To the reviews

Larissa: Thanks so much for your review. I hope you like this chappie!

Whenthesandrunsout: I like your name reminds me of Prince Of Persia. I'm glad you like my story I appreciate the reviews. Review again!


According to the cops of Santa Carla, these things happened all the time. Krystal had been well aware of the feeling that if they had been home, everything would have been fine. Going to school so far away had in fact been her idea.

Kat being the good friend she was had followed. It had been a month since Krystal had found the body of her best friend. Her body had been sent back home along with a ticket for Krystal.

She didn't go. Part of her had wanted to leave and never look back. But the guilt was overwhelming. Kat was gone. Krystal was determined to stay and find her friends killer.

Krystal hadn't been back to the boardwalk since that night. Waking up in a cold hard bench in a police bench had been a rude awakening.

You would of thought…..

Here she was standing alone on the boardwalk in a sea of people. Her wild hair was in a tight ponytail. She was wearing fish net stalkings and a red mini skirt with a tight black sweater. She was bait.

Krystal was searching for the two strange men that had disappeared with her best friend nights ago. Heading for the stage would be her first clue. She was well aware of the looks that the passing boys and men were giving her. She adverted her eyes and walked faster towards her destination ignoring her shoulder thudding into another's. She looked up to give him a dirty look.

"You!"

His eyes were dancing in the nightlife. His hair was wild and wind wiped. 'We need to stop meeting up like this."

She paused and offered him a smile. "Paul."

He was studying her appearance noticing the differences from last time they had meant. She looked just as beautiful, but he noticed her eyes were different. She looked tired. "I thought you had skipped town."

"No. I'm not leaving until I can find out who killed my friend." Her eyes had gone cold upon him.

He stoped smiling and went silent. "Hey you wanna go sit someplace and talk?"

"No it's okay. I'm kinda in the middle of something." She had glanced away only to discover two all to familiar men chatting up a pretty blonde not far away. "Oh, I have to go." She could find her anger boiling in her blood. Before she could flee quickly, he was faster grabbing her arm. She looked down noticing his pale hands for the first time.

"Hey chill out girl. It's not going to do anyone any good if you cause a scene without any evidence." His face lit up with sincerity and his grip loosened.

"What am I suppose to do then?"" She nibbled on her lip. He offered her a ride on his bike again, this time she gave in. He took her gloved hand and led her to his motorbike that was parked near the video store next to three other similar bikes. She would just have to seek out the two men on her own accord. After all didn't she deserve some her time?

"You might want to zip your jacket." Paul smiled at her as she began to climb behind him.

"It does get cold." A new voice had rose out of the shadows of the alley next to the store. A tall man in a well-abused trench coat flanked with two others emerged. He was taking short drags off a bent cigarette. His ruffed bleach hair reminded him of Kat.

"David." Paul was still sitting on his bike looking weary at the blonde male in front of him.

"I'm Krystal." She offered then fidgeted with the zipper on her jacket avoiding their eyes. She was growing uneasy with each passing of breath. Her heartbeat was pounding in her ears.

"Krystal?" David smiled, and then laughed low. His attention flickered towards Paul. "What a beautiful name."

"There are tons of girls with that name." She locked eyes with him frozen.

"Modest aren't you?" He tossed his butt on the ground. "I'm David, this is Marko and Dwayne." He gestured to the men at his side. "Why don't we all go for a ride?"

Paul was about to protest but thought better. He pulled at Krystal's sleeve and she slide behind him. "Hold on beautiful."

She blushed. There it was again.

They raced in the night, the breeze blowing Krystal's hair madly in the night. She felt herself laugh as the boys yelling and cheering chased the scary night life from her mind. She loved the pressure of the adrenaline that was building in her body. She hugged Paul tighter. It was to a disappointment when they came to an abrupt stop.

David led the way a torch in his hand. "We are home." He ducked under a sign that was swaying in the wind on nothing but a single nail. If Krystal was mistaken the sign had clearly read "Danger".

But then again it might have been her imagination playing tricks on her ever cloudy mind. "Where are we?" Krystal's question was answered as she hit a hard rock button. It was a cave. The one called Dwayne threw a torch in a tall metal bin, and the flames instantly lit up the room. So it was cool. But did they seriously live here?

They sat around an old rusty fountain David facing them all in what appeared to be a wheelchair. He smiled at her and offered her a beer. She shook her head. "Beer to strong for you precious?" He gave her his low laugh again.

"No." She glared at him and snatched the brown liquid from him and threw back the entire bottle in one drink. They looked impressed. She smiled at them. She could play their games. Paul chuckled and turned on a beat box that he had whipped out of the corner. He bounced happily to her side and sheepishly wrapped his arm around her.

"So what brings you here." David inquired.

"Revenge." She grinned and took another bottle of beer. "My friend, she was murdered. I want to know who killed her." She shot David a hard look. Why did she just say that?

As the hour progressed she had started to enjoy the boys reasing and playful nature until Marko brought David a wine bottle and the mood changed. "Try some of this Krystal. It will help take the edge off." David closed his eyes and took a sip, savoring the crimson liquid. He passed the jeweled bottle to her.

"No that's okay." Krystal eyed the bottle suspiciously.

"It's getting late David. I should take Krystal home. " Paul pulled her off of the sofa. They exchanged rather hard to read expressions. Krystal muttered a 'bye' as Paul dragged her to his bike.

It was rather strange how Krystal didn't have to give Paul directions to her apartment. When they reached her door Paul lingered in the doorway. " You can come in you know."

Paul laughed and skipped into her apartment and plopped down on her bright pink sofa. "Nice color." He smirked at her.

"Funny." Krystal opened the fridge and pulled out a few beers and sat down opposite Paul on the worn leather chair.

"You know you don't have to drink yourself to death babe." Paul took both beers out of her hands and set them aside. He gently took her hands and pulled her onto his lap.

"I don't want to have sex with you." She starred at him waiting for his smart ass comment.

Paul laughed and licked his lips. "Wow." He pushed back her hair back from her face. "Maybe you should have a beer." He teased her.

Krystal shook her head and and ran her hands down his chest. " I don't need one."

"Good girl." He pushed into the small of her back bringing her closer. Their lips meet for a brief moment before Krystal pulled back and looked away. Paul bit his lip and suppressed an urge to try again. Her gaze was at the picture on the table beside them. It was her and Kat in their graduation clothes.

"I'm sorry." She turned back to him.

"Hey it's okay. I'll help you find the killers. I might even know where to look." Paul rubbed her shoulders, comforting her.

Krystal looked towards the bedroom door then back to him a smile creeping upon her face. "Do you want to stay Paul?"

He smirked again and kissed her. She didn't turn away or push him off. She wrapped her arms and legs around his body. It was either live a little or die not knowing what the other side may be like.

Paul moaned and stood up carrying her towards the door, their lips locked. He set her down and glanced at the clock. The smile faded from his face. "Listen beautiful, I don't want to rush you. I have to go, how about I pick you up tomorrow night at sundown."

Krystal raised her eyebrows. "Sundown? Oh okay."

Paul kissed her again with a lust, "see you later beautiful."

"Mmhmm." Krystal closed her eyes and raised her fingertips to where Paul's lips had just crossed on her cheeks.


Thanks for the reviews! Keep them coming! Any suggestions?

Janie