Listen to the song in the sidebar when they get back into the van, mainly because that's where i pictured it in my head. You don't have to listen to it if you don't want, but it kinda adds to the mood.

yep, thanks. c:

~~~

" Let's go to a party."

I turned my head, giving Nick my best dead stare and a slow blink. I might as well have slapped him in the face. With a long, drawn out sigh, i asked, " why?"

He met my gaze through the review mirror, his grey eyes watching me with a calm curiosity I wished I could've smacked off his face. He said, " why not."

For once, I successfully raised my eyebrow, " we have somewhere to be." I stated, voice falling flat. At this point, we had already wasted enough time and i was too cozy with the thought of getting off track anymore on this trip.

He sighed, clicking his tongue, " Angel Angel Angel, you forget that I'm driving. He pulled the wheel towards the right, and the van drifted towards an off ramp. I lunged for it, but Nick held me back with his right arm, while driving with his left. He snapped, " you'll make us crash.

" We have somewhere to be." I stated, voice tone flat. We've already wasted enough time, and I was tired of getting off track.

I huffed.

Pulling my hands back, I said in a low voice, " Nicholas damn I should know your middle name by now Arson, if you go on the off ramp, if you're lucky, or should I say unlucky, enough to wake up tomorrow morning, you'll wish you hadn't."

He rolled his eyes, and adjusted his beanie while driving. It was like watching a girl obsess over their make up.

I cross my arms, " You'll regret this Arson."

" Probably." He replied, simply.

should have just smacked him.

~~~

The sun was banking deep in the west, it's final rays casting a last bit of lighting against the clouds and lake house Nick parked us in front of. It was rather nice place, with a cream/grey siding and a dark, well shingled roof. Lights streamed from the windows and front door, and I could hear the bass drumming from inside the van. Smoke trailed from any opening to the house, and a large part of me had hoped it was a fog machine.

I sighed, " Nick, I'm warning you. Turn around now and maybe you'll have both your testies in the morning."

He winced, then smiled, " don't get your panties in a bunch Angel. Loosen up, have some fun. Come on." He slid out of the car.

I crossed my arms, and sat there, licking the front of my teeth in pure anger. I wondered how many seams could come out of his hat before he'd cry. The thought brought a smirk to my lips.

Nick stood there, waiting for me to exit the vehicle. Figuring I might as well, I opened the door and slid out. I hoped he knew full and well how much he'd wish he hadn't mad this dicision in the morning.

Letting out a string of profanities, I watched as a couple ran out of the house, giggling and holding hands. I glared at them in disgust.

Following behind the pair, was a tall lanky boy, towering a bit over Nick, with messy chocolate brown hair and the most stunning emerald green eyes i've ever seen. He walked outside with a beer bottle in one hand and a thong in the other. A smile adorned his face, flashing white teeth, when he caught sight of Nick, " Nicky, my boy! Glad you could make it!"

A smile caressed Nick's features, as he responded, " glad to be here." I looked between the two, a look of confusion and pure hatred blending on my face in what I figured wasn't that pretty of an expression.

The boy with the stunning green eyes went to bro hug Nick, but he stepped back, attending to his beanie, " I have no idea where your hands have been." He said, eyes trailing down to the thong in the boy's hand.

" oh, right." He snickered softly, a sheepish grin spreading over his face like butter, before he caught sight of me, " oiy, who's the beauty."

He winked.

I shot him a deadly glare, one of my eyebrows just hinting upwards, my arms crossed, " Who's the asshole?"

" Me or Nick?" The boy asked, laughing at his own joke. Then he took a swig of his beverage.

Nick chuckled and shook his head, " Angel, meet Jericho, Jerry, meet Angel."

Jericho gave a nod, " nice to meet you, Angel." I couldn't help but notice Nick tense some.

" It's Carter." I corrected, shooting Nick the glare of death. He only smirked. I could just see the look on his face while seams ripped from his hat.

Jericho whistled, " damn Nick, how'd you get such a stunner?" He cooed, his eyes racking my body in a way that made me want to skin him.

Nick shifted uncomfortably on his feet, shoving his hands in his back pockets, " just being a good neighbor is all."

" Oh, i see." Jerry wiggled is eyebrows.

I slapped my forehead, and closed my eyes tightly, " He offered to drive me across country to pick up my grandma, no big deal."

Jericho couldn't wipe his sarcastic smile off his face, " uh huh, that's all that's happening. You two little love birds on a road trip together." He made birds sounds before adding, " wow Nick, I honestly never thought I'd see you fall in love.

Nick flipped him off, the ice in his eyes so true, so real, death would be proud. To be honest, I was proud of the pure murder stirring in his gaze.

Jericho practically did a backflip, he was laughing so hard, " alright you two, see ya inside. I have a lovely lady to attend to." He winked, spun on his heels, and sauntered inside.

I looked up at Nick, " and please, Arson, tell me how you much such a unique, life changing person?"

" Back when I was fetus Nick, and he was fetus Jerry, aka the time of elementary school, I was the only kid who had enough guts to actually talk to him. He was scary as a child, always breaking things, hurting peoples' feelings. I never realized it before, but we got along well as children." Then he smiled, " if you can't tell though, I'm the one who grew up better."

" If you're the better of the two, he's so far gone, I can't even." i shook my head, and he laughed.

" and how did you know there was a party?" I asked, changing the subject.

" He said he was having a party tonight and was gonna try to get it on with his girlfriend." He made a face, before continuing, " so I asked if we could go. He was amazed we were in the area. It blew the guy's mind. "

" Why did he keep his girlfriend's thong?" I asked, annoyance slipping into my voice.

He started to walk foreward, me by his side, " between me and you, Angel. I don't think it's his girlfriend's."

I grimaced.

~~~

I had lost Nick and easy hour ago.

In the house, people crushing around me in packs, I couldn't focus. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy parties, it was just my grandmother, and her beautiful, wrinkled face imprinted on the back of my eye lids.

I weaved my way out of the house, moving past bodies and grinders, and working to find a place to leave most of the laughter behind. I saw a doorway to the backyard, and took that route. When i opened the door, I found a beautiful stretch of lake, easing out on either side of me. I moved foreward.

I sat at the lake's edge, mindlessly digging my converse into the sand. A film reel of things drifted through my mind. I thought about my grand mother, or where Nick could be in the party.

I didn't want to cling to Nick like a leech, and dent his good time. At least, that's what I told myself. In Honesty, I didn't want to be there anymore. I could smell the sweat and smoke and achohol all the way out here, just faintly. And in there, the scent was so strong, every body reeked of it. It was a madhouse, people dancing on tables, broken vases on the floor. Red solo cups tossed around like confetti. That would be one hell of a cleanup.

I sighed. The faint salt in the lake licked off the surface and across my face, sweet in my nose. It smelled so much better than the interior of the house did.

I watched the stars glitter, reflecting gently off the surface of the water, sparkling like a thousands diamonds tossed into the lake. It relaxed me, the watery breeze and the cool night air, something about it was a much better escape than any achohol inside could offer.

The moon didn't smile at me. It frowned, like it was dissappointed to know I had fallen so behind. I wrapped my arms around my bent knees loosely, slouching just a bit. My blonde hair tossed in the breeze, tangling at the tips. A shadow darkened the spot next to me, telling me someone was beside me before Nick and sat down, " Hey Angel."

He sat something similar to me, but while my legs were pulled closer to my chest, he relaxed, his arms looped around his knees while he picked at a blade of grass that had found it's way to the water's edge.

" Arson." I acknoledged, looking at the water instead of him.

" What's up?" He asked. His voice was soft, like mine, like we were both afraid of denting the quiet to much.

" Just chillin." I answered, simply.

" didn't feel like partying."

I sighed again, " not really."

" What's wrong?" He asked, concern etching it's way into his features. His brows drew together, his lips were faintly parted as his eyes searched my face.

I sighed, " I guess i'm just worried about my grandma."

" We can leave if you want." He replied.

" I'm gonna guess you don't see your friend often." I shrugged, " go hang out with him."

He leaned foreward a bit more on his knees, and dropped the blade of grass. Shaking his head, he said, " after what he did to night, I could care less if I ever see him again." The way Nick watched the sand, a new found hatred in his eyes, I couldn't help but be angered.

I could also see the dissappointment in his gaze.

" what happened?" I asked, brows drawing together.

" The dick cheated on his girlfriend, did another girl right in front of her, then had the nerve to ask if she wanted to join in." His jaw tightened, a muscle ticked in his jaw, " that's so fucked up. I just... How could he do that to her? How could anyone do that to someone?"

" Language Arson." I teased, nudging him softly with my shoulder. It was rubbing him raw, I noticed. He wasn't one to handle that kind of assholeness. Weird, I always saw him as the kind of person to do what Jerry did.

He smiled faintly, " yeah, sorry."

" But that is a dick move." I agreed.

" language?" He teased.

I rolled my eyes. It was times similar to this that I didn't really mind Nick. Times where he wasn't as cocky, old styled, and sarcastic. Something about him was more enjoyable when he was just talking. It was nice when he was more laid back. It made him more bearable. Still annoying, but on the road to recovery, " yeah yeah."

He smiled just a bit more, one side of his mouth tilting up more than the other, before looking out at the water, " so we can head out whenever you're ready."

" then let's hit the road."

He nodded, and pulled himself to a stand, before offering me a hand. I shot him an are-you-serious glare, and slow blinked. It was more effective than you'd think. He sighed, " Angel, just let me help you up."

I clenched my teeth, but grabbed his hand and gasped when he had me up in ease.

We started towards the van, Nick walking a step or two behind me, when a drunken Jericho passed through the front door, " Leavin' so'soon guys?" He slurred.

Nick sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose, collecting himself before turning to face the other boy, " yeah man, gotta head out. More important things to do."

" I haven't'seen you'en years. Wha the hell cou'd be more important?" Jerry complained, his fingers clutching the neck of his new beer tightly.

Nick shook his head and kept walking. Jericho yelped, " Aft'r I lostmy girlfriend, I cou'd use a bro."

" You didn't deserve her Jerry." Nick shot back, his tone deadly.

" oh yah, you'ould know. You've gotta lovely'lady righthere, and you make no moves." Jericho giggled, " I can't beliveyou mann, I thought you'd be betta than zat."

Nicholas whipped around on him, and grabbed the collar of his shirt with one hand, " Jerry, just stop before you've started, okay? You fucked up, and this time i'm not going to stick around to clean your mess." He shoved the boy back a few steps.

I was pretty amazed, actually. The new fire in Nick's eyes was nice, the deadliness, I approved.

Jericho stood stunned, before turning lazily and nearly stumbling. his spoke in cursive, " yeahwhatevers. lat'r brah."

Nick took off his beanie and ran his fingers through his hair, before sticking the hand back on and making sure that the bat symbol was in the center. He looked at me, and gave a nod, before looking at the van, " let's go."

Nick slid into the driver's seat, I sat in the passenger side. Starting the car, he pulled out of the driveway and back onto the rode. He accelerated a little over speed, his grip tight on the steering wheel, " roll your window down."

I shot him a confused glance, " why?"

" I can still smell the smoke." He said, making an unpleased face.

I couldn't supress the light snicker bubbling from my throat. His expression was priceless, the laced together brows, the stirring dark grey in his eyes, and the way his mouth was set in a hard, unhappy line.

I rolled down my window and he rolled down his. The chilled breeze rolled through the van in waves, brushing my hair and pulling a few strands of black out from under Nick's beanie.

Outside, the landscape filtered by us, blurring into a mix of dark blue hues, and streaks of white stars. I looked at the moon. It looked like just a moon.

I huffed.

Resting my head on my arm in the window seal, I closed my eyes. Enter One by sol seppy streamed through the radio, easing me into a relaxed sate. Nick's eyes rested on me for a minute, an odd sort of happy smile touching his lips. One side of his mouth turned up, the other hinted at it.

I let out a peaceful sigh as the chorus strung out through the speakers, echoing voices drifted around us and landed me in a calm bliss.

Nick pulled over into a little slice of gravel off to the side of the road. Gently placing a hand on my shoulder, he motioned for us to head back. I stood, and followed him to the other end of the van. We turned our backs to each other as we changed, though at this point I could care less on whether or not he was watching.

Nick changed into sweatpants and a black t-shirt. together, we moved to the bathroom to brush our teeth and for me to brush my freshly tangled hair out.

He sighed, and stretched his arms above his head. The material of his t-shirt lifted, revealing a strep of smooth skin underneath, the toned muscle under that well sculpted. I had to admit, I noticed a v line. Turning my gaze back to the mirror, Nick shot me a sly smile. I glared at him, " you could lose a few pounds."

He shook his head, and chuckled, " You could find a few compliments."

" You're funny." I teased.

He smiled, " i know."

Shaking my head, I moved back to the bedroom, and kicked my bag back under the bed. I turned to face Nick, and watched as he pulled his beanie and tossed it onto his boots. Then, he spidered his fingers through his hair, ruffling the dark locks unitentionally.

He turned, and shot me a smile. There it was, one side lifting higher than the other. I shook my head.

He laid down, and turned of his lamp.

I slid in next to him, unitentionally facing him. When I thought he was asleep, I scooted closer to his warmth, my own body freezing. Without any warning, Nick had his arms snaked around me. I tensed, and he rolled his eyes, " You're freezing, Angel. Okay? Plus, I don't bite... hard."

I shook my head, and smiled at his idiocy.

I didn't move away either. He was right, I was freezing my buns off. Nick had left the windows opened to get out the smell of sweat and smoke, and the cool drafts collecting under the blanket chilled me to the soul. I wasn't sure how he was cold, but practically being wrapped in his body heat, I was glad he wasn't.

I let him hold me this one time, because while I was freezing, he was warm, and for the first time in quite a while, I was so relaxed I could have melted.

And so, I fell asleep.