Arin saw Brian was heading her way. Hell, he ran like crazy chasing for her. Thank God his body was skinny and light so he had no problem running in huge steps. He stopped as he watched those two conversed. He couldn’t take it anymore. Erika can’t fall for Brian. That guy belonged to somebody else. And Erika, belonged to him. Well, really?

He’d been suppressing those thoughts ever since he saw her in Big Bear studio for the first time, cursing herself over some stupid drumsticks that she left at home. Arin had never thought there’s actually a girl who could make him feel this way. Not the same way he felt about Kimberly. That ex-girlfriend of his had been with him since kindergarten. They were friends first and foremost. Until she found another guy, apparently someone better than him, then he was left alone.

He didn’t want to fall in love again but with Erika he can’t help it. He kept smiling at the thought of her. One tiny bitsy problem though. Erika only saw him as a good friend. But today, he said to himself;

Fuck it. I’m going to ask her out.

He looked up, Erika had run off again, leaving Brian alone. He smiled and started to chase.


She stopped running, trying to catch her breath. It hadn’t been 5 miles yet, but her stamina grew weaker by minutes. She had wandered off the beach coast and now in the main street, looking for Arin. She bent down, panting in front of the dingy area that Brian pointed earlier. Erika knew this place. Fade Out May practically stayed here for months during their Battle of the Bands practice and it was near Jake’s house. Somebody that she loathed for life. But luckily Jake wasn’t here anymore, he lived in Santa Ana with Drew.


Suddenly she felt a finger tapped on her shoulder. She turned.

“Gotcha.”

“Arin! Where have you been? Oh my god I’ve been searching for you!” still panting she slapped his shoulder and he laughed.

“Told you I can run.” Arin too, was catching his breath before her.

“I don’t have a hundred and one bucks with me right now. You’re gonna have to wait until we get some payment from Larry.” Erika shrugged as she slipped into her hoodie back and started to walk forward past him. Arin caught her side by the waist, making her stunned.

“What f I say, I don’t want money for this bet?” he pulled her closer. Erika wanted to fight so much but she couldn’t. She wasn’t used to men holding her so gently like this.

“What do you want then?”

Arin took a deep breath. Bravely, he ran his fingers through her damp hair. He didn’t mind. Drummers are always sweaty. But she smelled great, like a mixture of honey, milk and vanilla.

“One date.”

Erika already shuddered under his touch, now even more shocked by his bravery to ask her out. She had never seen this side of Arin before. He was always careful in his touch, making sure not to make her feel uncomfortable or making him seemed like a pervert. He had never touched her more than hands or arms area. But right now, his long skinny arm circled perfectly around her waist and the other hand buried in her hair, stroking gently. Her heart pounded like crazy it practically begging to burst out of her ribcage.

“Are you flirting with me?” she narrowed her eyes at him.

Arin’s mouth broke into a smile. That killer smile which Erika loved so much. But then she remembered her sole purpose here. Her face suddenly dropped into a guilty expression.

“Arin, I-”

“Please don’t say that you still have a crush on Syn again.”

She blinked at him. That thought never actually crossed her mind in times like this.

“Arin, I- I-”

I’m not here to date. I’m here to chase my dream, to play drums with my favorite guys.

That answer just became a lump in her throat. She gazed deeply into his round eyes, looking for forgiveness first. But before she could open her mouth to speak, they were interrupted by the sound of a group of people laughing and running.

Both Arin and her turned to their sides, as they saw three guys dressed in black, with masks on their faces running towards them holding new and uncorked alcoholic beverages in their hands. The guys stopped at the sight of them. Arin let go of Erika’s waist and stood in front of her protectively.

“Well well well. Looky here.” One guy in a half bandana mask suddenly spoke, walking forward slowly.

Erika gasped. She instantly knew that voice. As he lowered his bandana under his chin, she was right.

“Jake? You – you?” she stuttered.

“If it isn’t my darling, Erika.”

Arin recognized him at once. The drunken singer from FOM.

“Why are you here? Aren’t you living in Santa Ana with Drew?”

“DON’T mention that bastard’s name.”

As the day grew brighter, Erika finally saw that Jake’s face was bruised and his lips torn. She wondered what happened mindlessly. Suddenly she let out a laugh and walked past Arin towards Jake.

“Looks like the secret’s out huh, asshole? Serves you motherfucking right.”

“YOU SLUT.” Jake swiftly grabbed her collar and Arin immediately took action. He punched Jake right across his face and made him splayed on the ground. His hand was throbbing from that powerful punch, and he was shaking but he had never felt so raged.

“Don’t you fucking touch her.” He claimed angrily as his idle hand pushed Erika softly to his back.

Jake’s friends moved forward to attack Arin but Jake held his palm up, making them halt. He laughed darkly and brought himself up to face Arin.

“Did she fuck you good to make you standing up for her like this? She’s a fucking slut, I know because I’ve fucked her before. Ooh I wanna fuck her again and again and-”

“SON OF A BITCH!” another punch from Arin’s skinny hand flew across the other side of his face. The already-bruised side. This time Jake’s gang busted in, they dragged Arin roughly and Erika saw one of them was Ben, their temporary bassist as his mask fell off from his face. They held Arin’s struggling body as Jake took the pleasure of beating him up unfairly.

“JAKE!! DON’T!! STOP!!”Erika yelled her lungs out while yanking Jake’s arms from punching Arin anymore. He pushed her off violently, making her dropped down on the asphalt road. She hoisted her aching body up slowly, only to watch Arin was bleeding from his mouth and his beanie was missing. Tears were falling down her cheek like waterfall without knowing.

Jake was finally done beating Arin up, he then walked towards Erika with his hips swayed arrogantly. He cupped her chin and brought her face closer.

“Let’s give your skinny little boyfriend some entertainment shall we?” he said as his lips drew closer to her mouth. She screamed and struggled but Jake pinned her down with his heavy body that she can’t move. Arin was weak, but he can see what was happening under his eyelashes.

“Don’t! Fucking – uh!” he spoke but was cut off when one punch from Ben shot across his stomach.

Jake finally caught Erika’s mouth but when he was about to force her to open access he suddenly flew away. A heavy foot kicked him from behind.

Erika was panicking and screaming but she looked up to see her savior.

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?”

Brian ran towards Arin and punched those two guys until they lay splat on the ground. Arin fell and Erika quickly went to him.

“Arin? Are you okay??”
Arin glanced at her and nodded weakly.
“You…?”
Tears were still running down her cheeks, but she smiled and nodded too.
“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?” Brian who was still rage screamed unintentionally while helping Arin to get up.
“We -” he looked over to Erika who flung her arm around him to help him walk. “ – got mugged. Almost.” He lied. And Erika was touched, deep in her heart. Arin was beaten to a pulp yet he still kept her secret.

Soon there were police sirens came out of nowhere and their gazes fell on those three unconscious guys.

“Shit, you’re strong dude.” Arin complimented while watching them laid stiff, not moving.
“I’ve been taking Jujitsu classes. No big deal.” Brian hoisted Arin’s body up and flung his arm around him.

The sirens grew nearer, and they turned their attention to the scattered boozes on the road.

“These are stolen.” Brian knew it right away, because in his past he used to do things like that with Jimmy. He quickly crouched down, ordering Arin to climb him from the back. After Arin did what he told to, Brian - carrying Arin - and Erika ran off from there.

Notes