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The night was going better than I expected it to be. I was surprised how many fans turned up here tonight and looking over at my bandmates, they seem just as shocked as I am.

Nobody even noticed that Harley was missing during our performance this evening. I don't know what's going on with her, Roxy assures us that she just needs time. I hardly believe that.

Harley has always been petty and jealous since Marnie started hanging out with us. She doesn't want to sit with us at lunch, she hasn't spoken to any of us in the band and she didn't come over to practice at JJ's for the past week and a half. Roxy didn't want to perform without her -- since it would 'ruin' the whole set-up.

Matt and I looked at each other and burst out laughing at Roxy's words, earning us a cold glare from the raven-haired girl. JJ stayed quiet throughout our entire argument, and in the end, Roxy was outvoted.

Harley hasn't affected the group's performance.

Harley needs to get used to seeing Marnie more often. She's my girlfriend, so of course, she'll be around the band.

It's been a week since Marnie's birthday and it's safe to say she liked her surprise break away. I was nervous as hell when I asked her to be my girlfriend. I was planning on the perfect moment to tell her. I wanted it to be special. So when Sky told me about Marnie's birthday coming up, I knew it was the right time.

My head keeps replaying that night on a loop.

I still remember her beautiful moans, her breathy gasps. How she felt and tasted.

God, I need to stop, otherwise the whole club with witness me getting hard.

I've never experienced such a strong connection as I have with her. It feels natural. Yet I still worry because Marnie doesn't know the full extent of my life and I don't want to burden her.

On the day of her birthday, I was running around like a crazy person -- trying to organise something nice for her. She deserved the perfect day and I wanted to spoil her. She was the first girl I wanted to commit to. I had to do it right.

The plan was set in stone and it turned out better than expected. When I got home the next day with a permanent grin on my face, I hardly noticed my father already sitting on the sofa in the living room. "Do you have anything to say to me?" that was the first thing he said in a low, disgruntled tone.

I wasn't in any mood to deal with him, I had the perfect night with Marnie, and I didn't want my father's words to bring me down. So I walked towards the living room, completely ignoring my father before he charged at me like a raging bull. I tried brushing past him, so he grabbed my arm roughly.

I fixed him with the deadly glare, though he never wavered. "I know you took the day off school yesterday. Then you decide to stay out all night!?"

For once I felt intimidated and slightly fearful about his reaction. I had no words. I couldn't conjure up any excuse to cover up what I did because I knew it was of no use. It would make this whole situation worse than it already is.

My father looked down at me with fire in his eyes.

"If you carry on being a screw-up, spending your time with those delinquent friends of yours and ruin your chances of a good future, you can pack your bags and leave! You can live on the streets and then you'll see just how much I do for you boy!" he spat each word and his face turned beet red, I was surprised I didn't see steam coming out of his ears.

I stood expressionless as he stormed out of the house, not another word spoken and I was left feeling frustrated. He always took off to cool down. I inherited the same anger from my father, the only difference is that my father doesn't have anyone around to comfort him.

Sometimes I wonder if he's angry at me or just angry about my mom leaving us. He's alone and takes it out on his son when he rebels.

We're not perfect and I hope that one day we can reconnect like we were before everything got so messed up.

At the end of our last performance, the crowd was roaring. A smile emerges on my face as my eyes sweep over the club -- looking for a pretty blonde. My Marns.

I don't see her.

I thought I told her to stay somewhere I can keep my eye on her.

I catch a small glimpse of Marnie's friend at the other end of the room. The small brunette is standing next to the bar with a guy I don't recognise. What the hell?

I pull my guitar strap over my head, handing it to Matt as I walk toward the bar.

"Oh my gosh, Reese! You were amazing up there, can I get your autograph please?" a tall turquoise-haired girl with tattoos and piercings stands close to me, batting her fake spider eyelashes.

I turn towards her, picking up the sharpie pen and quickly writing a sloppy signature while glancing over at the bar. "Here you go." I hand over her notebook and stalk towards Sky. My eyes swept the bar.

Sky was leaning towards the auburn-haired guy, slurring her words slightly and my eyes narrowed in on her. "Sky?" the brunette looks up at me with hooded eyes and rosy cheeks.

My stomach drops at the sight of her. Oh no.

"Oh hey, Reese," she falls into my chest and I grab her waist before she falls on her face.

"Woah, Sky, are you okay?" she mumbles incoherently and I look around the bar, frantically.

"Sky, Sky! Where is Marnie?"

She looks up at me through her dark lashes, eyes glazed over and her brown hair sticking to her face. "Marnie... Marnie," I nod my head as she squints her eyes, frowning. "Marnie is... I don't... know... where..."

"What?" I notice the guy next to Sky slowly backing away. Before he can escape anywhere, I grab him by his ruffled white collar, pressing him against the bar.

"Where is she!?" my voice comes out low and dangerous.

"I... I..." the guy looks like he's about to shit his pants, the anger I have inside me right now is bubbling up that I'm about to lose it in two seconds. He had better talk.

"Where the fuck did she go? Tell me!" he looks over at the entrance of the club and I don't waste any more time with this piece of shit. Sprinting towards the exit as fast as I can, I hear a few people calling my name but I don't pay them any attention.

The cold breeze hits my face, my hair catching my eyes as I look left and then right.

Where the fuck did she go?

My heart is beating dramatically, my ears ringing painfully loud. Every second is vital and I can't see her anywhere, it's like she's disappeared without a single trace. My chest tightens and my blood pressure rises.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"Reese," I turn at the soft sound of my name being called and I come face to face with a grinning Harley. She's not the blonde I wanted to see right now, but she might have seen Marnie leave the club.

"Have you seen Marnie leave with anyone?" Harley narrows her dark eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. I could see the wheels slowly turning in her mind, she was scheming something.

"Yeah I saw her, she left a few minutes ago with this buff-looking dude. She was kissing his neck, looking extra flirty if you ask me. They left together, just shows how desperate that girl is." she sneers.

I stuck my fists into the pocket of my jacket, so she couldn't see me clenching them. It's kind of a natural thing for me to do. To keep my temper in check so that no one would see what was boiling underneath.

"Don't play with me Harley, she could be in danger. Which direction did she go?" Harley looks at me with a passive expression and I feel like fucking screaming.

"Guys, what the hell is going on?" Roxy appears, looking between us with a panicked look. "Sky has passed out in the club, where is Marnie?"

I squint my eyes at Harley, rapidly losing my patience with her. "Tell me, now."

Roxy stares at Harley with fearful eyes and with a calm voice she says, "Harley, please if you know something, tell us."

The blonde-haired girl who I've known since we started high school locks eyes with me and I can see the pain swirling in her those hazel eyes. I've seen it on so many girls when I reject them after we hook up.

She finally sighs, looking down at her feet and then at the empty road ahead. "They left about ten minutes ago, looks like they were heading into town. The guy looked rough and she looked... well... pretty messed up."

"What!?" Roxy turns to me, her sky-blue eyes filled with shock and concern.

Fear consumes my heart and my hands start shaking, my legs numb and I feel sick to my stomach. I grasp onto the stands of my hair, looking down the dark road.

She could be anywhere.

Christ, what have I done?

This is all my fault.

I caused this.

She wouldn't have come here if it wasn't for me, for my band. I should have been watching her.

Fuck.

She wanted to see me play, she wanted to support me, and she wanted to have fun and listen to music.

I should have kept a closer eye on her, I was too engrossed with my music. The second my eyes left her, she got lost in the crowd. I let her go.

What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go to look for her? She could be anywhere in town. Alone and scared.

"Where the fuck is Matt?" I ask Roxy and she looks up at me with teary eyes, I see the pity and sadness on her face and my jaw tightens. "He's inside waiting for you. Should I get him?"

"Yeah, tell him I need to use the van." I head towards the van. My stomach twisted uncomfortably with thoughts of my beautiful blonde somewhere -- terrified.

I can almost hear her screaming my name like she did that day in the girls changing rooms. My lip trembles and tears fill the corners of my eyes.

I don't usually cry. I haven't cried since the day Hayden died. I don't know why I'm feeling this way. I've always had a stone-cold heart ever since the day my mom left me and my father. It turned me heartless.

Marnie has made me feel again. Emotions I'm not too familiar with.

I don't know how I'm going to find her but I will. I'm not gonna stop until I find her. I won't let anything bad happen to her.

I will find her and when I do, I won't ever let her go.

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