Janet was on an emotional rollercoaster these past few days. With Lance back, people walked on eggshells around her. She knew this because she heard their thoughts. Not that she was trying, however. People were trying so hard not to ask her about Lance that the psychic build up was erupting. At least for someone of her skill and power. Being the third most powerful psychic on earth certain had its downside. She had to work extra hard not to see into someone's mind.
When she and Lance ended their relationship after she miscarried Aaron and then Lance reciprocated Bonnie's intrest, Janet went to a dark place. She was no longer the headstrong, caring and understanding Janet everyone knew. She was harsh, abrasive and critical. People tended to stay away from her. Even her friends didn't hang with her as often and when they did, it wasn't for long. She had tried to convince herself that she didn't care but it hurt. People should understand how she was feeling and cut her some slack. She knew she wouldn't want to be around herself if she were someone else either.
And then Lance came back.
No one would ever know what that did to her. The torture she was going through just feeling his mind. They were together long enough that the two had formed a mental connection with each other. She would always feel him and he her. So when he popped up out of nowhere, she had enough time to compose herself. Every emotion flooded her head. The hurt, disappointment, anger, shock, abandonment and even fear. Fear of what she'd do and fear of what he'd say when they finally saw each other.
She had managed to advoid him while he had come to the school but when they were forced to work together in New York, she felt as if she were going to die. That or kill him. She had the unfortunate experience to feel his own emotions. His regret. His shame. His hurt. His pity. And most distinctive was his happiness.
Happiness because of Bonnie. Happiness cause of Rock. She wanted to vomit. He was happy. Janet and Aaron were replaced. Not forgotten, just replaced.
She already held a grudge towards Bonnie for worming her way in between her and Lance when they were at their most vulnerable but now that she took her spot, Janet hated her. And the fact that he actually felt any kind of obligation to Rock was beyond Janet's comprehension. Lance could barely speak to Aaron when he was alive and here he was, doting over a psychopathic and violent girl who was extremely needy and devious.
She was getting ready to quit. She felt as if she needed to strike out on her own. It would do her a world of good. She'd at least have peace of mind seeing as she wouldn't be around anyone. Then came Aaron. Again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was weird being back let alone remembering that he was dead. When Aaron had passed through that portal and manifested a corporeal body, it was a shock. While he was from an alternate future, he had somehow merged with this reality's Aaron. That was how he could remember stuff that had never happened to him. Why he could remember fading out of existence after his mom had the miscarriage.
When he showed up, everyone was beyond words. He felt that way himself. In essence, they were seeing a ghost. He could admit that. He didn't know how he was supposed to act around everyone considering the Aaron they knew had died so he simply picked up where he left off. Everybody else would have to get over his "resurrection" at some point.
Luckily for him, DJ wasn't as fazed as everyone else. The alien filled him in as much as he could on everything that transpired after his death. He wasn't surprised to hear that his parents relationship hadn't survived. That was a common occurrence in a relationship after a miscarriage. What surprised him was how Lance apparently filled his role so quickly and effectively.
DJ told Aaron that Lance became a father figure to Rock going as far as gaining custody of her. The fact that he had a seemingly easy relationship with the girl DJ described as "a extremely loyal friend with a few screws loose" made Aaron slightly jealous. Lance had barely spoken to this reality's Aaron before he had died. He hardly interacted with him either. But he was so into this girl who apparently was crazy. He had to know why. He went to look for Lance but instead ran across Rock. He knew it was her cause her thoughts were on Lance and his forcing her to spend sometime alone.
He was pretty sure that she knew who he was the way that his return was going around the school. She was practicing the guitar and was pretty good. Her hair and eyes were wild looking and Aaron could see why people called her crazy. Her movements were twitchy even though she was leaning up against the wall. He could also tell that she was pretty at some point in her life but it had beat her down so much that she didn't care about her appearance anymore. He couldn't see what was so enticing about her that the emotionally stoic Lance would take her in when he couldn't even do that for his own flesh and blood.
The girl was so into her guitar and thoughts that she didn't even hear him approaching. He cleared his throat to get her attention but didn't say anything.