14. Bailey
You Had My Heart, Atleast for the Most Part




I woke up to being gently shoved around, I opened my eyes a hair to see Johnny sitting infront of me.

“What the fuck do you want Gnomeo?” I growled.

“Come on, today is my birthday so we’re gonna go get your leg looked at then we’re gonna come back and celebrate me!”

Fucking hell I forgot Johnny’s birthday. How? I guess I had been swept up with everything else that I had let it slip my mind. Oh well, he doesn’t like presents anyways unless they’re a
potent liquid.

I looked around for Zack but didn’t find his emerald eyes anywhere. I sighed before trying to get up, the hangover wasn’t helping the pain I was already in. honestly I felt a little better, some of the bruises were starting to fade already. Johnny helped me change and get dressed, thankfully mom helped me shower yesterday so I was good on that til tonight.
He helped me down the stairs and I still didn’t see Zack anywhere, I remembered faintly that I had seen him last night while I was drunk but for the life of me I don’t remember what we said to each other.

It must’ve been bad if he’s avoiding me, his whole stay here he’s been by my side.

“Bailey.” Johnny said waving his hand in front of my face. “Earth to Bails.”

“Sorry, my head still hurts.”

“Zack went to pick up a few of our friends.” He said in a sigh. “I know that is what you’re looking for.”

My spirits lifted but I tried not to show it, I knew Johnny wouldn’t be happy that I was happy about Zack.

“What are we doing for your birthday?” I asked. Since the family already left due to the blow out I wasn’t really sure what we would do, he wasn’t much of a birthday guy anyways. He would just drink and party, that’s not really something you can do with your parents.

“Maybe we’ll invite a few of my old friends over, have a good ol’ barn party.” He smiled. “it’s my last night here, might as well go out with a bang.”

“Then you’ll leave with your friends in the morning?” I asked.

“Yep. I missed being here, but honestly I miss California even more. First off this is freezing compared to Cali air.” He said. “I wish you’d come visit some time, maybe then it wouldn’t be like we we’re strangers.”

“Maybe.” I nodded. “Not until my legs healed for sure, if I’m going to California I’m getting in the ocean.”

“Well maybe in a few weeks then?”

“For Christmas?” I said jokingly.

“Yeah, why not?” He was serious. What does he want me in California so bad for? How many years now and he hasn’t even called more than maybe around the holidays.

“Maybe.” I shrugged. Truth was, I wasn’t sure if I could handle being alone with Johnny in California. He had a lot of friends and wasn’t always the best on keeping me included because he didn’t see me as a friend he saw me as a sister, and the last place I wanted to be alone was Los Angeles. I’m from a very small town, LA would be like culture shock to me.
When we got to the urgent care they saw me right away, I found out good news – my ankle wasn’t broken! Just a very bad sprain. I was to keep it wrapped and to keep off of it for 3 to 4 weeks.

“That’s not so bad!” Johnny said. “And you only needed 4 stitches!”

“And they self-dissolve so I don’t have to come back.” I laughed.

After leaving the urgent care he took me to a drive through, I didn’t realize I was so hungry until we were in line. He asked what I wanted and I couldn’t choose. The whole menu please! No seriously. I may be 5 feet tall on a good day but I can eat my way to China and then back.

Threaten me with a good time.

“Hide the wrappers too, I ain’t buying for everybody.” He said handing me the bag of food.
“They will run my bank account dry.”

“Who all is coming?”

“Just the guys from the band and maybe their girlfriends.” He shrugged. “You’ll like them.

They’re rough, but they’re good guys.”

It fell quiet again. We weren’t real good at keeping a conversation.

“I am proud of you, you know.” I said looking over at him.

“Thank you. I needed that.” He smiled. “I’ve been so down lately because it’s like no one is in my corner… I mean all the guys have their girlfriends and I haven’t found mine yet – I don’t have my family to support me… the guys pick on me and I know it’s out of love but sometimes it hurts. It’s made me an asshole, really.”

“I’ve always been in your corner.” I said putting my hand on his arm. “Don’t ever think things like that. And you are an asshole, but we’ll work on it.”

He smiled and went back to driving, the liquor store was next on our agenda before going home. When we got home Zack still wasn’t there, I mean – Zack and .. the.. who were they again? Oh Zack’s friends.

I mean Johnny’s friends.

Oh I give up. You know what’s on my mind, don’t you?

“Bailey, how did it go?” Ma asked.

“Said to keep it wrapped up and to keep off of it.” I shrugged. “Bad sprain it’ll be fine in 2 or 3 weeks.”

“Then get off of it!” She smiled. “John’s cake just came out of the oven. I assume we’ll have dinner around 5? Cake at 530? I know he said something about a party…”

“Yeah, I promise it won’t be bad.” I smiled. “I’ll keep them in line.”

“No drinking for you.”

“Ma… we’re home.” I said with a sigh. Her and Pa had always been kind of cool about me
having a beer or two, even when I got drunk sometimes because I was home. As long as I was home and safe – they kind of looked the other way.

“No, not a big party like this. You’re 18.”

“Okay.” I nodded. Respect your elders, they know best. Of course what they don’t know, won’t hurt them.

Before I knew it Johnny was greeting his friends; the first in was the tallest, he had short black hair and a lip ring. He slid his aviators down to look at me with a smile, he offered his hand but I as he towered over me I was almost too afraid to take it.

“I’m Matt.” He said almost ripping my arm off. “Sorry, you’re tiny! We thought Johnny was small.”

“You’re so pretty. I’m Val.” A tall blonde said emerging from behind Matt. “I’m Matt’s girlfriend.”

“Nice to meet you.”

After they met me they went to meet Ma and Pa, I was sure they would in shock by looking at these guys – I mean Johnny had a mohawk but these guys were something to look at… all the tattoos, the piercings… their clothes… atleast when johnny was home he wore long sleeved button up shirts like everyone else around here, I almost forgot he even had tattoos. These men wore chains and studs but most importantly – Black.

“I’m Brian.” The next one said walking up to me, he had a smirk on his face and didn’t even offer me his hand. Two belts? Was that a thing? Or was he drunk when he dressed himself this morning?

“Bailey.” I said with a nod.

“So I’ve heard.” He smiled. What did that mean? “Listen, I need a smoke… where can I do that?”

“Behind the garage probably, just make sure to leave them in the ashtray or Pa will kill you.”
He smirked again before nodding to the others he was going outside. He gave me a weird vibe, bit into himself I guess. Not my cup of tea. And seriously, what the fuck is he wearing two belts for?

Then I saw Zack walk in, our eyes met and he went to walk up to me but Brian ran into him and took him outside with him. I gave him a small smile before looking into the other room where Ma and Pa were getting acquainted with Matt and Val, to my surprise they were really getting along. Pa was even smiling.

Dinner went fast, I stayed quiet – Johnny and his friends were carrying the conversation but
it was nice and light. They were actually really funny and they interacted really well together. It was nice to see Johnny relaxed and what seemed like in a normal bit for him.
“I remember one time Bailey and I had a prank war and listen Brian she’d give you a run for your money.”

“No way.” He laughed. “I won’t start a prank war on you cause you’re gimped, but one day…”He pointed at me with a playful glare. “It’s on.”

I kept noticing Zack glancing at me, but again all day he had been ignoring me. Well not ignoring me, but he wasn’t paying attention to me like he has been. It made me worried that something happened last night that I won’t like.

I excused myself for a moment to go outside, I didn’t use my crutches I just walked tenderly on my foot. I sat outside on the swing for a bit when I felt the swing move, someone had joined me.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, Zack. I’m fine.”

“You just seem quiet.” He shrugged. “It’s not me, is it?”

“No.” I said honestly. “Just a little weird with his friends here, I don’t really fit in with ya’ll.”

“Sure you do.” He said with a smile putting his arm around me, pulling me into him with a light squeeze before letting me go.

“So you leave tomorrow then.” I wasn’t asking, I already knew the answer.

“Yeah.” He sighed.

This silence wasn’t comfortable, I wanted to get up and run away but I couldn’t. I screamed at myself to get up and walk away or to say something to ease the mood.

Anything.

I wanted to ask him to stay until Christmas, to offer him the loft.

But I couldn’t.

Notes