Title: And Then There Were Two
Author: TWBasketcase
Chapter Summary: Last chapter people:( It was a long run, but a fun (and a little depressing) none the less. I decided I will do an epilogue for this story; so technically this isn't the last chapter but the last one…if you catch my drift. So anyways I figure I am not gonna do this in Bender or Allison's POV's…but Jackie's. So that you aren't confused.
A/N: I just want to thank EVERYONE who has reviewed this story; you guys are awesome and my thoughts just wouldn't have come together as easily without you. You guys rule and you all know who you are; Big hugs for everyone!

Chapter 22 – A Little Relief

I gotta say when I hopped outta that car and saw my friend huddled to the ground like some little punk kid…I was scared; scared to hear him, scared to see him, and scared of him. Not once in my life have I ever seen him look so vulnerable and…well fragile…and I sure as hell didn't know what to do. What made me feel worse though is that Johnny's new friend Allison would know what to do. He did ask for her; there had to be some sort of bond…some elusive bond that ran deeper than what I could ever understand had to be there. Johnny just doesn't go around pleading for someone to help him…and I didn't even know what the hell was wrong with him. To tell you the truth I just naturally assumed he was all fucked up on some drug or another and then got into it with his dad. But for some reason, this girl – this new and strange girl – knew exactly what was going on with my best friend of eight years. As soon as she said the words…knowing that it was only added insult to injury rather than some drug induced domestic dispute, I knew.

I knew what was going on here and for some reason I felt like I was actually the only one who did know. That's why I told her to go; that's why I told her to go help him and 'fix' him, if you will. I stepped outta my role as the best friend and told her to go ahead of me because that's what he wanted. He may have not realized it…hell she probably had no damn clue…but I did.

I watched her every move as she made her way across that park. I saw how gentle and drawn back she was. It sounds strange but she is kinda like this strange, but wise entity. She is real quiet and strange, but kinda stubborn at the same time. She seems just like the kinda girl that could talk some sense into Johnny…maybe not in a realistic kinda way but more of an idealistic, yet logical kinda way.

I could tell from the second I met her that something was up with my old buddy. He had this weird protective thing going on with her; he wasn't even like that with me when my incident with Dez happened. I mean, I don't exactly know the whole story on these two and how they met and everything; hell as far as I know they could have just met like two weeks ago! But either way I could tell that my old bud was hooked on her and that's all there is to it.

I looked up at the sky and noticed the clouds starting to swirl; it was about to piss down rain and I ain't about to sit here and get soaked! I reached down to the handle of my car door and opened briskly, sliding down into the warmth inside. I slouched in my seat and focused my attention to the scene in the all but vacant park.

He was cradling his face and rocking violently back and forth, while she tried desperately to bring him to face her. She tugged at his arms and pushed his hair away; hell Johnny didn't let most girls touch him unless it was his cock but this one was persistent. Although I couldn't hear what was being said, the looks on their faces and the pleading actions of their bodies said it all…they needed each other. It must have been in this sick, twisted soul mate kinda way…if you wanna believe in that kinda shit.

I always thought that in some way shape or form there is someone out there that could easily understand why you thought about the things the way you did, or why you do the things that you do. Someone who no matter what would look out for you and always have your back no matter how much dumb shit you did. That's my idea of a soul mate; just some weird mental and spiritual connection. But I always looked at Johnny as being someone who is completely out there with his ways and very unpredictable. I mean I have talked to the guy a lot in the past eight years and have come to know him well but I never understood or comprehended why he is such a dumb shit at times. But this girl does, and she doesn't seem to give two shits how much drama happens to come up between the two of them she is just always there watching his back…just like he is to her. The thought of Johnny finding someone like that made me smile, if not a little envious.

I watched the scene before me with fascination; Johnny was crying and she was pleading, and now he is yelling and she is crying. I smirked at the quarrel and folded my arms; if they don't get it through their thick skulls anytime soon I think I am gonna go out there and crack said skulls together. He was pointing his fingers and waving his arms around exasperatedly as if he was trying to make an obvious point…and she just stood back and took it like she expected some sort of blow up or another. That's the thing with Johnny; you can always expect him to blow up in a given situation it's just when and how he does it that surprises you. He can make ya laugh and then make ya cry in a matter of seconds.

And that's what she did; cried silently and took the heat from him as if she wouldn't wanna be anywhere else. It was strange really. It was when she got up and stormed back towards me that I felt my stomach sink. He sat kneeling and tried with everything he had to get up and call her back to him.

This went from a man hunt to a fuckin' lover's dispute.

I watched as she stopped and took his bait and then he turned his back on her. I rolled my eyes; get this shit over with already! Keep on chasing each other around and making each other cry. It's like a god damned soap opera.

The rain began to fall against my windshield and the wind picked up; as if the scene unfolding in the park had an effect on the stormy weather. I flipped on my headlights and turned on the windshield wipers…blasting the heat while I was at it.

I kinda felt like I was watching one of those really angsty romance movies; one where everything goes wrong for the characters and then all this unresolved sexual tension builds up and finally you're just screaming, "please just do it already! Do us all a fucking favor and fuck each other's brains out!"

I laughed at my own antics as I saw them both drenched from head to toe staring at each other sickly in the rain. And once they finally did kiss each other I almost felt like sending off a ten horn salute.

They kissed and groped and gazed until she knocked him down into the wet grass. I guess even the ugly, poor, bizarre-o kids get a happy ending sometimes too, huh?

I let out a chuckle as they laughed and made out in the pouring rain; through all the shit they started and been through together they deserve it. I don't know what's gonna happen with Bender and his parents, or Allison with Dez for that matter, but all that I do know is that things will be lookin' up. They looked free and unfazed and if that's all they wanted for the moment then that's how its gonna stay. Let them have there fuckin' moment or whatever.

I smiled and put the car in reverse; watching the two bodies as they got smaller and smaller until they disappeared into the afternoon rain. I'll catch up with 'em later…but for now I feel like I could use a drink.