Oddly enough, JJ liked school. She didn't, you know, love it, but it was okay. She had a couple friends in Erin and Brooke and, with the exception of math, enjoyed most of her classes. Sure, Mrs. Kelpso for math was nice, but math was math and nothing could change that. And Mr. Harverly in English was great, funny, but kind of strict.

What JJ liked most about school, though, was that Nick couldn't touch her here. There were too many people all the time. Lunch and class were usually the easiest, there were always lots of other kids around. PE was okay too, since Nick's PE time went to his practices. It was free period that was the most problematic. She always had to make sure there was somebody else with her.

She wasn't all that noteworthy, this slender girl with deep, dark eyes and a simple ponytail. Pretty, sure, with a good figure, but the cheerleaders were prettier. Clad in the uniform of teenagers (faded jeans, a t-shirt with a stylized B on it, and a light jacket) she easily faded into the greater canvas of high school students. But there was something about her eyes when she felt like no one was looking. Something dark and haunted.

Brooke was sick today, Erin was celebrating her mother's birthday over lunch period. A quiet person, though she had been more outgoing once, she looked a little distant as she sat and picked at her food. JJ didn't know where her older brother was, and that worried her.

Eire was all but asleep at the lunch table, ever so light snorings coming from her with every breath because of the way she was sitting at the table. It had been so hard for her to get moving... She had spent almost all night with Alex and he had taken a good deal of her blood, so she wasn't quite recouperated yet.

She had already been yelled at in her history class for falling asleep... You would think that acing every test, never missing a homework and all the other things she did there that were exceptional would earn her some sort of break. Well You'd be wrong.

Mr. Ridgeway wasn't that kind of teacher. It was for her own good that he had thrown a book at her, waking her with a startled yelp in front of the entire class as it hit the edge of her desk expertly and fell to the floor.

First period sucked.

And by the time Eire got to lunch to possibly revive herself with food, well... She was already asleep again.

Food... The scent of it seemed to wake her up as someone sat down nest to her. "Wha..." With a murmur she opened her eyes and glanced to her cell phone in her hand. It was set on a no recieve mode so she could use it as her clock/watch. 12:21... Still lunch time.

She rubbed her face with a soft moan of exaustion. The night had been well worth it... But... "God I'm so tired... What ever happened to nap time like in kindergarden?" Eire said with a grin to the girl who was sitting beside her.

JJ turned her head to the girl next to her, the bruise-colored gaze vacant for a moment before focusing with a blink. "Nap time? Oh... hah. Guess school organizers think that when you get older you're not only able to handle more work, but handle it on less sleep." Forgetting her troubles for a second, JJ pondered that. "Wish I was back in kindergarten." Less troubles in kindergarten. Mom wasn't dead, Dad wasn't ignoring his children.

Yep... but, down that path, lay madness. As they said.

Realizing that she'd kind of been zoning out, JJ blinked again and refocused on the girl beside her. Looked older, which might explain why JJ had no idea who the girl was. The only people she knew from higher grades were Nick's teammates.

And let's not think about Nick.

"You look totally wiped." JJ said sympathetically, offering the girl the candy bar the man who filled up the vending machines had given her. Wouldn't fit, he'd said, so he'd just given it to JJ. Which was nice. "Hard night, hard classes, or just wiped?"

"Eh... Mostly A and C... " She muttedered. "Ah.. Thanks." She grinned, taking the candy bar greatfully. The hoodie was hiding her tattooed arms and the back of her neck, the school had said they wanted her to keep them as covered as possible and she didn't really mind. It kinda hid who she really was, but that's what schools did right?

"Was working late last night, and had to help a friend through some rough times. He's not in the best of conditions... But Ah... I just feel like I've had the life sucked from me." She gave a giggle at the slight truth of the matter.

"I'm Stryper by the way. You must be a freshie. Haven't seen ya around at all And I don't get a chance to mingle with them too much being a senior and all." She said with a shrug. The girl, just by lookign at her sitting down, was tall. Eire could tell easily. She was an average height really, a little on the short side, but this girl would be a lot taller than her even. Well, someone did say that the freshmen do get bigger every year.

"So what's your name Sprout?" She asked with a little grin. She was just trying to be friendly, not mean or anything. But teasing had always in her mind been a show of affection.

Sprout? Ah, well, it was better than some other nicknames she'd gotten for being tall. And Stryper? There was an interesting name. JJ wondered if it was actually the girl's name or a nickname. You never really knew.

"Alice Jane. But everybody calls me JJ." She replied, about to hold her hand out to shake, then thinking about it. For one thing, it seemed an oddly formal thing to do in school, for another, she didn't want her sleeves pulling up so Stryper could see the bruises on her arms. They were mostly yellow now, but the purplish color still lingered, making them really ugly.

And JJ didn't want to have to think of an excuse as to why she had them.

Holding the sleeve to her palm with her fingertips, she picked up her fork again, smoothing her ponytail with her other hand. "Stryper, huh? Is that a nickname?" JJ asked curiously, picking at her mac and cheese.

"JJ huh? Well nice ta meet ya. I think I like Sprout better, but I can deal with JJ." She grinned.

She nearly laughed as JJ asked about her name. "If my parents named me Stryper I would have run away loong ago." She chuckled. "The real name's Eire, but only my teachers call me that. If you want to get a hold of me by the students, only a few will kow who you're talking about."

Eire pulled up a sleeve to demonstrate why. "When I was little, My dad and stepmom promised I could get these when I turned sixteen. They thought I wouldn't remember, but I sure as hell did." Pushing the sleeve back down she took a bite of the snickers bar. Ah, delicious.

"But I got them bit by bit. Same guy over at a nice tattoo parlor. He did them for me. God it hurt like a bitch, but I'd get them done again if I had the chance. Well, I'll have to get them recolored eventualy... But yeah... It hurt for weeks on end. Especialy my back." She gave a little shudder, almost of pleasure though, as she remembered the pain.

"But anyway, I want to get a few peirceings next. But they won't sign for them so I have to wait until I turn eighteen." She grinned.

"So is the food any good? I don't think I've ever eaten a school lunch here in all my four years coming..." She mused. "Usualy have time to pack one before I leave..."

"Either's fine..." JJ murmured, looking down at her food. She didn't really care what people called her, except... except for Ally. She hated the nickname Ally. Glancing over when Stryper pulled her sleeve up, JJ stared at the tiger stripes. Wow.

"I bet that hurt." JJ said without thinking. A slight flush touched her pale skin, unsure whether or not that was a good comment to make. It was interesting to note, however, that both girls had stripes. The difference was, Stryper's were permanent. And wanted.

JJ looked again, wondering why the girl had wanted the tattoos. Some people liked tattoos, but an all over tattoo like that? Plus, Stryper had said it really hurt. Forking up some of the noodles, she asked, "I take it you like cats." It was said a little dryly, meant to be a joke. In fact, JJ was enjoying herself, at least more than she had been.

Glancing down at the food comment, JJ shrugged. "It's okay. Not restaurant quality, but not cafeteria horror story either." Taking a sip of her fake Tang, JJ shoved some macaroni around. She didn't eat much, unless it was before a meet or practice, which probably accounted for her slimness.

Turning back to Stryper, JJ smiled slightly. "Where are you planning on getting your piercings?"

A moment later, the emotion drained from her face, leaving her pretty features cold. She had caught sight of Nick, and he was clearly heading their way.

Liked cats? Eire had to blink. After all, she had never owned a cat in her life. "Eh, not really I guess. My stepmom's allergic to them, so we've actually never had one. But I love tigers though. And my father says I'm always a lot like a cat." She grinned.

She nodded as she heard the food report. Eh, she'd wait till she got home. She was planning on making some tortiline soup anyway, so at least this way she'd be hungry for food.

"I dunno... I was planning on getting a few more ear piercings. I just have one set now. But maybe do three or for more sets on the lobes... Then get my cartalige done. And I've always thought eyebrow rings looked neat. Tongue I'm a little iffy on... I was gonna ask around about that one though. And of course belly button. They say that hurts, but I think after the tattoos, I can handle it."

Looking up with a yawn she rubbed her eyes slightly and waved. "Yo! Nick, good luck with the game tonight man." She said with a grin.

((I take it you want me to play Nick here too :) ))

Were the hell was she? The little brat had skiped out early from the house and had run on to school before him, and he hadn't seen her all day. He had to give her her daily dose of tourture after all. He wouldn't do anything to her tonight more than likely, after all he was in fairly good spirits. The basketball game tonight was against one of the other local high schools they had crushed year after year. He wasn't afraid or worried.

"Hey there Kitty Kat. Whats up?" Perfect... A way to socialize and scare the shit out of his sister. He slid down into the seat across the table

"Yeah, the game's not gonna be a problem at all Strypes. But hell. I'll be pissed if something does. We've already beat them once this season, and we beat them every year, so we don't have an excuse to loose tonight." He flicked a glance over at JJ. Did Eire know that they were siblings? He didn't remember mentioning any...

"Sooo. Who's you're little friend here? Well I guess not so little. Freshmen these days, looks like their parents water them and make them sleep in miracle-grow or something" He said with a light hearted chuckle and smile.

"Ah, this is JJ. You two met before? I guess not though." She offered with a smile.

On the surface, JJ didn't look like she was all that concerned with her brother's arrival. She watched the little conversation between him and Stryper neutrally, pushed her food around he plate like she had been before. But if you looked closer, her hand shook and she avoided meeting Nick's eyes.

At his comment about freshmen, she looked up. What kind of game was he playing? But his face, that handsome face, was unreadable. JJ could recognize all kinds of looks on his face--the boredom that so quickly turned to cruelty, sadism, taunting--but not this smile. It was not a smile he ever sent her way. Nick only smiled at her when he was about to hurt her. Seeing her look at him, he winked, sending a tremor skating down JJ's spine.

Her voice steady, almost flat, JJ darted a look at him again. All things considered, her composure was remarkable. Then her eyes slid away, back down to her food. "It's... it's nice to meet you." A smile fluttered across her lips like a ghost. Maybe she didn't know what the game was, but she figured it best to play along. "You're the big basketball hero. Pretty cool."

"Yep, basketball and rising football star too, right Nick?" Stryper grinned at him. "He's a bt of a jerk at first really, but once you get to know him he's a lot nicer and cuddlier than those other jock-straps he plays with." She said with a laugh.

In a good mood now, she bairly noticed JJ's discomfort and apprehension around him. Even if she had she might have just thought the girl was shy around older, good looking guys.

But Nick noticed. He noticed every little tremmor of her body, and even better, her new friends Stryper, was his friends Stryper. JJ would know that nothing she could say would change her mind about him. Just the way it was with everyone outside their home. He had them all fooled. Or maybe he wasn't fooling him. Maybe, without the stress and the thoughts of home, he was actually a nicer guy to people.

Hell, he wasn't activly torturing Ally now was he?

"Oh! Hey Nick." Stryper said as she pulled him out of his thoughts. "When do you wanna go catch that movie that I owe you. You bett make it before finals and graduation and all, otherwise I'm probably gonna forget."

She looked over to JJ a smile full on her face. Of course she didn't know they were siblings. They really didn't look anything alike. same last name, if she had known JJ's she'd probably pass it off as a coincidince. "BUt for every three-pointer he makes I owe him a movie." She grinned. "And for every one he tried and misses he owes me a movie." She explained.

"Yeah, so far it's about even, or will be once you catch up woth the movie you owe me." He grinned fully, a much different person than JJ was used to seeing. "I just need to find a good one that's out."

"Hey, JJ," Stryper piped up. "You wanna come along with the next one, whatever it is? My treat."

Nick raised an eye. "Kitty, this is our special thing. I know you have a soft spot for the little fresshies, but let's not ruin tradition now huh?"

Stryper bit her lip slightly. "Sure, I guess." She looked back over to the girl. "But the offer still stands for a movie though if you're interested."

"Yep, basketball and rising football star too, right Nick?" Stryper grinned at him. "He's a bt of a jerk at first really, but once you get to know him he's a lot nicer and cuddlier than those other jock-straps he plays with."

JJ gave a half-laugh at those words, only slightly bitter. "I'll bet. He sure looks nicer, doesn't he?" She asked sincerely, showing a flash of what she had been like, once upon a time. Smiling a little at Nick, she knew he understood the real meaning behind her words, but Stryper wouldn't.

Nick met her smile with his own, then directed it towards Stryper as they chatted about movies and three-pointers. So, Stryper was who he went with when he didn't go with his buddies. At least, she was who he went with most of the time. JJ'd seen some others. Guess she'd just missed Stryper.

When the older girl invited her along, JJ was already opening her mouth to politely decline. Nick wouldn't want her there. More, she wouldn't want to go with Nick. But her older brother easily deflected that one, although he shot a warning look to JJ for form. "Thanks, Stryper. I'll... I'll think about it."

"Well, ladies, I gotta scoot." Nick flashed another quick grin at the two, a normal friendly grin. "Kitty, I'll get back to you on that movie. I'll check the listings tonight." In a friendly way, he dropped a hand on JJ's shoulder, giving it a squeeze and laughing inside at the flinch and wince she couldn't quite hide. "Nice to meet you, JJ. Maybe we can get together sometime, too." Though it was doubtful anyone else could have detected it, there was a trace of something mocking in his last words, even as he plucked up JJ's apple and walked away crunching on it.

Resisting the urge to rub her shoulder where Nick had squeezed it, knowing full well there was a bruise there, JJ picked up her fork again. She'd dropped it when he'd touched her. But her hand shook, and she had to set it down again before it clattered. For a second, just for a second, the girl looked like a classic battered wife; her head was down, her shoulders slightly hunched. "It was... it was nice to meet you. Stryper." JJ managed, forgetting her bookbag as she stood and walked quickly from the cafeteria. She was afraid she'd be sick.

Outside in the empty hall, she leaned against the cold cement-brick wall, splayed her hands against the cold surface. He didn't usually affect her this way. In fact, he'd done nothing to her, but still she propped herself up and took deep breaths. Tried to breathe away the snakes in her stomach.

Eire couldn't help but blink as JJ got up and walked off. Was it something she had said? What was wrong?

She almost seemed afraid of something, but what? Nick hadn't done anything to her really, well take her apple, but the girl didn't seem to be eating it anyway. Was there something going on that she didn't know?

Standing up herself, Eire's foot hit something. A backpack? It must have been JJ's.

Picking it up she walked out of the cafateria looking for the girl. Where was she?

She found her a ways outside in the hall, leaning against the wall as she looked as if she were going to throw up or something. "Sprout?" She said softly as she approached the girl. "Hey, JJ, you left your backpack. You okay girl?" She asked curiously, even though she knew the girl wasn't okay in the slightest. "You look like someone punched ya in the stomach or something."

She lay her hand gently on the girl's shoulder. "What's up?"

Eyes closed, JJ started slightly at the sound of Stryper's voice. The girl looked concerned, and held her backpack. God, how could she have been so stupid as to forget her backpack?

"I'm... fine." JJ lied, mustering up what passed for a smile. Punched in the stomach? Not too far from the truth. After all, JJ had about the same reaction to just seeing Nick as she did when he actually punched her in the stomach. Sickness, dizziness, shaking. Pathetic, really, but she couldn't help it.

Gratefully accepting her bookbag, she tried to smile again. "No, no, I'm fine. Just, um, the patented Vanilla Surprise for dessert. I may be odd, but I really don't like it when food surprises me." The joke might have been funny, if not for the fact that JJ, who was typically quite pale anyway, looked drained and white. And even though the older girl's touch was light, it landed on JJ's tender shoulder, making her flinch again.

"Probably should start packing a lunch, like you do." JJ continued, clenching her fist around the straps on her bag as her hand shook again. Come on, girl, snap out of it. Do it.

Something wasn't right here... No...

Call it her sixth sence from spending too much time with vampires- Yeah... Well it almost looked as if she'd just been drained. she looked weak, pale... And she noticed how the girl was clenching her hands tight around the straps, how she flinched at even the lightest of touches.

"JJ... Something's wrong... And it's not just the cafeteria food." She said hestiantly. But hell... Like this girl she had just met would really open up to her, tell her what was really wrong. She knew she wouldn't. Well, she was a talkiitive and trusting person, so she just might.

"But I can't make you tell me... if you ever need an ear though, just find me okay?" She said with a little smile. "If someone's hurting you... Or picking on you or anything, I'll do what I can to help. And I know some people who can help you too okay? And they can all keep a good secret."

It felt kind of odd, coddling a girl who was taller than her, but she was still younger, and Eire had seen enough to make her more mature than most. But a grin came to her face as an idea came to her mind

"Hey... How about we go see that movie JJ. I'm sicka school now. You got any important classes going on after lunch? We can hit the matanee prices which is always a plus." She grinned.

JJ's knee-jerk reaction was to decline. Hadn't her parents beaten a work ethic into her? Hadn't she always taken pride in her grades and perfect attendence? Just because she was feeling shook up was no cause to skive off school. She could work through it, just like she always did.

Besides, a little part of her mind told her, Stryper was Nick's friend.

She didn't care. It didn't matter, really, her last few classes she was acing anyway. The only thing she'd miss was art, but... JJ realized she really, really, just wanted to have fun. Not crazy/wild fun, but some nice relaxing fun. She used to have fun, used to go to the movies with friends. Then she'd stopped, holed up and avoided going out unless it was to school.

"No..." JJ replied slowly, kind of surprised that Stryper was still being nice to her. After all, she had kind of ditched the older girl. JJ'd been rude. "Nothing really important." And maybe, just maybe, Stryper was right. JJ couldn't tell anyone, but maybe the older girl could help. In a way.

Her fingers relaxed fractionally, no longer clutching her backpack like it was a lifeline. Smoothing her ponytail back, JJ looked at Stryper, her eyes still dark against her pale face, but not longer like fresh bruises. A slow smile, a bit unsure since it wasn't false, touched her features and you could see the beauty JJ had but hid. "What're you thinking?"

"I was thinking that you need some time to unwind." She said softly. Something's got you spooked... And it's always nice to get away from those kinds of things for a while."

That was what she was thinking, but she doubted that the girl was asking about that.

"Come on, lets get out of here. All the teachers eyes are on the cafeteria right now if that's what you're worried about. Besides, I get out two periods early and my study hall teacher never reports if I'm gone. She's one of my old history teachers." Eire said with a shrug.

"We've got about fifteen minutes till bell. Plenty of time. And the streets will mostly be empty, and the theater will look abandonded." She grinned. It was obvious that she had done it several times. But only needing to take a few classes to graduate she was released early so she wouldn't simply get bored in school. it was fine by the school as long as she kept her grades up.

"I dunno what's playing but I guess I'll find out before Nick." She said with a grin as she began to walk off, jerking her head to tell JJ to join her.

Unwinding was probably a good idea. After all, JJ was, at the moment, wound as tight as thin wire. If her wire broke, there was a good possibility she'd just pop, little strings heading off in every direction. Because the tensile strength was not... Okay, enough of the wire analogy.

"You've got it all planned out." JJ smiled again, another slow, shy smile. It was pretty cool, really, to know someone who knew all about that kind of stuff. Sneaking out of school stuff. "Since you do, and I really don't, I follow your lead." Jokingly, JJ gave a sort of bow, and an 'after-you' gesture.

She'd never skipped school before. And it had been ages since she'd gone to see a movie in theaters.

As Eire had said, the doors were guarded only by a security guard who nodded at Eire, knowing she usualy left around this time anyway. He gave a slight glance at JJ, but after a grin from Eire he rolled his eyes with a smile. And jerked his head towards the door.

"Officer McCarthy is awesome. He caught me the first and only time I tried smoking. gave me a litteraly three hour lecture about it." She laughed as she pushed the door open. The cool air felt refreshing and the sunlight was delightful. She tugged off her hoodie and let her tanktop cover what needed to be coverd. But the stripes now showed the length up her arms, on the back of her neck and shoulders.

"You wanna walk or take the bus? It's about a twenty... Thirty minute walk from here, and I know that backpack is heavy." Eire herself didn't have one, because she hadn't needed it today. her locker was big enough to hold everything she didn't need, which today... Was everything.

As they neared the security guard, JJ had been sure that he would stop them. Or her, at least, send her back to class. But he didn't. Obviously, he was used to Stryper going out. Though it didn't look like he approved, exactly, of her taking someone with her, he still didn't say anything. With her height and her looks, he probably thought JJ was older than she was. A lot of people did, anyway.

Glancing at Stryper's tattoos again since they were so cool, JJ wished she could take her jacket off. The sun would probably feel nice. And, wow, Stryper had a lot of ink. The older girl could not have been kidding when she said how much it hurt.

With a laugh, JJ pretended to flex her bicep. "I'm good either way. I'm stronger than I look." Which was true, even though she looked like a little wisp of a thing. A twenty or thirty minute walk was no problem.

"Cool I always like to walk. Makes me feel like I'm not being a lazy kid." She laughed. "One reason why I don't have a car. The other being I can't quite afford one yet. But I'm getting there. I had my eyes on this sweeet Camaro... But it was sold. Cried for days over that one." Eire grinned. Jean had said she was being stupid and Eire kept protesting that the old hag didn't understand.

It had needed some work, but she would have done it. Her and her father could have fixed it all up!

Ah, oh well really.

"But I'm looking for another one as we speek. It has to be an older one. The new ones are kinda ugly." Eire added making a face.

Turning her head slightly she saw the girl looking at the tattoos on her shoulder and back of her neck. "Yeah, those hurt the worst. Couldn't sleep on my back for almost a damn month." She said as she rolled her eyes. got the back of my shoulders, neck and the lower back done at the same time. Bad idea. Middle of the back didn't hurt as bad... But maybe because I was used to the pain. It doesn't bother you after a while though." She gave a little shrug.

"Ooohh. And Just think! Fresh popped popcorn! We'll be some of the first there, so it'll be nice and hot." Yeah, luckaly she didn't eat lunch now. Get a hotdog, a soda and popcorn. Best lunch ever in her opinnion. And it was a wonder she wasn't pudgy.

Smoothing her dark ponytail, JJ listened to Stryper's talk about cars. The freshman had never really thought about a car of her own, though her father could easily afford it. He'd bought a Mustang for Nick on Nick's sixteenth birthday. Then the older girl noticed JJ looking at her tattoos.

"Couldn't sleep on my back for almost a damn month."

JJ knew what that was like. She disagreed, however, with Stryper's comment about getting used to the pain. About it not bothering you after a while. Sure, you learned to live with it, but you were always bothered by it. And you were never quite prepared for the shock of the first time.

A light sweat popped out on her forehead as she walked beside the older girl, but JJ made no move to take her jacket off or even roll up her sleeves. "With extra butter. Or whatever it is they put on popcorn." JJ flashed a grin at Stryper. "Who cares if it's all chemicals, right?" Thinking about it, she realized it'd been, like, forever since she'd had movie popcorn. But you never forgot that particular taste.

Damn, it was good. Add in an icy drink and nachos, maybe a hotdog, and you had junk food heaven.

"Damn right. We're kids. Why should we care what it is as long as it tastes good right?" Eire laughed.

Eire lost her smile slightly though and pulled away in to her thoughts a bit. She wished Alex was here... That they could be like a normal couple, walk out in the streets holding hands and everything... But if he were here now, he'd be ash in seconds... Maybe she'd see if he wanted to go to a movie... Maybe when she paid up on the movie she owed Nick, Alex could come along too. So he'd get to meet kids his own age.

"So... JJ, you got any crushes at school?" She asked with a grin. "I mean sure you're probably taller than a lot of the boys, but there's gotta be one that you're sweet for. Or even one that likes you back." Leaning sideways she bumped herself against JJ. "C'mon. It's been a while since I've had some girl chat. Some guy you like, or would want to ask to the spring formal."

JJ grinned back, ducking her head slightly. "Right. We get to eat all the junk food we want while we're still young. Dad's girlfriend is always telling me to enjoy my pizza, 'cause I'll be thinking how many minutes of aerobics I'll have to do to justify a slice when I get older." JJ smiled again, a dazzling smile that made her look like a completely different person. "It's kind of funny though... she's always telling me I'm too thin."

Crushes? The smile faded, withering like a flower out of water. "I don't... I mean." She blew out a breath. Don't make a big deal out of it. "I'm not really interested in guys." JJ said at length. Stryper didn't give her too long to brood, however, playfully bumping hip to hip. Trying to keep up the good mood, a smile fluttered over her lips. "Sure there are some cute guys, but... Mostly they're all so, um, shallow?"

"Oh I won't have to worry about that." Eire laughed as the other girl mentioned arobics for Pizza. "No sir-ie. My papa has a really high metabolism even though he's almost forty. And he said my mom was always really thin, so I think I'll be okay." Well that and once she was turned she wouldn't be able to eat anyway... That would kinda suck, but she'd get used to it.

Eire laughed again as she said guys were kind of shallow at the school. "That's because they're still boys. There's a big differance between men and boys, you'll learn that soon enough. But the important thing to remember, is don't waste your time with boys. Only men are worth the trouble and time." She said knowingly.

"I thought about dating Nick once, ya know, the guy we met in the cafateria. But he's just a boy still. Sometimes he seems like he's older, but there are just sometimes... I don't quite get him. He'll go from being a decent guy to a jerk in no time... That's why I said no when he asked me out a few weeks ago. Later that day he seemed pissed, like a kid throwing a temper, but the next day he was cool, as if it hadn't even bothered him a bit." But Eire gave a little shrug.

"But like I said. Most high schoolers are boys. That's why I have someone outside of school. One of the guys I work with... Hey! You should totaly come to the Casino with me one night!" She grinned broadly. "You know, the Ace High? I work there."

"A few weeks ago...?" JJ echoed unconsciously, thinking about it. She couldn't be sure, but she had to wonder if Nick had been in a particularly bad mood a few weeks ago. It was hard to say. His moods, good or bad, never really mattered.

Remembering she wasn't supposed to know Nick, JJ smiled at Stryper, though the expression didn't quite reach her eyes. "He's pretty cute though. Never even crossed your mind to say yes?"

Yeah, most high schoolers would be boys. "The casino? They probably wouldn't let a high school freshman in the door."

"It had... But then he did the same stuff back at the beginning of the year. I heard he was asking around for someone with a webcam or something and I had just gotten a new one so I thought to give him my old one. Well, I went to take it to him and he asked me to the winter formal. I was already going with a group of my girlfriends, and we had already agreed no guys allowed. So he got really pissed."

She bit her lip slightly.

"For a moment it looked like he was about to hit me or something. Since then I've been kinda wary about him. But he seems to have calmed since then though. But I've got someone else in my mind though." She said with a grin commign back to her face. "And he's a man. Not a boy. "Ah, they'll let you in with me. You just have to stay away from the chips and the drinks is all. That's what I do. But it's still a lot of fun watching and they always have good entertainment there too."

JJ's fingers unconsciously dug into the straps on her bag, Stryper's words echoing through her head. "I heard he was asking around for someone with a webcam or something and I had just gotten a new one so I thought to give him my old one." The freshman swallowed. "You gave him the webcam?" For a moment, JJ felt angry--as if it were Stryper's fault what had happened. But she tamped the feeling down. It was irrational to think Stryper had done anything wrong. Irrational. Swallowing again, she forced a smile. "Must be pretty good friends to just give him something expensive like that."

"For a moment it looked like he was about to hit me..."

Nick wouldn't do that. It wouldn't have been smart. If there was one thing Nick prided himself on the most, it was being smart. Bitterly, JJ reflected that Nick hadn't needed to take his anger out on Stryper--he had a well-trained punching bag waiting for him at home. With effort, she detoured her thoughts from that line.

"People watching, huh? Probably even more fun at a casino than school."

"Yeah." She responded hestiantly. Something was wrong, the hair on her arms was standing up, along with the hair on the back of her neck. And she wasn't cold in the slightest. "It was just a cheap one that I picked up a few years ago. Maybe... Twenty bucks..." She gave a little shrug. It almost sounded like... Like the girl was blaming her for something. Being around vampire she needed to read them for her own protection and that worked with humans too.

There was something that JJ wasn't telling her. Something important.

"Are you okay? You seem... Really stressed. Was it something I said?" She asked softly, looking up at the girl.

JJ looked down. Maybe this whole idea wasn't such a good idea. Besides, she probably wouldn't be very good company anyway. Glancing back up at Stryper, she started to speak. It was so tempting, so tempting, to spill all. To tell everything to this girl she hardly knew. But she didn't, closing her mouth to think of a lie.

"It wasn't anything you said." JJ replied at last. Tugging her backpack off, she scribbled something on a piece of paper. "Just... just... take this. You'll understand." Before she could change her mind, she pressed the paper into Stryper's hand and walked away.

Blinking as JJ pulled out a paper and pen, wrote something, and handed it to her. "What? JJ? What's wrong?"

She looked at the paper and saw a website name on there, well. Address.

By the time Eire looked up JJ was heading away across the street. But for some reason Eire didn't follow. She knew JJ needed space, time, so... Eire began to head home... She would check out the website later, but it gave her a bad feeling... Really. Like she shouldn't look, like it was something bad and evil.

Eire didn't feel like seeing a movie alone now, and she... Well, she had things to do now. She was supposed to be looking for a car, cleaning the house a bit to do her chores. And she had to work tonight. But she would check the website out after work. She promised herself she would. Well, and JJ too.

The site probably had to do with JJ some how. Otherwise she wouldn't have given it to her.

JJ didn't go back to school. She went home instead, let herself inside. John was at work. Anna was too. Dylan was still at school, and he had practice afterwards. And Nick would too. She had the house to herself. Walking upstairs to her room, she put her backpack on her neatly made bed.

She really should study.

Instead, she headed back downstairs and then to the basement. Took a package of pork chops from the freezer. She'd do something normal, something enjoyable while she had the house to herself. JJ plugged her CD player into an outlet in the kitchen. With the soft sounds of Sarah MacLachlan serenading her, she thawed the chops. Cut up vegetables to make a salad. Steam rose from one pot, a pan crackled with the sound of frying meat.

Something normal, even as she wondered if Stryper had gone home yet. Had sat down at the computer yet.

------------------- The Next Day -------------------


Eire looked as bad as she honestly felt. Her face was white and ashy, her skin cool and her eyes almost bright red from lacy of sleep. She hadn't slept at all last night... Images of what she had seen were forever ingrained in her mind. And... And the thought that made her sick to her stomach... If it wasn't for her... It wouldn't have happened... It wouldn't have happened if she hadn't given him the camera. She had thrown up after seeing it the first time, and it was even worse that she knew both people.

She had known there was something about Nick that set her on edge... A deep seeded anger... But she hadn't ever thought him capable of something like that... If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes... She would have never believed it.

Curled up on a bench outside of the cafeteria, eire was trembling with fatigue, with hunger and exaustion. But she knew if she ate anything she'd simply throw it back up. She had tried with breakfast... And well, it hadn't gone too well.

One might think her pregnant, if she wasn't a virgin...

She stayed out in the lobby because the smell of the food was making her sick, and she didn't want to run in to JJ. Not yet. She was still stunned... Overwhelmed with what was going on... But how did they know eachother? Why hadn't either of them said a thing before.

Eire had thought about going to the principal, but what would the school do? And besides... If JJ didn't want people to know... That was another thing... She couldn't betray JJ's trust to try and do some good that could end up making everything worse. But... But how could it get any worse than that?!

Oh god... She was gonna be sick again...

JJ sat on the bench, wrapped her arms around her knees, and looked at Stryper. "I'm sorry." She whispered, her chin on her knees. And she was. She shouldn't have let Stryper see it, not like that. It couldn't have been pretty viewing, she knew, smoothing her ponytail back in a nervous gesture. In fact, she shouldn't have involved the older girl at all.

Stryper looked terrible. Her skin was white, her eyes almost horror-movie red against the paleness. The senior was curled up and Stryper looked like she would be sick.

"I'm sorry." She repeated, not looking at the other girl but down at the chipped tile instead. JJ was careful not to touch Stryper, not to contaminate her. "I..." Because the words 'am sorry' were about to come out of her mouth again and she didn't want to sound like a broken record, she let her voice trail off. "I didn't think... I guess I've gotten used to it. I shouldn't have... It wasn't something you needed."

Her voice trailed off again and she wrapped her arms tighter around her legs. For as tall as she was, slender JJ Townsend suddenly looked very small. Vulnerable. "I'm... I didn't realize... I'll go."

"If I had known... I... I wouldn't have given it to him... I never would have..." She said through trembling lips. "I... I didn't know... I never thought he could... " Her body shook slightly as she held back the urge to wrech. "God... If I'd known... I didn't mean..." She stammered.

But then she lost it. Nick was walking towards them with a group his temates.

She shuddered at the sight of him and closed her eyes as they approached, as if she hadn't even thrown up on the floor just then. It was mainly water anyway, that was all she'd had all day.

"Kitty?" Nick frowned as he watched her. "You don't look so good." And he seemed genuinly concerned. But as his eyes went over to his sister they narrowed suspiciously "What happened A-to her JJ?" He had nearly called her Ally. What was wrong with him. He was better than that. He reached out a hand to her forhead, feeling the cool skin. She seemed genuinly sick.

Eire would have thrown up again at his touch, but there was nothing in her stomach. "Jack, go get the nurse or something will ya? JJ, go on to lunch." He said as he looked hashly at her.

"Uh sure thing Nick." Responded one of the guys.

"No..." Eire mumbled. "I'm okay... Just a stomach bug Nick..." She lied quickly. "JJ was keeping me company until my mom gets here." her eyes were still closed, hearing his voice was bad enough, but seeing him... Remembering what he had done to JJ... God that was horrible...

Nick narrowed his eyes as the other guys made their way to the cafeteria. His sussicious eyes were trying to pull the truth from her about what Eire said.

As Stryper stammered apologies, explanations, JJ shook her head. "I know. You wouldn't have done anything like that." She tried to comfort the older girl without much success. Stryper still looked like a wreck. Her face was pale and she shook.

Glancing up, JJ caught sight of Nick heading their way, just as Stryper lost it. JJ's first instinct was to rub the senior's back, but her hand was only halfway there when she pulled it back. The girl was obviously disgusted to an extreme degree. With her.

Instead, she watched silently as Nick did the comforting thing and touched his palm to his friend's forehead. It was sort of interesting to know he could be comforting. Gentle, even as his cold eyes fell on her and made her want to curl back into a ball. "She's okay, Nick. Her mom'll be here any minute."

JJ smiled weakly at his narrowed glare. "You don't have to worry--although it's nice that you do."

“Nick… Please. Just go… I’m really not in the mood right now. I’ll give you a call if I’m feeling better though if you wanted to catch that movie tonight.”

Nick wasn’t too happy with her words. But he understood. “Okay Eire. You go home and feel better okay? Give me a call when you’re feeling better.” He said as his fingers brushed her hair. But he got up and left then, joining his friends in the cafeteria.

Eire shuddered and sighed as he left. “Why do you let him do that? Why JJ?” She whispered as she wiped her hand over her mouth. “He’s a monster… A fucken monster…” A tear dripped off of her nose and- “How could I trust him? I knew something was wrong… I knew. But I didn’t believe it.” She looked up at JJ. “God I’m so sorry… I never meant to hurt anyone. Never.” She shook her head.

JJ needed to get away from him. Needed to stay away from that monster. “Let me help you JJ… Let me try and make up for what I did…” That was kind of stupid. How could she make up for something like that? How could she make it all better? She couldn’t. But she could try to keep it from happening again. She could try… She had to try, She owed it to the girl it was all her fault that Nick was doing this to her…

JJ watched him go, watched his obvious concern for Stryper with detached interest. Nick Townsend had a heart. Of all the things to discover. It was, she reflected, sort of ironic. If she was getting the definition of irony right...

When he was gone, she tucked her knees under her chin again, wrapped her arms around them. "I don't let him do anything, Stryper." JJ said quietly. She almost took offense at the very suggestion that she was allowing Nick to do what he did. But, really, there was no point. "I don't let him do anything. He takes what he wants, does what he wants. Fighting back..." Her voice trailed off and she let her eyes close. "I stopped a long time ago."

Instead of looking at the older girl, JJ turned her face to the side so her cheek rested on her updrawn knees. "I wanted to be pissed at you. You gave him the camera, therefore, it's partly your fault. In fact, I wanted to take it even further. Maybe if you hadn't turned him down... But that's a load of bullshit. You didn't know what was going on. If you had, you never would have given the camera. But you didn't and you thought of him as a friend. So you did the friendly thing and gave it to him." JJ had thought a lot about that last night. She'd been furious at first, blaming Stryper as if it were all on the older girl's head. But she wasn't quite so petty as to blame anyone who might have had a connection.

"You didn't do anything. And there's nothing you can do. It'll just go on until Nick gets bored or..." Or until he kills me. Not that she would say that. Stryper already felt guilty enough.

Eire shook her head. "Don't... You can't just stop fighting..." She said as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. Her dull eyes looked over at JJ. "You don't have to put up with it. Tell someone... Anyone. Show them the site... They'll stop it. They'll arrest him, they'll put him where he can't touch you! They have prisons for monsters like him JJ. To stop him from hurting more people. What do you think he'll do when he gets bored with you? He'll just do it to someone else."

She was pleading to JJ in a hushed tone. After all, Eire was sure JJ didn't want everything yelled out to everyone.

She sighed though and ran a hand through her hair. She knew she couldn't tell the girl what to do. But...

"At least come stay the night at my house... And... And I'll give you my address and cell number... Come over whenever you want... I don't care. Call me day or night. Please JJ... Let me help you..."

"But I have." JJ said tiredly, rolling her head over so it was her forehead against her knees. "It hurts too much to fight. Doesn't help anything." Her voice dropped to a muffled whisper. "And he enjoys it too much." When she looked up, her eyes were darkly wet, but no tears fell. "He said he'll kill me if I tell anyone or go to the police. And Dylan, our younger brother, too. Maybe he couldn't, if I told the right people, but I won't take that chance."

JJ blinked until the tears no longer threatened to fall. "When he gets bored with me, he'll... I don't know what he'll do. But I won't let him hurt anyone else. I couldn't. If he did, I'd tell. No matter what. But for now... for now, there's nothing I can do. I won't risk it." Ashamed, sick from it, she pressed her hands to her face. Because, the truth was, she was too afraid to work up the courage to go to the police. Afraid they wouldn't believe her or, worse, that Nick would convince them that--somehow--she was the one at fault. He was good with words, JJ thought bitterly. Fought back more tears. Crying was useless, useless, and it would only draw more attention to them.

"At least come stay the night at my house... Please JJ... Let me help you."

Surprised, JJ looked at the older girl. Did she mean that? "I... really?"

"You have to JJ! If you don't, it's just gonna keep happening! You know that too." Eire's voice dropped off.

Why was the girl surprised though at her offer for help. "Do you honestly think that I'm gonna let him hurt you if I can help it? I can't JJ... It's all my fault anyway. If I hadn't given him the damn webcam... Then... This wouldn't have happened..." Eire said as she pushed herself up from the bench.

Running her hands through her hair she sighed. "Come on. I can't be in here another minute..." She muttered. Eire was still feeling sick... She needed fresh air... To be outside in the open. She hated being caged up and she'd never feel better in here. "Out the Gym side door though. It's not watched right now... No classes going on in there." She said knowingly.