I stared incredulously out the window.

"What the fuck is he doing here?" I glanced at Mari and saw she was wearing the same unbelieving look as I was. Why was Jimmy standing outside the Chinese place, eyes dead set on us? He didn't think....

"Oh God, shit! We need to go talk to him!" Before I could stop her, Mari was flying out of her seat and out the door. I instantly got up and ran after her. When I got outside, she was desperately trying to explain ourselves to Jimmy.

"Please, this isn't what your think it is! We were just.. I mean, it's like..." She tripped over her words, so I stepped in to help. I almost backed up at seeing the pissed off look on my best friends face.

"Jimmy, man, don't jump to conclusions. This is completely explainable."

"Oh really," he asked sarcastically, "Then explain Zacky. Explain why my girlfriend and you have been missing for the last few days. Why I randomly find you eye humping her at some fucking restaurant. Why THE MUTHER FUCKING POLICE are searching the city for you two! Huh! WHY DON'T YOU FUCKING EXPLAIN THAT!"

"This isn't the time nor the place. We need to go somewhere private to talk about this." Even as I said it, I knew it was a lost cause. He ran his hands through his hair and backed away.

"No no no NO! I don't want your excuses, I don't want your explanations. I want you gone. Goodbye Mari." He started to walk away, but Mari instantly ran after him and grabbed his arm.

"Jimmy baby, please wait! We got drunk and did something wrong, that's all. That's why we left, you have to believe that!"

"You broke the law, and you felt trapped; I get that. But you don't fucking run away together, leaving everyone worried and pissed off. What the hell were you two thinking?"

I spoke up and said; "We were going to come back as soon as it all blew over." Jimmy threw me a rotten look.

"It'll be hard for this search to just blow over. You need to turn yourselves in." Mari's eyes started to mist and she let go.

Jimmy snorted angrily and walked away saying;

"Just don't expect me to be waiting when you get out." I grabbed Mari before she fell to her knees, and I could feel the sobs wrack her body.

"Forget about him, lets just go home." She nodded and allowed me to lead her to the car and drive us back to her house. I had just tucked her into bed and was about to go into my bedroom when she whispered;

"He's right ya know. We should go back, face what we have coming."

"I know... It's just a lot to think about. We'll talk more about it tomorrow ok?" I didn't look back at her but I knew she agreed.

~~~Next Day~~~

I lay in bed wondering about Jimmy. His sudden appearance last night was suspicious, and so was how he told us to go back to Cali. Why? We would be arrested and jailed. He wanted his best friend and love to go away to prison?

It all just seemed too strange...

I stood up and walked downstairs, still trying to solve the puzzle.

Maybe he just wants us to do what's right. Maybe he's just mad at finding Mari and I together on the other side of the country.

"Your up early." Her voice was right behind me, causing me to jump in surprise.

"Jesus Christ, you scared the shit out of me!"

"I don't smell anything yet." I laughed at that and pawed through the fridge, looking for some sort of eatable material. I settled on a hot pocket and put one in the microwave, while Mari left the kitchen.

I followed her out after my food finished and saw her standing dressed by the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Just to the bar. After last night.... I just really need a drink." I stood up a little too quickly and grabbed a random pair of pants of the couch.

"I'm coming too. I don't like you just running around alone." She nodded and started to leave, but stopped and pointed at the pants I'd just slipped on.

"Uh Zacky.... Those are mine." I looked between her and the pants before blushing madly.

"That explains why they felt too tight." She giggled and said to meet her outside before shutting the door. Sighing, I ripped off the pants. Why do I always fuck up around her?!?

•••••Mari's POV•••••

Waiting in the car for Zacky to come out, I listened to the radio news channel to see if our story had gone national yet.

I didn't even notice when Zacky came out ad hopped in the car, and he had to nudge me to get me to go.

"Sorry, I'm a little distracted." He responded by giving me a worried look, then turned off the radio and buckled up.

While I was driving, my mind kept switching to the scene from last night. The horrified look in Jimmy's eyes, him telling me not to expect him if I got out of prison.... I didn't want to believe he was being serious. But I knew he was.... and I needed to accept it; Jimmy didn't love me anymore.

Did he ever actually love me? I remember being told that they only brought me to Chicago way back in December cause he was dared. He had been talking about a past friend living here, and Matt and Johhny told him to pick me up.

That means I was forced back into his life. That means if it wasn't for a fucking dare, I wouldn't even remember Jimmy, or know Avenged Sevenfold.

"Mari stop!" Zacky's scream pulled me back to reality, and I slammed my foot on the break. A few cars honked at me, but I ignored them and turned to him.

"Maybe I should drive. I don't want us to die on the way to the bar." I shook my head and waited for the green light, keeping my head clear of any thoughts. Just drive, and it'll all be fine.

Who the fuck am I trying to fool? Nothing would be the same now.

These thoughts swirling around in my head made it hard to concentrate. My head kept pulling up random memories and words, and I was started to feel scared.

My breathing started getting more shallow and I was getting dizzy. My vision went fuzzy, and I thought I was going to pass out then and there.

Abruptly, I heard someone scream my name. I turned to look but an earsplitting screech and crash sounded instead. I felt something stab through my leg, and I screamed in pain. Then my world went black.

Notes

I'm back! Sorry it took so long, I just wasn't sure I liked where the story was going. But I got it all on track now; everything is good. I'm trying to get back into my usual flow of writing again, so don't hate me if the chapters are sort BLEH right now.

Sincerely, Evie