Cana hadn't stayed at the dorm. It was after 2am when her plane landed and she went back to the dorm, tossed her bag on the bed…cried until her head hurt and then lay there for a while…catching her breath.

She didn't want to be a girlfriend…she wasn't a good one. She'd gotten Zen drunk when they had met at Barnabys and gone back to his dorm room with him and fucked him until they had passed out. She remembered more of it than he did…but she'd been drinking a lot more a lot longer than he had and even his size and fitness couldn't protect him from the shit she'd put in his hand to drink through that evening.

Simple plan, she had a goal that night…land one of the Pradesh boys in bed, the ultimate goal being to fuck every damn one of them if she could. Then Kaleb was off the table because of Lucy, Cris…Gods she'd really wanted that one too…famous model, he'd have been a hell of a notch on her belt…snapped up by Levy of all people. Vander and Farron were still on the table and she'd honestly? Already fucked Bickslow…getting him drunk during orientation, he was one of the "sponsors" for the freshmen and had been there through orientation week…he'd been good too, really good with his mouth.

She kept up a steady inward chant "It doesn't matter, he was good in bed, has a great body, but I'm not anyones girlfriend, I didn't want to be, he asked me to be his girlfriend I didn't suggest it…I offered to just fuck him." she kept repeating all of that in her head as she left the dorm, got a cab and went to Hargeon…the bars there were open 24 hours, there were legal brothels, strip clubs…she was going to go to a strip club, get shit faced and see if she could score herself a male stripper…because she fucking could. She didn't have a boyfriend now, she'd ended that in glorious classic Cana Alberona fuck up fashion and it was fine. It didn't matter. She'd tried to just be a hook up with Zen…it was all his fault…he'd wanted more, not her.

She wasn't going to change, she didn't want to change, she was young, and she was going to enjoy college, get her degree in small business management and then she'd settle in and run a successful as fuck adult clothing boutique.

She got the cab driver to recommend a club and that was where she settled, watching sexy men strut on a stage, hump a shiny pole and running her hand over the ass of the very fine waiter who brought her drinks.

By 4am she was dancing around…by 5am she was in the alley by the club pressed against the wall, smiling, eyes unfocused as whatever man she'd talked into it was fucking her senseless. She didn't even care when another one joined in…didn't protest, just went with it, ignoring her clothes being torn, lost in sex and booze which was her element…where she wanted to be, because it didn't matter. She was still smiling, still being fucked when she passed out.

-

"Her bags are there…her roommate isn't back from break yet so…nothing…I don't know where she could be…" Levy said, frowning as she came out of Canas dorm room. The sun was up, their plane hadn't landed until well after sunrise and she was exhausted and knew Cris was too.

"Barnabys?" Cris tried

"They close at 2am…her flight landed after that…the only bars that stay open around the clock are in Hargeon, but…I don't know if she'd go that far just for drinks…" Levy frowned though…yes she would, Cana was upset, had fled because she felt guilty and wrong and when Cana felt bad about things she always did two things…got drunk and got laid. Levy looked at Cris frowning "How do we find her?"

Cristoff shook his head "The only open bars are in Hargeon, how many are down there?" he asked, he honestly hadn't been down there yet, no school functions had gone that way, or at least none he'd been involved with.

"I don't know, not really something I pay attention to…" Levy admitted pulling that up on her phone and frowned, feeling hopeless. "There's 43 listings for bars open 24 hours in Hargeon…"

"Ok, narrow it down, what kind would Cana want to go to…" Cris prompted and Levy pursed her lips tightening the search. "Places where she could get distracted, dancing…strippers…she likes strippers…" she admitted blushing at that and Cris raised a brow

"Have you gone to many strip clubs with her?" he asked and Levy sucked in a breath

"NO! I never have, she's tried to get me to…" She said quickly and Cris smiled, cupping her cheek and kissing her quiet, leaving her lightheaded and leaning into him.

"I wouldn't care if you had Levy, I'm Boscan, pleasure is pleasure…I only asked because maybe you'd know of a favorite one of hers or something if she'd taken you with her before." Cris said and Levy leaned fully against him, loving his arms came around her and enveloped her in a hug that made her feel safe, warm...comforted all at once.

As she stayed there, cheek against Cris's chest soaking him in her brain kept running and she stopped, pulling back
"Club Albatros…it's where she wanted to take me…she said she could lose days there just staring at all the handsome men…" she looked up at Cris and he pulled the keys to his truck out of his pocket.
"Let's head down there." He said and Levy frowned

"You're tired…we haven't slept since night before last." She said and Cris chuckled

"I'm a medical student, I can handle overnighters…lets go, you can nap on the way down so at least one of us will be a little rested." he smiled and Levy let out a breath, hand in his as they crossed campus to where Cristoffs truck was parked by the men's dorm. Climbing into the big pick up she settled on the passenger side and while she'd planned to stay awake to help him stay alert…she was sound asleep before he even pulled onto the highway. Cristoff looked over at her and smiled faintly, settling his jacket over her with a hand and turning up the A/C to help himself stay alert for the drive.

Is wasn't a small distance…took time to get down there, it was almost 10am when they got there, Cris bringing the Albatros up on his GPS so he could find it and letting Levy get a little more sleep before he sucked in a breath as they came down Center Street and the club was ahead of them…police cars in front of it.

"Levy…Levy wake up…the club…" He said, reaching over to gently prod the woman who gasped and sat up so fast she choked herself with her seatbelt and hugged Cristoffs jacket to her chest. It took her a couple of seconds for her mind to get working and she gasped

"That's Cana!" She said as they got closer and watched as Cana, in handcuffs…wrapped in a blanket with "Hargeon Police" stamped on it, was being put into a patrol car. She wasn't alone, three men were being argued with, and put into cars. The moment Cris found a place to park Levy was out of the truck and hurrying toward the scene wide eyed.

Cris cursed under his breath but hurried to keep up with his determined girlfriend.

"Ma'am stay back." An officer warned holding up a hand as she and Cris approached where some officers were talking to a few people.

"That woman…she's my friend…we were looking for her, she's had a really bad…time lately." Levy said, trying not to tear up.

"You know her name? She won't tell us and we can't find any ID….she said someone probably stole her purse." The officer said firmly. Levy looked from where she could see Canas head against the window of the patrol car…then at Cris, unsure what to do, why wouldn't Cana tell them?

"What did she do?" Levy asked shakily.

"She and three men were having sex right there…got loud…rowdy enough customers were going outside to see the show…and holy shit hello Cristoff…you're him right? Cristoff…I have your picture hanging up in the club!" One of the people the cops were talking to suddenly said, a man in a really nice suit.

Cristoff looked at him, his picture hanging in a strip club didn't phase him…he'd been told of worse things people did with his pictures. However, given where they were, and the police being all around…and the charges Cana was probably looking at, being associated with it…wouldn't be a good idea.

"I get that alot." Cris said simply, not confirming or denying.

"She's being arrested then." He said to the officer who nodded.

"Public indecency, lewd acts in public, disturbing the peace, among others. Look if you know who she is…we need to know." The officer said firmly.

"Can we follow you to the booking center? If she hasn't told you by the time we get there…we'll give you her information but officer…" Cris nodded toward some reporters…some people taking pictures and Cris let his loose hair hang, covering part of his face and keeping that side to the people with phones and cameras out.

The officer frowned at the scene and nodded.

"Go to the booking center." He said and turned from them. "We have things to finish up here but will be there soon."

Cris took Levy's hand and turned, pulling her away just as Cana seemed to look out the window…but her dull dazed eyes didn't register anything.

Levy moved, tucking herself under Cristoffs arm against his side, staring at the sidewalk as they walked in silence. Cris opened the truck door for her and she got in and soon they were driving again.

"Those charges…she could be kicked out of school…" Levy breathed

"If the school finds out…she probably will be." Cris nodded "The student code of conduct is pretty clear about no criminal activity being tolerated."

"It's good we didn't give her name there…" Levy said realizing if they had those reporters would have gotten it and then Canas fate would have been certain. At least this way…with three days left before school started back, she had a chance of not getting found out.

"Has to be why she wouldn't tell them." Cris said "We need to know if she had much in her purse, credit cards…ID, stuff like that, a crook will use." he added and Levy pressed her lips together.

"I know which bank she uses." Levy said.

"Unless you're on her account though they won't talk to you, has to be the account holder." Cris said and Levy groaned, curling up a bit and pushing her hands through her cornflower colored locks in frustration.

"Gods why…why did she do this?!" She shook her head as Cris kept driving.

"I doubt she planned to…but she seems really good at getting herself into trouble." Cris said and Levy looked at him…he was being so calm…helping her sort this out and while Cana was his friend too it was only because she was Levy's friend that he had become one too.

"Thank you Cris, for helping with this…I don't know how I would have done this without you." She admitted and Cris smiled at her.

"You would have, you're tough, tougher than you give yourself credit for. We have to be careful here though, we can't get associated with what Cana's done or you and I could get into deep trouble too. I don't mind some risk…but Cana did this…we didn't…" He said and Levy chewed her lip, he was right, she couldn't afford to get into the sort of trouble Cana had created for herself, she could lose everything she'd worked so hard for.

"There it is." Cris said nodding ahead of them to the Police Department, they followed signs for central booking and found a place to park the truck, heading inside, keeping their heads down.

The officer at the desk called them forward shortly after they had arrived and Levy drew a breath.

"My friend is being booked, she was arrested outside the Club Albatros, I don't know if she's here yet…she hadn't given officers her name and…if she doesn't by the time she gets here…well…I can give that to you." Levy said and the officer nodded turning to his computer for a moment.

"Only one woman booked there tonight…shows her name is Cana Alberona." He said and Levy let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding…she hadn't had to "rat" Cana out, her friend had done the right thing probably once in the police car away from prying eyes.

"Yeah that's her…" Levy pulled her phone out and showed the officer some pictures of her and Cana to prove she knew her.

"You can't bail her out yet, she has to be processed and a judge will set the bail amount." The officer said and Levy nodded.

"How long?" Cris asked and the officer shrugged.

"Up to the judge, we have a lot in here right now because of the holiday, no way she'll be done before tonight though, and they'll want her to sleep off the alcohol some before they even really start to process her. Truthfully? She likely won't have bail set before tomorrow." The officer said and Levy nodded, frowning.

"Ok, thank you." She said and the officer nodded, Levy left her cell number and name with him in case Cana didn't remember it, if her purse was taken she probably didn't have her phone…

Outside the booking center she walked with Cristoff toward his truck frowning at the ground.

"What do we do?" She sighed.

"Get a room…there's a few nice hotels here, we get a room and get some rest, eat and wait it out until we hear from her." Cristoff said simply and Levy pursed her lips, unsure she could afford a hotel room in Hargeon…unsure how she would bail Cana out even…she had her tuition money in her account but she couldn't use that…

"Lev…relax, I've got it." Cris said, opening the truck door.

"There's a Hilton here, I did a shoot at two of their resorts and some promo work for them last year…I get a discount at their hotels…so, we'll get a room, I'll cover it…and whatever Cana's bail is…I'll cover that too, I have the money." Cris said and Levy pressed her lips together, trying not to cry with relief.

"I…was trying to think of how I could get another student loan…use my tuition money…" She admitted and Cris scoffed as she climbed into his truck.

"Fuck that, I'll cover this…for you, not Cana…Cana did this…but so you don't worry and don't use tuition money…I've got this." Cris said firmly.

Once at the hotel Levy didn't even register there was only one bed in their room, climbing in after only kicking her shoes off, so exhausted she just needed rest, her emotions had taken a rollercoaster ride for the last 24 hours. Cris stripped down to some sleep pants and climbed into the bed beside her…really too tired himself to think on it much beyond the basic need for sleep.

He did think to send messages off to his family to let them know what was going on, also telling them he and Levy hadn't slept yet and badly needed to so his phone wouldn't start ringing with the millions of questions he was sure everyone would have. Once that was done though, Cristoff, like Levy, passed out asleep in moments.

The following day they got the call just after lunch time, hurrying to the booking center and Cris posted Canas bail, the woman coming out a while later, wearing some police issued sweat pants that didn't fit her well, looking…filthy…smelling terrible…

"Oh Cana…" Levy said, tears filling her eyes at the sight of her friend looking so…low. Canas shoulders stayed drooped and she cringed when Levy hugged her.

"I…I'm so sorry Levs…" She said shakily, not meeting Levys eyes, or looking at Cris…especially not Cris…she'd wronged his brother, knew she had…and now…she'd made a complete wreck out of things by going on an insane bender and getting herself into all sorts of trouble…trouble Levy had clearly cut her vacation short for…

"How…I'll pay you back for the bail money." Cana said firmly.

"It's fine, don't worry about it right now." Levy said as she walked with Cana toward Cristoffs truck, the man stepping ahead of them to open the door, Cana climbing into the back seat before Levy got in.

"I screwed up so bad…" Cana said after they had gotten on the road again

"What happened?" Levy asked, turning in the front seat to look back at Cana who was wrapped up in a blanket Cris had in the back seat of the truck.

"I…wanted to just…not think, the bars in Magnolia were already closed when I got in so I came down to Hargeon…to blow off steam…and before you say it Levy…I know…what I did to Zen just sucks…I'm a bitch…I know it was wrong but…I didn't realize I wasn't ready for a relationship until…it was too late to do anything but hurt a guy I really didn't want to hurt." Cana said, cracking the window in the back…she stank of alcohol, vomit, sex and gods knew what else…it wasn't like there were showers to be had in the jail…

"Well…you…Cana, there's so many charges…" Levy said quietly and Cana turned her face toward the window.

"I know…I don't even remember much of it…went out to the alley to fuck one of the dancers…next thing I know there's more than one guy on me and…I didn't care…I just wanted to not think, wanted to get totally lost in just feeling my body…and…we ended up on the sidewalk right in front of the club somehow…me and three guys…someone called the cops and…" Cana pulled the blanket over her head.

"People took pictures…" Levy said quietly and Cana nodded "Yeah…so did one of the guys I was out there with…I…I didn't care…I wasn't thinking at all…Levs…the University is gonna find out, there's no way they won't…"

"You'll make it back in time for classes…" Levy said trying to sound hopeful.

"Cristoff…tell her…" Cana groaned

Cris frowned at the woman in his rearview mirror. "You made this bed Cana…lay in it."

Cana sighed "They'll find out Levy, and I'll be expelled…I violated the code of conduct like…10 different ways there…" she said

"You could argue…maybe…fight to stay…" Levy tried, mind racing but she honestly…couldn't think of a way out of this…what Cana had done would get her expelled as soon as the school found out…

"Levy…there was a kid who saw…they're nailing me with exposure before a minor too…" Cana said quietly and Levys head whipped around to stare at Cana.

"What the fuck was a kid doing outside a strip club!?" She demanded

"There's a donut shop at the end of the block…he was walking with his mother…we were out there in broad daylight Lev…the mother is one of the people who reported us." Cana sighed

There was no way around this…Cana had already accepted it, she had no idea what she was going to do now…she'd be blacklisted in Fiore for this, her record would close every door before she even knocked…

"I…could transfer to Bellum maybe…they're really open there, my record wouldn't matter…if I do it as soon as admin opens tomorrow, put in to transfer…I could even do that before the school finds out and expels me." Cana said not taking her eyes off the passing scenery outside.

Levys hand was over her mouth…the whole thing…all of it…it was overwhelming. First the mess in Bosco, now this…Cana just couldn't seem to keep herself out of trouble and Levys heart was just breaking at the idea of her leaving Fiore altogether.

"But you don't know anyone there…you'd be alone." She said quietly and Canas laugh was devoid of humor.

"Nothing new to me Levs, nothing new at all. I'll be fine, I'm a survivor and if I don't want what I just did to ruin me completely I need to get the fuck out of here…" Cana said.

Cris looked over at Levy, seeing tears running down her face and he reached for her, brushing her hair back as she was shaking her head.

"No…no there has to be another way…" Levy said miserably, reaching up without thinking to clutch at Cristoffs hand like a lifeline.

"There isn't…Levs, I've got maybe a day, two…to get ahead of this before it ruins any chances I have of…anything…but being blacklisted and branded for the rest of my damned life. The cops said that mother signed witness statements…that I was totally naked and…all over those guys right there on the fucking sidewalk, she and her kid weren't the only ones either…the cops have a solid case, I'm going to face penalties, maybe even jail time…but if I transfer, get my enrollment done, I'll have my transcripts in Bellum before Fiore can do anything and I'll have a chance…once I pay for what I did…to have a life." Cana said, once she'd sobered up she'd started thinking it all through, there was no denying she'd done what she did…no way to avoid all the phones out that had recorded Gods only knew what of what she'd done out there when she'd been too drunk to think.

"How are you going to afford that?" Levy asked shaking her head "You credit cards, bank card, everything was stollen…"

Cana pressed her lips together "Yeah that's another mess I have to handle as soon as we get back…I'll deal with it Levs…I may have to fucking hitch hike to Bellum once I'm done paying for what I did but I'll get there…" she said firmly as Levy cried, unable to stop.

Cris reached for the woman, pulling off the highway, they needed gas anyway and Levy needed a few minutes. As soon as the truck stopped Levy was in his lap crying into his shoulder, his arms around her.

"You won't have to hitch hike…you pay for what you did…get your shit together, stay fucking sober through this…and I'll cover you…I'll get you to Bellum. You'll have to get a job once you get there, cover shit yourself because I'm not fucking supporting you…but I'll help you get there." Cristoff said, he had plenty of money in the bank, well over 2 million dollars saved up from his modeling work and he had open contracts with Elluris still, more shoots and fashion shows to make more…he'd intended to use it while he got through his residency and got himself established, but Levy was crying…and he couldn't stand it…she'd worry and feel terrible and it would harm her and he wouldn't let anything drag Levy down if he could help it.

"Y…you would do that?" Cana stared at him in the rear view mirror.

"For Levy…keep that in mind…not for you, you made this mess, your choices, your…messed up way of thinking created this, but Levy loves you…and you need to be ok so she can be ok…" Cris said as Levy sniffled and picked her head up from his shoulder, looking at him.

"Cris…" she said, honestly amazed he was doing so much, Cristoffs dark blue eyes left the mirror to look at Levy and softened immediately on her.

"It'll be alright, everything will work out…you help Cana sort her credit cards and shit out when we get back and tomorrow she can transfer…and I'll put down the deposits and everything to hold her place…and it will work out." He said soothingly and Levy stared at him, all for her…he was doing it all for her, coming back, driving all this way, dealing with the police, all of it..was for her and she couldn't wrap her head around how it had happened, Levy McGarden who the kids used to pick on through school, who Cana used to get into fights for to defend her…mousy and quiet and flat chested and nobody had noticed her…but this man had and he was putting so much he had worked so hard for on the line for her…

He smiled, forehead touching hers "I need to put gas in the truck, calm down…I'll grab some drinks and snacks from the gas station and be right back." He said and Levy nodded smiling as he wiped her tears away with his thumbs. Once she had returned to her own seat Cris got out of the truck and filled the tank then went inside to pay, Levy and Cana sitting in silence for a few minutes.

"He loves you." Cana observed, smiling faintly when Levys eyes widened and a blush lit her tear mottled face.

"Guys don't do shit like this unless they love someone." Cana said and Levy looked hard at her.

"You had a guy Cana…I know…I get you weren't ready for whatever reason but…you really did wrong by him…seriously…did you stay just to get him back into bed?" Levy stared the other woman down until Cana squirmed and looked down.

"No…I was trying…I wanted to be like you and Lucy, I wanted that but I also wanted to drink…I have a problem and I know I do, I…I guess I should get help for it...who know…I may got to jail for a while and if I do…maybe then I can work on sobering up...I just want to have fun, be young, but I know I hurt Zen and he didn't deserve it, I told him that…that I just waited around until we could have sex again but it wasn't true…I said it so he could move on easier you know? Easier to get past my sorry ass if he thinks I'm just a drunk whore who was only after his dick." Cana said and Levy scowled at her.

"Coward." She snapped and Cana looked up at her in surprise.

"That's the easy way out…you should have just been honest, told him it was too much, broken it off in a good way so you could at least stay friends, he's a good person Cana and he didn't deserve that." Levy said forcefully, so much so Canas mouth fell open a little, the brunette sighed.

"I know Zens a good person…too good for me, and I…I was happy, but…I just couldn't handle it." She sighed and Levy glared at her.

"You need to apologize for it, tell him the truth Cana. I have never understood why you do this…why you just…sabotage your own life and happiness like you do! You're too smart for this…you know it's all wrong, you KNOW it!" Levy said firmly making Cana blink in surprise at her conviction.

Cana shook her head "What good would apologizing do? I'm leaving Levs, I have no choice, it's that or my whole life is down the tubes...shit I'm probably going to jail anyway."

"Not forever, and when you get out you can go to Bellum and finish school...Cana, I can't make you do anything, but I'm telling you…you'll regret it forever if you leave things like they are." Levy said firmly and then looked up, watching Cris come out of the gas station with a couple of bags, her eyes just staying on the man…he was a rock, so gentle and so kind and giving and…he was her boyfriend. That just swelled in her chest as she thought about it, watching him, in his faded jeans, a snug elluris t-shirt hugging his broad chest, stretching over his shoulders and pecs...his worried look at the truck as he approached it that was about who was inside of it.

Cris opened the drivers door, climbing in and sitting down he handed a back to Cana and a Vitamin water to Levy…the energy one…her favorite, setting a coke into the cup holder for himself.

"I got some candy, chips…pretzels, and some wipes." Cris said handing a package of baby wipes back to Cana "Windows are black tinted back there, you can clean up a bit, you looked uncomfortable." He said also passing back a smart water "Drink all of that…you need it after all the alcohol." He said firmly as he started the truck.

"Yes Dr. Pradesh." Cana replied and Cris smirked "Means you better listen." he said as he guided the pick up back onto the highway. Levy scooted into the middle, puting the lap belt on and leaning on Cris as he drove, smiling softly when his arm settled around her someway, somehow this was all going to work out, she just wasn't happy with it all but…Cana, she had no control over what her friend did…

She cuddled in against Cris, listening while Cana moved around in the back cleaning herself up as best she could with the wipes Cris had given her. Soaking in the fresh minty scent that was unique to Cristoff, his warmth and presence and she tried not to…but all the stress was wearing her out and she finally dozed off.