I walked into the house, loosening the tie I was wearing. I'd had a catering job today and was currently dressed in my nicest clothes.

I went into the kitchen, dropping into a chair, kicking my feet up on the table, exhausted after having been on my feet all day. Jer was making dinner, but Christian and Ike weren't in sight.

I had texted Delaney yesterday, convincing him to sneak away from Jack to meet me at the bar tonight. I was going to make Jack regret screwing with me.

"Get your feet off the table, scumbag," Jer said.

"I think my feet are a wonderful addition to the table," I said, not bothering to move them.

"You haven't even been home for two minutes and I already want to punch you," Jer growled.

"You always want to punch everyone," I reminded.

"But especially you." He turned back to the food, stirring it in the pan.

"I'll take it as an honor." I stretched, my bones cracking as I did so. I'd have to eat and shower before I met up with Delaney.

The back door opened and shut. Ike appeared in the kitchen, pushing back the hood of his dark hoodie. He tossed a wallet onto the table and shoved my feet off.

I grabbed the wallet, opening it and leafing through the money. "Not bad, not bad."

Ike snatched the wallet back from me. "It should help us buy a little food. We're screwed when winter comes around, though. Heating is expensive. Better stock up on blankets."

"CHRIS!" Jer yelled, apparently meaning dinner was ready.

Christian appeared in the doorway a few moments later. "Don't call me Chris, Jericho."

"It gets you down here faster." Jer slid us all plates of pasta and dropped into a chair.

"Another wallet?" Christian said, noticing it. "You should stop before you get caught."

"I never get caught," Ike said. "Don't worry about it. I'll shred their credit cards and ditch the wallet."

We never used the credit cards from wallets or purses that Ike stole. Too easy to trace. Instead, Ike would shred them and then ditch the wallets somewhere, keeping only the cash.

But his stealing was the reason Alexis was gone now. If only Ike had never stolen Jonas Holden's wallet. Alexis never would've had to return it and Jonas wouldn't have started pulling him away from us.

I could remember that day. The way Ike had come in with the newest wallet he'd stolen, stuffed with an abundance of cash. But Alexis, always too much of a good guy, had noticed that the wallet belonged to his coworker, Jonas. He'd decided to give the wallet back and, by doing so, instilled this need in Jonas to thank him for it. That's how they'd started out. Then they'd grown closer and closer and now...

"Ace!"

I blinked and looked up at Ike. "You're scraping the fork against the plate. Cut it out," he said.

I dropped the fork, my appetite gone. "I'm going to shower."

Jer grabbed my arm as I stood up. He yanked me back down into my chair and threw my fork at me.

"I made food. Fucking eat it!" he snapped.

"You are so grumpy," I said with a sigh, picking my fork back up.

"Don't waste your food. Eat it," Christian said.

"It's like I live with three obnoxiously strict mothers with varying degrees of anger issues," I said.

"How would you know what living with a mother is like?" Jer said.

"Oh, low blow," I said, smirking at him. "Coming from a guy whose mother almost gave him ecstasy instead of vitamin pills."

"At least she was attempting to care for her kid," Jer said. "My mom may be so shot up with drugs that she can't function, but at least she never bailed out on me."

"Must suck not to know love from your own mom. It's probably why you're so mentally fucked up," Ike said.

"At least my mom didn't pull a Mary Winchester," I said, leaning back. "Hey Ike, when you hear Burning Up by Marianas Trench, do you think of your mom?"

"You're hilarious," Ike said with little interest.

None of us had exactly come from amazing backgrounds. Ike's mom had burned to death in a fire and his dad took up drinking to cope, Christian's parents had died in a car accident when he was a kid, and Jer's parents were drug addicts. Alexis's parents had thrown him out of his house when he was 15 for being gay.

But all of those things were in our pasts. Besides, who needed family? You were born into some mess you called your family, and when you wised up, you left and made a real family for yourself.

I finished eating my dinner and stood up, heading upstairs and showering. I dried off and got dressed, pulling my beanie on securely, my hair tumbling out from under it.

I texted Delaney, telling him to meet me at the bar in a few minutes. Time to piss off Jack and get my money back.

I went downstairs, pulling my shoes on. I would get my money back and then rub it in Jack's face that he hadn't beaten me.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Out, mom," I said, glancing at Ike. "Do I have a curfew? Are you going to ground me if I'm not home on time?"

"I can tell you're getting yourself into trouble. Grow up already, Ace," he said.

"I'm not getting into trouble. Just living it up a little and having some fun," I said.

"Your idea of fun usually involves pissing someone off who you really shouldn't," Ike said. "Whatever. Do what you want. Just remember that we can't afford to support your stupidity."

"Well, good thing I'm not stupid," I said, waving to him. "Bye, mom!"

I left the house and walked my way back to the bar. Once I was inside, I leaned against the wall, eyes scanning for any sign of Delaney. I tapped my finger against my pocket in case my phone vibrated.

"Ace!"

I looked over as Delaney called my name. He jogged over to me and gave me an apologetic smile.

"Sorry. Bouncer was questioning me on my I.D.," he said.

"Fake?" I guessed.

"Convincingly so," he said, flashing it to me. "Jack and I memorized the details for our I.D.s. Sorry about Jack, by the way. I don't know why he's overreacting so much."

"I'm not worried about it," I said, shrugging. "I got my beanie back, after all."

"And your money," Delaney said, pulling out his wallet and handing me money. "I had to sneak out of the house while Jack was busy. He was so determined not to let you have your money back. I have no idea what's up with him. It was only a little money."

I put the money into my own wallet. "Well, thanks. I'm super tight on money, so I can't really waste any. But I appreciate you giving this back. Let me buy you a drink," I said, giving him a charming smile.

"No way! Dude, if you're tight on money, don't worry about it. Let me buy you a drink. Jack was being a total asshole to you," Delaney said.

"You don't have to," I said, shaking my head.

"Come on; I'm buying you a drink," he said, leading me over to the bar.

He ordered us each a drink, sliding mine to me. I took a swallow of it, knowing that I couldn't get drunk again tonight. I planned on going home and the guys would murder me if I came in drunk off my ass. They'd probably let me drown in my own puke if I got drunk enough.

"Thanks, Delaney," I said, grinning. He was a nice guy, and nice guys were gullible.

"Do you live around here?" he asked. Good, conversation meant we'd sit at the bar longer.

"Yea, not too far. Opposite direction of your place, though," I said.

"Do you go to college?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Nah, you're looking at a classic dropout. Couldn't afford it. You go?"

"Sucks you couldn't afford it," he said. "Jack and I go to the same school. The college just outside of town. It's an easy commute."

"So if you have a fake, how old are you?" I asked, finishing my drink.

"Two more drinks," Delaney said as the bartender passed by us. Once we had our drinks, he turned back to me. "20 years old. Looks about your age."

"21," I said, my grin growing. "Look at you, breaking the law for some drinks."

"Everyone does it," he said, shrugging.

"It's alright. I like a bad boy." He blushed a little, hastily taking another swallow of his drink. I leaned towards him a little. "What do you say we go back to your place when we're done here?" I made sure the meaning was clear in my words.

Delaney blushed more, but returned my grin. "Sure. Two more drinks."

We finished our drinks as we talked casually. Delaney paid and we left the bar together, walking towards his apartment.

"Shit. Jack," he said, stopping in his tracks. "Jack will be pissed off."

"So?" I reached out, trailing a finger down his chest a little. "I'm not scared of him."

Delaney grabbed my hand, pulling me towards his apartment. When we reached the door, he opened it and led me inside and up the stairs.

We reached the top of the stairs and he pressed me against the wall, body lightly touching mine. He bent his head forward, kissing at my neck.

"Jack can piss off," he mumbled, moving up and kissing my lips. "Ignore that moody bastard."

I put my arms around him, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. His hands began to roam my body, eager. I could lightly taste the alcohol on his lips.

"If you had to bring that mutt back, you could've at least done this in your room."

We broke away and Delaney looked over his shoulder at Jack. Delaney stepped away from me, grabbing my hand and attempting to pull me past Jack.

But Jack shoved me back. "Look, I hope you know I'm not stupid. I know Dex paid you back and probably bought you more drinks. I know why you're here right now." He glanced over at Delaney, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Dex, this guy is just trying to hook up with you to piss me off."

"Not everything is about you, Jack," Delaney said impatiently, reaching towards me again.

Jack pushed his hand away. "Will you stop being horny for just one minute? Ace is using you. If you get some pleasure out of that, good for you. But I'd appreciate it if you could at least consider your dignity."

"I wouldn't go to so much trouble just to piss you off," I said, smirking at him. "You're not worth it."

He glanced at me. "You're an insecure, manipulative asshole who always has to win at his own sick games. Dex is a moron, but he's not your game to play."

"Jack!" Delaney said in annoyance. "Honestly, I'm a big boy. I can handle myself."

Jack pulled off the hat he was wearing, running a hand through the red mane he called hair. He set his hat on the floor and ignored Delaney, keeping his gaze on me.

"You're too easy to figure out. Just another pathetic guy lurking at bars because he's too cheap to buy his own drinks," Jack said.

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, taking in his appearance. "And you? Wait, let me guess. You spend most of your time on Tumblr, you're full of raging angst towards the world, and you listen to a lot of Brand New."

"Well," he said. "You got the Tumblr part right."

"Jack, seriously, go away. Honestly, what crawled up your ass and died?" Delaney demanded.

"Your dignity," Jack said.

"Harsh," I said, laughing. "Now, we were a little busy."

"I think you were just about to leave, right?" Jack said.

"I think not," I said, ducking past him and over to Delaney. I pulled Delaney close and kissed him hard. "Let's go before your mommy here gets any angrier."

Jack let out a long sigh. "Reduced to the mom friend. Dex, just remember that I'm rarely wrong."

Delaney grabbed my hand and we started walking away. I jumped a little as Jack's hand brushed against my jeans.

"Easy, killer," I said, spinning around. "One at a time."

"You had a bug on you. I doubt you want Dex screaming in terror while you're trying to get it on," Jack said, stepping away and grabbing his hat.

"Go back to Tumblr and Brand New," I said, shooing him away.

"And you feel free to have another drink and drive yourself home," he said, his lips curling a little in what I think was supposed to be a grin. He left the kitchen and I could hear him going upstairs.

"I swear he's not always like this," Delaney grumbled, leading me into his room and locking the door.

I pushed him onto his bed, crawling on top of him and kissing him. "You act like it bothers me. Don't let it kill your mood," I said, kissing down his jaw.

He reached up, pulling my beanie off and tangling his hand in my hair. "Oh don't worry; I won't."

***

Delaney was passed out next to me. I had been lying here for a little, making sure he was really asleep.

I got up and pulled my clothes back on. I made sure I had my beanie this time, pulling it over my hair before slipping out of Delaney's room, shutting the door quietly as I went.

I walked out to the kitchen and wasn't even surprised to find Jack sitting out there. He was at the kitchen table, feet kicked up on the table, chewing on a straw and texting on his phone.

"Waiting for me?" I said. "How touching. But I don't need an escort. Your best friend is a good waste of time, by the way." I winked at him and moved to leave the room.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" he asked without looking up from his phone.

I looked over at him. "What?"

But then I narrowed my eyes, realizing that it wasn't his phone he was on. "Your buddy Ike keeps texting you."

"That was locked," I said.

"Actually, I got lucky. It wasn't locked," he said, scrolling through it.

"So that's why you were grabbing at my ass," I said, going over and reaching for my phone.

He held it away from me. "Man, you really pissed this Ike guy off. He keeps asking you where you are. Looks like he knows you pretty well, since he's telling you not to get into trouble." He looked up at me finally. "Why are you on thin ice?"

"I'm not," I said, forcing myself not to sound as annoyed as I was. I wasn't going to let him win here.

"'Ace, you better get your ass back here. You're on thin ice and the other two are pissed'," Jack read, looking back down at my text messages.

"Well I'd love to get my ass back there if someone would stop rudely going through my phone," I said.

"Just checking your messages to Dex. I knew you were going to convince him to meet up with you again," he said.

"This is a bit of a privacy invasion," I pointed out.

"Because I don't respect you," he said. "Otherwise I might actually feel a little guilty."

"It's almost like you want me to stay," I said, smirking at him.

"Nope." He tossed the phone to me and I caught it. "Let yourself out. I'd prefer it if you stayed gone this time."

"I'm sure I'll see you again," I said with a wink.

"If you do, I can guarantee you won't be so cheery," he said, that little grin coming to his face again. He pulled out his own phone, turning his attention to that. "Now, I have angsty things to reblog and Brand New to listen to. Goodbye."

I left the apartment and stuffed my phone into my pocket. I must've forgotten to lock it when I got to the bar. Shit.

Still, he hadn't outsmarted me. I didn't care if he went through my messages. I had nothing to hide on my phone.

And I'd managed to piss him off as well as get my money back, get some drinks, and have some pretty good sex. I'd say it was a successful night.

I reached my house and went up the driveway, letting myself into the house. I kicked my shoes off and moved towards the kitchen to get a drink.

Unfortunately, I didn't reach the kitchen. Instead, Jer grabbed me and threw me up against the wall roughly.

"I thought we weren't going to kill him," Ike said, lazily slouched in a chair.

"The fuck we aren't," Jer snarled, holding me against the wall.

I winced and raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to turn me on?"

Ike held up his phone. "Your new friend texted us."

That bitch. "And what did my new friend say?"

"That you owe him money and if you keep making a plaything out of his friend, he'll be sure to get you fired," Ike said.

"Like he could get me fired," I said, barking a laugh.

"Actually, he could. You work at one of the most popular restaurants in town. If they get enough complaints about you, they'll get rid of you. All this guy has to do is rally some friends to complain about you," Ike said.

"So Ace, what exactly were you doing while this guy had your phone?" Jer asked, voice viciously sarcastic.

"Getting laid," I said, trying to slip out of his grasp.

Jer tightened his hold, throwing me up against the wall again. "Man, you are really pissing me off. First you chase Alexis and the kid out of the house and now you've gotten yourself into trouble with some guy who clearly won't take your shit."

"I didn't chase anyone out of the house," I said, flashing him a dangerous smile. "And I can handle Jack. He won't get me fired."

"If you get fired, you're out," Jer said, finally releasing me and stepping back. "I'm so sick of cleaning up your damn messes. You'll be back on the streets and you won't have Alexis to look after you this time, Ace." He took another step back. "Maybe you can go back to living with daddy. Clearly, he didn't hit you enough."

I straightened my shirt. "It was my aunt who hit me," I said. "If you're going to insult me, at least have your facts straight, Jericho." I turned to Ike and crossed my arms. "If you want to rob anyone, go for that kid who's cute enough to think he can get me fired."

"I'm not going to fix your problems for you. Solve them yourself," Ike said.

"Why do you owe him money?"

I jumped, having not noticed Christian lounging in the corner of the room. I turned to him and shook my head.

"I don't owe him money. His friend bought me some drinks and he got pissed about it," I said.

"Excuse me if I don't buy your bullshit version of things," Jer said, throwing himself into a chair.

"I'm not lying," I said angrily. "I went to the bar, he bought me some drinks, and his friend is pissed about it."

"If this escalates too much, we'll throw you back to the streets," Jer said.

I gave him a dark grin. "Try it, Jericho. I'm not someone you mess with."

I turned and left the room, heading upstairs. I went into the bathroom, stripping and showering. I let the warm water wash over my body, calming me.

They wouldn't throw me out. They could threaten me all they wanted to, but they would never throw me back to the streets.

Unless they all started to abandon me like Alexis had.

I clenched my fists. Alexis had brought us all together. Now that he was gone, what was left to stop us from unraveling?

I shut the water off, wrapping a towel around my waist and leaving the bathroom. I pushed open the door to my bedroom and noticed money and a note on my desk.

Shutting my door, I went over and stared down at the cash on my desk. I picked up the note, my eyes scanning over the words.

Pay him back and stay out of trouble.

I crumpled up the note and whipped it into the corner of my room, smacking the money off of my desk. This wasn't about paying anyone back. This was about Jack thinking he could outsmart me and bend me to his will.

This was only the beginning. I was going to make Jack regret ever screwing with someone like me.