Jinx's POV
March 2nd

I yanked the zipper of the money pouch closed as I finished up my shift. Thank fuck this was the last time I'd ever have to do this. A week had passed since Mayhem, Tess and I had decided we were going to leave Newark, and I had taken up a few extra shifts to earn more cash. We needed all the money we could get, since we'd likely be sleeping in Motels for awhile. Henceforth, I had been busting my ass working full time for the past week.

I stashed the cash in the safe in the storeroom, and went out to talk to the Boss. Chuck was a surly fucking raisin whose ever-growing stomach threatened to pop the buttons of the yellowing shirt he always wore. Bastard probably didn't even do his own laundry. Not that I could fucking talk, I hadn't showered in two days...

"Chuck." I said, grabbing his attention.
"What?"
"I've finished my shift."
"Money counted?" he asked.
"Yes Sir."
"In the safe?"
"Yes Sir."
"Counter clean?"
"Yes Sir."
"Hmph." he pursed his lips, scrutinising my appearance for a moment or two, before reaching into his back pocket and retrieving his wallet. "Here's your earnings for the week." he said, holding out a wad of cash to me.
"Thanks." I nodded, taking it from his hand.
"Oh and Jaymie?"
"Yes Sir?"
"Take a fucking shower." he spat. "You smell like shit."
"Wash your fucking shirt." I retorted. "You look like shit."
"You wanna get fired, little girl?" he threatened.
"Kinda fucking hard to fire someone who's fucking quit!" I snapped.
"Excuse me?" he raised an eyebrow.
"That's right, old man." I laughed. "I fucking quit!" I cried, throwing my hands in the air. "Fuck you, fuck this record store, and fuck this town."



I pushed the door of the shop open and stormed out, leaving him stunned and unable to form words. He jolted as I pounded my fists on the perspex window, flipping him the biggest of birds before I high-tailed it out of there. I tugged off my work shirt as I ran, throwing it to the ground and embracing the cool evening air on my bare chest, having zero fucks to give about my bra being visible to the entire world.

.

The sound of my own manic laughter echoed through the air as I passed under the bridge where all the other lost souls hung out before sundown. It was over. No more of the mundane 9-5, same shit, different day lifestyle I had slugged through for the past few years. My life was back in my hands, the road ahead mine to create. It was fucking liberating and I couldn't wait to get the fuck out of this town.

But first, I needed to take a fucking shower...

***

Mayhem's POV

One of these days, I'd learn to take my makeup off before I went to sleep. My mascara and eyeliner had begun to run during my slumber, and it was a chore to peel my eyelids open as I awoke to a new day. The air was thick and humid as Will and I had left the radiator on overnight. We were nearing the end of Winter, but the nights were still cold enough to warrant its use.

Will's arm was around me, pinning me down as he slept, and I tried not to wake him as I reached for my phone. Hell, it was 5:30, I'd slept all goddamn day. Will grunted in his sleep as I pried myself out of his grip, and rolled over onto his side as I sat up. I winced as I realized how dry my throat was, and my head was throbbing. Bile rose in my throat, and I tried to gulp it back, but that shit was adamant on coming out.

I raced into the bathroom, collapsing to my hands and knees as I vomited violently into the toilet bowl. The mix of stale alcohol, stomach acid, broken down potato chips and whatever remained of the drugs tasted absolutely disgusting as it exited my system. I spat the seemingly un-ending trail of after-vomit into the toilet, wiped my mouth, and flushed it all down.

"You okay?" came Will's voice.
"Hangover." I groaned, accepting the cup of water he offered.
"That's happened a lot lately." he frowned, leaning against the doorway. "Since when do you get hangovers? You're usually great at handling your liquor."
I spat out the mouthful of water I'd rinsed my mouth with. "Maybe my body's trying to tell me I'm overdoing it?"
"Or maybe it's something else..."
"Like what?"



Will eyed the box of tampons sitting on the bathroom counter, unopened.
"You don't think?"
"Possibly." he replied. "When did you get your rags last?"
"I..." I trailed off, wracking my brain. "I'm not sure."



"Isn't it just habit for you females to keep a record of your cycle?"
"In case it escaped your notice, Will, we haven't exactly kept track of anything these past few months."
"You got me, there."
"When was the last Bridge Rave we went to?" I asked.
"Just before Christmas."
"Crap." I cursed, pushing past him and heading into the bedroom and beginning to throw clothes around as I searched for my purse. "I'm late, like, way late."
"So what now?" Will asked.
"We're going to the fucking drug store!" I snapped. "What else?"
"Alright, jeez, don't bite my fucking head off." he sighed, helping me search the room.
"Couldn't just use a fucking condom, could you?" I growled. "Too fucking concerned about how good it feels for you, no care for the consequences."
"You don't even know if you're actually pregnant yet, so shut the fuck up!" he spat. "You can chew me out once we know for sure."
"You're still a fucking asshole." I grumbled, finally finding my bag and lighting up a cigarette. "Come on, you're fucking driving."
"I'm hungover."



"Too fucking bad." I snapped, pushing past him and leaving the house.

***

Jinx's POV

Showering had been heavenly, like all the fucking sin and anguish was washing down the drain. I slowly worked my way around my bedroom, gathering up clothes, spare guitar picks, my tuner, my makeup, clean underwear, anything else I deemed useful and stuffing it all into my backpack. My leather jacket hung on the back of my door, and I shrugged it on, stuffing my week's earnings from Clarity into one of the pockets, along with my wallet.



A smile crept across my lips as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, absentmindedly playing with my pocket knife. This was really happening; In just a couple of hours, Mayhem, Tess and I would be headed for LA, like we had always dreamed about. Un-fucking-believable. I was shaken from my thoughts as I heard my mother return home, and let out a sigh. Suppose I owed her an explanation, she'd notice soon enough if I suddenly disappeared, and there'd be questions.

I sauntered out to the living room, where she was puffing away at a cigarette as she scratched the foil off yet another lottery ticket. Of course, same shit, different day. She'd been trying to win for years, obsessed with the idea of selling off our house and moving into a mini mansion. But I knew it was all a front for her inability to accept that my Father was gone. She'd never been quite the same since he'd died.

I let out a frustrated sigh as I flopped down on the couch.



"What's the matter with you?" she asked.
"Your face."
"Oh." she clenched her jaw. "Well it must be easy sitting there all high and mighty, the Queen of Turdtown."
"Turdtown, that's exactly what this fucking place is." I nodded. "This disgusting house that we live in, you know what the most disgusting part of it is?"
She didn't respond, gazing into the distance as she continued to smoke.
"You come in here every goddamn evening, and you give me the same, sick look."
"And what look is that?" she asked.
"You look at me like I'm the loser." I replied. "You sit there with your fucking scratch-off lottery tickets, you think "Maybe tomorrow, it's all gonna change" you're never gonna fucking get the right numbers-"
She cut me off. "Are you done?"
I pursed my lips.
"Who gave you the right to start shit? What are you, Jesus now?" she snapped. "Nailed to that couch, suffering for my sins, and I'm the loser?" she let out a huff. "That makes you the Daughter of a loser, you fucking Bitch."
"Fuck you." I spat, getting to my feet. "Fuck you!" I repeated, louder this time, storming into my bedroom.
"Where are you going?"
"LOS ANGELES." I yelled back at her. "NOT THAT IT'S ANY OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS."
"AND WHERE ARE YOU GONNA GET THE MONEY FOR THAT?"
"MY OWN FUCKING EARNINGS!" I shot back. "UNLIKE SOME, I DON'T FUCKING WASTE ALL MY CASH ON TRYING TO WIN A LARGER SUM."

I tossed my backpack over my shoulder, placed a cigarette between my lips, and picked up my guitar case as I left my bedroom. She followed me as I passed through the living room and out the front door.

"JAYMIE!"
I ignored her.
"JAYMIE, PLEASE!"
I stopped walking, closing my eyes as I let out a huff. "What?" I sighed, turning to face her.
"At least let me say goodbye." she pleaded. "However much you may claim to hate me, I'm still your Mother."
"Yeah right." I smirked, rolling my eyes. "You've barely been my Mother since Dad died."
"Don't bring your Father into this."
"Why?" I snapped. "Because you can't accept that he's gone?"
"Jaymie-"
"No seriously, you're off in your own little fucking world all the time, drinking, gambling, sleeping with our fucking neighbour, no regard for the fact he has his own Wife and Kids."
"You think you're any fucking better?" she retaliated. "Off at Mallory's every fucking day, drinking, getting high, talking about how you're gonna run off and become some bigshot fucking rock star. Your Father would be so proud." she laughed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Yeah, and look at me now!" I cried, throwing my arms up. "Bag packed, money saved, heading for the fucking Bus Depot. Unlike you, I'm not all fucking talk. I work toward my fucking goals!"
"You're not gonna last two seconds in LA, kid." she replied. "It's not like New Jersey, they'll fucking eat you alive there."
"Maybe." I nodded. "But I can't waste another minute in this town, with people who don't believe in me."

And with that, I turned and left, ignoring her pleas for me to return. I'd had enough of being made to feel like there was something wrong with me. There was nothing wrong with me, this was how I was supposed to be. I didn't feel any shame, and I wasn't going to fucking apologize. Even if I did wind up with nowhere else to go.

To hell with this town and it's hurricane of fucking lies...

***

Mayhem's POV

My foot tapped nervously on the bathroom tile as I waited for the pregnancy test to process. Will hadn't said a word since we'd gotten home, he was holed up in our bedroom, quietly plucking away at Tessa's guitar. Part of me was furious at him for not being in here with me, but the other half of me had calmed down enough to realize that he was likely just as frightened as I was.

I checked my watch with a sigh. The five minute wait-time was up, it was now or never. Slowly, my hand trembling slightly, I reached for the little white stick that would determine my future. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them.

Fuck.



There it was, that godforsaken tiny little pink plus sign that indicated that I was indeed pregnant. How the fuck could I have been so careless? I could blame Will all I wanted, but I had been just as responsible for this. Countless times he'd rejected using protection, and I'd still had sex with him anyway. I mean, all this time and we'd always been fine, what harm could it do? Idiot. I had paid the price, big time.

"So what's the verdict?"
I slowly raised my head to look at Will. "Positive."
"Shit." he whispered, suddenly turning white as a ghost.
"What're we gonna do?" I mumbled, my voice barely audible.

***

Jinx's POV



"Where the fuck is she?!" I snapped, pacing back and forth in front of Tessa.
"I don't know." she replied. "I've been trying her cell, but she's not answering.
"God dammit!" I growled. "She knew we were leaving tonight!"
"We still have another fifteen minutes until the bus leaves." Tessa reasoned. "If she's not here by the time we need to board, we'll deal with it then."
I clenched my jaw, but didn't respond.
"C'mon Jinx." she sighed, grabbing my arm. "Chill."
"I'm gonna take a piss." I muttered, making a beeline for the bathroom inside the bus station.

I sat down on the toilet, burying my face in my hands. Of all the days, why today? Why had Mayhem chosen to let me down right when it mattered most? She knew how fucking important this was to me, to all three of us. We'd made a pact. I sighed and raised my head, my eyes scanning the graffiti on the bathroom walls, reading the various scrawlings and admiring the drawings others had left behind.



EVERYONE'S SO FULL OF SHIT
BORN AND RAISED BY HYPOCRITES!

A spiral accompanied the quote; The center of the Earth is the end of the world...

Home is where the heart is, but what a shame
'Cause everyone's heart doesn't beat the same...

I laughed quietly to myself. To Hell with it, may as well leave my own mark. One last Fuck You to Newark before I left it all behind. I finished up my piss and wiped myself dry, wriggled back into my jeans, and dug my Sharpie out of my backpack. Closing the lid first, I climbed on top of the toilet, drawing a wooden sign reading the word "TURDTOWN", with a hand sticking its middle finger up beside it. I left a little message underneath as a final touch;
"JINX WAS HERE, AND NOW SHE'S NOT, FAREWELL TURDTOWN, USA"

I hopped off the toilet to admire my work with a smile, before flushing the toilet and rejoining Tessa outside. She was hugging herself and rubbing her arms, the cool night air beginning to bite into her. I'd told her to bring a fucking jacket, but naturally, she hadn't listened to me.

"How long does it take to do a piss?"
"Not long." I smirked. "But I left a little something extra behind."
"Please tell me you didn't take a massive shit and not flush." Tessa groaned.
"For once, no." I chuckled. "Just a little artwork."



Tessa shook her head in disapproval, but was kept from saying anything more as Will's car pulled into the carpark. He and Mayhem got out, but I couldn't help but notice that they didn't retrieve any bags from the trunk before approaching us. It wasn't until they got closer that I saw the miserable looks on their faces.

"What's wrong?" Tessa asked, always the most compassionate of us.
"I can't come to Los Angeles with you." Mayhem mumbled, her voice sounding unusually small.
"Why the fuck not?!" I demanded.
"Jinx." Tessa scolded me. "May, what's wrong?"
"I'm Pregnant." she replied, wincing at her own words.
"Holy shit." I whispered. "How the fu- I mean, I know how but... May..." I sighed. "For fuck sake, I thought you two were being careful?"
"That's my fault." Will frowned. "And you can scold me later, but I think until Mayhem and I figure this out, it's best she stays behind."
"And you're okay with this?" I asked her.
"Mhm." she nodded. "I don't know what's gonna happen from here, I have a lot to think about."
"Are you sure about this?" Tessa asked, gripping Mayhem gently by each shoulder.
"Positive." she nodded, but was unable to meet her gaze. "Please, you two, go to LA, don't let me hold you back."
I was quiet for a few moments before I spoke again. "Okay." I said, letting out a long breath. "But I'm gonna miss you."
"I'll miss you guys, too." she grimaced.
"Oh, come here." Tessa sighed. "Group hug!"

The two of us embraced her, hugging Mayhem tightly between our bodies. She shook as she began to cry, and we held her tighter. I fought with all I had against the lump in my throat. I wasn't one to cry, they both knew that out of all three of us, I was the strong one. But Hell, this sucked.

After what seemed like an eternity, we let go, and Tessa and I both gave Will a hug before boarding the bus. We took a seat by the window, the both of us taking one last, long, sorrowful look at Mayhem and Will, before the driver closed the doors and the bus began to make its way out of the station...

Notes

Holyyy shit, this was a long chapter.
Like, no joke, it's 6am, and I've been at this shit since about Midnight last night.

But here we go, off to LA!
Not long now until HereticBlood6661 can come join the party!!

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Until next time! xx