She did, as she said.

Next day, Natalie didn't appeared at Jorels house. The boy went to her, but there was no one at home. He came back home upset and angry, where, as usual, sat 5/6 of the band.

"This is your job, isn't it?" He asked, looking at them with hate.

His gaze lingered longer on Stephanie. Girl curled up.

"What are you talking about?"

"Natalie left."

"Finally. She started to play on my nerves," said Aaron, and as if nothing had happened, he began to grease a roll with butter.

"You better play not on MY nerves otherwise it will end bad for you!" Decker yelled and went to his room.

For a few days he did not go out of the room. In the end, scared as hell about him, Steph dared to go inside.

The view was appalling.

Jorel was laying in bed, wrapped around sheets, writhed in pain. The girl did not immediately guessed that these effects are because of not taking drugs for a long time, when your body is addicted. At the moment Jorel's body fought with poison surging through his body.

Brunette went to bed on shaky legs. Jorel jaws were tightly clenched, every muscle was strained. From time to time he muttered something under his breath, then screamed again.

Stephanie couldn't stand it. She ran out and called Dylan.

"You have to wait, J must deal with it by himself. We'll be there in few minutes, we will help you keep an eye on him. "

Thus began a period of Jorel's struggle with addiction. All his friend were helping him. They wanted him back, they wanted him to be in good shape for their first concert. They wanted their friend to come back to them.

It was hard. At times it seemed that Jorel was going to give up, and throw himself again into the addiction. He often asked Funny Man for some stuff. Equally often he cried at night, when his body was burning with fire. Steph was with him the whole time, not abandoning him on the step (to the displeasure of her boyfriend). She doesn't went away even when he cursed her and when he told her horrible things. She felt guilty about him. If she didn't had rejected him, he wouldn't run away into the arms of Natalie and everything would be fine. Almost everythin, cause obwioulsy she would lose Aaron. The situation was for her unbearable, she wanted to somehow be able to make amends to a friend unrequited affection, though she doubted it was possible.

It has been three long days. On the fourth day there was an improvement, although Jorel was stil looking awful. He managed to get up on his feet and go downstairs to eat chicken soup prepared by mom Kurlzz. Everyone anxiously awaited for a sudden attack of anger or convulsions, but the minutes passed, and nothing like that was coming.

"You will just stand there and stare at me?" Jorel asked.

At one point they all began to pretend that they have something important to do.

Only Stephanie stayed.

"I am glad that you are finally with us," she said, putting her hand on the boy's hand.

Decker, however, took his hand, looking at friend.

"I am happy too. And thank you."

Stephanie stared into his eyes, trying to read something from them and at the same time send him her emotions. Her eyes were expressind a sincere apology and regret that things went the way they do. Jorel seemed to understand, because he smiled and went back to eating soup.

Then came the day of their first appearance at the Virgin Festival in Baltimore. Getting there took them a few hours, during which everything was as before, for the first time in a long time. Even Aaron was present, not late and he had good humor. Everything was looking good, it seemed that their first real concert will go according to plan.

And indeed it was. The boys took to the stage and did what they had to. They played songs from their upcoming album, which was going to be released as early as next month. Stephanie stood backstage and watched them. She could see that they are really happy, and people seemed to like their unusual music. Several times they asked for an encore, and some girls threw two bras on stage.

"Impressive," said Stephanie, laughing at the sight of Dylan, who dressed bra and paraded with him around the stage. Definitely Funny Man found himself in these climates, slowly transforming to the God of the Scene.

They left the stage after forty minutes, panting and smiling.

"It was the best day of my life," said Kurlzz.

Their faces were hidden by masks all the time. They did not want to reveal their identity, because, as they said, it's about the music and having fun, not about fame. They packed up the bus and decided to move on a little party. They found the perfect club and set off to conquer the dance floor.

Stephanie went to the bar and along with Johnny, Charlie and Kurlzz started drinking. She emptied glasses one after another, and finally decided to look for her boyfriend. She looked around the room, a smile disappeared from her face when she saw Aaron going to the toilet with some chick in a short mini. Sitting with Funny Man J-Dog were watching girl with the corner of his eye. He saw the whole thing. His hands clenched into fists.

When Natalie arrived, he thought that she would allow him to forget what he felt to Stephanie. But it didn't happen. The more he took, the more he engrossed in thoughts of his friend. His feelings to her, rather than weaken, grow with each passing day. But he had something to do, he wasn't spending with Stephanie so much time, so it was a little bit better. And now he was clean, Natalie disappeared, and the feelings remainded. And when he saw Aaron behave, he wanted to strangle him with his bare hands.

He sipped his beer and went to Stephanie.

"Everything okay?" He asked, sliding his hands into his pocket and looking at the brunette.

She nodded, wiping her tears.

"Yeah, I just ... What am I talking, nothing is right."

So saying, she began to cry like a little child.

Jorel embraced her and they both went outside, and then he took her to the bus in which they were going to sleep. He helped her climb into her bed, then settled down beside her. Stephanie did not protest. She snuggled into his body and fell asleep with wet cheeks.

The next day they went back to LA. All but Jorel and Steph had a huge hangover, and Aaron apparently do not remember what he was doing yesterday. The girl had an argument with him and for the rest of the journey they did not speak to each other. Jorel refrained, not to hit Erlichman. Dylan, however, wasn't refraining from verbal taunts against Deuce. Everyone stuck to the girl, they saw exactly what the boy was doing last night and with whom.

In the house Aaron could not stand it anymore. He started yelling at everyone, threatened them that he will leave the band and will not come back if they don't start to treat him with respect. He even hit Stephanie. Jorel lunged at him with his fists, Charlie and George had to dragged him. Decker threw Deuce out of the house.

"It was so good until now" Matthew said, shaking his head and looking at Deuce, walking away.

Dylan gave Steph bag of ice. The girl pressed it to bruise on her face. She sighed.

"Aaron is Aaron. There's nothing we can do about it. He will come back."

"It is better for him not to do it," said Jorel.

"Come on. You all need him. "

"For God's sake, Steph! I don't want to talk about it with you. If you are going to continue to defend him, the next time deal with him by yourself. "Decker growled and went to the garage to practice.

The atmosphere was tense. They were all tired of constant quarrels and scenes of Aaron. No one knows how it will continue. Jorel had enough of that Stephanie continue to blindly love Aaron, Stephanie had suffered in an abusive relationship, and Aaron had no intention to settle down. Shortly after the quarrel he went to his friends from a brothel in downtown LA.

Did he ever loved Stephanie? Well. She was his girlfriend, but that did not mean he could not from time to time have some fun. Most importantly, that she was faithful to him and waited for him patiently. He was young, he had to relax sometimes, and once this is done, he will marry her and everything will be wonderful. But not now.

"Well hello, ladies," he said, walking into the sanctuary of pleasure, leaving all his problems behind the door.