Hallows: Duets

The Duchess, Fergie

I Prevail- Bad Things

Ashley:

Flirty Dante Blackstone is going to be the death of me. I feel it in my bones. That tone, the hooded look in his eyes. Magical and nerve-racking doesn't even begin to describe what he makes me feel. I look around my closet and decide to slip into a pair of black skinny jeans, a fitted black Satan Couture t-shirt, and a leather jacket. Kelly has been trying to get me to wear more black. This t-shirt is one of their first ones with the purple neon S.C. logo printed on the front. I actually kind of like it. I slip on my favorite pair of black and purple Chuck Taylor high tops and walk out to put my hair up in a high ponytail.

Lily and I laugh when we stop in front of one another. We're wearing almost the same thing. She's got on combat boots and her hair is pulled up into two pigtails. Her goth girl makeup is on point. She looks like she's ready to f**k s**t up.

"Best f*****g roommate I've ever had," she nods. "Come here. I'll do your hair. Grab some tape for your hands,"

I get to my bedside table and grab the tape and my black leather gloves. Lily, like Kelly, have been very protective of my hands lately. Since we took care of the guys who killed six of Clara's girls. She brushes out my hair before pulling it up using the brush to make sure not a single hair is out of place before she ties it with two scrunchies. Good call, my thick heavy hair always needs extra reinforcement.

"You girls ready?" Anthony knocks and then opens the door. He pushes it open to reveal himself and Dante standing behind him. "Holy s**t,"

"Let me finish wrapping up baby girl's hands so she can get these gloves on," Lily says and takes a seat on my bed. She takes my hand and glares at me. "Terrible job, Ashley,"

"Tam or Kelly usually do it for me," I shrug. She laughs pulling the tape off my hands. She does it expertly, looping the white finger tape through my fingers and my wrists. When she's done she holds up my hands and nods.

"Flex," she demands. I flex my hands to show her that the tape isn't too tight. She then waves my black leather gloves in her hands before helping me into them. "You have some scary knuckles. Bet you have a hell of a hook,"

"She does," Dante laughs. "She laid-" he pauses for a moment. "She put David on his ass after she kicked six chicks' asses. Killed one. Pretty redhead with a jaw brace on the tennis team, that was all her,"

"Oh, you're special, special," she smirks. "My mom used to tell me, rage and creativity are almost the same things. It has to come out one way or another or you can explode. You shouldn't feel shame for what you can do. If anyone could do it, this world wouldn't thrive on the false civilization it's created,"

"I love it when she gets all moody," Anthony shakes his head. "Let's go. We still have to pick up, baby boy,"

My eyes shoot to Dante's and he grins.

"I told him it wasn't going to be easy to get rid of us," he smirks.

A little jolt of excitement rushes through me when he holds his hand out for me to take. I put my gloved hand in his and let him take the lead. James is waiting for us which tells me this is official business because as of late, we've been sneaking around in the less fancy cars. Even Carter has been using a BMW sedan as opposed to his usual insanely cool cars that look like they're straight out of a Hot Wheels package.

"Have you heard the new Fergie single?" Lily asks once we're settled into the back of the Phantom.

"Uh-" I look at Dante. "What's a Fergie?"

"You're kidding," she laughs. "What do you listen to?"

"Gangster s**t and oldies," Anthony laughs. "How do you know who Fergie is?"

"Uh, she's Fergie. Do you at least know who Paris Hilton is?" she asks me.

"I love her. Yes. Number one reason why I'm into blondes," I nod.

"Well," she places her hand on her chest and leans over to mess with something by her legs. "Allow me to introduce you to the next love your blonde fetish. This is The Dutchess, Fergie,"

"The Dutchess," I laugh.

"Yeah, this is music for the baddest bitches. Like you and me," she giggles. The guys both roll their eyes as the song starts to play.

"Is that Ludacris?" I ask.

"Yes," she grins and sings along to the song. Anthony looks over at her with a smile.

"I didn't know you could sing," he says.

"There are a lot of things you don't know yet," she says and it sounds more like a threat than anything else. I know he caught that but the gleam in his eyes is pure amusement.

"Let me see what you have on your iPod," I say reaching for it. I go through it and find nothing but rock music and some other weird s**t. The Offspring, Rammstein, Korn, Slipknot, and other crazy s**t. I finally smile when I land on something I like. Amy Winehouse.

"b***h," she laughs. "Stop trying to make me fall in love with you. Can you sing?"

"No," I lie.

"Come on. Sing a little for me," she grins. "No one else who matters is watching. I've heard you humming,"

"Ouch," Dante laughs.

"Please, just a little," she pinches her index finger and thumb together and holds them up to her face.

I sing along to the lyrics of Back to Black. The song is strangely intimate to me. Amy Winehouse is my dad's favorite. He has a portrait of her on the back of his calf. We've seen her live a few times. My favorite song is Valerie. Even before I understood what it was about. So, sharing this with others is a little bit personal. His infatuation with her was the reason why I learned to sing. To try to mimic her tone but I doubt I get close.

"Wow, you got a few hidden talents, Ash," she nods. "It needs work but I think we can-"

"I don't like it," I shake my head. "Personal reasons,"

"Okay," she nods. "Thank you for sharing anyway then,"

Dante takes the iPod from me and smiles.

"Finally, someone with good taste in music," he says as Rammstein blasts through the speakers.

The forty-five-minute drive to New City went by in a breeze. Dante lowered the volume to the music when we pulled up to the H.U. dormitory apartments. He got out and minutes later the two of them walked out together. Their serious faces are on.

"This is going to be as fun as last time," Lily giggles. I look up at her trying to fight the smile threatening to pull at my lips.

Dante slides in from the left and David from the right just as Closer by Nine Inch Nails begins to play. Dante looks over at me and I try really hard not to let it affect me but I already know my face is burning bright red as I stare back at Lily who is not at all hiding the grin on her face.

"I hate you right now," I shake my head. She snickers and tucks her iPod into her t-shirt. "Okay, do you really think that's going to stop me? If anything it makes me want to take it from you even more,"

"Mm, try it," she smirks. The guys all scoot away from us. I crank my head to the right until it pops loudly. "Ash," she giggles nervously. "Don't rile me up, baby girl. I will respond with equal enthusi-"

Before she could finish I launch myself at her. She screams excitedly as I reach into her t-shirt. Dirty Little Secret follows the song making her laugh louder.

"Lily," I shout as she leans into me and licks me from my collarbone up to my chin. "Don't f*****g do that,"

We both struggle against one another and I finally get my hand around the iPod. I pull the cord out of the AUX, stopping the music and immediately turn around to sit on her. She struggles against me for a bit until she falls limp on the seat.

"Okay," she bursts into laughter. "You win. You win. I don't want to get all sweaty," I laugh sitting up and moving back to my spot between Dante and David while she fixes her hair. "You are surprisingly strong for someone as small as you,"

"You didn't have to lick me," I say changing the music. I choose Disturbed and put the iPod in the cup holder next to David's knee. I look up at him. "Hey," I greet him. "Are you done being a d**k?"

"No," he answers honestly. "But I think I can put it on hold for now,"

"Don't start," Dante scolds both of us. He lifts his hips a little to adjust himself and turns to look out the window. Anthony is just grinning wide as Lily tucks her body to his side and reaches into his jacket.

"I miss you," I tell David and lean into him.

He takes a deep breath and nods taking my hand in his. He never holds my hand like this. I don't pretend to know what it is he's going through but I do know how much it's affecting both Dante and me. So, I don't fight it. Time is against us. He's going to marry Eliza next month and there's not a single thing any of us can do or say to stop it. Right now, I'm just glad he's here with us for now.