Brian’s POV

We just sat there, beside the pool like complete fucking morons, holding frozen chunks of meat to our faces, giving each other the silent treatment. Like my hangover wasn’t killing me enough, now I had a black eye in bonus! What else could I possibly wish for? Fuck you Sanders. At least he was looking prettier than me, note the sarcasm. During our fight I punched his nose which made the blood flow from it like Niagara falls, coloring my pool a frighting red so now he was sitting there, holding the chunk of meat up to his nose with a bit of toilet paper peeking out from his nostrils.

My eyes fell over my hand. Shit, those knuckles were really killing me, but not as much for me not to finish what I started. This thing we were having right here? A moment of picking up the pieces of our friendship? Na-ah. This was just a breather, I wasn’t even nearly finished with Shads.

„Look Gates,” He started.

„Don’t think I won’t kill you after this time out.” I hissed, feeling a very possible broken finger.

„It’s not what you think it is,” He continued, not scared by my threat, like at all. Not what I think it is? He just yelled over the whole neighbourhood he’d have made a move on Meg back in the fucking day, so please, enlighten me, asshole, how is this not what I think it is?

„You coming out of the closet finally? Yea, I’d rather you be gay.”

„I don’t like Meg!” Finally he yelled. What the hell you’re talking about? I turned my head to him, a frown mirroring on my face. You better not be screwing with me, Sanders...

„Then what the hell was this just then?!” I raged, ready to punch him for making me punch him without a fucking reason. You mean to tell me I broke my finger just because? Fucking perfect.

„What do you think it was?” He gave me a tired look.

„Well I don’t know, you’re the brainiac of the band.”

„I just thought... Fuck... this is stupid...”

„Carry on,” I gestured for him to continue, still very much fucking pissed over everything. I couldn’t believe it, he’d better have a good fucking explanation.

„You know how chicks talk, like all the fucking time, right?”

„And?”

„I thought, maybe, Meg would be too mind blown and go and talk everything out with Bailey, looking for some help in the matter? I don’t know... I hoped to get Bailey jealous. I mean, man, once you told me she wants to fuck me, I saw that as an open window and I went for it.”

„So you just played my girl...” I blinked in pure disbelief, „You know what, Shads? I am gonna kill you...”

„yeah, sorry... my bad.” My bad? My FUCKING bad?! Okay, calm down, Gates, just calm the fuck down... If I wouldn’t love Matt to death, in no homo way by the way, he’d be long lost under those six feet of dirt in my back yard.

„You’re the smartest dumbest asshole I know and you still haven’t figured out Meg doesn’t really talk to Bailey no more?”

„What do you mean?”

„I mean that Bailey is completely out of fucking control, dude, and Meg is kinda tired of her shit.” Wasn’t that a little too obvious?

„But she picked her up from the show yesterday—„

„I’m not saying she doesn’t care for her, I’m just saying they both don’t talk no more.”

„Fuck...”

„yea, ‘fuck’ is right.” I stood up to take my phone from the table where I had left it earlier. A text from Alice saying what kind of asshole I am, I know, I’m the worst, but that’s none of her business, and another text... from Meg.

I’m gonna lay low for a couple of days, let you guys figure everything out. Feed the dogs. And don’t call me.

My eyes stayed on the text. The phone laid there in my hand for what it felt like an eternity or at least a one whole minute. Maybe a minute and a half. What was I supposed to get out of this? Was she leaving me... again? Nah... I shook my head. This can’t be fucking right. She’s gonna lay low... Lay low from what? And where the fuck was she gonna lay low?!

Don’t call me...

The phrase kept repeating in my head over and over again, each time the words getting clearer and clearer to me.

THE HELL I’M NOT GONNA CALL HER!


Meg’s POV

The flight to Boston probably was the most miserable experience I had ever gone through throughout my entire life. I was sitting between a French cook, who had his own little business up in New York and some really fucking bad anger management issues, at least from what I got through him yelling at what I was supposed to be his secretary seated in the row in front of us and on the other side of me was sitting a chick with a kid who couldn’t shut up for the whole fucking flight. I tried to shut them out of my head, I really did, but not even Metallica and repeatable Master of Puppets could silence them. Once I got off the plane, I was ready to kiss the fucking ground even tho I despised this place with all that I had.

But little did I know what was awaiting for me at the airport, those crazy ass fans, man, I’m telling you, I love them to death, but you have to understand when enough is enough. I barely got through the gates when a camera was already stuck in my face. Why would you even think to photograph someone who has just got off plane. I wasn’t looking nothing like they hoped for and I think that turned them on even more. I pulled the baseball cap lower on my face and put on my shades as I managed my way through the airport. I was just a second away from getting in a very nasty fight. Mind your own business, people!

I didn’t travel with any kind of bagagge, so I skipped the part where everyone went to baggage claim and went straight for the taxi, which took me to the outskirts of Boston. The cab stopped in front of a casual looking two story house... Well, at least casual looking for Boston.

„Is this the right place?” The taxi driver gave me a wrinkled frown.

I sighed seeing the head boards of the house on the verge of falling over my head as soon as I walked up to the house. As for the unkempt lawn in front? Well, that was a fully different level of pity. In my memories, this was such a nice place to come looking for escape from Barbara and her endless men. I used to find my salvation here, but now it felt a bit like a part of hell I was about to walk in. I knew Gran was old and couldn’t take care of the property anymore, but that was no reason to let this place go down the drain. She could’ve called me, asked for money or something.

That stupid, stupid woman. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply, „Yea,” I passed him a fifty, before getting out, „Keep the change.”

Before walking up the steps, I checked my phone to see a couple million voice mails. Had someone changed my voice mail message? I think I was very straight forward with the idea I wanted to get across. Let’s listen to it.

„If you leave me a fucking voice mail, I’ll be sure to find you and kill you. If you leave me two or more voice mails, I’ll reincarnate you and kill you again. Repeatedly. Proceed with caution.” I smirked hearing back at it.

I guess I should’ve told Brian where I was going, but that’s what you get for acting like an asshole. As for Matt? Well... Let me tell you... Actually no, not me. I searched up a number, before putting the phone to my ear. After a couple of beeps a very sleepy voice answered.

„Megan fucking Hills... famous for her bad timing.” She growled and let out a yawn.

„Sorry,” I smiled, hearing the steps creak underneath my feet. A board snapped beneath me, trapping my boot in the hole. Fucking hell--

„What’s up?” She asked as I struggled to get free.

„Hey, babe, can I ask you for a favor?” I was close to panting once I finally set my foot free, falling back against the rain tormented railings from the force I put into it. My eyes slid over the padding of the outdoor chairs and I couldn’t quite tell if they used to be striped, polka dotted or simply plain. The padding was in such a color I saw for the first time in my fucking life. I swinged myself up the steps.

„yeah, but keep in mind I’ll only maybe will remember the conversation once I truly wake up.”

„Oh believe me you will,” I tapped the tray of the dead plant hanging from the ceiling. How more dead can you get around this property? I just hoped gran was alive and still kicking. „Look, I need you to come to HB ASAP,”

„Why? What’s the rush?” Yeah, now you’re up. I knew she’d be interested in the matter, knowing Mathew Sanders resided there.

„It’s Matt.” I sighed, leaning against the glib wall.

„Okay, you have my attention,” I chuckled lightly, considering to take a seat on the railings, but in the last moment figuring not to since I didn’t know if they could handle my weight and I wasn’t that heavy for your information.

„Remember I told you he’s with Bailey?” I said watching the real estate, getting the urge to burn it down with whatever life and diseases it was crawling with.

„Your drummer? Yeah, I remember, that’s why I didn’t go with you to Cali,” I nearly winced hearing the abbreviation. A thing that you start to hate, living for far too long in California.

„So, she’s off track and now seems to be out of the picture, but what’s interesting, I think he kinda has his hots for me.” I crossed my legs, looking down on my peeling nail polish.

„So where’s the problem? You’re a free and very delicious looking little female.” She snickered.

„Uhmm... Not anymore. I’m back with Brian.”

She sighed. „that’s a fucking bad decision, doll.”

„I’m pregnant.” Yeah, I’ll let that one sink in. Just like the view of this house.

„Fuck me... Okay, so what do you want me to do?”

„Come to California and charm Matt off his pants.” I said tugging on the sides of my leather jacket, feeling the damp air creeping up on me.

„You know that won’t be a problem.” I could imagine her grinning like a fucking Cheshire cat. From ear to goddamn ear.

„No games, Alex. I don’t want to see any of that stupid bullshit you’re usually up for. I need you to be straight forward relationship material.”

„So now you’re hooking me up with the guy?”

„Are you complaining?” I grinned shifting my weight from one leg to the other.

„Me? Heck no. But is that Bailey girl really out of the picture? Like... for reals? I remember her from the day when she was more aggressive than the bouncers and it kinda scares me.”

„Yeah, she’s going to rehab. She kinda doesn’t think about relationships at the moment.” At least so I thought and let me explain something to you, Bailey was so lost in the bottle lately that the only relationship she could think about is cheating on Jack Daniels with Johnny Walker and ending the night with good ol’ Jimmy.

„Okay, then I guess I’ll pack my bags and catch the first flight. Pick me up?”

„I’m in Boston now, I can give you Bri’s number, he can pick you up. Uhmm, but I’m not ruining any sorts of plans for you?”

„Me?” She laughed out, amused. „Hell, I’m happy to get out of this hell hole,” Yeah, I wished gran would be as preppy as Alexis here.

„So then I’ll make sure Brian picks you up and wear something hot. He’ll probably show up with Matt,” even tho they were at each others necks before I bailed on them both.

„Sounds good to me.” Once I heard the click – indicating the end of the conversation, I pulled the phone away from my ear and slid it in my pocket.

„Okay, here goes nothing,” I took a sharp breath, before my hand went to pound on the door, nearly knocking it out of it’s hinges, „Gran! Open up you old hag!” But I didn’t even have to bother too much, before the door went flying open and now a barrel of a shotgun was looking me straight in the eye. Whoa... My hands shot up in an instant. Speaking about a welcoming...

„I don’t need no goddamn books you stupid Jehovah!” She shrieked, still hiding behind the gun. I sighed heavily, before pinched the bridge of my nose, still holding an arm up. This is not fucking happening. „Now scram you good for nothing, good-for-nothing!”

„Gran, it’s me!” I exclaimed, pushing the barrel away from my face, getting very and I mean very much fucking frustrated and irritated with her bullshit. The gun fired just a feet from me. That old bitch has lost it completely! My eyes widened over the hole in the floor boards. What the—

„Maria, put down that stupid gun!” Somebody called from across the street. She’s nuts! I mean, sure she had aimed a gun at me before, but she never fucking ever had fired it! That’s it, we’re headed for crazy house.

„Mind your own goddamn business Veronica I-don’t-even-know-how-to-feed-my-own-man Spencer!” Gran shouted back in a mocking voice. 82 and still kicking...Yeah, guess it turns out we’re related after all. What a bummer. „So whatcha selling me there, sonny?” The gun lowered to the ground and she rested her arms on it like holding a simple cane.

So-... excuse me? Did I look like a fucking boy even after a very expensive boob job? You have to be fucking kidding me! „I’m not selling anything,” I hissed, taking off the baseball cap and the rayban’s.

„Well look at that, you don’t look like a boy at all...”

„Gran, I’m your fucking granddaughter!”

For a moment her old blues eyed me, then her bony fingers took my chin, turning my head from right to left and back, and in the end she shook her head no. No?! „Nah, you’re not mine... My granddaughter doesn’t swear like a sailor... and she’s taller.”

„You’re thinking about Debora,” I hissed through bitten teeth, trying to regain my composure. Debora was an overachiever, married to a cop, lives in New York and gives zero fucks about lil’ miss blind and deaf over here. She was my cousin, dad’s sisters kid. „I’m the other granddaughter. Megan? Rings a bell?” Hello? Earth to Maria Hills?

„The one who hasn’t visited me in five long years?” She questioned, „yeah, I figured,” Gran sighed, turning around and walking back inside, her back crunched from all those years fighting scoliosis. „Well what are you standing there, drag your bony ass inside!” She gestured for me to come in, but then her eyes squinted looking over my features, „unless you’re here because my good-for-nothing son wants to get me to move away, then I will fill your behind with gun powder, no matter how perky looking you are.”

Perky... what?

Fuck. I sighed. This isn’t gonna be an in and out kinda trip. I fixed the strap of my bag over my shoulder, feeling the light weight of it. I think I may have underastimated Maria Hills here and her stubborness. This will take a few days... Or weeks.

Notes

I'm kinda tired right now so this may not be the best chapter I've written, but I felt like I had to put it here. I'll try and get my head in the game while writing those next updates. But now, I'm off to dreamland.

Thank you, goodnight!