PIERS NIVANS

Jill and I are in the back of Chris' car. My parents said it was okay for us to go out. We went back to Jill's house so her and Chris could get a change of clothes lucky Helena and I had brought them to the party. Chris was forced to borrow one of Jill's dad's v-neck t-shirts. "So, you enjoy the dance," Jill whispers. I blush and nod, "You set that up right?" "Actually, he asked me if he should, but he came up with it," she smiled. "Thanks Jill... Made my night," I smile. "Alright we're here," Chris says and we get out of the car. "You have it," Helena asks Jill. She smiles and pulls a bottle of vodka from her Chris' green cargo jacket he'd left in the car. "Ugh, guys! I want to remember tonight," I tell them. "Calm down, it's the four of us and there's not that much left," Helena smiles. "Yeah, we'll barely get drunk," Chris says. "Fine..." I agree in defeat.

We're sitting in a field in Raccoon Park, the lake is in view. We each take turns swigging from the bottle until it's empty. Chris drank the most and he's not even drunk, barely even buzzed. Jill, Helena and I were a little tipsy, but not that much, just buzzed I guess. Then the trouble started. "I have to pee," Chris said walking off to find somewhere to go. When he's gone three woman walk up. The middle is Jessica Sherawat, to her left is Ashley Graham, and to the right is Excella Gionne. They were the 'popular' (Bitchy) group of girls at school. "What are you losers doing here," Jessica asks. "Just leave Jessica," Jill says. "HA! I have to ask why Chris likes you? I mean, he can do SO much better, and he settled for you! I think he was only dared to ask you out! You can't actually think he has feeling for you," she smiles wickedly. "Shut the fuck up," Jill yells still sitting in the grass. "He doesn't care Jill... Soon enough he'll be onto the next girl," she smiles again, "Oops!" She says fakely as she spills the soda she's carrying onto Jill's head. Jill sits, her face looked like she was ready to cry. Jill stands up, I'm ready to stop her from killing Jessica and her cronies, but Jill just runs off. Jessica looks satisfied, but then Helena stands up.

"What do you want lesbian," Jessica laughs. Helena doesn't speak but in the matter of seconds a fist collided with Jessica's face. Jessica stumbles to the floor and Helena jumps on top of her. "Don't... Talk... About... My... Friends... Like... That... You... Skank," Helena yelled in between each punch. I watch in horror and amazement as Helena beats the shit out of the girl that humiliated me to the whole school. I should stop her, but then again, it was Jessica. I begin to stop Helena as they get to the fifteenth punch. Chris rushes over and helps me restrain Helena. Jessica's friends help her to her feet and they run off. "Shit Jill," I yell and run towards where Jill went. It was twelve at least, and she was drunk in the park. She was a great target. I found her walking outside of the park, on the way home actually. "Jill," I yell. She looks back at me but then continues walking. I run up to her and force her to turn to me. "Jill, it's okay," I tell her. "No! Jessica's right," she cries. Her makeup is smeared by her tears. "What are you talking about," I ask as if she's being silly, because she was. "Chris is the most desired guy in school! I'm a nerd, he should be with the cheerleaders, not me!" She's so upset, maybe it's because she was drunk but she was definitely hurt.

"You should just take him," she cries. I raise an eyebrow, "Seriously?" "You'd be better, you're on the football team! You'll be popular! You're attractive! I'm a loser! You'd be a better couple!" She collapses and I bring her into a hug. "Jill! You're being stupid! Chris isn't gay first of all," she laughs a little. "Besides, you're beautiful... And Chris is crazy about you! He'd never do anything to hurt you!" She's still crying as I held her there. Chris and Helena come running. "You okay Jill," Helena asks. Chris is still unaware of what happened. "Yeah," Jill lets go of me, "Thanks Piers..." I smile back at her. "I think I'll walk with Jill home. You two can drive," Helena said. Jill was still a little upset. I noticed her look to Chris, but when he looked back she looked away. Jill and Helena walk away and we walk back to Chris' car. "What happened," he asked. I sigh, "The other girls came over... They ugh... They started to tell Jill about..." We get into his car. "About what," Chris asks angrily.

"They were saying things about how you don't really love her, and how she's not good enough for you," I tell him. He looks so sad, I've never seen anyone look like that. "You know that's not true right," he asks. "I know it," I tell him, "Jill needed some convincing though!" "Is that what you two were talking about," he asks. "Yeah, she really took Jessica seriously, which surprised me. I thought she'd be the one I pulled off Jessica. Not Helena." Chris smiled, "That's kind of cool of her... Especially since they just kind of met." "Yeah, she's a really great person," I smile back. After a few minutes of driving in silence, Chris speaks again, "You enjoyed that dance?" I can't help but light up, "Yeah Chris..." He smiles too, "Good! I didn't get you a present, thought that'd count." "Best one I got," I whisper making him laugh. We pull up to the houses, "You going home?" "Yeah," Chris replies, "I'll be over first thing to talk to Jill." "Okay," I wave him off. Jill and Helena come walking down the block moments later. She seems better. "Okay, go to sleep and you'll see Chris in the morning," Helena finishes her chat with Jill. "Thanks for beating the shit out of her," Jill smiled weakly back. "No problem," Helena smiles back. Jill walks by me without saying anything, but gives me a quick hug before going into her house.

"Come on Piers," Helena puts her arm around me. We quickly go to bed, tired from all the shit that went down and the party hours before.

JILL VALENTINE

I wake up the next day feeling a little better, but then I look out the window and see Chris' car parked in the driveway. I go downstairs in my underwear and large t-shirt I sleep in to see my parents sitting down and eating breakfast with the oversized teen. My dad points to me and Chris turns around slowly. "What? What are you doing here," I ask still a little sleepy. Then I remembered that soda had dried in my hair. It must've been a mess. "Jill, I came to say I'm sorry," Chris walked towards me. My mom's eyes got soft, this was like one of those chick flicks, and she loved those. My dad watched too, and was smiling. Did he actually approve of my boyfriend? "I love you Jill... Don't let anyone tell you otherwise," he pulled me into a hug. I smiled into his chest. "Let me take a shower, I look like a mess," I tell him after the hug. "Okay, I'll hang out with your amazing parents," he said. "I like this boy... Marry him," my dad said. My eyes widen and I walk away, Chris and my mom both laughed. Dad didn't seem to know what was funny. I shower like I said, the soda came out after a lot of shampoo.

I get out of the stream of water, turning it off as I did. I dry off before putting on the set of underwear and my usual t-shirt, sweatshirt and jeans. I walk back downstairs to my parents and Chris all laughing. I'd never seen my parents laugh like that. "Jill... You're back," Chris said with a laugh in between. "Yeah," I raise an eyebrow, "Are you actually laughing with my parents?" His smile widens, "Yeah! They're really cool!" "Okay! Enough time here! Let's go," I tell him. "What? Where are you going," mom asks. "To Piers' house," I tell her. "Okay. Text me if you leave," she says. "Okay," I reply simply before walking out dragging Chris behind. "You're my first boyfriend my parents could talk to for more than five seconds," I exaggerate. He laughs, "They're cool Jill. You can expect me at your house more often!" "If I let you in," I tell him. "Or I'll just text Dick," he smiles waving his phone. "Don't call him that! He's Dad," I yell, "No first name basis for you!" He laughs before we reach the Nivans' household.

I knock on the door, several seconds of silence pass before the door opens. "Jill right," his dad automatically recognizes me. "Yeah," I say energetically, "This is Chris... Is Piers up?" "I think so... I heard footsteps, so one of them must be up," he explains, "You could head up if you like." "Thanks Nathan," I smile. He moves out of the way and both of us head upstairs. "You're on first name basis with Piers' dad? But I can't be with yours," Chris asks. I just roll my eyes. I open his bedroom door to see Helena on her cell phone. "What are you two doing here? It's like eight!" We both smile. "We had nothing better to do," I look around the room. Piers is asleep on the bed. "Can I wake him up," I ask. "I don't care," Helena goes back to her phone. I walk over to the bed, towering over the sleeping teen. "Piers," I whisper. He doesn't even move. "Piers," I yell this time. He still doesn't move. I get frustrated and grab the pillow next to the one his head rested on and smacked it into his face. He still didn't wake up, he only rolled over. I jump onto the bed, kneeling over him.

Chris and Helena are both watching me like I'm crazy now. I bend over and begin to bounce the bed on my hands and knees. Then I realize how sexual it looked and stopped. "Shit! Why won't he wake up," I ask. Helena shrugs. "I got this," Chris walks over. He grabs the sheets under him and pulls. Piers is quickly thrown from the bed to the floor, his lower body is covered by the sheets, but his bare chest is visible. He shoots up yelling, "What's going on!" Then he realizes it's only us. "What are you doing in my room," he asks. "Waking you up," I tell him. "Why," he asks again. "We have no lives and your dad let us up," Chris tells him. "I hate both of you," he yells. "Guys listen," Helena interrupts. Chris and I walk over to her chair, Piers scrambles for pants while we are distracted. "My school burnt down last night," Helena says kind of upset sounding, "No one was hurt, but they need to find us a temporary school. My parents said I can stay here for the rest of the year, if your parents are okay with it." We look over to Piers, who is struggling with a pair of jeans. "Ugh... I'll ask, just look away," he instructs. The three of us laugh and look back to Helena.

"So, what did you plan on doing today," Piers rejoins us. "I don't know..." I say. "I've got a plan," Chris yells. "Okay," Helena says, confused. "We all go to the shooting range," he yelled excitedly. "Why not," I shrug. "Love too," Piers yells. "Have you ever gone shooting," Helena asks. "Once," he defends himself. We go downstairs, Chris, Helena and I going to Chris' car. Piers went to talk to his father about Helena. Piers comes rushing to the car and joins Helena in the back seat. "What'd he say," Helena asks. "He said it would be a pleasure," Piers clearly lies. "What did he really say," she asks. "He said it was fine with him," Piers says. Helena smiles with a 'yay!' We drive to the shooting range, which was just outside of the city near Raccoon Forest. "Oh I forgot to tell you," Chris hesitates. "What," I ask a little nervous. "My sister and her friends are coming," he says grabbing the back of his head. "Okay... It'll be nice to meet your family," I smile. "Yeah," his voice sounds shaky. We enter the small building. "Chris," the man behind the counter calls. "Hey," Chris calls hugging the guy over the counter. "Who are these folks," the man asks. "Oh! This is Piers and Helena," he introduces them first, "And this is the girl I've been telling you about... Jill." "Hi," I wave. "Name's Barry Burton," the chubby man smiles, "Nice to finally meet you!"

"Chris? The usual," he asks. "Yeah," Chris smiles. Barry pulls out a large shotgun and hands it to Chris. "Thanks," Chris waits next to me as he checks the gun. "What about you," he asks Helena. "I don't know," she hesitates, "I've never done this before." Barry smiles, "I've got just the thing!" He grabs a pistol and hands it to her, "Semi-Automatic... Be careful." She nods before walking into the next room. "Any snipers," Piers asks. "Yeah, a bunch," Barry moves over to that side of the self. "This looks about your size," he pulls out a bolt action rifle. Piers nods and grabs the weapon, following Helena inside. "What about you Jill," he asks cheerfully. "Um... Could I have an M9 Berretta," I ask. "You know exactly what you want... I like that," he says admiringly. I take the handgun and observe it. Chris puts his arm around me and walks with me into the next room. "Barry seems nice," I tell him. "Yeah, he's ex-air force," Chris says, "Old family friend!"

"You any good with that thing," Chris asks. "I can handle myself," I tell him. "Really," he asks. "Yeah... Really," I smile. "Chris," a female voice calls. I look over to find a short girl with dyed red hair in a tight ponytail, a black skin-tight shirt, a red jean vest with the same logo Chris had on his red jacket, along with a pair of short jean shorts. "Claire! Hey," Chris yells as she jumps into him. The two share a hug. "Jill. This is my sister, Claire," he introduces her. "Hi Claire," I smile nervously. "So you're the legendary Jill Valentine," Claire admires. "Legendary," I look up to Chris. "He talks about you a lot," Claire smiles. I find it kind of flattering. "Sherry here," Chris asks. "Yeah, she's over there," Claire points to a short blond woman. Chris goes over to the group of kids over there, leaving me and Claire alone. "I like your bag," I notice her leather bag hanging loosely around her waist. "Thanks," she smiles. She seemed cool enough. We walk over to Chris, who introduces me to the rest of the group. There's a small blonde girl in a white button down shirt and brown pants, her name's Sherry Birkin. Then there's Leon, who has a swept haircut that I honestly don't like. He's in a brown leather jacket and black shirt, with a pair of dark pants. There's another boy named Jake, his hair is very short and he's in a dark black jacket and pants that match. There's also Ada Wong, an Asian girl who is oddly wearing a long red dress, to a gun range.

Chris finally notices me when I'm standing next to him. "Oh hey Jill," he puts his arm around my shoulder. I smile to the others as he introduces them all. After a few awkward moments, I move over to the actual range. I fire twice, hitting the dummy in the chest and head. I'd never really shot before, I picked the pistol based on a video game honestly. I was really good, I'm glad I was too because of my little 'I can take care of myself' lie. It'd be embarrassing to explain. Someone stands next to me, I can't hear because of the earmuffs. After my clip is empty, I look to my right. It's Piers... I kind of hoped it was Chris. "You just hit him in the same spot three times," he says in awe. "Well... Yeah. I'm sure you could do it," I tell him. "You seem to be good at everything," he smiles pulling up his rifle. "I need to, to join the military," I tell him. "What," he lowers the gun. "I want to go to Westpoint," I tell him. "Really? Me too," he yelled excitedly. "You're kidding," I yell. "No! We'll be classmates!" I hug him, "That'd be fucking amazing!"