Jase stood up and peeled a slice off his butt. “Stop saying you’re sorry. It’s not your fault I’m an idiot.” Talley was always apologizing for crap she didn’t do, and it drove him insane. Why on earth she felt the need to bear the problems of the world was beyond him.

Actually, no. That was wrong. He knew the exact reason; she felt like she was always the one to screw up, and one of these days he was going to make sure to thank her mother for that.

“I don’t suppose you know whatever my mom’s secret trick is to get grease out of clothes,” he said, pulling his jeans down over his hips.

A yelp had Jase turning to see what was wrong. He found Talley with both hands over her face.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking off the Pizza Pants of Shame.” He looked down to make sure he hadn’t accidentally jerked down his underwear in the process. “I’m wearing boxers, Tal. It’s okay. I’m fully covered.”

“No you’re not.”

Once again he looked down, making sure everything was staying in the appropriate article of clothing.

“I’m one hundred percent covered. Promise.”

Talley peeked through her fingers and quickly sealed them back together.

“Jase, you’re standing around in your panties. Get some pants on. Now.”

“I am not wearing panties. These are boxer shorts. Very manly boxer shorts. They’ve got the Incredible Hulk on them, who is like the living embodiment of testosterone. He would smash you for suggesting otherwise.”

“That’s not the Incredible Hulk. It’s Captain America.”

Jase chuckled. “So you looked?”

“I didn’t— I wasn’t—-” Talley tucked her head into her chest. “It’s not like I could help it. You’re the one who dropped trou without any warning.”

“Is ‘dropped trou’ smart people talk or hillbilly talk for ‘took off your pants’?”

“It’s English for ‘put some clothes on, heathen.’”

Jase shuffled around for a minute and then declared, “It’s okay. I’m clothed now.” The moment Talley dropped her hands he started gyrating his hips and singing Rod Stewart’s “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”. The look on Talley’s face, and her frantic attempt to locate a pair of jeans in the mountain of somewhat clean clothes piled at the end of his bed, sent him into a fit of hysterical laughter. His side felt like someone shoved a piece of jagged glass into it by the time Talley stood in front of him, a pair of jeans in her hands, and her gaze resolutely on the floor between them. Once he had the pants over his hips, he leaned down to catch her gaze.

“Forgive me?”

Talley took in his jean-clad legs and finally raised her head. “No. You should really see someone about this exhibitionist problem you have. It’s probably an indication of some major mental defect.”

“I will never apologize for sharing the joyous vision of my bare legs. But I am sorry for being a jerk earlier.”

“You weren’t being a jerk.”

“Yes, I was. Beyond one, actually. Withholding information wasn’t just jerkish, it was, to borrow a word from my dad, damn foolish.”

“That’s two words.”

He cut Talley a look. “Are you going to let me finish?”

“Depends. If you’re just going to keep trying to convince me that you’re a jerk, then no. But if you’re done with that nonsense and are finally ready to tell me about your phone call earlier today, then please, keep going.”

She sat pertly on the edge of his bed, the magic of her natural goodness bending the laws of physics to keep the mattress of doom from dumping her into the floor. Her bright blue eyes were shining up at him, and a small smile tilted up the corners of her perfectly shaped mouth. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her, but instead he said, “If she wasn’t the Alpha Female, I’d sue Sarvarna for sexual harassment.”

Jase woke up with a profound sense of peace. The dream had been perfect and so vivid his lips tingled. He licked them, wishing he could taste her there. He was disappointed, of course, but at least he got to carry her scent with him into the waking world. It was so strong it was almost as if she was lying beside him…

Oh crap.

Jase jerked his hand back from where it had been dangling off his bed and onto her shoulder.

“Talley,” he whispered, although he wasn’t exactly sure why. Sure, girls weren’t allowed to sleep over in the dorms, but it wasn’t exactly like the housing authority would have been able to hear him.

After Jase relayed his conversation with Sarvarna, word-for-word, and assured Talley that he’d warned Toby, the two of them settled down to watch a few episodes of QI, a British TV show about random facts. Talley thought it was hysterical, and Jase watched it to hear her laugh and so he could feel smart when he was able to throw out odd facts every now and then in conversation. Sometime during the third episode he felt himself nodding off since he couldn't understand a word the Irish panelist was saying, certain Joshua would wake them both up by calling from the front desk to remind him visiting hours were over, just like he always did.

Obviously, he was wrong.

He was contemplating how to wake her up without touching her again - and cursing himself for not taking a moment to memorize the feel of her - when she scrunched herself up into a tight ball on the floor.

“No.”

It was only one word and barely more than a whisper, but he knew. He knew where she was and what she was Seeing, and he knew he had to get her out.

“Talley.” He stepped over her huddled form, and after only a second’s deliberation, grabbed ahold of her shoulder. “Tal, come on. Wake up.” She flinched and a single tear seeped out from her clenched eyes and splattered onto the hoodie she was using as a pillow. “Come on, baby. You gotta get out of there.” She moaned, and the sound was so painfully wrong he jerked her shoulder. “Talley, wake up. Now!”

Talley’s eyes flew open, and for a brief, selfish moment, Jase wished they hadn’t because he didn’t want to have to face all the fear and horror he could see in them.

“Good morning, Talley Anne.” His face hurt from being forced into a smile.

“She’s dead. We didn't do anything. We just stood there, and let Sarvarna kill her.”