What Is There Left For Me? (Private)

[vacuusanimi]

Jarek narrowed his eyes in the hallway as the feeling of another vanished. They knew that he knew, or at least, he thought they did.

"I'll deal with you soon enough," he said softly before he walked to the men's bathroom.

As he walked into the empty room, he vanished and reappeared in an alley by one of the city's famous night clubs. He walked up to the back of the school where many students used their breaks to smoke. Rachel was standing there, waiting patiently for him.

"You ready?" he asked as he walked up to her, hands in the pockets of his jacket.

Jarek, someone who used to be selfish and cold, was filled with the need to make both Rachel and Emma feel better, nothing more. Even if he had to sacrifice something for it, he would gladly give anything up.

[Miss Gates]

Rachel nodded and tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. "We can take my car." She said. Her car was nearby and she hadn't mind taking up more gas if he needed a ride back to the school. Rachel was a sweet girl. She was a great student as well. She was well known to the teachers. Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket and she pulled out the pink flip phone. It was a text message from Emma's father. "Hold on." Rachel said and pressed view. Her eyes widened in excitement. "Emma's awake!"

[vacuusanimi]

Jarek tried to keep his excitement hidden. He wasn't sure if he did it well, but it wasn't really too much of a concern.

"Well, let's get there so she can see you," he said as he held a hand out for her to lead the way.

He wouldn't be coming back to school. He had bigger things to worry about than class. Emma, for starters. Then, whoever was in the hallway today. Jarek had a feeling they had a big part in Emma's accident. He would definitely find out, one way or another.

[Miss Gates]

Rachel looked at his hand and then smiled. She nodded and took his hand. It felt weird. Well, not his hand, but the fact that they were holding hands. Rachel hadn't cared about what other people thought at the moment. She wanted to see Emma. Rachel was so glad that her friend was awake. She walked to her car, a forest green Buick Lacrosse and opened the driver door. "Go ahead." Rachel said and got into the car. As she waited for Jarek, she started the car and turned on some music. It was quiet because she hadn't felt like listening to anything. She just wanted to see her best friend.

[vacuusanimi]

The car ride was quiet, despite the music. Jarek couldn't really think of anything to talk about that would effectively distract them from the fact that Emma was awake. He couldn't help feeling like that coma had ended rather suddenly. From what he knew, since she'd gone into a coma, it should have lasted at least three months. But just one night? Something was off.

They finally arrived at the hospital and Jarek suddenly felt out of place. He had never met any of Emma's family or other friends, save Rachel. Now, he was getting thrown into a big reunion and he wasn't ready.

"Ugh, this is going to be so unnecessarily awkward," he thought to himself.

He and Rachel rounded the corner to Emma's room after getting the information and saw that the door was open. Jarek's jaw almost dropped. She looked like she was in great condition. Barely any bandages and moving relatively well.

[Miss Gates]

Trenton had been sitting next to Emma on the left, holding her hand. He looked up at Jarek and grinned. Now they had finally met. Emma turned her head and looked at Jarek and Rachel. "Rachel! Jarek!" Emma said in a rather loopy voice. She was on some pain medication. She turned back to Trenton and smiled. "This is Trenton. He saved me." Emma looked at him like he was some kind of god. It wasn't her own actions, of course. Trenton had made her talk about him like this through a spell. That girl had so many spells on her right now it wasn't even funny. She was being controlled at so many angles. It was as if she hadn't any free will because of all the spells. Emma looked back at them. "The doctors said that if it weren't for him I'd probably would be dead." She said.

Rachel smiled and walked over to Trenton. He was most definitely cute. Perhaps Emma would finally go out with someone. Rachel held out her hand to Trenton. "Its nice to meet you," she said. "I'm Rachel and this is our friend Jarek." She said and Trenton shook her hand. "Thank you for saving my best friend's life." Rachel was so grateful for him. He was like the hope in an epic battle; an epic battle between life and death and he had won. Rachel thought he was so hot. She really hoped that he and Emma could go out for coffee or something. Emma needed someone to love her.

[vacuusanimi]

Jarek's insides flared with rage as he saw how Emma was around this new guy. His jaw clenched as he held back the urge to fire off a spell. He forced a smile as he was introduced and shook Trenton's hand.

"Nice to meet you," he lied. "I can't tell you how grateful we are for your actions."

Jarek bit his tongue as he wanted to unleash a flurry of whatever he could throw at him. He didn't know what he was, but just the way he acted around Emma ticked him off to no end. It didn't help that Emma seemed to be looking at him like she was in love. That hurt him more than he expected. But it comforted him, as well.

He looked at Emma and smiled, this one was real.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he walked to her right side.

He wanted to be as far away from Trenton as possible. He avoided eye contact with him like the plague.

"You sound like you're feeling good," he joked as he pointed to the IV's dangling by her bed.

[Miss Gates]

Emma looked at Jarek, her hand still holding onto Trenton's. She was feeling great. She felt loopy, but that was because of the drugs. She had no idea that her heart was being played with. Emma was like a pawn in a chess game. The witch against the other witch. With her free hand, Emma touched his hand lightly. "I'm glad that you're here. Thank you for coming." She looked at Jarek with affection like she wanted to get to know him more, which she had wanted. Emma looked at Rachel. "Rach!" She said with a higher voice, almost yelling. Rachel jumped a little and chuckled. "You seem very hyper." She said. "What is it?" Emma smiled. "Could you talk to Trenton while I talk to Jarek? I want to speak with him alone." Rachel nodded and Trenton stood up. He straightened out his clothing followed Rachel out of the room. Emma watched them leave and smiled. "Isn't he wonderful?" She asked him. Then she changed the subject. "Everyone is saying that I tried to kill myself, but I didn't." Emma said. "I swear."

[vacuusanimi]

Her hand on his felt wonderful. He fought the urge to stroke it with his thumb. Jarek's eyes followed Trenton and Rachel as they walked out of the door. He glared at his back until the door closed behind them. When Emma spoke, she had his undivided attention.

He took in a deep breath when Emma complimented Trenton. He sighed in relief when she changed the subject.

"I was worried about that," he replied. "Sooo, what exactly were you doing in the middle of the street? I hadn't left you more than ten minutes before."

He looked down before he said, "I was worried that it was something I had said. I was worried that you had done it because I was a witch."

Jarek looked at the door once again and felt anger bubbling within him, but it vanished when he returned his eyes to Emma's.

"You seem awfully taken with him," he said softly.

He realized he was still holding her hand but didn't make a move to let go. Jarek wanted her to know that he was here for her, even if Trenton was too.

[Miss Gates]

Emma listened to him talk and she shook her head at the parts he had talked about him being the cause of what happened. It was as if someone had told her to go out int he middle of the road. Her mind was distracted for a split second when he had mentioned Trenton. Emma opened her mouth to say something about Trenton, but stopped. She felt bad for Jarek. All this time he had thought that she really committed suicide. Emma looked down at his hand holding hers. She smiled at it. Damn her mind was scrambled. Emma looked at him anxiously. "No, no, no," she said. "It wasn't your fault. I don't know what happened," Emma paused. "I felt like I was being pulled outside. I felt like that I was going somewhere peaceful." She smiled and averted her attention to the ceiling. "Like I was finished." Emma said and smiled again at the thought. "It would have been nice. I felt like I was going to leave this world, ya know?"

[vacuusanimi]

Jarek perked a brow at her explanation. Nothing like that would've happened without some kind of outside influence. And, if he was right, which he was fairly sure that he was, Emma had a problem. But, he kept it to himself. He knew that, even if it was the truth and it was staring her in the face, she wouldn't believe him.

"Well, whatever the reason or feeling, I'm just glad you're all right. I about had a heart attack when I heard the news," he replied.

Jarek looked down at her hand once again. So soft, so small, so delicate. He wanted to kiss the back of it so badly. But, by the way she was looking at Trenton, it wasn't the time for that. That ship had sailed the moment he came into her life.

So, he swallowed the lump in his throat, pushed back the thought that kept creeping forward, and stood up.

"Well, let's bring Rachel and your savior back in here. I'm sure you want some more time with them," he said as he walked to the door. "And, I think I'm gonna go. You've got a lot of people here visiting you. I don't want to be a bother."

[Miss Gates]

Emma watched Jarek go and then sighed. "Jarek," she said. "Thank you for coming. I really appreciated it." She was glad that he came. Without Trenton around, she felt affection for him in a way more than a friend. Emma really wanted to get know him. Especially since he was trying to help her. Rachel walked back into the room since she had seen Jarek by the door. "You leaving us so soon?" She asked him, Trenton by her side. Trenton grinned at him. "Yes, you're leaving already?" When Trenton came back into the room, however, her affection for Jarek disappeared. A small part of it lingered in her heart, but the spell made her choose to ignore it. Trenton saw Jarek as a small threat, nothing to worry about. After all, Jarek had no idea that he was the love of Emma's life. Neither did Emma. Only then would he become a threat.

[vacuusanimi]

Jarek forced a smile at Emma and nodded softly at her. When Rachel spoke, he started to speak until Trenton interrupted.

He glared at Trenton and said, "Yeah, I've got some errands to run. Maybe do some research."

It was a hidden meaning and it was aimed at Trenton. He hoped he got the message the he didn't trust him. Jarek looked at Rachel and smiled.

"I'll come by again tomorrow. I just figure she needs more important people here first," he said before he stepped between the two.

Before he left the room, he looked back at Emma and saw the light in her eyes as she stared at Trenton.

"Emma, I'll come back for you, all right?" he said firmly.


Trenton watched Jarek as he obviously became irritated. Good, let him. He was here for one purpose, but he didn't mind serving some of his own personal ones. When Jarek mentioned research, it didn't bother him in the least. Let him look, see what he'd find. Bring it back and see what it gets him.

"Hope we see you soon," he said as he walked to the door and closed it.

Trenton turned to Emma and walked to her side. Oh how fun it was to see the planted adoration in her eyes that was for him. A puppet dancing his dance. But, he couldn't deny her beauty, or the fact that he was feeling some type of affection for her. Be it real or just physcial. Hell, it was probably sadistic pleasure over making her do what he wanted. Either way, he enjoyed her presence.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he took her hand.

[Miss Gates]

Emma smiled at Trenton, again she was controlled by him. She hadn't even heard that Jarek was coming back for her. Rachel noticed the tension between the two boys and wondered what was up. She hadn't liked it. Rachel looked at Trenton and studied at him. Then she looked at Emma. Her best friend seemed to be hypnotized. Rachel's eyes widened, but she hadn't said anything. If she had revealed what Trenton was doing then she could be in danger. So Rachel kept her mouth shut. She sat down in a chair by her bedside on the other side. "Yes how are you doing Emma?" Emma looked at Trenton, ignoring her friend. It wasn't her fault because of the spell, but it still bugged Rachel. Emma smiled. "I feel fine," she said honestly. "The drugs help a lot." Emma looked at Rachel. "Are you and Jarek going out?" Rachel was surprised. "What? Oh no. He just really wanted to see you."

[vacuusanimi]

Jarek flipped off the door as soon as it was closed. Oh, how he wanted nothing more than to be in a room alone with Trenton. He would tear him limb from limb if he was right.

"I swear," Jarek said as he walked away from the door. "If you hurt her, I will kill you with my bear hands."

He knew something was completely wrong about Trenton. Now, it all made sense. Emma was under a spell, or two. The obvious one was some kind of love spell. Emma was soaking in it. He was just happy that he wasn't causing her insanity as a bonus.

As soon as he was outside, he vanished and reappeared at his parents' house. It was still pleasantly empty, but he wouldn't have cared if they were there. He ran to his room and threw open the door.

With a wave of his hand, the bed scooted across the floor six feet, revealing a trap door. Jarek opened it and put in the code to the safe that lay hidden within. When he unlocked the safe door, he pulled out several weathered and worn leather books and slammed them down on the floor.

"All right, you bastard," he muttered as he waved his hand once more and the books flew open.

The pages fluttered over and over one another until they all stopped simultaneously. One spoke about a certain ability, mind control. Another, spoke about a love spell. The last, spoke about the breaking of a specific curse. Emma's curse.



Trenton smirked at Rachel and then returned his eyes to Emma's.

"That's good. I don't want you to be in any pain," he said with a smile as he leaned closer to her.

When she mentioned Jarek, he was astounded. The love spell he'd placed on her should have her thinking of him and only him. Apparently, Jarek would be a bit of a challenge after all.

"Who is this Jarek guy anyway? He seemed a little...standoffish," Trenton interrupted. "Not exactly dating material, isn't that what you girls say?"

"Look at me, my dear. Only me," he thought.

Emma was almost completely distracted by Rachel, something Trenton didn't mind, but didn't prefer. If he could, he would spend all the time in the world possible just zonking her out and making her his pawn. She would not have her happiness. Not with Jarek. Never with Jarek.