Thursday, March First, 12:03 A.M…

A lump caught in my throat at the sight of the boys. I had missed them so much. Now my heart was hurting.

“Zack.” I choked out. He smiled as I fell into his arms, nearly collapsing into sobs. Zack caught me and rubbed my back soothingly. I hiccupped softly as an arm wrapped around my waist.

Choices…choices…My mind seemed to scream to me. I gulped down the guilt and fear.

I would have to make it soon enough.

Haven came up to me. I turned around and gave him a tight hug. “Thanks for everything.” I sighed. He let go and ruffled my hair, his brilliant smile gleaming in the dimmer headlights.

“No problem. Hey, I hope to see you again sometime, but hopefully not injured and beat up at my front step.” He chuckled. I nodded with a small laugh, saying, “Yeah, me too.”

Just as they had arrived, they left. Zack pulled me into the car. I waved sadly to Haven, watching him disappear as the car’s engine revved up and started to roll down the driveway.

“RORY!” The boys all cheered. A tangle of arms encircled me until I could barely breathe. I laughed with them and petted Jack’s hair as he jumped on my lap.

“Hey guys!” I smiled, feeling slightly more at ease. Zila was driving like a madman through the grass. How the heck did they get a car out here? I thought no one could drive out here, no one could possibly access this area!

You know what? Zila was driving the car. She had driven it here. You know what I didn’t question? How Zila did it. I never question Zila. She had her own way for doing things and she somehow managed to do the impossible.

Normally, I question things like this. But when it comes to Zila, I just don’t open my mouth.

“How are you? Did you have a fun trip?” They all asked at once. I chuckled and ruffled Rian’s cropped hair. He chuckled.

“Yeah, as fun as it could be for being stuck in a small house. Haven is pretty cool though. We played chess a lot.”

Zila snickered from up front. I couldn’t help but smile, trying to think back to their relationship, so unclear it could’ve been mud. Friends? More than that? Not a clue.

“Well, are you ready for the final trip home?” Zack asked me, kissing the top of my head. Another pang of guilt rose through me.

Choices…choices…

“Yeah, I’m ready.” I stated with a firmness in my voice that was hard to deny.

Jack tightened his grip on the seatbelt as we flew over a hill and bumped across the terrain. “Good. Chris and Ricky have been taking good care of Virgo for you, don’t worry. She’s just as anxious to get back home.” Jack reassured.

“What’s the plan?” I asked quietly. The only lights in the barren landscape was that of the car’s head beams.

Zila caught my eye in the rearview mirror. “Hopefully go directly to your house. If we have many issues such as Bring Me the Horizon reappearing, we’re going to have to drop you a few streets away. I have a feeling you’ll be able to get home pretty quickly from there.”

All I could think of was Virgo and getting home…to parents that might not be married anymore. I was told they might not even be married anymore.

And knowing how well these people acquired information, it had to be true.

My eyes well up with tears, flowing over before I could even realize it. My mom and dad aren’t married anymore. What happened to the house? Who still lived in it? Did Virgo know? What happened to make them split? I thought our family was happy!

“Rory! Rory! What’s wrong?” Zack shook my shoulders, snapping me out of it. I rubbed my eyes free of tears, trying to hide the fact that I was crying.

“N-nothing.” I stuttered out, terrible at lying. His arms wrapped around me, holding me closer to his shoulder. I started sobbing on his arm, the realization of my old world falling apart.

I used to live in a world of peace and unity and routine. I would wake up, go to school, focus on studying my astrophysics along with my history. I had a normal life and loved it that way.

Now, I had been thrown into a world of the unexpected, into one where I had been beaten and abused. This was my new world of running away from those that hurt me. I had gotten used to trying to escape.

Now, the old world was gone. No more family peace, no unity, and no routine. I can’t go back to being beaten. I was stuck in limbo with nowhere to go.

I had nowhere.

“Rory, please tell us what’s wrong?” The others asked, rubbing my shoulder soothingly.

I didn’t answer them. I just turned to Zila and asked, “You would know. I-is i-it true? A-are my p-parents d-divorced?” I asked her, choking out each word as if it was water in my lungs.

She didn’t answer over the rolling of the hills. I just saw her eyes connect with mine, a sorry frown appear on her lips, and a swift bob of her head.

I lost it on Zack’s shoulder. I couldn’t even bring a noise to my lips, just a twisted sadness burning my lips and eyes squeezing out tears.

“Shhh…it’s okay, sweetheart. It’s okay. Just go to sleep, dear.” Zack held me tightly against him as the sadness drowned my emotions. I kept on crying until I started to drift off, sobbing myself to sleep.

“I need to make a few phone calls…” A voice whispered in the depths of reality. And that’s when I was gone.


Sixteen hours later….

I had been out for most of it, barely waking up to consciousness ever so often, eating small bites of food, taking gulps of water, and then going back to sleep. Zack let me sleep against his shoulder. Sometimes I would wake up leaning on Jack with his head on top of mine, snoozing softly.

Zila was the only one who didn’t sleep. She drove like a madman the entire time, never one to rest, no matter how hard Alex pushed to let him drive for a little while. But that’s her. She’s used to all of this, all of the fast paces and long drive times.

“Just go back to sleep, Jalex boy.” She would respond each time he asked to drive. Alex just shut up and went back to sleep, giving up after the fourth time he asked.

But this time, when I woke up, it was different.

The doors were opening and people were evacuating the car like it was on fire, but I knew it wasn’t. Zack had unbuckled my seatbelt already and I was shaken awake.

“What’s wrong?” I asked curiously. Zack grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the van. As soon as all of us were safely out, Zila slammed on the gas and drove out of there quickly.

“It’s bad. They’re too close for comfort.” Rian kept on muttering. It was about four in the morning, maybe five. The sun was going to come up soon enough.

“What? Who?” I repeated.

“Bring Me the Horizon. They’re about a mile out. They caught our trail and are coming here. We have back up. The other bands are coming, but they better be here soon or we’re going to have a real issue.” Alex informed me as Jack heaved me onto their bus, a large vehicle parked in the parking lot of a King Soopers.

Hey…I recognized that grocery store…that was the only five miles outside my house.

I gasped, eyes flying open at the memories.

“We’re almost here!” I shouted in glee just as I was thrown backwards as Jack accelerated that bus onto the highway, driving towards the suburbs where I lived.

“We gotta go…we gotta go….” Zack kept murmuring as he held on tightly to me. I squirmed a little in his grasp.

“Wait, what do you mean by the other bands coming here?” I asked curiously. Zack’s eyes fell on me for a brief moment before flickering to the drummer that was on the phone in a frantic conversation.

Everything was…chaos.

“All the bands you know, sweetheart. Of Mice and Men, Pierce the Veil, Motionless in White…they’re coming here. Sleeping with Sirens peeled off to try and block Oli and the others from getting to you or Virgo. They’re going to try and slow them down. We just have to get to your house before they do. If Oli catches you or Virgo before you get back to your house, it’s game over. You’ll be gone for good. The British guys are going back to Sheffield in six hours. They have this one last chance to get you guys. If you get home, they won’t have enough time to try and drag you out of your home and escape the police. They’re going to do anything to take their last shot. We just can’t let them.” Zack explained quickly. I was mute in horror.

This was the last shot…it was all or nothing.

If we don’t make it…we’re done. We would never get home.

“Jack, just go faster.” I encouraged feebly, still in shock. Zack squeezed my hand tightly.

The bus ride seemed to take forever. Everyone was staring out windows, yelling into phones, or keeping themselves busy. I couldn’t help but look out the windows, staring at the stars and naming constellations. My hands couldn’t stay still; they shook so much my muscles went numb.

“We’re almost there…CRAP!” Jack yelled mid-sentence. The bus came to a screeching halt on the empty road, parking near a school. I looked at it.

That used to be my old elementary school…barely a mile away from my house.

We are so close!

A bus pulled up along side us. I recognized it as Motionless in White’s bus. I jumped at the window, trying to see if Virgo was in sight.

“GET OFF THE BUS! WE NEED TO GET THEM HOME NOW!” Jack screamed. I rolled down the window, evacuating as quick as possible. Screw the injured ankle. Screw the mental instability. Screw the world, I’m getting home!

“What happened?” I asked nervously. And that’s when I saw them.

Chris ran down the steps with Virgo behind him. My sister cried out when she saw me, pushing aside the boys and jumping into my arms. I sobbed what little water I had left in my eyes into her shoulder.

“TAKE HER AND RUN! JUST GET HOME! THEY’RE COMING! THEY’RE JUST DOWN THE ROAD! TAKE HER AND RUN!” Chris shouted.

And we were off like a bullet, sprinting. The buses were left far behind, the shouting disappearing. Virgo didn’t complain. She didn’t say a word. I led the best I could with what little light the stars provided. Virgo trailed behind me like the tail of a shooting star.

“Across the field!” I slowed down just enough to give the direction to her. She nodded and attempted to match my pace.

We couldn’t slow down.

We couldn’t go gentle into that good night.

The trees came into view. If we could cross these woods, then we could get home. It was a short cut, but so dangerous. It was night time and I wouldn’t be able to see the path well.

“Are we going into the forest?” Virgo cried out as we neared a tree. I turned to her, nodding. Her blue eyes shone with fear and disbelief. I grabbed her hand, reassuring that I was here and I wouldn’t let her go on her own.

“It’s okay, Virgo. We’ve walked these woods a thousand times. We’re almost home. We’re almost home. We’re almost home.” I reassured. She nodded, almost a ghost in the darkness, and I pulled her along with me.

We had to slow to a jog in order to not trip over tree roots or anything else that may lay in our path. My mind was numb with everything that was happening.

“Ugh, my ankle.” I growled lowly, limping slightly. Virgo stopped me.

“What happened? Are you hurt?” She asked. I shook my head and kept on going, gritting my teeth against the pain. Virgo stopped me again and looked me in the eyes.

“I’m not in pain.” I growled as I kept on walking. Virgo had to jog to keep up with my fast walk.

“Ricky was nice, like you said.” She added, changing the subject. My happiness at his name faltered for a moment too long.

Choices…choices…

“He really is a sweetheart. Did he treat you right?”

“Of course. He was very kind. So was Chris.” She added. I nodded, closing the subject.

We were out of the trees later than I thought. I sent a silent prayer up begging for Oli not to be at our house already. I crossed the empty road to another field. Our street was just across the grass. The glint of the green street name sign glowed under the light of a driveway lamp. We were so close, but no buses in sight.

“We’re almost there!” Virgo cried out in sweet joy. I increased my pace, running as fast as my injured leg would take me. We ran across the street again and down the familiar pavement.

This is where we used to play as kids. This is where our innocent games came to life, our imaginations played. This is where I used to ride my bike down the hill with the neighbor kids. This is where my life happened before it had been taken away from me.

Just as we crossed the threshold into our street, I heard a bus, no, two busses, down the parkway. I pushed my sister faster.

They had come.

“FASTER VIRGO!” I yelled as loud as I could without warning our neighbors of the presence coming towards us.

She took my warning and sprinted ahead of me down the hill. We were the last house on our street in our little circle.

“Home!” I heard her whisper as she slowed down, halting right in front of the driveway, where four men stood against the trees in our front yard. I heard a whimper and saw her shy away.

“Virgo, it’s just me.” A familiar voice soothed. I sprinted to catch up with her, holding her back in case Oli had decided to take a short cut to our house. The shadows stepped out of the trees. I recognized them all.

“Ricky!” Virgo cried out in relief and in joy. She broke away from my grasp to give him a hug. He patted her hair gently before tenderly squeezing her arm.

“Get inside, Virgo. Go to your room quietly. Orion will be inside to let you know that it’s all safe, okay?” Ricky whispered to her.

Virgo squeezed his hand gently before nodding and sprinting inside. I could tell she took care to make sure the door opened silently. The sky started to turn a shade of pink on the edge of the horizon.

It was almost day. We were minutes away from it all being over.

And guess what?

My choice had come.

Zack, Austin, Mike, and Ricky all stood before me, nodding to each other and scanning the streets for any danger. The bus noises were still in the distance, but getting closer.

Austin was the first to speak, his tall frame standing out against the edge of my driveway. My back was to my house, facing them as they blocked the entrance to my house. “Orion, we all have been discussing some things…” He started out, looking to the others for help. They all nodded. Mike made a motion for him to continue. Austin chuckled quietly.

“Well, we know that we’ve been falling in love with you ever since we met you. You’re so special to each of us and we’ve all come to recognize that we’re all trying to, well um, uh…” Austin scratched the back of his neck. Mike laughed sadly.

“What he’s trying to say is that instead of brawling and fighting for your attention, we’ve been pretty civil and we’re letting you choose who you want to be with, no hard feelings, no strings attached to the situation.” He finished. Ricky nodded, his dark eyes so sad and bitterly happy at the same time, like opposite clashing in his mind and heart.

They had said it: My choice had come.

Zack, Austin, Ricky, and Mike. They had come and given me a choice.

“Orion, your parents are divorced, and we know that’s really hard. We’re very sorry about that. I can’t exactly speak for the others, but if you ever need a place to stay, you’re welcome with me.” Ricky offered softly. The others nodded quickly in agreement.

Time was running out. The sun was coming up.

“And I would be welcome to take you and Virgo as well.”

“Same!”

“Me too!” The others chorused. I smiled, tears starting to dot my eyes.

I had my choice. I knew what I was going to do. Who I was going to pick. The bus noises faded in the distance, angry horns’ screaming had died down.

“You guys are all so sweet, really, you all have been so caring to me. Austin, Zack, Mike…you guys have been the ones to help me out when I was beaten and abused by Oli and Chris. You guys helped piece me back together,” I turned and addressed them. They smiled weakly to me as I continued, “and I owe my return here to you guys.”

And then I turned back to Ricky, the one I had spent the most time with. “Ricky, you were the only one to treat me as a person and show me love when I was on your bus. I wouldn’t have survived it wasn’t for you. I owe you so much because of that. You’re sweetness and kindness showed me the goodness in people under tough conditions.” I smiled at him. The corners of his eyes crinkled up in appreciation.

I held back the tears as I looked to the sky. The sun was up. It was time to decide.

I saw them all hold their breaths as I looked at each one of them in turn.

“You boys are all so wonderful and sweet, but I choose….”

And the stars held their breath.

And the moon held its breath.

And the sun held its breath.

And the sky held its breath.

And the wind held its breath.

And the newly born morning held its breath.




…..






“I choose no one.”

And I saw their souls die a little inside.

“It’s because of me. I foolishly led you all on. I let you all believe that you were the one, the only one. I love all of you, and that’s not fair to any of you. I want to be with you and not have you question me being faithful because I love three other men at the same time. I have led you all on and I’m sorry. I have switched between all of you and treated you not as good as I could have. And I am sorry for that.” I concluded, a single tear spilling.

And I swore I could’ve seen their hearts split in two.

“I really love all of you guys, but I have to take care of my sister and now my family is not as it was. I’m sorry that I was not fair, that I wasn’t as good as I could’ve been. I’m sorry that I didn’t treat any of you as well as you deserved. Thank you for all you have done for me and my sister. I owe our lives to you.” I whispered at the end

“Hey, you still have my number, right?” Austin asked softly. I looked at him, nodding.

“If you ever change your mind or want to talk again, just call me up, okay? Once this all blows over, call me.” Austin stated softly, but I could see the hurt in his eyes. I nodded.

“Of course.”

“Hey, same.”

“Don’t forget me as well.” They all turned, one by one, and left, disappearing into the morning that cried with me. Small patters of rain streaked the pavement, reflecting my mood.

All that was left was Ricky. He stood there was sad eyes like a bedraggled puppy. I couldn’t even look at him. I stared at the cement at my feet, listening to the buses of broken hearts drive away and back to their own homes.

They all deserved someone better than me.

I looked back up to Ricky, the only one that had stayed until the end. He was the end and the beginning.

I saw a single tear streak down his face, a knife stabbing me repeatedly in the heart.

I had never made him cry before.

“I’m so sorry.”

And with that last sentiment I whispered, I fled up the driveway, out of his life, and back into my old, broken world.

I had left them all behind with tears. What had they given me? Love. What did I leave them with? Tears.

I closed the door behind me, head hanging low. I swear I could hear a howl of sadness being thrown into the air on our street. A single choked purr of an engine faded away.

I knew he was gone for good.

A noise, one of a light switch flicking on and shedding LED rays over my head, flickered into existence. I looked up, a single figure hiding in her night robe, standing in the doorway of her bedroom.

I stared back at her, barely believing who I was looking at, barely believing that I was finally home.

“Mom?”

Notes

Hello everyone!

It's the second update of the day and you know what this chapter is???

IT'S THE SECOND TO LAST CHAPTER IN THE ENTIRE STORY!

AND SURPRISE, MOFOS! SHE DIDN'T CHOOSE ANYONE!


SO COME ALONG, POST YOUR CRYING COMMENTS. SUPPORT EACH OTHER THROUGH THIS TIME OF SADNESS AS RORY (SOMEWHAT STUPIDLY) DECIDES TO NOT GO WITH ANYONE.

ALL OF THAT TROUBLE, JUST TO CHOOSE NO ONE.

YEP, THAT'S RORY ALRIGHT.

SO POST YOUR GIFS, YOUR RAGE COMMENTS, YOUR RAGE GIFS, YOUR PANCAKES OF SADNESS. POST YOUR REACTIONS AND LET ME HELP CONSOLE YOU!

Oh yeah, and this is one of your last chances to comment/vote before the story is completely finished! Don't forget to keep on voting and commenting!

Thanks loves and have a tear filled....ahem, I mean a WONDERFUL day!!! :D