outfit
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Amanda ha barely managed to get out of bed in time to get ready for work. It was with five minutes to spare that she entered the shop and gulped down her coffee. She absolutely hated the bitterness, but it was pretty much the only thing that kept her going. She could barely sleep without having nightmares, she jumped at the smallest sound and could barely force herself to move from place to place. When she wasn't shaking involuntary that was. It was the price she had to pay for what she'd done though.

The redhead had found three of the witches she had robbed of their powers and not only gave them back their magic, but paid the price they had originally agreed upon for the object she'd 'bought'. Now she could say she'd bought it though as she had made up for it. They weren't happy with her, but at least they didn't try to hurt her once their magic was back. It was the hardest thing she'd ever had to do, to give back their magic, not because she wanted all the power anymore, but because she was so used to it. Of course, leaving Kailah for awhile was harder, but that was the only thing she had to compare this with.

She spent most of her day just staring into space, not doing anything if she didn't have a customer, and even then she was absentminded. She'd actually killed people, and not to save herself, but for her own amusement. How could she have let things get so out of hand? Sure, she still held on to Kailah's magic, but she couldn't part with it all at once, not when she was barely functioning as it was.

Somehow she'd thought it was a good idea to remain in her shop after closing and she was sitting on the floor with all the lights out, hugging herself and rocking slowly back and forth, just wishing to make the memories go away. She wanted to call Mason, but she didn't want to worry him with her current state and for once she called Jack instead. Her nerves got the best of her though and she hung up before he could either ignore her call or hang up on her. Eventually she made it home and her cat ran off to meow at Jack to get his attention.

Jack was busy at work, he had finishe a huge tattoo on a regular customers back. It was one of the biggest he'd ever done and the customer perferred him to do it. Once he was done, he felt his phone go off and looked at the caller ID, it was somewhat surprising to see her try to call and before he picked up it was suddenly cut off. He shrugged and went back to work, not really thinking muh of it and assume that maybe she had butt dialed it.

Once work was over with, he headed over to where Amanda was staying just to make sure she was okay and what not. He parked his car infront of the residential area and walked to the door. He lightly knocked on the door and few times, standing there with his hands in his pockets as he waited to see if Amanda would answer.

Amanda felt him before she heard him knock on the door. Angel was busy circling the wolf's feet, meowing at him, until Amanda got off the couch and made her way to the door. When she finally opened it to see Jack, she smiled weakly at him before silently inviting him inside by stepping out of his way. She didn't trust her voice too much at the moment and was glad when Angel curled up in her lap once she'd made her way back to the living room sofa.

She was so tired, tired of being mad, tired of feeling like she had nowhere to escape to and when she looked up at Jack, she looked paler than usual. "I gave back some magic today," she said quietly, her voice trembling slightly as she looked down on her cat again. All she wanted right now was just to feel safe and loved, but she had messed that up all for herself. She'd spent the last few months pushing away anyone who could possibly care about her until she was left with no one except her cat and it was catching up on her.

Maybe Jack could talk to her parents so they'd talk to her again so she'd have somewhere to crawl up and just lay safely. Unless by some miracle Jack decided to stay for a while and just keep her mind at ease. Regardless of the mess she was and how distant she seemed.

He was somewhat surprised to see how wrecked she looked. Was this whole regaining her former self this bad and hard. Then again, this was like a drug addict being put into rehab. He walked in, smiling some at the car and sat down on the chair and looked to her once she informed him that she had given the powers she had taken back to their rightful owners. He nodded simply and watched her for a moment before saying.

"I'm glad that you did......" He said an felt alittle awkward. He didnt really know what else he could say at this point and sigh."So.......how is everything?" He asked.

However awkward the situation was, she was glad Jack had come to check up on her. She would never be truly able to return to the cheerful, relatively harmless girl that Jack had met that first night, but she could get really close. She'd done too many horrible things to be able to ever be so carefree again, and some of the witches were dead so there were no one to return the powers to.

The redhead had to swallow a few times to be able to talk so she could answer Jack's question, petting Angel all the while and listening to her soothing purring. "I get by the best I can... I can't sleep... I did so many horrible things Jack, you really have no idea..." Biting her lip slightly, she looked away from Jack rather shamefully.

"I'm so sorry, I really wanted to hurt you at times for being so stubborn. I knew deep down that you were right about everything, I was just too proud to admit it." Letting go of the cat, she brought her feet up into the sofa so she could get comfy hugging a pillow tightly. She must look so pathetic to the wolf, sitting there and holding the pillow as if her life depended on it, being terrified of falling asleep at night.

"I just want to go home," she said quietly, trying to swallow the lump that was forming in her throat before it was too late. The very last thing she wanted to do right now was to break down and cry.

He had never seen the red head so broken looking before. Amanda had always been a very confident and strong woman, but now she was really broken down like this. He sigh softly and watched her for a moment and didnt know what he could say or do that would make this situation better because there really wasn't anything that he could do.

He listened as she said she just wanted to go home."Do you mean to your parents house?" He asked. He wasnt so sure if that was even a good idea. Amanda's parent knew what was happening to their daughter and they didnt want her around Kailah, not while this was going on.

The witch had never let her emotions rule her entire life up until now. She was just so tired and afraid, riddled with guilt and worn out by her worries. This was the reason she hadn't tried to get better before Jack had taken Kailah away from her; she'd tried giving it up at one point, but had quickly relapsed as she had nothing to gain from being so worn out.

At Jack's question she nodded slightly. "I know they look after Kailah a lot and that it wouldn't be the best thing for anyone right now, I just can't be alone at night anymore. I have no one anymore, I pushed them all away..." Biting her lower lip, she looked up at Jack again. She might as well tell him why she was afraid to be alone, right? Or was that too pathetic? She really didn't know where his limit was with all this.

"I'd ask if you could stay for a few days, but I know how busy you are and the last thing I want is to inconvenience you further." Why could she not bring herself to say what she needed to say? What she needed to confess to someone.. Maybe it was because she knew that telling someone else really wouldn't ease her guilt, it would just make them feel worse and she didn't want that.

"Please, could you stay tonight though? Just until I fall asleep? Maybe it'll keep the nightmares away for a little while..."

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He knew that Amanda staying at her parents house was a bad idea. Kailah stayed with them half the time and then she would yay with Jack half the time since he always had work or had to go to council meetings. He was quite as he listened to her and even he knew that it was a bad idea. He almost felt sorry for Amanda, she was really alone in this apartment. He couldn't stay with her for days, he had other responsibilities and he wanted to spend more time with Mason than anything else.

He sigh softly at her request for him to at least stay tonight."I'll have to call your parents to make sure that its okay for Kailah to stay the night with them." He said.

It was clear she couldn't go home to her parents, and she couldn't keep Jack forever either. She was far too young to feel so weary and lonely, but there was no escape; she'd brought it upon herself. Pushing people away had been so easy, but bringing earning back their trust was so much harder than she'd ever thought it would be. Initially, she'd thought Amber would be able to stay with her, but the ghost girl was too busy taking care of her own sister to help her cousin. Maybe she could have just her mother staying with her until she got through the worst of it.

"Thank you Jack," she said quietly when he said he'd have to call her parents first. "Say hi to them for me?" Her last request was very quiet and hopeful. They wouldn't even pick up at the moment when she called, though they had no idea how hard she was working to set things right. Maybe if she could just talk to her mother soon, it would be easier for them to realize she was trying to change.

Reaching into her pocket, Amanda brought out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. It was the easiest way she'd found to calm her nerves. Twirling the cigarette between her fingers, she kept from lighting it. She wasn't going to smoke it inside, not without standing by a window at least. Scrambling to her feet, she walked over and opened the window before she placed the cigarette between her lips and lit it with shaking hands.

He nodded and got up, going outside and called Amanda's parents. He listened as her mother and dad didnt think he should really stay there with her, but they were more than happy to have another night with Kailah. He hung up after he told them that Amanda said hi and they said hi back befor hanging up. He went back inside and told Amanda that her parents loved her and what not and that he could stay this one night with her.

He sat back down on the couch and called Mason befor getting off the phone."so what now?" He asked

The witch watched as Jack went outside to make a call, presumably to her parents. In a way it was a good thing they had pretty much included Jack in their family, but at the same time it really hurt. Her own parents favored the father of their granddaughter over their own daughter... Weren't they supposed to love her unconditionally and be there when she needed their guidance? Instead they had shut her out completely for the time being. Which only made it worse when Jack told her that they loved her as she had a hard time believing that at the moment.

Finishing up her cigarette, Amanda closed the window back up before she dragged herself back to sit down. She didn't know what to do next anymore than he did, after all she hadn't done this before either. "How are things on your end?" She asked, both because she was curious and because she wanted to change the subject for a little while. Thinking about something else worked for a little while before she needed Jack to take some things out of her apartment and burn them.

"Oh God, I'm terribly sorry about the whole thing with Mason," she muttered and buried her face in her hands for a moment to stop herself from making a face. So much for thinking about something else...

He put his phone away once he was done talking to Mason and looked to Amanda once more."Its been okay......business is booming and Kailah is doing good." He replied with a small smile before Amanda practically broke down and apologize what had happened Mason. He didnt really want this to be a awkward night about apologies and regrets.

"It's fine Amanda.....Masons okay that's all I care about." He said softly and ran a hand through his hair.

It was good to know that everything was working out for Jack. In another life she would've done anything to make sure he was happy, but right now she had more than enough on her plate just dealing with her own mess. She couldn't possibly being to work to make someone else happy when she was so miserably broken and worn out herself. And all alone. It wasn't how she had planned for things to happen, but she would make the best out of her situation.

"I really couldn't even begin to try to make things right if it hadn't been for Mason, he's a good friend and I'm really glad it worked out between you two again. The two most important men in my life deserve nothing but the best," she said and smiled slightly. Even if she'd been horrible to both of them, Mason had forgiven her and stood by her and Jack was helping in his own way while she was trying to make things right.

The witch hadn't been using any magic other than to give back the powers she'd stolen, and she was really proud of herself for managing not to, but she had to get rid of the temptations. "I know you don't owe me anything, but I really appreciate you being here. What got me so mad to begin with was how you promised to help, but you were always out doing stuff. I know I pushed you too far at times, but I don't really handle needing help very well," she couldn't help but chuckle slightly though. The fact that she hadn't even braved making the phone call to ask him earlier was a perfect example of how bad she was at asking for help.

He was quiet as she said that Mason and Jack deserves nothing but the best. He had Masons ring in his pocket and wondered if he should tell her his plans. They were schedule to go away for a vacation where he was going to ask Mason to marry him. He smiled some and took out the little black box from his pocket. "I am sorry that I wasn't there.....but I do have alot of responsibilities......" He said.

He sigh softly."I am thinking of asking Mason to marry me." He said and showed her the black box. Inside was a silver ring that was decorated with red ruby stones and had I love you forever written on the inside in beautiful scriptive font.

It was obvious that just talking to someone about anything really helped the witch calm her nerves. Just talking about the little things that had pushed her over the edge, having a normal conversation with Jack made her look on things a little differently. It made her realize for real that she was doing the right thing. That she was getting back her old self in a way. So she nodded to show that she understood he had a lot of responsibilities, but was distracted by what he said next.

"Oh Jack, that's absolutely beautiful," she exclaimed when she opened the box he showed her. The ring was so beautiful and it made her proud that he had trusted her enough to show her before asking Mason. "He'd be an idiot not to say yes," she said and handed back the box to Jack.

The prospect of the pair of them getting engaged had Amanda in such a good mood she actually hugged Jack. "I'm so happy for you Jack, boss me around, whatever you need help with when the time comes for a wedding, I'll help," she said as she pulled away. "You two always bring out the best in each other when you're together."