Macy's POV

"Do you even like Jake Gyllenhaal?" I asked Bea. We were at the 24-hour video store going through the terrible movies with terrible ratings to match.

"Nope," she smiled, "But we need to stall; just for a little while at least."

"Good point," I said, "I'll be in the back. Keep looking up here." Bea nodded and I went to the back room, a sea of movies in some never ending maze of walls. It was like a funhouse minus the fun (unless you consider a whole wall of pornos fun). I walked all the way in the back where I couldn't even hear the background music coming from the front.

I knew what Stella and Joe were planning. My only concern was how long they've been planning it. Bea and I understood how much they cared about each other. All it is is a way of showing love, right?

Oh no, not that eerie feeling that someone is behind me again. I tried to peek over my shoulder without trying to look too suspicious. I didn't see anyone but I wasn't even really looking. They were behind me. It was probably just another customer. But I'm pretty sure I would see someone in here. I shook it off and kept walking, falling farther back to the walls.

Okay, I was being followed. I have a woman's intellect, trust me. Someone was following me. I took a deep breath and kept walking, acting like I didn't even notice. What would anyone want from me? I wish I had a rape whistle. That would seriously come in handy right now. The worst possible person I could think of that was behind me was one of Brian's friends, coming to me for some revenge. I shivered at the thought. I just had to turn around and see who it was.

So I did…

"Oh, my God," I said quietly. I looked at him from head to toe. His appearance didn't change a bit. I took another scan of him with my eyes then realized the situation. I quickly tried to push past him, "Bea." I wasn't loud enough for even me to hear. I was about to scream her name even louder when Nick's hand clapped over my mouth. He brought me against the wall.

"Ssh," he said, "Macy, just calm down."

Nick's POV

"Hey… hey kid." My eyes unwillingly opened slowly, my blurred vision revealing the inside of a bus; I was on a bus. Oh yeah, I remember now. I didn't remember falling asleep though. I looked around and I was the only one left. The bus driver was sitting in his seat yelling at me from there, "You're in Jersey."

I stood up, my legs feeling like mush. It must've been from all of that running. Running. Kara. What happened? I walked towards the bus driver, the door already open to reveal the thick but not freezing air. I looked at him, "Where in New Jersey?" I asked.

"Wyckoff," he said, "That's what your ticket said, pal. I'm no cab driver." Wyckoff… I live here.

"No," I said, "No, this is great. Um thanks." Before he could say anything I emerged out of the bus. It was a small bus stop and there really wasn't anyone here. It was the main street but it was about one in the morning. I looked around and saw the police station, the local diner, a gas station, and a few other stores.

Home… right?

I can't really remember much of here. It's like it was some blurred vision in my mind and I was trying to make something out of it. I tried to think of which way I should go but nothing came to mind. I crossed the street, reaching the street lights. Just so no one would recognize me I put my hood on my head, digging my hands in my pockets. After that, I just slowly began to walk. I would walk around here until I found where I needed to be; easy as that.

"Will you slow down!" she laughed. I stopped walking as a brunette darted past me running into the local video store then the girl who spoke, still laughing, past me, her shoulder brushing up against mine. I might as well have been invisible. The back of her head, her long dirty blonde waves, and her laugh… the one I missed so much. It was right there.

'Bea'. I mouthed the words but my voice wouldn't work. She walked into the store, following Macy… Macy. Holy shit.

I had to get in that store.

Macy's POV

"Macy," he said as I tried pushing him away again, "No, you need to calm down. I won't let you go until you are calm." I stopped fighting him and he waited a few more moments until he released my mouth.

"Nick," I whispered, "God, what the fuck are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you, too," he laughed.

"I'm serious," I said, "I don't… you can't-"

"I'm not," he said, "Not now."

"When did you get back?" I asked.

"About 10 minutes ago," he said. He had a backpack sitting in the corner. I looked at him and couldn't help but pull him into a hug. He hugged my tightly, "It's really good to see a familiar face."

"Where were you?" I asked, "I mean… what are you going to do?"

"I can't answer all of your questions," he said, "All I can tell you is I was in New York, living with a couple of people. I'm not sure what I'm going to do Mace… all I know is that… where is she Macy? She's here with you isn't she?"

"Yeah," I said, "Nick, I don't think you should-"

"I know," he said, "Not here."

"When?" I asked.

"Soon," he said, "Where are you guys headed?"

"Stella's house," I said, "But we're trying to stall." Nick nodded.

"How was she," he said flatly, like he was about to get a shot from the doctor but he accepted it for what it was.

"Not good," I scoffed, "Not good at all. She just got out of her rut, Nick."

"Macy?" Bea called. Her voice was quite distant, "Are you back there?" I looked at Nick then back at the area where Bea's voice was coming from.

"Um, yeah," I said, "I'll be right out." I turned back to Nick.

"Are you saying I should not show up in her life again?" he asked, "Would she be… mad?"

"No," I said, "All I'm saying is… you need to be careful with this. I don't want to know why you left and I don't want to know anything you did while you were gone. I just want you to fix it. That's it."

"Do you need some help?" Bea called.

"No," I called, "No, I'm coming." I turned back to Nick, "Okay, I'm going to send her home. Her father is on late night patrol. Don't get caught, okay? He's probably not happy."

"Are you sure about this?" he asked.

"You can't be here without her knowing," I said, "Just see what happens. I can't really tell you."

"Macy," he said, "What happened to your face?"

"Don't worry about it," I said.

Bea's POV

"Hey," Macy said emerging from the back room of the video store, "I didn't really find anything. But I call from my mom, said I had to come home."

"Yeah, I knew that would last," I smiled, "I'll probably just head home too. I'll give Stella and Joe their privacy."

"Good," she said, "Yeah, I mean, you're probably tired. Get some sleep." She put her hand on my shoulder, giving me some look like she wasn't going to see me again, "If you need anything, call me." It was a rather odd look but she was already headed for the door before I could question it. I shrugged and followed her out. She took a left and I took a right. I didn't mind walking home. I think the outdoor and I needed to catch up anyway.

I kept going straight until the main street was about to come to a close. I didn't really see anyone around. It was just me, streetlights… and the smell of cigarettes and alcohol.

"Hey," someone slurred. I looked to my right and saw a group of guys. There were about three or four. They looked awfully familiar. I'm sure they went to school with me, "How's it going?"

"Great," I mumbled trying to walk ignore them as best as I could. They were standing in front of some vacancy for rent, smoking and drinking. Why is it I always showed up at the wrong place at the wrong time? When I made it past them I could feel them following; well it was mostly their stench that tipped me off. I picked up the pace, making a wave of laughter pass through behind me.

"Where you goin' babe," another one of them called. They were running now because I started running. I saw the sudden shadow of one run ahead of me, blocking me off, "Hey, look. It's the sheriff's daughter."

"Why don't you hang out with us," one of the guys said, pulling me back by my shoulders. I couldn't scream. I couldn't fight. I felt so helpless; frozen. They brought me against a brick structure, still holding onto me probably for support considering they could hardly stand.

"Let me go," I grunted, trying to pry their hands off.

"Easy, easy," one of them laughed.

"I think we need to have a little fun with her, boys, don't you think?"

"No," I said. I quickly brought my knee up to one of the men's groin, making him double over in pain. I tried to run forward but another one of the men swiftly slammed me back against the wall, my head hitting it roughly. I felt warmness back there and I knew it couldn't be good. I shut my eyes and let the pain come quickly from all four of the men who were probably ready to do whatever they pleased with me.

But it never came.

Someone grabbed a hold of me, pushing the rest of them away so they could push me behind them. Unfortunately, my lack of balance made me fall back again. I kept my head down and saw the shadow of one person fighting off all four of those guys. Considering they were all drunk, I guess it wasn't hard. They were physically impaired in all aspects.

I put my hand on the back of my head, a slight-throbbing beginning to form. I don't think he hit me that hard; I was just having a major adrenaline rush. There was blood though. I could feel it in my hands even though it was too dark. I willed myself to stand up and run. I would just run and figure out everything tomorrow. I would call Macy or my dad to take me to the hospital or whatever I needed to do.

When I ran, I ran into a person. They caught me, almost like I was in an unwilling embrace. I looked over their shoulder, staring the drunk men stumbling away quickly in fear, some of them clutching their injuries in pain; this guy really roughed them up.

"Why are you always at the wrong place at the wrong time?" the male voice laughed. What? I pulled away and looked up at the brown eyes, the sad toothless smile. But I couldn't say his name. I wouldn't. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time? I always am.

I backed away, looking at Nick from head to toe. There were many things I could do. I could run, I could ask him why he's back, I could just say his name, I could… I could kiss him, or cry and run away… I could tell him things I meant but didn't mean at the same time.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi," he replied. He started walking towards me but I backed up. He stopped. I looked from my right to my left, "You're bleeding."

"I'm fine."

"No you're not."

"Don't…" I said.

"Okay," he replied keeping quiet. So here we were, standing in the middle of the street. He looked a little different, even stronger. I grabbed a hold of my composure, remembering something I said I would do… or wouldn't do rather.

"C'mon," I said.

Nick's POV

It was over. She didn't want this… any of it. She didn't want me to be standing before her. Hell, I think she'd rather be attacked by each other those drunks hanging on her. I knew what I deserved was coming now but… god, she looked so much like her. I know it didn't make sense. At the time though, it did.

She told me to come with her so I did. I didn't speak, didn't ask any questions. I went with her all the way back to town. She was bleeding but not overly so. She probably just scratched her head. When we reached her front door, I couldn't help but ask, "Did I do that?"

"Do what?" she asked. At that moment, I saw something in her I didn't see before. She was frail, thin, tired. Yes. I thought to myself. You did that.

"Um, your head," I said.

"No," she replied, "No, you didn't." She opened the door with her spare key and stepped inside. It was like I was home. The only thing different about the place was the girl living in it. She had to change her habits and her thinking all because of me. She got stronger though. I could see it in her movement, in the way she wouldn't look at me. She didn't deserve this.

"I should go," I said.

"When did you get back?" she asked, ignoring me.

"Twenty minutes ago," I said after a pause. She nodded and started walking upstairs. I didn't realize that I had my backpack tight in my hand. I wasn't sure if should follow.

"Let's go," she said quietly. That's when I walked towards the stairs. She kept going forward, turning on the light to her room. I didn't feel like I had the right to enter anymore so I just stood outside. She sighed gave me a look that said it was all right. I stepped inside her room. She gently took my bag from me and set it by her window. She looked at me from head to toe, and laughed a little bit, "You look disgusting."

"Yeah," I said, feeling a little better, "Sorry."

"It's okay," she said. She went back out of her room and brought back a pile of blankets, two pillows, and a towel. Then she turned away again, bringing back a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt… my stuff.

"Where…"

"She wouldn't let some of your stuff stay," she said, "She was trying to save some money by giving away your furniture."

"Oh," I said, "Thank you for saving it." So she did think I was coming back. She still had hope. Bea nodded and handed me a towel.

"The shower is right over there," she said. She turned around and started assembling a small sleeping area on the floor, next to her bed by the window.

"You're letting me stay here?" I asked quietly, looking at her small figure. She still didn't make eye contact with me. She stopped what she was doing and straightened her posture.

"I do recall one time I said to you that I would never hurt you, that'd I'd protect you," she said. Then she looked at me, her face showing one glimmer of understanding, "And I won't break that promise tonight."