a/n: I'm back! I have worked extremely hard on this lately, but I suggest reading my note further so you may understand what is going on.

I have to revamp this story. Its review and hit numbers are going down. So I have decided to make three parts. The first part ended with the previous chapter. This chapter is the beginning of the second part. Each part will be significantly different than the last. You will see why. I will continue switching POV's. PLEASE REVIEW!

Enjoy!

CHERRY BOMB

PART TWO: CHAPTER ONE

MITCHIE'S POV

You let another plate fall into the rack, barely cringing as the surfaces meet and create a thump. Your eyes are slowly closing, and for once in your life, you quite frankly don't care how wrinkly your hands are getting. The sound of the water is certainly not helping your drowsiness.

You had a long day at work and coming home to find that you were going to have to eat alone, again, just made you feel worse. You hadn't believed it when people told you that marriage would be the worst decision of your life because it would only ruin your relationship; Now you wish that you had listened. Shane had proposed four months ago and you were married a month later. After the honeymoon, he insisted on getting out of your old city and moving to a new state, so you complied. But you can't help but notice that as time moves forward, Shane comes home less and less. You assume it's because of work, since there is a recording studio in downtown. He is still in the music industry, but his popularity has dropped…ever since he showed up at the airport for you, that is.

You turn the faucet off and head towards the bedroom, wrapping the lonesome silence around your mind. The last time you spoke to your husband was over a week ago. He came home earlier this week, but you hadn't really talked. He walked in, complimented your new hair style, then trudged off to the bedroom and passed out for several hours. Then he left.

While he had physically stayed the same over the past few months, you had changed your look drastically. Your hair was black, you had gotten rid of your bangs and opted for a side part. You even lost some weight. As you lie down on the bed, you place a hand over your perfectly flat stomach, wishing so desperately that there was a bump there. On the honeymoon, Shane had gushed about wanting to be a daddy, telling you that he wanted to be one as soon as possible. You told him you would try everyday. Well you obviously can't since he isn't home half the time you feel like doing anything.

You shoot up out of the bed as you hear a key turn the lock of the front door. You sprint down the hallway as the door shuts. As he sets down his things, you pounce on him, hanging on for dear life.

"Hey, Mitchie," he purrs gently. You only squeeze tighter. "What's the matter, baby?"

You pull away so you can look into his eyes. The familiar look of love and respect is there, but there is something else…exhaustion.

"Something's going on with you, Shane. I want to know what it is."

He closes his eyes for a moment and then reopens them. You see fear. "Mitchie, it's just work. They are making me put my everything into this album, no matter how long I have to stay in the studio."

"But don't they know you have a wife at home? Why can't you tell them that you want to come home?"

"Sweetie, I-"

"I'm tired of eating by myself everyday, I'm tired of having to take care of this house all alone! I even get the luxury of sleeping alone! What happened to trying to have a baby, Shane?"

"I just don't think now is a good time for kids, Mitchie."

You push yourself away from him and step back. "What the fuck is going on, Shane? You seemed to think having a baby was the most important thing in the world on our honeymoon and now you don't think it's the right time? And you sure seemed to think getting married was important, but now it seems like you hate being around me!" You purse your lips and head back towards the bedroom.

His footsteps follow you. "I just don't think that it's safe to have kids when we're in this area."

"You're the one who wanted to fucking move here! I would've been perfectly happy where I was, but no, you had to move to New York!"

"Mitchie, will you please stop yelling?"

You bite your lip, sit on the bed, and pull the blankets over yourself. "Fine."

"Can I say something now?"

"Whatever."

He sighs tiredly and sits on the edge of the bed, gently taking your hands to stop them from fidgeting. "I do not like being away from you. Actually, it's killing me that I am away from you. I hate knowing that you are eating by yourself every night. I hate walking in just to go to sleep. I want kids, Mitchie. Don't you know that? Being a father would be the biggest blessing in the world. But if I'm going to be away like this for some time, then I won't be a father. Do you understand? I don't want to put our children through what is happening to you."

You look down at the sight of your hands tangled together. "Why can't you just quit your job? We have enough money for a lifetime."

"Because I can't let all those people down."

You sigh, knowing that he's right. "I know. I just want my husband back."

"I'll see if I can do something, okay?"

"Okay."

You smile lightly and kiss him gently before sliding down and closing your eyes. You fall asleep as he lies down next to you and pulls you against him.


You wake up in the morning, feeling the warmth of Shane's body gone. Sighing, you get up and walk towards the kitchen, only to find your sister waiting for you at the table.

"Cassidy?"

"Hey, sis. Heard you moved here, why?"

"I'm not answering until you tell me how you got into my house and why." You start the coffee maker, while keeping a close eye on your younger sister.

"Well…I'm eighteen now, so I…left. And yes, I finished school. I asked Caitlyn about you and she said you moved here. So here I am."

"Okay, but how did you get in?"

"Key underneath the doormat? Really, Mitchie. I knew you'd do that."

You stir the coffee and sit across from Cassidy. You can't believe she's here. "Did…Caitlyn tell you anything else?"

"Oh yeah. She told me that you married a nice tourist. I have to say, Mitchie. I thought you'd end up marrying Shane."

Your coffee cup stops in mid air. Why would Caitlyn tell your sister that you're married but wouldn't specify to who? "Did she tell you what happened to Shane?"

"She said he dropped you home after the airport thing, then left and never came back. Why, is that not true?"

Swallowing the piping hot coffee, you notice a smirk on her face and a strange glint in her eyes. Something doesn't seem right. "No, it's true. It just…hurts to remember." You shrug. What the hell is going on?

She looks around, tapping her fingers on the table as she does so. "It's strange…you don't have any photos around here. Not even one. Why?"

"Um…"

The phone literally saves you. You excuse yourself and run to get it.

"Hello?"

"Mitchie?"

"Yes?"

"It's Shane. Is your sister at the house right now?"

"Uh yeah…why?"

"You need to get out of there right now!"

"Why?"

"I will explain to you later, alright? But please, for God sake, get out of there. Tell her you have to get to work. You know where the recording studio is? Drive there, wait in the car for me out front. Please."

Not wanting to defy him, you push away the questions. Knowing that Cassidy is listening, you answer him, "Sure, Darlene, I will be there as soon as I can. See you then." You hang up and walk back into the kitchen. "I'm so sorry, Cassidy, but that was my boss that just called and she said she needs to me to get to work early. Maybe you can drop by another time?"

She creases her eyebrow, not quite believing you. "Sure. I'll show myself out."

As you hear the door shut and the sound of her car driving away, you rush back to your room, change quickly, and hurry out the front door. Your leg is shaking in tense anticipation all the way to the studio. Like he said he would, Shane hurries out the front door and gets into the car.

"What is going on, Shane?"

"Start driving to the highway."

"Fine, but will you please tell me why my sister was told by Caitlyn that you left? That I am married to a tourist?"

"I don't think you can handle this while driving, Mitchie."

"I don't care! Tell me what is going on!"

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, something he does when he is under a lot of stress. "I don't want to tell you this."

"Who cares how I will handle it. Tell me." You rev the engine a bit more in frustration.

"Your sister…is trying to eliminate us."

"Eliminate? What the hell do you mean by eliminate?"

"She told my record company about the prostitution thing. The company sent me a threat. I think they are trying to either get us arrested or killed."

"Why the fuck would they want to kill us?"

"I don't know, I just don't know."

"So is this why you spend limited time at home? Why we have no pictures? Why we can't have kids?"

"Yes. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this, sweetheart. I'm so sorry." His voice cracks and you grab his hand, keeping an eye on the road the whole time.

"Hey, I'm the one who decided to make illegal money. Not you. Yes, you got yourself involved, but…this is really my fault." You sit in silence for several minutes. "Wait. How did you know that she was at the house?"

"Bodyguard. He lives across the street. He saw her go in and called me immediately."

Tears come into your eyes. "I'm so sorry, Shane. I was such a bitch to you last night. I thought you didn't love me anymore, but you've been protecting me this whole entire time. Thank you."

"Don't thank me. You're my wife, the love of my life…I have to do these things. If you don't live, then I don't either."

"I know what you mean."

You drive in silence until you reach the freeway, when Shane tells you to pull over so he can drive.

You know that you will never be in New York again.


a/n: YAY! A brand new start for Cherry Bomb! And what better way to celebrate than voting for this story at the Indie CR Awards? The link for voting will be up on my profile soon. You can vote for Cherry Bomb in the following categories: Honorary Best Shane/Mitchie, Honorary Best Mitchie, Honorary Best Friendship, Honorary Best Drama, Honorary Best Romance, Honorary Best Original Idea, Honorary Best All Time Story, and you can vote for me, Jemi Obsessed, for Honorary Best All Time Author. Please vote, it would mean so much! And please review this chapter and let me know what you think of the new turn! xo