Guns and Roses

Forty Five ~ Quinn

It's a lot quieter than expected when we pull up to Angel's. Theres no fighting at the door, or addicts in the alleyway. Theres just faint music coming from inside the bar.

I step out of the car and swing my bag up onto my back. Lisa told me that Rya would be here but I'm not so sure.

"Its only seven o'clock," Reggie says "maybe no ones here yet?"

Kira scoffs "Last time we were here it was packed at six. Also, its Friday tonight. Surely that's one if their busiest nights."

I look over at the two of them. Their hands are clasped together and they're standing so close that their shoulders are touching. Kira is completely unharmed. Traumatised, but unharmed.

"Are you sure the two of you want to come in?" I ask them. I mean, I'm not even sure that I want to go in.

Reggie nods "I want to thank her. She saved Kira's life."

I nod and then lead the way towards the bar. I hear a laugh as we get closer and then a squeak and a thud followed by an even louder laugh.

"Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby!" Someone sings loudly. They're not particularly good but they seem to be having fun. The next line is muffled by laughing.

I push open the door and immediately see Matthew dancing around using a mop as a microphone as he mimes the words to the song with a massive smile on his face. He stops abruptly as he sees me and lets the mop fall to the ground with a clatter which makes Rya roll out of the way if it to avoid being hit. "We're closed" she says without looking at me. She just lies on her back staring at the ceiling.

"Good." I tell her "Much easier to find you then."

She rolls onto her front and glares at me, "What the fuck are you doing here? You're meant to be on your way back to Belfast"

I shrug and pull the tickets out from my bag. "I'm not leaving Rya." I tell her and put them down on a table.

Kira and Reggie walk in behind me and Kira starts to laugh. "Why are you on the floor?" She asks.

A smile appears on Rya's face. "I was dancing and slipped."

She pushes herself up and then runs over to me. She wraps her arms around my neck and sighs deeply. "I'm so glad you aren't leaving"

****

I hold Rya's hand in mine as she stares out of then window. Her leg hasn't stopped bouncing all morning and I watch as she gnaws on her bracelet.

"Its going to be okay." I tell her even though I dont have a clue how things will turn out. All I know is that Rya and a small group that are still loyal to her are going to storm the house where the Petrovs are hiding out. After that, anything could happen.

She squeezes my hand "Stay with my parents." She tells me. "No matter what happens, you do not leave their side."

I gulp "Where will you be?" I ask nervously.

She hesitates. "Wherever I have to be for this to all be over." I look down at the ground and at her scuffed trainers. Her foot is twirling around and her leg is still bouncing. Matthew hasn't said anything since we got in the car. "If I die," she says so softly that I dont think Matthew will be able to hear her over the music, "get as far away from Torstone as possible. Make sure Kira and Reggie get out too. I'm so sorry but if you stay the Petrovs will not let you live."

I shake my head, "You're not going to die, Rya."

She smiles tightly and then squeezes her eyes shut for a second, a shaky breath coming from her. "Quinn. Just promise me, okay?"

I gulp and nod my head. "Of course."

"Thank you." She says quietly and then looks up to see the building looming up ahead.

The car comes to an abrupt stop and I look across the large garden to the extravagant house sitting about 100m away. She starts to laugh, "This is where it all started." she says.

She gets out of the car and her hand slips from mine. I follow close behind her as she goes to a second car and opens up the boot. Her fingers run over the selection of guns and her breathing catches. I watch her hands start to shake and she steadies herself on the edge of the car. "I dont want to die. Not here." She says quietly and I dont think I was supposed to hear.

I pick up a pistol and slip it into my jeans even though I have no intention of using it. The feeling of the gun in my hands alone makes my stomach turn but I dont want to be unarmed.

She grabs a small blade and tucks it into her waistband. She then slips on a pair of brass knuckles and shivers at the feeling of cold metal on her bare skin.

Bella appears behind her and is rubbing her hands together, her eyes looking anywhere but the house. She turns Rya to face her and then tilts her chin up to look her in the eye. "When I was your age, I survived that house. You will too."

Rya doesnt answer and Bella sighs. She looks up at me and smiles, "You're brave coming here. I'll give you that."

Freddie walks over and checks his gun. "I cant believe I'm going back in there." He grimaces and then looks at Rya, "A few of your henchmen are going to head in first and take out the majority of the guards. By the time we get there, only the Petrovs should be left."

Bella frowns "Who's we?"

Freddie thinks for a second as he tries to remember. "You, Viktor, Matthew, Quinn, Switch, Artie, me and obviously Rya."

Rya slams the boot shut and I jump. "Well then, what are we waiting for?"

Bella and Freddie walk off first but Rya hesitates. She turns quickly and jumps at me, wrapping her arms around my neck in a tight hug. She says something into my neck and it takes me a few seconds to realise what it is.

"I love you"