Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to the Covenant. Yet.

Hey guys! So this is the second Covenant dealy-o I'm doing… have done… meh. If you haven't read To Use Or Not To Use, please check it out! I think you'll like it, but hey, I could be bit bias…. :)

So before I let you go and read this, one last thing: PLEASE RR!! I want to know if you like or not. Tell me!

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"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Reid easily side stepped the punch. "Come on, Abbot. Is that all you got?" He grabbed Aaron's extended arm and swung him to the ground.

The crowd cheered. Reid looked around triumphantly before turning his attention back to Aaron, who had staggered back to his feet, wiping blood away from his mouth, wincing slightly as he rubbed across his split lip.

"I'm gonna –" Aaron didn't get a chance to tell Reid what he was going to do, because Reid chose that moment to land a crushing blow to the side of Aaron's face. They both heard the sickening crack as Aaron's jaw broke.

Aaron didn't see the split-second change in Reid's eyes as Reid brought his other fist around in a punch straight to his stomach. Aaron doubled over, gasping for breath, and saw drops of blood fall to the sidewalk.

"Had enough Abbot?" Aaron fell to his knees, his head spinning. Reid smirked as he watched Aaron roll on to his side. He pumped his fist in the air, enticing the crowd into another cheering frenzy. Then he saw Caleb, with Pogue and Tyler, fighting his way through the throng of students. Time to wrap it up. He took one last contemptuous glance at Aaron before he walked away, the mass parting for him like the biblical Red Sea.

Caleb and the others caught up with him as he made his way to the student parking lot. "Reid!" Caleb shouted, grabbing on to Reid's shoulder and spinning him around. Reid attempted to jerk the hand off, but Caleb didn't let go. "What the hell were you thinking? Were you even thinking?"

"Ever consider anger management classes, Caleb?" Reid said coolly. "The prick started it. He called Sarah and Kate whores for going out with you two." He indicated Caleb and Pogue. "So, really, you should be thanking me."

Pogue backed Reid up after hearing what Aaron had done to deserve his fate. "Come on Caleb, don't be so harsh. You know Abbot deserved it."

Caleb shook his head. "That's not really the point. You used on him, Reid. You shouldn't be doing that in the first place and especially not now that you Ascend so soon. I'm serious Reid."

Reid rolled his eyes. "You're always serious, Caleb. Maybe that's why you're such a hard-ass. Lighten up, man. Have a go at Abbot, I swear you'll feel better for it."

"Reid—"

Reid was getting tired of the conversation. "There's no harm until I Ascend." Caleb opened his mouth to argue, but Reid went on before he could get a word in. "I just have to be careful after I Ascend, and I'll worry about that when the time comes." He climbed into the passenger's seat of the black Hummer he was standing next to. "Come on Baby Boy," he said before slamming the door shut. Tyler glanced at Caleb before getting behind the wheel and driving away.

The drive was quiet. Tyler stole glances at his disgruntled friend, but Reid kept staring crossly out the side window. The Hummer finally rolled to a stop in front of two massive iron gates, each with a large, curly 'G' in the center.

"Later, Simms," Reid muttered quietly as he got out and walked up the long, curvy driveway, kicking at loose stones angrily. If Pogue had been the one beating up Abbot, Caleb wouldn't have yelled at him. Reid always got yelled at for things, usually whether it was his fault or not.

He opened the door and was almost knocked over by an overexcited German shepherd. "Down Sasha," he said tiredly, pushing the dog down and walked in the house. Sasha followed him up the staircase and into his room. Reid flopped into his desk chair and rubbed his face. Sasha nudged his elbow with a wet nose. Reid glanced at her. "What?" Sasha brought a paw up on his knee and looked at him with big brown eyes. "Should I stay home tonight?" Sasha barked and Reid scratched her head. "Good, that's what I was planning." Sasha barked again, her tail wagging.

Reid's phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and looked at the caller ID. "Yeah?" he answered.

"Reid, are you staying home for the night?" Tyler sounded as if he had already guessed the answer.

"Yeah."

"Do you need me to pick you up?" Tyler asked dutifully.

Reid sighed. "I guess," he said reluctantly. "Caleb'll pitch a hissy fit if I use. See you then." He hung up, and Sasha licked his hand. He glanced at her again. "Now what if licked you?" he asked randomly. Sasha whined, and Reid laughed. "You're right; it'd probably be worse."

Reid got up and went to the large window of his room that looked out over the expansive back yard. Loyal as ever, Sasha followed him and nudged his hand. Reid scratched her absentmindedly, watching the sun dip below the trees.

There was a quiet knock on the door, and his mother poked her head in. "Reid? Is everything alright?"

Reid didn't look away from the window when he answered. "Yeah, Mom. I just decided to stay home tonight."

"Alright." Mrs. Garwin still sounded a bit worried, but she let it go after one last look at her son. The door clicked shut quietly.

Reid sighed and retreated to the bed. He grabbed a remote from the pillow and hit the power button. The flat screen television mounted on the wall turned on, illuminating the darkening room with a flickering glow. Sports scores rolled out from behind the ESPN logo, while a male reporter summed up the latest NFL football game.

Reid changed the channel, again and again, watching the bright colors flash by without really seeing. Sasha jumped up next to Reid and lay down, leaning against his legs. Reid shook his head and settled for some drama with cops and detectives. His mind drifted to the earlier events of the day, which inevitably led to other thoughts that he'd been avoiding.

Even though they hadn't said anything, Reid knew that the others were worried that he was going to die soon after he Ascended. He knew he used too much. But what did it matter? Everyone thought of him as a screw-up; he didn't follow the rules; he'd slept with more girls than he could even remember; he couldn't even pass his classes if he didn't copy Tyler's homework. He sighed. Well, if I'm going to hell, I might as well do it properly and have fun doing it.

Gunshots and shouts came from the show that he'd been 'watching', pulling him out of his gloomy reverie. "Stupid," he muttered irritably to nothing in particular. He threw the covers of his bed back and climbed under them. Sasha readjusted herself next to him as he clicked the TV off and tossed the remote to the floor. Reid stared out the dark window, noting distantly that it was the new moon phase, waiting for sleep to come… finally it did.

XXX

Reid walked slowly into his World History class behind Tyler. He looked around and smirked. Aaron Abbot hadn't shown up, his usual seat next to his current girlfriend Kira unoccupied. Kira scowled when she saw him looking, and his smirk grew even more pronounced at her reaction.

Before he could follow Tyler up to their customary spots, the professor called him over. "Mr. Garwin, the provost would like to speak with you, in his office. It sounded rather urgent," he added, turning back to the class.

Reid turned on his heel and exited the classroom as the bell rang to signal the start of class. He passed two girls who were running late and spared them a quick look. Behind him, he heard a few hushed giggles.

Reid entered the provost's office a few minutes later. He knocked gently on the door.

"Come in."

The dark wood paneling was familiar to Reid – maybe somewhat unfortunately. The provost leaned back in his chair and looked up at Reid with sad, tired eyes. "I suppose you know why you're here this time, Reid," he said, folding his hands on the desk. Reid nodded, his mind flashing momentarily to the fight. Provost Higgins sighed. "I do not wish to know what started this fight. The main thing is that you sent Mr. Abbot to the hospital, where he's being treated for a broken jaw and internal bruising." Reid suppressed a smug grin; he didn't think it would help his situation. "It is becoming apparent that the punishments we give you aren't helping your… behavior; detentions, in-school suspensions…" The provost shook his head. "I've talked to your parents this morning, and they have agreed that there is now only one course to take." Provost Higgins looked at Reid squarely. "Reid Garwin, you are henceforth expelled from Spenser Private High School."

A/N: hey, so how'd you like it?? push the little button down there and tell me!