"He's here to make amends." Hendrix said walking in the door. "Who, and why?" I responded snarkily. I'm in one of my worst moods and I just want to be left alone by everyone. Tori will come by later, and I'm okay with that, but so many people have knocked on the door wanting to see Hendrix today it's annoying as fuck. "What's up with you grumpy?" he joked. I'm not in the mood so I reply, "All your pain in the ass friends have been coming by today, and all I wanted was to actually be alone today." "Oh, so little Ms. I need attention doesn't want any today? I get it." I scowl at him, and walk off to my room to sleep the day away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After my nap I am in a much better mood. So, I walk out into the living room to ask Hendrix about what he meant earlier, but he's not there. So, I search the house and he isn't in either bathrooms or the kitchen. I went to Hendrix's room last, and there he was napping peacefully. I went to leave. "Stay with me?" he asks half asleep. "Of course..." I murmured then carefully laid down next to him. "Do you-" I couldn't understand the rest because he was turning to face me. Our noses almost touched, "What?" I asked with some fear of what he might say. "Do you-do you love me?" I was confused...why wouldn't I? "Well... yeah I do,a-a lot actually." I started to stutter. Then, his lips were against mine and we were kissing. I saw fireworks. Then, there was a ding of the doorbell and the amazing moment was gone. I answered the door and, of course, it was Victoria. "Tori, I love you, but you have the worst timing." "Did I ruin a moment?" she asked jokingly. "Yes, yes you did, smart ass." "You can kiss your boyfriend later darling. Right now, we have training to do." "Alright, just help me move the furniture." We move all the couches, chairs, the table, and the TV out of the living room, to clear a place for our training session. "Now, I just need to look the part. Be right back." I said walking off to my room. I found some training clothes and notes and went back to the living room, ready to spear. So, for the next hour or so we practiced physical combat, and using our surroundings. "You're doing great!" I encouraged her. "Yeah, but you'll always be top of the class." she said between heavy breaths. "Oh shut up, you're ten times better." I struggled to say because I was so tired. "Did you even check the grades when we graduated?" she said surprised. "Actually, I never did, who got first spot?" I asked, surprised myself. "You!" she said excitedly. "No, I couldn't have!" I said almost excited. "Yeah, I got second spot. that's why they chose you to go to the promised land..." she said looking at me almost sadly. She knew how I felt about this damned trip. "Don't worry about me I'll be okay." I said calming her down. "Now go home and rest, you need it." I hugged her goodbye, but when she didn't let go I waited. "He's trying to find you...I won't let him get to you." She whispered in my ear. "I am forever grateful..." I whispered back to her, then we stepped back from the embrace. She left closing the door lightly. I went back in the living room to lay on the floor, stare at the ceiling, and think.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It's been a good few days since Eric has come back and he has confronted many of my friends about where I am. I am very proud to know that I have friends who would be so protective of me. Hendrix walks in from a short training session, an his face is bruised and bleeding. "What the hell happened to you?" I ran over to him, placing a hand lightly on either one of his cheeks. "Eric....he came by and asked where his 'girlfriend' was, I told him you weren't his anymore..." He pulled away from me angrily. "So he did this to you?" I said upset. "Well....you should've seen what I did to him..." he said with a hint of pride in his voice. "Let me help you!" I said and pulled out the emergency kit. "I'll be fine." he said laughing and my worriedness. "Hendrix, sit your ass down right now!" I scolded him. "Ya know, you're kinda sexy when you're mad..." he said trying to be cute. "Ya know, shut up." I mocked him. He laughed, but then gasped in pain when I started to disinfect the large cut on his forehead. "Sorry." I droned, but what could I do, it wasn't my fault. When I finally finished cleaning the blood, disinfecting the cuts, etc. I let him off and found a book, went to my room, and read for awhile.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Hey, can we talk?" It was Hendrix standing in the doorway. I put down my book, "Yeah, always..." I said confused. "It's b-been awhile, that you've b-been staying with me...and having you here is g-great...it makes me really r-really happy...oh hell, Al, I don't know how to say this...will you move in with me?" he stuttered. I am so flattered he was so nervous, it was adorable. I had butterflies. "Yes...of course I will...but, when I'm allowed to leave I'm going to stay in my old apartment for an week." I bargained. "It's a deal!" he said excitedly, then he pulled me into a bear hug and spun me around he was so happy. I threw my arms around his neck and laughed, as his mood was so infective. Then, he put me down and we realized we had company. "What the hell are you doing here asshole?" I growled at Eric. Before I could do anything else, Hendrix pushed me behind him and told me to stay there. "You missed me didn't you?" Eric states. "How dare you speak to her?!?" Hendrix growls, then he pulls a gun, from where, I don't know. "Hendrix, don't be stupid," I said trying to make him see reason. He didn't listen at all. "Hendrix, you were always the tough guy huh? Go ahead shoot me, I would like to see you try." He said like he was so sure of himself. "Hendrix...please, for me?" I pleaded. This was my last chance to stop him. Hendrix glanced at me and slowly dropped the gun knowing that, as the rules of fighting go, it was rude and unfair. Eric didn't have a weapon so there was going to be a second fist fight today. And Hendrix was right, Eric was a lot more beat up. "What the fuck is going on?" Seth had come for training. Then, before my cousin can react, Eric takes him into a choke hold and I snatch Hendrix's gun and push him so he falls back onto the bed, "Now that's the Al I know." Eric said trying to anger me. "Let go of him." I growled. He was the only family, other than Charley, who I really loved. "Shoot me you shoot him too, think about it Al. A dead boyfriend and a dead cousin...what to do?" He was playing a one sided game of bullshit. 'You're no longer my boyfriend, or even close to being a friend." I stated. Then I signal Seth to flip him, like Hendrix had taught him. Eric hadn't learned that one, since his grandmother passed the week we learned it. Then, I let Hendrix take his anger out on Eric. I almost felt bad but at the same time I didn't have the strength to hold back anyone right now, especially not Hendrix. Then I felt a pain in my side and the last thing I saw was Seth pulling Hendrix away before I blacked out.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Al, Al are you alright?" "Hendrix, Seth...where am I? Victoria is that you?" it was so bright I could barely see. "Yes, I'm here, we're at your apartment, you hit your head so hard, the doctor said you have a concussion...close your eyes, rest, now you need it, you'll be very sensitive to light for a few days. Just breathe, I know you'll be fine and so will they...just sleep." I closed my eyes and trusted my best friend, I hope it wasn't a mistake.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Has she been awake since?" Hendrix said as I was half asleep. "Not since yesterday...she asked about you though, if that makes a difference...." Victoria responded sadly. "It does...so, he shot her?" I was fully awake now and I need to know what they're keeping from me. "Yeah...she was shot twice...he has good aim, and this time he has no regrets." Victoria said it like it was her fault. "Hell yeah, he had a small hand gun on him and he pulled it last second, as a last act of rebellion," he said sadly, then Tori started to cry. "Hey, it's my fault if anyone's at all...it's not yours...I was there, but I was too focused on him to help her," he said as she cried. "It was inevitable we all knew he'd find her eventually and, when he did, we knew he'd try to kill her. But why now?" he sounded, different, almost like he was too stern about it, he was putting up a wall. "All I know, is that she really loves you and I'm happy for you..." she continued to sob into his shoulder. He did something I've never seen him do before, he broke down and cried, so much for that wall. Then, Tori excused herself. So, I opened my eyes. "Hey, Ms. I need attention, seems you've got plenty of it here," he said trying to look happier than he really was. "Well, I wouldn't know," I joked, "how long have I been out?" Hendrix laughs dryly, then he says, "You really worried me but its only been a little white. You woke up yesterday. Do you remember?" his speaking wasn't following a single train of thought. He was really distraught. "Yeah, I asked for you..." I said sleepily. He smiled then asked, "Were you awake for Tori and my conversation?" he asked sternly. 'So you know?" I said sneakily. "No, but I guessed by the look on your face, and your bad timing." he laughed. He was genuinely happy and it gave me butterflies. I giggled and pain shot up my side. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, I must have winced. "Yeah, just my side, as you know..." I said with pain overtaking me. "Do you want me to get you something?" he asked worriedly. "No, stay with me for a little while?" I asked as he had when he asked me to move in with him. "Yeah, always..." Then, he gets into the large bed with me and wraps his strong arms around me. "I don't know how to say this, but I fell that you think I can't love you anymore...do you?" I asked him in fear of him saying so. "No...I would never feel that way! I-I just feel l-like I can't forgive for letting him g-get to you." he stuttered along. "I can, you tried so hard, and I love you too much to hate you-" I started to say to him but he cut me off. "How can you not, it's my fault...I couldn't stop him from shooting you..." he started to break down into my shoulder. "I don't believe that...I will always love you an I will always be here for you..." i said and I let a lone tear fall down my cheek. Hendrix stopped crying and pulled his face away from my shoulder. Then he shocks me with the four words: "Will you marry me?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~