Jaded (Jaded 1)

"Video output. I wanted it installed because your last alarm system was useless."

"Why? I mean…" Okay. I got why. I just didn't…the why didn't help keep the shivers away. Huskily, I murmured, "Bryce, I don't like video cameras."

"Don't worry. There's nothing that'll break priv

acy or anything. I just had the guys install them on your doors, like—here's the front doorway, there's the back doorway, here's the other door, and…" He studied the screen closer and asked, "Is that Yerling?"

I moved closer and peered at the screen to add, "And look—Mena's come to join them."

"If her brother shows up…" Bryce let the threat hang open.

"It wouldn't be at my invitation. Trust me. Unless he's the stalker, then he can come."

Bryce grinned and asked, ruefully, "Did you just hear yourself?"

I shrugged.

Bryce chuckled and switched the screens for the last doorway. It was rarely used and it led into the garage from the street. In fact, I normally leaned tables against it from inside the garage, but I gasped as it came onto the screen. The door had been left open and I saw that no tables blocked it anymore.

"What?" Bryce looked at me.

"It's never open. I…tables were there, the lawnmower's in there—that door isn't used because we can't use it."

"Would you have mowed the lawn today?"

It only took one incredulous look for Bryce to realize the moronic value of his question.

"Just saying…," he finished haplessly, but he refocused. "I don't get it. Anyone can walk in here through the front door, why use that door?"

"Like someone who doesn't want to be seen here?" I suggested, rolling my eyes.

"So…oh hell," Bryce swore. "The guy's already inside…what now?"

"What if…the guy is coming for me, right? I mean….why don't we stay put and have him come to us? We can monitor these screens then and sees who comes in and who goes outside."

"Yeah, but…" Of course. There was always a but. "If Yerling starts something, I'm going to have to go down there. I don't want to leave you alone."

"Maybe he won't." And we didn't live on Mars so I don't even know why I uttered those words. I flushed and remarked, "Sorry, wishful thinking."

"That's okay," Bryce soothed and ran a hand down my arm and around my waist. He scooped me on his lap and sat on a chair.

Corrigan said disgustedly, "You guys are just rabbits."

We'd left the door unlocked and I turned to see Logan, who stood rooted in the doorway, as Corrigan moved around us and studied the video screens intently. Logan shut the door behind her as I rested against Bryce and turned my head towards Corrigan.

"Not that I mind, normally," Corrigan relented with a rakish grin. "But tonight is for other things."

I asked, "What are you doing up here?"

"Crowd control," Corrigan remarked and glanced our way. "Your place is overflowing now. What do you want to do?"

"The cops are going to get called pretty soon," Logan piped up with a flush.

I guessed where that flush came from and rested my chin on Bryce's shoulder as I mused, "You have sex with Corrigan and yet—you're too prim and proper to realize other people do it?"

"It's not that…"

"Then what is it?"

"I've just…never…watched…" She blushed with each word.

"It makes you hot, doesn't it?" I flashed a knowing grin.

"Leave her alone, Sheldon," Corrigan suddenly said. "We have more important things to deal with."

"Right," I sighed and stood off of Bryce's lap. "Like how you're not my psycho stalker."

"Right," Corrigan grunted and watched the screens again.

Bryce stood behind me and asked, "What do we do about the cops?"

"They're already here," I pointed out. "They're parked across the street. If they were going to break it up, wouldn't they have done it by now?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. They might just be waiting."

"For what?"

"For someone to scream so they can rush in and actually get a shot at this guy?" Corrigan mused. "We're doing their work for them. They're not going to break this up, not while we might actually draw this loser in."

"Corrigan," Logan suddenly spoke up. "I want to go home."

"No!" Corrigan rounded on her. "That's what this guy wants. He wants people to be alone."

"I want to go home. Now. I don't want to be here. My parents are home. So is my little sister. I want to go home."

"Where you're safe and tucked in bed?" I asked.

"Yes," Logan said honestly. "For whatever reason, you guys think this guy is obsessed with you. Call me crazy, but I don't exactly want to be standing next to you when he shows up."

Corrigan stiffened.

I wasn't surprised.

And Bryce was…quiet. He knew, just as I did, what her words actually meant to Corrigan.

"I'm not leaving my best friend," Corrigan said softly. "You can go if you want, but you have to get your own ride home."

"Corrigan…"

"I'm not leaving Sheldon's side," he said swiftly and pointedly turned his back.

Logan gaped and realized, for the first time, what target her words hit. She gaped again, but slowly, stiffly, found her way out the door. It wasn't long before we saw her on the screen leave through the front door with a friend behind her.

Bryce moved away and I heard the door lock. He slumped onto the couch and kicked his feet on the table as he remarked, "Someone's going to end up in the hospital tonight."

"Or dead." Corrigan turned to him.

"Maybe the party wasn't such a good idea," I mused and sat on the far end of Bryce's couch.

He rolled his head towards me and smiled faintly. It didn't reach his eyes.

"I'm sorry about Logan," I murmured to Corrigan.

He sighed, but remarked, "It's too soon, you know. We hadn't really been together long enough…"

"Still…sorry."

Corrigan smirked and remarked, "There aren't many girls who'll let you put handcuffs on them."

The old Corrigan still sparked.

I saw Bryce open his mouth and swiftly raised a finger, "No!"

He closed it and slumped back on the couch.

Corrigan snickered, "You had to try, though, right?"

Bryce grinned and I knew the two were fine. They just needed to throw a few punches before all was fine and dandy.