Disclaimer: I do not own I am Number Four. This is the property of Pittacus Lore (James Frey and Jobie Hughes)

A/N: Ok, this is an early thanksgiving present. Scars is still being worked on. I will finish it soonish. This and another 50 sentences is going to be my last update. The quarter is ending soon and I should really start my papers. I have one more part after this and then it'll be the end of the Need You Know Arc. The characters may seem a little out of character. This is the un-beta version, so please ignore any grammar mistakes I know I have. Also, I don't own anything. =(

John

You're know you've failed at life when you're sitting at a bar alone, getting wasted over a girl who dumped you a month ago. I stared into my shot glass and warm amber liquid gazed back at me. I shouldn't be alone right now on a Friday night. I should be with Sam and Logan, knocking back drinks, flirting with girls and being manly men. But instead, Sam was working on his computer program trying to get it done and Logan was on a date. What happen to bros before hoes? I thought knocking back the shot and letting Henri fill my glass again.

I rubbed my nose with my left hand and peeked at the simple wristwatch. It was a fairly expensive watch Jane brought me on my birthday. My stomach lurched at the mention of my ex-girlfriend but I ignored it, blaming it on the alcohol. It's all alcohol's fault, I thought sarcastically as I swished my glass around. Alcohol is the reason and answer for all that's bad in the world. I must be extra cynical today. The annoying bell on top of the door ring and out of habit I glanced over.

For a second, I thought it was Jane, entering in with her usual flair. Guys would literally turned to watch her walk, swishing her curvy but lithe hips and flashing the stunning smile that warms almost everyone's heart. But she would only glance around the room looking for me and zeroing in.

"John!" I jumped and groaned, cradling my face in my hands, trying to wipe the stupid glazed expression I was probably wearing. What do you call a man who's still pinning over his ex-girlfriend? Sad. Just sad. If you look up sad in the dictionary, a picture of me would be there. "Don't scare my customer." Henri chastised as he gave me a stern stare before walking to the other side of the bar to help the young woman who entered. I smiled at her as an apology before looking back at my watch, thinking about the time before Jane influenced my daily life. It was almost impossible to recall a time where she wasn't there. Instead of hurting my dull brain, I thought about how we first met. Recalling the memory was so easy, it was like breathing.

"She likes you."

"Oh dear god." I said as I turned around to see a sober Logan standing behind me. "Can't a guy take a piss without being followed?" I asked before stepping into the bathroom. Logan didn't get the message and followed me in. "Um… Logan, I think I can go by myself. I'm a big boy now. And weren't you passed out on Henri's couch?"

"Jane likes you. She can't stop looking at you for the whole night." It was Logan's twenty-second birthday so we rented out Henri's bar and had ourselves a party. I didn't think Logan would invite Jane Lawrence, the girl I've might have a crush on since we ran in to each other at the coffee shop. I rolled my eyes at his comment and moved to the sink to wash my hands. "Shouldn't you do that after you pee?"

"I am not going to pee in front of you." I replied bluntly. "Also, you're lying. She does not like me. We barely talked the whole night." Of course, I was avoiding her a bit. Jane is an intimating girl with both brains and looks. She's one of the smartest girls on campus who was always featured on the school newspaper. I was just a nerdy partial scholarship kid who still needs to work his butt off. "Anyways, why would she like me?"

"Well, let's see you're funny." Logan listed with his 'you-know-I'm-right' smile that I hate. "You're charming to an extent. You can hold a conversation with her if you talk to her. You're not bad on the eyes." Logan said giving me a look.

"Hey buddy, I don't swing that way." I joked, shoving him to the exit. "Now leave so I can pee in peace." Logan's laugh ricocheted off the tiles of the bathroom as he left. Even if everything he says is true – which is isn't except maybe the smart comment – I still don't have the courage to talk to her. She's Jane Lawrence, why would she want to talk to John Smith? She could get any guy. Ryan Powell is a picture perfect match for her.

After I finished my business in the restroom, the party was slowly winding down. Only Sam, Logan, Emily and Jane were out there, taking shots and playing I Never. Henri must have left to go home to his wife, leaving me the key to close up and make sure everything is intact. Everyone was in different state of sober. Emily was passed out, leaning against Sam's shoulder. Logan and Jane were still playing, while Sam was sadly trapped with a hot girl leaning against him. Poor guy. Not.

"I never…" Jane started as she stared at her amber cup and then looked up at me. She had a sort of predator look in her eyes but it was probably the alcohol and lighting. Still, I felt a shiver travel down my spine. "Dated a blond." Did she just lick her lips? Oh dear god, I thought as I turned away and check to make sure the alcohol was locked up. Logan chuckled and took his shot proudly."Johnny, come play!" Jane said, waving me over.

I tried to stay nonchalant even though my heart was pounding rapidly in my chest as I walked over. "Ok, party's over." I said, not feel bad being the bad guy for once. Everyone was too tired or wasted to disagree with me and we all moved sluggishly towards the door. Grabbing my jacket, I glanced around checking everything was clean up and nothing broken, I moved out and locked Henri's bar. Sam had already escorted Emily away in a taxi. Logan and Jane stood there at the end of the corner as I slide the key in. They were whispering to each other about something. "So, birthday boy, do you think you're sober enough to walk home or should I hail a cab for you?" I asked to announce my arrival.

Logan chuckled and shook his head. "I'm fine but would you be a dear and escort Jane home? You both live near the university." Bastard, I thought in my head before nodding it with a smile. I gently took her bare forearm, ignoring how soft her skin felt against mine and lead her to the main street. But not before looking back at Logan, who was waving at us before stumbling towards the other way, whistling some unfamiliar tone.

"You don't have to do this." Jane said after I helped her into the taxi and it pulled away from the curb. You could have told me that before I got into the car, I thought but held my tongue. "I know you don't like me." She sound so sad and weak I couldn't stop myself from reach over and pulling her close, hoping my heat would comfort her. She snuggled her face into the crook of my neck, softly breathing in and out, tickling me. I tried to ignore her body pressed firmly and gently against mine and kept my eyes on the flickering landscape. "You're a lot like him."

"Him who?" I asked without thinking. Maybe it was the alcohol or the soothing rocking of the car, or maybe she didn't care but Jane started talking.

"My older brother." I blinked and tore my eyes away from the streaking lights of the city into the dark hazel eyes of the beauty beside me. She was lost in a memory; it wasn't hard to figure out. Her delicate lips were turned down in a sad expression and I yearned to wipe it away. "My parents divorced when I was ten. My dad and my brother left me and my mom." What can I say to her? I'm sorry? No, it would just be insincere and right now Jane didn't want insincere.

I wasn't thinking but I pressed my lips against hers, tasting the alcohol on her lips with a tinge of sadness. Her lips were soft and pliable, moving lightly against mine in an enchanting way. I didn't know at that moment but I was hooked badly. I reached up and cupped the back of her neck, pulling her closer and drinking in the sadness. The car jerked forward to a painful stop and I nearly hit my head against the front seat. "Fuck…" I muttered as I sat up and stared outside.

Jane laughed in my ears and I smiled back. "Call me." She whispered against my lips before I was able to lean forward and kiss her again, she disappeared out the door and up a modest apartment. Reaching into my jacket, I found a crumbled napkin with her number and told the cabbie to drive on.

"Hey stranger." I turned, forcefully ripped back to the present and stared at the blonde beauty beside me. She was stunning with mile long legs, heart shaped face and alluring blue eyes. I smiled back as she brought her drink over and slide into the barstool beside me, crossing her legs and unconsciously drawing every man's eyes to her. "What's with the long face?"

"My friends ditched me." I answered truthfully before looking away from her legs, ashamed at myself. One pretty girl and I am practically drooling. "I've been bad company lately. You can ask Henri." Henri grunted but didn't say anything. We spoke for a bit. I learned her name is Sarah. She's new in town, moving to the city to meet some local artists and further her career. I could she loves whatever she's doing by the gleam in her eyes and how animated she spoke about it. It's refreshing from the dingy gloom that the usual patrons of Henri's bar brought with them.

"Something's bothering you." I tilted my head in confusion and silently urged her to continue. Instead, Sarah took a sip from her drink and studied me from the corner of her eyes. "You have this look in your eyes that looked just like my boyfriend's when I walked out on him." Bull's eye, I thought before turning away and taking my shot, allowing the liquid to burn my throat and hold the words back from spilling out.

"There's this girl." I started before realizing how late that sounds. There's always a girl if it's a bad problem. So instead I started talking about the program in England, how an internship just accepted me and everything was paid for. It's an opportunity of a lifetime and people constantly told me I would be a fool to let it go. "I told her about it and she told me this, our relationship, needed to stop." Sarah didn't say anything for a bit before chuckling, somehow finding humor in my situation.

"So it's an opportunity of a lifetime verse a girl who you are hopelessly in love with." That's a pretty accurate summary. "Johnny, I am going to tell you a story. Now listen closely because I'm not going to repeat myself." I stared into her sapphire blue eyes and nodded my head, straining to hear every bit of her hypnotic voice.

"There was once a girl who had a dream, to be famous, to see her name in lights on billboards, to have adoring fans scream out her name. But she was in love with a boy; a simple boy who just wanted to settle down, having a family and nothing else. She wanted both soo badly but she realized if she clung to both desperately, neither was going to come true. So, she let him go. The boy she love, she let him go and went to the city to chase her dream." Sarah hesitated for a second before continue. "The girl though wasn't leaving her love behind; she just wanted him to follow her. She wanted him to fight for her love and show her how much she meant to him. She wanted him to try." Sarah looked at me and a sad smile bloomed on her face that was simply mesmerizing. I must have a thing for girls with a sad past. "At least, that's what I wanted."

"And the ending?" I asked in a husky voice.

"He's – "

"Sarah!" The door of Henri's bar shot open, revealing a young man with dark brown hair, ruffled jacket and a determined expression. Sarah's mouth opened slightly, not sure if the man in front of her was real. He smiled at her and the bar fell silent as we watched this movie of two lovers. "Thank god, I found you." He whispered, sighing in relief.

Sarah smiled back and slide off the barstool. She placed her cool hand against my forearm and leaned in close, whispering into my ear. "John, I could have easily fallen in love with you." She confessed and I turned, stared into her impossibly blue eyes and I knew I could have too. If I hadn't met Jane, I could have easily fallen in love with the girl with easy blue eyes, shining blond hair and wise words. But as she walked towards the young man, saying Mark in a loving tone, and a glint of an engagement ring caught my eye, falling for Sarah probably wasn't a good idea.

"Go walk that alcohol out of your system." Henri ordered me as he shoved me towards the door. I nodded my head and allowed my feet to take me wherever they wanted. Sarah's story replayed in my head over and over again. She wanted him to try. Do you want me to try too Jane? I reached into my pocket and dialed the number like I've done numerous times over the past months. I counted the rings, already knowing an answer machine would greet me like it has done in the past.

"Hi, this is Jane's answering machine. I'm not in right now so leave me a message and I'll try to get back to you! *BEEP*" Even if it was a recording of her voice, it tugged at my heart.

"Jane…"

A/N2: One more and then I'll continue the high school arc during my winter break.