Chapter Six

My phone lights up on my bedside table, I see Mac's ugly mug and ignore his call. When we confronted him over JD, it didn’t go well. Levi and Rory had to hold Mercer back from giving him a beating. I don’t know why he didn’t think to tell us but that is what Mac is like, he only thinks about himself.

We have all tried to snap her but our messages have been ignored. I just need to know she is okay. I feel like an ass being jealous of Mercer, but he got to see her, and smell her. God, I miss her sugary sweet smell.

My phone goes off again, the guy can’t seem to take a hint. I don’t want to party with him and right now I am not even sure I want to be friends with him. I silence my phone and pick up the photo of JD and I, the one she made me for my birthday. My stupid heart hurts looking at her. I haven’t told my dad or even the guys yet but I started taking my medication again. I need to just feel normal, I don’t want to run or train and the constant thoughts pinging around in my head over and over again are becoming too much. I know when dad finds out he won’t be happy, he hates the medicine the doctor gave me. He can give a great debate on why diet control and exercise is better.

Again, my phone starts vibrating. “What.” I snap, finally answering the call. I would turn it off but then I wouldn’t be able to obsessively check and see if she has contacted me.

“Thank god, you need to get everyone to meet at Rory’s in about an hour and a half.” He says his voice rushed.

“Why would I do that?” I look at the photo of JD again before placing it back on the bedside table.

“Can you just do it please? I have to tell you all something and it has to be at Rory’s.”

“Fine, but if this is just a trick to have a party, I will gut you myself.” He laughs at my statement, but I’m not joking.

“As much as I would love to party at his crib, this is a more pressing issue and no, I can’t just tell you and I can’t give you any hints.” His cryptic message has me jumping out of bed ending his call. It has to be her, she has been in contact with him before. He is one of her friends, so she is allowed to be in contact with him. I quickly open a group text, and fire off a message.

Me: Meet at Rory’s ASAP, Mac is meeting us there. Think he has a message from JD.

Maximus: Swing past and get me

Mercer: Will be there as soon as I can

Levi: At bball, finishing up now heading over.

Rory: Already here.

Rocky: Be at yours in half Maximus.

***

We’re the last to arrive at Rory’s. I park my car beside Mac’s, it’s not good he arrived before I did, Mercer can’t stand him at the best of times and his fuse has been extra short lately. Levi has been on edge and Rory is drunk all the time.

Maximus must have the same thought as I do. “We better get in there fast, Mac won’t last long.”

We both hurry inside, but it isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Mac is sitting on one of the ridiculously white lounge chairs, Mercer, Levi and Rory seated opposite him, all three staring him down.

“Oh, thank god, I swear if I so much as sneezed, those three would have decked me.” Mac laughs nervously, fidgeting in his seat.

“You got us all here Mac, now tell us why we are all here.” I get to the point, I have no time to deal with his games.

“I don’t know.” He simply states.

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Mercer snaps standing from the lounge.

“I mean JD asked me to get you all here and she would be in touch. I figure, since she contacted me on my phone you would all want me here for when she does again.”

“Fine.” Merce huffs and sits back down. Maximus and I take a seat with Mac.

The silence is deafening, everyone just sitting and staring at the ground. “I’m back on my meds.” I blurt, all eyes turn to me.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Levi asks. “Last time...”

“It’s not like last time, Mum and my paediatrician are keeping an eye on me.”

“I don’t know if I can watch you go down that road like you did last time. I am barely holding on as it is right now.” Rory adds.

“I’m not depressed, I promise. I just can’t deal with my brain running in loops all the time.” I look up, waiting for them to argue but they don’t react as bad as I thought they would. The fact that Mac is here could be why they are holding back.

“What about training?” Mac asks.

“I only do it for my dad and I haven’t told him yet. I hope you won’t say anything.”

Mac stands and throws his arms in the air. “I can’t take you guys anymore, you have all known me since forever and yet you still don’t trust me. If you took the time to pull your head out of each other’s asses you would see all I have ever done is try to be your friend. I get enough shit at home, I don’t need it from anyone else.” He turns on his heel and starts walking towards the door.

When he opens the door, headlights radiate through the foyer. All five of us stand and look at each other. Rory shrugs, his mum is still in hospital.

“You guys need to see this.” Mac calls out.

I don’t wait for the guys, my brain throws together all the information, Mac getting a message from JD to meet us here, it has to be her, who else could it be. The headlights flick off and the driver’s door opens, my heart beats against my ribcage, waiting hoping. The weeks since I have seen her, held her have caused me to spiral. I watch her close the door, frozen. She looks different, her hair a platinum blonde again, I remember how much she hated it.

“Rocky.” She says, like she is nervous. I smile as she runs towards me and launches into my arms wrapping her legs around my waist, her head cradled into my neck. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too.” I turn to see the guys have moved closer, all of them as shocked as I am. “I think there are some others who would like to see you.” Even though I don’t want to put her down or let her go. She slides down my body, my hands rest on her hips before she spins around to face them. Even Mac looks happy to see her.

JD walks slowly towards the house, Maximus is the first to move towards her. I watch as his face lights up when she wraps her arms around his waist, as unwanted jealousy bubbles in my gut. I have never been jealous of my brothers before, even with her. I convince myself it’s just the new meds messing with my head. She moves from one guy to the next and hugs them all, even Mac.

“Um guys as much as I love all the attention, can someone possibly get my friend out of the car? She is a bit wasted.”

“I’ll get her.” Mac offers when he notices all our attention is on JD. Mac pulls a very petite girl from the sports car and cradles her to his chest. “Where do I put her?”

“Spare room across from mine.” Rory instructs. “And your room is?”

“I’ll show you.” JD says moving towards the front door, we all follow like a scene from the pied piper. I watch the way her hips sway from side to side as we climb the internal stairs.

“Stop ogling her.” Levi mutters, hitting me lightly in the chest.

“Stop pretending you weren’t doing the same.” I throw back, sack whacking him and racing up a few extra steps laughing while Levi groans before swearing at me under his breath.

We follow JD and Mac into the spare room. Maximus pulls the covers down and the girl is lightly placed on the bed. Mac pushes her hair from her face, she mumbles something and rolls over. JD smiles down at her, a fondness she only reserves for her friends.

“Hey, how about I watch your friend while you catch up with those ugly mugs.” Mac is lucky Mercer wants to behave in front of JD or his ass would be grass.

“Now that sounds like a good plan.” I state picking JD up and throwing her over my shoulder, she squeals and slaps my butt. Rory has been awfully quiet. I don’t bother looking to see if the guys are following me, I know they will. I flop JD down onto Rory’s bed, she bounces slightly and giggles. I didn’t realize until now how much I truly missed that sound. I wish we were alone so I could kiss her all night long. She sits up and scoots back until her back is against the wall. We all sit around the edge of the bed except Rory, he is still standing over by the door shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

“Is everything okay, Rory?” She asks as if she read my mind. He doesn’t answer right away, he looks like he might actually cry.

“How about we go and get a snack and something to drink.” Levi announces standing from the bed, Maximus and Mercer follow suit.

“Why would we want to get something to eat, I’m not hungry.” I look at Levi.

“Jeeze Rocky, I was trying to be subtle, to give JD and Rory a minute to talk.” He shakes his head at me and leaves the room, the others following behind.

“Want to meet us downstairs when you’re finished?” JD nods and I walk from the room, wondering why he gets time with her, and I don’t. I race down the stairs, taking them two at a time and find the guys all seated at the kitchen stools.

“Why do they need to talk alone?” They all look at me and I stare back. Levi is the one to answer me.

“Because they haven’t had a chance to talk since he was arrested for kidnapping her and since she doesn’t have her memories back yet, have you considered that he may think she believes he did it.”

“Why would she think that and be here?” I ask leaning against the wall.

“Maybe she wants answers. She hasn’t even tried to contact any of us this whole time she has been back with her family.” Mercer adds.

“What are we going to do, because I can’t spend much more time without her.” Maximus says, banging his head down on the bench.

“We can all talk to her after Rory.” Levi murmurs as then microwave bings. He places a reheated pizza in front of us and we all eat in silence and wait.