A/N: Hello again, my lovelies. It's been way, way, way too long since I last updated this story and things have not been looking good for me, but I am trying to get back into myself again. So I've written a short update for this story. And I hope that you don't mind it being this short. I tried to get into it again, but my head got a bit stuck. Please bear with me and enjoy.
OOOOOOOOO
Jessi hummed as she wandered through the house from the bathroom, fresh out of the shower and dressed for the day. This was the only time that she could do this in peace since her brother's bandmates were sleeping during the day and wouldn't try to do anything to her when she was in the shower or changing clothes. The daylight hours were the safest times for her to do anything naked and Jessi hated that fact, wishing that she could just feel safe in her own skin for more than fifteen minutes at any given moment.
Soon, Jessi promised herself, walking past her brother's room on the way to hers. Soon, we'll be out of here and we'll be in our own place far away from this Hellhole and they'll never both us again. I'll be free to wear what I want without Lester's pervy comments and his leers. As if I need those or accept them in the first place. Ugh! He is such a creep.
Jessi paused outside her room and stared at the cross that dominated the door. She had had to put up crosses on her door and her bedroom window. There were some on her walls to, just as a precaution and they did their job well.
Shaking her head, the blonde moved into her room and closed the door most of the way. Her notebook was still lying on her bed and Jessi bounded over to it. Plopping lightly down onto the purple sheets, Jessi scooped up the notebook and her pencil and looked at the words that she had scrawled down on the white sheets.
Soft words passed through her lips as she followed the words and tried to imagine singing them in front of a crowd of people. Shaking her head every now and then, Jessi scratched out a word or two and changed them. She lifted her voice at points and flipped through the pages, trying to figure out what exactly she had intended to do with these lyrics in the first place.
"Oh, what's the point?" Jessi muttered, dropping the notebook onto the bed and falling back against the pillows.
"I thought they sounded pretty good," Jack's voice floated from her doorway, spooking her.
Jessi's dark eyes lifted to meet his blue ones and she saw that her big brother was standing in her doorway with his hands braced on either side of it. His blond hair was still tousled from sleep and his fit chest was bare, but he was smiling as he looked at her. Jessi rolled her eyes and nudged her notebook with her foot.
"Those aren't that great," Jessi said, hugging her stomach.
"Jessi," Jack sighed, stepping into the room. "I think you're looking at this the wrong way. Where's your guitar?"
Jessi pointed at the corner of her room where her purple guitar sat and Jack grabbed it before walking over to the bed. He plopped down next to her and settled the guitar on his lap. Jessi watched him tune it for a moment before he grabbed her notebook and tossed it to her.
"Pick one," he ordered, giving her a small smile. "And start singing."
Jessi caught the notebook and frowned. "I don't wanna."
"Jessi, sing."
The blonde sighed and flipped through the book, searching the words. She straightened her spine and looked over at her brother. Jack gave her a look as he put his fingers to the strings of her guitar, waiting for her. Jessi sighed again and looked back at her notebook and started singing softly. As Jack listened, his fingers started playing on the guitar and Jessi leaned forward, lowering her notebook since she really didn't need it. Jack smiled and mouthed "little louder" after a few seconds at her and Jessi lifted her voice a bit. It wasn't like the others were going to wake up and stop them from doing this. They hadn't before.
Jessi wrapped her arms around her legs and let her voice trail off as the song ended and Jack stilled his fingers on the guitar strings, letting the notes fade on their own. His blue eyes held hers for a moment and then he smirked at her.
"And you said that they weren't that great," he teased, tilting his head to the side. "What a load of bullshit, Sis."
"Okay, one, they aren't that great," Jessi said, tossing her notebook aside. "And two, you're only saying that they are because you're my big brother, Jack."
Jack rolled his eyes as he set the guitar down. "Yeah, well this big brother is about to do something to you."
"What?" Jessi asked, lifting an eyebrow before squeaking as Jack pounced on her and started tickling her. "No! Jack, no! Stop! Stop!"
Jack laughed and continued tickling the girl, letting her twist and squirm under him. Jessi let out a small growl after a few minutes and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck. She flipped him onto his back and pinned him under her, sitting on his stomach and held his hands over his head. Jack laughed as she stared down at him.
"No freaking tickling," Jessi grumbled, glaring down at him. "You know I hate it when you do that."
Jack quirked up an eyebrow at her and then stuck his tongue out at her. Jessi snapped her teeth at him before smirking. Jack laughed again and looked up at her, wiggling his fingers.
"I still say that you have some pretty great talent, Jessi," Jack told her with a small smile. "You just have to keep practicing and actually believe in yourself for once." He gestured with his eyes towards the door. "Don't let those creeps make you think that you're not any good because you're great. If I could have put you into Death's Kiss, I would have done it."
"Sure, you would have," Jessi said, squeezing his wrists as she sank further onto his stomach.
"Jessi, I really would have if I could trust Lester and the others to keep their slimy hands off of you," Jack insisted, giving her a look that she knew was sincere and she saw the pain in his eyes. "It's bad enough that I can't keep them from hitting on you whenever they're offstage or in the house, but to think that they could do it all the time? I couldn't do that to you, Sis. I'm not that kind of brother."
"You're the best brother, Jack," Jessi told him, leaning over and pressing a kiss to his forehead. "And you're doing a damn good job of taking care of me. Mom and Dad would be proud of you." She gave him a small smile as she settled back on his stomach. "You seriously need to stop trying to tickle me though. You always end up pinned."
Jack's eyes glinted and a slow smirk crossed his lips as his fingers curled. "Well, Jessi, maybe that needs to change."
"Not on your life."
"Too late."
Jessi cried out as Jack used his legs to pull her off of him and pinned her under his body again. "Jack! That is not fair!" she exclaimed, looking up at him as he pinned her under his body. "You are so getting your ass kicked for this one!"
"After you admit that you're a great singer, that I'm the best brother in the world, and I feed you breakfast since I know you haven't eaten again," Jack said, smirking down at her as he gripped her wrists in his hands. "You have a very bad habit of doing that, Sis."
"Sue me," Jessi grumbled before rolling her eyes. "Fine. You're the best brother in the entire world. Now feed me."
"You're forgetting something," Jack said, tightening his grip slightly. "I want to hear you say those words, Jessi."
Jessi glared up at him. "Why?"
"Say them."
"I'm a great singer," Jessi mumbled. "There, happy?"
Jack nodded and released her wrists as he jumped onto his feet on the bed. "That'll do for now, but one day I'm going to make you say them a lot louder. With feeling. Because I want you to actually believe in yourself, Jessi." He jumped from the bed. "Since I believe in you, you should believe in yourself, Sis."
The blonde rolled off the bed and landed lightly on her feet. "I'll do it in my own time, okay?" She jumped onto his back and rested her chin on his shoulder, brushing his hair out of her face. "Now, what was this about feeding me? I want some of your famous flapjacks, Jack."
Jack laughed and wrapped his arms around her legs. "Coming right up."
OOOOOOOOO
Paul bounded out of the sleeping chamber and stopped when he saw something that he liked. Tilting his head to the side, Paul stared for a moment and put his tongue in his cheek before speaking.
"Your ass never fails to look good in those jeans, Faith," Paul laughed, bouncing on his toes as he watched Faith slide into a new pair of shoes.
Faith twisted around and gave him a small smile. "You'd better not let David hear you say that, Paul." She flicked her hair over her shoulder as she put her hands on her hips. "He'd kick your sexy little butt for that one."
Paul tossed his hair and moved closer. "I ain't scared, Sis. He can try all he wants. I'm still gonna comment on a good ass when I see one." He tapped her on the nose. "How are you feeling tonight, Faith? You feeling good?"
Faith snapped her teeth at him and then nodded. "Yeah, I feel a bit better than I did yesterday. Thanks to you and David." She slid her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his chest. "Paul, thanks for getting me out of Adalyn and making me laugh again. I knew I could count on you to make me feel better."
The wild blond wrapped his arms around Faith and squeezed her tightly. He really did love this crazy redhead like an adorable little sister. And it killed him every single time that she had to go into her head and let David's murdered love out for a spell, but at least she always came back to them. And hey, he'd brought her back this time. That was something, right?
"Anytime Faith," Paul promised, pressing a loud kiss to her hair. "I've got your back, your mind, and your ass. Just say that word and your favorite wild brother will be there to make a good joke to save the day, all right? I'll even give you a good pat on the butt too."
Faith jumped back before he could actually touch her butt and she stuck her tongue out at him. "You are so going to get in trouble with David if you keep this up," she warned with a smile. She gestured to the front of the hotel-cave. "You better make a break for the record shop if you want to survive the night, Paul."
Paul bowed at the waist. "Okay, okay. I know when I'm not wanted." He bounded forward and pressed another loud kiss to her forehead before darting towards the entrance to the hotel-cave. I'm coming for you, Jessi…
The ride to the boardwalk was a blur, but maybe that was because Paul had taken it so many times before or since he had driven his motorcycle as fast as he could. The Lost Boy darted through the crowd and then slowed down as he came within sight of the record shop. He laughed to himself at thought of seeing the look on Jessi's face when he showed up yet again in her record shop just to bug her. But how could he help himself? She was just too yummy.
"Here I come," Paul sang, skipping towards the record shop and opening the door. "Jessi!"
Jessi was sitting on the counter with her bat on her lap, one leg swinging back and forth against the wood. Her dark eyes turned towards the door as it closed behind Paul and she rolled them as she met his gaze. Paul noticed how her hands tightened on the bat.
"Paul, what the hell are you doing here?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. "Didn't you steal enough from Toni already?"
Paul shook his head and moved closer. "I didn't come to steal from Toni this time, Jessi." He grinned. "Okay, maybe I did, but not his records. I plan on stealing something else."
Jessi's eyes darted in the direction of the register and her hands tightened on the bat even more. "Paul…"
Ooh, she thinks I wanna play that game, huh? Paul thought, his smile growing as he pressed in closer to the blonde. In my past maybe, but I wanna play something else…
"Relax Jessi," Paul said, earning her attention once. "I didn't come to rob the till. I came to steal you from Toni for a bit. I'm sure that the old boy won't mind."
Jessi reached out with her bat and poked him with the blunt end. "I mind. And I don't want to be stolen by you, Paul."
"Oh, c'mon, Jessi," Paul whined, giving her a pouty face. "I wanna play with you and take you all over the boardwalk." He pressed closer to her and let the bat dig into his chest a bit. "I probably won't take no for an answer, Beautiful."
"Probably won't or won't?"
Paul smiled. "Won't."
Jessi jerked her head in the direction of the door. "Get outta here, Paul. I don't wanna play with you today. I have a job to do."
"I bet I can get you out of this job tonight," Paul said, putting his hands on his hips.
The blonde girl shook her head. "I don't think so."
Paul laughed and then put his hands around his mouth. "Hey Toni! Toni!"
Jessi's boss came strolling out of the backroom, cursing at the noise, but his eyebrows rose in surprise when he saw Paul. A slow smile stretched across his face when Toni approached the Lost Boy. He crossed his arms over his narrow chest and tilted his head to the side so that his one earring gleamed.
"You came back, Paul," he commented.
"Yep and I need you to let this chica go for the night," Paul said, gesturing at Jessi who looked annoyed. "I wanna take her out for a night of fun and she can't do that if she's slaving away here with her bat, threatening people."
"Can I hit him?" Jessi asked, shifting her bat in her lap. "Just a dozen times or so?"
Toni shook his head and looked back at Paul. "You promise to keep her safe, Paul? I kind of need her to run this place since she's the best employee that I have. Bat and all."
Paul nodded his head. "Yeah, I got her."
"Then she's yours for the night," Toni said with a wide smile. "Jessi, you're off the clock."
"What?!" Jessi exclaimed, looking at her boss. "Toni, you can't be serious!"
"I am," Toni told her. "Now, c'mon. Get off the counter, drop the bat, and get out of here. I don't want to see you until tomorrow afternoon."
Paul put his tongue in his cheek as Jessi grumbled and jumped from the counter. She smacked him lightly with the bat and then chucked it into a corner. The wild Lost Boy laughed as he followed her towards the door and eyed her shapely rear through the denim of her jeans.
Ooh, this is going to be so much fun!
OOOOOOOOO
A/N: Told you it was a bit short. I really did get a bit stuck and I just wanted to get something out while was in a writing mode. I will attempt to write more like I usually do with the next update, but I can't really make promises at this point. I do hope that you will leave a review or two in the little box to let me know what you think of this story so far. I will try to come back when I can and hopefully my Paul Muse won't fade away like so many of my other Muses have a nasty habit of doing. Thank you and have a pleasant day! -Scarlet
