Twenty five- That makes one of us.

I sat in the kitchen Saturday morning, sipping at a cup of coffee and reading the comics in the newspaper. Mom was scrambling some eggs and Sam sat beside me, reading the comic strips over my shoulder. The door opened and shut with a snap and Michael walked in with his sunglasses and new leather jacket he bought. I don't know where that sudden impulse came from, its kind of weird for him though. Leather doesn't suit him. Mom turned around, the fork in one hand and the bowl in the other and faced the door.

"Nice of you to join us, Michael." Her voice was soft, but it made you wince nonetheless.

I guess he was in one of his moods because he was silent, and he only stared with a blank look.

"Where have you been?" She continued.

"Out."

"Michael." Mom looked exasperated, "you go out all night, and come home in the mornings. You have school to worry about. And a curfew."

"Why should I have a curfew when Honey comes home at any damn time she wants."

"She's been very good lately, you're the one giving me problems now." Mom crossed her arms.

Michael glared at me and I smirked.

"Yeah Michael, I've been good." I mocked

"That's because those assholes that wouldn't leave you alone aren't around anymore," he snapped, then added as an after thought, "where are they anyways? They haven't been around lately."

I took a sip from my cup and shrugged, "school started and we drifted." I looked up and gave him a serious look, "I care about my education, Michael."

"That's bullshit and you know it."

I stood up and rinsed my cup out, then walked up to him.

"You know, you've been acting like an asshole lately," I got in his face, "someone's got a stick up their ass." I sang then danced my way up the stairs.

-

After dinner that night, I caught a ride with Mom down to the board walk. It was cold, and the moon was at it's fullest, shining brightly over Santa Carla. Casting a spooky sheen over the pumped up teens that crowded the board walk.

In all honesty, I was looking for a job. I needed something other than school to keep my mind off of the four certain biker boys. If I could get a job that involved interaction with other people, I can give myself a chance to get over the chaos, and regain my composure. You know, start fresh.

Pft... yeah right. Like that will ever happen.

For the next hour, I walked around to the different stores, and no one seemed to be hiring. Finally, on my third round, I came across a "Help Wanted" sign and made a beeline for it.

I opened the door and stepped into the small hallway with one lonely staircase, on the wall there was a sign saying "Bar" with an arrow pointing to the stairs and the "Help Wanted" sign underneath. I shrugged and headed down the steps, not really caring that if I got the job I'd be working as a bar tender or waitress.

I was just about to grab the handle to let myself in when it burst open in front of me. I jumped back and two guys had a third in between them, the middle guy was putting up one hell of a fight as they practically dragged him up the stairs. I gave the group a worried look and edged inside.

It looked like any typical bar would, not as dark like a Night club, but not covered in funky designs like a diner might be. It had a layed back quality to it and my nerves instantly relaxed. I walked briskly up to the bar and stood there, looking a little timid. A slightly larger man came up to me, cleaning a glass.

"What can I get you, Missy?" His voice was gruff and he smelled like a cigarette.

"Um, I'm here to answer the "Help Wanted" sign upstairs."

He didn't answer me immediately, he just peered at me with a cocked eyebrow. Finally he set the class down with a small clunk.

"You're looking for a job?"

"Yes, sir."

"Are you of age?" He asked me.

I stumbled over my tongue, "wha-what?"

"Are you of age, do you have ID?"

"Oh, yes. Yes I do." I smiled weakly, fumbling in my purse for the card.

I quickly handed it to him, hoping to hide my shaking hands. He squinted at it, then looked back up to me then back down. He held up the card and looked back and forth from me and the ID.

"You don't look nineteen," He grunted, picking up the glass and started cleaning it again.

"Oh well, I lost a bit of weight, and got a hair cut and-,"

"You look younger than you say you are. Okay, cough it up Miss. How old are you?"

My eyes widened and I started spluttering excuses.

"Darling, to be completely and totally honest with you. I don't really care how old you are and if you're of age."

"Oh, well in that case. I'm fifteen turning sixteen. Grade eleven."

"Jesus Christ, you're the youngest one yet." He rolled his eyes then looked at me. "Step back and turn around, let me get a look at you."

I gave him an odd look, feeling a little uncomfortable but did as I was told.

His arms were crossed when I faced him again, "hmm, you'll do just fine. Come in the back with me and we'll get you your uniform."

I grinned and followed him through the wooden door behind the counter. I was standing in a staff room of some sorts, it was white-ish grey with blue carpet and a pair of black couches and a fridge. I heard the guy's voice come from a door off to the side.

"Have you ever been a waitress before..."

"Its Honey, and no I haven't sir." I stated, looking around.

"Bah, that's okay. There's a first time for everything, I'll have one of the girls train you." He came back into the room and threw some article of clothing at me. I caught it and held it up, a pair of jean short shorts faced me.

"Those should fit you, if they don't you can swap for a larger or smaller size."

"Uh, sure. But what about a shirt. I hope you don't expect me to run around topless." I raised my eyebrows.

"No, you can wear what ever shirt you want. Your shoes must be black though. I don't care what style, but they must be black."

I nodded, "when do I start?"

"I'll get Tiff to give you a call, just leave me your contact information."

I filled out a form for him and placed it in his hand.

"Great, welcome to the club Honey. You can call me Greg."

-

I figured it was too early for me to go home, and I hadn't been to the board walk in a few nights so I thought I'd head down there for a while. I tugged my sweater closer to my body as I wove in and out of the sea of bodies. I briefly stopped at the concert and grabbed a stick of cotton candy on my way out of the crowd. After eating half of it I stopped and stared at the fluffy pink stuff. I remembered the date Marko and I had gone on when there had been fireworks and we had shared a stick of cotton candy. I shook my head, trying to rid my thoughts of his face and I threw the fluff into the garbage. How can a wad of fluff trigger the most hurtful memories?

I did a few rounds of window shopping, occasionally going into one of the shops to browse, but leaving empty handed. I knew I shouldn't stay out too late, I had school in the morning. And I think I still had some of my homework to do. Bah, I'll do it at lunch tomorrow. I couldn't be bothered to open my books when I got home, I'd probably end up falling asleep.

I shuffled around for a little longer when heard my name being called from a distance.

"Honey!"

I decided to ignore the person and kept going in the same direction.

"Honey!" the voice was closer to me now.

I looked around halfheartedly for the person but found no one.

"HONEY!" I was spun around to face someone. Someone with dark brown, outrageously curly hair and silver trinkets giving her the sound of a wind chime when she walked.

"Huh?" I gasped, caught off guard.

"Oh my god, how are you?" the girl cried out, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Oh...oh hey Star." I was still slightly confused as I gave her a slight hug back.

"Where have you been, it's been ages since I've seen you." She asked.

"Oh you know, around."

"You're never around anymore. You don't swing by our place, you're never on the board walk." Star stated, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Oh well, you know. I've got school and homework. I've been hanging out with Sam and such. I have a few new girlfriends from school."

She gave me a slight pout, "you're forgetting about me?"

"No!" I gasped, "no Star, I'm not forgetting about you. I think about you all the time."

"Then how come you don't come see me anymore?"

I was slightly impatient with her, "Star, how can I come and see you?"

"Come by the Cave, hang out with me. I miss the girly stuff we used to do."

"I do too Star, but I can't come by the cave." I sighed.

"Why not?"

"It's not so much as I "can't" come, its that I shouldn't come."

"Why shouldn't you come to see us, you're a friend." Star was desperate.

"I'm a friend to you, but not to...them," I smiled slightly, taking a brief glance around at all the people. Across the street I saw them. They were sitting on their bikes watching us.

"Of course you are. They love you." Star gasped.

"Star." I stated, "I screwed everything up. Everything is my fault. I shouldn't see them, they shouldn't see me."

"Honey, sweetheart, you didn't screw anything up. Nothing is your fault." Star smiled at me, placing her hands on my shoulders.

"Star, yes it is my fault. I fucked everything up with Marko and I. It's my fault we're not together anymore."

"Hon-bon, you didn't screw anything up, that thing that happened with you, Marko and David wasn't your fault. Don't you see that I don't think it was you. I know it was David who did this. You're just not the person to cheat on someone. You loved Marko. I could see that, I don't know if any of the others could, but I could. And I don't blame you for anything that's happened. You're still the same Hon, and I still love you no matter what the mistake." Star wrapped me up in a hug.

I sniffled and hugged her back, "Thanks Star."

She pulled back a little, "now am I going to get to see more of you?"

"You just might," I agreed, "but if I'm on the board walk. I'm not coming back to the Cave to hang out with you."

She gave me a sad smile, "well okay, you'll come around on your own time."

She looked at me for a moment, "you're mad at yourself."

"Yeah, I am."

"Well, that'll end. You'll see that it wasn't your fault. I know you will."

I gave a watery smile, "well that makes one of us."