Stone Sour was rolling through the car as I drove to the shop, singing softly as I mimiced the guitar with my fingers on the steering wheel. "You're good at that." Jimmy said, looking at me, then turning his head to look at the passing scenery of the town I lived in. I smiled to myself, "Thank you." I said quietly, keeping my eyes on the road. I was still running through my mind as to how I was going ot go about this all. I remembered the backstage pass Brian had given me. I couldn't do it there at the show. But then again, give them something to be angry about, they'll be awesome during the show...or incredibly horrible. I didn't know.

I turned the corner to the shop, suddenly being greeted by flashing lights of cop cars and such. "What the actual fuck?" I muttered to myself, seeing an ambulance rush to the scene. I stomped on the breaks, putting the car into park and pushing myself out of the vehicle. "What's going on here!?" I yell, a police officer trying to stop me from entering the building. "Ma'am we can't have you come into the building." He said calmly. "No you don't understand I fucking work here. What happened?" I asked, a million thoughts running through my head. "We're not entirely sure, but-" "Jacob!" I screamed, seeing EMT's wheeling a lifeless body out on the gurny to the ambulance. I pushed past the officer and rushed towards the EMT's. "What happened to him!?" I yelled, having yet another officer come up behind me to calm me down. "Male here, caucasian, mid twenties. Appears to have been shot, all personal stand by." I heard one of the people say into a walky talky. I could feel my eyes water as I saw them push the gurny into the ambulance and take off. I couldn't believe what had just happened. Jacob was my absolute friend in this whole town. The one person I could count on when everything felt like falling to shit. We had out ups and downs, but he was like my brother. I turned to face the shop, the glass door shattered, the windows even more so. I sniffled, walking up to the hole in the wall shop, my shoes crunching as I stepped on the glass from the door. I looked around, another body lying on the floor, gun in his hand. This made me sick to my stomach. A ballistics team was working around my station and the front desk. Why the hell would they be anywhere near my area? I walked up to see another body sprawled out on the bench I used for clients. I shook my head. This could not be happening. Not now. Of all days, not fucking now. I turned around and bumped into someones chest. That someone being Jimmy. "Come on, Meadow. You don't need to see this." He said, wrapping his long arm around my shoulders, ushering me out of the shop. I could feel my legs beginning to shake. If I lost Jacob, I was completely and utterly alone. Just as we edged towards my car, my knees finally buckled, but I didn't fall. Jimmy had his other arm around me, easing me up to my feet to help me walk the rest of the way. "I'll drive, you sit and relax." He said, opening the passenger side door to let me in. I didn't so much as put up a fight. I just sat there, my eyes glued to the shop. What the hell had happened? Why was everything falling apart, yet again?

~~~
It had been a whole week before I could even think of getting out of bed. Jimmy, bless him, aided me. It should had been the other way around, but I couldn't bring myself to do anything. We had a few scares and all. Jimmy didn't know exactly how to work my oven or my stove. But he tried his damnedest. I could hear him down the hallway talking to Baby, getting her to go outside for the fourth time today. He didn't bother me about the guys, telling me I had to take some time off for myself at the moment. Jacob had died in the hospital only moments later after he arrived. Severe head trauma and a gunshot wound to his chest. The funeral was three days ago, but I couldn't get out of bed to go. I couldn't see someone I loved being buried again. Just like my mother, he never came to me either. The cops had filled me in as to what had happened. Two guys decided to try and rob the shop, God only knows why. Jacob had tried to defend our things and the shop, but with devestating consequences.

"Hey." I looked up to see Jimmy, breaking me away from my thoughts. He smiled at me, walking up with a plate of food. Probably something store bought, but I didn't seem to mind.
"Hi.." I whispered, looking down at my lap as he came up beside me. "Brought this for you." He said, putting the plate on the end table beside my bed. "Thanks." I said, nodding my head. I didn't have much of an appetite for anything. Food, music, nothing. I could only get up and shower if Jimmy made me. Which he did.
"Come on, you gotta eat something. You need your strength." He said, patting my leg. I looked up at him, furrowing my brow. He still wanted me to help him. I couldn't be angry towards him, after all the help he's done. I owed him in a sense. The concert was three days away and of course, I had to drive to get us to the location. I just looked at him and nodded my head, trying to get myself to become happy again, but my mind kept wandering back to Jacob. Jimmy saw this, his arms wrapping around me to engulf me in a warming hug. I didn't fall apart like I had when things first started to go to shit. I just layed my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes as he rubbed my back soothingly. "I miss him Jimmy.." I whispered, sniffling softly. "I know, kid..." He said, running his hand over my hair softly which sent a chill up my spine. "Thank you.." I said, picking my head up to look at him. "For helping me when I should be the one helping you." He shook his head after I spoke, silencing me. "Enough. You need as much help as the next person. I can wait. But right now, I'm being impatient. Eat, before I force feed you woman." He said, patting my legs again as he pulled away from me. I smiled softly, taking the plate of food, finding my appetite. I nearly inhaled the food, not being able to recall what was actually on it before I set the empty plate back on the nightstand. "Did you even taste that?" He asked, laughing a little as he took the plate. I nodded my head, slipping out from under my blankets, my somewhat swollen feet hitting the cool hard wood floor. "I'm gonna go take a shower." I said, walking over to my closet to pick out some clothes. "Okay, after you're done, we'll pack everything up and head out." He said. I already knew by what he meant. We had to leave tonight to be able to get to the concert on time. For the first time, I felt like I was ready to break news to others about their lost loved ones. I just kept thinking what the guys were gonna say and how they were going to react.

Just as I was about to hit the bathroom, I heard my doorbell ring. I furrowed my brows. "I got it!" I yelled, walking down the hallway to the front door. As soon as I opened it, I met the eyes of my brother Kyle. "What's this I hear you got some guy living in your house?" He sounded harsh, stern..Drunk. I shook my head. "Not now Kyle, it doesn't concern you." I said, rolling my eyes. He was my younger brother, the second oldest of our siblings. "Yes it does. You're my sister, and I'm not letting you get hurt." He said, pointing a chubby finger at me. "You're drunk, go home." I said, trying to close my door. He stuck his foot in between the door frame and the door. "Dammit, Meadow. What if Dad heard about this?" He asked, trying to push into my home. "I'm 23 years old you stupid drunk. Go the fuck home!" I yelled, slamming the door again, hearing him cuss. I hated his surprise visits. I never saw him unless he heard rumors about me. It was getting annoying, extremely annoying. I walked into the kitchen to see Jimmy putting things away, throwing old food away. "You don't have to do that." I said, looking the kitchen over. "Sure I do." He said, tossing a water bottle over his shoulder, aiming right into the garbage can. "Jimmy.." I tired to say, but ended up with a hand in my face. "Go take your shower and pack so we can go. Now shoo!" He said, turning me around and swatting my rump, making me jump into step. Oh this was going to be just awesome. A road trip to California with Avenged Sevenfolds dead drummer. Yeah, you can call me crazy anytime now.