Take Your Happiness
Who: Darcy, Noah, and Jason Where: near Darcy’s house When: Late
“Look, I’m not doing that walk of shame in the same clothes thing,” Darcy told Noah, smiling as she pulled him along towards her house. “We can just stop in, grab my stuff, then head back to your place. I don’t want to possibly run into Avery anyway.” Her cousin was up to her usual tricks, being even more annoying despite the fact that they hadn’t done more than text each other today.
Noah chuckled lightly. He thought of protesting about how it wasn't shameful for her to borrow his clothes but he understood that sometimes a girl wanted her own stuff. Sylvia was like that. "You're staying over then?" he asked, his tone obviously pleased. There was something so nice about waking up beside her. "How will I pick you up at your house for our date if you don't go home. Can you brave the possibility of seeing Avery tomorrow for that?"
Jason had seen them coming. He could smell the fires starting, which Madison was starting, but there were others out there as well. The idea was to get Anne Marie who she wanted, and still make an impact. Scare these fools. Take over. Jason wasn’t normally one for such action, but he wasn’t going to just sit back and do nothing. Not now that he could. So he watched the stupidly happy couple, hating that he was jealous of a pair of teenagers for being so happy together. He’d never been like that. He probably never would be. It was all the more reason to take them out. As they passed where he was lurking in the shadows, he kept watching, then once they were far enough to not notice him, he trailed behind them.
“For that? Yes. I’ll have to go home to find something pretty to wear right?” It was a date after all and Darcy wanted to look nice for him. “But tonight, yeah, I’m staying over.” She didn’t want to sleep alone and being at home seemed pointless considering she might have to talk to Avery again.
Noah slid his hand into hers, lacing his fingers through hers. He kissed the back of her hand. He liked the idea of her dressing up a little for him. "So do you want dinner first or the movie first? How does this work?" he asked, like she might know more about it than he did even though she'd said she didn't before.
Disgusting. Jason didn’t want to watch them be loving and it took everything in him to not jump the guy now and snap his neck for kicks. Maybe she’d cry. Maybe someone so cute would realize that things weren’t always rainbows and boyfriends. Maybe someone would suffer a little. But he held off, taking his time because he saw a less open corner up ahead, as well as a few of his comrades, others that were here to get what he wanted. He motioned towards the couple as he spotted the others, seeing the nods that they understood. The ambush had been waiting for him to flush someone towards them, and he’d just let them know their targets.
“I think it works where you decide and surprise me,” Darcy chided gently, smiling as he kissed her hand. That was too sweet. “I’m going to be fine with whatever. Promise.”
Noah took the correction in stride, realizing that date planning must be completely in the guy's court. "A surprise it shall be," he said with mischief in his tone. He paused and turned to look at her a moment before bending to kiss her. "Sorry, wanted to get one in before you walk into the war zone."
That one almost made Jason laugh. It was like the guy knew. Of course if he did it made Jason madder, which meant that just as they past the ambush point, Jason gave the signal for the others to move.
There were four besides him, young vampires, turned just for this and as the guy and his girl reached the choke point, they came out of the shadows, faster than normal and surrounded them.
Darcy had been enjoying the kiss, but as she pulled back she spotted the guy standing behind Noah and gasped, turning to look around, but finding someone on every side. Her hand gripped Noah’s harder, pulling him closer. “Noah…”
Noah's eyes went to the people around them. His brows furrowed. "Can we help you?" he asked, wondering what exactly they'd want from teenagers who were obviously not into anything illicit or up to no good even. He didn't recognize any of them.
Jason shrugged his shoulders, speaking even though they weren’t looking at him. “Maybe,” he said with an evil smile.
Darcy leaned in closer to Noah, not getting a good feeling about this. “Noah..we should go…”
Noah turned, keeping hold of Darcy as he tried to find the man who'd spoken. That wicked smile, combined with Darcy's words, spurred him into action. He wondered if they could make it to her house if they ran. He hadn't seen how fast the vampires had moved or he would have recognized them for what they were to begin with and not bothered trying. But he was ignorant and he wanted to protect Darcy. "Go! Fast!" he whispered and lunged out between two of the men, trying to hold onto Darcy's hand as he did.
Jason knew they were trying even as they went, but he didn’t move, not right away. Once Noah lunged, Jason just waved, watching the other vampires attack. They let them get a few paces away and then attacked, faster than they could run.
Darcy went with him, as fast as she could, but she hadn’t made it any farther than four or five steps before someone had grabbed her from behind, pulling her down towards the ground as she cried out.
Noah felt Darcy being yanked away from him and he lunged again. This time in the direction of her attacker. He wasn't all that great with fighting. Never had been except if he had a fire ax in his hand. Which he didn't. He pulled at her, away from the man, trying to turn and put his body in between the two. His teeth found purchase, his only weapon, and the man holding Darcy let go of her briefly. "Run, Darcy," he begged.
Jason watched the others as they attacked, more intrigued though by the way this guy protected the girl. Who did that? He smiled to himself. Foolish move. The guy needed to learn to look out for himself. “Get him.” The order was free, but this time it came with Jason lunging too, slamming his weight into Noah. He wasn’t big, but he was strong, so much stronger than he’d been before.
Darcy was already bruised and scraped and someone had bit her. Just as Noah had gotten her free someone else had grabbed her and sunk their teeth into her, which made her cry out loudly. “No! I’m not...Oh god!” The guy holding her had lunged as well and suddenly they were all going for Noah.
Noah pushed as hard as he could at Darcy, trying to get her away from whatever the fuck was happening. He threw his fists hard as bodies rushed at him. He was thrown to the ground, carried down by a body crashing into his. His only thought was fighting his way back up to make sure Darcy was okay. He almost regained his feet before being pulled back down again. He got out one last shout because it seemed the right thing to say in a crisis situation. A motivator. They'd figure it out later. "I love you, run!" Then his head smacked against the ground and everything began to go dark.
Darcy stumbled when Noah pushed her, falling again as she watched them crowd in on him. Then he was all but gone. She heard it, the thing he shouted, and it sent a wave of panic through her. Just as he said it though one of them, not the one that was holding Noah down, he looked up and Darcy knew she had to go. Now. So she ran fast, without looking back, tears streaming down her face.
Jason laughed this time when the boy shouted out. “Love’s a waste,” he said, smacking the back of his head against the pavement once more, just to make sure he blacked out. Jason looked up in time to see one of the others look like he might chase after the girl, but grabbed him before he could. “Let her go. We’ll come back for her if they need her.” For now, the guy was enough. “Help me get him out of here. Before someone notices.”
The last thought Noah had before he couldn't think anymore was that he knew she could do it. He didn't even feel it when his head was smacked against the pavement once more. He closed his eyes with a slight smile.