"So, is she coming?" Layla asked sitting next to me as did James.

"Yeah." I nodded shifting uncomfortably in my damp clothes. Layla nodded and rested her chin on her knees eyes staring out at the street where cars were beginning to pull away as people left.

Sure enough Meg's car rolled up to the spot next to us after about ten or fifteen minutes. The engine died and she climbed out of the driver's
seat of the truck and dug around in the back of the truck bed.

"I brought clothes for everyone. I didn't know who needed them and who didn't." Meg said tossing clothes to each of us.

"Thank you." James smiled in relief holding a set of clothes that had once belonged to Meg's dad.

"I'm fine I don't need any." Layla stood holding out the garments.

"Right." Meg nodded and awkwardly took them back. Her eyes quickly settled on James and I. "Find a place to change."

The two of us nodded and stood up heading down the block to where a thick clump of bushes rested. James changed first and I changed second glad to ditch my beer soaked clothes.

Gathering our things we headed back to find that Meg was no longer there. "Where'd she go?"

"Inside. I told her not to but-" I didn't listen to the rest of Layla's response and instead ran back towards the still crowded house. Music still pulsed through the air and those who I'd seen briefly before looked to be in worse conditions.

Pushing through groups of people I scanned the crowd until I finally spotted Meg. Everyone looked at her with wide eyes and surprise. She stood glowering at Ashton.

"I'm taking you home. Come on my car's out front." Ashton snorted and shook his head crossing his arms.

"Didn't you learn from last time? You can't tell me what to do." He set his jaw eyebrows creasing together.

"Meg." She turned at the sound of my voice. "Leave it let's just go okay?"

Ashton's expression shifted when he saw me, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of regret shift his features.

"No Rey I'm taking him home before something else happens. You need to fix your priorities Ashton, and you need to apologize to your brother for what you did. Hell apologize to Reyna! You think she deserved your buddies soaking her with beer?" By now everyone was watching the interaction go down.

"Look it was a joke but cry baby James doesn't see it that way. It's not my problem now scram before I kick your ass outside." Ashton was nearly nose to nose with Meghan now. She stood her ground matching his heated glare.

"You wanna know something little boy?" Meg asked. "Have you ever thought that maybe the reason James sticks around is because he feels sorry for you? You think all that time in grade school he spent tutoring you was just a way to brag? He loves you damn it and you better start realizing it!"

"I'm so sick and tired of people telling me what to do." Ashton snarled grabbing Meg by the front of her jacket. His knuckles were white in comparison to the black leather.

"Ashton stop." My heart was beating anxiously in my chest. I wasn't going to watch my friends beat each other into a pulp.

"No you listen to me." He yelled eyes wild. "You don't have a clue about anything anymore! You disappeared for five years!"

"It wasn't her choice." Meg jerked free from his grip and took a step back. Her angered expression looked like one of hurt now. "You used to be my friend Ashton. I can't watch you do this to yourself."

"I'm perfectly fine the way I am." He replied swallowing hard.

"Maybe. But the people you have in your life don't last forever. Maybe you should try to actually care for James. He might be all you have in the end." Meg shook her head and made her way back over to me. "Come on Reyna. Let's go. There's nothing we can do here."

Ashton stood watching us and for a moment I couldn't move. All I could do was look at him. He looked the same, but he wasn't. My eyes drifted to stare at the ground.

"Reyna. Please." Meg spoke gently hand still on my arm. "James and Layla are gonna worry."

"Yeah okay." Nodding I let her guide me outside back to where James and Layla sat on the curb again.

"Everyone hop in." Meg said her voice tired and her shoulders slumped. James and Layla were wise enough to not ask questions and simply climbed in the back seats. Climbing into the passenger seat I buckled my seat belt ever so carefully.

Meg said nothing as she started the car. The headlights flicked on and the tires grated against the street. We were about to pull away when there was a knock on the window. Meg slammed on the brakes and we all glanced at the back right window.

"I'll be damned." Meg sighed. Ashton stood sullenly on the sidewalk with an irritated looking Max, as Layla politely opened the door for them.

"Change of heart Ashton?" Layla asked glaring at Max who seemed less than pleased to be here.

"No, just need to pick something up from home and we'll come back." Ashton promised.

"So why do we need Max?" Meg asked eyes staring straight ahead.

"Probably for a supervisor." Layla grumbled.

"Actually because Ashton has something of mine at his place. I need it." She glared eyes flicking around to study all of us. "That's what he said wasn't it? That we needed to pick something up?"

"Like what?" James asked. "It better not be my light and speaker system."

"Oh he's smart." Max laughed.

"Are you kidding me?" James laughed sounding like he wanted to cry again. "God."

"Well how else am I supposed to get it?" Ashton demanded.

"With the car! Oh wait you ruined it." James shook his head.

"If you're coming just get in." Layla growled. Max and Ashton crammed into the back which couldn't hold that many people but they somehow made it work.

Meg shook her head and finally pulled away from the house. No one spoke as we drove along. It took me a moment to realize we were going the wrong way.

"Meg my place is back that way." Her eyes flicked across the road scanning the cars in front of her in the dark.

"I know." She replied.

"Hey I wanted a ride home not some crazy adventure of yours." Layla frowned finally picking up on the scenery outside.

"I know just hang tight okay? I promise it'll be worth it." Meg sighed following a bend in the road.

"Hang tight? This is the kinda crap you used to pull all the time." Ashton said unbuckling and leaning forward to look out the windshield.

"Ashton get back in your seat." I tried to shove him to sit back down but he didn't listen.

"I can't help but agree. Turn it around Meghan. I'm not in the mood for your games." Layla said jerking Ashton back into his seat.

"Don't touch me." Ashton said smacking her hand away.

"Knock it off!" Meg yelled eyes flicking to the mirror and glaring at their reflections.

"Pull off at the next exit and loop around." James suggested.

"I can't alright? I won't be able to get over that quickly." Meg's grip on the wheel tightened and I noticed her posture stiffen.

"What do you mean you can't? There's no one on your right!"

"Yes there is Ashton shut up!"

"Guys be quiet she can't focus!"

"Just pull off the road!"

"I have to head home you dumb asses! The parties at my place!"

"No one gives a shit about the speaker you want Maxine!"

"All of you shut up!" Meg yelled tearing her eyes from the road and glaring over her shoulder, her grip faltered on the wheel.

"Meg look out!" A horn blared and the windshield was ignited by a bright light. The next thing I knew something hard slammed into my chest and the sound of crunching and yells filled the air.

My head snapped backwards and to the side pain flaring in my temple. There was a brief relief before the world was spinning again and my heart hammered angrily in my chest.

Something sticky slid down my cheek and my chest hurt like I'd been punched repeatedly. Nothing made sense and I could feel my head throbbing painfully. Every inch of my body was in pain somehow. Radio static filled the air and I could smell burned rubber.

"Meg?" My eyes flickered open and I tried to look around. All I could see was broken glass and the front of the car torn apart. There was blood, lots of it, and Meg's white blonde hair wasn't blonde anymore.

I wanted to say more, do something, but my vision and body grew weak at once and darkness settled over me like the moon blanketing the sun.