In The Van With Angels

Scarlet stayed at her parents over the weekend. She sat with her mum in the kitchen, both of them smoking, as she told her about breaking up with Nick.
Her mum was, as ever, there for her. She hugged her, telling her there were plenty more fish in the sea. "But let me guess. You just want the one fish?" Scarlet laughed, wiping tears away.
"Mum, I don't know what to do."
"Why don’t you go to the skate park tomorrow, see your brother?"
She smiled at her mum, who knew how skating had helped her oldest child get through some rough times, and her daughter.
"Yeah, I think I will."

She climbed out of her parent's car with her bags, and walked towards the skate park. Inside, she spotted her brother behind the desk, yelling at some one on the phone, as one of the guys who worked there handed some skaters helmets and pads. They complained about having to wear them.
"It's insurance." Scarlet explained, walking to the desk. "If something happens to you, would you really want to see this place go down?"
They looked at each other, and shrugged. "Guess not."
Most people who were regulars at the park knew Jimmy's little sister Scarlet, and she knew most of them. She waited for her brother to finish on the phone.
"Hey Scar." He muttered.
"What's up?" She asked, sensing immediately how tense her older brother was.
"Nothing. You here to skate or chat?"
She changed her mind. "Chat."
"Alright, come on." He led her upstairs, to the office that over looked the skate park. The park had been built inside of an old warehouse, and Jimmy loved it. It was his pride and joy.
"Seriously, what's wrong?"
"I'm just stressed out." He explained, lighting a cigarette as he sat down, putting his feet up on the desk. He glanced out the window, and Scarlet followed his gaze down to a bunch of kids, no older than fourteen, watching Rivers skate.
"Didn't know he was here." She muttered, prepared to push her own problems away and listen to the woes of her brother.
"Look how they love him." He sighed, closing his eyes. "Remember when there was no skate park, and me and the guys used to skate where we could? The kids loved us, they admired us."
"You jealous of him?"
"I guess I am." His eyes opened, as he looked around his office. Posters of skate comps littered his wall, a few of them had the names of the winners underneath, Jimmy among them. "It's just…when I opened this place, the kids looked up to me, you know? I miss that. All my mates have got steady jobs now, wives, kids…and where am i? I got a girlfriend that's always on my back, a run down flat…"
"And this park." She concluded. "Jane loves you Jimmy, you're mates have shitty jobs…bank managers, office workers. You never would have worked in a 9 – 5. The kids do love you, and look around you." She pointed at the poster for the '01 Am Comp in Newport, which listed Jimmy as first place winner. "You're the best skater I know. Stop pretending like you have the world on your shoulder because there's so much shit out there, and you don't have to face it." After this outburst, she sank into the chair opposite Jimmy. "Pull yourself together Butcher."
He laughed. "No ones called me that in years. And I guess you have to face this shit you're talking about?" He had a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but just as she could tell he was tense, he knew something was bothering him. And his big brother side was kicking in.
She was staring out the window as she said it. "Nick broke up with me."
"Shit." He drew out the word, shaking his head. "I never liked him. Told you he was dick."
"Yeah, the first time we got together." She smiled. "But you warmed to him as soon as he started to show an interest in skating."
"I guess…but you're better off without him."
"Thanks Jimmy."
"That's not all, is it?"
"The gigs aren't going to well. We're getting beer thrown at us."
He winced, then remembered something. "Name your favourite bands."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
"Blink, MCR, Lostprophets…"
"You think they never got bottled?" He grinned at her, remembering something a few days back. "Actually, those Lostprophets guys were in here earlier in the week."
"What?" She looked at him. "Jimmy, why didn't you tell me?" Her problems forgotten, Jimmy laughed. "I tried phoning you, but you were busy. With Nick I think."
"Shit." She laughed. "Fair enough."
They heard a crash, then the tell tale sign of a board falling from a half pipe, and a chorus of laughter. They jumped up, looking out the window, to see Rivers sprawled at the bottom of the ramp, the kids laughing at him.
Scarlet sighed. "I think I better take him home."

They reached the flat, Rivers moaning about his ankle.
"If it still hurts tomorrow," Scarlet sighed. "I'll take you to the doctors." She wondered why men always complained about pain more than women.
"How come you were at the park?" He asked, as they reached the lift and travelled up to their floor.
"Wanted to see my brother." She sighed. "You know he's jealous of you?"
"Really?" he seemed cheered up by this. "Why?"
"Because the kids admire you and not him."
"Oh." He shrugged. "They don't you know. When I bombed, they said, and I quote 'Jimmy would never have bombed that bad.' " He shook his head. "Apparently you're brother only fails when the bomb looks amazing."
She laughed, before unlocking the door and stepping inside. Clem, Sapphire, and Jade were all there, and they all looked up and grinned at Scarlet.
"Party time." Jade said, looking very, very happy.
Scarlet smiled back, wondering who the lucky person was.

They arrived at the party, Scarlet trying to get last week out of her head. This week would be her last at the CD shop, and Sapphire's last at the music shop. They had to find new jobs, quick, and already they'd delivered CV's around town.
The party was insane. Sapphire and Corey disappeared almost as soon as they got there, and Jade, after bumping into Lucy, the girl's whose party it was, also disappeared, leaving Scarlet and Rivers.
Rivers had phoned Melody, but, she explained, the Lamberts had a gig that night, so she couldn't make it.
Rivers had started drinking before they even got there, and miraculously his ankle was now fine. He was getting more and more pissed, and when he saw someone who looked oh so much like Nick, he followed him, leaving Scarlet alone.
"Didn't know you'd be here." She whirled around, smiling as she spotted Dante.
"Hey!" The pair hugged. "How are you?"
"Not to bad." He smiled at her. "You?"
"I'm…" She wondered if she should lie for simplicity, or tell the truth and delve into the whole story. "Good, thanks." Lie. Much better.
"Cool." He took a hold of her elbow, leading her over to an empty sofa. "So, you still with that Nick dude?"
She shook her head, and he nodded slowly as they sat down.
They talked for a while, catching up, something they didn't have time for the week before. She found out he'd just finished an American Studies decree in University, and was now getting ready to get married.
She told him she'd left Uni. "It wasn't for me." A bit about the band, but stayed away from Nick and his reason for dumping her. As they talked, he began to brush back strands of his hair. Warning bells went off in her head, when his hand lingered just that one second too long.
"God I missed you Scarlet."
She turned her head away, laughing. "Aren’t you getting married in a month's time?"
"Yeah…" He leaned forward, aiming to kiss her.
She was shocked and, at the same time, appalled. She pushed him away, before slapping him and standing up. "Fuck off." She hissed. "You're a pig!" She turned away. "All of you are!" She yelled over her shoulder, before Sapphire crashed into the room.
"Scar, what's wrong?" She asked, looking at Scarlet.
"I…never mind."
"I'd get you to tell me but we got another problem right now."
"What is it?"
"Rivers."

Scarlet ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time, until she crashed into a room. The walls were packed with people, some yelling fight. Scarlet briefly wondered where Lucy was, and what she'd say if she saw the broken coffee table on the floor. She lifted her eyes from the leg, and locked them on the two men who were diving at each other, throwing punches and even kicking, to trip the other up.
"Stop it!" She screamed, pushing through the crowd, Sapphire at her heels. "Stop it, both of you!"
Rivers and Nick both turned to look at Scarlet, who was now shaking.
"What the hell…"
"He bloody punched me!" Nick cried, wiping blood away from his nose.
"You deserve it." Rivers replied, his top torn, bruises on his torso. He had a nasty bruise on his face, and his lip was split, bleeding.
"Shut up, both of you." Scarlet looked from one to the other. "You're making a scene." She sighed, feeling Sapphire's arm on her shoulder.
Rivers stepped towards Scarlet, his back to Nick. "Sorry Scar…I…"
Nick punched his back, full force, causing Rivers to fall to his knees, his hands on the floor, eyes blazing with anger.
"Shit." Scarlet sighed, closing her eyes, knowing Rivers, knowing what he was about to do, and knowing she didn’t want to see.
"There's two things I can't stand Nick," Rivers spoke slowly, his voice dangerously quiet. "Bastards like you who hurt my best friends, and bastards like you who strike when they’re opponent is turned."
"Fuck off you…" But they didn't hear what Nick was going to say next. Rivers had scrambled to his feet, turned, and whacked Nick full force in the face. A tooth went flying, and, his mouth pouring with blood, Nick punched with equal force at Rivers. Now, both men stood still, staring each other down, Rivers panting, his shoulders going up and down. He spat, a mixture of blood and spit, before sending his fist at Nick's gut.
Nick was thrown back, crashing to the floor. He winced in pain, as Rivers stepped forward and spat blood on Nick.
"Never come near me, or her, again." He warned, before turning and walking out the room. Nick looked at Scarlet, and as she opened her eyes, they connected with his.
Any love she had for him, any pity for the blows Rivers had inflicted before she got there, had evaporated when he had hit Rivers' back. She shook her head, as Nick searched her for pity.
"You heard him." She held back tears, unable to believe how worthless the last seven months were. "Leave us alone." She walked away, tears leaking as Sapphire raced after them.

"I'm sorry Scarlet."
Rivers was still apologizing at the flat, as he sat on the edge of the bathtub, topless, as Scarlet threw a cold flannel at him.
"Shut up." She muttered, wiping tears away. "Right now Rivers, I feel pretty fucked. I'm confused, hurt, and…" She didn't know what else. She needed time, time to search her feelings, sort herself out. But she didn't have time. They had to go into work the next day, then search for more jobs. And hope they'd have them before the end of the week.
"I'm sorry. You know that, right?"
She stood over the sink, staring down at the whirling water.
Sapphire stepped into the bathroom, looking at her bruised and battered friends. Physically, mentally….it was the same really.
"I can't get hold of Jade. She's not answering her phone. But Melody's here."
"What the fuck have you done now?" Melody strode into the room, a first aid kit in her hand. As soon as Sapphire had said over the phone Rivers saw Nick at the party…She knew she'd need one.
Scarlet looked gratefully at Melody, who took one look at her before rounding on Rivers and repeating "What the fuck have you done?"
"Thanks Mel." Scarlet muttered, as she moved past Melody and out the door. She heard Melody slam the first aid kit onto the floor, before hearing Rivers cry out in pain.
"Oh shut up you big baby. Seriously, girls don't moan as much as you do."
"But I'm in pain…"
"So what?"
Scarlet smiled at the couple's banter, knowing that beneath it, there was a love as solid as a rock. Even if Rivers sometimes fucked things up, and even if Melody was constantly breaking up with him then getting back together then breaking up…
Scarlet fell down onto the sofa, her hands to her face. She felt Sapphire sit next to her.
"Where's Corey?" She asked, and Sapphire nodded towards her bedroom.
"He's going to stay the night. But he said he doesn't mind staying out the way."
Scarlet smiled. "You two have really hit it off, haven't you?"
Sapphire blushed. "He's the only guy I've ever really felt comfortable with, you know?"
Scarlet smiled, nodding. "I know."
"Anyway, what was wrong with you earlier? Before I told you Rivers was in a fight."
"I…Dante tried to kiss me."
"But...isn't that a good thing?"
"He's getting married next month."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
They were silent for a few moments, before Sapphire looked at Scarlet. "Are you alright?"
"I…" She shook her head. "No. I feel so, so confused."
"About…"
"Everything." She leaned back. "Nick, for a start. I thought I loved the guy, I know I loved him….but back there, it was like, all I felt was disgust. I didn't even feel pity for him. Or anger. I don't hate him. I just…he sickens me."
Sapphire nodded. "Scar, you looked knackered."
"Cheers." She forced a smile. "Maybe I should get some sleep. Night Sapphire."
"Night."

Jade opened the door slowly, glad she had the spare key. She crept in with her shoes in her hands, hoping she wouldn't wake anyone up.
"Someone got laid."
She looked up to see Rivers and Melody on the sofa, Melody fast asleep as Rivers slowly stroked her hair. He grinned at her.
"What are you doing up?" She whispered.
He shrugged. "Pain."
She let her eyes adjust to the dark, and spotted the dark marks over his skin, the cuts on his face. "Jesus, what happened?"
"Not now." He pointed at Melody, then at the floor. "We guessed you may be back, there's a sleeping bag there for you."
"Cheers." She slid into the bag, pulling it up to her chin, unable to get the idea of Lucy out of her mind.

Clem, who had been unable to come to the party, turned up the following day. She was let in by Scarlet, who walked back in and sunk onto the sofa, Rivers next to her.
"When'd you get back from work?" Clem asked, looking from one to the other.
"One." Scarlet rolled her eyes. "We were told that the shop is shutting tomorrow. They had no business over the weekend, and we had a total of four customers in today."
Clem winded. "Ouch."
"I know." Rivers tilted his head forward. "So we are officially unemployed."
"That sucks." Clem looked at them. "That makes three of us then. I haven't been able to get a job since I got home."
Scarlet groaned. "Jesus. What chance have we got?"

October was ending. Jade had managed to see Lucy a few times now, always at Lucy's place when her parents were away. Scarlet was still prone to being upset now and then, but she knew she had Clem and Sapphire when she needed to talk. Sapphire was still seeing Corey, and Rivers and Melody were 'on a break'. As of yet, none of them had found jobs.
Rivers and Melody's 'break' proved a problem on Halloween, when Fallen Angels were playing a gig with the Lamberts.
All of them dressed up for it. Scarlet and Sapphire chose a sort of punk devil/angel look, and Jade was wearing her normal clothes, covered in fake blood. Rivers was dressed up as a 1920's gangster, and with his Mohican hidden under his hat, he really looked the part.
Scarlet couldn't help but smile when she spotted Melody wearing a flapper outfit. She waved at them, before The Lamberts did their set.
They watched as they performed, cheering with the crowd.
"Thanks guy!" Melody yelled, gripping the mike as she whirled around the stage, blowing out kisses to the crowd. "If you don't mind, we're going to do a cover right now. Hit it boys."
It was the way she controlled the crowd, the way she almost flirted with them, had them eating out of her hand, that Scarlet really admired. The band kicked into a cover of "Well Did You Evah", Scarlet was unable to tell where they took it from, but something told her it was Blondie, and not High Society or (god forbid) Robbie Williams.
She glanced at Rivers, who was watching Melody with nothing but love in his eyes.
When Melody told the crowd it would be there last song, the Fallen Angels made their way to the stage. They entered it to cheers, and Scar glanced over her shoulder as Melody kissed Rivers' cheek. The cheers fuelled the adrenaline inside them, and helped them to play the best set they had since the summer.
The crowds cheered throughout, as they played their set straight threw. Scarlet put a hand to her head, feeling the horns there as Sapphire shook her head, halo on top and wings behind. She glanced over and grinned at Scarlet who found herself grinning back.
They left the stage on a high, and drifted off to separate places when the last band were playing.
Scarlet and Rivers drifted around, until they were stopped by one of the college students. "Excuse me, that girl, playing guitar, that's Jade, right?"
"Yeah…" Scarlet looked at Rivers, who raised an eyebrow.
"Dude," The kid grinned. "Tell her she's amazing in the video…I never knew…"
Immediately, something clicked in Rivers' head. "What video?" He hissed, grabbing the kid by the collar.
"I…the…the video…with Jade and…and…"
Rivers looked at Scarlet, who shook her head. "Jade wouldn't do something like that."
Rivers looked at the kid. "And who?"
"Lucy!" The kid spat out. Rivers dropped the kid, and immediately the two darted off, looking for Jade.

They needn't have bothered. Ten minutes before, Jade had bumped into Lucy, and, being happy to see her, had hugged her.
"Hey." She smiled, confused when Lucy didn't smile back.
"What are you doing?" She rolled her eyes, looking straight past her.
"I…i…."
Lucy looked at her, an eyebrow raised.
"You didn't think this was serious, did you?" She let out a small laugh, as if she found the whole idea hilarious. "You're dumber than I thought."
"But…what?"
"Basically, you're an idiot." Lucy smiled now, showing pearly white teeth. Jade stepped back, realising her teeth were fake. Just like her. She looked at her hair roots, and could see dark brown coming through. Everything about this girl spelled fake. Especially her looks. But Jade, poor Jade, had been too blind to see it before.
"I needed someone, you see, I've had a lot of…how do I put this…a lot of guys wanted me to make this video. And who am I to say no to them? So I got you to be in it. Easy really, you are so gullible. Think I'd actually like a girl like you?"
Jade felt something hit the bottom of her empty stomach. The fake wounds on her body suddenly seemed very, very real. She shook her head, wishing the tears wouldn't fall. "Vi…video?"
"Yes, video. Are you deaf as well as stupid?"
"What…what kind of…of video?"
She sighed, then spoke as if speaking to a very small child. "A porn video. You know, us two, having sex. I had a hidden camera set up in my room."
Jade felt sick. She felt the tears fall. "No." She whispered. "No. No no no no NO!" Her voice, staring off quiet, grew louder and louder, and by the time she had screamed it, she was already out the door and running, as fast as she could, towards Scarlet's flat, with only one thing in mind.