Through the Notches In Your Spine

"Let go of me!"

A wrist was snatched back by the owner. A ring of red bruised flesh was the result of the hold. The girl knew she would have a bruise there in the morning, a bruise in the shape of Derrick Harrington's hand print. Massie straightened her back, keeping her arms crossed in front of her.

"Massie, you have to listen to me," the blond boy in front of her pleaded.

"Shut up," she spoke harshly, taking two steps back.

For the first time in her life, control did not belong to Massie Block. Instead a boy with broad shoulders, muscular arms and a tendency for violence had the control. And she had a feeling of fear that licked at her mind, leaving her in a cold sweat. Why had she even agreed to meet him there? They were in the middle of nowhere, a mile or two away from Westchester, in a dark forest at 2 in the morning. Massie hadn't brought a jacket, but the shivers she was getting were not from the cold – they were from the ominous boy in front of her.

Derrick swore, but didn't advance any closer. His voice dropped, "Massie, baby, you have to believe me, I…"

His voice trailed off, the distant sound of sirens piercing the air. His brown eyes dipped to face her amber ones. His tongue licked his lips, a nervous habit picked up from excessive lying, and his eyes were locked onto hers. Massie felt a tingle of control, just a little bit, being placed back into her hand. Her mouth spread in a vicious smirk.

"You really thought you could get away with all this?" Massie threw her head back and laughed mockingly.

"Y-you promised me," Derrick was the furthest thing from laughing. His betrayed eyes searched her body language for any sign of mercy. There were none. He had expected none.

Massie laughed again and took a step towards him, "Evidently you forgot who you were talking to. I'd say you're about screwed, no?"

His hands reached for his pocket, the shell shocked look disappearing off his face. Instead hard lines replaced the innocent boyish ones. When had Derrick acquired such a new look? Was it when he'd had to defend himself countless times to Massie's veiled insults and sly digs about his family? Was it when she went for the jugular in battles between the two?

In the soft 2 AM light, the knife in his hand wasn't quite visible to Massie who was smirking across from him.

The only time Derrick ever liked Massie was when she had her guard down.

And he liked her very much at this time.

"You have to tell us, man, were there any girls or what?" Joshua asked, his eyes shining bright with inappropriateness.

He bathed a fry in a bath of ketchup before popping it in his mouth. Well, now he knew what heaven was like. He hadn't had a fry in over two months, courtesy of anal Kristen telling him to eat healthy. He was a growing teenage boy and he'd be damned if he couldn't eat his favourite food. Of course he wasn't just defying Kristen's food logic, but her people logic as well.

She just couldn't get over what Derrick had supposedly done to Massie.

The boy he was questioning allowed a slow smile to cross his face. It was like he was more popular than ever, returning from his prison sentence. Everyone knew what had happened, and who had done it. But Derrick's name had never been released to the press due to him being underage.

"Don't tell us you had to resort to doing guys," Kemp snickered, as he adjusted his snapback in the edgy teenage boy way.

To the other boys Kemp's comment might have been a sly joke, but the glint in Kemp's eyes told a whole different story to Derrick. He knew the comment had been a dig at his family. Hmm, he wondered what Massie had been telling everyone. Swiftly he changed the subject.

"I'm not supposed to talk about that," he dismissed the boys hanging on his every word, and settled for a safer, but more dramatic topic. "How's the ice bitch?"

Josh and Chris exchanged looks. They both knew it would be inevitable to talk about Massie, but they hadn't expected Derrick to bring it up so soon.

"She's still at that mental institution," Chris finally said.

"Ah," Derrick didn't press, "and how's our favourite slut?"

"Alicia is…somehow less sluttier than usual. She's been very down low about her relationships," Josh said. He actually hadn't noticed the change in his ex-girlfriend until now.

"I'd bet she is," Derrick smirked.

The boys were all getting a feeling of fear building up in their spines. Derrick's tone was all knowing, omniscient, and down right scary. It was like he knew things they didn't and he was going to use those things for horrible reasons.

"Enough about them, tell me why Cammy boy isn't greeting me tonight."

Another look was exchanged. In all reality Cam really hadn't been the same since Derrick had left. He'd been withdrawn for a long time and had stopped hanging with the guys. He'd taken to only talking to two people: Claire and Dylan. It was almost hilarious that Derrick of all people was back, and Cam was still off in his own world.

"He has depression," Chris said.

"What the fuck, Chris?" Josh hissed.

"What? I diagnosed him, okay?"

"You always were a little nerd," Derrick's voice cut in bitingly and the two others stopped their bickering.

The moment passed, the deadly silence going on and on. Derrick stood up from his spot in the diner they were sitting in. He looked them all over with a menacing look before finding what he was looking for and nodding his head.

"I'm back. Enough of this shit, let's party tonight, okay?"

"It's so good to see you!"

A drunk Olivia Ryan plastered herself all over Cam, spilling her beer onto Dylan's newest wedge heels. Dylan winced as the beer seeped between her toes, the warm stickiness adding to her discomfort. Why had she let Cam drag her here? Why were they here in the first place? Oh yeah, because he'd knocked on her door earlier that day with a murderous look on his face and the urge to get drunk. She'd presumed it was a Claire thing.

"Hey, Olivia," Cam muttered and pulled back, "where are the drinks?"

"In the fridge! Don't you want to dance with me?" Olivia shouted.

Dylan could tell Cam was getting agitated with a drunken dumbass harassing him. She took it upon herself to step in.

"Hey, Olivia, I'll dance with you, 'kay?" Dylan said, letting a small smile grace her mouth.

Cam could tell he would be owing Dylan for a long time. He nodded his head before disappearing into the kitchen, leaving Dylan alone with a very dumb and very plastered blonde. Who apparently liked dancing while under the influence.

She had underestimated the blonde however, who pulled her against her body and began to grind against Dylan. Her eyes were wide with shock, how much had this girl had to drink? Whooping crazily, Olivia managed to capture all the other party-goers' attention. Dylan felt crimson blush her cheeks, oh shite, she had to get out of there.

"You know, I have to pee," Dylan shouted over the music.

"Boo, you whore!" Olivia shouted louder.

Ducking her head, Dylan managed to untangle herself from Olivia and sneak off – not to the bathroom. She ended up in a hallway where the music wasn't blaring as much. God, she was sweating, her feet were killing her and she just wanted to go home and change. Her dress was a strapless emerald green that made walking extremely hard to do without popping a tit out. She obviously wasn't having a good time.

"Hey, Marvil."

The redhead looked up at the chilling voice. As she met his eyes, a shiver went down her spine, as if someone was sticking their fingers in the notches and forcing her to contort in fear. The rumours she had been hearing were true. Derrick Harrington was back in Westchester.

Forcing her back straight, she stared at him and attempted to pretend nothing was wrong.

"Hey Derrick!" She chirped.

A smile tugged at the corner of his serious mouth, "Avoiding me?"

"Nah, you caught me by surprise. Drunk Olivia just tried to fuck me," Dylan shrugged a shoulder.

"You're looking…well," he said, disregarding her story.

"I am doing well, thanks," her voice turned stiff.

"All thanks to me, huh?" Derrick's smile turned into a wide grin.

She thought he looked terrifying and he knew he was terrifying. Shark mouth about to eat his prey.

"All thanks to you," the words were whispered.

"Remember, you owe me, sweet Dylly," Derrick murmured before turning around and walking out of the hallway.

She stared at the ground, hating where she was and hating who she was. Dylan just wanted to turn back time to when they were young and innocent. She didn't want to change Massie and Derrick, for some odd reason she knew they'd end up right back here if she even tried. No, what she wanted to do in the past was to run away from the two most malicious people she'd ever known. Maybe if Dylan had been smarter back then, she would have realized the troubles they'd cause her.

Almost breathing again, her breath was stolen from her once again. Cam was running down the hallway to her, his voice contorted with rage. Obviously the drinking hadn't helped his problem.

"I saw Derrick come here, what did he want?" He panted, his eyes searching for Derrick as if he were hidden in the shadows.

"Nothing," she said, even though the lie left a bitter taste in her mouth, "he wanted nothing."

"What did he say to you?" Cam interrogated.

Dylan sighed, "He just wanted to know what was new."

The dark haired boy in front of her placed his forehead in his palm, leaning back against the wall. His Adam's apple bobbed anxiously in nervous swallows. This was the worst Dylan had ever seen him in, and this was because of Derrick.

She wondered what Derrick knew.

And she wondered what other secrets she and Cam hid from each other.

It was raining and Alicia had no idea how she felt. Well, she felt confused, and worn out, and a little sad, but what was that feeling put together? She had no idea. Pulling her hood up, she rang the buzzer again, this time not even hope in her head. Finally she stopped and took a step back, letting a small tear grace the side of her face. What was the point? It was over.

All because of Alicia the only person she'd ever love hated her. Fantastic.

The Rivera pulled out her phone and proceeded to call said person. They were number 1 on Alicia's speed dial, just like they were in her heart. Alicia took a deep breath as the phone call went straight to voicemail. She peered up the apartment condos and searched for the right one. The lights were on. No doubt about it, Alicia was being avoided.

"Hey," she sighed into her phone, "Harrington. Do you just…do you want to call me back? I love you. A lot. I need you."

And then she hung up and slide down the rainy brick wall. She was too tired to move, too sad to even do anything. The only thing she could do was breathe, and even that was hard. Her life was too fucked to handle, and she wanted to stop handling it.

She wanted to disappear.

Well friends you might be asking yourselves "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?"

and its part of the suspense. Anyway heres a few replies to you fantastic people xx I honestly haven't felt this excited to write before, you guys are rocking so hard. Thank you so much for making writing this so much fun!

Anonymous: Thanks you're fantastic! i'm glad this fic makes you feel that way ahah. Well heres the update, so enjoy this chapter!

Guest: Thanks very much!, heres the second installment

tyrells: here you are! thank you so much for always leaving such great reviews.

ethereals: hey lily thanks for your feedback you're a fantastic pal

Dead Angels Lie: I FEEL YOU SO HARDCOREE! Drown is pretty amazing and it's really different from other bmth stuff but its still fab. Did you notice 'the days are a death wish' are also by bmth? ahah make a ff account so we can fangirl over bands together!

ThoseEvilDucks: here's the update! Thanks very much for the compliments. loving the pen-name by the way, makes me wonder what you've experienced.

PW: Yo, i can't tell you the entire plot! it's part of the story - to try and figure out what exactly happened. thanks for dropping a review, hope you like this chapter!