RAY'S POV

Oh shit!
"Everyone, hide the beer!" Mikey cried out and there was a massive scuffle in the back as they all hid the alcohol. Would we pass? Probably not. The police car made me pull over.

"Fuck…" Gee swore. I sat quietly, staring at the steering wheel. The cop slowly walked over to my window, bent down and tapped on the glass. I opened it.

"Evening kids. Just wanted to check on you." He looked into the back of the car. "So there are six of you in a five seat car? That's not safe or clever, now, is it?" He shook his head. "I also pulled you guys over because you were swaying about on the road a bit. Can I just ask you to get out, sonny?" I gulped. Patronising fuck. I opened the door and shakily got out. The police man put his hand on my shoulder and put a breath tester in front of me. I did what I had to do, and waited nervously. It beeped. "So had a fun party, did we? Damn, you've been drinking quite a bit tonight, hm?" Oh fuck. "Drink driving at your age? Can I ask how old you are, son?" I gulped.

"17…" He shook his head again.

"So not even old enough to be drinking. Right, all of you. Out of the car." We all poured out of the car. Gee stood swaying. In fact, we all did. "Ok. So I'm going to take you all down to the station, and you're gonna be spending the night in jail unless someone bails you out. This is NOT impressive. It's also New Years Eve! Now you won't be celebrating, will you?" We all hung our heads in shame. There was no way of getting out of this one. Another cop got out of the cop car and walked over to me.

"Right, lad, I'll need the keys for your car, and your address."

GERARD'S POV

We all stood about, shuffling our feet. I coughed nervously. This was the shittiest of the shits. The cop walked along in front of us, shining a torch in our eyes.

"Damn. You're all out of it, aren't you?" he said, disappointed. He whipped out his phone and dialled a number. He told another cop of our whereabouts and that they needed an extra car. "Right. Three of you – in the car with me. Another car will be along soon to pick the rest of you up. Stay here with Paul." He pointed at his fellow cop. Mikey, Bob and Ray shuffled forward. They staggered into the car and looked at us with sad eyes. Shittie shittie shit. They drove off and we stood, swaying, looking at our feet. None of us had anything to say. The cop had a disapproving look. Soon, a new car pulled up and a tired, greying policeman got out.

"Had a fun night kids?" he huffed sarcastically. We mumbled a "yes" back. He shook his head and tutted. "Right. Into the car." We got in and he drove us to the station. We sat in silence for the entire journey. We pulled up and got taken into the holding cells. Ray, Bob and Mikey sat behind bars, watching us as we came in. "Three more for you, Nigel!" the old cop chuckled. "Had a fun night, these lot have! But not any more!" I scowled. Prick. They opened the cell door and shut it behind us. We all sat down. The first cop we had met came up to the bars and sat down at a seat.

"Ok, so you," he pointed at Ray, "after drink driving, will be banned from driving for a year." Ray's mouth fell open.
"But I-" he began, but the police man put his hand up to stop him talking.

"No buts. It's how the legal system works. And also - and this is for the rest of you as well – If you want to take this up with the courts and fight the case, then that's your problem. But if you can't be arsed to deal with that crap, you've got to pay a $200 fine for underage drinking." All of our jaws dropped then. $200? Holy fuck.

WILLOW'S POV

Crap. $200. My mum's gonna KILL me!

"When do we get our phone call?" I asked timidly. The cop looked straight at me.
"Oh yeah. Well, step right this way, one at a time, and make your call." I gulped and followed the cop out of the cell and picked up the rusty receiver.

"Hello?"

"…"

"Hello, is anyone there?" she asked nervously.

"Mum, please don't be angry with me…" I quivered.

"Willow Rush, what have you done?" she asked more serious and angry.

"I'm, erm, at the local police station…"

"Oh my…God. What the HELL are you doing there? What's happened?" she sounded livid yet worried all at the same time.

"Ray got caught…drink driving. And we all got caught…underage drinking…" There was a pause. Then she exploded.

"THAT IS IT YOUNG LADY! YOU ARE GROUNDED FOR… FOREVER! I AM COMING DOWN TO THAT STATION AND TAKING YOU HOME. IN FACT THEY'LL PROBABLY TREAT YOU NICER IN JAIL THAN I'M GOING TO BE TREATING YOU WHEN YOU GET HOME!" She slammed the phone down. I winced. The entire room had just heard my mother's eruption. But no one laughed. The phone calls continued, and it turned out that my mum wasn't the only one to react in such a way – all the parents did. Finally they were all there, glaring and tapping their feet angrily. They had to pay bail too - $100. That made them all even MORE furious.
"$300 fucking dollars for this, Gerard Arthur Way. And you! Michael, look at me when I'm speaking to you!" Donna snarled. They both stood there, their heads hanging. My mother strutted towards me after paying the bail, clamped her hand hard on my arm and dragged me away. I looked behind me at the others, who waved sadly. I waved back and mum pulled me out into the cold night air. She was mumbling irately under her breath, and she literally threw me in the car. Tears had already sprung to my eyes. I'd never seen my mum so mad. I felt a barrier between us. I sniffed. She slammed her door shut and began to drive. She glared out onto the road and didn't even glance at me when she obviously realised I had begun bawling.

"Do you realise how much you've cost me tonight? $300! You should be ashamed of yourself. And it's New Years Eve! How could Ray even be so STUPID!"

"Don't blame Ray!" I retorted defensively. "We should have all not let him drive, so it's all our fault!"

"It certainly is all your fault. I've never been as appalled by your behaviour as I have tonight." I let the tears run down my face more. Her fists were clenched over the steering wheel so tight that her knuckles were white. She pulled up outside our house and quick-marched me inside.
"Go straight to your room. You're not going to that party. That's part of your punishment for being so down right reckless. No New Years celebrations for YOU!" I sobbed as I ran upstairs to my room, and shut the door hard. I locked it and collapsed on my bed. This. Was. So. Unfair. I cried myself to sleep.

~SOME TIME LATER~

Something was tapping my window. I heard it through my sleep. I blinked awake and looked at the clock. 11:17pm. Still not the new year. But what the fuck was at my window? I was shitting myself. I slowly crept over to the window and glanced out. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Frank, Gee, Mikey, Ray and Bob standing below in my front garden, and Frank reading himself to aim another stone. Luckily he saw me before he threw it. I opened my window.

"Hey!" I whispered.

"Hey, you allowed out?" Gee whispered back. I shook my head.

"I'm fucking grounded!" I growled.
"Is your mum in?"

"Yeah?"

"We're coming up?" I gasped.

"No! She'll hear you!" I shout-whispered. But they ignored me. There was a trellis against the side of my house that ran up to my bedroom window. They climbed up and fell through the window and into my room. We all stopped as we listened for my mum's footsteps. Nothing. They each had some sort of food item and drink item (non-alcoholic).

"We thought we'd have our own little celebration!" Mikey whispered excitedly. I grinned and threw my arms around them.

"I love you guys so much!"

FRANK'S POV

We sat in a little circle in the middle of Willow's room. We put the food and drink in the centre and tried to be a silent as possible. Every thing said was kept to a whisper. Willow leant her head against my shoulder and yawned.

"What time is it?" she asked sleepily.

"11:45pm" I replied. "If you're that tired, go to sleep!" She sat up defiantly.
"No! I'm going to stay up and see the new year even if it kills me!" I chuckled. So determined. But she couldn't help herself yawning again. We ate and drank and chatted quietly. Suddenly, before we knew it, the countdown began. Bob had a watch on that let us count the seconds.

"10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-HAPPY NEW YEAR!" we whisper-cheered, and the fireworks began to explode outside. Then I realised there had been someone missing during the count-down. I looked at Willow to find her fast asleep. I chuckled again. After being so determined to stay awake, she had fallen asleep.

"Here, help me get her into bed," I asked Gee. He nodded and we carefully lifted her onto it. Mikey had pulled back the covers, and Ray pulled the back up to her chin. She squirmed about and then settled down. "We should get going," Bob suggested. We all nodded in agreement. I turned to Willow and planted a kiss on her forehead. I stroked her hair.

"Happy New Year," I whispered softly.