Maybe Today You Could Put The Past Away...

That voice, oh how it made Vito’s skin crawl to the point where he just wanted to scratch at it until he tore his own flesh from his bones. He looked up slowly; he had noticed that Jack had joined him the second she had taken a seat beside him, but hadn’t felt the need to actually look up from his empty glass until he heard Andrew speak to him, as if everything were fine and dandy.

Vito narrowed his eyes and it almost appeared as if they had gone a darker shade of brown, making him appear quite threatening. Well, somewhat-happy-Vito had vanished, that much was clear, and in his place was the poltergeist that lived to be hated, “I had it cleaned in a few hours. Four tops. Money is a wonderful thing, boy, I didn’t have to lift a finger- though you wouldn’t know what having money feels like, judging by the quality of the clothing you’re wearing,” Vito growled in response, his voice lower and quieter than it had been all evening.

He should have expected them to attend such a party- why hadn’t he expected them to attend such a party!? Had it completely slipped his mind that Andrew and Chase were students at Hogwarts, much like the rest of the party guests there, or had he killed his brain with all the cigarettes and alcohol he finished off? Vito hated feeling ignorant in any way, or lower, and he certainly did at that moment- but Vito wasn’t one to allow himself to feel that way for very long before taking control of the situation, he would find a way.

“And how is Chase doing?” he asked mockingly.

Jack sat there and felt her back stiffen as Andrew joined them. For a second, she did not think about it. She had barely even noticed what he had said... and then she realized just who she was placed between... Vito and Andrew.

It seemed that all summer, she had been pushed and pulled between Vito and then Chase and Andrew. Side with him, side with them. Be against him, be against them. And yet she had never had to face them all together... Even that day in London... Andrew had not been there, and he was the one with the temper. He was the one Vito was now personally against.

She finally registered what he had said and she turned sharply in her chair, to see a frightening look on his face. She had never even seen that expression on Vito. Perhaps because their game had never been about pain, but about wit... but Andrew seemed determined to be something he was not.

She opened her mouth to give Andrew a warning but Vito quickly responded. At first, she was ready to leave it at that and tell Andrew to leave but Vito had to continue, asking how Chase was. Jack's mouth went dry. Even if she did not particularly like Chase right then, she did not want to have to remember what Vito had done...

Why was she here? Why was she stuck between her only friends and her only confidant of sorts. (She still was not sure how she was expected to label Vito). She turned back to Vito, knowing his comment was more likely to do more damage. Her eyes locked on his and she croaked softly, "Please don't..."

She knew there was no use. Andrew had made a jab at Vito's pride and tried to hurt his dignity. Jack's legs told her to move, told her she would not want to be here for this but it was like a car wreck. Horrifying, and yet you had to turn and watch it...

And besides. She had been blamed enough for not protecting her friends. Maybe it was time for them to see it was their own stupidity that set themselves up to be knocked down, and not her fault for having the inability to control everyone...

Andrew grinned in a way to show that he wasn't intimidated. Yet it was more on the side to show that Vito had not been funny. He did have a lot of money at the moment, yet didn't want to go spending it on things he wouldn't need in the future. For Andrew, he was actually smart. As for Vito...well he was dead, who cared? At that point, his thoughts turned from money, onto the coincidence that led them to where they were now. He figured that Jack would have come to the party, and being the obvious stalker that Vito was, just had to come. To torture more people less fortunate than him.

It made Andrew sick.

When Vito had broke the ice by saying how Chase was, Andrew laughed slightly, his shield that kept him from going berserk withering each and every second. "You know," he said in his own mocking tone that sounded more calm than sarcastic "we both had a long talk about what had happened, forgave each other, then came to the conclusion that you wouldn't had been as good in bed. We both laughed and laughed until we both passed out. Y'know, like I said back at the bar, you're just another softy not willing to kill anyone that tried to care about you." Andrew was pushing forward and forward, knowing full well that he wouldn't stop.

This was just the beginning.

Whoosh… Whoosh… Whoosh… He could heart his heart in his ears, but it sounded more like something breathing inside of his skull than that life source beneath his ribcage. His anger, it was causing his blood to boil at an unnaturally warm temperature that almost made him feel as if his veins were on fire. Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh like a fan at each of his ears. He almost couldn’t hear his own voice over the noise when he spoke, “Would you like to test that theory of yours?” Vito asked him, as if daring him to, egging him on; he had enough rage inside of him at that very moment to kill both Andrew and his slut of a girlfriend; and he said that with his threatening eyes, because those were words that didn’t even need to be spoken for Vito to get them across.

That smile on the kid’s face… oh how he just wanted to tear it from his face. Vito bit down on the inside of his cheeks and threw his head to the side, shaking his head roughly in an attempt to calm himself, but his heartbeat just wouldn’t slow, and his blood refused to return to its normal temperature. His insides were on fire. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh.

Vito couldn’t do it; he didn’t have the self control to- nor did he actually want to be able to- keep himself from attacking the teenager in front of him that felt the need to challenge Vito… because Vito just couldn’t step down from a challenge. The poltergeist stood quickly from his chair and stepped forward, drawing his arm back at the same time and curled his fingers into a fist- anyone who had only seen Vito when he was acting all calm and lazy in Satin’s, wouldn’t have ever expected him to be capable of moving so swiftly.

The poltergeist narrowed his eyes to slits and shot his fist forward, aiming to crack Andrew’s skull open- but just as he was preparing for the pain of his knuckles colliding with the boy’s head to shoot up his arm, Vito felt a pair of hands attack his fist, shielding Andrew’s face.

Vito was so shocked, it took him a moment to realize what had happened. “Jack…” he growled warningly. She had gotten in the way of Vito beating the shit out of someone he loathed… again. Why? Why did Jack always have to get in the middle of such things? Did she enjoy pissing Vito off, or did she honestly still care for these people, after the way they had treated her?

Vito slowly moved his eyes away from Andrew to stare into Jack’s, relaxing his eyes a bit so that they weren’t narrowed as much, as if asking Jack “do you really want to do this again?”. Vito had seen this episode of ‘Vito vs. Jack’ before, and he was really getting tired of reruns.

Vito suddenly stood to his feet and Jack clambered to stand too, knocking her chair over with the grace of a troll. She stood so that she was somewhat of a barrier between Vito and Andrew; no matter how angry she was with either of them, she did not want to see them fight. That would kill her.

What the HELL was Andrew doing? It pissed her off to think that Andrew had said for so long that Jack was the one who did not understand how dangerous Vito was and yet here he was, basically handing Vito live ammunition. Jack had been in situations with Vito where she could have been killed, but she knew how to delicately handle him to avoid that for the most part. And here was Andrew...egging Vito on, presenting him with a challenge! If you knew anything about Vito, you knew not to do that.

She stared at Andrew, trying to communicate with her eyes that he was being stupid and the best thing to do would be to leave. As the tension grew, the hairs on the pack of her neck prickled and she turned around, seeing a cloud pass over Vito's face. Sh!t-

She lunged her hands out as his fist came forward. Her hands fastened around his wrists and yanked his hand down, pulling him slightly closer. Their eyes met and she saw the same danger she had seen that day in London.

Andrew may not have known how to deal with Vito, but Jack certainly did. And she knew right now was not a time to make Vito feel stupid, or to act as though she were helping him nor Andrew, nor would pleading get anywhere with him. His eyes looked as though they dared her to protect Andrew. She lowered her voice so that Andrew could not hear and said, "I'm not saying whether or not he deserves it." Honestly, she kind of wanted him to leave. His presence was causing her hell. "But there are ministry workers around here."

Her eyes searched his, as though trying to transmit the meaning behind these words. God, she wished her telepathy were under control. Vito and Askaban would not work well. She was sure they had means of holding poltergeists and in Askaban it did not matter what sort of suits you wore, and you were definitely not allowed to drink. She released his hand, hoping that he had himself under control now and turned back to Andrew. "Andrew... Leave. Please." Pleading with Andrew usually worked.

Chase was seriously confused. Andrew had one minute been standing with her, dancing, and just having a good time. When suddenly he had seen something and disappeared into the crowd. Chase had waited for a while, thinking he had seen something he dropped and was coming back, but as the minutes stretched she started to get worried. She turned around a complete circle, before finally deciding she needed to go find Andrew. She didn't normally worry, especially with Minister officials around, but she did, something wasn't right.

Slicing through the crowd, Chase saw some tables she hadn't even glanced at before. Her eyes scanned the crowd without really taking in faces until she saw something that made her blood churn. Vito, Andrew, and Jack were standing rather closely. To closely, and Jack was whispering something to Vito. Vito Dee Symons.. the one who had tried to have sex with her.. locked her in a room, even though she had plainly wanted to leave. After her questions were done anyway. She stood frozen where she stood, on the edge of the party, hidden slightly by a large tree, she watched anxiously for something that might happen between the three. When nothing really did, she took a small step forward.

But she froze again, hadn't Jack said something about not talking to Vito again? That's why she had deemed it safe to go see him, that was the whole reason she had needed the questions, because Jack had realized what a horrible man he was! Her mind was still cloudy over what had happened that night, but what Andrew said she had said when she had gotten home, made her mind spin. Something about kissing him, that made her want to puke, and almost having sex? She wasn't sure what kind of alcohol she had been drinking, but it must have been STRONG.

But something else hit her gut at that same time as realizing that Jack was talking to Vito again. Jack has promised her she wouldn't. She felt the betrayal leak into her veins like a poison. It spread through her body as heat and finally reached her brain where she was able to process it. Jack was with Vito, Vito at the dance, they were dating.. she had lied. Chase felt the urge to run hit her feet, and she took a small stumbling step before stopping. Running never solved anything, not a single thing, so instead of running away, she filled her lungs with air, and let it out all at once.

Taking a small step forward, she was soon striding towards the group by the tables. "Hey Andrew... who are you talking to?" She asked coldly, her arm sipping through Andrew's lightly. It was obvious to her now, Jack was the worst liar on the face of the planet. Not only was she with Vito, oh no, she was in love with him by the look on her face, and he was smitten with her at least. She glared at Vito, her body fighting every impulse to run away from those eyes. The eyes that obviously spelt danger, but she couldn't leave Andrew here, and she had to find out what was happening, once again, her curiosity got the better of her.

Andrew was not expecting the sudden fist coming towards him, although he should have. He was Vito after all. Anything that would touch him, including a fly, he would rip to shreds. It was his first impression of him at least. That and Colonel Sanders. Yet, what surprised him more was the fact that it did not hit him. Apprently Jack had managed to counter the strike, which was good since Andrew would have probably lost control again. Yet, he needed to leave. He needed to just head back to the dance floor with Chase and forget his worries. He didn't need a lot of BS at that moment.

"Typical," he said coldly, aiming his eyes towards Jack. Why was she always trying to defend Vito? Hell why did she want to? Whatever compelled her to help Vito had obviously made her want to defend him at any cost. Andrew would have admired that, if it hadn't been for the fact that the thing she was trying to defend was the spawn of hell anyway. He was just about to turn around and head back towards Chase when suddenly Chase had wrapped her arm around his. "Chase," he said through gritting teeth to keep his anger down "let's just go. I don't want to deal with that thing and her."

And suddenly, Chase was there, slipping her arm around Andrew and a sort of monster roared in Jack's chest. Chase, the girl who had faked concern for Jack, who had made Jack feel so guilty about not stopping Vito and then walking into the very danger Jack had been blamed for... The girl who Jack had finally begun to trust and had not found the decency to confide in Jack about her relationship with Jack's other and only other best friend. This was the girl who joined them now, bluntly parading her relationship with Andrew as she took up a proud stance next to him.

But the stronger, underlying emotion wrestled anger from Jack and filled her instead with guilt. Poor Chase... the last time Jack had seen her, Jack had sworn to never associate herself with Vito. She had no idea that Vito had rescued her and basically proved that there was some sort of hope buried beneath the masks and the hate. How could she, Jack had been so distant. Guilt overtook her...

And yet the last time Jack had seen Chase, she had hated Jack for being around Vito... and then she had shown up to Satin's, put herself in danger, and pushed herself at him nonetheless... Sure, she may have an explanation, but Jack would not know. Chase did not seem to believe in telling Jack important things... Anger overtook her. She wrestled between these two emotions, but neither seemed victorious...

And then she turned to look at Andrew to see how he reacted. She hoped that he did not look to grateful that she had stopped Vito from hurting him. She still could not decide who she had done it for... Him, Vito...maybe her. She would certainly suffer a mental breakdown if Andrew and Vito got into a fight.

But the look he gave her... utter loathing. She did not understand. She was protecting them by helping Vito. How could she make them understand that? Why did they keep thinking in terms of Vito vs. them. Really, she could see the benefits to both by helping Vito realize he did not need to hurt everyone...

Her heart was breaking. She could not do it. She could not do anything without pitting herself against the world it seemed. No matter what she did, she could not right this mess that she was still not sure was even her fault. Somehow, it had all fallen on her shoulders...

She stared at Chase and Andrew, both who had cold glares fixed on her... Who was their enemy here? It seemed they were more against her then Vito. How had she gotten herself here? She shook her head. "Why?"

It was a small voice that came out of her mouth and it did not belong to Jack. Immediately, self loathing descended onto her. She was not weak. She was Jack Dyllan, strong and always sure of herself. She shook her head and said in a stronger voice, "I'm not against you, Andrew. Chase. I'm not. I'm not against anyone."

The noise of his drumming heart didn’t stop completely- actually, that would be quite worrying- but it did slow remarkably as he listened to Jack’s whispered words; she was right, as much as he hated to admit it. There were several people around that could lock him up in Azkaban with the snap of their fingers, and Vito didn’t exactly like the idea of spending the last of his time in London, in a wizard prison… especially considering the fact that he wasn’t even technically a wizard- despite the fact that he could cast an unforgivable curse or two.

Vito exhaled slowly, breath, yes, breathing will do you good, and dropped his fist to his side, slowly uncurling his fingers so that his fingernails were no longer digging into the skin of his palm, “F*ck off,” he growled, turning his attention back towards Andrew- and would you look at that, Chase had joined their little anger-management session too! Vito would have slapped his forehead, had he not realized before doing so how much of a fool he would look if he did. Sure, he loved chaos, but this was chaos that he was mixed up in, and that wasn’t enjoyable at all. “Hello Clara, come to seduce me?” Vito asked in a mockingly seductive voice himself, hoping more than ever that it would piss Andrew off; he wanted to hit Andrew hard, and considering the fact that physically hitting him was no longer an option, words would do just fine.

For some reason, Vito took notice to the fact that two sides had been built once again, but Jack had been shoved over to Vito’s side without really having a say in it, and it was quite irritating even if he wasn’t even the one being targeted by such judgment. “Now its really a party; me, Chase, Andrew, Jack… the gang is all here!” Vito spoke, faking excitement, making himself sound rather creepy without really trying to. “Just in time too, I was starting to get bored…”

It was amazing that he had managed to do so, but he had, nonetheless, backed up and taken a seat in the chair he had claimed as his own. He brought his cigarette to his lips and inhaled the nicotine; it had a calming effect on his mind, it seemed, and that was exactly what he needed at such a moment- though he was unable to move his eyes away from the three people before him. Andrew and Chase had come over to Vito and Jack just looking for trouble, so why did it suddenly seem as if Vito was the source of all their problems? OK, so he was the source of all their problems- except for this one; now Andrew was the one to blame, and it made Vito feel good to make someone look bad.

Andrew stood tall, his eyes filled with a cold feeling that could make most people shiver. He was not in a good mood anymore, and every second felt like he was slipping back into the thing he had become back when he burnt down Satins. He hated having to be a pacifist for the moment, wishing more than ever to just punch Vito in the nose. To break off the fake thing he called a facial feature. When Vito swore at him, Andrew flipped him the bird as well, knowing that wouldn't solve anything. It sure did make a statement however.

When he mentioned Chase however, that's when he felt himself begin to chuckle. Vito still tried to make Andrew mad over that. He had already gotten his revenge over that, his hatred still burning strong however. "Vito," he said, his face in a twisted smile "maybe sometime you could learn a thing or two from me. Actually having a sense of pride. At least Chase wants to be next to me without being under the influence. You just bribe your way to a girls heart, you scum." Now Andrew was provoking Vito, pushing him further and further.

"And fu*k you," he said to Vito when he mentioned the 'gang'. Andrew didn't want any part of the occurence and was wishing to just go home and watch a movie with Chase...to get everything out of his head. Andrew turned his head back towards Jack, his disdain still looming in his eyes. She always had to be there. Where Vito was. "Jack if you want to be our friend," he said, more of a threat however "you will either come with us and leave this thing behind, or you can stay with Vito and be miserable. I'm sick of these games."