She never made sense,
But neither did love.

.\.|./.

Crystal Monroe

| in which she shoots |

"Hey, dude, can I get a ride --"

The guy who speaks through the window stops suddenly when he catches sight of Ryan. As for Ryan, his eyes widen and face pales slightly. I expect him to drive as fast as he can, but he reaches for the door-handle.

"Ryan?" I interrupt, wanting to make sure he's okay.

He glances my way. "It's okay," he says. "He's a friend. Come on."

I follow without hesitation, wondering how many more people from Ryan's past will pop up in LA. Getting out of the car, Ryan steps onto the sidewalk and faces the newcomer.

"Can't believe you're back in LA, man," the guy is saying when I stop next to Ryan.

The guy has brown hair and is dressed in a pair of shorts and a flowery shirt that reminds me of the Amazon jungle. His long hair is braided from the top of his head down to his shoulders, and the chains hanging around his neck simply seal the deal.

Lucky Ryan didn't like LA or I might be braiding his hair right now.

"Crystal, this is Ed," Ryan tells me, indicating the weirdo. "Ed, Crystal."

"Nice to meet you," the guy says, removing his shades so I can see his brown eyes at last. "You don't seem like you're from around here."

"What gave it away?" I ask, knowing exactly what he means. With my baggy clothes and pale skin, I look like a hobo with no fashion sense, and even the worst of LA would be able to pick me out.

Ed waves a hand, and I have to say he's a nice guy not to point out what I know is wrong with me standing next to someone like Ryan. The man is a God, and I ... yes, I'm a disgrace.

"It's nice to see you again, though," Ed says to Ryan. "We knew you'd be here when you heard about your mom."

Ryan's brow scrunched up. "What about mom?"

"Don't you know? She had a heart attack last month," the guy tells Ryan.

I expect Ryan to say something, but he doesn't react. Not visibly at least. I know him too well to know that the slight paleness of his skin and the stiffness in his muscles, not to mention his hands curling into fists is indicative of him being affected. He's good at hiding it from others, though, so I have no doubt Ed doesn't notice.

"You staying in LA now?" Ed asks.

"No, we're just passing through," Ryan answers, sounding too calm for my liking.

I don't like this Ryan, the one who closes in on himself and tries to deal with things on his own. I want him to let me in. I want us to do it together.

"Well, I'm glad I got to see you," says the guy in the flowery shirt. "Maybe my car breaking down was a blessing in disguise."

Ryan smiles slightly. "You were asking for a ride?" he asks.

"Yeah, I have somewhere to be." Ed nods. "You mind dropping me before you head your way?"

Ryan glances my way as if asking my opinion and I shrug.

"She can shop around here and see the sites," Ed suggests, pointing a thumb at me.

Ryan, however, isn't pleased with the suggestion. He winds his hand through mine, leading me back to the car.

"We stick together," he says, not looking at his friend.

Ed laughs. "You and Lily didn't," he comments, getting into the back of the car.

Ryan takes the driver's seat while I get in next to him. "Well, this isn't Lilliana," he says as he buckles his seatbelt. "She's Crystal."

Ed nods, smiling. Ryan pulls the car onto the highway, and I have to question why it's called a highway at all. Honestly, seeing LA traffic, I can't believe why anyone would want to live here. Never have I seen a congestion as bad as this in my entire life. I love the road and I love driving, but I wouldn't drive in LA even if someone gave me a thousand dollars for it.

And yes, I'm exaggerating because I would most definitely take the offer.

"What happened to your bike, Ryan?" Ed asks.

I glance at Ryan because that's a question I have been meaning to ask him too.

"I sold it," Ryan says, his eyes on the road.

"Why? You loved that thing," Ed steals the words right out of my mouth.

Ryan simply shrugs, not looking anywhere but the deathtrap that is LA traffic.

I don't know the areas, but by the time we get somewhere, the sun is right overhead. It's so hot I can feel my skin melting, and even with cooling at max, I'm being roasted alive. Apparently, Ryan and Ed aren't nearly as hot, so it's safe to say I only have my Alaskan body to blame.

"If I die here, I will you to take my body back to Alaska," I say to Ryan. "I can't take this heat even after death."

Ryan chuckles, turning the direction of all the cooling fans towards me. I admit, it feels better. Still not good enough to make me love LA, though.

"Who are you meeting anyway?" Ryan asks Ed as he turns into an alleyway to avoid the traffic.

"A friend's coming over from out of state," Ed says, gazing out of the window. "He needs a place to stay for a bit. Said he's in a bit of a tough spot ... and here we are."

Ryan stops the car and I see we're behind a tall, run-down building good for nothing but blocking out the sun. That's the best thing in LA and I now know it.

Ed gets out of the car and walks over to a car parked sideways in front of us.

"I'll be right back," Ryan says to me before following his friend.

I sit in the car, fanning my face with my hands and hoping Ryan doesn't melt into a puddle outside. I'm just wondering if it would be better to go back to Alaska just to get the LA tan off my skin. I've been here less than twenty-four hours and it feels like ages I've been living in this overwhelming heat. I miss the clouds and the cool winds, the snow in winters and the summer rain.

The car door in front of me opens and I watch absent-mindedly, focusing on my grumbling stomach. Maybe Ryan and I can stock up on some more snacks before getting on the road again. Vegas isn't too far from LA, but driving on an empty stomach to a place that will probably cost more than my entire being, I wonder if we should just quit and go home.

But where is home?

I come back to the present when I hear a shout. My heart jumps into my throat when I see Ryan throw a punch and slam someone against the hood of the car I see in front of me. I gasp, unable to believe what I'm seeing. As for Ed, he seems to be trying to rip apart Ryan and whoever he's pounding.

With a pang, I realize I know the person.

Jeremy.

The car door nearly breaks off when I push it open, jumping out on trembling legs and stumbling closer to the scene of the action.

"Ryan, what the fuck --" Ed seems to be yelling.

"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"

Ryan's voice echoes in the empty alley and I come to a halt about ten feet from him. His face is red with anger, and Jeremy's red from all the punches Ryan has thrown at him. A trail of blood leaks from his nose into his mouth, as he lets out a laugh.

"What are you gonna do?" Jeremy spits blood at Ryan.

Ryan slams his knee into Jeremy's stomach, causing him to cough up blood and double over.

"Ryan, stop!" I cry out, afraid he's going to kill Jeremy.

I don't mind Jeremy dying -- okay, maybe I do a little bit -- but seeing Ryan plumage him like a punching bag, I can't believe what I'm seeing. I have never seen Ryan this angry, and it scares me to see how far he can go. It scares me because I've never seen Ryan as a violent person.

Now, when I see Ryan curl his hands around Jeremy's neck and strangle him, his lip pulled back over his teeth, I can't believe how scared I am of him.

"Ryan, please --" I exclaim.

He suddenly stops, his gaze snapping in my direction. Guilt flashes across his face as he realizes what he's doing. He opens his mouth to speak, and I shake my head, aware of the tears stinging my eyes. I don't want this. I don't want Ryan to do this. I don't want him to stoop to Jeremy's level to get back at him for what he did to me.

Ryan is better than that. Ryan is better than him.

"Crystal --" he begins, loosening his grip on Jeremy, who seems to be going limp.

He drops Jeremy, straightening up as the latter splutters and coughs, massaging his neck on the ground as he kneels at Ryan's feet.

"I'm so sorry --" Ryan says, and I can see it on his face.

He takes a step towards me, and I can't wait to take his hand and get out of here. He doesn't reach me, though, because Jeremy trips him, grabbing hold of his ankle and causing him to fall face down on the ground.

I cry out when Ryan's chest hits the ground. Jeremy jumps to his feet, raising one of them to slam it as hard as he can against Ryan's knee. Ryan cries out in pain, and I notice Jeremy attacked him where he knew he hurt. Ryan clutches his bad leg, writhing on the ground in pain.

"Well, well, look who it is," Jeremy says, straightening up and spitting out blood and wiping his bloodied nose. His eyes are on me, and I shake on my knees under his gaze. "Should've stayed where I left you."

"Crystal, go back to the car," Ryan yells at me, attempting to get up on his feet.

Jeremy sees him and kicks him on the leg again, sending Ryan down on all fours again. Ryan's scream echoes in the silence, mingling with mine as I sob and wish I could do something.

"Stop it, please, don't hurt him," I plead, tears streaming down my face.

Ryan pants while Jeremy laughs, spitting blood again. His white hair is matted with dirt, pale skin stained with blood. He looks crazy, laughing as he wipes blood off his face.

"Come now, Crystal," he says, his tone growing softer. It sends chills down my spine, because I know the softer he speaks, the more deadly he is. "Let's go home, babe."

He takes a step towards me and I can't even run. I'm rooted to the spot, unable to figure out what to do.

"You touch her and I'll kill you," Ryan shoots at him, getting up with the help of the car.

As for Ed, he seems to have disappeared. What a coward.

"Oh, you will, will you?" Jeremy laughs, reaching into the belt of his pants. He pulls out a gun, spinning it in his hand.

My breath catches in my throat when he turns the gun towards me and then towards Ryan.

"Now, who do I kill first?" he says, running a lazy hand through his white-blond hair. "Crystal, or her fucking lover?"

"Jem, don't," I beg, hating myself for being such a weakling. I can't even talk to him without remembering all the time we spent together.

"Crystal, run!" Ryan snaps at me.

Jeremy turns to him, laughing. His laughter is cut short when Ryan's body collides with his. Ryan locks his arms around Jeremy's neck and traps his arms so that his gun slips out of his hand. The gun lands a few feet from the two guys struggling for control. I glance from them to the gun before diving towards it.

I don't know where I get the strength, but as soon as I do, I use it.

My fingers curl around the gun and I stand up, pointing it at the boys. The two of them freeze when they see me, before Jeremy takes advantage of Ryan. He traps Ryan against the car, pressing his skull into the metal until Ryan groans.

"Let him go!" I command Jeremy, the gun trembling in my hands. "Let him go or I'll ..."

Jeremy's eyes remain fixed on me as a smile slides onto his face.

"Or you'll what, Chris?" he coos, not relinquishing his hold on Ryan.

"Or I'll shoot," I say, sounding weaker than I would like.

Jeremy chuckles breathlessly as Ryan struggles under his hands

"You can't hurt --"

"I said let him go," I repeat, louder this time.

"Chris --"

"LET GO!" I yell at the top of my voice.

Jeremy's smile doesn't waver. He pulls back and Ryan falls to the ground, gasping for breath and clutching his head. I see a few drops of blood trailing down his face.

"Shoot me, Chris," Jeremy says, his voice low but carrying over to me.

He doesn't blink as he begins to advance towards me. I stare unblinkingly back, my hands trembling around the gun and knees threatening to give out from under me.

"Just let us go," I breathe.

Jeremy doesn't stop, his smile gone but anger written all over his face.

"Shoot, Chris," he commands.

My breathing comes ragged, and I hear Ryan yelling something at me. I can't make out the words, trapped under Jeremy's hypnotic gaze. He's coming closer, and I know he'll take the gun from me and kill both Ryan and I.

"Shoot me," Jeremy whispers, smiling slightly. "Come on, babe. Let's face it -- you're still mine."

The words trigger something within me and I tighten my grip on the gun.

"I'm not yours," I say unevenly.

Jeremy isn't fooled, as he pounces towards me like a predator ready to devour his prey whole.

Ryan yells behind him, his voice drowned out by the blood pounding in my ears.

As for me ...

I shoot.

.\.|./.

A/N: OMG what's going to happen now? Guesses, guesses?

Do you know the surprise I have? I'll share it in the next update. Those of you who know ... are you excited? I know I am.