When Jay returned to the main club in a cheerful mood, it was already dark, and she arrived alone.
"Where's Mia?" asked Gary in an attempt to be casual.
"What do you care?" she sneered, "But if you must know, she's headed home."
Jay attempted to walk past, but Gary grabbed her arm in a vice-like grip.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, struggling to get free.
"I saved your life. Remember that," he said steely before letting her go.
She glared at him and huffed upstairs.
Gary glowered at a spot on the floor just past his own feet. Nick leaned casually on the bar, watching his friend with a sidewards glance.
"You didn't have to be so harsh to her you know," he commented.
"So? Since when did you care?" he snapped back.
Nick's usually cheerful expression turned to a blank as he stared at his friend.
"I don't," he said finally, walking away, "I just wish you'd stop acting like the whole damn world's against you or something."
The moment he vanished from sight, Gary threw a bottle at where his friend had originally stood, before slumping into a chair, sighing. What was wrong with him? He didn't usually have a temper. In fact, it was usually extremely difficult to get him to show any kind of emotion at all.
Damn he hated Mia for being able to do this to him.
"Mother, I'm home!" called out the raven haired teenager.
"Where on earth have you been?" she asked, eyeing the box of sweets her daughter had brought back.
"Autumn's café with Jay," she replied casually.
"Alright! Candy!" exclaimed another voice, this time deeper.
He turned around on the couch and grabbed the bag off his sister.
"Hey!" she protested, but allowed him to start eating anyway.
"Misty!"
"They there Mia, how's it been?"
"I've been better. How about you?"
"Fine, fine…"
"Really? Are you sure you don't require therapy? I mean, spending so much time with my brother can alter a person's mental health drastically…"
A muffled, "Hey, I resent that!" came from her older brother, glaring at her.
She stuck out her tongue, but when Ash attempted to do the same, Misty clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Swallow first," she ordered.
He glared at his wife, but did so nevertheless. Mia laughed as Misty smiled smugly at him.
"I'll leave you three alone then," remarked their mother, leaving and shaking her head as she smiled.
Although they'd spent most of their time abroad, she didn't think she'd done too bad a job with them. They could take care of themselves now. Still, she'd missed so much of their lives…
"How've you been?" asked Mia gently, hugging her sister-in-law.
"Alright, I suppose," she replied shakily.
"So you know?" Ash stated, rather than asked.
Mia nodded her confirmation. Misty put on a brave face as Ash pulled her closer, protective of his wife now that the truth finally hit him.
"… They don't think he's going to come after you now, Mist. What with Ash's fame, it's too risky," she said softly.
Mia gazed out the window, watching the shadows play.
"Who's 'they'?" asked a confused Ash.
"The Vixens. The Dragoons. Jay… Gary."
The last name was said in almost a whisper, so that Ash had to strain to hear her voice.
"Then who's his next target?"
Misty caught onto Mia's silence before Ash could even begin to ponder it.
"Oh no… Mia, I'm so sorry… I didn't mean… I…"
Misty broke out into fervent sobbing, face hidden in her hands. Ash's confusion grew.
"Misty…"
"Don't you get it? They think it's her!" she screeched, shoulders shaking, at Ash.
He took his time processing this information.
"What's going on?" asked their mother, rushing in with a worried gasp.
"Nothing, Mum. Misty's just tired," replied Ash with a convincing smile.
Misty nodded, wiping away her tears, trying to smile. She remained, however, extremely doubtful, but chose not to push it.
"Of course, dear. I'll have your room ready soon, alright?"
Misty nodded and thanked her gratefully. Then, Ash turned to Mia.
"Is that true?" he asked in a lowered voice.
She nodded.
"What about your being my sister? Doesn't that account for anything? And your fame?"
"I'm off work at the moment. I'm an easy enough target here and I don't live in a mansion," she replied dully.
Ash clenched his fists and nodded, turning away.
"So there's nothing I can do?"
Mia shook her head.
"Very well then. Take care."
He placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and met his clear hazel gaze, so different from her own sapphire blue eyes, but with the same clarity. She nodded, feeling the weight of his words. It was the first time he hadn't attempted to stop her from travelling a path he felt was all too dangerous for her. He trusted her to look after herself now.
"I will bro, don't you worry," she said, attempting a wobbly half smile.
"Maybe you should go see him," suggested Jack.
Mia stared back at him as if she'd been slapped.
"And face it all over again? No way."
"Face what all over again? Come on Mia, how many years has it been? Hell, I don't even know what this is all about! The least you could do is tell me!"
Mia snorted in disgust.
"Why don't you ask him."
"Ask who? Gary doesn't know what he did wrong. At least, if he does, he hasn't told me. Just give him another chance, if not for his sake, then for ours. He's driving the whole gang crazy."
"So kick him out."
She was not in the mood for any of this. She hadn't been in the wrong, so why should she make the first move? Why should she make any move? He didn't exist to her. Not anymore.
You may cloud your mind, but never your heart.
"Oh yes. We're all just going to go up to him and say, 'You're out, Gary'. We both know it doesn't work like that."
She knew alright. No matter how hard she tried, it kept following her. Stupid jackass. He made her join in the first place…
"So what do you want me to do about it?"
"Just talk to him or something! Anything!"
Talk? A long time ago, she may have considered this. But that was a very long time ago. Talking proved useless if there is no truth in what is spoken, and she couldn't trust him not to lie. Not anymore. Not after that. Not ever. Never.
"Why should I?"
This had nothing to do with her. Why did she need to worry? It was no concern of hers. Never was, never will be.
Always has been, always will be…
"Because you're the only one who can. Please, Mia. For a friend."
She stopped a moment to consider this. If it was to help a friend, would it be that bad? After all, it meant nothing to her…
It means everything…
So why did it bother her? No, it didn't. She just didn't feel like talking, that was all. She was never one to sit down and discuss things. Shoot first, ask questions later. Any other way would mean certain death for any gang member. What could she do about it? It was the lore of their society, and that was that.
"We'll see," she said, shrugging.
Ignoring the exasperated look on Jack's face, Mia casually walked away, her footsteps marked by the noise given off when the heel of her knee-high black boots made contact with the cement floor. Jack sighed, defeated, and stepped through the backdoor of Celeste. Their meetings were brief and near the club, but never in it. It held too many memories for Mia. Yet, while he could understand why she mightn't wish to return to her status, he couldn't understand why she refused to talk to Gary. What was up between the two of them?
Inside, Mia knew she was hurting. Knew that the pain was growing every time she returned. Yet she couldn't stay away. Because the pain was her last connection. The connection to her past. She couldn't turn back, and she knew better than to dwell on it, but she was unable to help herself. She had to have something. Anything. Anything at all which would remind her… As much as she hated to admit it, she was caught. Caught between the past, the present, and the future.