Outlaws[Alternate Universe]

3

Mariana:

I finally make it to the street that the house is on.

Great. Just across the street.

I run across,not even trying to look for cars passing.

I go up to the door and open it.

"Hey,you finally made it. So...how's life?" my friend Zavion says.

"Good and you're drunk already. God,Zavion. Don't you know how to wait for me?" I exclaim.

"Well what do you expect? What was taking you so long anyway?" He asks.

"The devil was holding me back." I reply,referring to Avery.

"Oh. That's nice. Come with me." He says,pulling me by the wrist.

He brings me into the kitchen and hands me a beer.

"Thanks. But I think I'm going to need something stronger. Maybe some vodka or whiskey." I say.

Zavion puts the beer back and hands me some peach Ciroc.

"Thanks." I say.

I open it and start drinking it,straight from the bottle. Then,Zavion takes it away from me,his beer still in hand.

"Don't think I'm gonna let you finish this by yourself." He throws the beer bottle to the side.

He chugs the vodka down.

"Don't kill yourself." I say,taking away the bottle,starting to drink again.

We go back to the front of the house and dance a bit.

Avery will never find me.

•••

After seven songs,we stop dancing. But then my favorite song comes on.

"Oooh this is my favorite favorite favorite song. Dance with me Z."

I listen to the lyrics as I sway slowly to the beat.

I'll be giving up, oh
Home is where the heart is,
And I gave it to you in a paper bag
Even though it's tarnished
You told me it's the best you ever had
You got my secret combination
And I don't be giving that out easily
With my deepest dedication
You can tell that you were brought the same for me

I start singing along.

So please don't let go, cause you know exactly what we found
So please don't let go my darling
You keep me locked up underground
It's gonna be you and me
It's gonna be everything you've ever dreamed
It's gonna be who and me
It's gonna be everything and everything, we're meant to be
We're meant to be

Zavion grabs my hips and pulls me closer. Then,he kisses me and I kiss back.

What am I doing? He's my best friend. But it feels like it's.... Meant to be.

I pull away.

"What? What's wrong?" He asks.

"I'm--just tired. That's all."

"Mari, it's only been an hour and time is passing quickly." Zavion says.

"I know. I just need to lie down for a while."
"Okay."

I walk upstairs to find an empty room. Fortunately, I find one and lie down on the soft duvet.

I am so tired. I just need to close my eyes for a while.

Avery:

"Where the hell could she be?" I say,outraged.

"I...don't know." Brooklyn says.

I look at the three other people in the room: Hayley, Jesse and Brooklyn.

"Hayley weren't you supposed to be moving into that room with Mariana today?" I say.

"Yes,sir. But I forgot to." she exclaims.

"Oh you 'forgot'. Did you also forget about what happens when you don't do as I say?"

"No,sir."

I stare at her for a while.

"Go back upstairs." I demand.

"I'm sorry,Avery." she exclaims.

"That's 'sir' to you. And I said go your ass upstairs right now." I remark.

A tear trickles down her face as she walks upstairs.

"And we don't cry in this damn house." I call out.

I turn towards Brooklyn and Jesse.

"Go upstairs,Outlaws."

"Yes,sir." They say in unison.

They walk behind me,towards the staircase.

I go to the coat rack and grab my jacket. I turn on my phone and start tracking down Mariana.

Little does she know that I put a tracker in her phone when she first got here. I do it to all the Outlaws. I don't know why I asked where she was before.

"Well...time to go." I say,leaving out the door.