A/N: I wanted to do something today and I guess this is something? I'm starting to have fun writing things again. Which is amazing. Especially when you're clinically depressed…and sick. But yay for writing. Please enjoy this little update.

OOOOOOOOOO

Paul had raced out of the cave-hotel as soon as the sun went down. He'd gotten on his motorcycle and took off towards the boardwalk. The warnings of Max had played in his head throughout the day, disturbing his sleep and since his family was connected to him, they'd seen what he'd dreamt.

A bloody Jessi.

Jessi no longer being there.

Jessi, gone forever.

It's not going to happen. I will make sure it doesn't happen, he told himself, darting off his motorcycle once he was at the boardwalk. Jessi is going to be safe. No one is going to lay a hand on her.

His boots pounded the ground as he raced through the crowd towards the record shop. Toni looked up from the register when the bell over the door jingled. A smile touched his lips and he raised a hand in greeting. But Paul's eyes wondered away from the owner of the store. They sought the blonde that had attracted his attention and held it captive. She was towards the back of the store, back turned on him, putting away records.

"Hey Beautiful," he called out, feeling relieved when he could hear her heartbeat.

Jessi's spine visibly stiffened and she turned so that her face was in profile. Her eyes looked lifeless, then filled with anger. She turned back to her work.

"Go away," she ordered, slipping records into the boxes that displayed them. "I'm busy."

"I bet I can make you un-busy," Paul said, trying to lighten the mood.

"No."

"I bet I could. Let me just have a couple words with Toni and I bet I can have us off on another adventure again."

"No!" Jessi snapped, kicking the display table. "Just go away! And leave me alone!"

Paul blinked in confusion. "Beautiful?"

Jessi sighed and kept her back to him. Something was wrong. Why wouldn't she look at him? Paul reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, watching her tense up again under his touch. He turned her gently and saw the mottled purple on her face. The way she carried herself, he knew there were bruises elsewhere.

"Who did this?" he demanded.

"None of your damn business," Jessi said, pushing past him and heading for the backroom. "And for the record, no touchy. I'm tired of you guys laying your grubby fucking hands on me."

Paul followed her, completely ignoring the 'employees only' sign that led to the backroom. Signs never mattered to him. He followed his own rules and this time, he was willing to break some to help out the girl that fascinated him.

"Jessi, what happened?" Paul asked, watching her grab her purse from a hook. "Who the hell decided that it was okay to leave bruises on you?"

"Paul, that's none of your business."

Paul crossed his arms. "Was it your roommates?"

Jessi's heart did a little skip. Well, there's one answer.

Paul's eyes narrowed. "I'm going to kill them."

"Paul, get a life."

"I will…after I kill them. No one should be allowed to put their hands on you."

Jessi's dark eyes looked at him. "Then why do you do it?"

The Lost Boy was taken aback. "I haven't hit you. I haven't hurt you, Jessi."

Jessi crossed her arms. "If you hadn't touched me, they would have left me alone. They would have just kept up with their perverted comments and their annoying lewd stares. But because you touched me, because you got close, they decided play time was over."

"Jessi," Paul said, bouncing on his toes. "Jessi, you don't have to put up with this. Me and my brothers, we can get you away from that situation."

"Sorry. I don't trust people," Jessi said, moving past him and heading back into the main body of the store. "Toni, I'm headed out."

"But you just got here two hours ago," Toni commented, watching the two of them.

"Toni," Paul said, giving his best puppy dog eyes.

"Okay, okay. But I expect you back here tomorrow," Toni said, waving his hand.

Jessi hadn't even waited for permission. She had just gone. Paul chased after her and tried to hook his arm around her shoulders, but she pushed him off.

"Jessi, you do know you can trust me, right?" he asked.

OOOOOOOOO

Jessi heard the pitiful plea in Paul's voice. She hated that she couldn't trust him. She hated that she had to try to get him to leave. For good. No coming back. No making her heart sing anymore.

"Paul, get lost," she ordered, looking away from him.

The wild blond moved in front of her and put his hands on her arms. Jessi glared up at him, though it hurt. Paul's fingers were soft as he rubbed her skin.

"Jessi, what did they do to you that made you so cold towards me?" he asked.

"They beat me. They broke my guitar into dozens of little pieces. They told me that I am not my own person." Jessi glared up at him. "Because I was stupid enough to let myself begin to fall for someone. Someone who wasn't them. That didn't match up with their plans." She shook her head. "This is all a game to them and I'm like a prize. But a prize isn't worth anything if someone has already touched it, messed it up, and placed it back on its pedestal."

"Jessi, you're a prize…but no one owns you," Paul said slowly as if choosing his words carefully. "You can choose your own destiny and if you want, I can help you get away from the people that have hurt you." He smiled. "Then I'll kill them."

Jessi groaned and tried to move around him. "Paul, you don't get it."

"I'm pretty sure I do."

"No, you don't." Jessi stared into his eyes. "My guitar is on its way to the dump. My brother still lives in that house. I am not abandoning him for any reason. Not because I like you. Not because I'm scared that something more drastic is going to happen at that house. Nothing. Nada."

Paul broke into a wide smile. "You like me?"

The girl rolled her eyes. "Is that all you're taking from this?"

"No, not really." He laughed. "I just like hearing you admit it. I'd hate to think you'd randomly go making out with someone that you didn't like."

Jessi stomped on his toe, but he didn't budge. "Move. I have places I'd rather be. And you need to get lost."

"Me? Lost? Never." Paul snickered and wrapped his arm firmly around her shoulders. "I think I'm going to keep you around for a lot longer. How does eternity sound?"

Jessi dragged her heels. "Paul, I'm warning you."

"Oh, no. Not more warnings. I've had quite enough of those, thank you very much." He tapped her on the nose. "No, you see. This is what we're going to do. We are going to go find a music store that's opened at this golden hour and get you another guitar. Then we're going to sit around a fire and have a good old time. No tears. No fighting. Just music and fun and fire."

Jessi looked at him as he got them walking again. She was so confused. Why was he willing to do all this? Why couldn't she shake him? And did she really want to?

OOOOOOOOO

Paul watched as Jessi stared at the wall of guitars at a music shop. Her eyes seemed to take in each one, play them in her mind, and dismiss them. She asked to see one, green in color, and the employee that was helping them took it down for her. Jessi held it for a moment, strumming the strings and then flipped it over, looking at the price tag. Her face melted.

"I don't make this on a single paycheck," she commented, looking ready to hand the guitar back over to the employee.

Paul snatched it back and pressed it into her hands. "Did I ask if you make enough money to cover this?" he asked.

"Well, no, but…"

"No buts." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a wad of cash. "You're getting a new guitar. And we're going to have fun with it."

Jessi was pale as he counted out the money and handed it over to the employee. Smiling, Paul slipped the remaining money back into his jacket and escorted her out of the building. Jessi let her breath out in a rush.

"I don't know how you have that much money," she whispered, clutching the guitar like it was the most precious thing in the world. "I haven't seen that much money except in movies with drug dealers."

"Eh, so I pull a side hustle every now and then," Paul said offhandedly.

"WHAT?!" Jessi exclaimed, staring at him.

Paul laughed loudly and slapped his hand against his thigh. "Relax Jessi. It's all safe." He rolled his eyes. "God, for someone who enjoyed a good bit of weed the other night, you act like this is surprising. It's common knowledge that I enjoy the pleasures of bad seed."

Jessi made a face. "But I didn't think you dealt it."

Paul shrugged. "Meh."

The girl elbowed him in the side. "Don't meh me."

Paul spun around and danced in front of her. "Meh. Meh. Meh."

"Cut it out," Jessi ordered, glaring at him.

"Never, because it grows right back," Paul teased. "Plus it gives you the cutest grumpy face in the world." He pinched her cheek. "Look at the grump. Look at it."

Jessi snapped her teeth at him and he laughed. Putting his arm back around her shoulders, he escorted her towards the stairs that led down to the beach. Jessi paused at the top of the stairs and looked back towards the concert portion of the boardwalk in the far distance. Paul knew she couldn't hear the band playing, but he could. It was her brother's band from the sound of it.

Don't worry. They won't hurt you again.

OOOOOOOOOO

Jessi sat on a log next to a fire and held the guitar awkwardly on her lap. She watched the twisting tendrils of flame dance in the night and wished that she was gone. That she was safe somewhere other than Santa Carla. With her brother, making a name for the two of them. It had been the goal since they moved in with the idiots that terrorized them.

All of this could be gone. Forever in our past. We could be free. Finally free of those three demons and we could start a new life. Or finally start living. Like we should. I can write the songs, Jack can perform them. She chewed her bottom lip. We're so close to having the money needed to get out. Would it be so bad to ask for help?

Paul plopped down next to her and smiled, bumping his elbow against hers. Jessi glanced at him and then looked away. It still hurt to look at him. She wanted to say goodbye. She wanted him to leave her for good, but she also wanted him to stay. Because he was kind, he was fun. He saw something in her that was worth keeping around.

But I don't deserve something like that, like him. I really don't.

"C'mon, let me see that smile," Paul said, almost teasingly. "Let me see it, Beautiful."

Jessi shook her head and kept her gaze focused on anything but him. "Nope. Not happening."

Paul leaned in and pressed his lips to the place behind her ear, a light kiss. Jessi's body instantly lit up with heat and she turned her face towards his. Paul smiled at her and leaned in for a kiss, grazing his lips against hers. Jessi kissed him back softly.

"Well, look who made up," David's voice broke through the moment. "The rocker and our idiot brother. Perfect."

Jessi pulled away from Paul and glared at David. "Hey asshole, get a life."

OOOOOOOOOO

A/N: And we're cutting it off there. Because my brain hurts. I will get back to this story as soon as I can, but for now, leave a comment or two in the little box. Thank you and have a wonderful evening. -Scarlet