I looked at Mari's sleeping face, gently brushing a strand of black hair away from her eyes. How fuckin freaked out must she be, I thought. I mean, I just appear out of the blue, force her into coming to Chicago with us. I haven't even thought this shit through, I mean, she could be completely different from the last time I saw her.

But I know she isn't, because she still has the tattoo. The deathbat we got years ago was still there on her wrist. If she had turned soft, it would be gone, taken of by laser removal or something.

"JIMMY!!" Johnny shouted. I started and looked up at the guys. And they all burst out laughing. Great, as if I'm not already embarrassed as hell.

"What? Shut your fuckin face, Christ!" I joked. JC jumped out of his seat and into my lap, smacking at my face.

"Ah, sick. I didn't know you were gay Johhny. Does your mom know?"

"Oh yeah? Well, does YOUR mom knows that.. that..."Johhny stuttered uselessly as he struggled to come up with a comeback.

"Face it: you like the D more than the V!" I laughed as his face went totally red and he smacked at my face harder.

"Looks like Rev isn't the only one lost in space. Yo Zacky, wake your ass up!" Brian shouted. I glanced at Zacky just in time to see him move his gaze away... from Mari. A hot course of jealousy rushed through my veins. I swear, if Zacky has it out for my girl...

"Ah, shut the fuck up Gates!" Zacky kicked Brian playfully and he punched him in return.

"Chill guys, you can fight all you want when we get on the plane." Matt stuck his head out the window and lit a cig up.

"Speakin' of, there it is. DAMN, that plane is badass." I crawled over Johhny and Brian to the window and saw that Matt was right.

The plane was sleek but huge at the same time. It had our label on the side, with a thick red stipe going down the middle. I crawled back to Mari (causing a great amount of punches to come from B and JC) and gently shook her.

"Mari, we're at the airport, wake up." She opened her eyes slowly, as the car pulled to a stop and the guys flopped out. I hopped out to, then pulled her out after me. After helping get the luggage out of the back, I went back to give Mari the heads up. I hoped she wasn't uptight or anything cause the girls would hate that.

"Listen baby, your gunna meet Matt's and Brian's girls when we get in there ok? Just be yourself, they'll love you." I wasn't sure if what I was saying was registering fully with her. All of this was a bit much to take in, even for someone as strong as I knew Mari was.

"It's ok," she yawned, "I won't be rude or anything."

"Naw, be as rude as ya want, just make sure you let them know it's a joke." She nodded, and asked abruptly of I had a cig she could smoke. I guess she isn't too pristine, I thought as I lit one up for her, and one for myself. 30 minutes later, we were all packed up and settling down in the plane.

Zacky almost immediately went to the bunks to sleep, while the rest of us started to drink and have fun. I introduced her to the girls was happy to see them hit it off almost instantly, and she did well to hold her liquor. I couldn't wait to see how this all turned out, but my doubts from before were still there.

I guess later I would have to talk to her about all this, and see how she truly felt. And then there was Zacky. What had he been staring at Mari for in the limo? Did he hate her, or was there something deeper going on?

Whatever it was, I wasn't gunna let it get between our friendship or my (hopefully soon) relationship. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, and downed my drink. For the time being, I was going to get shitfaced and party with the guys, and the girl I hoped to make mine again.