�Fa-reeek,� the blonde girl made the one syllable word last at least five seconds.
Jace just kept walking, hoping she�d meet one of friends along the way. She felt the weight of someone�s arm around her shoulders. Jace didn�t even need to look up to know who it was. �Hi Billy.�
He smiled down at her. She and Billy Martin had known each other since childhood. They did everything together.
�We�ve got a show tonight. You comin?� He looked hopeful.
�Oh you mean I actually get to see one now?� Jace took her seat and thought.
�Come on,� Billy pleaded.
She tried to keep a strait face but smiled. �You know I wouldn�t miss it for the world. What time do you start?�
He smiled. �Seven.� Billy leaned forward and lightly brushed his lips against her.
�Please keep the PDA to non-existent,� the teacher growled as he past them.
Jace rolled her eyes and did her best to pay attention to the lesson.
Billy slid a folded piece of paper onto her desk.
As discreetly as possible Jace unfolded the paper and read the scratch he called handwriting.
What time do you want me to pick you up?
She smiled as she picked up her pen and scribbled an answer.
What time do you set up?
6:30
Come get me at six
I�ll be there at 5:59:59
Jace had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Jace smiled as she closed her front door behind her.
�Jace, hunny, can you come in here?� her mother called from the living room.
�What are you doing home so early?� Jace asked as she rounded the corner. When she saw her parents� faces her good mood disappeared. �What�s wrong?�
�Your Grandma Morgan is in the hospital.�
�We�re going to move in with her in order to take care of her,� her father continued.
�When do we leave?� Jace wasn�t sure she really even wanted to know.
�As soon as we can get everything packed. I�m going to go get a moving truck in a couple hours.�
Jace nodded and turned to go up to her room.
�Jace, Billy is here!� her mother shouted up the stairs. �You can just ahead up, hun,� she smiled at Billy.
Billy took the stairs two at a time up to Jace�s room. He knocked on the door. After a few moments of standing in the hall with no response from Jace, Billy opened the door. �Jace?�
Jace was lying face down on her bed, pillows and blankets were scattered all around her small body.
Billy sat down on the bed and lightly rubbed her back. �Jace, wake up,� he smiled.
Jace turned towards him but didn�t roll over completely.
Delicately Billy moved the purple and black hair out of her face. �What�s wrong?�
She didn�t answer. Jace took his hand and gently pulled until he was lying on the bed next to her.
Billy shifted until his head was on her pillow and he was looking into her puffy eyes. �You�re scaring me, Jace.�
�Do you love me?� she asked quietly.
�You know I love you.�
Jace sighed. �I don�t know how they expect me to live with out you.�
�What are you talking about?� Billy was really starting to worry.
�I love you, Billy.�
�Jace, please tell me what�s going on.�
�My Granny Morgan is sick.�
Billy stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
�We�re going to move to Montana to take care of her. I�m sorry I can�t come tonight. I really wanted to see you play.�
Billy closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. Blindly he ran his hand along her body until it was resting on her soft, pale cheek.
�I don�t want to leave you,� Jace whispered, her lips slightly brushing against his. �I haven�t even left yet and it already feels like a piece of my heart is missing.�
�You can�t leave me, move in with us.�
She barely moved her head and kissed him. �You need to get going and I need to finish packing. But I want you to come by when you�re done and tell me everything. Promise?�
�I promise.� Billy sat up, getting ready to leave.
Jace sat up with him. She cupped his cheek with her palm and slowly ran her thumb along his bottom lip. Jace leaned forward and kissed him deeply. After the shock from the kiss wore off Billy kissed her back.
Billy smiled at her after the kiss ended. �I�ll see you in a couple hours. I love you.�
�I love you, too.� Jace smiled. �Good luck. And tell the rest of the band the same.�
Billy kissed her once more before heading down the stairs and out the door.
Billy couldn�t help but smiling as he jogged up to Jace�s front door. He knocked and waited for someone to answer. As he waited Billy looked up at the house. None of the lights were on. He peered through the front room�s window and saw bare walls and floors. The house was completely empty.
Becoming frantic Billy ran to the garage. Both Jace�s and her parents� cars were missing. She was gone. Jace left without saying good bye.
Billy walked back to the front porch and sat down on the steps. Jace did say goodbye. When she kissed him, it was her way of telling him they�d never see each other again.
Billy pulled his knees up to his chest and cried.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The summer of 2003
�East Coast Ink, this is Jace.�
�Shouldn�t it be �West Coast Ink� since you�re in California?�
She laughed. �Nope.�
�Okay. Well I was wondering if anybody has a couple hours free.�
�Let me check.� Jace flipped through an appointment book. �If you can get here in ten minutes someone does.�
�It�ll only take me five.�
�Well that�s good. What�s your first name?�
�Tony.�
�Is this your first tattoo?�
�No ma�am. I�ve gotten many.�
�Okay Tony you have an appointment with Bullet in ten minutes.�
�Thank you.�
�Bye.� Jace hung up the phone and leaned back in her chair. �Hey Bullet you�ve got someone in ten,� she yelled towards the back of the tattoo parlor.
�With who?� Bullet yelled back.
�Some guy named Tony.�
�Is it his first one?�
�Nope. He should be here in three minutes.�
�But I still have eight.�
�Well get yo ass in gear. That�s not a lot of time.�
The shop�s door opened and a man with bright blonde hair walked in.
�Tony Lovato. I�m impressed,� Jace laughed. �Hey Bullet, your appointment�s here.�
�Why is it called East Coast Ink? I gotta know,� Tony asked.
�What are you gonna remember more, a shop of the west coast called �West Coast Ink� or shop on the west coast called �East Coast Ink�? That and I grew up on the east coast and named the shop. Easy as that.�
�So you own it?� Tony was looking for tattoos and Jace�s small body.
�No. But my brother does. I just gotta name it.� She held out her hand �Jace Donovan.�
Tony reached out to shake her hand. �Okay I know it�s rude but I can�t find a tattoo on you. I�ve never seen some one work in a tattoo parlor and not have any tattoos.� He was still trying to find some hint of a tattoo.
Jace laughed and pulled off the button up shirt she had over a tank top. She turned to reveal three tattoos across her shoulder blades. �I�ve also got one on my lower back and on both my ankles. Just �cause you can�t see �em doesn�t mean they ain�t there.� She turned again. �Bullet hurry up!�
�Yeah, yeah, yeah,� Bullet mumbled.
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. �I thought your tour wasn�t suppose to be here for a few more days.�
�We all like California,� Tony shrugged. �We had time so we came out early.�
�Alright I�m ready.� Bullet walked into the front room. �Do you know what you want?�
Bullet and Tony talked as they went back to Bullet�s �office�.
Jace shook her head as she opened a notebook and started writing.
The door opened again.
�Hey Jace is my next appointment here yet?� The tall tattoo covered man asked.
�Nope. But Bullet�s got a rock star in his chair.�
�Who?�
�Tony Lovato from Mest. Kalinda listens to them constantly.�
�Oh yeah. Wait you�re going to that show. It isn�t until some odd days from now.�
�That�s what I said. Kalinda�s gonna shit her pants.� Jace laughed. �The one day your sister doesn�t come to the shop�Tony Lovato does.� She picked up the ringing phone, still laughing. �East Coast Ink this is Jace. Okay. Thank you.� Jace hung up the phone. �That was your three thirty. They�re running late, but are still coming. And I�m gonna go talk to the rock star. Can I keep him, Donovan?�
Jace sat down in front of Tony. �I wanna introduce you to the owner. Tony this is Donovan. Bro, this is Tony Lovato.�
Tony smiled up at him. �I�d shake your hand but that wouldn�t be the smartest thing I�ve ever done.�
�You move and I�ll tattoo �Bullet�s Prison Bitch� on your forehead,� Bullet mumbled, concentrating on the tattoo he was doing.
Donovan laughed. �Before you leave is it okay if we get a picture of you with Jace? It�s kind of a custom around here,� Donovan asked.
Tony smiled again. �Sure.�
�Actually the custom is get your picture taken with me and Kalinda, but she�s at home and I�m not gonna call her. Because I�m a mean bitch.� Jace stood and headed back to the front room.
A couple hours later the shop�s door opened again.
�Unless you have an appointment, we�re booked,� Jace said not looking up from her sketch book.
�I just came to pick up a friend of mine.�
Jace looked up slowly. �Damn first Lovato now we�ve got Benji Madden. Kalinda picked a really bad day not to come in.� She shook her head. �Bullet should be done any minute. If you want you can go back.�
Benji was starring at Jace. �Do I know you?�
�I can honestly say this is the first time we�ve met as long as I�ve been named Jace Donovan.�
�I swear I�ve seen you before. Did you live in Annapolis at one time?�
Jace nodded. �When I was younger. But I moved when I was seventeen.�
�Did you ever come to any of our shows?�
�Nope. I wanted to but I never could.�
�You still look really familiar.� Benji shook his head as he answered his ringing cell phone. �Hello? Hey Billy.�
Jace stopped all movement at the mention of Billy�s name. She even stopped breathing.
�Jace, are you okay?� Donovan asked. �You just got real pale.� He disappeared and came back with a bottle of water, handing it to Jace. �Drink this.�
Blindly Jace reached for the bottle and took a sip. The bitter cold of the water brought her back to reality. Billy. She took a deep breath and set her sketch book on the counter.
Donovan was squatting down in front of her, he looked worried. �Are you okay?�
Jace nodded. �Yeah I�m fine.�
Tony walked in, his shirt off, looking down at his tattoo.
�Does she look familiar to you?� Benji asked him.
Tony shook his head. �Not really. You ready to do that picture now?� he asked Jace.
�Sure.� Jace stood between Benji and Tony as Donovan snapped the picture. �Thanks,� she smiled when they were done. �Donovan, I�m gonna leave. I�ll see you when you get home.� With out another word Jace grabbed her things and left.
�I still think she looks really familiar,� Benji mumbled.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Jace closed her bedroom door behind her. She grabbed the remote to her stereo and hit �play.� The first song that started playing was �It�s Over� by Mest. As quickly as possible Jace turned it off. Mest reminded her of Tony. Tony reminded her of Benji. And all things Benji lead to thoughts of Billy.
Billy.
All Jace had to do was tell Benji who she was and she could see Billy again.
She really wasn�t surprise that Benji hadn�t recognized her completely. She�d changed a lot since she was seventeen. Her hair had been lightened to a dark brown and her skin was slightly darker, both from the sun.
Jace needed to get her mind off Billy. She flung open the double doors to the balcony off her room. They didn�t live right on the beach but from the height of the balcony it looked like the house�s base rested in the golden sand.
�Donovan said you freaked out and left the shop,� Kalinda, Donovan�s little sister and Jace�s best friend, stood in the door way.
�That�s one way to put it.�
�What happened?�
�The past snuck up on me and almost bit me in the ass.�
�Huh?�
Jace sighed and turned towards Kalinda. �If I tell you something you have to promise me it won�t leave this room.�
�Promise.� Kalinda made a �x� over her heart.
Jace sighed again and sat down on her bed. �I grew up in Annapolis, Maryland.�
�That�s where Good Charlotte�s from.�
�Yeah that and Waldorf��
�You�re bein really cryptic, Jace.�
�I grew up with Billy Martin,� Jace blurted out.
It took Kalinda a few minutes to process this new information. �Wow. Did you know Benji too?�
�Yeah and he almost figured out who I was earlier.�
�He was here?�
�In the shop. Tony Lovato came in to get a tattoo and Benji came to pick him up. I got my picture taken with both of them,� Jace didn�t sound half as enthused as she should.
�Wait, what do you mean by he almost figured out who you were?�
�I�ve changed since the last time Benj saw me�hell it was four years ago.�
�Was GC good back then?�
�I have no clue. Billy never let me go to a show. He said they were never �good enough�. And when he finally did�I had to leave.�
�I�m really confused, Jace. Why don�t you just tell me what happened?�
Jace sighed once again and told Kalinda the entire sad story. It was the first time she�d said anything about it to anyone but her Granny Morgan.
Kalinda looked like she was going to cry. �Poor Billy.�
�Yeah poor Billy,� Jace muttered under her breath. �It killed me to do that to him. It�s killing me again.�
Kalinda was getting ready to speak when the phone rang.
�Hold that thought.� Jace picked up the phone. �Hello?�
�Hello? Jace?� a man asked on the other end asked.
�Yeah this is Jace. Who is this?�
�Benji Madden. Donovan gave me your phone number.�
�Oh. So why are you calling?�
�I still can�t get it out of my head that we�ve met before.�
�Benj, I�m gonna tell you one thing then hang up. You ready?�
�Yeah what is it?�
�Morgan.� Jace hung up the phone.
Kalinda cocked an eyebrow. �What was that all about?�
�Morgan�s my surname. Remember?�
She nodded. �What�s that have to do with anything?�
�That was Benji. He still can�t seem to place me. So I told him �Morgan�. Hopefully he�ll get the picture. But I pray he won�t.�
�Why not?�
Jace sighed. She seemed to be doing that a lot. �He�ll tell Billy.�
�But don�t you want to see Billy again? You were so in love with him.�
�I still am. But I hurt him.�
�Well now you can make it better!�
The phone rang again.
�Took you long enough to figure it out, Benj.� Jace didn�t even have to ask if it was him.
�What the fuck Jace? You fell off the face of the God damned Earth and one day you�re just back? I should kick your fuckin ass for what you put Billy through.�
�You�re too late, Benj. I already have. You�re gonna tell him, aren�t you?�
�I don�t know yet. I can�t decide if I�m thrilled or if I hate you.�
�I really don�t blame you. I hate myself for it. Benj�how�how�s he doing?�
�Better than he was four years ago. You put him through hell, Jace.�
She sighed. She really need to stop doing that. �Meet me somewhere.�
�Why?�
�I want to talk to you.�
�I�ll meet you in the parking lot next to the tattoo parlor.�
�Thanks.� Jace hung up the phone. �I gotta go,� she told Kalinda.
�Wait! Where?� Kalinda started to follow her to the front door.
�Unfinished business.�
�You�re gonna meet Benji aren�t you?�
�Shouldn�t even have to ask.� Jace got in her car and pulled out of the drive way. Ten minutes later she pulled into the parking lot she and Benji had decided to meet at.
Benji was already there, leaning against his car smoking a cigarette.
�Hi,� Jace kept her eyes down.
�I don�t feel like chatting, Jace. Tell me what happened,� Benji was in a bad mood.
�I never wanted to break his heart, Benj. You have to understand that.�
�Then why the fuck did you?�
She lowered her eyes from his vicious glare. �I didn�t have much of a choice. Everything was packed. I already said goodbye. We left.�
�You could have called him, Jace. Four fucking years and he never heard from you. A letter. Something!�
�I couldn�t! It killed me to leave. I didn�t want to have part of him, but not all of him. I can�t count how many times I got all but one of the numbers dialed, then hung up. I even have a box of fucking letters I wrote to him, but couldn�t send. It hurt too damn much.�
�Can I give him the letters?� It was the first time since Benji had figured out who she was that he didn�t sound threatening.
Jace nodded. �Follow me back to my house and I�ll give them to you.�
Benji got in his car and started the engine.
She did the same. Jace pulled out of the parking lot and headed home.
When they got there, Benji didn�t even bother to get out of his car.
Jace wasn�t surprised. She opened the front door and headed strait for her room; not bothering to even look at Kalinda or Donovan. Jace grabbed the box from the top shelf of her closet. She opened it quickly to peer at the envelopes, sealed, address, stamped, ready to be mailed.
Jace walked back out to Benji�s car and handed him the overfilled box. �The letters are in order. The oldest one is in the front. I wrote it a couple hours after I left. The newest is in the back. I wrote it about a week ago.� She turned on her heal, going back to the house.
�Jace?�
Jace turned.
�Did you really love him?�
�With out hesitation.� She turned again and headed back into the house. �I�m going to be in my room�crying,� Jace said to Donovan and Kalinda on the way past the living room where the two were watching MTV.
She shut the door behind her and fell on her bed, already tears were streaming from her eyes. Jace fell asleep crying.
Jace woke up with a start. She quickly glanced at the clock next to the bed. 5:59. �Figures,� she muttered, getting up.
There was no way Jace was going to go back to sleep. She made a pot of coffee and carried a cup full back to her room. Jace set the mug on the balcony railing and sat down in one of the two chairs, her right foot propped up on the other.
The sun was starting to rise, but Jace didn�t feeling like admiring it�s beauty. She�d rather it be dark. It would match her mood.
Donovan silently walked into her room and sat down in the chair across from her, picking up her foot and replacing it on his knee. He cupped her heal with his right hand and soothingly ran his thumb back and forth over the inside of her ankle. �Kalinda told me.�
Jace smiled humorlessly. �I figured she would.�
�I know where they�re staying. Do you want to go over there?�
She slowly shook her head. �They don�t want to see me. I should have never told Benj who I was. Hell he would have figured it out anyway. And now he�s got the letters. Billy will probably never get them and if he does Benj will have read them anyway.�
�Why didn�t you tell us before?�
�It hurt. It still hurts, Donovan. Three-fourths of my heart has been missing for four years.�
�It explains why you never dated anybody seriously.�
�They weren�t Billy.� Jace stood and leaned against the balcony�s railing. �Maybe I deserve this.�
�Deserve what?�
�Having him so close�and so completely untouchable.�
�No you don�t. You did what you thought would be easiest for both of you. And in the long run you did the right thing.� Donovan wrapped his arms around her from behind. �I don�t like seeing you like this, Jace.�
She leaned back against him and stared out at the water. �Try feeling it.�
He kissed the side of her head. �I need to run a couple errands. You don�t have to come into the shop today if you don�t want to.�
�I�m gonna be there at noon. If I stay here I�ll just think about him. At least at the shop there�s something to keep me occupied.�
�Then I�ll see you in a couple hours.� Donovan left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Jace walked back inside and opened the doors to her closet. She pulled out a black tank top with clear plastic straps and low riding jeans.
It was a �tattoo day� and Kalinda called it. Jace wore jeans low enough to show all of the sun and moon tattoo on her lower back, identical to the one Kalinda had; and something that wouldn�t hide the tattoos on the backs of her shoulder blades. The outline of a star on her right, an angel (or at least her idea of one) on the left; between them, below the base of her neck, was a tribal design Donovan had made for her.
Jace opened up a jewelry box and sorted through the many different belly button rings. At last she decided on a silver barbell that had a moon on the end and a blue jewel in the top.
Going into the bathroom Jace sat down in front of her vanity. She pulled out eyeliner, lip liner, and lip stick. She didn�t wear much make up, when she actually wore it.
For some unknown reason Jace was born with violet eyes. No one understood it since both of her parents had brown eyes. The black eye liner made her eyes look brighter, almost unworldly. Neatly Jace lined her lips and filled them in.
When she was done Jace stood in front of a full length mirror she rarely looked in. She looked good. And it made her feel slightly better.
Jace grabbed the lipstick and threw it, along with a small mirror, into her messenger bag. She still had hours to kill. Not knowing what else to do, Jace sat down on her bed and picked up one of her many half-filled sketch books and began to draw.
Jace glanced at the clock 11:37. She hadn�t realized she�d been drawing that long.
Jace placed the drawing aside and got off the bed. She walked down the hall to Kalinda�s room and leaned against the door frame. �You coming to the shop today?�
Kalinda looked up, surprised. �You look nice.�
�Thanks. Coming?�
�Hell yeah, the last time I didn�t come rock stars came in. Let me grab some shoes.� Kalinda slid on a pair of sandals and followed Jace out to Jace�s car. �Are you sure you�re okay?�
�Nope.� Jace pulled out of the drive way. �I�m never going to be okay.�
Kalinda laughed. �I meant about the current situation. Not your mental situation.�
Jace�s jaw dropped and she glanced at Kalinda out of the corner of her eye. �Do not make me pull this car over and kick your ass.� She smiled.
�At least I got you to smile.�
Jace shook her head. She pulled into East Coast Ink�s parking lot and stopped the car. �Kay, it doesn�t bother me that you told Donovan�I knew you would. Just�don�t tell anyone else.�
Kalinda nodded. �I won�t.�
�Good.� Jace got out of the car and walked into the shop.
�Hey girlies,� Bullet smiled at them. �We�re dead today.�
�Someone will probably call or come in soon.� Jace plopped down on the couch next to Bullet.
�What�s wrong, Jace?�
�Is it that obvious that something�s wrong?�
�Yes,� Donovan, Kalinda, and Bullet answered in unison.
�Might as well explain it to Bullet so he�s not left in the dark.� Jace told Bullet the story and about everything that had happened the day before.
�Damn.� Was all Bullet could say in reply.
The phone rang and Jace walked across the waiting area to answer it. �East Coast Ink. This is Jace.�
�Do you do piercings?� the boy on the other end asked, he sounded like he was barely eighteen.
�Yes we do.�
�Then I would like to make an appointment.�
�Okay what time and what would you like done?�
�Is in half an hour okay?�
�Yes, that�s fine. What would you like done?�
�Can�t I just tell the whoever does the piercings when I get there?�
�That would be me.�
�Are you the only one?�
�No there�s another one, but she�s a girl too. Wait you wanna get your dick pierced, don�t you?�
Click.
Jace chuckled as she clicked the phone off.
�They hung up, huh?� Kalinda laughed.
�Yes he did. Why would you get you dick pierced but not want a girl to do it? A girl�s gonna see it at some point.� Jace tossed the phone to Donovan. �I�m gonna be back in the break room.�
�I think I�ll go with you.� Kalinda followed Jace to the break room.
�Hey, Jace, you�ve got an eyebrow piercing,� Donovan yelled from the waiting area.
Jace sighed and headed to the room she and Kalinda did piercings in. Although the two only had four body piercings between them, beside their ears, they were trained to do them. Kalinda had her tongue and belly button pierced, and Jace had her labret and belly button pierced.
Jace smiled as she entered the room. �Give me a minute to get the stuff out. Go ahead and lie down on the table.� With out looking at the person, she motioned towards the high metal table in the center of the room. Jace put everything she needed on a tray and turned.
Jace screamed and dropped the tray as she slammed into a man�s chest.
�What happened?� Donovan and Bullet were standing in the doorway.
�I-I didn�t realize he was standing so close,� Jace stuttered. �I�m fine.�
They nodded and closed the door.
She bent and quickly started picking the things she�d dropped off the floor.
�I didn�t mean to scare you, Jace.�
Jace paused at the voice. �Paul?� she asked looking up at him.
Paul smiled as he helped her off the floor and hugged her.
�It�s a better reaction than I got from Benj.�
He smiled. �Benji looses his temper quicker than I do. That and I wanted to talk to you before I started hating you.� Paul sat down on the table.
Jace sat down beside him. �What do you wanna know?�
�Did you mean to hurt Billy?�
�No,� she answered honestly.
�Do you still love him?�
�Yes,� Jace didn�t hesitate to reply.
�Okay. That�s all I needed to know.�
�You lost me.�
�I�m on your side, Jace.�
�Have you guys told Billy�about me?�
�No. we haven�t decided if we�re going to tell him at all.�
�Oh.�
Paul draped his arm around her shoulders. �But he does miss you. And from what I can tell, he still loves you too.� He stood and dropped fifty dollars on the table.
�Paul, I didn�t do anything.�
�No, but I took up time where you could have been.�
�I can�t take your money.�
�Too bad. I�m not taking it back.� Paul turned and left.
Jace sighed as she pocketed the money.
�Did he change him mind about the piercing?� Kalinda asked.
�Kay, did you even see his face?�
�Not really.�
�That was Paul Thomas�from GC.�
Kalinda�s jaw dropped. �Damn it!�
�Keep alert. I haven�t seen Joel yet.�
�So what�d he have to say?� Donovan asked.
�Paul said he�s pretty much on my side. Well that and Benji hates me but I knew that already. Nothing too new in my world.�
�Benji seemed like a nice guy yesterday,� Donovan shrugged.
�Looks like we�ll have to kick his ass now,� Bullet added with a wicked smile.
Jace laughed. �Thanks, but don�t.� She sat down on the couch next to Donovan. �Bro, tell me where they�re staying.�
�Are you sure?� Donovan was already pulling the paper he�d written the information down on out of his pocket.
�Not really. But I�m going anyway.� Jace grabbed the paper. �Come on, Kalinda. I know you wanna go,� she said over her shoulder as she walked through the door.
Kalinda ran after her.
Jace pulled into the hotel�s parking lot. She got out of the car and walked inside before she could change her mind.�
�Hey Jace, right?�
Jace turned. �Tony Lovato. Let me introduce you to my sister, Kalinda.�
�Well,� Tony smiled, �if we�re making introductions this is my cousin Matt. Matt, this is Jace, she works at that tattoo place I went to yesterday�and Kalinda.�
Matt and Kalinda started talking and walked away.
Jace laughed. �Why am I not surprised?�
�So what brings you here?� Tony asked.
�I need to talk to Paul.�
He held out his arm. �Well let me escort you up to his room.�
She smiled and slipped her arm through his. �Thank you.�
The ride in the elevator was silent.
When they got to the right floor Tony knocked on a door and smiled at Jace before walking away.
Paul opened the door and looked shocked. �Jace? What are you doing here?�
�I need to see Billy. Please Paul,� Jace pleaded.
�Yeah. Come inside and I�ll go get him.� Paul opened the door and let her inside. �I�ll be right back.� He left the room.
Jace sighed and fell back on the unmade bed. Billy.
The door opened and Paul and Billy walked in. Billy.
�Jace?� Billy breathed.
Jace sat perfectly still for a few seconds. �I can�t do this.� She ran from the room, trying hard not to cry. Jace ran down the stairs and out the door, past Kalinda and Matt. She ran past her car and down the street.
Jace�s legs and lungs burned when she finally reached the house. Her muscles screamed as she ran up the stairs and into the house.
Jace found herself in her bathroom. She turned on the hot water and breathed the steam in deeply. With her clothes still on Jace stepped under the scalding waterfall and sat down, the water pounding on her head.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
�Jace?� Donovan called as he opened the door, Kalinda was right behind him.
Kalinda had seen Jace run out of the hotel. Immediately after she left Kalinda took Jace�s forgotten car and drove to East Coast Ink. She and Donovan had searched everywhere they could think of to find Jace. They�d run out of places and ended up at the house.
�I�m gonna go check her room,� Kalinda mumbled. Faintly she could hear the shower running. Kalinda opened the bathroom door. �Donovan!� she yelled as she shut the freezing cold water off. �Jace? Jace, hunny look at me.� Kalinda tried to get Jace to open her eyes.
�Shit. Help me get her wet clothes off.� Donovan started pulling Jace�s soaked tank top over her head. Her skin had a sickly blue tint to it. �Go pull the covers down on the bed.� He picked Jace�s cold, wet body and carried her into her bedroom. As gently as possible Donovan set her down on the bed. He and Kalinda pulled the covers tightly around her. �Lay down with her. I�m gonna call the doctor�or something.�
Kalinda did as instructed as stripped down to her bra and panties before getting under the covers next to Jace�s freezing cold body. She felt something hot and wet on her cheeks and realized she�d been crying.
Donovan returned and took off everything but his boxers. He slid into the bed on the other side of Jace.
�What�d the doctor say?� Kalinda asked quietly.
�We need to get her body temperature back up. Someone�s got to stay with her at all times to make sure she�s doing okay. There�s really nothing else we can do right now. The doctor didn�t think it sounded serious enough to take her to the hospital.�
Kalinda sighed. �I wonder what happened in there.�
�I don�t know. She�s never done this before.�
�Do you think Billy made her do it?�
�Was she up there long enough for them to say anything?�
�Not really.� She sighed again. �What happened Jace?� she whispered in Jace�s ear.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning Kalinda woke to someone knocking on the door. She opened her eyes in time to see Donovan pull on his jeans and leave the room.
Kalinda could only hear bits and pieces of the conversation.
�See�.Jace�.� she didn�t know who that was.
�No�.not well,� that was Donovan.
Kalinda couldn�t understand anymore but whoever it was, was there for a few minutes. Donovan wouldn�t let them see Jace. She guessed it was a member of Good Charlotte.
�Do you want me to get you anything?� Donovan asked once he was back in the room.
Kalinda shook her head. �Well maybe another blanket. She�s still a little cold.�
He nodded and left the room again. When Donovan returned he had two blankets. �Just in case,� he shrugged. �She does seem to be holding temperature, though.�
�That�s good right?�
�Very.� He got back in the bed and softly kissed Jace�s cheek.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Billy,
I�ve been gone for three hours, twenty-seven minutes and some odd seconds. I would have stayed to see you again but my heart hurts too much. I didn�t want to leave you, you have to know that. If I could have I would have stayed forever.
You probably hate me. I understand if you do. I hate me too. According to mom �this is for the best.� But she�s always been full of shit.
Momma and Daddy have been arguing the entire way. I don�t know if I�m gonna be able to stand this all the way to Montana.
Remember when I was little I�d always sneak over to your house when they fought? I wish I could right now. But there�s no escape. Yes there is, sleep. But alas sleep will not come easily. I�m going to try, though.
I love you
Jace
Billy folded the letter and put it back in it�s envelope. He opened the next one and started reading.
Billy,
Well Montana sucks balls. Granny Morgan seems fine. They�ve got her on a lot of pills though. It�s quite amusing.
Granny thinks that the cure for everything is a Bloody Mary. I think they�re pretty good. I had a head ache this morning and she made me drink one. Silly old woman.
I miss you.
Granny grew up in Louisiana. I wish I�d known her before now. She always calls me Ba-bay. Constantly she tells me about the nice boy at the market. He�s�odd. Maybe because he�s not you.
I don�t know. But then when do I ever?
I love you
Jace
~*~*~*~*~*~
�Wakey, wakey. But sorry no eggs and bakey.�
Donovan slowly opened his eyes to see Jace�s bright violet eyes close to his.
�Shhh,� she held a finger to her lips.
�How long have you been awake?� he asked.
�A few minutes. What happened?�
�We don�t know. We came home and you were sitting under the shower, freezing water pouring on your head.�
�It was hot when I started, if that makes a difference.�
Donovan pulled Jace closer to him. �I swear if you ever do that again, I�ll kick you fucking ass, Jace.�
Jace smiled and kissed the tip of his nose. �I promise.� She rolled over to face Kalinda and lightly squeezed her nose. �Honk.�
Kalinda�s eyes opened one at a time. �Do that again and I�ll push you out of the bed.� She closed her eyes.
Jace bit her lower lip as she did it again.
�I swear on my momma�s grave, Jace.�
�Your momma is still alive. Come on, wake up.�
�No. Wait you�re awake!� Kalinda�s eyes opened quickly.
�Duh.� Jace smiled.
�Do you want me to get you anything?�
�Yes. A Bloody Mary.�
Kalinda cocked an eyebrow.
�I�ll get it,� Donovan laughed. �Get dressed, Jace.�
�Why am I naked between the two of you? Never mind, I don�t wanna know.� Jace wrapped herself in one of the blankets and walked over to her dresser, pulling out clean clothes.
�What happened in the hotel?� Kalinda asked timidly.
Jace sighed heavily. �I saw Billy.�
�Isn�t that good?�
�Not when I saw how much pain I�d caused him in his eyes.� Jace put on her bra and panties and dropped the blanket. She opened the closet and pulled out a baggy pair of jeans. �It felt like I was leaving all over again.�
�Jace, you did leave.�
Jace sighed again and pulled a shirt over her head.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Billy,
Momma and Daddy finally got a divorce. She�s gone. The funny thing is I don�t even miss her. It�s so�quiet. I�m not use to it.
Daddy has full custody of me. That�s a good thing. But I�m home with just Granny most of the time. You�d like her. But she�d probably try to get you to eat the entire consumable contents of the kitchen.
Speaking of Granny, she�s doing so much better. Because she is she makes lots of Bloody Mary�s. But I�m not complaining. I think I�m starting to have alcoholic tendencies. Is that okay when you�re barely 18?
I got accepted to UCLA. Daddy�s so proud. I start in the fall. I don�t even know what I�m gonna major in yet. I�m just happy I made it.
I miss you so much.
I love you
Jace
~*~*~*~*~*~
Donovan handed Jace a Bloody Mary as she sat down on the couch.
Jace took a sip and stood. �It�s not got enough Tabasco. This is weak. God damn I sound like Granny.�
Donovan laughed. �I could have put in an entire bottle and you�d still think it was weak.�
�Weren�t you suppose to call your granny today?� Kalinda asked.
Jace�s eyes widened. �Oh yeah.� She picked up the phone and dialed quickly. �I swear I�m going to die before she does. HI Granny! No I just called to see how you were doing. That�s good. Yes I�m drinking one right now. No Donovan didn�t put in enough Tabasco. Yes Granny. Okay. Bye.� Jace laughed and shook her head as she hung up. �I swear that woman is crazy.�
�Benji came by to talk to you,� Donovan said it quickly.
�Did he leave a message or anything?�
�He left a phone number and said to call him.�
Jace nodded and held her hand out for the number.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Billy,
California is awesome. I met a really nice guy name Donovan. Well first I met his sister, Kalinda. It�s a pretty name, isn�t it?
I�m going to move in with them next week.
Donovan is starting a tattoo parlor. He said I get to name it. Ah, the things I could have come up with. But I decided to call it East Coast Ink. A little taste of home on the west coast.
I think you�d like Donovan. He�s kinda like a big brother. Nothing romantic, I promise.
I also met this crazy ass guy name Bullet. He�s a friend of Donovan. He kinda reminds me of a mix of Paul and Benji. Sounds silly I know, but that�s what I think of when I think of him.
I wish you could see the sun set here. It�s beautiful.
Granny�s doing really well. And I�m now addicted to Bloody Mary�s but no one around here uses enough Tabasco sauce. Oh well I can always add it. And I usually do.
I love you
Jace
~*~*~*~*~*~
�Bye,� Jace hung up the phone. She�s been talking to Benji for an hour, although he made it seem more like three days.
Giving up on getting anything out of the day, Jace made another Bloody Mary and sat on her balcony.
�How are you feeling?� Donovan asked, sitting across from her.
�Like an alcoholic. But then I have been drinking these things since I was seventeen. Maybe I need to find a new drink.�
�Jace, that�s not what I mean.�
�Granny wants me to come visit her soon. I think I�m going to. I�m thinking about leaving tomorrow and staying until next Friday.�
�But the concert is tomorrow.�
�Yeah about that. You can have my ticket if you want. If I go it�ll only create more drama and I�ve had enough drama for a while.�
�Maybe you should go back and talk to him. I�ll drive you over there now, if you want.�
�I think I�m going to go for a walk along the beach. I haven�t done that for a while.� Jace stood, taking her Bloody Mary with her.
Donovan rested his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Jace really needed to talk to Billy. He stood and walked into Kalinda�s room. Donovan stood in the door way as she finished her phone conversation. �Who was that?�
�Billy. I figure if she won�t talk to him. I will. He wants to see her.�
�Call him back and tell him to go to the beach in front of the house. Jace just went for a walk.�
Kalinda smiled and did so. Her smile grew wider after she�s hung up the phone. �He�s leaving now. She�s gonna hate us. You realize that, right?�
Donovan nodded. �She�ll get over it.�
~*~*~*~*~
Jace carried her sandals in her hand as she walked along the water�s edge. Shivering slightly every time the water hit her feet. Tired of walking Jace sat down in the sand a few yards away. She took another drink of her Bloody Mary before setting it next to her.
The sun was beginning to set.
�It�s beautiful, isn�t it?�
She froze. Billy.
Billy sat down next to her and stared out at the water.
Run away. Her mind screamed. But she couldn�t move. He was so close.
�I read your letters.�
Jace couldn�t speak. She was doing good to remember to breathe.
�I�m sorry about your parents.�
She couldn�t help it and laughed. �I wanted them to divorce, remember?�
He nodded.
Jace fell back in the sand and used her sandals as a pillow. Run.
Billy turned and rested a hand on her other side. She was pinned beneath him. �Why didn�t you send them?�
�I�m scared.�
�Of me?�
Jace shook her head, then nodded. �I don�t know.�
He turned again, he was facing her.
Run.
�I really missed you, Jace.�
RUN.
Billy looked down at her then looked away.
RUN GOD DAMN IT. Jace took a deep breath. �I�m sorry.�
He nodded.
WHY AREN�T YOU RUNNING? YOU�LL HURT HIM AGAIN. �Shut up!�
�I didn�t say anything!� Billy looked startled.
�Not you. Myself.�
�You really shouldn�t do that, Jace.�
�I need to get back to the house.� She sat up.
�Wait. Please don�t leave.�
SEE YOU HURT HIM. �I won�t.� It was that simple.
�I�I still love you.�
�How? I treated you like shit.�
Billy nodded again.
�Thanks.�
He shrugged. �It could have been worse.�
�No it couldn�t.�
�Yeah it could. You could have just left and not told me at all.�
�I thought about it. But I couldn�t. I had to see you one more time.� Jace took a gulp of her Bloody Mary. She sighed. �Remember the first day of kindergarten?�
Billy laughed. Damn it was good to hear him laugh. �Your mom made you wear that frilly pink dress.�
�Yeah well your mom made you wear a suit.�
�It wasn�t near as bas as that dress.�
�Fuck you, Billy,� Jace laughed.
He smiled and leaned closed to her. �You have.�
Jace�s mouth opened wide and she looked around like someone would hear.
Billy laughed. �There�s no one here, Jace.�
She couldn�t form words for a few minutes. �I can�t believe you just said that.�
He laughed again and shook his head.
With out thinking Jace reached out and ran her thumb over his bottom lip to feel his lip ring.
�What are you doing?� he whispered against her thumb.
She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. �Sorry. I wasn�t thinking.� Jace pulled her hand back and rested it on her stomach.
Slowly, Billy licked his lips.
Why�d he have to do that? She looked away, down the beach.
�What happened�at the hotel?�
Jace sighed again. Why�d she always sigh? �I panicked.�
�Why? It�s just me.�
�I saw the hurt in your eyes when you looked at me. The pain that I put you through.�
�It did hurt, Jace. I won�t lie and say it didn�t.�
�I�m sorry.�
Billy shrugged. �It�s not like you can go back and redo it.�
�I wish I could. I would have moved in with you like you wanted me to. Benji and I probably would have ended up killing each other, but at least I wouldn�t have hurt you.�
He reminded silent.
Sighing again, Jace laid back down in the sun warmed sand. THERE ARE YOU HAPPY? YOU HURT HIM. �I really should get back to the house. Donovan�s probably called a search party.�
�Probably not. Kalinda called me and told me where you�d be.�
�I should have realized that when you found me. Go me, Captain Obvious.�
�Are you coming to the show tomorrow?�
�I don�t know.�
�Either you know or you don�t, Jace. There is no in-between.�
�I might fly out to Granny�s tomorrow morning.� YEAH THAT�S GONNA MAKE UP FOR BREAKING HIS HEART. LEAVE AGAIN.
�Oh.�
SEE? �You could come with me.� Where the hell did that come from?
�I can�t. The tour.�
�Oh yeah.�
�But you could come with me.�
�No I couldn�t.�
�Why not?�
DAMN IT YOU HURT HIM AGAIN! �I�d probably hurt you again.�
Billy sighed and rested his arm on her knee, then his chin on his arm. He always did that when they were younger. �No you won�t.�
�How could you know?�
�Because you�re trying so hard not too. And you didn�t even mean to the first time. It�s me, Jace. Just me. I�ve been hurt before and I�ll be hurt again, but I still want you around.�
Jace closed her eyes. She could feel Billy next to her, like his arm on her knee somehow connected their nerves. It felt like they�d never parted. Like it was all just some drug induced nightmare. �Damn this sucks,� Jace heard herself whisper.
�What does?�
�This. Thinking every time I take a breath when you�re around it�ll somehow cause you pain.�
This time Billy sighed. �Forget it.� He stood and started walking away.
�Wait!� Jace quickly started running after him, leaving her sandals and drink in the sand. It was hard to catch him, Billy�s legs were much longer than hers. But when she did catch up to his she grabbed his arm.
�I can�t do this, Jace. I won�t fucking break!� he was yelling at her.
Jace lowered her head and stared at the sand at their feet. Billy had never yelled at her before. �I�m sorry,� she mumbled.
�I need to get back to the hotel.� Billy turned and walked away.
Jace slowly walked back to her drink and sandals. She gulped down the last half of her Bloody Mary and started for the house.
�Is everything good now?� Kalinda asked cheerily as Jace walked through the door.
�No. Everything sucks.� Jace slammed her bedroom door and put in one of her Rob Zombie CDs, turning it up as loud as she could.
�Well that didn�t go well, apparently,� Donovan mumbled.
Jace stuck her head out her door. �Donovan, I�m getting a tattoo tomorrow. Do you want to do it?�
�Sure,� he said slowly. �What of?�
�I�ll show you tomorrow.� She slammed her door again.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Jace plopped down in Donovan�s chair.
�Okay Jace I need you to tell me what I�m doing.� Donovan took a last sip of his drink before setting it aside.
She sighed. �I want you to fill in my star.�
�How?�
�Make it a black and red nautical star. I�ve been thinking and the outline is thin enough for it to still look okay.�
�Alright. Let me get a couple things ready. Did you eat something?�
Jace nodded. �Yes.� The first time Jace had gotten a tattoo she�d blacked out from low blood sugar.
Donovan pulled out a couple things before walking out of the room to get the necessary pattern.
Bullet sat down in front of her.
�What?� Jace asked.
�Are you gonna tell me what happened last night to upset you so much? Do I need to take somebody out?�
Despite herself, she smiled. �Hurt him and I�ll kick your ass, even if you are bigger than me. Why? What�d they tell you?�
�That you met that Billy guy. And when you got home you announced you were getting a tattoo and locked yourself in your room listening to devil music.�
�A � I locked myself in my room first. B � I was listening to Rob Zombie. And C � Rob Zombie is not devil music.�
�And four � what�d Billy do to you?�
�Don�t worry about it. I�m over it all and things are going to get back to normal, how it was before all this drama shit.�
�That�s good, because I really wasn�t in the mood to kick anybody�s punk band ass.�
Jace leaned forward and kissed Bullet�s cheek. �Thank you.�
He smiled. �I�ve got an appointment. But if you need me scream and I�ll come running.� Bullet kissed the top of her head and left the room.
Donovan sat back down behind Jace and put things in order. �Hold still so I can put the stencil over it.�
She did so and didn�t move again until Donovan told her to lean into the chair of the seat.
The familiar buzz kicked in and Jace bit her bottom lip as he started.
�Are you okay?� he asked.
�I�m fine.�
A little over an hour later Donovan finished and handed Jace a mirror while he held one behind her tattoo.
�Do you like it?� he asked.
Jace smiled. �Yes. How much?�
Donovan shook his head. �I�ve never made you pay for a tattoo before and I don�t plan on making you pay for one now.�
�Thanks. When we get home I�ll make you whatever you want for dinner. Promise.�
He smiled. �Anything?�
�As long as I can make it.�
�I want�hmmm�I don�t know but when I figure it out I�ll let you know.�
�Well give me enough time to go shopping. And make sure I can make it.�
�I will.� Donovan smiled.
Jace looked at her tattoo once more before going into the front room.
She heard the door open, but didn�t bother to look up.
�Benji said you weren�t doing well yesterday. Are you okay?�
Jace glanced up at Joel. �I�m fine.�
�Did you just get a tattoo done?�
She nodded. �Look, I�m working. And as much as I would love to bull shit my way around this entire conversation. What are you doing here?�
�What�d you do to Billy last night?�
�For fucks sake! I didn�t do a God damned thing to Billy. Did he tell you I did something?�
�No. But he�s been acting really distant since last night.�
�So basically Billy�s got PMS and it�s my fault. Whatever. I don�t have time for this I have a paying customer in five minutes. So if you�ll excuse me I need to get a few things ready.� Jace turned and walked to into the room she and Kalinda did piercings in.
Joel followed her. �Then tell me what did happen.�
�Does it really matter to you? Seriously, Joel. If I did tell you what really happened would you even listen, or just twist it around until it suited what you wanted to hear?�
He stood silent, looking at her.
�Yeah, that�s what I thought.�
�What happened to you, Jace? You never use to be like this.�
�Things change. Sorry.�
The front door opened.
�Come on back. I just need to get rid of something,� Jace shouted. �It�s time for you to leave now, Joel.�
Joel shook his head and left.
�Who was that?� the man asked.
�My past, or at least part of it. Do you still want the same thing we talked about?� Jace started getting things ready.
�Yeah.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jace tucked the money in her pocket.
�And your tip.� He handed her a fifty dollar bill.
She chuckled. �Aw, just because I�m the last one to come in contact your little friend for a couple weeks doesn�t mean you have to give me that much.�
�But you�ll take it anyway.� He smiled.
�Of course. I�m not a fool.�
The man smiled once more before leaving the shop.
�Damn I love the tips from men who get their dicks pierced.� Jace sat down next to Bullet on one of the three black leather couches.
�How much?�
�Fifty.�
�Damn. Maybe I should become a piercer.�
�Naw. No man would give you fifty bucks just for sticking a needle in their dick. Aw, how great it is to be female.�
�You sound like your old self again.�
�I am. Oh it�s fabalis to be a snarky bitch again.�
Bullet rested his arm on the back of the couch and smiled as Jace leaned into him. �Well I am personally happy to have the old Jace Donovan back.�
She smiled out of the corner of her mouth. �I always knew you loved me.�
�Sum-en like that.�
�I�m gonna get some lunch. Want me to bring you back something?�
�Yeah. Just get me a burger or something.� He handed her ten dollars. �And something to drink.�
�Got it.� Jace wondered back to Donovan�s room and stuck her head in. �Want me to grab you some food while I�m out?�
�Get me what ever you�re getting Bull,� Donovan answered not looking up.
�Sure. I�ve got my phone. I don�t have any appointments for a few hours but if someone comes in call me and I�ll hurry back.�
Donovan nodded.
�I�ll be back in a few.� Jace smiled at Bullet on her way out.
Jace stopped her car in front of a local diner. She opened the door and slid up to the counter.
�Hi Jace,� the girl behind the counter smiled.
�Hi Jynx. Can I get the usual?�
The girl smiled. �Give me a couple minutes to get everything together.�
Jace sat down at the counter at drummed her fingers on the counter top.
Someone�s hand landed on top of hers. �Please stop.�
Jace looked up at him. �Sorry it�s a habit.�
He held out his hand. �Jeremiah Ran-�
�Jeremiah Rangel. I know. Jace Donovan.� She shook his hand.
�Tony told me about you.�
�Was it good or bad?�
�He told me you were easy on the eyes.�
Jace smiled. �That�s good.�
�He also said something along the lines of Benji doesn�t like you, but��
�Do you know why Benji doesn�t like me?�
Jeremiah shook his head.
�That�s surprising. Have they told you anything about a girl named Jace Morgan?�
Jeremiah nodded.
�That�s me. The evil bitch in the flesh.�
�I don�t think you�re an evil bitch. You did what you had to do.�
�Someone who actually understands. And, sorry, but I am a bitch.�
He smiled. �You can�t be all that bad.�
�She�s not.� Jynx pushed a couple buttons on the cash resister. �Twenty thirty three.�
Jace handed her twenty-five dollars. �Keep the change.�
�Thanks. Your food should be done in ten minutes.�
�How much food do you plan on eating?� Jeremiah laughed.
�I�m only getting a burger. But my two male counterparts, however, are both getting a burger and fires. I can hear their arteries slamming shut already.�
He laughed again.
The two talked for several more minutes before Jynx handed Jace two bags of food. �Thanks Jynx. Bye Jeremiah, it was nice meeting you.� She smiled at him before walking out to her car.
�Okay I�ve got food for the both of you. And I met a lovely rock star at the diner.� Jace handed Bullet a burger and fries.
�Who?� Donovan asked as he went through the bag to find his food.
�Jeremiah Rangel from Mest. Imagine my surprise when he told me I�m not an evil bitch. He even knew about everything.�
Bullet nodded. �I never thought you were an evil bitch.�
�Thanks.� Jace sat down with her burger and began eating slowly. �Where�s Kalinda?�
�She went shopping. All this stress is getting to her,� Donovan laughed.
Jace shook her head. �What stress? She just wants an excuse to go shopping.�
�Exactly.�
�Did anyone schedule while I was gone?�
�No. But some guy called for you. Didn�t leave his name though.�
�Five bucks says it was Billy related.� Jace took a drink of Bullet�s Pepsi.
�Probably.� Donovan crumpled his burger wrapper into a ball and threw it at the trash basket. He made it in.
Jace leaned over and picked up the ringing phone. �East Coast Ink, this is Jace.�
�I need to talk to you.�
�Hi Billy. Okay, talk.�
�In person, Jace.�
�Fine. Where?�
�Your house.�
�You don�t know how to get to my house, Billy.�
�Benji told me how to get there. I�ll meet you in ten minutes.� Click.
�Damn you all,� Jace muttered. �I�m expected to be home in ten minutes. So I guess I�ll see you later.� She stood and walked out the door.
�How good are you at piercings?� Donovan asked Bullet.
Bullet shook his head. �You might wanna call Kalinda.�
Donovan nodded.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Never before had Jace not wanted to pull into her own driveway. Giving up she got out of the car the same time Billy pulled up. �Damn.� Jace walked up the stairs and unlocked the front door. �Do you want anything to drink?� she yelled as Billy came in the front door.
�No,� he answered.
Jace fixed herself a Bloody Mary, adding more vodka then she really needed to. She sighed as she sat down in a chair across from Billy.
�I�m sorry for last night.�
�You had a point.� Jace shrugged and took a sip.
�I didn�t need to be so rude about it.�
�Billy, I�ve been through much worse.�
�Not caused by me.�
�I�m past it. I really am.�
�Why are you so��
�Blunt? Bitchy? Me?�
Billy sighed. �Benji was right. This was a waste of time.�
�Whatever. I really don�t know what you were expecting. Last night you complained because I was too�emotional, for lack of a better word. And now you�re mad because I�m not emotional enough. I�m really confused Billy. Maybe you should just tell me what the fuck you wanted out of this and we�ll go from there.�
�All I want to do is put the past behind us. I still love you Jace.�
That wasn�t what Jace expected to hear. �I�� she sighed. �For four years I�ve regretted leaving the way I did. But you know me. I can�t do the tearful good bye thing. I did what I thought I had to do. I�m sorry I did it, but, like you said last night, I can�t change it.�
�Would it kill you just to say it?�
�Probably. Either that or you�ll disappear and this will have been just some demented dream.�
Billy took her hands in his. �But it�s not. I�m here and I�m not leaving.�
Something fell off the couch with a loud thud.
Jace jumped. As she did Billy, instinctively, pulled her into his lap.
�It was just a book,� he whispered into her ear.
She was concentrating on catching her breath.
Billy chuckled and held on to her tighter. �Remember when we use to watch scary movies? This is how we were for most of it.�
Jace smiled.
�Can you do me a favor, Jace?�
She nodded.
�Can we act like it never happened?�
Jace nodded again. �But it did.�
�Then can we just ignore it?�
�I suppose.�
Billy kissed her.
She rested her forehead against his. �What was that for?�
�I figure if it never happened, that�s what�d we�d be doing.�
Jace kissed him slowly. Taking her time. It was too precious a moment to rush.
When she pulled back she smiled. �Billy, we�d be doing much more than kissing.�
He laughed. �Yeah. But I figured you would have killed me if I�d tried anything else at this point.�
�Probably not.�
Billy�s cell phone rang. �Hello? Yeah I�m on my way.� He hung up and kissed Jace again.
�You have to leave, don�t you.�
�Yes, but you�re coming to this show, right?�
Jace nodded. �I�ll come. Promise.�
�I�ll give the guards your name. When you get there, come find me.�
�Why?�
�So I know you didn�t leave again.�
�Kalinda�s gonna be with me.�
�Good. That�s even more insurance you�ll be there.�
�Just remember to leave the name Jace Donovan, not Morgan.�
Billy smiled and kissed her once more. �I have to go.�
Jace got off his lap and walked him to the door. �I�ll come this time, I swear on my Bloody Mary.� She held up her glass for effect.
Billy was opening his car door when Jace�s words made him pause.
�I love you, too.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
�Okay so we�re still going to the concert, right?� Kalinda had asked the same question five times in the last half hour.
�Yes. And remind me when I get there to get backstage and find Billy.� Jace looked at her refection in Kalinda�s full length mirror.
�You look hot, don�t worry.�
Slowly, Jace�s eyes traveled from her tight fitting gray spaghetti strapped tank top to her extremely low riding dark blue jeans, then back up to her hair and make up. �Thanks.�
�We�re still going, right?�
Jace laughed and headed for the front door. �Come on or I�ll leave you.�
Jace parked her car as close to the venue as possible. She and Kalinda linked arms and walked up to the ticket takers.
�Let�s go backstage now,� Kalinda was really excited. Truth be told, so was Jace. It was the first time either of them had been to a Good Charlotte concert. Other bands playing at the outdoor venue were Mest, Simple Plan, New Found Glory, The Used, and several other bands, local and other wise.
Jace smiled at the man standing in front of the gate to get back stage. �I�m Jace Donovan.�
He looked at her for a minute before opening the gate and letting the two in.
The two easily found Good Charlotte�s dressing room.
Jace knocked on the door and waited.
The door opened and Benji stood on the other side.
Jace pushed Kalinda towards him. �Here talk to each other.�
Jace found Billy talking to some magazine reporter. Calmly she sat down next to him.
Billy smiled at her and rested his hand on her thigh.
�And who is this?� the reporter asked.
�My girlfriend, Jace Donovan,� Billy smiled.