Sophia's POV

I managed to open my door with my key between my teeth, carrying my heavy bag over my shoulder. With great amount of skill, I managed turn the key using my teeth, and twist the knob using only two fingertips. As I walked through, I chucked my bags across the floor, and sighed a huge breath. It would be far easier with Matt, it seemed everything would be easier with him around.

"Fuck," I yelled to myself staring at the red marks across my arm from carrying my bag from down the street where my taxi dropped me off. I slid my phone out of my back pocket to call Matt and let him know I was home safe, but it was unresponsive. I had drained my battery playing solitaire on the flight back. I grabbed my bag and attempted the climb the stairs. The bag was hewn from thick canvas and stitched by machine. God only knows how thick the needle had to be to get through it. The bag's strap was broad and padded to stop it from gouging my shoulder. It weighed a tonne. I managed to get up the stairs surprisingly. I entered my bedroom, it was cold and unhomely. I hadn't been here for the last few days, yet it feels like nobody has lived here ever. I already dread coming to bed alone. I fished for my phone charger in my bag, found it all tangled together. I was so eager to talk to Matt, I ignored the huge knot and plugged my phone in.

I began unpacking my bag, removing my dull, hideous funeral clothes and throwing them into my wash basket. In fact, I was so lazy to put any clothes away, they all went into my washing basket for me to deal with later. Even unworn clothes. My phone finally woke up as I was putting away my perfumes back in the smart order they were originally in on my shelf.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated for 30 seconds constantly, receiving a million notifications all at once. The buzzer on the phone went off like an annoyed rattlesnake. I sat on my bed and grabbed my phone, hoping for Matt to text me. But it was Johnny and Zacky. I had 3 missed calls from Johnny, 6 from Zacky. 4 messages from Johnny, and 2 from Zacky. I frowned suspiciously. Before I even unlocked my phone, Johnny called. Unease blossomed inside of me.

I quickly answered. "What is fuckin' wrong?!" I shouted. "I'm home! I'm safe!"

"Finally fucking picked up!" he argued.

"I've been on a flight Johnny!"

"Been trying to get a hold of you for the past 5 hours, about 15 minutes after you said bye to us-"

"Why?" I frowned. My heart began booming inside of my chest. I'm sure it was visibly beating through my shirt.

"Matt and fuckin' Brian have beaten the shit out of each other-"

"They fucking what?!" I screamed down the phone. It was my fault. I knew I'd done something pretty awful and I just couldn't justify it. The guilt sat not only only my chest but inside my brain. Also, fucking worry about what Matt could have done to Brian.

"Yeah, I thought we could catch you before you left on the plane, it happened almost - literally after you left" he sighed. "Listen, I had to tell you-"

"What the fuck is Brian okay?" Knowing full well Matt wouldn't have a scratch on him.

"They're both in fuckin' hospital," he snapped. "Matt however- broke his wrist- punching Brian-"

"What?!" I screamed. "You fucking let Matt do this to Brian!?"

"Me?!" he yelled back. "We were in the fuckin' car! Zacky got out to get a fuckin' drink from the cafe and saw them killing eachother"

"Is Brian okay?" I panicked.

"Pretty knocked out" Johnny sighed. "Doctors say he will be okay, but- he's fucking out of it at the minute"

"Oh my god," I stuttered worryingly. "I have to come back" I screamed, wiping my eyes; "Tell me the hospital"

"You really coming out to LA? Just to see Matt's broken wrist?"

"Brian is fucking half dead Johnny I have to make sure he's okay and I'm going to fucking kill Matt"

"Brian started it!!"

"I don't care!! Brian is like a little mouse compared to Matt, he should know better!!"

"It's fucking Matt we're talking about.."

I didn't want to associate violence with Matt, I never was one to see it in him. Brian has warned me about him, yet he is the one lying in hospital. I know however that he would never do anything like this to me.

"Johnny I really want to come to see them both," I sighed, scrunching my hair in my hands with anger and frustration.

"You ain't made of money to keep coming backwards and forwards to LA Sophia," he warned. "If you decide to come, I will pay. But I ain't buying you a return, you're staying" he giggled.

"I want to"

"Stay? Here? Definitely?"

"I don't wanna talk about this over the phone," I sighed. I knew this didn't seem like my home anymore. From being back in my old town with old people, it didn't feel the same. I may have been here for under 10 minutes but - it just wasn't. "I'll have a look at flights, please call me if anything happens okay? And tell Matt to fucking talk to me too"

"Okay," he chuckled. "Sorry to panic you, it was important I tell you"

"Thank you" I sighed. I hung up the phone in a hurry and grabbed my laptop from under the bed, frantically rushing it to start up. I contemplated what I was really doing here in Oregon. Suddenly, after 4 days my life has turned upside down. I think I'd turned it upside down for Brian and Matt, too.

.......

A few hours later

I had a rowdy phone call with my dad. He wasn't impressed with me deciding to go to LA, I asked him kindly to look after JJ, my dog until..if.. I got back. He also broke the news to me he had separated with his wife so I invited him to stay at my house while I was away. I had managed to book a flight for the morning. I'd have a good (questionable..) night sleep until a full day of hecticness once more. It was a stupid hour and a half flight ride which was barely anything, it was the after which was the hectic part. The amount of untold conflict which would arise between me, Matt - even Brian (hoping that he wakes up pretty soon...). I hadn't heard anything since. Not even from Matt.

My friend was dropping JJ off tomorrow afternoon, my dad would already be here by then - I wouldn't be. It's strange how much I missed JJ. I wanted to take him with me but I had no idea how long I'd be out there. I altered my mind away from the guilt of leaving my poor puppy again, and decided to go on search for bigger bags to take.

I found a larger (and heavier) case in my attic and hauled it down. It practically fell out of my arms and crashed onto the floor. I wheeled it through into my room, and re-packed. I decided to pack quite a bit as I could be there for a week, maybe two, or three. I simply poured my underwear drawer into my case. I grabbed a bunch of t shirts, pajamas, jeans, dresses, shoes - well as much as I could pack. I threw in toiletries, hair products, jewelry - everything I didn't really need went in.

Now to fasten. I sat on the top of it and worked my way around with the zip, I stuffed every free crevice with extra belongings which made it virtually impossible to fasten. But after a great amount of try and sweat, I fastened it.

It was 10PM by this point. My case, again, was packed and I was again, ready to go to the airport in the morning. I stripped my clothes off and threw them over the bedroom floor and tucked myself into my cold, empty bed. Immediately I felt my eyes roll with tiredness until my phone rang loudly, removing any ounce of tiredness from my body. I snatched the phone from my bedside table, and Brian was calling.

I was so fucking relieved he was okay. I couldn't hit 'accept' quicker.

"Brian," I sighed in relief. "Are you okay?"

"Don't come out here" his voice sounded so quiet, hurt and fragile.

"Wha- why? I want too, I want to see if you're okay"

"I'm fine" the signs of distraught could be heard in his voice, as he exerted all of his energy forcing even the faintest sound out. My heart broke for him.

"I'm coming down in the morning," I spoke softly. "No matter what you say"

"I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye to you" he croaked with a quivering tone.

"Brian it's fine," I assured. "Get some rest, I'll see you tomorrow afternoon - can I bring you anything?"

"No," he attempted to chuckle, maybe realized it hurt him and hissed at the pain. I was dreading seeing the state of him.

"Is there anything you called me for?" I asked delicately

"No" he seemed to question.

"Okay. I hope you're okay Brian" I smiled to myself.

"I'm okay" grunted with pain again. He sighed down the phone, silencing us for a moment. He began a word, but never finished it. Instead, he simply told me 'goodnight'.

Notes

Sooooo sorry this took ages!!! Been a hectic week <3

Sorry if I'm rushing through this part of the story - I'm dying to get into this!!!