Strung (Rock & Romance I.)

Chapter 47. - Gone

A/N: London is gone. What now?

This one is dedicated to Deejat33 ! Thank you for putting up with all the cliffhangers and going with both stories!

***

*Lukas*

"I have to go," I said, moving to pass Erika when her hand reached out and grabbed onto my arm.

"Running after her? I wouldn't advise." She said, her eyes narrowing into slits. I never realized how calculating she looked when she did this before. But then again, I've never been on her bad side before. "We had a deal, Lukas. If you go after her, I'll have to reconsider."

I glanced over her head at Ash, who nodded. "One drink, man. Then I'll take you home."

"Who knew you would be the reasonable one!" Erika chuckled, handing each of us a glass. "To Hazmat!"

The alcohol tasted sour in my mouth, but I welcomed the familiar numbness that followed. After the first three glasses, my pulse slowed, and the world didn't seem like such an unfair place anymore.

I was far from drunk, but I clung to the effects of dehydration from the concert, followed by the drinks. "Let's go!" Ash rose to his feet, taking a few steps toward the door before he paused. Turning to where Erika was sitting, he leaned down, leveling his stare with hers. "I have no choice but to put up with you." He sneered, his black gaze focusing on her light one. "But you should watch your back!"

Erika's perfectly manicured brows lifted in amusement. "Are you threatening me?"

"I'm advising you."

Erika's laughter followed us out to the hallway, where Ash clasped my shoulder as we rushed down, side by side. "This has all gone terribly wrong." I summed it up, shaking my head. "I can't believe this whole fucking mess, just because I wanted the girl."

Ash chuckled ironically. "Sometimes shit goes wrong. But it does so everything can fall into its rightful place." He let go of me as we walked through the door, using the shield of the buses to keep from the fans spotting us. "It's no one's fault things have gotten this far. Not even my brother's."

"I know that." And I did. Jesse was just looking out for London - something I have been thankful for over the last few weeks. "It's just hard to not have anyone to blame. I just lost the one girl I could see it all with, and I can't fault anyone for it, really. At the end of the day, even Erika is just looking out for herself."

"Trust me, I know what it's like to lose your head!" Ash laughed. "You two can talk it out once you had a chance to see your girl."

I lifted a brow at him as he unlocked his car, motioning for me to get in. "I thought you didn't want me to see her. You agreed with Erika in there."

My best friend rolled his dark eyes. "I fucking lied, man!" He got in and rolled down the passenger window. "Am I going to have to win your sweetheart back myself, or will you fucking snap out of it?!"

Chuckling, I threw the door open and joined him. "Let's check her parents' place first."

***

It took us nearly half an hour to get out of the arena and make it onto the freeway, then another twenty minutes before we pulled into London's parents' neighborhood. The gated community had a guard, who recognized me from last night, and waved us through. Ash's tires screeched as we rolled into the long driveway, parking just in front of the garage and out of the view of the street.

Adelaide, London's mother was already waiting for us outside.

"I figured you would come." She said, her elegant features transforming into a sympathetic smile. "But London isn't here."