For the next two months things had died down and life seemed to have resumed its normal pace. Elizabeth was tirelessly working day in and day out to finish her final project before graduation. Zacky and the other guys had been frequenting the studio almost every night as well since their band had started getting more and more gigs. Their practices ran late and their studio time ran even later.

Elizabeth and Shane’s friendship blossomed for all the bitterness and hurt that Elizabeth had held in her heart for so long had been let go. They would meet up for lunch almost twice, sometimes three times a week. He would bring her dinner when she was working late on her project, unsuccessfully trying to lend her a hand whenever she needed to brainstorm. She felt comfortable in her own skin around Shane and found herself opening up to him time and time again. To Elizabeth, Shane had made a total turnaround from the guy she remembered in high school. He was sincere and their friendship was easy. He made her laugh and helped her de-stress when she frustrated herself to the point of tears. He would listen to her occasionally gripe about how Zacky was never around and she would confide in him how much she missed her cousin even though she was happy that his much anticipated musical career had taken off.

On the night before her project was due, Shane, Camille and Elizabeth sat together around the small table in the studio that the fashion students had access to in order to complete their work. Elizabeth was putting together her portfolio for the fourth time as Camille and Shane chatted idly. Shane’s eyes caught Elizabeth’s hand’s tremble as she reached for her coffee mug.

“Maybe we should invest in decaf” he chuckled, taking the mug away from Elizabeth who scowled at him. “You’re nerves are shot to hell.”

Elizabeth snatched the mug back from him and took a sip of the now semi-warm liquid. Tonight was the final push that she was giving herself and she couldn’t see herself just sitting at home waiting for tomorrow morning to come around.

“You know she gets all twitchy if she doesn’t get her fix when she’s nervous” said Camille patting Elizabeth’s arm tenderly. “If you stab her now she’ll probably bleed caffeine”.

“Whatever” grumbled Elizabeth, looking over the portfolio again, contemplating changing it up.

Seeming to have read her thoughts, Shane quickly grabbed the portfolio and held it out of Elizabeth’s reach. “You’ve done all you can and you’ve given it your all Liz” he said firmly as she tried to snatch it back without much success. “You need to get some rest. You’re going to explode if you stay here”

Elizabeth sighed and threw herself on her stool. She ran her fingers through her hair and rubbed her eyes. Camille took her friend’s hand and smiled reassuringly at her. “Let’s get you home.”

Packing up her stuff, the three of them left the studio and stepped out into the cool night’s air. Looking at her watch, Elizabeth let out a small chuckle We’ve been at that studio for 5 hours she thought shaking her head.

As they walked through the ever crowded street, they all chattered lazily about nothing in particular. Elizabeth walked between Shane and Camille and listened to them bicker about the size of the world’s largest hot dog. Suddenly, a sharp chill ran down Elizabeth’s spine. It made her blood run cold and all the hairs on the back of her neck stand up on end. Her heart began to race. She had felt this presence before, she just couldn’t remember where. Just as quickly as the feeling had come, it had disappeared, the warmth of the night’s air caressing her face soothingly as if nothing had happened. Elizabeth shuddered inwardly and looked at her friends. They were clearly oblivious to the presence. Lucky them thought Elizabeth.

“So Liz, are your parents coming to the ceremony?” asked Shane, snapping Elizabeth out of her semi-trance.

“Um, no, I don’t think so.” she replied warily.

“How come?” asked Shane, curiosity twinkling in his eyes.

Elizabeth smiled when she saw the look in his eyes. It was a look she had grown accustomed to over the last two months. Shane always wanted to know more about her, and for some reason unknown to her, she felt the urge to tell him. It was a feeling she only got when she was around Camille. It surprised her that she felt as comfortable around Shane in the same way she did with Camille.

“My dad didn’t want me to do fashion design. Then again, he didn’t want me to leave
Sacremento.” said Elizabeth thoughtfully. “I got into NYU on a partial scholarship and I worked for the last three years to pay for everything else”

Shane smiled appreciatively at Elizabeth “So you worked and went to classes?” he asked

Elizabeth nodded and linked her arm through Camille’s. “It wasn’t that bad because I only had half the rent to pay. And Zacky would help with most of the bills and even some of the school stuff”

Shane’s stomach knotted at the sound of Zacky’s name. He could still remember that night that her cousin had caught him in that neck lock as Matt beat the shit out of him for invading Elizabeth’s mind.

“Lizzy’s so lucky to have Zacky” giggled Camille as she leaned her head against Elizabeth’s shoulder as they continued to walk down the street. “I wish my family was cool like that”

Elizabeth snickered slightly at Camille’s comment. “I can’t even tell you the last time I really saw Zacky, not to mention actually talk to him”

“When you’re big you’re large” interjected Shane smirking at Elizabeth who playfully punched his shoulder. He gave her a wounded look as he crossed his hands over his heart.

“So do you think the guys will be there for your graduation?” asked Camille gently, knowing that Elizabeth wasn’t sure if they would have time.

Elizabeth felt a swell of emotion in her chest. She felt the sting of tears at her eyes. Camille instantly knew that she had touched a nerve.

“I don’t know. I really don’t think so” she said softly, afraid to speak any louder in fear that her friend’s would hear the sadness in her voice. She felt Shane put his arm lightly around her shoulders, aware that he probably picked up on her sadness anyway. “They’ve been so busy with their gigs and stuff. Besides I don’t want to be a bother, especially  since they’re doing so well. Graduation is next weekend and I know they’re opening for Slipknot. That’s a huge deal for them!”

The honesty and pain in Elizabeth’s voice made Shane stop in his tracks. Elizabeth was so understanding that she would forego having her only family member at her graduation even though it killed her on the inside. From what Shane had learned of Elizabeth, when it came to her family, namely Zacky, she would put her feelings on hold to support him. This appeared to be one of those times.

“If it makes you feel better Elizabeth, Camille and I will definitely be there” said Shane when Elizabeth turned around to face him. He could see that he really wasn’t the one she wanted to be there to share that particular achievement in her life. All she really wanted was for Zacky to be there cheering for her when she crossed that stage. Elizabeth closed the distance between them and threw her arms around his neck, taking him by surprise.

“I would love it if you would be there Shane!” she cried hugging him to her.

Shane’s body tensed in shock at what she had said to him. He certainly wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction. He wrapped his strong arms securely around her and returned the hug, inhaling her familiar honeysuckle scent. From the corner of his eye he saw Camille’s arms fold across her chest and saw that her eyebrows were raised in a knowing way, a small smile playing at her lips.

Elizabeth pulled away from Shane, her eyes wet and her cheeks flushed. Shane ran the pads of his thumbs across her cheeks. “Let’s get you a cab” he said softly to her.
                  *************
With a heavy heart Elizabeth unlocked the front door to her apartment. Tonight would be just like any other night for the last two months. She would be alone. Shane and Camille had offered to come over for a while, probably until she fell asleep, but she wasn’t in the mood for the company. Sadness tore at her soul as she locked the door and put her keys on the table by the door. She removed her jacket and threw it on the chair that really served no other purpose than catching random items flung at it. She missed her cousin more than she was letting on.

They had been inseparable since childhood. She missed the sound of him grumbling in the morning when he got up searching for coffee half awake. She missed hearing the laughter that rang out when all of the guys were lousing around the apartment. Most of all she missed having someone who knew her like the back of his hand. Elizabeth was truly happy for the success the band had achieved. Zacky was extremely talented and so were the rest of the guys. Music was their passion and they finally got the chance to make their dreams a reality. They had worked so hard to be where they were now. There was no way she could be anything but proud of them all and yet she guiltily yearned for them to all be back home. Elizabeth knew Zacky had probably been crashing at the studio that was usually his second home with the other guys. It was probably spilt between there and the bus seeing as how they were headliners for the Warped Tour and GrassRoot Project, both of which were not in New York. Zacky would call as often as he could, which began as three or four times a week but realistically became once a week for 5 minutes at the most.

For the most part Zacky’s absence didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would. She had been so caught up with her final project and wrapping up for graduation that she barely had time for herself. But, it was in those rare quiet moments that she missed him; that she missed them all.

Sighing to herself she flicked on the light in the kitchen and let out a shriek.  Sitting and standing around the small kitchen were Zacky, Matt, Brian, Jimmy and Johnny. Tears welled up in Elizabeth’s eyes as she instantly flung herself into Zacky’s opened arms.

“I missed you so much you asshole!” she cried, pulling out of the embrace and punching Zacky as hard as she could in the shoulder. He grimaced in pain and then smiled at his little cousin.

The other guys hugged her like the little sister she was to all of them, except Brian, who was the last person to give her any sort of acknowledgment. He shifted uncomfortably in his spot, staring down at his toes, looking as if he might throw up. Elizabeth gave him a quizzical look, a frown on her lips. She moved closer to him, feeling the stares from the rest of the group on her back. Throwing her arms around him she felt his body relax and felt his muscular arms hold her in that familiar way that she loved.

“I missed you” he said softly into her hair. He looked towards the rest of his friends who all seemed preoccupied with whatever happened to be closest to them. He smiled when saw Jimmy holding an oven mitt close to his face.

Elizabeth looked up at him, a fire blazing in her eyes. She hadn’t had much time to even think about Brian as much as she would have liked to but having him her in front of her now made her realize what she never wanted to truly admit to herself. She leaned up towards him and placed her lips gently against his. She closed her eyes as she instantly felt Brian’s lips move against hers and in that moment, Elizabeth had everything she wanted in one very cramped kitchen of the two story walk up that she called home.
                                                                                                *********
Lacing her fingers through Brian’s the group made their way to the living room where they all occupied their usual seats. Johnny hung his legs over the edge of the crimson armchair that he had claimed as his own the first time he set foot in the apartment. Matt and Zacky sprawled out on the black leather couch sipping on their beers. Jimmy had flung himself on the orange bean bag that he actually brought from his place because it was “therapeutic for his back”. Elizabeth sat on top of Brian with her legs dangling off the bright pink armchair with a huge grin plastering her face.

“So how come you guys are back. Warped Tour begins on Friday.” asked Elizabeth as Brian played with her hair.

Zacky smiled at his cousin who took a sip from the glass of white wine in her hand. He had made sure to pick up a bottle of her favorite wine as a gift on his way home.

“Someone’s graduation is next weekend” he answered simply, a smile hanging from his pierced lips.

Elizabeth felt the emotions from earlier rise painfully in her chest. They came back from touring for her. All of them came back for her.

“You didn’t have to leave the tour Zacky. That’s totally unfair.” She argued feeling terrible on the inside. She opened her mouth to continue the protest but Zacky held up his hand to silence her.

“What would be unfair is us missing your graduation. That’s a once in a lifetime thing Liz and you worked hard to get where you are. No way would we miss your big day.” He said sincerely.

Matt nodded his head in agreement. “We’ve all been a family from day one Liz. And you are a part of this family.” He said sweetly, smiling in such a way that made his cheeks dimple. “You should have your family there to support you”

“Just look for us in the audience okay?” grinned Jimmy “we’ll be the one with the poster boards with something ridiculous on it.”

The knot in Elizabeth’s chest began to loosen. They really put everything on hold to be there for her on her graduation day. The thought of that alone was overwhelming and caused her to bury her face in Brian’s chest.

“You shouldn’t be missing out on touring. I know how hard you guys have worked to get to where you are” she said, her voice muffled slightly because her face was still buried in Brian’s chest.

“These things will come and go Liz” said Brian reasonably “I think we’ve made enough of a dent on the music world that we wouldn’t be forgotten anytime soon”

Elizabeth resurfaced and looked around at her friends. Matt was right, they were a family. They were there to celebrate good times and help each other through the bad times. In the five years that had come and gone they were all inextricably intertwined. Zacky always believed that family came first and now they were putting her needs above their own.

“Thank you so much” she said softly, smiling lovingly at all of them who only returned her smile with an equal amount of love.

“Now get to bed madam” growled Brian picking Elizabeth bridal style and kissing her affectionately on the forehead.

“Tomorrow’s a big day for you” said Zacky knowingly, touching the side of his nose cheekily.

Elizabeth shot him a questioning look, wondering how he even knew tomorrow was the day she would be submitting her project. Waves of sleepiness that she hadn’t felt before crashed over her and she felt the tension in her body ebb away. Before her eyes slid shut she saw Jimmy watching her intently. Jimmy always had the ability to make her feel better no matter how bad the situation seemed.

“Goodnight Lizard” said Jimmy from across the room.

Elizabeth’s body felt heavy with exhaustion. Before she lost herself to the darkness that was slowly creeping up towards her, she distinctly heard Zacky say “Thanks Jim. She really was tired and probably stressing herself out for tomorrow.”

Eyebrows furrowing in confusion, Elizabeth let the darkness take over her and slipped into a warm, deep sleep feeling happier than she had felt in the last two months.