JOHNNY’S POV:

I have been driving for over an hour now. I decided to pull over to get something to drink and possibly something to eat. I know I grabbed my wallet on the way out of my room but I wasn’t sure how much cash was with me.

I pulled into the parking lot of the nearest store. I’ve never been here before, there were a few stores lined up in a row, kind of like a mini mall but not quite. I walked in the mini mart and headed back to the coolers and grabbed myself a soda, a six pack and also a bag of chips from the nearest rack not even bothering to look at what kind they were. At the checkout I told the cashier to fix me up two hot dogs with everything. I wasn’t up for any small talk with this chick so while she fixed the hot dogs I picked up a magazine and skimmed through it. But obviously she wanted to talk.

“So, you from around here?” She asked me.

“No!” I kept it quick and simple.

“I’m Hanna, what’s your name?” She said leaning over the counter while looking at me.

“Steve.” I told her, obviously lying.

“Well Steve, everything comes to $13.50.” She told me. I handed her $15, good thing I have enough cash, they didn’t except credit cards here. Who the fuck didn’t accept credit cards these days? I grabbed my stuff from the counter, tucking the 6 pack under my arm.

“Keep the change.” I told her and walked out to my car and got in.

I turned the key in the ignition but not all the way though, but just enough so I can turn the radio so I could have something to listen to while I ate. I debated on rather or not to call home to tell them I’m ok and to leave the door unlocked. But decided to text Jimmy instead and tell him.

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and quickly typed in my message and set it on the seat next to me. As I was waiting for Jimmy to reply I finished off one of my hot dogs and half the bag of chips. I spotted a barber a few building down from the mini mart and ran my hand through my hair remembering how Shannon said I should cut it into a Mohawk. The sign in the window said they accepted credit cards so I decided to just go with it. Hell, if it looked bad I’d just wear a hat till it grew back out. I finished the last hot dog and got out of the car and headed to the barber. I was greeted by a tall guy wearing all black who gave me a nod as I entered the building.

SHANNON’S POV:

It was going for 11:00 and Johnny has been gone for two hours now. I don’t know what was up with him. First he was close to kissing me in the kitchen and the next thing I knew he was totally ignoring me. Talk about mixed signals there.

Most of the guys had already gone to bed. Brian and Jimmy were the only ones still up with me but they were playing Call of Duty and I was just sitting there thinking. Jimmy picked up his phone a few times, I was hoping it was Johnny calling to check in but I guess I was wrong, Jimmy would of told us if it were him… right?

“Hey babe, will you do me a favor?” I heard Brian ask me.

“Depends on what it is.” I told him.

“I’m hungry, will you make me a sandwich?” He asked not taking his eyes from the TV.

“I’m not your mother! Put the controller down, get off your ass and make it yourself.” I told him with a bit of a laugh.

“You’re so mean to me.” He said and paused the game. He got up and went in the kitchen.
Jimmy looked back at me and could sense something was up. He stood up and came and sat with me on the couch.

“What’s up? Why are you so down?” Jimmy asked and put his arm around me. I laid my head against his chest.

“I don’t know anymore Jimmy. I’m so confused.” I told him.

“What’s confusing you?” He asked.

“Just everything. I’m wondering if it was even a good idea moving here. I guess I just have to decide if I want to stay here or move back to New York” I said.

“Of course it was.” He stated. “We love having you here. And at least now you can have a normal life without that dickhead of an ex. And besides, if you even think about leaving us again we will tie you up and keep you hostage here.” I laughed a bit.

Brian came back in the living room a few minutes later holding a beer and sat with us.

“Where the hell did you get the beer? And where the fuck is your sandwich?” Jimmy asked him.

“I ate the sandwich and I got the beer from Johnny. He’s sitting on the back porch drinking and smoking.” He told us and popped the cap off the beer bottle.

“How long has he been here?” I asked him.

“About 20 minutes now. But if you want a beer I suggest you go get one now. He has 2 left.” He told us and took a swig from the bottle.

“I don’t want a beer.” I said standing up and walking to the back porch.

Johnny was sitting there with a lit cigarette in one hand and a half empty beer bottle in the other. It was flurrying out so he had his jacket on. I walked over to him.

“Can we talk?” I asked him.

“I don’t think we have anything to talk about.” I said and took a drag from his cigarette.

“I think we do.” I said kneeling down between his legs. I put my hand on his sides and looked at him.

“Where were you? And you cut your hair?” I asked with a little smile.

“Out.” He said with a little shrug

“Are you mad at more something.” I asked rubbing his sides.

“No! I’m mad at myself actually.” He stated.

“Why? You have nothing to be mad over.” I told him.

“Don’t worry about it.” He said and took a sip of his drink. “You should go back inside before it starts snowing more.

“No!” I told him. “What the fuck is going on Johnny?” He didn’t answer. He turned his head away from me and took another pull from his cigarette.

“You know what?” I said and stood up and dusted off my knees. I took the cigarette away from him and put it out in the ashtray and took his beer and emptied it out over the porch railing.

“What the fuck?” He asked and went to stand up.

“No! You don’t get to talk now.” I told him and lightly pushed him back into the chair. I straddled his legs and sat on his lap. He kind of looked surprised by my assertiveness.

“Look, if you like me then just fucking tell me already. Stop playing these fucking head games with me because I can’t take it anymore!” He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms not saying a word. “You can talk now.” I told him. He didn’t say anything. He just sat there with his arms folded.

I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. Johnny saw them to and I knew he hated to see me cry. I got up off his lap and headed back into the house and walked right past Jimmy and Brian, not bothering to say a word to them. I changed into my boy shorts and a tank top then pulled the covers back from my blowup mattress on the floor and crawled in. By that point I had tears streaming down my face. Whatever Johnny was feeling, whatever he was hiding I knew it was about me. I just don’t know why he wouldn’t tell me.

~~~~~~~

In the morning I had Jimmy and Matt go with me to do some Christmas shopping. Well… they did some shopping with me but it was more like they dropped me off at the mall and they were off doing their own thing. I told them to meet me back at the mall at 2:00 and they were nowhere to be found. I sat in the food court inside the mall and waited for them. Constantly looking at my phone to see if they either texted or called. But there was no luck there.

“There you are!” I heard a familiar voice say. I looked up to see Matt walking towards me without Jimmy anywhere to be found.

“I could say the same thing to you ya know.” I said as I stood up and swung my purse over my shoulder.

“What do you mean? You said be at the food court at three. So, here we are… well I should say here I am. Jimmy went to the store across the street for who knows what.” He said as he got closer to me.

“Matt… I said be here at two. Remember? I said to you that I know how you guys are with being late for everything and that you would probably end up showing up here at three instead of two.”

He just stood there for a second with a blank look on his ace. The exact same look he gets when he’s either playing video games or trying to remember something.

“Oh yeah.” He said with a laugh. “Sorry ok? I’ll make it up to you somehow, I promise! I'll buy your drinks tonight when we go out, how’s that sound?”

"What makes you think that I would want to be seen with you?" I said with a little smirk as I picked up another one of my bags.

"You can’t resist me small fry." He said as he placed a small kiss on my forehead and picked up the rest of my bags.

We found Jimmy parked in the parking spot farthest away from the building, feet up on the dash and eating. When he spotted us he nearly dropped his food as he swung open the driver’s side door and ran to us.

"Shannonnnnnnn." Jimmy yelled as he reached us, picking me up and giving me one of his ''super hugs'' as he likes to call them.

"Jimmy... Jimmy, I can't breathe." I cried out gasping for air.

"Sorry.” He said and set me back down. “Want some?” He said through a mouth full of burrito.

“Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.” I laughed and shook my head no.

JONNY’S POV:

I was sitting out on the front porch smoking a cig as the guys pulled in the driveway. Seems like they have been gone forever, but knowing how they are they probably got lost on the way to the mall or something. I walked over to the car as they were getting out.

“It’s about time you jackasses got back with the car.” I took one last drag from my cigarette and flicked it into the street.”

“Hey, I’m not a jackass!” Shannon told me.

“I meant them.” I said pointing to both Jimmy and Matt. “I wouldn’t call you a jackass! And I need to borrow the car.”

“Why, what do you need the car for?” Jimmy asked walking around the car to the trunk and opening it.

“Well, Zacky and Brian took off with my car while I was still sleeping. I was going to go grab something to eat since there nothing in the damn house and head downtown to pick something up at some store!” I said as I leaned against the side of the car.

“Mind giving us a hand with the things before you leave?” Matt asked and grabbed a bag from the trunk.

“Yeah I guess.” I said and pushed myself off the car. Matt and Jimmy grabbed a bunch of bags and headed in the house with them.

Shannon avoided eye contact with me. I can’t say that I blame her at all, I was a complete asshole to her last night and I wouldn’t be surprised if she hated my guts now. That’s one thing I didn’t want.

I looked over at her and she had her arms wrapped around herself and shivering a bit. It was getting colder and colder each day.

“I got this stuff, you go ahead and go in the house.” I told her.

“Are you sure?” She asked.

“Yeah! Go get warm.” I told her and grabbed the rest of the bags out of the trunk and shutting it with my arm. She headed towards the house and I followed behind her. I put the bags down on the couch and turned to Jimmy.

“So, can I have the keys?” I asked Jimmy. He threw them at me and hit me in the chest.

“If you wreck my car I wreck your bass… and your face!” He said pointing at me.

“I won’t! I promise.” I said and headed for the door. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Bye.” Shannon said. I turned and looked at her and gave her a little smile.

“You wanna go with me?” I asked her and pointed to the door.

“I’m good, but thanks.” She smiled.

“I’ll see you later then.” I said and walked to the car.

I headed downtown to the jewelers. I had an idea of what I wanted to get Shannon for Christmas but didn’t know how she would take it or even react to it at all. There are only three things that this gift could mean. And I knew out of the three which one I wanted, now to find out if she wanted the same.