissed the side of Alison’s neck.

Melissa saw the energy crackling between them and shuddered at the sight.

“You need to get away from him, Alison,” Melissa told her.

“Why would I want to do that?”

“Because! He’s doing something to you!”

Alison looked at Logan and smiled. “He’s doing something alright,” she agreed. “He’s made me the most powerful person in the world.”

“In all the worlds, baby. Not just this one,” he reminded her.

Alison looked over at Melissa. “So you see, why would I want to give that up?”

“Because. You used to be a good person. You used to be one of us,” Melissa reminded her.

“One of us? Since when were you a part of anything?” Alison asked.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” she said with more confidence than she actually felt.

“Yeah? I guess you’re right. This little psychic thing you’ve got going on is certainly new. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, huh?”

“I guess not.”

“Well, it’s really cool Melissa. Good for you. Have fun with that,” Alison said mockingly.

“You need to come back with me. Y-you can’t stay here with him. You don’t belong here. You’re one of the good guys,” Melissa tried to persuade her.

“Well, you know what they say. I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners are much more fun,” Alison recited.

Melissa stared at her, “who says that?”

Alison’s evil posturing was interrupted by Melissa’s stupid question. She was supposed to quake with fear at her words, not question them.

“It’s a song, Melissa,” she informed her with irritation.

“I-I’ve never heard of it.”

“Only The Good Die Young, right?” Logan interjected.

“Yes!” Alison exclaimed with exasperation.

“Well, that’s not true. You died young and you were hardly good,” Melissa told Logan.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t count. I’m back now, so it doesn’t matter,” he explained.

“Sounds like a stupid song.” Melissa crossed her arms and stared at them.

“Will you just shut up about the fucking song!” Alison yelled. “That’s not the point here! The point is, I’ve got bigger and better things going on now. I don’t need you or Stephanie or Jax telling me what to do anymore.”

Melissa felt like she was staring at a total stranger. This wasn’t the Alison that used to come to their house for sleepovers. Or the same person Stephanie used to stay up all night talking to about boys and clothes. This was someone else.

“What exactly is it you have planned?” Melissa asked.

“Like we’d tell you,” Logan said with annoyance.

“You ask too many questions, Mel. And I’m bored now. This wasn’t as much fun as I thought it’d be,” Alison pouted to Logan.

“Should we just kill her?” Logan asked.

Melissa felt weak and nauseous. Obviously she had made a huge mistake by trying to contact Alison. She never dreamed things would turn out this way. And now they were going to kill her. Which was just as well, she thought. Stephanie was going to kill her anyway once she found out what she had done.

“No, I don’t want to kill her,” Alison said after giving it some thought. “She’d miss our big day.” Alison walked over to Melissa and ran her hand along her shoulder, causing her to tremble. Alison smiled and leaned into her ear, “you wouldn’t want to miss that, would you Mel?”

Melissa refused to let them see how terrified she was. “Nope. I wouldn’t want to miss that,” she said calmly as she gave Alison a death glare.

That amused Alison, causing her to laugh. “Good. I’m glad to hear it. I guess you should be getting back now, then. Tell Steph I said hi.”

Melissa stared at them as they join hands once again. They raised their arms at her.

“Buh-bye now,” Alison smirked as they shot the energy wall back over Melissa. “Have a safe trip.”

Melissa was hurtled through the air as the portal enveloped her once again. She was spit out into her room, crashing against her dresser, sending the mirror shattering around her. She slumped down to the ground, hugging her knees to her chest. All the tears she’d been holding back began rushing out of her now. She wept for Alison’s fate as well as her own.

Just then, her bedroom door flew open, causing her to jump nervously. Jason came running in wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts. Stephanie was behind him tying her robe hastily. They had heard the commotion and tried to come as fast as they could. They both rushed to her side.

“Oh my God! What happened?” Stephanie knelt down beside her.

“Did someone break in? Did someone hurt you?” Jason noticed the broken glass and the destroyed piece of furniture.

“No. No one broke in,” Melissa muttered softly.

“Then what happened? What’s all this mess? Was it a ghost?” Stephanie prodded her.

Melissa stared up at them through her tears. She was having trouble forming words. She was afraid of what she had just experienced, but even more afraid of how angry Stephanie might be when she found out how stupid she’d been.

“Melissa, talk to me. What happened?” Stephanie urged her.

Jason glanced over at Melissa’s bed and saw the crystal lying there. He went over and picked it up. He held it up to them.

“What is this doing here? Did you use this?” He asked her.

Stephanie stood up and took the crystal out of his hand.

“This is the thinking crystal from the shop,” she said. She looked at Melissa, “what are you doing with this?”

Melissa looked up and shrugged.

“I-I just wanted to see if I could use it,” she explained softly. “You know, like you did.”

“Like I did?” Stephanie was aghast. “For starters, you aren’t psychic. And second of all, didn’t you see what happened to me when I tried to use that? Are you crazy?”

Melissa pulled herself up, using her broken dresser for support.

“I just wanted to do something to help. I thought since you did it, I might be able to do it too.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know. But it worked. So I guess you’re not the only one who can see things now.” Melissa crossed her arms defiantly.

“It worked?” Stephanie asked with shock.

“Did Alison do this to you?” Jason wondered.

Melissa looked at both of them, “yes, she did.”

“Oh my God…you should have known better! How is pissing Alison off, helping us?” Stephanie fumed at her sister.

“I wasn’t trying to piss her off. I was trying to reach her. I-I wanted to save her.”

“Mel, spying on her is not gonna save her. I already learned that the hard way.”

“This was different. This wasn’t like what happened to you.”

“What do you mean it was different?”

Melissa shifted uncomfortably.

“They didn’t just see me. They took me.”

“Took you?” Jason and Stephanie asked in unison.

“Yes. They saw me watching and then all of a sudden this thing grabbed me and pulled me in,” she explained.

“Pulled you in where?” Stephanie was confused.

“They opened some kind of portal or something.” She tried to describe it. “They sucked me in and the next thing I knew, I was with them.”

“Don’t you know that they could have killed you?” Stephanie fretted.

“I-I know. Logan wanted to kill me, but Alison said no. She didn’t want me to miss their big day.”

“This is insane. This is crazy. How the hell can they open portals and suck people in?” Jason asked.

“I don’t know,” Stephanie shook her head. Then to Melissa, “did they say anything else to you?”

“Only that Alison said she’s happy, and Logan is taking good care of her. Then they started talking about some stupid song I’d never heard of. That’s when Alison got pissed and Logan wanted to kill me.”

“He wanted to kill you over a song?” Jason asked.

“No. He wanted to kill me just because I was annoying them with all my questions,” she explained. “Steph, she’s not coming back. Alison is gone. It’s like she’s someone else entirely.”

“She is. I don’t know what he did, but Logan did something. He stole her soul,” Stephanie said sadly.

“He didn’t steal it. She gave it to him. You’re going to have to realize she made the choice here, Steph,” Jason told her.

Stephanie knew he was right. She’d seen what had happened in her apartment that night. The night Alison left them. Logan offered her power in exchange for her soul. And she had taken it. She wasn’t an innocent in all this as Stephanie would like to believe. She made a choice. And unfortunately that choice made her the enemy now.

“What are we going to do?” Melissa asked them.

“The only thing we can do,” Stephanie said assuredly.

“Which is?” Jason inquired.

“We’re going to win.”

****

The next evening, Alison stood in front of her closet again. It seemed her imagination hadn’t conjured up a suitable enough wardrobe. She twirled her fingers around, and one by one a parade of different outfits hovered before her.

“Too drab,” she complained at the appearance of a brown skirt and a tan top.

“Too frilly. Ugh. What the hell was I thinking with that one? That’s something I would have worn when I was six,” she said looking at a ruffled purple blouse with a black pair of pants. She snapped her fingers and the outfit disintegrated into a ball of flame.

With another wave of her hand a red tank top emerged, paired with a black velvet skirt.

She smiled, “now that’s more like it.”

She snapped her fingers and the outfit magically appeared on her. She checked herself out in the mirror, when she noticed Logan staring at her.

“Very nice. Sexy,” he grinned suggestively.

“Go away,” she said bored with him. “I’m busy.”

“That tank top really shows off your assets. If you know what I mean,” he ogled her.

“If you want to keep your assets, I suggest you stop staring at mine,” she said calmly, as she snapped her fingers again, and a short black leather jacket appeared in front of her. She pulled it on to deter him from staring at her breasts any further.

He sighed, “leave it to a woman to use an incredibly powerful gift just to stand around and play dress up all day,” he told her, shaking his head.

“Oh, as opposed to you sitting around on that stupid couch playing video games? That’s real industrious,” she mocked him.

“Hey, that game didn’t even come out until after I died. So excuse me if I was a little excited. I never thought I’d get to play it,” he said defensively.

“Whatever.”

“Besides, it’s practice. Research. So technically, I was being industrious.”

“Research? Death Rangers is research?” She asked incredulously.

“Uh, hello? We are the Death Rangers, baby. These guys are demons in search of world domination,” he explained.

“Fine. So did you learn anything?” She asked pointedly.

“Well, not exactly. I mean, I ended up getting killed. Again. Before I could finish my plan,” he admitted.

“Nice. So you even suck at pretend evil?”

“I don’t suck. It’s just a game. This shit with you is real,” he pointed out. “And we’re not gonna lose.”

“Good. Because I hate losing.”

He came up behind her and pulled her close.

“We aren’t losing,” he assured her with a kiss to the back of her neck.

He looked up at their reflection in the mirror. She was a vision to him in black and red. He was looking sharp in a black pair of pants and a black silk shirt. They were perfect together in every way. Maybe they weren’t the prettiest couple who ever walked the earth, but they looked damn hot together. And they were certainly indestructible. There was no denying that power made a person even more attractive. That was the only way to explain why hot chicks were always hanging on the arms of ugly old mobsters. It wasn’t about looks. It was about the power. And they had enough of it to make the entire world sit up and take notice of them.

“We should go out tonight, baby,” he said to her.

She turned around and smiled at him.

“Really?”

“Yeah. We look too hot to stay cooped up in here. Besides, you were right before. No one can touch us. So if they wanna see us? Let’s let them see us. It’ll be fun.”

“It’ll be more than fun,” she grinned wickedly as a flash of red energy flickered through her eyes.

****

Jason and Stephanie sat on her back porch again. This time he was smoking and she was talking on the phone. Jax had just called to tell them he found something out that could help them. He was apparently talking very fast and Stephanie was trying to get him to calm down. Finally she hung up the phone and looked at Jason.

“So? What did he say?” He asked as he flicked his cigarette over the fence.

“Stop doing that!” She scolded him.

“Jax told us to stop doing what?”

“No, I told you to stop. You can’t throw your cigarettes over the fence like that! Mrs. Harrison will freak out.”

“Oh, sorry.” He hadn’t really been paying much attention. “So, back to Jax. What did he say?”

“Well, he said that there is some kind of joining spell. But it can only be performed on people with some kind of special bond. He didn’t go into too many details. He said we should come to his house tonight and he’ll explain more.”

“So then we should go.”

“Let me just tell Melissa.” She got up and went back into the house.

Jason sat there on the steps looking up at the sky. It was a perfectly beautiful night. One that should be spent doing something fun. Not learning about joining spells. But this was his life now. The guys were getting on his case about abandoning them. He couldn’t very well explain what was happening now. They’d never understand. They just figured he’d taken up with Stephanie and now he didn’t have time for them. It wasn’t altogether wrong, but they had no idea the extent of it.

Stephanie walked back out onto the porch.

“She doesn’t want to go.”

“What?”

“She’s watching some TV show and doesn’t want to miss it.”

“Hasn’t she ever heard of Tivo?”

“That’s what I said,” Stephanie sighed. “I just think she doesn’t want to go because she’s scared Jax is gonna rip into her about last night.”

“You told him everything, then?” He asked.

“Yeah. He was pretty impressed she was able to do it. But then he was mad because it was so dangerous. And he was a little pissed she stole the crystal from him in the first place. Said he’d have a little talk with her about not taking things that weren’t hers, and so on. So yeah, I guess I can see why she doesn’t want to see him.”

“So then it’s just you and me?” He asked.

“Looks like.”

Just then, they heard a loud rumbling sound.

“What the hell is that? Thunder?” Jason asked.

“I don’t know.”

They looked up at the crystal clear night sky, and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. But they saw something else. A large fireball began streaking across the sky.

“What is that?” Stephanie asked worried.

“A meteor?” Jason offered.

At that moment, the fireball stopped its path. It hovered in mid-air before suddenly descending towards the ground, and away from their view.

“Uh, I’m pretty sure that a meteor doesn’t stop and suddenly change direction,” she remarked nervously.

“You have a point there,” he agreed. “Well, whatever it was, it landed over there.” He pointed off in the distance.

“That’s right in the middle of town.” She looked at him seriously. “We should check it out.”

“We should? Why?”

“Because. It’s our job now. Or something,” she shrugged.

“What if it’s an alien? I don’t think the Trinity stops aliens. Only apocalypses.”

“It’s not an alien,” she scoffed.

“Why? Because aliens don’t exist?” He asked incredulously.

“No. They don’t.”

“Oh, but evil witches who open portals and kiss dead guys and start apocalypses are real?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

She rolled her eyes at him, “shut up.” She then shoved him lightly towards the door. “Just get your stuff and let’s go.”

****

The patrons of the Maraschino nightclub, stood outside staring with fear at the sight before them. A large ball of fire floated down from the sky and was slowly starting to move down the middle of the street. As they watched in horror, the fire began to separate into two separate halves. The flames began flickering away revealing two black clad individuals.

Alison and Logan walked hand in hand through the remnants of their fiery entrance. The flames peeled away and dissipated. The people who had been on the street were staring at them in disbelief and more than a little fear. The citizens of Pinewood Lake were starting to get used to odd occurrences. Lately, though no one wanted to admit it, things had been happening. But this was definitely the most horrifying thing they’d ever seen.

The two of them stopped walking and looked around at all the frightened faces. They grinned satisfactorily.

"I love this place,” Logan smiled.

"Seems like a fun crowd tonight,” she agreed.

"What the hell was that?" They heard a hushed whisper in the small crowd of people.

"It's your worst nightmare, my friends,” Logan announced proudly.

Alison laughed as she watched them all quaking with fear. Logan grabbed her into a fiery kiss, to further show off his achievement to the world. Logan Winters always got the girl. Not only was he going to be sure they feared him, he wanted to make damn sure they knew he hadn’t lost his touch.

“Isn’t that Logan Winters?” Someone whispered. “I thought he was dead.”

“As you can see, rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated,” he announced upon hearing the chatter. “I’m back. And things are about to get real interesting.”

They pulled away from each other, and she took his hand again.

"Come on. Let's party,” she said, as they headed inside the club.

They walked towards the entrance. They lifted their joined hands and blasted the door open with a flash of red fire. They strolled in smugly, amid the screams and gasps of fear. Everyone was in awe of them. They either feared them or wanted to be them. Maybe even a little of both. It didn't really matter. The point was, no one was ignoring them.

"I don't like this music,” Alison pouted unhappily.

"What do want to hear, baby? Name it,” he asked her sincerely.

"Something loud and wild."

He waved his hands in the air and instantly a heavy metal band appeared on stage. They walked towards the dance floor of gaping people who suddenly weren't dancing anymore. The crowd parted to let them through. She glanced at the onlookers and snapped her fingers.

"Dance!" She commanded them.

Everyone around them started dancing wildly to the music, unable to resist her spell. She grinned at Logan and took his hands. They moved to the music and Alison rubbed herself up against him seductively. The friction of their bodies caused red sparks to flicker around them. After a few songs, she was tired of the loud music and wanted a change of pace.

"I want something slow this time,” she whispered into his ear.

"You got it." He waved his hand in the air and the band disappeared.

In its place was a female singer, crooning a slow love song. The people around them stopped dancing and began staring again. They didn't know what to make of the frightening couple in the middle of the dance floor. Logan waved his fingers at them, and everyone in the crowd became suspended in animation.

Alison turned to him and he wrapped his arms around her waist tightly.

"This song is just for us,” he whispered, as they began dancing slowly.

They held each other tightly, and they slowly rose above the floor. Red energy swirled around them, creating a fantastic light show.

"See how perfect this is?" He told her softly.

"Hmm...it is."

"You can't ever leave me,” he told her seriously.

Something inside of him still feared that she would go and leave him alone. He knew she needed him for the power. But there was always a chance she would change her mind. Or decide that what he was giving her wasn't enough. He also feared her stupid friends would find some way to take her from him. Right now, he had everything that he had ever wanted, and he couldn't lose it.

"I don't want to leave,” she whispered back.

She didn't want to admit that because it gave him back a certain degree of power over her. But it was the truth. She was in so deep, she didn't want to go anywhere without him. Her twisted needs were identical to his. No one had ever understood her the way he did. They had a connection that no one could ever touch.

"You have to promise me, that whatever they try to do to us, that you won't leave my side,” he told her seriously.

"They can't separate us,” she assured him.

"We have a bond. More than just the power. Tell me you feel it,” he urged her.

"It's unbreakable,” she whispered back softly as she laid her head on his shoulder.

The music continued to play as they danced, oblivious to anything around them. The crowd was still frozen, and they dimmed the lights further. The only thing visible in the darkened club was the two of them, locked in a swirl of red sparks.

Stephanie and Jason entered the club slowly. They had gone to investigate the strange fireball they had spotted, and it had led them here to the club. They heard people muttering outside about some kind of freaky occurrence. The word around was that someone had slipped something funny into everyone's drinks and they were all hallucinating. Stephanie only wished that were true.

They stood in the doorway and witnessed first hand, the frozen crowd. They saw Alison and Logan in the middle of the floor, still lost in their deadly dance. All at once, they dropped themselves back down to the ground, and the music silenced. They had sensed an intrusion.

Alison took Logan's hand and they walked towards where Stephanie and Jason were standing.

"How sweet of you guys to show up. But as you can see, this is really kind of a private moment,” Alison said indicating the state of the crowd.

"Alison, let them go,” Stephanie urged her firmly.

"Why? It's not like we're hurting them."

"Yet, anyway,” Logan added with an evil grin.

“It’s not too late to stop this, Alison,” Stephanie told her.

“Why would I want to?” She asked, as she ran her hands down Logan’s chest. “I have everything I ever dreamed of.”

“This is what you dreamed of? A dead freak of your very own? That’s pathetic. But two of a kind, I guess.”

Alison became enraged that Stephanie would dare imply she was a freak. Insinuating that all those losers from high school had been right about her. She quickly shot a fireball in Stephanie’s direction. She ducked and rolled across the floor, narrowly missing being hit. Jason ran over to her to see if she was alright.

Alison turned to Logan, “did you hear that? She thinks I’m a freak! How dare she!”

“Relax, princess. She’s just jealous. You’ve always been better than her and she knows it,” he assured her.

Stephanie managed to pull herself together and Jason helped her to her feet.

“This is going to be real fun,” she muttered.

Alison noticed Stephanie standing upright again and she glared at her.

“You’re still here? What does it take for you to go away?” She groaned.

“A lot more than that.” Stephanie held her ground.

“Fine. I can do more.”

She shot another fireball across the room, but this time Stephanie ducked away without falling. She looked at Jason.

“Keep them apart,” she said quickly.

“What? How am I—” he began, but Stephanie was already gone.

She lunged for Alison, which caught her completely off guard. They went tumbling to the ground in a heap. Jason took a deep breath and lunged for Logan. He had no idea what Stephanie was planning to accomplish with this, but he was game. He could use something to beat up right about now. Logan would do nicely.

Jason tackled Logan and shot a sucker punch right into his nose. Logan was stunned momentarily, but he quickly recovered.

“You stupid motherfucker!” He shouted at him, as he kicked Jason off and sent him sailing across the room. He smashed into the wall and slumped down.

At that moment, Alison became distracted by the shouting, and Stephanie grabbed a chair and smashed it over her head. Alison screamed, which alerted an infuriated Logan.

“Don’t you touch her!” He screamed as he shot his own energy ball at Stephanie.

This time it connected, sending her sprawling across the floor, unconscious.

“She’s gonna pay for that,” Logan assured Alison, as he helped her to her feet.

She stood up and smoothed her clothes down, brushing wood splinters off her shoulders.

“Kill her. For me?” She asked him sweetly.

“Anything for you,” he obliged.

“I’ll get the pretty boy. He won’t want to miss this,” she said evilly.

With a flash, they were both standing in front of the fallen would-be heroes. Logan magically lifted Stephanie up and pinned her to the wall. She began to come to and her eyes fluttered open in horror. Her arms were pinned above her and she could barely seem to breathe.

“Put me down,” she pleaded weakly.

“I don’t think so, bitch,” he growled at her. “You hurt my girl. I don’t like that.”

“She’s not your girl.”

“She is now.”

He stood back and studied Stephanie. She was a pretty one, he had to admit. Nice face, sexy body. And she had a vulnerability about her that he would love to exploit.

He leaned into her face, “you know, there was a time I would have loved to take you for a ride. All helpless and weak, staring at me with those big doe eyes. It’s a real turn on.”

“Fuck you,” she spat at him.

“No, you see, I’m not gonna do that. I’ve got Alison now.” He looked over at her in the distance. “She’s it for me. She’s the one. I don’t need anyone else.” He turned back to Stephanie. “Guess that means I’m just going to have to kill you.”

Stephanie wanted to scream, but she never had a chance. Alison walked over, dragging Jason behind her. He was chained up like an animal, on a leash.

“You can’t kill her yet, babe. Not without an audience,” Alison said sinisterly.

“Let her go! Both of you are sick freaks! Put her down!” Jason shouted, when he saw Stephanie pinned against the wall.

“I’m thinking no,” Logan smiled. “She’s a nice piece of ass though, isn’t she? You’ve done her, right? How was she?”

“Shut the fuck up!” Jason hissed.

“Ooh, must not have been very good or else you’d wanna share,” Logan tormented them.

“You’re a sick bastard,” Jason glared.

Logan laughed and shook his head, “Mr. States the Obvious, here. Like I didn’t already know that.”

“As much as I’ve been enjoying this little chit-chat, can you just kill her now?” Alison asked impatiently.

“I’m thinking no,” Kyle said as he whacked Logan over the head with a chair.

Caught off guard, he went crashing into a table, splintering it to pieces. Stephanie fell off the wall and landed in a heap. Distracted, the magical chains holding Jason prisoner, dissolved. He was free again, and rushed over to Stephanie’s side.

“Who the hell is this asshole?” Logan asked, as he picked himself up off the floor.

“Kyle,” Alison hissed. “He thinks he’s a hero or something.”

“You’re making a huge mistake. Stop this madness!” Kyle urged her.

“Oh God…not you too?” Alison groaned.

“Who the hell is this guy? Friend of yours?” Logan asked with a tinge of jealously.

“Not anymore,” she assured him.

“Alison, just get away from him and come back to us. You belong with us.” Kyle tried to persuade her.

“Let me guess. This is the part where you tell me some lame ass story about the time we went to the school formal together because no one else would go with us. And I’m supposed to remember it fondly and cry. And then you’ll give me a big hug as we ride off into the sunset together,” she mocked him. “Save it. I don’t care. I am where I belong now.”

“That’s not true,” Kyle shook his head. “We don’t care what you did. You can still stop this. We still love you.”

“She belongs with me now.” Logan grabbed her to him protectively.

Kyle gaped at him. “You’re sick and twisted. What did you do? Put a spell on her? Is that why she lets you touch her?”

“I don’t need a spell,” he said firmly.

“No, you just feed her power. It isn’t you she wants. Is it?” Kyle shot back.

“Shut up! That’s not how it is!” He looked at Alison. “Tell them. Tell them you want to be with me,” he urged her.

She ran her fingers up his arm and touched his face. Sparks crackled along their skin.

She looked into his eyes, “you know I do.”

He smiled and planted a fiery kiss on her lips. Then he turned to her former friends again.

“See? You can’t tear us apart! We’re unbreakable!” He shouted at them maniacally.

“You’re going to regret this,” Stephanie said as she stood behind Kyle.

“Really? We’ll see about that.”

Logan took Alison’s hand, “don’t you think we’ve done enough talking for one night?” He asked.

He was worried that the more time they spent with her friends, the more their words might weaken their bond. He couldn’t afford to lose her now. Not when the time was almost right. Everything was going along as planned, until tonight. His arrogance had led them here, and he was starting to regret the decision he made.

She nodded her head slowly, and he put his arms around her.

“We’ll be back. But next time, there won’t be as much talking. What with you all being dead by then,” Logan told them all.

He shot a bolt of electricity at the ceiling and a large light fixture came crashing down. They all narrowly escaped as they dove out of the way. The room started to rumble and the floor beneath them started to shake. Alison and Logan became enveloped in a ring of fire. It swallowed them whole and the fireball shot into the air. It busted a hole straight through the ceiling of the club. They were gone. The people on the dance floor were released from their hold and the original band had returned to the stage. The crowd started milling around, completely confused as to what had just happened. Or why there was debris everywhere and a hole in the ceiling.

Jason helped pull Stephanie off the floor.

“Are you alright?” He asked, pulling her close to him. He smoothed the hair out of her eyes and kissed her softly. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

She shook her head, “no, I’m okay.”

At that moment, Kyle walked up to them looking a little worse for the wear. Stephanie rushed over to him.

“Are you hurt?” She tried to check him out.

“I’m fine. Or at least, not harmed physically. I wouldn’t say I was fine,” he shook his head.

“How did you know she was here?” Jason asked him.

“I didn’t. I was a little stressed, you know. I wanted a couple of drinks, so I came here. And I’ve got to say, I’m needing them now more than ever.”

“You saved us,” Stephanie said softly.

“I won’t be able to save us next time though, will I?” He asked glumly.

Everyone remained silent. They finally knew exactly what they were up against. And it was truly their worst nightmare.

****

Stephanie and Jason lay on top of her bed staring at the ceiling. When they had come home, they were so exhausted all they wanted to do was lie down. They were together, yet alone in their own thoughts. Facing down Alison and Logan tonight had been a major wake up call. All of the things they’d been fearing were actually going to happen. It wasn’t a dream or a crazy story someone was telling them. It was real. They were all in immediate danger.

Stephanie had called Jax and told him what had happened. For those reasons, he told her just to come over to the shop in the morning. She hadn’t felt like learning anything more after her encounter with Alison. She was disturbed on so many levels, her head was spinning.

Jason rolled onto his side and smoothed the hair away from Stephanie’s face. She looked over at him and managed a small smile.

“You alright?” He asked softly.

“No.”

He sighed, “yeah, me neither.”

“That was not Alison. She was so cold…and sinister. She was actually going to kill us.” She closed her eyes to try and staunch the tears that threatened to flow.

“We almost died two nights in a row, you realize. We have to stop doing that,” he tried to laugh, but it was hollow.

“I’m not going to let them win,” she said firmly, praying it would turn out to be true.

Jason touched her face gently, “I’m so sorry, Steph,” he whispered.

She looked at him, “sorry for what?”

“For being such an ineffectual loser. I tried to stop him, but I couldn’t. When he had you up on that wall…dammit! If he had put his hands on you…” He was angry at himself as much as Logan.

“He didn’t.”

“Yeah, but he wanted to. The look in his eyes…”

“I know.”

“I mean in life, the guy was a fucking rapist. What do you think he would do now with no soul?” He asked. “I wanna rip his limbs off one by one starting with his dick.”

“Yeah, I know. Believe me, I’d like nothing more than to see you do that,” she agreed. “But what happened tonight wasn’t your fault. You don’t have to be sorry. We just weren’t ready to face them. I-I have no idea what I was thinking when I charged at her like that. I was just so mad.”

“Yeah, you surprised the shit out of me with that one. But it was kind of hot,” he admitted with a sly smile.

She laughed at him, “hot? Getting my ass kicked was hot?”

“Well, no. That part sucked. But when you went flying at her, part of me wanted to scream ‘chick fight!’.”

“You’re retarded,” she rolled her eyes at him. “What is the fascination with girls fighting? I don’t get it.”

“I don’t know. I think it’s the fact that there’s a lot of touching and rolling around. Clothes might come off...It’s a thing,” he shrugged.

“Men are stupid,” she groaned.

“That we are,” he agreed with a grin. “But seriously, I wasn’t expecting you to try and beat her up. Where’d you learn how to do that?”

She sighed, “I watch a lot of TV. For a second I thought I was Buffy or La Femme Nikita.”

He laughed openly at that and gave her a kiss. “I love you,” he said to her.

She stopped smiling and gaped at him. “Huh?”

He realized what he said moments too late. He hadn’t really meant to blurt that out. But it was out now and he couldn’t pretend he hadn’t said it.

“Um, you know. I kind of love you,” he explained awkwardly.

“Oh.”

That was never a good response to a declaration of love, he thought. He tried to save face.

“I realize that it’s too soon to say that. And I know you think I’m crazy. But with all this near dying crap, maybe I just thought you should know. Now. Instead of later. There might not be a later,” he rambled.

She just stared at him, trying to find the right words to say. He had taken her completely by surprise. A few weeks ago, she would have run screaming from the room. But now she found herself mesmerized by his face. She kept hearing the words in her head, I love you. It sounded kind of nice. Maybe it was too soon, but he was right. There might not be a later. That was something she was trying to come to terms with.

“Jason…”

“No, really. It’s cool. You don’t have to say anything,” he assured her.

“Jason, I—”

“Steph, I said it’s okay. Just forget I said it.”

“Will you please shut up and let me talk?” She grumbled at him.

“Sorry. It’s just that—”

She held up her hand to silence him. “Stop.” He stopped when he saw how seriously she was looking at him. She continued, “Jason, these last few weeks everything has been crazy. I’ve gone from being nervous to terrified to just plain resolved that we’re all going to die. Nothing makes sense anymore,” she explained. “Nothing except this. Being with you makes me feel safe and happy. The world is ending around us and all I can think about when I’m with you is touching you.”

He touched her face, “that’s all I can think about too.”

She looked at him tenderly. She wasn’t ready to say anything else yet. She was still holding back. Saying those little words he wanted to hear was just too much for her. But she didn’t want to ruin whatever this was they had. Because it was something. Something important and special. She didn’t want to let it go. And she needed him to know that.

“What I’m trying to say is…that I don’t think you’re crazy,” she whispered softly.

He wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. On one hand, she was assuring him that there was something special going on. But on the other hand, it wasn’t exactly what he was hoping to hear. It was a lot better than an ‘oh’, he had to admit.

“Good,” he said finally. “I’m glad you don’t think I’m crazy. But you’re not just saying that are you? To spare my feelings?” He asked.

“When have I ever worried about sparing your feelings?” She raised her eyebrow.

“Never.”

“Exactly. So I guess that means I really mean it.”

He smiled at her then. She was a complex creature. But he was starting to figure her out. A little anyway. He was rushing things, and she was not one to be rushed. He was a dreamer and she was a realist. But somehow he could see themselves existing in the same world happily together. He pulled her towards him and kissed her passionately.

“I don’t want you to feel pressured,” he whispered to her.

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled, “I’m not feeling pressured. Not by you at least. Maybe by Alison—”

He stopped her, “let’s not talk about Alison right now, okay?”

“How about we just stop talking altogether?” She whispered suggestively.

“Good plan.”

He brought his mouth to hers again, and she could feel his tongue tracing the outline of her lips. She parted them, and met his tongue with her own. It was as if they were trying desperately to taste each other. She placed her hands on the back of his head and pressed him down to her, crushing his mouth with hers. Her hands clawed at his shirt and with one swift move, she ripped it over his head. He was stunned at her forcefulness, but he liked it. He crushed his mouth to hers again.

She then clamped her legs around his waist and flipped them over. She straddled him and sat up to face him. She ran her hands down his bare chest and smiled. She bent down to place kisses across his chest, stopping to kiss each of his tattoos. He grinned at that. Then she reached up and pulled her blouse all the way off, and unhooked her bra. She discarded both hastily and leaned down to kiss him again. He ran his hands over her breasts and rubbed his thumbs over her nipples. She shuddered and he grabbed her waist to pull her up further.

He strained his neck to meet her breast with his mouth. He ran his tongue over her hard peak and sucked it into his mouth. His tongue traced circles around it, as he gently nipped at her with his teeth. She pulled back and sat up straight. He was mesmerized by the sight of her. The lamplight shone off her golden hair in such a way that she looked ethereal and angelic. Her eyes were wild with desire and he watched as her fingers nimbly undid the buttons on his jeans.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured appreciatively.

She smiled at him as she attempted to free him of his restrictive clothing. She ran her hands down the side of his pants and pulled them off. He grabbed her arms and pulled her down to him again. He kissed her neck hungrily, nibbling at the sensitive flesh between her neck and shoulder. He began kissing his way down her body, as his hands worked to free her of her jeans. Clothed only in a pair of pink satin panties, she looked like a goddess to him. It was true that this wasn’t their first time together, but it still felt delightfully new to him. The first time had been hurried and desperate. He had been so worried she’d change her mind that he hadn’t allowed himself to fully enjoy her body. The way it felt, looked, tasted. He wanted this time to be different.

He dipped his head down and kissed her through her panties and he gently worked them down off her hips. He tossed them aside and she parted her legs slightly for him. She knew what he wanted, and she wanted it too. Badly. He pressed her legs apart and kissed her inner thigh, running his tongue up her sensitive flesh. Her arousal was intoxicating to him, and he met her sweetness with his tongue.

He licked across her burning flesh and she cried out softly. She knew they needed to keep things quiet, since Melissa was in the house. But Stephanie was having a hard time, as she felt his tongue press into her heat.

“Oh God…Jason…” she murmured, as she clutched his head to press him further into her.

He pulled his head back slightly and looked up at her. He expected her eyes to be closed, but she was watching him. She was watching him as he pleasured her and it found it incredibly arousing. He ran his hand up her inner thigh until he reached her core. He caressed her softly with his fingers, and then he dipped down to take her sensitive nub into his mouth again. He slipped two fingers inside of her, as he gently sucked on her flesh.

She moaned loudly and she pressed her legs to the side of his head. She clutched at the bedspread as he consumed her.

“Don’t stop…” she whispered frantically.

He never wanted to stop. He felt like he could stay this way forever. He sucked her harder as his fingers continued to press inside her. He felt her body tense around him, and he was afraid the strength of her thighs would pop his head right off his shoulders. But he couldn’t muster up the will to care. To die like this would be perfect. She arched her back, and he felt as her body began to shudder. He looked up at her and watched as she rode the wave of her ecstasy. Her legs went limp around him and slowly made his way back up the length of her body. Her eyes were opened and she was out of breath.

He kissed her lips and then placed small kisses along the side of her face.

“You’re perfect,” he murmured.

She looked at him and felt her heart beating wildly. It wasn’t solely because of the orgasm she had just had, it was because of her feelings for him. Feelings that she never thought she’d ever have again for another person. She needed him in ways she didn’t even understand. She’d locked her heart up so long ago, she’d forgotten how it felt to desire and need someone like this again.

“I need you,” she whispered to him. She wanted him now. She wanted all of him. She wanted him inside her.

She wrapped her legs around him and rolled them over. She sat up, straddling him once again. She positioned herself over him, and they both gasped as she lowered herself onto him. He looked up at her as she rode him slowly. Her body making rhythmic movements with his own. She gripped his thighs for support and tossed her head back and whimpered softly.

“You feel so good…” he whispered.

“Hmm...” she whimpered, not able to form words.

He gripped her wrists and pulled her down into a kiss. He held her tightly and rolled them over, so that he was on top of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pushed him deeper. He sucked at the sweet flesh behind her ear, as his thrusts became deeper and harder. His heart was racing and his body was glistening with sweat. He continued his rhythm and her breath quickened.

She tried to speak but the only thing that escaped her lips was an unintelligible whimper. She started gasping for air as her body tensed and tingled again. Their eyes locked as he continued pressing into her. He saw what she felt for him behind those eyes. She didn’t have to say it out loud, because he could see it. It was as if she were seeing him for the first time. Seeing the man that had always been inside of him, hiding behind the rough façade.

With that realization, he groaned loudly and quickly found his release. She clutched at him as her body shuddered around him. Every nerve ending in her body was on fire, as he gave one final thrust before collapsing on top of her. He was completely spent. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to move ever again. They were both breathing in short gasps, and she lifted his head up so she could look him in the eyes. They said nothing to each other. They didn’t need to. They already knew what the other was thinking.

She laid her head down on his shoulder and sighed happily. She was content for the first time that she could remember in years. She knew that horrible things were happening around them, and that her best friend might be trying to end the world. And basically their lives were in total chaos. But for tonight, in this room, in his arms, she was content. She was allowing herself to feel again and it was extraordinary.

****

The next morning, everyone assembled at The Secret Garden. The shop didn’t open until ten, so they figured they had time for a quick meeting before the business day started. Kyle and Jason had gone on a coffee run while Jax got his papers together.

They were walking down the street together carrying trays of drinks and bags of pastries. The street was nearly deserted at this time of the morning. It was just after 6am. Most of Pinewood Lake was still tucked firmly in their beds or bustling around their houses getting ready for work. As they walked along, Kyle glanced over at Jason.

“So…you and Steph, huh?” He inquired.

Jason nodded, “yeah. She’s pretty awesome.”

“She is,” Kyle agreed. Then, “if you hurt her, I’ll strangle you.”

“What?”

“I said if you hurt her, I’ll strangle you,” he repeated. “I know how guys like you operate. But Steph isn’t some groupie, okay? She’s special. She deserves more than to be the flavor of the week.”

“Chill out dude. She’s not the flavor of the week,” Jason assured him. “Despite what everyone seems to think about me, I’m not like that.”

“Yeah? Well, you better not be. She’s feeling a little vulnerable right now. We all are. I just don’t want you taking advantage of that.”

“I’m not taking advantage of anything. And who appointed you Stephanie’s guardian, anyway?” Jason asked with annoyance.

“I did. Steph and I have been friends since we were kids. I look out for her. And last I’d heard, she hated you,” he told him. “Obviously things have changed a little, but that doesn’t mean I have to trust you.”

“Well, you’d better start, because I’m not going anywhere.”

Kyle nodded but stayed silent. He couldn’t help but be protective of Stephanie. For years, it was just the two of them. He’d been like her big brother. It was a role he wasn’t willing to relinquish just yet, if ever. Jason wasn’t exactly the kind of guy he imagined Stephanie with. And after how adamant she was about not wanting anything to do with him in the past, he wasn’t sure exactly what had changed. In all the drama lately, Kyle hadn’t had much of a chance to really talk to her.

Just then, Kyle stopped short, sending Jason crashing into his back. The drinks spilled all over him.

“Watch it! This shit is spilling everywhere,” Jason griped.

“Shh! Do you hear that?” Kyle asked.

“What? No.” He shook his head.

“It’s like a humming sound.”

Jason stood silently trying to hear what Kyle was talking about. Suddenly, it got louder and he heard it.

“Shit…I remember that sound,” he muttered worriedly.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, but it’s coming from under the street.”

They both glanced down at the sewer grate next to their feet. The humming began to get louder and they stepped away from the grate as the noise got louder and louder. All of a sudden the grate popped off into the air, sending a mass of red lights flooding the sky.

“What the hell is that?” Kyle cried.

“I don’t know, but I saw the same shit at my house.” Jason tried to bat the lights away from his face as they swarmed him.

Kyle stumbled backwards, dropping the bag of pastries, as the lights descended upon him.

“Get them off! Get them off!” He yelled waving his arms in the air.

Jason reached down and pulled Kyle to his feet.

“Run!” He told him.

Kyle grabbed his squished bag and took off down the street, following Jason. After a few moments, they turned to see if the lights were still following them, but they were gone. They stopped running.

Out of breath, Kyle asked, “where did they go?”

“I don’t know. I’m beginning to hate this place,” Jason muttered.

“We need to get back and tell the others.”

They quickly walked the remaining two blocks back to The Secret Garden. Once inside, everyone noticed their disheveled appearance. Stephanie walked over to them.

“What happened? Did you guys get into a fight?” She asked, taking the squished bag of pastries from Kyle.

“No. Something attacked us,” Kyle told her.

“Attacked you? What?”

“Those red lights. Like the ones at my house, remember? They came back.” Jason explained.

“What’s going on?” Jax asked, joining them.

“We were walking along when all of a sudden we heard this noise. Then bam! The sewer grate popped off and all these red lights came pouring out. They swarmed us,” Jason told them.

“What did you do?” Stephanie asked.

“Well, we ran,” Kyle told her. “At first I thought it was a swarm of locusts. But they were just lights. Evil lights. There’s not going to be locusts are there? I have a problem with bugs.”

“I don’t know,” Stephanie shrugged.

“And where are these lights now?” Jax asked.

“Gone. They just disappeared,” Kyle said. “Things are definitely not okay out there.”

“Jax, what do you think this is?” Stephanie asked him.

“I’m not certain, but it could be any number of things. The most logical conclusion would be some sort of gas leak. The escaped gases could form what appears to be balls of light and could have enough force to conceivably blow a sewer grate off,” he said matter of factly.

“Nice job trying to Scully that up for us, but we all know logic has no place here anymore,” Stephanie said sarcastically.

Jax sighed. It was no use trying to be the voice of reason.

“Fine. It could be that. Or it could be that the forces of Hell are already beginning to unleash and begin their reign of terror upon Pinewood Lake,” he said shaking his head.

Everyone was silent for a moment and then Kyle spoke up.

“I don’t know about any of you, but I like the first explanation better.”

“Yes, well…” Jax quietly nodded his head.

“You really think it’s already starting?” Stephanie asked quietly.

“Possibly,” he said softly. “Every day the walls become weaker. It won’t be long before they’re gone.”

“So tell us what we have to do to stop them. You said you knew about some ritual. Explain that to us. That’s why we’re all here,” Stephanie urged him.

“Yes, it is. Sit down.” He gestured them to the table.

Everyone took a spot at the table and looked at Jax expectantly. He began speaking.

“What I’ve learned is that the Trinity shares a bond. A special bond, which is why they are the only ones who can stop this. There is a passage that keeps coming up in the texts. I was able to finally trace down a reference to it in an old Spanish book of spells. It speaks of something called the Encanto de la Esencia Combinado.”

“The what de la huh?” Stephanie wrinkled her nose in confusion.

“It’s a roughly translated Spanish phrase. Basically it means the enchantment of the combined essence.”

“And again, I say, huh?”

“There is a joining ritual that must be performed. It essentially joins the souls of the Trinity together. In doing so, every ounce of power you possess alone, will be combined together. Creating a superhuman force to be reckoned with,” he explained in simpler terms.

“And how is that possible? None of us have any power at all. What good is combining it?” Stephanie asked.

“But you do have power. Everyone has power that remains untapped. The human soul is nothing but energy. And if you tap into that energy, anything is possible.”

“Why us? If anyone can tap into it, why does it have to be us?” Jason asked.

“Because. This state of being can only be achieved with those who share a sacred bond,” Jax tried to explain.

“What sort of sacred bond?” Jason was confused.

“In ancient beliefs, the most sacred bond anyone could have would be sharing in life or death. On that line of thinking, the bond between a mother and child would be most sacred. The mother having given life to this other being.”

“Okay…but none of us have given birth to anyone,” Stephanie pointed out. “And Jason is a guy, so that’s not gonna happen.”

“It better not happen,” Jason scoffed.

“I was just using an example,” Jax assured them. “But the flip side of the coin is death. It is believed that those who are present during someone’s demise, it creates a bond with them. Something powerful and sacred.”

“But we aren’t dead either.” Stephanie shook her head.

“No, but you should be. That night in the car, the three of you were meant to die. It was destined to happen. It was an experience that bound you together. Not only were you present during what would be your demise, you were present as each of you obtained new life. Rebirth, so to speak. Life and death in one fell swoop. There is no bond stronger than what you’ve achieved.”

They tried to grasp what he was saying, but it seemed unreal. He was giving them firm confirmation that they were in fact this Trinity they’d been hearing about. They shared a bond now, and it was truly going to be up to them to save this world from destruction.

“How do we do this ritual?” Stephanie then asked.

“I’m still working on that. I have some books here that reference the Encanto de la Esencia Combinado. I’m trying to put together everything we’ll need.”

“There’s something else you should know,” Angela spoke up then.

“What’s that?”

“This Esencia thing. We believe that Logan and Alison have already achieved it. That’s why sparks crackle when they touch. They share energy. They’re stronger when they’re making contact with each other,” she explained.

“But how did they achieve it?” Stephanie asked.

“Well, they are bonded in death. His death at her hands. It’s twisted and sick, but a bond none the less,” Angela told them. “Whatever it is the Dark Ones are planning, they knew they needed someone strong to carry it out. Alison was already powerful beyond comprehension. This bond with Logan makes them virtually unstoppable. That’s why I think they sent him back. He was the only one who could bond with her, creating what they needed to make their evil little plan a reality.”

“But we’ll be stronger, right?” Jason wanted assurance.

“That’s the plan,” Jax nodded.

****

That evening, Stephanie and Jason decided to take a walk. It was a beautiful night, only slightly chilly. She hugged her arms to her chest to keep herself warm. They’d explained everything to Melissa, worrying that she’d be upset. But it turned out she thought the whole thing was pretty cool. She was excited that she was part of something important. Stephanie had never realized how much Melissa envied her power. It was something she had dreaded most of her life. Wishing that it would just go away. And Melissa had been wanting it all along, believing it would somehow make her special or more worthy. Stephanie had always felt the opposite. That it made her a freak and somehow damaged. Maybe it was time she started to see herself through Melissa’s eyes?

As they walked, they came upon the town cemetery. Stephanie tried to avoid the place if she could. Her mother was buried there, and she’d gone to visit her several times. But every journey had been a difficult one. Lost souls would cry out to her, desperate for someone to hear them. Everyone wanted to utter just a few last words. They somehow knew she would be able to hear them. When she went there, she always had to bring earplugs to drown them out. She wanted to focus only on her mother. But then she worried that she’d miss something her mother might want to communicate as well. So she’d take them out, and be assaulted with hundreds of desperate voices in her head.

It was so distracting that each visit became shorter, until she stopped going altogether. She knew in her heart that her mother could hear her no matter where she was. She didn’t need to stand over her what was left of her physical body, in order to let her know how much she was missed and loved. Jason saw Stephanie glance in that direction and he turned to her.

“Is that where your mom is?” He asked softly.

She nodded, “yeah.”

“Do you want to go over there?” He offered.

“No. No, it’s okay,” she said. “I really don’t like going in there.”

“Right. Must be sort of painful, I’d assume.”

“More than you know,” she muttered softly.

Just then, something caught both of their eyes. There was movement in the far corner of the cemetery. Stephanie reached out and grabbed Jason’s hand.

“Do you see that?” She whispered, unsure if it was just her imagination or not.

“Yeah. What is that? People?”

“I-I don’t think so. At least not anymore. I think they’re spirits.”

They crossed the street and stood at the fence peering over. A large group of people were milling about, seemingly lost or stuck. Stephanie got chills up and down her spine when she realized the scene looked very familiar to her. It was one she had seen in her visions when she held the prophecy book.

“My mother is over there,” she whispered softly.

“What? Where?” He craned his neck to see more clearly.

“I don’t know. I-I don’t see her, but I know she’s over there. I saw this before.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded, “yeah. They don’t know what to do. They know something bad is coming. They’re being forced from Heaven against their will. Right now, their stuck between worlds.”

She walked away from him now, and over to the gates that led into the graveyard.

“Where are you going?” He asked.

She didn’t answer him, but kept walking. She entered the grounds and took a deep breath. She could hear the voices starting, but this time she didn’t try to block them out. She walked closer to where the spirits were roaming.

Jason called out after her, “Steph! What are you doing?”

“I need to see her,” she told him as she kept walking.

Jason thought about following her, but he wasn’t sure if he should or not. She seemed off in another world, in a trance-like state. He just watched as she slipped further into the darkness and closer to the group.

Please help us!

Stop them!

Make it stop!

Stephanie heard all the voices shouting in her ears. They turned to her desperately, pleading with her to save them. She felt something tugging at her sleeves, but she ignored it. Her vision was focused on the tall, blonde woman near the tree.

“Mom?” She asked.

The woman turned and looked at her imploringly.

“Stephanie. You can do this,” she told her seriously. “I know you can.”

“I will, Mom. I’m gonna stop it,” she proclaimed self assuredly.

“Make me proud.”

“I will,” she said stoically. “I won’t let you down.”

All at once a strong gust of wind came out of nowhere. The spirits cried out, deafening her. She held her ears and watched as red lights began to swarm them. Stephanie watched as her mother shrieked out in pain before disappearing altogether.

“No!”

Stephanie rushed over to the spot where she had been, frantically searching for her. By this time, all of the spirits had fled. The only thing left were the sinister globes of light, swirling in the air like a mini tornado. Jason witnessed the scene from afar and ran over to Stephanie. She fell to her knees, crying with fright for her mother. He grabbed her arms and lifted her up.

“We have to get out of here!” He urged her.

“My mother!”

“She’s okay, Steph. She probably just took off with the rest of them,” he tried to assure her.

“She was hurting, Jason. They hurt her,” she cried.

The lights were rushing all around them, stirring up dirt and leaves from the ground. Jason tried to pull Stephanie along with him to safety. Finally she pulled herself back together and began running along with him. They made it to the street and stopped to look back at the scene they’d just left. The lights had disappeared again, plunging everything back into darkness.

Panting, he turned to her, “she’ll be okay.”

“No she won’t. Not until we stop this.”

“But we will. We know how to do it now.”

“You bet we do. We’re gonna kick their asses,” she fumed.

“That’s the spirit,” he cheered her on. “Now lets get the hell out of here, okay?”

They returned to Stephanie’s house and went inside. Every light in the entire place had been turned on. Melissa heard them enter and ran down the stairs to greet them.

“I’m so glad you’re back!”

“What? Why? Did something happen?” Stephanie asked worriedly.

“No, I just don’t like being here alone anymore,” she admitted. “I keep feeling like someone is watching me.”

“Well, I see you’ve turned on every light in the house. Did that help?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I just didn’t want anything jumping out at me,” she explained. “You can turn them off if you want.”

Stephanie went around and turned off some of the lights, not eager to plunge the place into total darkness herself.

“Did you guys see anything out there?” Melissa asked.

“Actually, we did.”

“What? Ghosts? Something evil?”

“Both.”

Stephanie didn’t want to upset Melissa by telling her about their mother. She decided to keep that part of the evening to herself for the time being.

“We walked past the cemetery and saw a lot of creepy stuff.”

“Like what?”

“Those evil lights. They seem to be getting stronger. I don’t think they’re going to stay contained much longer.”

“What are they?”

“Evil spirits. At least that’s what we have to assume. They have no form yet, but they’re trying to escape.”

“Why don’t we see more of the good people? If these walls are breaking down, how come more good spirits aren’t coming out?” Melissa wondered.

“Well, they are. But the difference is, they don’t want to come out. They’re happy where they are. The evil things on the other hand, can’t wait to be free,” she surmised.

Stephanie moved towards the couch and sat down. She was tired and her head was spinning. There was an overabundance of thoughts and fears running through her head right now. She didn’t want to tell Melissa that she’d seen their mother. She didn’t want her to know that she was suffering right now. She really just wanted to go to sleep and pretend none of these things were happening. But as it always seemed to be, that wasn’t possible.

She looked over at Melissa, “maybe you should try and get some sleep. It’s getting late.”

“Yeah, I guess. I-I’m not sure I can sleep though. Why don’t we all watch a movie or something? You know, till we fall asleep?” Melissa suggested, not wanting to be alone right now.

“Sure,” Stephanie smiled at her.

“What should we watch? The rental places are all closed by now,” Jason asked.

“We can just see what’s on TV,” Melissa said, as she happily plopped herself down on the couch with the remote.

Stephanie took off her jacket and her shoes and got herself comfortable next to her sister. Jason sat down with them, as Melissa started flipping through the channels.

“Okay, Amityville Horror? I don’t think so. Already living that,” she muttered as she continued flipping.

“See what’s on HBO,” Stephanie urged her.

“Uh, Nightmare On Elm Street. I’m thinking a big no to that one.” Melissa changed the channel quickly.

“Is there anything non violent on?” Stephanie wondered.

“Um, we have the Muppets Take Manhattan?”

“Something more violent than that, please,” Jason chimed in making a face.

“I don’t know. Miss Piggy throws a mean punch. Gotta appreciate that,” Stephanie grinned jokingly.

“She kind of reminds me of you,” Jason joked.

Stephanie smacked his arm and shoved him away from her.

“How rude! I remind you of a pig?” She asked incredulously, and with hurt feelings.

“I just meant the way she’s always smacking that poor frog around. Kind of like what you did just now,” he pointed out, as he rubbed his arm with a small smile.

“Oh, sorry,” she said sheepishly. Then she gave him a look. “But you have to admit, comparing your girlfriend to Miss Piggy? Not gonna win you any points,” she told him.

He just looked at her and smiled.

“How about this movie?” Melissa asked curiously. She had tuned them out while they bickered, and kept up her search for the perfect show to watch.

“When Harry Met Sally?” Stephanie asked.

“Yeah.”

She shrugged, “yeah, I guess. There isn’t any violence or Muppets, so it sounds good.”

They sat back and tried to concentrate on the show. It didn’t take too long before Melissa was fast asleep. And Jason and Stephanie weren’t far behind. They all lay slumped on the couch together. Stephanie and Melissa were snuggled together and Jason had his arm draped over the top of both of them. Seemingly trying to protect them, even in his sleep. The television kept going, and Jason woke with a start when a particularly loud commercial started blaring.

He looked down at the sleeping girls beside him. He still couldn’t believe that Stephanie had invited him into her life. For months he’d pined over her, never truly believing she’d ever fall for him. He had been persistent to the point of annoyance, he realized. But for some reason he couldn’t stop himself. Something inside of him had told him this was who he was meant to be with. It was just taking Stephanie a lot longer to see it. It was hard to imagine that the psychic had trouble seeing what he had felt so clearly from the moment they met.

And he had been right. Not only did he feel something amazing for her, they were now bonded together by some kind of supernatural force. If ever there was a meant to be, it was them. He only hoped they’d be given enough time to explore everything further. He was feeling more confident in the outcome of the events, but he wasn’t so cocky to think it was inevitably going to fall in their favor.

Everything in his life had changed dramatically from only weeks before. He started out as a pathetic sap, who lusted after a girl who wouldn’t give him the time a day. Fixing motorcycles in his garage and playing rock star with his pals. His life had been utterly directionless. His only thoughts were how to snag the girl of his dreams and what song he might play at the club that night. He wasn’t thinking about the world. And he sure as hell wasn’t important to the survival of said world. But he was important now. His life had some sort of meaning. He’d never known he was craving that until it happened. He just hoped he wouldn’t let anyone down.

****

Jax lay in his bed with Angela at his side. Angela was curled up under his arm, and began kissing across his chest lightly. He smiled and caressed the top of her head. She leaned up and began kissing his lips softly, as her hands ran over his bare chest.

"If we keep this up, I likely won't survive long enough to see the apocalypse,” he said, between her kisses.

"What?" She asked nervously.

"Three times already...I'm not a young man,” he pointed out with a sheepish grin.

"Am I'm over-sexing you?" She asked, as she lay her head down on his chest again. "Sorry. It's just that it's all gonna be over soon. They'll be nothing left of us, except our bloodstains on the carpet. I just want to enjoy everything while we can,” she explained softly.

“Hush. I’m sure we won’t be merely bloodstains on the carpet.” He tried to assuage her fears.

“You heard what happened when they faced Alison and Logan. They were almost killed. Then Kyle swooped in and saved them all with small talk. Let’s face it, that’s not going to cut it when the time comes.”

“No, you’re right. It won’t. But it won’t be like that. Once we do the ritual, I really believe we’ll have a fighting chance.”

“But what if they screw up because they don’t want to hurt Alison? What if they tip toe around this whole mess and we end up dead because of it?”

“We won’t. I’m quite sure that Stephanie has considered the possibility of what she might have to do. Alison will kill her, of that I have no doubt. And if Stephanie had any doubts, I’m sure they were quashed the other night,” he explained. “No, I don’t believe we’ll have to worry about that. She knows what she has to do. As hard as it may be to accept.”

She looked up at him, “are you sure you don’t want me to do some kind of spell to wish this whole thing away?”

“No, Angela. You know as well as I that you can’t do that,” he shook his head.

“I-I know. I know it’s not a proper spell or whatever. But this isn’t some silly little thing for personal gain. This is for the good of the world. Maybe that would make it okay?” She tried to reason with him.

“Using magic to wish it all away could have dire consequences,” he said gravely.

“What could be more dire than this?”

"I'm not sure, but perhaps we wouldn't want to know. These events were prophesized long ago. I have no doubt that they'll continue to occur in some shape or form, whether we attempt to change it or not,” he explained.

"I don't want us to die."

"Well, on the bright side, you are a powerful witch. You might survive."

"But I don't want to survive. Not without you,” she said sincerely.

"Angela..."

"I mean it. I love you, Jax.”

“You do?” He asked with surprise.

“Yes. I mean, at first it was just a sexual thing. But then I realized that I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And when I thought of you, you weren’t always naked,” she explained. “That’s when I realized it was more than that.”

He wanted to laugh at the nonfigurative way her thoughts took her. But she was so sincere, all he could do was smile.

“I believe I feel the same way about you,” he told her.

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“I-I know we haven't really been together very long....and we've never talked about the future. Mostly because I never knew if the world would still be here. But, I want you to know that I want to have a future. With you."

"I want that as well,” he whispered.

She lay her head back down on his chest and sighed. All they could do now was to sit and wait. The blood moon was slated to occur at the end of the month. It wasn’t much time to enjoy life’s little pleasures. But until then, they were determined to hold onto each other and what they had tightly.

****

Alison stood in the main room of their palace. She had been bothered by seeing her friends again. It had been a few days ago, but it was still weighing on her conscience. They always had a way of making her self confidence wane. They still saw her as a pathetic freak, who was just pretending to be scary to get attention. It sickened her. No matter what she did, that's how they would see her. But soon, all of that would change.

Logan walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist.

"What’re thinking about?" He asked curiously.

"Nothing."

"Looked like something."

"Just my friends,” she admitted quietly.

"Ex-friends. Right? I mean, you're not still feeling some kind of loyalty to them, are you?" He asked nervously.

She turned and faced him.

"No, I'm not. It's just that they don't see me. They never did."

"I think they saw you. In a big way. You scared the crap out of them,” he reassured her.

She sighed, “I guess.”

Then she walked across the room and sat down on the couch. He followed her.

"Listen, once this is all over, things will change. We'll be in charge of everything. The way it was the other night at the club? That's how it'll be forever. That felt good, didn't it?"

She smiled, “yeah. Really good.”

"We owned that place. Everyone was our puppet. That's what the world will be like. All of this will be a distant memory."

He stroked her hair affectionately and she closed her eyes.

"Can we live in a real castle? Like in Romania?" She asked dreamily.

"We can live anywhere you want to, baby."

He turned her around to face him.

“The time is coming. I just received our orders. That was what I was coming to tell you.”

She looked at him happily, “really? When?”

“Soon. The blood moon. Dark energies will be at their peak, making everything ripe for our picking. It’s going to perfect. You and me against the world.”

She sighed with contentment, as he pulled her closer to him.

"Do you love me?" She asked curiously.

"Completely. You and me. Forever,” he assured her.

And deep down, in the pit of his twisted heart, he meant every word.

****

Jax and Angela were bustling around the shop trying to keep busy. Financially, they couldn’t afford to close the shop every time something apocalypse related came up. But they wanted to. Emotionally, neither of them wished to deal with the public. Not when there were so many other things that required their attention. In effort to make things easier for her, he had given Stephanie the afternoon off. She was dealing with a lot of stress, even more than the rest of them. He wanted to give her a break and let her enjoy the time she had before all hell broke loose. Literally.

Jax had managed to procure everything he needed for the Esencia ritual. One of the items, called the Dagger of Tumac, had to be ordered specially from a rare artifacts dealer in the Bahamas. They were now waiting for its arrival before they could proceed with the ritual that could save them all.

The night of the blood moon was rapidly approaching. Each day that passed brought them closer to the inevitable. They now had approximately one week to get everything in order. It wasn’t a lot of time, but he hoped it’d be enough. There was only one small piece of the puzzle missing. The passage he’d been having trouble with, still plagued him. Several of the symbols were so badly decomposed, he couldn’t read them. He’d come up with a dozen or so possible interpretations, but nothing concrete.

But it would seem that something was still missing. Something important that couldn’t be overlooked. From what he could decipher, there was some sort of key that needed to be retrieved. If the gates were to open, it was the only way they could be closed again. The power of the Trinity wasn’t going to be enough to stop it. They could prevent it, but if the walls began to open, all would be lost unless they had this missing piece of the puzzle. The only problem they faced was the fact that the hidden location of this object appeared to the part of the passage that was unreadable.

His last ditch effort had been to call up a friend of his he still had at the University. He was a specialist in the criminology department named Marc Andrews. They often used special techniques to draw images from documents that had been distorted or otherwise altered. It had helped solve many a case in the past. Jax was hoping he could come through for him as well. When he had asked what the document was, Jax had merely told him it was a special project he was working on, attempting to restore an ancient text. Marc hadn’t asked for any further details thankfully.

It seemed an endless waiting game. At first they hadn’t known what exactly was happening. Now they did. They even knew when. But there wasn’t anything they could do until the timing was right and all the pieces fit together. It was frustrating and difficult to go about their daily lives as if nothing was happening. But they knew they had to. To the rest of the world, nothing was happening. Sure, there had been rumblings that something was amiss. More and more people were shuffling into the shop asking for items to ward off spirits and to guard themselves from evil. Most of them had not given specifics as to why they wanted these items, but Jax and Angela had known.

Things were beginning to happen everywhere. Spirits were either escaping or being forced out. People were bound to notice. It was impossible not to. He just hoped they could take care of this mess before anyone else had to know how close they had come to losing it all.

Angela walked over to Jax.

“We’re almost out of the Peruvian protection amulets,” she informed him.

“Yes, they’re selling like hotcakes, I’d imagine,” he said distractedly.

“What exactly does that mean?” She asked him thoughtfully.

“It means they’re selling quickly.”

“I know. I just meant, do hotcakes really sell all that fast? I don’t see a line outside of Denny’s every morning with people just snatching those things off people’s plates,” she explained. “It’s a stupid expression really.”

“Well, then they’re selling like something else that sells really fast,” he chuckled.

Angela always had a way of looking at the world differently than most people. She was always questioning everything. He’d never known anyone who opened his eyes and made him notice the things he’d always accepted blindly.

“Well, I think we need to order more of these. I never knew that an apocalypse could be so good for business,” she smiled.

“Well, I think I’d prefer to be broke than to make money this way.”

“True. But money is money. And you can never have too much of that.”

He leaned over and planted a small kiss on her cheek.

“That’s my greedy girl,” he smiled.

“I’m not always greedy,” she told him slyly, running her hands over his chest. “I can also be very giving.” She kissed him. “Very, very giving.”

He pulled her to him and they kissed passionately, momentarily forgetting that they were standing in the middle of the shop. The little bell over the door jingled, but before they could pull apart, they’d been spotted.

“Oh. My. God.” Kyle stood there gaping at the two of them.

“Kyle!” Jax exclaimed nervously.

“What are you doing here?” Angela tried to straighten her clothes and wiped at her mouth.

“I…I don’t remember.” His mind suddenly went blank. “What the hell was that?” He asked with disgust.

“Kyle…” Angela began.

“You? And you?” He looked back and forth between the two of them. “How could you do that?”

“It wasn’t planned. Things just sort of evolved,” Jax tried to explain.

“Evolved? No, monkey’s evolved. This isn’t evolving. This is devolving. Or whatever the opposite of evolving is!” He yelled irrationally.

Angela marched over to him, “this isn’t any of your business Kyle. We’re over, remember? I can see whoever I want to see.”

“Yeah, fine. Whatever. But Jax? Jax?” He was incredulous.

Jax stepped forward, “excuse me! But why is it that everyone is acting like I shouldn’t be allowed to be involved with someone? First Stephanie, and now you. You act as if I’m a thousand years old. I’m not even fifty!”

“Whoa. Wait. Stephanie? Stephanie knew about this?” Kyle asked.

“Yes,” Jax admitted quietly.

“Great! That’s just great. So everyone knows about this but me, right?”

“Not everyone. Well, Jason might know. He and Stephanie—”

“Of course Jason knows! This is wonderful,” Kyle ranted.

“Okay, back the hell up. Who are you to throw a fit over this anyway?” Angela asked angrily.

“There are certain rules. Unspoken rules. Like you don’t sleep with someone’s sister. Or their mother. Or their…Jax.”

“I wasn’t aware there were rules like that,” Jax told him.

“Like hell you didn’t.”

Angela got into Kyle’s face now. She held up her hand.

“Do you see this ring on my finger?” She asked heatedly.

“You don’t have a ring on your finger,” Kyle informed her.

“Exactly! And you wanna know why it’s not there? Because you dumped me! You broke our engagement. So don’t tell me what to do with my life! You stopped having a say in that the minute you told me you didn’t want to marry me. So either deal with it, or get out.”

“Fine. I hope you’ll both be very happy.”

“Good. We will be.”

“Wonderful.”

“Perfect!”

Kyle gave them one last glare before storming out, slamming the door loudly behind him. Angela continued to stare after him, fuming. Jax came up behind her.

“Well, that went smashingly well,” he muttered.

****

Kyle walked along the street downtown. He wasn’t sure where he was going, but he’d parked his car in the garage on Main Street, and just started walking. He needed a drink. Preferably a really strong one. He saw the Maraschino off in the distance. There was a construction crew working on the roof, trying to repair the hole that Alison and Logan had left behind. He decided to head into a smaller bar, off the main drag. A tiny hole in the wall called The Magic Eight Ball.

He’d never been inside before, but he’d passed it countless times. It was only noon on a Tuesday, so the place wasn’t exactly jumping with business. He had taken the afternoon off from work, intending to find out if Jax had any new information. His concentration level was waning and he’d started making some mistakes at work. Manny could see he was troubled by something and offered him some time off. At first, he had declined, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized he could use a break. So he had set off to The Secret Garden in hopes of getting some questions answered. What it had proved to do was raise more questions. Altogether new questions that he wasn’t prepared to deal with.

Seeing Angela and Jax together had made his stomach sick. But not necessarily because the thought of them as a couple was so disturbing. Though it was that too. But it was more the thought that he had really blown it. Angela had moved on in a big way. It wasn’t as if he really expected they’d get back together. He’d given up on that idea long ago. But he hadn’t prepared himself for the reality that she would really move on. And with someone he knew and trusted. He’d always hoped it’d be some guy he’d never met, and Angela would move away so he’d never have to see them together. But that wasn’t going to happen now.

He sat down at the bar, and a grubby looking man with a beard walked over to him.

“What’re you having, son?” He asked in a gruff voice.

“Something strong and mind numbing.”

“Whiskey?”

“Yeah, whatever,” Kyle waved his hand at him. “Make it a double.”

The bartender nodded and went to retrieve a glass from behind the bar. Kyle held his head in his hands as he waited for him to return. He looked up when the glass plunked in front of him.

“That’ll be six dollars,” the bartender told him. “Unless you wanna run a tab?”

“Yeah, better do that. I might be here awhile.”

“Fine by me. Enjoy.” He walked away leaving Kyle to wallow alone in his misery.

He took a large gulp of the potent liquid and tried not to make a face. He wasn’t a big drinker. The last time he’d been really drunk had been at a frat party that he and Stephanie had crashed a couple of years ago. Normally he’d knock back a couple of beers on a Friday night, but stewing in whiskey at lunch time wasn’t a normal thing for him. But then again, nothing was normal anymore.

Alison was ending the world, Stephanie was dating a guy she claimed to hate a few weeks ago, and Angela was sleeping with Jax. Everything was just peachy, he thought. He looked out over the bar, watching a few guys play pool at a corner table. One of them looked familiar, he noticed.

Jason was talking to one of the men, as he began to make a shot. They laughed over something, and Jason sat back down on a barstool to watch the game. He looked up just as Kyle looked away from him.

“Hey, I’ll be right back,” Jason told Shooter, as he got up and walked towards Kyle.

“Hey man. What’s up?” He asked Kyle.

“My life is over,” Kyle complained miserably.

“Oh. You’ve given up already? You know we might still win this thing,” he told him quietly.

Kyle shook his head and downed the rest of his drink. He motioned for the bartender to give him a refill. He turned to Jason.

“That’s not what I’m talking about. Although, I can’t say that it doesn’t warrant a few drinks in itself.”

“What happened? Tell me.” Jason sat down on the stool next to him.

Kyle glared at him, “what? Are we girlfriends now? We don’t share stuff. I don’t even know you.”

“Hey, suit yourself. I was just trying to be nice.” Jason stood up and began walking away.

Kyle felt like the ass he knew he was being. None of this was Jason’s fault and he knew it.

“Hey, wait,” he called after him.

Jason turned around, “what?”

“I’m sorry. Look, I’ve just had a really bad day. Plus this whiskey is messing with my head already.”

“Yeah? You never struck me as the whiskey drinking type. You should leave that one to the pro’s like Shooter over there.” He motioned to his friend. “You’re welcome to come join us if you want.”

“Nah, that’s okay. I think I’ll just sit here and wallow.”

“Whatever. If you change your mind—”

“Angela is sleeping with Jax,” Kyle blurted out.

Jason walked back over and sat down.

“Oh, you found out about that?”

“So, you knew?” Kyle wanted confirmation for what he’d already suspected.

“Yeah, sort of. Steph and I walked in on a compromising moment once. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together.”

“I can’t believe this. I loved her. We were supposed to get married.”

“Yeah, but you ended it. Right? That’s what Steph told me.”

“I didn’t end it! I just said I wasn’t ready to get married. Angela is the one who ended it. She said if I didn’t want to marry her, it meant I didn’t love her,” he explained sadly. “But that wasn’t true. I never stopped loving her. I was just scared. And stupid. And now I’ve lost her forever.”

“Face it man, you lost her a long time ago. She was bound to meet someone else. She’s a pretty girl. Girl’s like that don’t stay single forever,” Jason told him honestly.

“I know. I’m not stupid. Of course I knew that. It’s just why did it have to be Jax? Why couldn’t it be someone else?”

“I don’t know. People don’t choose who they fall in love with.”

“Well they should.” He picked up his refilled drink and swallowed hard. “It’d make life a lot simpler.”

“And a lot more boring.”

“How do you figure?”

“Well, where’s the excitement in that? No, it’s much better when you don’t know who it could it be. The next person who walks through that door could be the one for you. You never know,” Jason told him supportively.

Kyle glanced over to the door and saw a huge, tattooed biker walk in. He was wearing a leather jacket with the name ‘Big Larry’ emblazoned across it. He closed his eyes and shook his head.

“Perfect. Apparently I’m destined to be Big Larry’s bitch. Ain’t love grand?” He gulped his drink bitterly.

Jason saw the man of Kyle’s dreams at the door and began laughing uncontrollably.

“Okay, okay, so maybe it’s not meant to be the next person who walked through that door. But it could have been!” He pointed out, trying to stifle his laughter.

Kyle couldn’t help but start laughing himself. It could have been the whiskey, but suddenly the whole thing seemed very funny.

“Well, you never know. Larry and I might be very happy together. I bet he wouldn’t turn around and sleep with Jax when I wasn’t looking,” he joked.

“Okay, now my mind has gone to a very scary place,” Jason chuckled. He slapped Kyle on the back, “come on. Stop drinking yourself senseless. Come play pool with us.”

“I don’t know,” Kyle shook his head.

“Come on. It’ll be fun. It’ll get your mind off Angela,” He persuaded him.

“I’m not very good at pool.”

“That’s okay. We all suck. Shooter’s already drunk so he tends to start aiming for any ball that he can hit. I’ve won lots of games that way because he doesn’t realize he’s knocked all of mine in for me.”

Kyle finally relented and decided to join them. He had nothing better to do and it would be a welcome distraction. Jason walked him over to the pool table and introduced him.

“Guys, this is Kyle. He’s one of Steph’s friends.” He looked at Kyle, “this is Shooter and Mitch. They’re in my band.”

Shooter walked over and proffered his hand. “So, are you like Stephanie’s ex or something? That must be weird for you now that she’s with Jason.”

“Uh, no. She’s not my ex. Steph and I are just friends.”

“Really? Interesting.” Shooter scratched his head. “So you’ve never banged her?”

Jason smacked Shooter upside the head. “Will you shut up?” Then to Kyle, “sorry, he’s really wasted. I warned you.”

Kyle looked at them both with moderate distaste. “It’s okay,” he said, even though he was feeling the opposite. “So this is your band?”

“Yeah, we’re Stark Raving Mad,” Mitch told him.

“I’m sure you are.”

Jason stepped in, “he means that’s the name of the band. Get it? Jason Stark? Stark Raving—never mind.”

“You want in, or what?” Mitch asked Kyle indicating the game.

“Why not? My day couldn’t possibly get any worse.”

By the end of the afternoon, Kyle was completely smashed and having the time of his life. He was surprised to find that he was actually enjoying the company of Jason and his friends. Or it could have just been he was so drunk, he’d even enjoy the company of Saddam Hussein if he happened to walk through the door. He wasn’t questioning it at this point. He was just enjoying it.

They’d played countless games of really bad pool, the last one ending when Jason jumped onto the table and starting singing along with the jukebox, using the pool cue for a microphone. Needless to say, they were feeling no pain whatsoever. At this point, they were sitting around a table in the corner, doing shots of something. Kyle’s taste buds were so numb he couldn’t discern what it was.

“So this Angela chick. You were gonna marry her?” Shooter asked Kyle.

He nodded as he threw his drink back, “yup.”

“Good thing you backed out when you did. The way I see it, chicks are too much work. Marrying them is never a good idea. It’s like swearing you’ll eat nothing but Corn Flakes for breakfast for the rest of your life. I mean Corn Flakes are good. But if I see a bowl of Lucky Charms sitting there waiting to be eaten, I’m not gonna say no, if you know what I mean.” He burst out laughing.

“Exactly! That’s what I said to her. Except we didn’t use the cereal metaphor’s. But we should have. It makes perfect sense,” Kyle agreed.

“Well, I see nothing wrong with eating Corn Flakes. I mean if you find a cereal you like, stick with it,” Jason chimed in.

“Oh shut up, you pussy whipped loser!” Mitch razzed him. “Just because you think you’re in love, you’re ruining it for the rest of us.”

“I am in love. I’m completely and hopelessly addicted to Stephanie’s Corn Flakes.”

“Hey now, don’t be talking about Steph’s Corn Flakes in front of me. I’ll have to kick your ass.”

“As if you could.”

“I could. I could totally kick it. If I could feel my legs, I’d stand up right now and show you,” Kyle slurred.

“Dude, if you’re so in love, why not get a tattoo with her name across your chest,” Shooter suggested.

“I don’t wanna get her name on my chest,” Jason shook his head.

“Why not? Afraid the Corn Flakes will start getting stale? If you’re so damn happy with them, prove it!” He egged him on.

“Fuck you man, I don’t have to prove it.”

“I for one would like to see you prove it.” Kyle sat back and smiled.

Jason sat there as the three of them began chanting ‘prove it’ over and over. He stood up and faced them.

“Fine! You want me to prove it, I will.” He grabbed his leather jacket off the chair and pulled it on. “Let’s go.”

Jason tossed money onto the table and stormed towards the door. The other’s followed suit.

Kyle turned to Mitch, “where are we going?”

“To Jose’s.”

“Who’s Jose?

“He’s the best tattoo artist in town,” Mitch claimed.

“Dude, he’s the only tattoo artist in town.” Shooter reminded him.

“Well, then it’s a good thing he’s the best, right?”

They all followed behind Jason down the street. The parlor was only a block away and he knew it well. He’d gotten most of his tattoos done there over the years. Once they arrived, they all walked into the dingy establishment. The walls were lined with various designs that Jose offered. The place smelled like sweat and beer, and Kyle began to feel just a little nauseous.

As Jason stepped up to the counter, Mitch came up behind Kyle, who was looking at the pictures.

“You gonna get one too?” He asked.

“Oh hell no! I hate needles,” Kyle shook his head vigorously.

“Pussy.”

“I am not a pussy. You guys are just insane.”

“But at least we aren’t pussies.”

Kyle was so drunk that Mitch started to get under his skin. Suddenly he felt like proving to them that he wasn’t a pussy. He was cool. He was just as tough as the rest of them.

As Jason walked into the back room, Kyle stepped up to the counter. One of Jose’s associates was sitting there watching them.

“I want to get a tattoo,” he told the guy.

“Of what? You got an idea?”

“No.”

“Well it’d help if you did.”

He tossed a book with more designs in it onto the counter.

“Pick out something you like, and I’ll set you up.”

Kyle flipped through the book hastily. He was hoping something would just pop out at him but so far it wasn’t.

Shooter looked over his shoulder and pointed to a picture of a butterfly. “How bout that one?” He teased him.

“Screw you.”

Kyle continued to leaf through the booklet without success.

“I want something cool and interesting. But I also want it to mean something.”

“How about ‘chicks suck’,” Shooter offered.

“Yeah, that’s real profound,” Kyle said wryly. “No, I was thinking of something a little less bitter and more positive.”

“You religious? Cause a crucifix is always a nice choice,” the man behind the counter suggested, showing them the one he had on his own forearm.

Kyle shook his head, “my grandmother is Jewish. I think she might kill me.”

“How bout this one?” He pointed to a picture of an Egyptian ankh. “It means eternal life.”

“Eternal life? Yeah. Yeah, I like the sound of that. Okay. Give it to me.”

Kyle had made his choice. One that he was sure he’d probably regret in the morning and for the rest of his life. But he didn’t care. At this point, his life seemed as if it were destined to be an extremely short one. Maybe the tattoo would bring him luck? Maybe his life wouldn’t be eternal, but he could stand for it not to end next week.

When Jason was done, he came back out into the waiting area. He was holding his t-shirt in his hand, but had his jacket on.

Shooter ran up to him, “Dude, let me see!”

Jason opened his jacket, revealing his brand new testament to love—or stupidity. He wasn’t sure which. But either way, it was a permanent state. The name ‘Stephanie’ was now emblazoned across the left side of his chest, right over his heart, in bright red ink.

“Holy shit! You actually did it! You’re crazy!”

“I told you I was serious.” Then he looked around and noticed Kyle was missing. “Where’s Kyle?”

“He’s getting his own ink done,” Mitch told him.

“What?”

“He decided to get one.”

“It’s only because you called him a pussy,” Shooter pointed out.

“You called him a what? And now he’s doing what?” Jason was in shock. “Shit…Steph’s gonna kill me and this tattoo will be for nothing.”

“Why would she kill you?” Mitch asked.

“Because, I’ve corrupted her friend. She’ll never forgive me.”

“Show her your chest! She’ll forgive you.”

“You don’t understand. One of her friends just went psycho and is trying to end the world. And the other, I’ve managed to get drunk and scarred for life.”

“Whoa, whoa, back up. Someone’s trying to end the world?” Mitch asked confused.

“What?” Jason hadn’t realized he’d let that slip.

“You said Stephanie’s friend went psycho and is trying to end the world,” Shooter repeated.

“I did? Well, I was just speaking figuratively. She’s not really trying to end it. She’s just…depressed. And bitter. Nothing that a little Prozac wouldn’t cure.”

“Oh. Cause for a minute I thought you were serious,” Mitch sighed.

“Yeah right,” he scoffed. “Quick the apocalypse is coming! Run for your lives!” He joked.

“You told them?” Kyle asked, as he walked out of the back room.

Jason whirled around to see him. “What?”

“You told them about the apocalypse?” He asked incredulously.

“There really is gonna be an apocalypse?” Mitch asked anxiously.

“Dude, that’s fucked up,” Shooter complained.

“Of course there’s not going to be an apocalypse. Because that would be ridiculous crazy talk. The talk of insane religious fanaticals, of which we are not. Right Kyle?” Jason looked at him imploringly.

“Uh, right. Sorry. I must still be really drunk.”

“You’re very drunk. So drunk that you got a tattoo,” Jason pointed out. “What the hell were you thinking, by the way?”

“What do you mean? You got one, didn’t you?” Kyle shrugged.

“Yeah, but that’s what I do. I have seven of them. You have none,” he said. “Well, until now.”

“Well, everyone has to start somewhere,” Kyle reasoned. “Besides, girls seem to find you appealing, for whatever reason. Maybe this will help me?”

“Don’t go getting all single white female on me.”

“What?”

“It was a movie. This one chick starts dressing like this other chick, and she decides she wants to be her. And the next thing you know, she’s gone psycho and killed her boyfriend.”

“Well, for starters, I’m not a chick. And second of all, I never said I wanted to be you,” he clarified. “I just said this tough guy tattoo thing seems to work for you. And let’s face it, I need all the help I can get. When Jax starts being more sexually appealing than you, you know you’ve lost it.”

Jason couldn’t help but laugh. He softened his stance and gestured at Kyle.

“So what’d you get anyway?” He asked.

“An ankh.” He pulled his sleeve up and showed him the black symbol that was now displayed on his left bicep.

“What’s that for?”

“It means eternal life.”

“I hope it works,” Jason muttered.

“You and me both,” Kyle agreed.

****

That evening, Stephanie showed up on Jason’s doorstep. She could hear music inside, this time of the already recorded variety. She knew that he must be home. She knocked loudly and waited.

After a moment, Jason opened up the door. He was barefoot and shirtless, with a bandage taped across his chest.

“Steph. What’re you doing here?”

“I just came—what happened?” She asked, noticing the bandage on his chest.

“Oh this? It’s nothing,” He brushed it off.

“Did someone stab you or something?”

She reached out to touch the bandage and he swatted her hand away.

“Don’t touch it,” he scolded her. “And no, I wasn’t stabbed. It’s just a thing. It’s nothing.”

“It must be something.”

“Look, why were you here again? Just to see me?” He asked hopefully.

“No. I-I mean, yeah, of course.” She leaned up and kissed him, then pulled back, “but actually I was wondering if you’ve seen Kyle.”

“Kyle? Why would I have seen Kyle?”

“I don’t know. I just can’t seem to find him. Jax told me that he found out about the whole icky thing with Angela. Then he stormed out and no one’s seen him. I’m starting to worry,” she told him.

“Well, I’m sure he’s fine.”

Just then, Kyle emerged from the hallway bathroom. Stephanie saw him over Jason’s shoulder. She pushed past him, and went inside.

“Kyle? Why are you here?” Then to Jason, “why didn’t you tell me he was here?”

“I was going to.”

“When?” She asked. Then she noticed how green Kyle looked. “Are you feeling okay?” She looked at them both. “Did something happen here? Did you guys get into some kind of fight? Did you stab Jason?”

“Stab him? Why would I stab him?” Kyle shook his head. “And can you please talk a little softer. My head is pounding.”

He lifted up his arms and placed his hands at his temples. His sleeve fell down slightly, revealing his brand new tattoo.

“Oh my God. What the hell is that?” She asked, moving closer to examine it. “You got a tattoo?”

“Oh, yeah.” Kyle looked at his arm. “I almost forgot. What with the puking up everything I’ve eaten for the last five years.” He looked at Jason, “I think I’m dying.”

“Relax, you’re not dying. You’re just really fucked up. Maybe next time you’ll know when to stop.”

Stephanie glared at Jason, “you got Kyle drunk and maimed him?”

“I knew you’d react like this,” Jason groaned.

“Well, how else should I react?”

“First off, I didn’t get Kyle drunk. He got himself drunk. And that tattoo was his idea. Not mine.”

“Actually it was Mitch’s idea,” Kyle interjected.

“Whatever. Point is, I’m not responsible,” Jason insisted firmly.

“But it was your idea to go to the tattoo place,” Kyle reminded him. “So technically, you kind of are.”

“You got another tattoo?” Stephanie asked him. “Is that what this thing is?” She pointed to his bandage.

“Maybe.”

“Let me see it.”

“No.”

“Why not? I’m gonna see it eventually.”

“Not if I keep it covered forever.”

“So you’re gonna wear a bandage for the rest of your life?”

“I might.”

“What’s the big deal? Is it something gross? Oh eww…It’s not a naked woman is it?” She covered her eyes.

“No, it’s not a naked woman. It’s just…embarrassing,” He said uncomfortably.

“Embarrassing? Why would you get something embarrassing put onto your body for eternity?” She asked incredulously.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

She reached over and tried to pull the bandage off, but he smacked her hand.

“Stop! You’ll pull my hair off,” he complained.

She turned to Kyle, “what is it, Kyle? You were there. Tell me.”

“I-I don’t know…”

“What is it?” She stared at him.

“It’s just…well, there was this conversation about stuff…and then Jason said he liked Corn Flakes, and we said prove it. And then he did,” Kyle rambled incoherently.

“Okay, Corn Flakes? You got a tattoo of Corn Flakes on your chest?” She asked disbelieving. “You’re right, that is embarrassing,” she laughed. “Is it like a picture of that big chicken with a bowl of cereal?”

“It’s not a tattoo of a chicken,” Jason shook his head. “It’s your name,” he admitted finally.

“What? My name? You put my name on you?”

He pulled the tape off the bandage and removed it. He looked at her and waited for the ridiculing to begin.

“Oh. My. God. You seriously put my name on your chest.” She was stunned. “That’s like forever.” She looked at him. “As in permanent.”

“I realize that,” he said softly.

“Um, I’ll just leave you two alone. Plus, I think I have to puke again.” Kyle ran off towards the bathroom.

They watched him run off and slam the door behind him. Then they turned to each other. Stephanie didn’t know what to say to him. She’d never imagined he would do anything like this. It was crazy. But also one of the most romantic things anyone had ever done for her.

“You hate it, don’t you?” He asked sheepishly.

“No. I-I don’t hate it. It’s just…surprising.”

She reached over and touched it gently. He flinched slightly.

“Sorry. It’s sore?” She asked.

“Little bit.”

She looked up at him, “you’re nuts.” Then she smiled. “But I think I like it.”

She leaned up and kissed him. He pulled her closer, not caring that his chest was stinging at their contact. He pulled back and smiled at her.

“I was really afraid you were going to hate it.”

“I don’t.” She kissed him again.

“I thought maybe then you’d really understand how I felt about you,” he told her sincerely.

She reached up and pushed his wild hair out of his face. “I know how you feel. You told me. You didn’t have to do this.”

“But I wanted to. I wanted to prove it.”

“Prove it? That reminds me, what the hell did Corn Flakes have to do with this?” She asked inquisitively.

“Uh, that’s a long unimportant story. I won’t bore you.”

She took his hand, and led him over to the couch. They sat down and she laid her head on his shoulder.

“Why was Kyle with you?”

“Oh, well, we were at the bar, and Kyle came in. Wanted to drown his sorrows or something. I said hi, and we played some pool, and yada, yada, yada, we ended up shit faced and tattooed.”

“Interesting. And very un-Kyle like,” she said curiously. “You think he’s okay in there?” She gestured towards the bathroom.

“I think he’ll be alright. He’s just not used to the whole being drunk process.”

“And you are?” She raised her eyebrow.

“I’m better at it than him,” he laughed. “Besides, he had way more than I did. He gave Shooter a run for his money.”

“I’m so proud,” she said dryly.

“I promise not to corrupt him further.” He held up his hand. “Of course, once he sobers up and realizes what he’s done, I don’t think he’ll be asking to hang out with us anymore.”

“Was he at least nice to you?” She wondered.

“No. Not at first anyway. But I think it’s cool. I mean, it is my bathroom he’s puking his guts up in. That’s bound to bond us together somewhat,” he joked.

“Men are very strange creatures.”

“And yet women keep seeking us out,” he grinned.

She scooted closer to him and began kissing him. He was right. She certainly kept seeking him out. Everything about him was impulsive, and it made her more so whenever she was with him. Things began getting a little heated when Kyle walked in.

“Ugh. Gross. Can’t you do that somewhere else?” He made a disgusted face at them.

They pulled away from each other and Jason said, “it’s my house. Why don’t you go barf somewhere else?”

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Kyle realized. “Where the hell are my keys?”

“They’re in your pocket,” Jason told him. “But they won’t do you much good. Your car is still downtown in the parking garage.”

“You can’t drive like that anyway.” Stephanie extricated herself from Jason’s lap and stood up. “I’ll give you a lift.”

“Thanks.”

Kyle hobbled to the door and Stephanie followed after him. Jason grabbed her hand.

“Hey, will I see you later? After you drop off Mr. Puky?”

“Maybe,” she said vaguely.

He pulled her in for one last kiss and Kyle groaned, “dead man walking here. Can we speed this up?”

“Okay, okay,” Stephanie sighed. “You’d better not puke in my car.”

“I don’t think there’s anything left. I think I actually saw pieces of my liver floating in the toilet at one point.”

“Okay, that’s disgusting. You’re never allowed to drink ever again,” she chided him.

Once they were in the car, Stephanie took off towards Kyle’s place. She looked over at her sick friend and sighed.

“I hope you’ve learned your lesson, young man,” she teased.

“Yes, I have. Believe me,” he swore. “But I have to admit, before the deathly ill stage hit, I actually had a decent time.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Jason and his friends are pretty obnoxious. And extreme. But they’re also a little bit fun.”

“Jason’s fun. Sometimes. I like him.”

“Yeah, I noticed. You know, we haven’t really talked much lately. Obviously you don’t feel he’s stalking you anymore.”

She shrugged sheepishly, “no…I guess not. It can’t be stalking when you’re actually enjoying the attention.”

“And having sex with him.”

She shot him a look, “he told you that?”

“Did he need to? I mean hello? It’s obvious.”

“Obvious? Just because we were kissing it means we’re having sex?”

“No. But the fact that the guy tattooed your name across his chest and told everyone he was in love with you, made it obvious,” he informed her. “I don’t think he’d do that if all you guys had done together is play Scrabble.”

“Oh. Well, you have a point,” she conceded. “But he might do that. If he was really, really pathetic.”

“He loves you, Steph.”

“Yeah, I know,” she said softly.

“Do you love him? I mean, is this guy a keeper? He’s fun and all, but…”

“I don’t know Kyle. Things aren’t exactly clear on that horizon. Or any horizon, for that matter. The world is probably ending sometime next week, so will it really matter?”

“Yeah, but Steph, what if the world doesn’t end? I don’t know about you, but I’m sort of hoping it won’t.”

“Me too.”

“Maybe you need to think about that.”

“I do think about it. It’s all I think about. Jason is supposed to be my partner in saving this world. Me, him and Melissa are like this twisted triangle of fate, or something. I don’t know if he’s going to be part of my future, but he’s definitely part of my now. And I’m enjoying it. Is that so wrong?” She questioned.

He shook his head, “no, it’s not wrong. But the guy has it bad for you. I feel sort of sorry for him if you’re not feeling the way he does.”

“You feel sorry for Jason? That’s something I never thought I’d hear you say.”

“Well, I never thought I’d need to say it,” he told her. “I’m merely speaking to you as a man who just got his dreams crushed. A man who lost the only girl he ever loved, because she didn’t feel that way about him.”

She was quiet for a moment, absorbing his point of view.

She turned to him, “Angela did love you, Kyle. Once upon a time anyway.”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t now. And I still do. And it sucks.”

“I do care about Jason,” she admitted.

“Does he know that?”

“Of course he does,” she said firmly. “At least I think he does. I-I mean, I told him. In a roundabout sort of way.”

“Well, maybe you need to make it a little clearer.”

“Do you really think Jason and I should be together?” She asked his opinion.

“No, I really don’t.” He shook his head. “But that’s not up to me to decide. If you love the guy, then don’t let go. Because trust me when I say you’ll regret it. But if you don’t, then don’t string the poor bastard along. That’s all I’m saying.”

Stephanie didn’t respond as they pulled up in front of Kyle’s house. He looked over at her.

“Thanks for driving me home.”

“No problem. But don’t make me have to do it again,” she scolded him playfully.

“I won’t. I’ll see you later.”

She nodded and watched him get out of the car and disappear into the house. He’d given her a lot to think about. Was she stringing Jason along? She didn’t think so. But yet she was too afraid to throw caution to the wind the way Jason had done. The man had told her he loved her and got a tattoo to prove it. And she was still sitting there wondering if they should be together at all. At first she had told herself it was merely for her own protection. Jason just wanted to sleep with her and once he had, he’d be done with her. But then it turned out the exact opposite. She had fallen into bed and he had fallen in love. Now it was time for her to really decide what it was she felt for him.

She turned her car around and headed back towards Jason’s house. She really wasn’t sure yet what she was going to say to him. She knew that the best thing to do would be to tell him the truth. Tell him how she really felt. But the problem was, she didn’t know. She knew that being with him felt better than anything she’d ever felt. She’d told him that already. But she’d never really gotten down to the heart of things. Her heart and what was going on inside of it.

As she drove, she tried to imagine what her life would be like right now if he weren’t in it. If she were going through all of this without him. She didn’t like that image. She missed him already and he wasn’t even gone. She extended that view to her life after all of this crap was over, assuming there was one. And it seemed even worse. Lonely. Boring. There would be a big hole in her heart if he wasn’t there, she realized. She wasn’t sure exactly when he’d managed to worm his way inside there and make a home, but he had.

She pulled up out front and got out of the car. She marched up to the door and knocked. Jason opened it almost instantly.

“You’re back. I was hoping you’d show,” he smiled.

She peeked into the front room, “are you alone? Or is someone else puking in your bathroom?”

“No, I’m alone,” he assured her.

“Good.”

She jumped into his arms and sent him reeling backwards. She kissed him fiercely and he clutched onto her. Finally he pulled back for air and looked at her with pleasant surprise.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“You.”

“Well, not yet. But it’s looking that way,” he raised his eyebrow suggestively.

She laughed, “that’s not what I meant. I just wanted to show you how much I like being with you. That’s all.”

“Well, I like being with you too.” He kissed her. “A lot.”

He maneuvered his way towards the door and pulled it shut with one hand, while holding her up with the other. She kissed him wildly and they swirled around as he pinned her against the wall. He kissed her neck and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. He turned them around again and attempted to walk towards the bedroom. They only got as far as the kitchen before they lost their balance and crashed into the refrigerator. Magnets and scraps of paper scattered to the floor, along with them.

“Okay, that hurt a little,” she admitted with a laugh.

“I’ve seen that done in movies and it always works a lot smoother than that,” he said sheepishly. “Did I break you?”

She shook her head and smiled. Then she managed to get herself upright again and she grabbed his hand, pulling him up with her. They began kissing again, and he pushed her up against the counter. He kissed his way down her neck, and began loosening the buttons on her blouse. He only got them half way before she pulled his head back up to meet her mouth. Her hands began tugging at the buttons on his jeans. He returned the gesture, feverishly working to get her jeans down over her hips.

They momentarily parted, only long enough for her to pull them all the way off and toss her undergarments aside. She pushed his pants down farther and he lifted her up against the counter. He entered her quickly and sharply, causing them both to gasp out. They made love desperately and greedily. Trying to devour every inch of each other.

She held onto his shoulders and looked deep into his eyes. She wanted this man. Wanted him more than anyone in the world. He made her feel things she didn’t even know were possible. Things she hadn’t been allowing herself to feel. He kissed her zealously and she tangled her hands in his hair.

“I want you so bad, Jason,” she whispered breathlessly to him.

“You have me,” he whispered back.

They felt themselves nearing that edge and it wasn’t long before they were thrown over recklessly. They slumped against the counter and Jason rested his head on her shoulder. His legs were weak and he was out of breath. As gently as he could, he sunk down to his knees, bringing her with him. She rested her forehead on his, and tried to catch her breath.

She smiled, “wow. I’m never gonna look at your kitchen the same way ever again.”

“Me neither,” he confessed with a satisfied grin.

He kissed her again, and smoothed back the hair out of her face.

“So is this what you came for?” He asked slyly.

“Yes,” she admitted with a devious smirk. Then she touched his face gently, “and also to tell you something.”

“Tell me something? What’s that?”

She looked into his eyes, searching for answers to the questions in her heart. What she saw was overwhelming to her. She could see how much he longed for her, body and soul. And she hoped he could see that in her eyes as well.

“I love you, Jason,” she whispered softly, as she kissed his face. “I just thought you needed to know that.”

He stared at her with a mixture of elation and confusion. He’d wanted to hear her say this to him, almost from the moment they met. And now that he was hearing it, he didn’t know how to react. He needed to be assured that she really meant that.

“You do?” He asked apprehensively.

“Would I say it if I didn’t?”

He shook his head, knowing in his heart that an admission like this wouldn’t fall from her lips haphazardly.

“I love you, Steph.” He kissed her gently, “so much.”

She pulled back and traced her fingers across his chest, stopping at the place just above his heart where her name now resided. She looked up at him with questioning eyes.

“Forever?”

“Until the end of time,” he assured her. “Even if it happens to end next week,” he added.

“It won’t. We won’t let that happen,” she assured him with a kiss.

[Part Eight]