Me and Darren sat on the curb like a couple of losers, waiting on either the promised squad car that was supposedly heading our way, or the tow truck. But for now, we were stuck here, counting cars as they passed.

"14 red." Darren pointed to a red Pontiac as it lazily stopped at an intersection.

"15, if you count that red stripe on that Cadillac." I pointed out and he nodded his head.

"15 it is. Truth or truth?" Darren asked, glancing my way. Our eyes froze together as I chose an inescapable answer.

"I'm gonna have to go with truth."

"Alright," he started, moving his body towards mine. "Why did you call me to tell me to call the police?" He chuckled a bit and stared back at the road. "I mean, it just doesn't make sense to me."

I couldn't just tell him 'oh you know that renowned criminal, Brendon Urie? Yeah, he hacked my phone so that police calls don't work.' So instead I just said, "I just needed a friend before a fix."

He seemed to understand. And what I said was mostly true. It did feel reassuring to have him with me, partly so that I wasn't in this alone, but also because I needed the warmth of another person.

"16 red."

Then, a yellow squad car lazily sputtered up to our destination and we sprung to our feet. They obviously didn't find it as compelling and dangerous as we did. But now, with Brendon gone, was anything?

Hours passed and we got my car towed to my house, not to mention the heavy fee, and after a detailed description, the police said they would be on the look out for the culprit. Darren drove me home, told me to be safe, and drove off after he made sure I was okay, which I was besides the fact that my car was completely jacked, I was peachy.

No Brendon, I thought, But was that a good thing or bad thing? I convinced myself it was indeed a very good thing and found myself on my couch, my phone vibrating again.

"Well someone needs my attention, damn." I spoke aloud to myself and pressed my phone on to see '9-1-1' had texted me. Cant say that happens everyday.

9-1-1

[3 new messages]

What is your deal Brendon?

I flipped my phone over to text messages and saw that he had texted me 3 times. After clicking on his contact, I read the messages to myself.

4:29

[Ambris, its Brendon. I just need to check up on my favorite criminal to be lololol]

Dork....

4:57

[Cali is cool, thanks for asking. Strippers everywhere dude. I bought a Disney Princess hookah btw]

Could he get any dorkier? I chuckled to myself and expected another witty text but was left with something rather strange.

[Where the hell are you?? Text me back soon]

....What?? I texted back immediately.

[umm... why?]

I waited patiently for a response and after five minutes, decided that all that waiting around wasn't going to do anything. So, like all professional 20 year olds, I made myself bag of popcorn and played video games on my phone.

Then my phone began to ring. I grew cautious as I answered his call and held my phone to my ear.

"Hey Bren.." I spoke uneasily.

"Ambris are you in your house?" He sounded just as uneasy as I did and very worried. It made me worried.

"Why? What's going on Brendon-"

"Are you in your house?!" He almost yelled through the phone and my heart slowed uncomfortably.

"Yes.." I spoke timidly, like a girl being scolded by her father.

"Okay. Start packing your things and-"

"Hold on, what?" What was happening? I was completely oblivious. He can't just tell me to start packing my things without letting me know what's happening, can he? "I ne-"

"AMBRIS! JUST SHUT UP OKAY? IM TRYING TO HELP YOUR ASS." His words were strong and rattled through my body, filling me with terrifying intensity ad weighing me down to a new level. "Get whatever you'll need for a week and go to your moms. She doesn't live too far away does she?" He gave me a moment to answer but I was too shaken up. What could possibly be happening that I need to leave my house for a week? "I really need you to trust me on this, doll. This could become life or death. I can explain everything later, I promise. I gotta run Ambs. Call you later."

And then Brendon hung up, leaving me floating in empty space with an abundance of questions and even more frightening, the answer as to why I needed to ask them in the first place.