Sunday, June Third, 2018….12:03 P.M…

“Yes, yes, I get it Vee. Don’t worry, don’t worry! I’m sure he likes you. Just be patient.” I chuckled into the phone pressed against my ear. My hands fiddled with paperwork, trying to get photography forms scanned, final college payments over with, and attempting to calm my frantic little sister.

It’s been three years, but it’s still on her mind.

“He’s soooo cute! I met him at Warped Tour, the one you took me to last year, remember? He was at the To Write Love on Her Arms tent! His blue eyes and his blonde hair…so cute.” She cooed to me. I chuckled happily for her.

I remember when it was 2015, right before I was abducted. She was so young and innocent, only fifteen then. She didn’t like the music she craved now. She wasn’t into those bands when she was that young. She didn’t get them.

Now, she did. Now, she was going to Warped every year. Now, she was a strong advocate against childhood abuse and abduction. Everybody knows about her, but nobody knows her. Everyone knows the story of the sisters that were taken from their own homes, the parents that got divorced, the dad who disappeared after his youngest daughter was taken, the mom who cried as she saw her eldest stand before her one mysterious night. Everyone knows our story, but no one knows what happened after all the excitement.

Virgo grew up. She just graduated high school three weeks ago. Four months before that, she joined the Guides. She’s taken in her own kids and nursed them back to health. She keeps in touch with a little girl, Syria, who was abducted by Neck Deep before the band was…convinced of their wrong doings. Virgo is in charge of helping out those kids, just like the bands were doing. That’s why she’s at Warped all summer. She’s on the search for those bands that are stashing their own little ‘pets’ in their merch boxes, music cases, and backstage. While she’s doing that, she’s going to college to be an audio technician and help produce records for the bands we all know and love.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as Virgo cleared her throat on the other end. “What should I do!? I don’t want him to be one of those stupid people who work with the bad bands. Do all the cute ones have to be evil?” She whined. I chuckled sadly.

I thought to those four boys that helped me out. They were the cute boys who won me over and saved my life.

“No, no, not all cute boys are evil.” I thought of their faces as I whispered it into the speaker. Virgo sighed once more: “You’re thinking about him.”

“No I’m not.”

“Then it’s one of the other four ‘hims’. How long has it been since you talked to Jack? Aaron? Jaime? Chris?” She rattled off names. I twirled in my spinning chair in my small little apartment.

“Zack, Austin, Mike, and Ricky. You know them.”

“Yeah, yeah..I just like teasing you. But you haven’t answered my question: How long has it been since you talked to them?”

I paused, a long almost eternal silence.

“Orion?”

“Three. Three years. That’s how long.”

“Ever since that night we came home.”

“Yep. The day I broke their hearts.”

Another pause. We were both thinking. I thought to the night I saw their hurt faces for the last time, the night I couldn’t help but die a little inside. The night we returned home, I broke their hearts and maybe their trust.

There’s a reason I avoid Warped Tour every year.

Let my sister talk to them. I just…fade. They ask about me. Virgo relays the messages. I can’t respond. I’m nonexistent. Let them move on. I can’t bear talking to one…and then the other…and then the other…and fall in love with all of them all over again.

“Virgo?” I finally ask.

“Yes, Rory?”

“Never fall in love. It sucks.”

She laughed, a good, sweet, light laugh. “I’ll take your word for it.”

I smiled at her voice. I might be living in Golden right now and so far apart from her Warped Tour stop, but I will always smile at her voice.

“Okay, I gotta go take care the booth. It’s right across from cute guy’s booth! Oh! He’s smiling at me!” She whispered over the background noise. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot she was at a Warped Tour location.

“Hey, hey! One more thing: What’s his name?”

“Umm….reading his name tag from a distance is hard. Hold on, hold on…Um, it says…Wolf? Did I read that right? Oh crap! I said that out loud! He looked up! Gotta go!” She clicked off. I chuckled to myself before setting the phone down. I’m sure she had a bit of explaining to do.

Wolf. Hmm…that reminded me of Lupis, the Wolf constellation. Hey, I know my astrophysics! I didn’t move to Golden, go to School of Mines, and get my major in theoretical and computational astrophysics for nothing!

Now, back to those papers…


Virgo’s POV

Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!

I threw my phone into my pocket, staring at some papers for the booth I was running. It was just a merch booth for All Time Low, who was currently supposed to be at sound check, but my guess was that they were goofing off somewhere else. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jack was using something as a stripper pole.

I sighed and kept my head low as I saw a figure approach the side of the unusually business-less tent. I thought there would be a swarm of savage fangirls ready to spend all their money on shirts and tanks.

“Hey, did you need something?” A voice asked. I looked up to see him leaning on one of the poles, his TWLOHA shirt blown back gently by a cautious gust. I looked up, trying to meet his sea blue eyes. His blonde hair was swept back, almost tenderly held together with gel. There were streaks of black running through his bright natural hair. It was…pretty hot, I won’t lie!

Please don’t let him be some douche or evil dude…I silently prayed.

“No, no, sorry. I was just trying to read your name tag. I guess your name really is Wolf?” I stumbled over my words, trying to give a cute little I’m-innocent-please-don’t-hurt-me grin.

He chuckled, throwing his head back, eyes closed, and arms folded over his chest. “Yeah, that’s my name. Well, my real name is Lupis-“

“LIKE THE CONSTELLATION, THE WOLF.” I blurted out before I could control myself.

Damn Orion and her knowledge of all things space related!

His eyes glowed. “Yeah, yeah! Like that! My parents were pretty big into astronomy and whole stars making up the future type thing. Orion or Aries would be a great name, but no, they went with Lupis. The kids back at school used to tease me and call me Piss. It was stupid.” He blushed, the last few words rushing out like he had spilled some great secret. I shook my head and gestured to a seat. He looked back hesitantly at his booth. Someone appeared from behind a stack of TWLOHA boxes and raised an eyebrow before shaking her head and motioning for him to stay.

Score!

The cute guy, Wolf, sat down next to me, reclining slightly. I sat with my hands folded in my lap.

“I’m sorry about that. Well, if it helps, my parents named my sister Orion, but we call her Rory for short. My name’s Virgo, but you can call me Vee if you want.” I offered my hand. He shook it with a new look of respect in his eyes.

“Ah, the famed constellation sisters. I’ve heard plenty about you.” He grinned. Tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, I shrugged.

“Oh, well, that was a while ago…”

“Aaron and Alan still like to talk about you guys, you know. Well, mostly about Austin had pined over your big sis for a while, but you know, things happen. I heard that Aus is in a happy relationship now. Moved on, I think? I hope Rory is doing well.” He shrugged before smiling at a customer.

My jaw dropped.

Um…how did he know my sister’s connection to Austin?

I quickly fumbled for the shirt the customer wanted before returning to our conversation. I stored the money in the black lock box before staring at Wolf. He looked back at me with a smirk of knowing. I punched his shoulder lightly.

I stuttered a little, asking, “H-how did you k-know about them?”

He pointed at the tent above our heads and my ATL rep shirt. “Well, for one, I talk to Jack and Alex a little and they never talk about your situation. However, I do know that since you are Virgo Greening, one of the constellation sisters that was kidnapped, and now you just happen to be sitting here alone, eyes flickering around, you are obviously here for a reason besides selling merch. Someone who has connections to ATL, happens to be a Greening, and manages to be sitting alone and watching everyone like a hawk isn’t here for the bands. You’re a Guide.” He pointed out and sipped a water that sat at the chair next to him.

“I..uh…” I can’t just give away my secret!

“I discovered your secret, didn’t I.” He smirked. I stared, not saying a word. What could I say!? “Well, there is one other little clue that completely blew your cover!” His elaborate hand motions made himself chuckle. I could feel the heat fall from my face.

“What would that be?” I questioned weakly. How could I be so careless with my precious secret?

“I’m a Guide too.” He winked. I breathed a sigh of relief. Okay, okay, I hadn’t been that obvious. That’s good, that’s good. Guides had connections to each other and I had a feeling that I was one of the newbies that he was assigned to look after.

“Are you supposed to keep an eye on me or something?” I questioned. He shook his head, replying, “No, no. You do you, be yourself or whatever. I’m just here to keep eyes out on the crowds. But, it’s always good to run into a fellow Guide.” I smiled.

“It’s nice to have company.” I sent him a grateful grin as I stood up to organize some boxes of wrinkled shirts in the back. The packing people hadn’t done a great job keeping them organized and wrinkle-free.

“HEY!” A voice yelled in my ear as I was picked up and spun around. Alex had materialized out of nowhere as a very overprotective Jack loomed over Wolf. I looked at them and the difference between the two. Wolf was about nineteen years old and a twenty nine year old Lebanon man with blonde on one side of his hair giving him the evil eye. Alex kissed my cheek happily before setting me down. I squeezed his hand gently before going over to Wolf and Jack.

“Excuse me, young lady, but who is this boy?” He turned to me, making a face. I looked over at the terrified Lupis, who looked like a scared puppy.

“Oh, his name is Wolf. He’s a Guide, don’t worry. We were just talking.” I held up my hands. Alex went over to his boyfriend’s side, putting his arm around his shoulder. Jack looked at me suspiciously. His brown eyes swung between me and the boy.

“Just ‘talking’? You know what talking leads to? Kissing, which leads to the bedroom, and you know what the bedroom leads to? BABIES.” HE stated firmly. I saw Wolf blush and I slapped his arm, eyes wide and pleading.

“JACK!” I screeched. “We were just talking! Really, like just talking, nothing else!”

“DO YOU HAVE THIS GIRL’S BEST INTERESTS IN MIND? SHE IS BASICALLY LIKE MY SISTER AND I SWEAR IF YOU TOUCH HER-“ He threatened before Alex pulled him away, kissing Jack’s cheek in soothing affection.

“Jack, you’re scaring the poor boy!” Alex sighed. I mouthed a sorry to Wolf, who just shook his head, but stayed in his seat. Jack eyed me again.

“She’s just a little girl. She’s like…twelve!” He argued. Alex took his hand and squeezed it, sighing quietly.

“I thought she was thirteen.”

“Guys, I’m right here, and I’m eighteen.” I chuckled. Alex threw me a gentle smile before pulling Jack away.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep the overprotective big brother away. You guys take care of the tent. Virgo, don’t forget to say hello to Rory for us, okay? We actually have to get to sound check now, right, Jack?” Alex hinted. Jack grumbled and started to follow the singer out of the tent.

“I’m watching you, boy.” Jack hissed and threw the I’m-watching-you sign to Wolf, who held up his hands in defense.

More silence.

“Wonderful brothers you got there.” Wolf mumbled. I sat down next to him. I patted his knee, attempting to reassure him.

“They’re not blood related, but they basically act as my brothers. I love them to death, but they can be a tad overprotective at times.” I chuckled before gulping down half a bottle of water, turning to watch the crowds recede as another round of sets began to cycle through.

“Hey, so how’s Zack? I heard he had a girlfriend, but that was a while ago. Are they still dating?” Wolf asked quietly. I thought back to it.

Zack, one of the guys that Rory had fallen for. Distance and time had separated them, like it had with the other three. Zack realized the truth last year. I felt bad for him. He seemed pretty broken up about it, but he was understanding. That’s what I loved about Zack: He was so understand. He gave people their space. I tried to convince Orion to talk to him, but it was near impossible with her astrophysicist job demanding her to go around the country giving lectures. It was impossible to get a hold of her. It was just a few months ago that she moved into an apartment and settled down. But anyways, about a year ago, Zack said he was talking to a girl named Nicole. They really hit it off, but broke up after six months. Tour life was impossible for her to stand. Nothing hurts like a cheating girlfriend.

Don’t worry, I slashed her tires and beat her ass, just like Zila had taught me in my short encounters with her. No one hurts such a sweetheart like Zach Merrick. He was too kind to deserve that.

“No, no. Nicole cheated on him. They broke up half a year ago. He’s still waiting for that phone call, even one for Orion to ask for one coffee together.” I responded to Wolf’s lingering question. He fiddled with a sharpie between his left fingers.

“So does he still want to get back together with her?”

“Oh no. Zack has moved on, which is good for him. I was talking to Zack about this just last week, actually. He just wants to hang out with her again, to make sure she’s doing all right. It’s worrying him that she’s been so secluded for the past three years. It worries me as well, but I think she just needs her space.” I shrugged. Wolf gave me a curious look.

“Three years’ worth of space? Seems like a little too long.”

“Well, she did go through a lot. She’s kind of a hermit now, but she likes to blame that on the astrophysics major.” I chuckled dryly at that. My sister has kind of gone into hiding, but I can still call her if I want to, I just don’t get to see her a lot. That needs to change.

“Well, the same has gone for Austin. He got married a year and a half ago, the marriage didn’t work out. His wife cheated on him. They got divorced, heart surgery, and now, he’s back. He’s with a girl named Pam. They’re pretty cute, I have to say.” Wolf grinned brilliantly. I couldn’t help but notice how his prominent jaw accentuated his facial features. “But Alan and Aaron still ask about Orion?” I probed. Wolf nodded and said, “Well, of course! They still miss her. Austin does to, but he’s in the same boat as Zack; He wants to make sure she’s still doing okay.”

“It seems like they’ve all gotten a little boys’ group therapy for broken hearts started.”

“They’ve kept in contact, as far as I know. Have you gotten any word from Mike? Wasn’t that the other guy that Rory fell for?” Wolf asked. I nodded, thinking back to Mike.

“He has a girlfriend, but they’ve broken up by now. Frenchi just wasn’t the girl for him. I’m fairly confident he’s the only one that still pines over her.” I shook my head. He was a wonderfully kind but very attached boy. Don’t get me wrong: I love Mike Fuentes to death, but he was still longing over a girl that stayed out of the spotlight.

“Yeah, I heard about that. It was a nasty breakup.”

I nodded in an agreeing silence. He turned to me quietly, staring at me until I caught his glance. I looked to him, waiting for a question. His eyes squinted against the afternoon sun.

“And Ricky?”

“Very little has come out of him. I talk to Chris occasionally, but he seems to be the wild card. I have no clue what’s happening with him. It was hard to tell…Rory was….” I paused, trying to find the right words. “…well, very attached to him.” I concluded softly. Wolf grabbed my hand suddenly as a pack of tall, threatening looking boys with spiked up hair approached the tent.

“Hey pretty girl.” One started. Wolf pulled my hand up, kissing the back of it, stopping any further conversation that could’ve been started.

“Back off, she’s mine.” Lupis snarled, just like his name sake. I could see his shoulders go rigid and his sea colored eyes storm over and harden. My face paled as the four boys backed off, muttering words of unease. The confrontation was short lived, but Lupis kept on holding my hand until the boys were out of sight.

“Thanks.” I murmured quietly. Wolf’s eyes softened as he blushed and stared at his lap. There was more silence between us as sets changed again and we were stormed. After the crowds of anxious buys subsided, I turned to the embarrassed boy.

“Hey, do you want to see the set together? Will is taking over my spot in the booth, so I can sneak away.” I asked. Wolf perked up as he grinned.

“I would love to.” He exclaimed quietly. I smiled and quickly grabbed his hand, acting on an impulse.

I swore I hear Jack grumble behind the boxes and Alex gently shush him.


Zila’s POV

I walked up to the house quietly, lugging the backpack on my shoulders. It was light, as all my stuff had been dropped off at a safe location a few weeks before. I had been surviving on the bare essentials, as I always had. I was used to this life, so lonely but full of adventure.

After that girl, Orion Greening, had been returned home, Bring Me the Horizon had flown out of the country as quick as they can. As far as I know, it had been three years since they did their last tour over in America.

I had contacted some of the Guides over in Sheffield, the ones to keep an eye out on Oli. They said that they were lying low for now, working on a new album and not touring much. They’ve had enough trouble with Rory and Virgo to be turned off from this for a while. They haven’t sought interest in any girls recently.

And we’d like to keep it that way.

I tried contact Jason on recent assignments. He had none. I figured that it’s been a year since I’ve last seen my best friend. I visited him twice after Rory left. It’s been lonely for him as well.

I’ve missed Haven so much, it’s hurt. He’s my only safe place, the only person I can really trust in this cruel world full of violence and hatred. I’d trust him with anything and I love him dearly, my little BB.

I walked up the drive, skipped up the steps, and went to the door, knocking on it quietly, just three gentle raps. There was a sound of shuffling before the blinds rattled and the door opened.

I jumped into his arms as soon as the oak door didn’t block us anymore.

“Zila.” He breathed out in shock. I put my arms around his neck, snuggling into his shoulder. I finally felt…at home.

“BB.” I mumbled. We stood there in the quietness of the porch and beautiful wildness of the open plains. When we finally broke away, I skipped inside, throwing my shoes off to the side and tossing my backpack next to it. Haven grabbed my hand and tugged me into the kitchen.

And we talked.

And talked.

And talked.

I asked him about what he’d been doing, and he returned the comment. I did my best to explain what I had to do, what I’ve been tracking, but eventually, we retired to the living room in the dying light that streaked through the windows.

“The Office?”

“A classic, season six, please.” I requested. He shook his head, smiling.

“You love that one, I know.”

“You know the episode.”

And so we watched.

And watched.

And watched.

Until it was midnight and I was nearly asleep on his lap. I curled up, putting my head on his chest and listening to his heartbeat more than the TV. I wanted proof that this safety was real and that he wasn’t going anywhere. Only his heartbeat was the evidence that I needed.

His hands ran through my hair gently until he shut the TV off.

“Come on, let’s go to bed.” He encouraged. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, reaching up for his hand to pull me from the couch. He scooped me up instead, knowing the true extent of my exhaustion. I clung to his neck until he put me down on the bed an eternity of walking later.

“Haven?” I asked sleepily as he tossed his shirt off and crawled into bed next to me. His blue eyes seemed to glow in the darkness of my half-lidded eyes. Pulling the blankets over my shoulder, snuggled into the pillow.

“Yes, Squirrel?”

“Are you really lonely here when I’m gone?” I asked honestly. I wanted the true answer, not just his usual, ‘no, not really. I’m fine’ answer.

“Yeah, sometimes.” He caved, giving me his true thoughts.

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. Are you lonely on the road?”

“Sometimes. I get lonely when I think about you.”

“You think about me?” He asked suddenly. I nodded, yawning. He reached out a hand, stroking my cheek gently. I put my head on his shoulder.

“Yeah. It can be lonely out there tracking down the bands taking the kids and I think about you always being here and being my safety. I love what I do, but sometimes the nights get long.” I whispered. He wrapped his arms around me.

He kissed the top of my head gently, breathing onto my hair. “You have no clue how much that means to me.”


Rory’s POV

Three years, no contact with them, and all my energy focused on moving on.

I sat in my apartment. It’s been an hour since the phone conversation with my sister. The last time I saw her was for last Christmas with our mother. Dad never showed up. I hadn’t seen him since I was taken. There hadn’t been a word from him. He could be dead, for all we know. But Christmas had been spent with the girls.

My studies of astrophysics had taken me all over the country in the past year. I had taught multiple college classes, touring around and giving lectures on my findings of black holes. The fame as a returned abductee had died down as my growing recognition as a famous female scientist grew.

But, I was still lonely.

The nights grew longer, the days grew darker. The hours turned silent and the only thing to be heard was the typing on my laptop as I edited photos. Scientist by week, photographer by weekend. I shot high school senior pictures, wedding photos, anything that paid. It helped with the bills; Heaven knows that I needed the money.

My mom helped me out. I liked visiting her. She was one of the only people I visited now. I came down south of Denver on the weekends. Sometimes, she would come up to Golden to visit me and we would hike Table Mountain. I tried to do my best to make up the time I had lost with her between my photo shoots and lectures.

But today was another day off, another day to submit my photos, work out, and take a nap. I wasn’t supposed to give another lecture circuit until next week in Arizona, and I didn’t have any photo shoots at all this week.

With a sigh, I got off my couch and put my laptop aside. I opened an energy drink to keep myself awake, and then went to my room. Spinning in the chair, I looked around. There was nothing to do.

Bored and lonely. Should I call up one of my friends to hang out? No, they were off at their day job. Should I call my sister again? No, she was hanging out with that Wolf guy and had a job to do at Warped.

And that’s when my eyes landed on a bag in the back of my little closet.

A bag I knew so well, one that was so familiar.

It was the one I had worn as I escaped and had run away from my captors. It was long emptied by now, just a relic collecting dust in the closet, just another painful memory. Squeezing my eyes shut, I attempted to block out the memories of the past.

I had to move on.

I had moved on, right?

You’re an idiot, Rory. If you had moved on, the numbers would be gone, not hidden in your room. The bag would’ve been donated. You wouldn’t stand by the phone at night, debating on calling one of them and cycling through who to call. You’re NOT over them, not over those years…I mentally scolded myself. Using the back of my hand to rub my eyes, I looked at the bag again, expecting it to disappear.

My phone hummed from the corner. I turned to see the screen glow with a text from my sister. Might as well respond.

Virgo: Jack and Alex say hi. They miss you. Zack wants to hang. I’ll tell him you’re on another lecture circuit. Rian misses his cuddle buddy.

My shoulders shuddered, but not from the energy of the Monster. No, it was from the constant texts, the constant reminders from my sister.

I stared at my phone for a solid two minutes before I made my move. I don’t know if it was the caffeine that made me do it, or my own will that had escaped, but I did it: I texted her back.

Me: Tell them I say hi. I’m not on circuit this week. I’ll call later.

And then I set it down.

You’re an idiot, Orion… I scolded.

Shut up, mental self. Zack is a dork but he’s YOUR sweetheart dork. It’s been three years and you left the poor boy hanging. Don’t be a dick and grow a pair. I scolded my mental self.

My mental self had shut up pretty quickly after that.

Setting the can down, I quickly started to riffle through drawers and cabinets, searching for those pieces of paper that I had kept through the years, four little scraps that could easily have been lost by now, but they had to be here.

It took an hour of searching, but I eventually dropped my phone. The back broke off and four little pieces scattered across the floor. Oh, so that’s where I had stored them. I knew I was clever, but sometimes I could be a little too clever for my own good.

Putting my phone back together, I laid each paper out on the desk. I had written in the names on the backs of them so I wouldn’t forget. I stared at those four different handwritings. One scribbly, one loopy, one bold, one scattered. I loved them all for their differences.

Ricky, Austin, Zack, and Mike, all different, but all I had loved.

And suddenly, the loneliness really hit home.

I felt all the weight of their affection on my shoulders. I wanted to call them all, but that would just be starting the cycle again. I owed Zack a call, I knew that for sure, but could I really call the others all at once?

What was going to happen? I was scared of the consequences, of what might happen, but I had to do it.

And so, I left the paper on my desk and walked away.


Two days later…

I paced the room, the papers taunting me in the corner. Sure enough, two days before, Zack had called me late at night off my sister’s phone. I had a lovely chat with him. We caught up and spent nearly an hour talking. I couldn’t remember what we talked about word-for-word, but I do remember his sweet voice and his laugh. We talked about our lives now, about ATL’s tour, about Virgo and anything else.

When we hung up, a weight had been lifted off my shoulder. Zack was happy that I had called and he could talk to me again. I was happy I could be friends with him. He had moved on. So had I. We were friends, we agreed that, we knew we always would be.

And now I was down to three.

So I stared them down on paper and wished them all away and then wished them back. I was tormented by both sides, wanting all of them but hating that I loved them all.

I stopped my pacing, just going over to my chair and touching each paper lightly. The loneliness seemed to weigh me down more than normal. I was hopelessly lost in a sea of boring monotony.

Another sigh escaped my lips. I might as well throw these papers away. What the hell was I going to do? It didn’t seem like I was going to call the other three at any time soon! I might as well fade from the background into nothingness. It would do them the best.

But then I saw his name.

And I saw that name right before I tucked the papers back into the void of my desk drawers. I saw a single name out of the three and I held onto that paper.

I saw the name and I cried.

And I cried and bawled and just sat there sobbing.

Because of all the years I had spent away from him, I had convinced myself that I loved them all equally. I told myself that over and over again. I had told myself that I loved them all equally and was hurting them all equally.

But that’s not true.

Over the three years I spent away from all of them, I looked up their lives, their tours. I saw their loves and heartbreaks, but I saw nothing on him. He seemed to fade into the back, just as I had. I couldn’t see his loves, his personal life. His tweets seemed lifeless. I saw their tours, but I didn’t see him.

I saw them all, but I saw him least of the four, and I cried harder at that fact.

I thought I loved them all equally, but that wasn’t true. I loved him more than the rest.

So I picked up my phone, sniffling the tears away, and dialed in his number with shaky hands. It rang four times. I was going to hang up and avoid a voice message when he answered.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Orion. I really miss you…”


Four days later…

I left the classroom of the Arizona institute after giving a lecture on the thermal physics of nuclear fission. The class was decently sized and well behaved. I had not one issue with the matter or any of the students. They were all bright enough to understand it word for word.

Packing my things up, I started towards the door to the outside. It had been four days since I talked to him. The conversation had been short, brief, almost as if he…he didn’t care anymore.

And I guess it was my turn to do the final moving on.

So I walked outside, head down, keys jingling in my pocket, and bag on my shoulder. I passed someone on the steps down, just a dark space blending into the shadow.

They must be idiots to wear all black on a hot summer day in Arizona…I grumbled in my mind.

Well, they must’ve heard me because they spoke my name.

“Rory?” A familiar voice made me whip my head up. I had heard that voice, so long ago yet only four days ago. It seemed like an eternity, but I knew it wasn’t. I turned around slowly, facing the idiotic figure that had decided it was okay to wear the hottest color on the warmest day of the year.

Ricky Horror.

“Ricky…” I breathed. He came up to me, just standing in front of me with his hands in his pockets and a mixture of emotions ringing his eyes.

“Rory, it’s been so long.” He breathed. I started shaking, feeling tears start to come up to my eyes. How…how had he gotten here?

“I…I…” I choked up, His hand reached up, touching my cheek with such tenderness, it was hard to remember when someone touched me like this. I felt a tear spill out of my eye, dripping onto his index finger. I collapsed into his chest as he held me tightly. His arms wound around my back, keeping me closer. I just sobbed into his chest out of joy and happiness.

“Shh, it’s okay…I’m so sorry I left our last conversation off at such short notice. I just couldn’t believe it and I wanted to surprise you by showing up at one of your lectures.” He chuckled. I wiped my eyes and smiled up at him. He stroked my hair gently.

“Ricky, I just can’t believe you’re here.” I sniffled quietly. He leaned down, touching his forehead to mine. I couldn’t help but get lost in his deep eyes.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He whispered, his cool breath tickling my nose. I leaned up, pressing my lips against his. His fingers traced my cheeks gently, as if testing to see if I was real.

“I’m not either.” I whispered.


Two years later…

“As much as I loved the wedding, I’m so glad I’m out of that dress.” I grumbled as I flopped down on our hotel suit’s bed. I was in basketball shorts and a t-shirt I had stolen from Ricky. He smirked down at me as he collapsed next to me.

“I’m glad you’re out of that too.” He chuckled.

“Pervert.” I slapped is shoulder. He grabbed my wrists and kissed my lips roughly.

The wedding last night had been perfect. Ricky had looked handsome in his tux, waiting for me at the end of the aisle. The dress I wore was beautiful and he couldn’t stop telling me that (and it went to the point of being annoying, but I loved him, so I dealt with it). The band had been his groomsmen. Virgo was my maid of honor, and Zila had even accepted the invitation to be one of my bridesmaids. I even managed to accommodate her and make the dress pretty lightweight and flexible in case she needed to do any ceiling crawls, although I highly doubted it. The two bikers that I had met, Whirl and Wind, had been bridesmaids as well because I had kept contact with them and Grey within this past two years.

It was a perfect wedding. All the bands that had helped me get home safely had been there. Jack and Alex had been the life of the party after the wedding and shown their own dance moves on the floor. I guess they were dating now, and they made an adorable couple. Jaime and Vic were happy to slow dance as well. It was adorable and plenty of pictures were taken.

Overall, it was absolutely perfect.

“Hey, stop it.” I whined as Ricky kissed down my neck. I swatted him away and yawned. It was early in the morning, but all I wanted was to sleep. He had managed to straddle my hips while I was lost in thought and made a pouty face as I locked his hands with mine. I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed.

“You’re adorable.” He commented. I released my hands and pulled his face down so that I could cup his cheeks gently and press my lips against his, running my tongue across his lower lip. He hummed lightly in pleasure as our tongues danced, his easily dominating mine. I ran my hand lightly down his bare chest, feeling his warm skin beneath my fingertips.

A knock at the door interrupted our make out session. Ricky pulled away, scowling and rolling his eyes.

“I thought there was a no-knocking-until-making-out-was-over rule.” He sighed. I pushed him off me, laughing. He opened the door as I leaned against the couch side, waiting to see who it was.

It was Austin Carlile next to Alan and Mike. They all waved.

“Hey guys!” Mike chorused. I smiled and went up to them, giving the boys hugs.

“What’s up?” Ricky asked, easing up a bit. They all looked ready for the beach or hanging out by the pool. But wasn’t it only seven in the morning?

“We’re going to head down to the pool. You guys wanna join us?” Austin asked. I looked to Ricky.

“Go ahead, you boys need your time to hang out.” I suggested. Ricky laughed and nodded.

“Give me three minutes. Come in if you want.” He suggested. They stepped inside. I noted the new tattoos on all of them, passing around friendly comments. Ricky came back out from our bedroom in his swim trunks and a baby blue towel over his shoulder. I pecked his cheek as he passed by. He squeezed my hand in return, grinning at me.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come down, Mrs. Olson?” He teased. I sighed at the name.

“I thought it was Mrs. Horror?” Alan whispered not so quietly.

“But isn’t his real name Ricky Olson?” Austin whispered back. I laughed, shaking my head.

“We’ll figure out the whole name situation later. Either way, go have fun at the pool.” I shooed them off. Ricky grinned and pressed a final kiss to my lips before following them out.

It wasn’t too much later that I changed into some regular clothes and heard a knock at the door once again. It just so happened to be a certain turtle and ceiling crawling with skateboards and helmets.

“Hey, you’re coming with us.” Zila tossed me a skateboard. I tied my hair into a ponytail, barely catching the skateboard in the other hand. I looked at them. Tony smiled at me.

“Come on, Rory!” He teased. I chuckled and sighed.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Nope!” They responded in unison. I shook my head and snagged one of their helmets, locking the door behind me.

“Okay, well, I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend the day after my wedding.” I responded happily. It had been so long since I had last skateboarded, but the sun was warm and the pavement was smooth.

We started skating down the street, taking corners and finding short cuts across the sleepy beach town. I mostly followed wherever they were taking me, eyes focused ahead.

And that’s when a figure came skating out of nowhere, joining our own little pack. Zila turned her head, grinning with happiness.

Haven waved to me before pushing himself faster. Tony showed off a little by doing some trick on his board. I laughed as he nearly stumbled but regained his footing.

The sun was warm on our backs, the day beautiful. I was married to the man I was meant to be with. The tragedy was over, and a new life lay ahead of me, and it was all because I had refused to submit to a life of slavery.

As we went down the side road, I could help but think…

A message to all those kept under lock and key, whether in chains or under an abusive relationship, whether suffering an illness that holds you down under a dark blanket, or a family that may break and burn. Do not give up. Do not submit to those who take you, to those that may hold you down. Whether it is an invisible foe or visible, do not let them break you. Do not let that light die out inside of you and do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.

Notes

This is the very last chapter, guys!

It's been a lovely time getting to know you all and getting to talk to you. You're all amazing readers who have supported me through the good and bad times in this story, especially during when this plot was getting stolen. Your continuous support is well appreciated and loved. Seriously, you're all amazing readers and I love each and every one of you.

Please, don't forget to comment your final words on the ending of this story! I'd love to hear what you thought about her ending up with Ricky! :)

I love you all and thanks so much!

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Thanks everyone!