Dice’s POV

„Can you keep the fucking car steady?” I hissed, nearly poking my eye out with the brush, „I’ll loose my goddamn eye!” Whoever came up with the great idea of applying make-up while being in a moving vehicle, was an idiot, oh hey – I’m an idiot. So what else’s new?

„Sorry... I was just thinking...” Syn replied, dropping the speed and actually driving by the rules. Well, this’s a first.

„’bout what?” I took the pitch black pencil to fill in my eyebrows. When Syn dragged me in Sephora and told to choose any make-up I’d like otherwise the plan wouldn’t succeed, I don’t quite know what the hell was I thinking when I took all this stuff. The whole make-up kit was the worst purchase of my whole fucking life, but on the other hand, the jet black wig was the best fucking purchase. I promised myself to cuddle it and take care of it and call it Susanne. Just like my stripper alter ego.

„About MJ... and you... How come you both are so different? What happened to you that made you so... tough?” He leaned forward to see the signs to know which lane turned to the necessary street. What street was that? Ask Syn, he’s the designated driver.

„That’s easy.” I smiled, „I grew up in a trailer park.”

„What?” He shot me a deep frown. „But Matt told me you went to Yale...”

„You think poor people can’t get into Yale?” I chuckled, applying a large amount of hot pink blush to my cheeks. „You’re thinking right... My parents died when I was nine. I ended up in a foster family where getting through the day was like a chapter in Hunger Games... You know that chick book everyone’s so hyped about?” He nodded, his eyes firmly on the road. „Well, my childhood was a round of pure survival. Got into Yale only because I sold the house my parents left me. I payed off the University with that money. Probably a stupid move from my part, but what else would I’ve done with a house in a middle of nowhere?”

„And MJ? She too had a rough childhood?” He asked curiously as I checked myself in the mirror to see if I’m closing in on the needed effect. Was I starting to look cheep? Hell, when I wake up in the morning I look cheep. But did I look cheep yet in the same time expensive as hell? That was the right question to ask.

„MJ? Hell, I was lucky when the fashion designers brought the ripped jeans in, now I could be cool without having to buy a new pair, but MJ? Her folks were filthy rich and expecting a bit too much from her. I mean they’re still filthy rich...” The brush stopped midway to my eyelid. Were they? Were her parents’ still alive? They had to be, right? That’s why MJ’s here... in Huntington... right? „At least I think they’re still alive... heck, I don’t know. I’ve seen them only once and they forbid both MJ and her brother to be friends with me, but whatever... In the end I still fucked her brother and became best friends with the girl.” And yes, I’m darn proud of that.

„You’re always going after what’s forbidden?” he smirked lightly as he gave me a second of his browns.

„Always,” I agreed with a smile.

„Like Matt?”

The smile disappeared. „Look... here’s the thing, I know you get me ‘cause we’re the exact same assholes...”

„You don’t love him,” He sighed, immediately understanding what I was getting at. I actually didn’t even know what I felt towards Matt and that scared me to no limits. He made me weak around him and I couldn’t allow myself that. I couldn’t trust myself with him, yet I constantly wanted to be around him and it wasn’t only the physical attraction, I just liked the way he was around people, the way he smiled, the way he... Oh god.

I shook my head, trying to deny the sudden wave of realization, „I don’t know what love is... and the same goes for you. I know I told you that you love her, ‘cause it’s almost too obvious, but now I remembered who I’m talking to.”

He shook his head, being in an obvious denial. The same I was. Twinsies! „It’s not that I don’t love her, it’s just—„

„Come on, who are you fooling? I know you for a long time...” And actually even tho he was a really, like really – really big asshole, he was one of the sweetest guys I knew. How was that possible?

„Since you started at Johnny’s...” He agreed thoughtfully.

„Which was two years ago.” I drew a line with the black eyeliner on my upper lid, while we had stopped by the red light. „That’s why I got really mad when you started showing that much of your attention to MJ...”

„Oh my god, don’t say you—„

„You’re an ass,” I punched his arm as his chest trembled in a silent laughter. „And no... I just know who you are.”

„That’s why you hooked your best friend up with an asshole like me...” And that’s why he hooked his best friend up with a heartless bitch like me. I believe we were even.

I rolled my eyes like it was so obvious.

„You know there’s a special place in hell for people like you...”

„You should’ve told me ‘thank you, Dice, you’re the coolest chick I know’ and worshiped the ground I walk on, not tell me I’ll go to hell which I already knew by the way.” I colored my lips in red, looking back at him, „But I was heading somewhere with something... Oh right, we were talking about MJ and you...”

„Look, maybe... maybe Brian Haner loves her, but Synyster Gates? He loves women. In plural, just like you.” He gestured towards me, I think more afraid to admit he’s the only one this fucked up, that’s why he searched for another person to be his soul mate. „It’s the same for you, right?”

„You mean with Dice and the crack whore Lucy Reed?” I chuckled, looking back at him.

„She’s a crack whore?”

„Well yeah... Actually no... Sometimes... fuck, you got me all confused...” Did I do blow? Not since that crazy party with one of the regulars.

„Anyway, what I meant is you have a more sensitive side who longs for all the lovey-dovey bullshit, right?” He didn’t just ask me that...

„If I didn’t, I most probably wouldn’t have even returned and would’ve sent MJ straight to hell a long time ago, the same going for Matt.” And I clear as hell wouldn’t be looking like an expensive whore right now.

And the reason behind looking the way I did with the expensive Versace slim cut dress and the make-up under which my face felt like melting off was... I cared for MJ, so did Brian, that’s why he bought me this fucking dress... and those heels... and drove me to this club, where I’ll probably break a couple of rules. See, the whole diabolical plan was to rob Christian Knoxville. Okay hold your horses, before you jump to any assumptions, I just need the fucking key to his office, that’s all. And a little birdie whispered to me that he likes this fine establishment we see right in front of our eyes and he likes expensive prostitutes he thinks he can afford with the salary of a simple cop. But maybe he can... I’m not sure how good of a citizen he really is.

Robbing a cop... this should be fun. Never done it before.

Brian’s POV

When Dice came up with the plan, I thought she had completely lost it; when I agreed to pay for the dress, I thought I had completely lost it; when I wished her good luck, dropping her off at the strip joint, I thought we had completely lost it. What happened to simply hiring a body guard, huh? Well, i guess, not with Dice since I really believed she was one of those crazy feminist chicks, however, I couldn’t really rely on Dice to rob a cop and hope that nothing would happen to MJ, that’s why while waiting I decided to call Matt and ask him to contact the security company we had a contract with for our tours to get MJ a body guard... or two... Hell even three, just so that piece of a shit ex won’t get to her.

After four rings, Matt picked up with a stressed, „Where are you?”

„Uhmm... chill your ass, Matt, I told you I have some stuff to take care of,” I frowned as I watched the entrance of the strip club. Judging by those expensive suits that went inside, this was one of those rich pig establishments in which I’d never get in with my tattoo’s and simply the charisma of a rock douche bag. But Dice? Even with her tattoo’s she somehow managed to do it.

„Dice’s with you?” He asked and I couldn’t help but think there was something deadly off with him.

„Yeah, but is MJ with you?” My eyes squinted on certain no one, hearing the nervous chuckle at the other end of the conversation.

„About that—„

„WHAT?!” By then I was really confusedly pissed and not understanding anything anymore.

„Gates... Look... I-I don’t know what to tell you, man... She left a stupid letter and bailed...”

„A letter?” I questioned not amused. Like at all. I could’ve went without a chase for a chick who had a bounty on her, but it seemed someone had done something deadly wrong to my brain and right now I could only feel worried for MJ and jump in the whole mess with all fours. „What does it say?”

„Hmm... It says...” Don’t tell me he hasn’t even read it... „That she’s sorry... and... holy shit... what I get from this is MJ should be seeing a shrink each day of the week... Seriously, man...”

Did he just attempt to insult my fucking girlfriend, while his girlfriend was playing dress up and robbing a fucking cop? „WHAT THE HELL DOES IT SAY?”

„Uhmm... You should probably read it yourself,”

„That’s not an option now, Shads,” I let out an irritated sigh. I couldn’t just leave Dice for the wolves, I had to at least wait for a good half an hour, before I figure she probably got caught or is laying dead somewhere and only then I’ll bolt.

Speaking about the wolf... „Got it!” And I thought she’ll be dead, but no, she’s just flashing the key chain along with the key in my face with a very victorious grin on her face.

„Okay, I gotta go, Shads. Try figuring where she is. Call the cops, the FBI, the Pentagon I don’t care, just do something...” I hung up not even hearing the answer. Was I irritated? You can bet your sweet ass I was fucking irritated.

„MJ?” Dice frowned.

„Yea, seems like she ditched the party,” I sighed, pulling away from the club, before the cop has realized he’s robbed. „You know where she could be?”

„I might... But those people don’t fall under the category of my ‘best friends’,” She turned her head away. Her voice was barely audible and I figured she doesn’t really want to play fetch the blondie.

„So where do we go now?”

„Right now I have to break in the police station.”

Notes