Part 10- Restless (feat. Josh Homme) by Unkle

They had found out where she lived, how old she was, where she had graduated from high school, what her social security number was and how many times she had been pulled over. Who her parents were and what jobs they held, what she did during the day and what she had been doing the past eleven months. It had taken them a week to get reliable information on her since Billy last saw her. After that, they had been following her over the course of the past week, studying her. She seemed like any other normal teenager save for the fact that she was a complete recluse. She didn't even go to college. The guys figured it was their doing for her ending up that way. They had also found out that Heco had indeed ended up killing her friend. That hadn't necessarily been his intention; he had just wanted to shake them up a bit for the excitement it brought him. What's done is done though, they thought. Mona didn't seem to see it that way, focusing on her friend's death more than they found necessary.

"Everyone needs to get hurt sometimes," Heco said while they were having a few beers, "Why she and her friend gotta be the exception to it?"

"I don't know if she thinks of herself as an exception, Heco. More like she wants to figure out why what happened to her and her friend happened," Bodie speculated.

"What does she wanna know? People get hurt, they die. It's life. Get the fuck over it already," he said, annoyed.

"So, what? One of us gets killed and you're over it right after it happens?" Billy asked his friend.

"Hell no. Whoever did it would be fuckin' begging for their momma when they hear from me," he replied. "Ain't nobody gonna pull shit with one of us and think they can get away with it. We'd die for each other."

"And what makes you think she's so different from us? Other than the fact she's led a better life," Billy asked. He sat back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest, cigarette loosely dangling from his lips.

"What, you think she's gonna come after us?" Bodie laughed at the prospect. "You can't be serious."

"Why not?" Billy shrugged. "She's been signing up to several different self-defense classes, shooting ranges, boxing classes, gyms for almost the past year."

"That could also be because after what happened she'd want to know she could protect herself if something ever did happen again," Tommy put his say in.

"That's true, but why go to the extent she has?" Baggy asked. "She didn't even take Joe to court."

All eight men turned to look at Joe who sat beside Billy slumped down in his chair and enjoying a beer himself. He shrugged.

"I think she was scared. Knew we might be after her if she tried to put me away."

"Or knew she could get to you faster if she didn't," Billy added, taking a long drag off of his cigarette.

"Why you keep saying that? It's been almost a year, the bitch ain't gonna come barreling after us, guns a blazin', anytime soon," Bodie shook his head, matching Heco's annoyed tone from earlier.

"And what makes you think you know that for sure? She's been up here twice. Me and Heco have seen her. What other excuse would she have?"

"Morbid curiosity," Spink laughed as he exhaled from the joint he was smoking.

"More than that," Billy retorted sarcastically. "We're not gonna sit here and argue about what's she up to or what her intentions are. We found out where she lives and what's she been doing. I say she's planning something against us, than she's planning something against us. I don't need you assholes sittin' here tellin' me I'm a damn fool for thinking so. You come up with something better, then maybe I'll listen, but right now I want you all to get your heads out of your fucking asses and pay me some damn respect, okay?"

"Don't pull that shit with us, Billy. You know we respect you. Just because we have our own opinions doesn't mean you gotta get pissed about it," Jamie said, getting angry now. Billy flashed him a furious glare.

"Since when are you gonna talk to me like I'm the one who takes orders? You do what I say, you think what I say, you fuckin' breathe what I say!" Billy's cigarette dropped out of his mouth during his little rant and he was leaning over the table towards Jamie. His face and neck were red, veins popping out under his tattoos. Jamie gave him an irate look before bowing his head and lowering his eyes, looking away.

Yeah, and you're Bones' bitch, too, Jamie thought.

"Hey, what happened to us all respecting each other? I think we need to take some time and chill the fuck out," Bodie said, looking back and forth between Billy and Jamie. "There's no way we're gonna let this little girl strain our friendship. She ain't worth it, and even if she was, I know you guys well enough to know that none of us would ever abandon the other, am I correct?" He looked around the table at all the men he had known for years. Some he even grew up with, Billy and Joe included. They all nodded except Billy and Jamie.

"I think we need to come up with a plan for this girl," Billy said in a voice that was low and husky, still looking at Jamie. "I'm not positive on what she's planning, but it doesn't seem like she's up to any good."

"Tonight," Heco said. "We should let her know we're on to her. Have a little chat."

Everyone looked around at each other, agreeing with their eyes before looking to Billy for confirmation. He looked at all of them before stopping on Jamie.

"Does that sound okay to you?" He asked mockingly. Jamie narrowed his eyes at the table before looking up and nodding, then slowly smiling in apology. Billy smiled tightly back.

"It's too loud in here!" I screamed to Abby.

We had just walked into the club and before we had even made it into the main lobby, I could feel myself going deaf. I also wasn't too keen on what I was wearing either. Abby had attacked my closet, raiding it before then attacking me with whatever she had found. She had made me change at least seven times before finally becoming satisfied enough to let me walk out the door.

"I know, but it's fun! And we both look hot! We should dance!" She yelled back to me with a bright smile on her face. She looked me over one last time with an approving look. I had on a small jean skirt with a loose-fitting, green sheer top and brown boots that came just below my calves. I felt exposed. She had also attacked my face too, applying several different kinds of makeup that I thought left me less than savory. I pulled my long, curly hair around my shoulders to cover me.

"Oh, come on!" She laughed and dragged me to the dance floor.

After first, I was too timid to dance along with Abby. I hadn't been in a social gathering like this in so long and it felt like everyone was staring at me, thinking, "What are you doing here? Why should you get to be here when your best friend is six feet underground?"

This is ridiculous, I thought to myself. Slowly, I let myself loosen up and swayed to the music. Soon, I was getting into it just about as much as Abby was. After several songs, she pulled me to the bar and ordered us some drinks. She handed me a small glass.

"This isn't alcoholic, is it?" I asked unsure. She flashed me a mischievous look before nodding.

"It's a salty dog! Vodka and grapefruit juice! Good, right?"

"Delicious," I barely yelled back. I really didn't want to drink, but she had already bought it, or I assumed she had bought it, but she probably had just gotten it for free; she was attractive and looked old enough. The bartender was still leaning towards her, smiling and saying something to her. Either way, I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I decided one drink wouldn't hurt. Besides, I was supposed to be having fun tonight, right?

"Are you having fun?"

"Actually… Yes!" I hadn't realized it, but I was having a lot of fun.

"Javier here said he'd give us as many drinks as we wanted tonight," Abby said, looking to Javier then back to me.

I looked over my shoulder to the young bartender. He was blond and very good-looking; he gave me a lopsided smile.

"I'd ask you to dance, but it seems the only thing I can offer you beautiful ladies are some free drinks."

"Oh, no, we'll pay," I said. He shook his head, leaning towards me now.

"As long as you flash me that pretty smile of yours, it'll be payment enough."

I blushed automatically. He was flirting with me? It seemed I'd have to get used to that game all over again, if I even made it to the beginning of summer; if I made it through Darley and his gang. I looked away before either him or Abby saw the anger flash through me. I gulped down my drink.

"Whoa! Slow down there, Mona! We've got all night to have fun," Abby placed a hand on my shoulder. "Are you all right?"

I nodded my head before asking Javier for another.

"My kinda girl," he smiled, turning to make another drink. Abby's eyebrows pushed together in a worried expression. I gave her a tight smile, trying to show her I was fine.

A couple of drinks later, and a few more flirtatious lines from Javier, I was feeling really good… and slightly drunk. A fast, upbeat song started vibrating through the room when Abby suddenly latched onto my arm and put her mouth close to my ear.

"Those guys over there are totally checking us out!" She squealed.

"Where?"

"Over there! Those two guys!"

I looked in the direction she pointed, and although I saw plenty of guys, I saw none that were currently directly their attention at us, "Where?"

Abby sighed, "Right there? You don't see them?"

I looked again, but still didn't see what she was seeing. I shook my head, a confused expression on my face and shrugging. She rolled her eyes and gave me a sloppy smile.

"Let's go say hi," she started to pull me from the bar.

"I think I'm gonna go dance," I said, taking my arm from her grasp.

"You sure you're okay, Mona? We can go home if you don't wanna be here anymore."

"No, go talk to them, get some numbers. I just don't feel like being sociable right now. I'll be on the dance floor," I assured her before turning to find a spot I was comfortable with. I chose one by a group of girls, figuring if one tried to dance with me I'd have an easier time of shooting them down than I would a guy.

Finding the beat of the song, I closed my eyes and began to dance. It felt good to clear my head, moving without thought. I decided I'd have to do this more often if things turned out my way in the end.

"Distract the friend," Billy said to Heco and Joe.

At first they had went to her house, but upon seeing her leaving with a girl, an old friend they assumed, their pursuit lead them to a night club in the middle of the city. They were surprised to see that Ramona still went out considering what they had found out about her. This made the guys second-guess Billy once again; thinking that maybe the information they had of her was faulty, but he swiftly put ease to their apprehension with a few choice words. When they arrived at the club, the guys had gained entry into it faster than Ramona and her friend had.

She hadn't noticed them yet, and Billy liked it that way. He'd rather show himself, letting her know he was the one in charge of whatever game she was trying to play. He motioned for the other guys to spread around the club, positioning themselves around the exits to prevent her from leaving, and to also make sure they had a quick getaway in case something happened. Billy started towards the dance floor where Ramona had disappeared.

Pushing his way through, he felt too crowded and like he was going around in circles. He turned, walking back up towards the front of the club when he spotted her a few feet ahead. She had her eyes closed, dancing and her loose curls swayed wildly around her. He circled around, keeping his eyes on her until he stood directly behind her. He closed in until he could feel her lightly brushing against him; his big hands wound around her bare upper arms and pulled her against his chest.

"The fuck!?" She yelled, spinning around. Her blue eyes widened and her mouth fell slightly ajar when she saw him. Her face blanched and he grinned wickedly, still holding one of her arms. He roughly pulled her to him as the song ended.

"Care for a dance?" he whispered in her ear.