Disclaimer: Leave Out All The Rest belongs to Linkin Park. Not me.
'Leave Out All the Rest'
Annie's P.O.V:
I couldn't help but smile, as I heard Nick promising my brother he'd take care of us both. It was a nice feeling. To finally be able to lean on someone, it was like a huge load had been lifted off my shoulders and I felt like I could fly.
"Thank you for this, Nick." I whispered in a broken voice.
He just smiled at me, and replied, "C'mon...we better hope we can flag down a car…"
"Yeah," he muttered. I shouldered the bags this time, as he was carrying Victor.
We were out of Burnaby for sure. It was the outskirts of the city, and I was beginning to wonder if we were going to find anyone this late at night, driving by…
I stole a glance at Nick, as we walked on tirelessly.
I dreamed I was missing, and you were so scared
But no one would listen, because no one cared.
And after my dreaming, I woke with this fear…
What am I leaving when I'm done here?
So if you're asking me, I want you to know…
"Hey, I think we got lucky!" Nick shrieked.
I followed his gaze. At a distance, I could make out the headlights of a car or a truck. I laughed aloud to myself, in relief. We wouldn't be getting caught by the police after all.
"Hey! Hey! Stop," Nick yelled, waving his hands about the air, "Pull over! Pull over!"
The car (now I was sure) slowed down as we neared it. It drew to level with us. Nick pounded on the window, and it slid down.
"Hey, listen we need a ride to…" Nick stop abruptly, staring at the person behind the wheels.
"What's wrong?" I asked, urgently.
The door opened, and out came – Pete!
"So, do you guys want a ride?" he asked.
"Pete, no. you're not coming with us." Nick said firmly."I don't want you endangering yourself because of us. You should go home to your parents."
Pete looked at me sadly, and then back at Nick.
When my time comes, forget the wrongs that I've done
Help me leave behind some, reasons to be missed.
And don't resent me, and when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest.
Leave out all the rest…
Pete held the keys out to Nick, "Since you don't want me to come with…I guess this is where we say goodbye!"
"Is this a set up?" I asked, suddenly cautious. "You're not giving us this car, so that the police can hunt us back down, are you?"
He looked at me, with that evident painful look. My skepticism seemed to really hurt me. The torment written on his face, made ME cringe.
"No," he said simply. "I bought this car under a false name. the documents are in the glove compartment. I guess I better head back and fake you guys death of something, so that they never come after you…"
Nick went up to him, "I really appreciate you helping us, man. But I am sorry. I won't let you become an outlaw like us. You belong here. You always had. I just never did fit in, and I'm done trying."
They caught each other in a brief embrace, and Nick accepted the car keys from him. I watched Nick dump our bags in the backseat and get Victor ready for a journey by buckling him to safety.
"Ready to go?" he asked me, before entering the car.
I nodded.
"Hey man, the tank's full right?" he asked.
"Yeah, totally." Pete replied.
I was still outside, standing between the car and Pete. I looked over at him. the boy who had weirdly started this all. If had never accepted my merchandize; and lied about Nick not giving him the money, I wouldn't have beat up and nearly killed Nick for it. Of course Marcus had his own dirty little part in the whole plot, but somehow Pete seemed more important now. Nick was his best friend after all. One of the reasons we'd met.
"Annie," Nick called from the car, "We haven't got all night. You can think those thoughts in the car, love!"
I reached out, and yanked open the car door. Then something struck me, and I rushed to Pete and gave him a tight hug.
"Thank you," I smiled at him gratefully and swiftly pecked him on the cheek, "For everything."
He just surveyed me with a serious look and said, "Take care of Nick. Goodbye!"
"Yeah" was all I managed to say before scrambling in to the car.
I'm strong on the surface, not all the way through
I've never been perfect, but neither have you
So if you're asking me I want you to know…
I leaned over and smiled at Nick, "Someone came along and saved me from myself, after all!"
"I think we both save each other with the help of Pete, of course!" Nick replied.
I nestled down comfortably in the car seat. I could see dawn breaking in the near distance. Victor was blissfully asleep at back. I didn't know where we were headed, but I was pretty certain it would be much better than what I was leaving behind.
