I walked nervously into the Alt. Press building and straight into my office. I was feeling anxious, nervous; not knowing what might happen. After last night, I left the venue to get my things from the hotel, and I came home, alone. Even Ludo couldn't relax me enough to make me stop worrying. The amount of texts that I had got this morning, and calls from Mike apologizing, saying it was all his fault, kept coming into my phone.

I opened the door to my offices with my key, seeing Katelynne there with a smile on her face. "Hey Lucy!"

"Is Shea here yet?" I asked, looking at the clock seeing it was 2:45.

She shook her head, "No. But he called ten minutes ago that he was on his way. Are you okay?"

"I'm freaking out, Kate. What if I get fired?"

"I don't think you'll get fired. I don't think you did anything to get yourself fired. Afterall, just because this fight was about you doesn't mean you did anything." She said, reasonably. I walked into my office and placed my bag on the ground, sitting my my chair. I looked at my computer screen to a picture of Mike, Vic, Jaime, Tony, and I all smiling in front of mine and Mike's new house. Vic was holding Ludo, and Ludo was looking at Jaime; since he hates him.

I decided to check my emails since I had nothing to do but sit and worry until Mike Shea got here. I looked at my appearance in the small mirror next to me, making sure I didn't look bad. As I checked my emails, I heard Katelynne greet someone. My nerves rose as I knew it was my boss. Seconds later, there was a knock on my office door. "Yeah?" I said.

"Lucy, Mike Shea is here."

"Come in." I said, standing up so I could greet him. He walked in looking stern, but he had a small smile on his face.

"Hey Lucy." He said, shaking my hand sitting in one of the chairs across from my big chair. "Sit down, Garcia." He ordered and I did as I was told. I stayed quiet until he spoke up. What was I supposed to say?

"Lucy, I wanted to talk to you about what happened the other night in New York." I nodded, letting him talk. "I read all that I can read, but I have to ask you about your side of the story. Now, tell me what happened."

I took a deep breath, then explained what happened. I told him everything, and the truth. I wasn't going to lie to my boss. I did hit Austin, technically. I told him the back story about Austin and Mike, and everything in between. After I was done, I sat there wondering what my fate would be.

"Okay, Luce. AP has gotten kind of bad press because of the sole fact that you were there and it involved you. As the CEO of this magazine, I would never fire you. You're the best writer I have, and honestly the best editor in chief for the job. But, if I don't give you consequences for this ordeal, then I would be a bad boss. I'm gonna have to suspend you for five days. It's getting taken off of your vacation days. Starting after I leave this building and not including weekends. Do you understand? I'm really letting you off with a slap on the wrist Lucy, because you could get demoted for this."

I nodded trying not to let potential tears to fall, "Yes. Shea, thank you so much. I swear nothing like this won't happen again." He stood up from the chair and walked towards my office door.

"It's not a problem. This is just what comes up when a writer dates a musician." But before he left he turned around and looked at me, "And by the way, I'm really happy that you're going to marry someone who is willing to stand up for you. That's a real man." He smiled, then left the offices.

I sighed deeply, feel extremely lucky. Katelynne ran in as soon as he left and asked what happened. "Well, I'm suspended for five work days. Starting now."

"Luce, are you okay?"

"Yeah," I felt relieved to be honest. "I'm just glad I still have a job. While I'm gone, just make sure everything is in order and if you need help with something call Marc."

She nodded at my directions, "Sounds good. I guess I'll see you in five work days?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Hold down the fort for me, Kate." I stood up and grabbed my purse from the ground it was sitting on, and grabbed my keys. I gave Kate a hug and walked back to my car. The first person I called was Mike. He answered on the first ring.

"What happened! Lucy what happened!" He shouted into the phone, anxiously.

"I'm not fired, for starters. But, I'm suspended for five work days, starting today. He said I could have gotten demoted for this, but he wouldn't do that to me." I said, pretty bummed out to say the least, but at least I still had a job.

"Lucy, I'm so sorry. God, I feel so fucking stupid and I-"

"-Mike, stop. It's okay. I'm lucky that I still have a job." I made a turn to go to my house and all I wanted to do was sleep away everything.

"I just feel guilty, you know?"

"I know, baby. But, it's fine. This shit is never happening again. If it does, I'm basically done." It was quiet for a moment, with both of us being silent until I felt it was the time to ask the question. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"What did Austin say about me that pissed you off?" I was done beating around the bush. I wanted to know what he said.

He groaned, "Okay well, the second that we finished and got off the stage he was there with Phil. Of course Phil didn't have anything to do with it, because he didn't know Austin was going to start shit. Anyway, so I walk off stage and as I was walking passed him he started saying stuff. He was saying shit about how I don't even know you, and that the real you doesn't even care about me. He said that you only agreed to marry me because you felt bad, but you were going to end it anyway. Then I said, 'What the fuck are you even talking about, dude? She hasn't talked to you in fucking months, you found out we were engaged because Tal told you.' But he kept saying that you told him that this was all bullshit. But, I got extremely pissed when he said that this was just something you do, you string a guy along and fuck him when you want, then leave him. And, I honestly got tired of hearing shit come out of his mouth so I punched him."

"What the actual fuck?!" I screamed, I was beyond livid. "Are you fucking kidding me? I haven't talked to him in months! Since we got together him and I haven't talked! I've never wanted to punch someone in the dick so bad in my life! What a fucking asshole! Mike, he basically got me a fucking slut. Oh my god."

"Luce, hey. It's okay, babe. I know that's not true. I met you before he came into the picture. Fuck him."

"Mike, I seriously love you more than anything on the planet. You know I would never ever do something like that; I would never do anything to hurt you."

"Baby, I know. I know. He is just pissed off that I have you and he doesn't. I love you, okay?"

"I love you, too. How has the tour been so far?"

"Fine, awkward. Well, actually no it hasn't. Because I don't give a fuck and none of the guys are talking to him, so yeah. He can suck his own dick for all I care."

I chuckled softly, "I just want you to come home. I'm over all of this shit. What am I supposed to do for the next five work days?! I'm going to go fucking nuts."

"So does that mean that this suspension doesn't include the weekend so it like goes into next week?"

"Yeah." I pulled into the driveway and I killed the engine and got my bag and keys and walked to the front door.

"That sucks. Are you home yet?"

"I just got here. I'm gonna be fucking bored, oh my god."

"How about you come see me in Philly?" Mike shouted excitedly.

"How about I have no one to take care of Ludo and I just spent all my vacation money on a stupid flight back here at fucking 5 AM." I opened the door and Ludo walked in a jumped on me, watching me close the door. I threw my keys on the island and then walked up the stairs to mine and Mike's room. Ludo ran up the steps with me, then made me carry me onto the bed. "Mikey, I'm gonna take a nap, okay? I need to sleep all of this off."

"Okay, well I'll call you tonight princess. If I'm in a wifi zone, I'll video chat you."

"Sounds perfect. I love you, buggie."

"I love you too, Lucy." He said before hanging up. I put my phone on the nightstand beside me and plopped myself onto the warm bed. Ludo ran on top of me and licked me, making me crack a smile that had become rare in the last 48 hours.

I turned on the TV and found myself watching Modern Family until I fell asleep for a while. I just needed to sleep and take my mind off of the fact that I was just suspended for 5 days, and that Austin called me a slut that doesn't love Mike, and that my vacation in NYC got cut short and now I was here in LA by myself.

---

The next morning, the doorbell was ringing out of control and I knew it could only mean one person. I walked to the door groggily and in my pajamas, opening it to the face of my soul brother, Brandon. "Brando!" I shouted happily.

"What's up little bitch! I have iced coffee and Chick'n Minis and biscits from Chick Fil A, because I know that you need this."

I laughed, "You're telling me." We walked into the kitchen with Ludo hot on our tail, and sat down at the table.

"Tell me everything, dude. I only know what I saw on PupFresh."

I groaned, preparing myself to tell the story and the new information that I got about Austin and what he said about me. I told him how everything was fine before we went to the venue and even during the shows, that it was just after when everything was ruined.

"Shut the fuck up, Austin said that about you?" Brandon seemed shocked.

"Yeah, so my ex best friend kinda called me a whore who is using Mike for sex."

"That doesn't even make sense. What an asshole. When did you even become a prostitute?"

"Thank you, I was thinking the same thing." I sipped on my perfectly made iced coffee then took a bite of my food. "What am I supposed to do for this suspension? Ugh."

"Well, I guess you're gonna have to hang out with me."

"How's the studio going?" I asked, not wanting to talk a second more about this past few days.

"Fine, guess who I'm gonna work with for their new album?" He asked, chomping on his breakfast sandwich.

"Um, I don't know, who?"

"Your boys in All Time Low!" He exclaimed happily. This was the first really big band that was gonna be working with him.

"No fucking way! Brandon, that's amazing! Congrats, dude!" I grinned because even though I've never worked with ATL in the studio, I've interviewed them a million times and I loved them all so much, so this was incredible. "They really are amazing to work with."

"I know, Vic told me that they really are. I'm pretty excited. This could potentially be giant for me."

"It really could. I hope everything turns out amazing, Brando."

We spent the next couple of hours just catching up about a lot of things we've missed out and watching TV before he had to meet up with Steph for something. I was bored already trying to remember what I did before Mike and Ludo came into my life again. I spent a lot of time in San Diego if I wasn't working, and I haven't been there in a while. But, I was not gonna go today, maybe tomorrow. Going back to San Diego and seeing everyone sounded perfect right now.

Notes

What'd you guys think? This chapter is really just a small filler before Lucy's suspension ends / Mike's touring ends.

I think I'm gonna have a few more chapters and then this story is 100% done! I'm so glad that so many of you love this story and Kissing In Cars as well. I've had such a good time writing for you guys. Especially this one because this is the longest story I've ever done!

More chapters coming soon!

Love you forever :)
Amber