Forever is Right Now

**Matt’s POV**

I drove around the corner and came face to face with Zack’s house surrounded by cops, “The fuck is going on here?” I asked myself.

“I don’t know baby, I hope everyone’s alright,” Simone said gently stroking my arm trying to comfort me.

I pulled up across the street, my anxiety rising worried that something had happened to Ember, “Babe, stay here until I am able to get the okay from them. Lock the doors after me.” I got out of the truck and jogged over to the front lawn.

“I’m sorry sir, you’re not allowed to come on the property right now,” A cop told me standing in my way.

“Zacky!” I hollered seeing my friend in the door way.

“Let him through,” Zacky told the cops and the cop nodded not happy about it.

I passed through the door seeing a team of forensic workers. Ember sat on the stairs shaking, “Em.” I went over and hugged her tightly. She hugged me back and I couldn’t help but feel relieved for a moment seeing that she was okay, atleast physically.

“What happened?” I asked looking from her to Zacky.

“Someone threw a rock through my window, had a note stuck on with a rubber band. Said ‘I know she’s here, I’ll be back.’” Zacky explained to me.

“Who the fuck was it?” I demanded as Johnny entered through the backdoor.

“The fuck is going on?” Johnny asked concerned as he shrugged out of his jacket.

“Someone threw a rock through Zack’s window, note was on it saying that the person knows Ember’s here and that they’ll be back,” I repeated so Zack wouldn’t have to.

“Who the fuck was it!?” Johnny replied similar to my tone.

“We don’t know,” Ember said softly, she was biting her nails. Something she only did when she was extremely anxious.

Zacky came over and knelt in front of her, “We’ll figure it out Em.” He held her hands in his, not caring that she’d been biting them. “Don’t worry, you’re safe here.”

She nodded not completely convinced, “Mr. Vengeance, we need to ask you a few more questions.” A detective came over. Zacky nodded and kissed Ember’s forehead before going with the detective.

“I’ll be right back, Johnny stay with her, I’m going to go get Simone and tell her what’s going on,” I told them standing to my feet.

“Where’d you leave her?” Johnny asked curiously as he took my spot.

“She’s in the truck,” I looked at Ember who wasn’t looking at anyone but Zack. I knew she felt safest when Zack or I was close by. He nodded wrapping an arm around Ember’s shoulders and pulling her into his side. “I’ll be right back” I told them and went out the door jogging back over to the truck. I heard the click of the doors being unlocked and opened up the door.

“Is everything okay?” Simone immediately asked as I turned off the ignition.

I shook my head, “Someone busted Zee’s window with a rock and it had a note saying that the person who threw it and wrote it knows Ember’s here and that they’ll be back.”

“Oh my god,” she scampered out of the car before I could stop her.

“Simone, slow down,” I caught her at the front of the truck in my arms. “Slow, down.” I reiterated gently pressing my hand to her stomach.

She nodded sheepishly, “I’m sorry Mattie…I just, I don’t want her to be alone.”

“She’s not alone,” I explained stroking her cheek. It made me proud that I had two of the most wonderful women in my life, even if they made me feel like I wanted to shoot my brains out sometimes. “Johnny’s with her, Zacky’s literally 5 feet from her.”

She nodded and hugged me as I kissed her forehead rubbing her arms, “Was it Scott?” She asked me and I felt my body go ridged.

She noticed the change in posture and looked up at me, “That can’t be possible. He’s locked up.” I said more to reassure myself than reassure her.

She looked me in the eyes and stroked my cheek, “Matt…we don’t know that.”

I groaned, “Come on, we’ll tell the cops about our suspicions, make sure he’s still locked up.”

I hurriedly took out my phone and sent a text to Brian:

Get your ass to Zacky’s. Someone threatened Ember.

I put my phone on silent and walked Simone inside, making sure she was careful as we went.

**Brian’s POV**

*BUZZ*
Matt: Get your ass to Zacky’s. Someone threatened Ember.

That text was enough to sober me up, I immediately ran upstairs to my bedroom and threw on a clean pair of boxers, pants, and a shirt. I grabbed my shoes and slipped them on my sock clad feet then was immediately out the door. I was greeted by the cool night air as I locked my house up and ran to the car. I tried to call Matt but got no answer so I left a voicemail, “Dude you can’t just text me that and then not pick up. Argh, I’m on my way.” I hung up my phone angrily swerving around someone driving on the wrong side of the road, or I was driving on the wrong side of the road. I didn’t fucking care, all that mattered was getting to Ember.

God she was probably so scared, how was she threatened? Was she hurt? Did they get physical? Fuck I couldn’t think straight as I drove, I rolled the windows down to keep me sobered up so I wouldn’t get pulled over. I was a pro at driving drunk, ever since my teenage years, but fuck me if I haven’t finished two bottles of Jack today. I parked behind Matt’s truck, reaching Zacky’s house in record time. I was immediately out of my car and locked it running up the lawn, most of the cops must have already left. Good thing probably, since I’d get arrested for driving while intoxicated.

As soon as I reached the doorway, I looked around spotting Ember on the stairs. I’d seen that look before, after I had found out that Scott was hitting her, when he gave her that black eye. I remember seeing this same look, she was shutting down, turning off all of her emotions one by one. I immediately ran to her.

**Ember’s POV**

I sat next to Simone while the guys talked to the cops about Scott, I felt numb. I couldn’t feel the fear anymore, I couldn’t feel my anxiety anymore; I swear I was damn near catatonic. I could barely feel Simone’s hand holding mine. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion until he walked through the door.

“Babe?” He asked as he almost ran to me, kneeling in front of me and lifting my face to look in my eyes. “Ember?” He said again, with a little more force. I finally let go of the numbness and hugged him, tears falling freely as he held me in his strong protective arms, stroking my hair. “Shh,” Brian cooed softly trying to calm me, “I’m here now, you’re safe. No one’s gonna hurt you while I’m around.”

I nodded, “Bri-I-I don’t know who did it.” I said not able to catch my breath. Simone gently rubbed my back as Brian held me to him.

“Shh baby, we’ll figure it out. You’ll be alright. I swear to you, you’ll be okay,” he whispered kissing my forehead.

I cuddled up to him, latching onto his shirt. I didn’t know who had texted him, but at that moment in time I was glad they did. Brian had been there through everything and even though I was pissed at him, I needed him. He picked me up and sat on the stairs, setting me on his lap. I immediately curled up like a little kid resting my head on his chest. He was stroking my hair, comforting me as I held his arm in a death grip like a little kid.

Fuck I was so scared. What if it was Scott like the guys thought? What if he was going to come back and finish what he started. What if—

“Em,” Brian whispered kissing my temple. “Breathe babe, stop going through what if’s and breathe.” I looked up at him confused on how he knew what I was thinking. “I know you better than you think sweetheart,” he gently stroked my cheek with his thumb giving me a small smile. I sighed slightly relaxing in his arms.

Zack came up kneeling in front of us and I felt Brian tense, getting territorial like he usually did when I was this upset. “Well there’s good news and bad news,” Zacky said either not noticing or not caring that Brian had tightened his hold on me.

“What is it?” Brian asked knowing I was having a hard time forming words right now.

“Well, good news is it’s not Scott…he’s still locked up in federal state prison. Bad news is we have no clue as to who did this,” Zacky said frowning slightly.

“So it’s not Scott?” Brian asked making sure he understood.

“Who the fuck else would it be?” I asked so softly both of the guys looked at me.

“What babe?” Brian asked softly.

“Who the fuck else would it be?” I asked a little louder.

The guys looked at me apologetically, “We don’t know sweetheart,” Matt said as he and Johnny joined our group. Simone stood up and went to Matt’s side placing a hand on his chest supportively as he wrapped an arm around her.

“We’ll find out though babe,” Zack said and I felt Brian tense up but he kept his cool.

“Yes we will,” Brian said darkly as he stroked my hair out of my face and kissed my forehead. “We’ll find out exactly who’s behind this.”

Matt looked at his clock, “By the way, Happy New Year.”

Notes

Uh oh, so if it's not Scott, who is it?