A/N: I just wanna say thank you so much for the feedback so far! I'm a little shocked in all honesty. I didn't expect anyone to read or be into it and it's given me some motivation. Along with others too because I just saw someone else doing it too along with a Johnny x Maria fanfic! About those two, this story isn't a pure romance story about them. It's severely one sided (Johnny) and Maria going along with it for survival along with a little bit of Stockholm syndrome at times (wondering if she actually likes him or not). But it's mainly Johnny. I just wanna clear that up before anyone gets any ideas and becomes disappointed. Maria is 90% a loyal girlfriend and 10% losing her sanity over the circumstances.

I also just realized one lore mistake or one mistake of my own. I'm pretty sure Maria goes missing in April (according to the start of the game before you fully load in) but her poster says March 20th. So I'm gonna try to work around that the best I can moving forward. I'm sorry.

Also! I think it's a fun idea to add in a song to maybe fit in the vibe or character's perspective more. So before each chapter I'm gonna suggest a song for you guys to listen to or even write songs into scenes. ANDDDD I also made a Spotify playlist based on the story too! I'll link it here (unless this is the version). Or you can look up "The Wolf & The Sheep" by Jenny - lactosecarrotsoup. Just a little somethin somethin extra for y'all... and music helps me write too. I hope you enjoy it! :)

April 10th, 1973

10:01pm

The Dormitory's

Song recommendation: "Hymm For The Missing" by Red

You're Just A Memory

DANNY

...

"You know, you're a great kisser." The young woman with hazel eyes smiled up at me, my own blue eyes had a sparkle of happiness attached to them. I'm so happy she's here with me. I'm so happy I'm staring at the love of my life. We laid on a wrinkled blanket placed upon a hill, overlooking the sunset among the horizon. A basket that's now packed with half eaten food was behind us as a late 1960's portable radio sat on top of it. That's one thing Maria and I always had in common - our versatile taste in music. We both listen to everything but we of course have our preferences - I love rock as she loves mainly disco. She's into a new group called ABBA - whose first album is coming out soon as she constantly reminds me - as my go to is Elvis. I know, Elvis is obviously a King and super popular - but I can't help myself. Something about him makes me move and smile.

"Really? Who says?" I teased back. I was laying on my side, resting my chin on the palm of my hand. Maria laid on her back, her head turned towards me, as her grin grew bigger - her nose scrunching up in the process.

"Leland."

"Leland?!" I gasped, almost believing it before realizing she was holding back her giggles. Ah, what a stinker. I playfully shoved her, "Oh yeah! Leland and I are constantly going at it. I can't help it, he's just soooooo kissable!"

"You have to pay him back for introducing us." Maria shrugged. She wasn't wrong. Well, not about Leland introducing me to Maria. During a party Leland and some of his other jock friends were having, I begged and begged Leland to introduce me to Maria. He was hesitant at first - saying Maria is like a sister to him - before giving in. A friendly introduction led to us talking the rest of the night, laughing at our drunken classmates, and me walking her home. Since then, we've been together for almost a year.

"Mhm, don't remind me." I muttered before leaning in and gently kissing her. Her lip-gloss tastes like strawberries, making me want to kiss her more and more until I run out of breath. Thank god for Maria - and Julie - being on top of trends as she just recently bought the new invention. Julie is from California and is always up to date with the newest fashion and makeup trends. Recently, she has been informing Maria about them and the two have bonded over it. I deepened my kiss as she slid her hand up into my hair, pulling me closer to her. My hand slid down the side of her torso, my thumb gently rubbing across the fabric that covered her breasts, before sliding downwards to her hips. Maria stifled a sigh as-

.

"Danny... Danny? Hey, are you even listening?" I was pulled out of my memories as Julie appeared right in front of my face. Her expression worried before giving me a gentle but reassuring smile. I blinked several times before leaning backwards, slightly startled by how close she was to me. The rest of our friends were talking and strategizing as Julie had her attention on me.

"Yeah, I was." I lied, my voice in a whisper.

"Don't lie." Julie sighed. I avoided her gaze by keeping it to the wooden floorboards. We were in Leland and Sonny's room. They cleared off one of their bulletin boards for Maria. She's been missing for almost a month and our shitty police department isn't doing anything about it. A cold case, as one officer said. Ana and Leland were up at the board with some red yarn, trying to piece everything together - as if it's some cliche detective movie.

"It's just..." I sighed out to Julie, "it's been a month, y'know? No lead. No note. No traces of anything. We don't know anything else than we know currently."

Julie nodded and forced a small pitiful smile. Maria and her weren't the closest but she still cares because of Leland and Connie - who she's the closest to in the group. Despite not knowing her well, Julie is a sweetheart. Always checking up on everyone - especially me right now. I would say Ana too but they recently had a falling out that - in other circumstances where Maria didn't go missing - would completely shatter what friendship they had left. But Ana and I need any support we can get. Ana isn't taking this well at all. A few years ago, Maria and Ana's pops passed away which left Ana to take care of their mama. Maria was already in college and Ana a junior in high school. Their mama has been trying to work with police about Maria's disappearance but Ana has been trying to conduct her own investigation.

"Fuckin' pigs." As Ana said a week ago, "All they care about is themselves."

Which is true. I've gone into the station many times - borderline raising hell - demanding answers from any of them. All I get is a shrug and "sorry" before they walk off to their coffee and episodes of M*A*S*H. I bet if it was their family member or significant other, their case would be solved by now. Ana has been staying with Connie - who is roommates with Maria - for the past few weeks. The campus doesn't know. But after detectives looked through Maria's belongings, Connie smuggled her in to stay. Everyone is on board with our own individual investigation.

"I know," Julie's voice was gentle, "I just hope we find her soon."

"Yeah, me too." My voice cracked slightly as a lump formed in my throat. Julie placed her hand on my shoulder and began to rub it gently, trying to offer any type of comfort. Ana, who was at the board with Leland, turned around and saw the site. Her expression turned sour.

"So since my sister isn't here, you think it's alright to-"

"It's okay." I stood up, walking over to Ana. Julie's gaze looked away from the younger sister - guilt written all over her face. Ana glared daggers into Julie before turning her attention back to the board. She was extremely frustrated over everything going on. Julie and Leland being there, her sister missing, just the whole situation being fucked.

"Does anyone have ideas?" Ana called out, trying to get back on track.

"Where did she like to take pictures most?" Sonny asked. He sat in a bean bag chair on his side of the room. Connie sat behind him, on his bed, hugging one of his pillows. She's been worried sick for her friend. Sonny and her have gotten closer in the process. Him comforting her as she cries out for her friend. Even June - Sonny's girlfriend - inviting Connie out to lunch which was something Connie and Maria would do almost daily. She woke me up in the middle of the night by knocking on my door, having nightmares about everything, and I let her sleep in my bed as I slept on the floor beside her. Well, whenever Ana isn't around to keep her company.

"Anywhere that caught her attention." I answered Sonny, "But mainly the countryside because of all the flowers and animals."

"Where was her car found again?" Leland asked as he scanned over the board.

"On a dirt road in the country next to an old silo." I answered again. I pointed to a photo on the board which resulted in Leland nodding in acknowledgement. It was one that reporters put in the paper. Her engine blew, I should've checked it when I said I would. I'm not the best mechanic, but enough to know that I could've prevented that. I could've prevented her disappearance.

"No source of foul play they said." Leland responded, quoting the man who has been repeating Maria's missing persons report off and on for the past few weeks.

"Are we really going to believe that?" Ana said with bitterness in her voice, "We're just gonna believe her engine randomly exploded? That none of her stuff was found? That instead of going to the gas station down the road to call one of us, she just... up and left?! Without a second thought?"

"I know, it's we-"

"Oh, what do you know?!" Ana snapped. Julie wasn't the only one on Ana's shit list. Connie, Sonny, and I were safe. Leland looked into Ana's eyes, guilt also filling his, before looking back at the board in front of him.

"What I do know is that our friend - and your sister - is missing. That whatever happened before she went missing is on the back burner until she is found." Leland calmly responded, trying not to get a rise from the girl. Ana's hardened expression softened as she realized. He's right. Ana had every right to feel bitter over what happened before. But that was before and this is now - and right now we need to find Maria. Connie, Sonny, Julie, and I nodded as Ana closed her eyes tightly.

"You're... right." She fought to say, "I just need her to be okay."

"Maria told me one time she fought a mugger down in Mexico when you guys went to visit family." Connie chuckled, "Said she broke his nose with an upper cut before screaming Mexican profanities at him."

"Estúpida perra de mala vida." Ana quoted with a slight grin on her face, remembering the incident, "She's a Flores - a born fighter."

"Exactly! So I'm sure she's swinging at anything coming her way right now." Connie reassured, causing Ana's tense shoulders to relax - but not by much.

.

"... So that's when I told her I just couldn't do it anymore." Leland finished before dipping a fry into the paper cup filled with ketchup. He popped the thin potato in his mouth before shaking his head, "I loved her. I really did, man. But I just... couldn't do it anymore."

"So you cheated on her." I corrected him. It had been a few hours since trying to come up with ideas about Maria but failing. Everyone had classes except Ana, who decided to call back home to her mama to see how she's doing and any personal updates.

Leland explained, "I didn't want to. It's just... Julie gave me so much love. Ana isn't very affectionate. She didn't touch me - it was always me touching her. It was always me trying to make plans, trying to kiss her but she hated physical affection, trying to voice how much I love her. She didn't give the same effort back. Julie has and is everything I wanted from that relationship with Ana. I didn't plan to get drunk with Julie one night and sleep with her.. it just happened. I didn't want to cheat. I just wanted to leave peacefully but didn't know how until it was too late."

"The whole situation is fucked up, man." I said before putting one of the chicken nuggets I had ordered into my mouth.

"I know." Leland admitted with nothing but guilt written on his face. "I love Ana but as a friend. I can't be with someone who didn't show me how much they truly loved me. I know she's upset and bitter, I would be too if I was her. But at the same time, I gave her everything and she gave me crumbs. I found someone who matched the amount of love I want and give."

I nodded, "I hope with time Ana forgives you. It's just with that and... Maria... it's a very vulnerable time for her. She needs to find Maria and begin to heal from both situations. She will come back around eventually, it's just gonna take a while."

"I know." Leland repeated, "But how are you doing, man? I know you're struggling."

The crowded McDonalds seemed to close in as he asked that question. It's as if the world was frozen in place but somehow people continued to move forward. Maria was my world - yet here we are in public - seeing ordinary people go about their day as if my girlfriend isn't missing. Is it bitterness? Anger? Sadness? Loneliness? Envy? I couldn't pinpoint any exact emotions. I just know there's this heavy weight on my chest since everything. The absence of her charming presence. The guilt of not fixing her car sooner. The dread of what could've happened to her. All my thoughts, emotions, and racing panic thoughts are just weighing and crushing me. I normally don't cry - it's just not me - but I've cried almost everyday since she's been gone. Her printed photos she printed out of us hang in my room - memories of our greatest times. Meanwhile the untouched personal projects in the college's darkroom collect dust from her absence - awaiting her return.

"I'm okay."

"Danny-"

"I said I'm fine." My tone was a bit raised and strict as I looked into his eyes. Leland scanned my facial features before unwrapping his burger and taking a bite. We sat in silence, except the indistinct chatter around us, as we ate our respective meals. Leland took a sip of his Coca-Cola to wash down the large bite of his burger.

"You know, I'm not dumb. Nobody in our group is dumb." Leland started, "We know how it's eating you up - despite you trying to hide it. You can play Mr. Tough Guy all you want but I saw how you were with Maria. You were soft with her. You showed her sides of yourself that only she has had the privilege to see."

"Le-"

"She's your world." Leland cut me off. I could feel the lump coming back as I fought to hold it back. "Danny, you can admit and show how hard this is for you. Who's gonna judge or blame you?! Only yourself, that's who. Hell, you told me how after we graduate you're gonna propose and-"

"I'll see you around, Leland." I said before standing up. I shoved my food into the paper bag before in my school backpack, holding my drink in the other hand. Thankfully, we both took our own respective cars here. Leland's eyes widened, noticing how much of a hurry I'm in. He stood up too, reaching his hand out to me, but I continued to pack and zip my bag up.

"Hey, man. I didn't mean to offend-"

"You didn't." I shook my head. A single tear began to roll down my cheek as I began to remember that conversation I had with Leland. How we had smoked a bit and were talking about our relationships. This was before his and Ana's relationship started to deteriorate. Leland said he felt lucky to have Ana sometimes and hopes their relationship continues to grow. He then asked me what I want for the future, I told him to run my own auto body shop. Leland said he meant with Maria, and I told him I hope to marry her someday. Live in a nice little house, maybe a kid or two, a few animals. Going down to Mexico to meet her family - maybe having a second wedding there too. The type of ring I would pick out for her - what I could imagine her reaction being. It was one of the most intimate talks I had with someone - besides Maria.

"Danny wait-"

"See you tomorrow, man. Same time at your dorm." I quickly reassured him before walking out of the restaurant. Leland stood at our table, watching us leave. I felt bad. I didn't want to do that to him. But all I get asked about is how I'm doing. How I think Maria is. If I think she's somewhere safe. If I think she's dead. I can't be weak. I can't be anything but strong for her - to try and find my love. Time is running out and we don't know where she is. I'll do anything I can to make sure I find her, no matter if she's alive or... dead.

That's when the tears finally fell from my face. I opened my car door before slamming it shut violently. I slammed my hands against the wheel as more tears fell down. Once they start to fall, it's hard to make them stop. It's as if a pipe begins to leak before breaking more - causing a huge flood. I needed to get out of here. I needed to find her. I needed the love of my life back in my arms.

Now.