Intro:
Another year has passed and as usual a lot of things have changed..
Ashley and Josh broke up. They refused to talk to anyone about what happened and refused to talk to each other..
Michael and Melanie are still together but their relationship is on the rocks. And I don't think Jesse is helping..
Zac and Mary-Kate are still together. Still engaged too. But, as the saying goes 'nothing endures but change'..
Chapter 1:
"I'm really bored with my life at the moment" I remarked to Mary-Kate, while sitting on the sofa in her apartment.
She nodded "Me too"
"Yours is a LOT more exciting then mine! Come on! You're getting married in April!"
"It's only September now, Aprils still ages away"
"I guess. We should do something together. Before you get married and leave me forever" I pretended to act all hurt and she threw a pillow at me.
"Like what?"
"Well, you've quit school. I did a lot of extra over the holidays-"
She interrupted "All you did was school in the holidays! You were so running away from whatever happened between you and Josh"
"As I was saying" I said ignoring the subject as I always do "I can probably get some time off. How about a road trip?"
"Road trip?!" She said turning to me "I think I like that idea! Where would we go?"
"How about home? Just travel across the country at our own pace, then go and see everyone!"
She grinned.
---Zac---
"A road trip?!" I said in shock, not believing what Mary-Kate had just told me "But you could be gone for months! I only just got back from the tour and all that stuff! I thought we'd spend some time together"
"We have the rest of our lives to spend together" She insisted "This would be a great thing for Ashley and I to do together before you and I get married. Besides, it'll probably only be a month. You can live through that can't you?"
"No" I sulked.
"Please?" She begged, using her most adorable pupply face. "Please?" She leaned over and kissed me.
"No" I mumbled.
“Please?” She kissed me again.
I sighed “Fine. Go! But I’ll miss you like crazy”
“And I’ll miss you.” She hugged me “Thanks Zac!”
“Yeah, Yeah” I grumbled leaning in to kiss her again.
---Melanie---
“GET OUT OF MY ROOM!” I screamed at Josh.
He jumped then raced for the door. “Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed” He said sticking his face back in.
“OUT!” I screamed throwing a shoe at him.
He winked and disappeared, and I went back to ‘attempting’ to study.
“Your boyfriends here!” He called a few minutes later.
“Sure he is! And I’m the president of the United States” One thing I’d learnt over the last year, was to never NEVER trust Jesse when he said Michael was here.
“Good Afternoon Miss President” Michael said sticking his head in the door.
I smiled.
---Josh---
“And then, I decided that maybe I should go for a major in hair design. Cause I just you know, totally love doing different hairstyles” The girl babbled on.
I tried to act like I was interested but my mind was anywhere but on the conversation.
Here I was on a date with a pretty blond. But, not the one I wanted to be out with. I’d dreamed about dating Ashley (When I wasn’t dreaming of killing her) ever since I started at NYC. But, when we finally did start dating, I blew it. Well, we blew it. I’m still not entirely sure what happened... But we’re no longer together and we’re no longer talking.
“Are you listening?” The girl asked
“Of course!” I said giving a charming smile.
She giggled happily “And then...” She started off again.
I sighed, this was gonna be a long evening.
Chapter 2:
|
---Mary-Kate---
"Which cd?" I asked Ashley as we set of on our road trip "we have.. Britney, Hanson," I smiled "Westlife and P.O.D"
"Hmmm, I feel like an upbeat song to begin the journey with, how about P.O.D?"
We put the cd in and drove to the tune of 'alive'
I feel so alive, and for the very first time, I can't deny you
---Michael---
"Is Melanie there?" I asked over the phone.
"Lemme see" Jesse said in that annoying obnoxious tone "Nope she isn't"
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"I'll check again"
"Who's on the phone?" I heard Melanie ask.
"Oh surprise, suprise. She just came in!"
I got the feeling she'd been there all along and he just hadn't bothered telling me. Is he ever gonna give up on that stupid crush? This was getting old and I was getting annoyed.
"Hi Michael" Melanie said
"Hey" I said quietly.
This wasn't working...
---Ashley---
"Ooh, he's kinda cute!" I said taking a sip of my thickshake. We had stopped for a drink at a small town and I was passing the time checking out the cute guys.
"Yeah, I think his friends a cuter" Mary-Kate disagreed.
This was a conversation we'd had many a time before. But, a conversation that we probably would never have again...
The thought made me kind of sad.
We sipped our milkshakeds in silence for awhile.
"Ashley" Mary-Kate finally said "I don't think I can do it"
"Do what?"
"Marry Zac"
I almost choked on my straw "W-what?" I managed to stutter.
"We're just so young, are we really ready for this? I don't know!"
"Have you really thought about this?"
"I have been for the last couple of months. Think about it, when we get home I'll be making wedding plans and we'll be looking at buying a house and it all seems so sudden!..."
"Are you going to tell Zac?"
"I think I'll wait till we get back. Just give myself some more time to think about it"
---Josh---
I glanced at the phone, my hand hovering over it. Could I do this? Should I do this?
I picked it up and started to dial Ashley's number, then hung up suddenly.
I sighed and sat there.
"Hey man what's up?" Michael said walking into the dorm.
"Nothing" I said sullenly.
"Rung Ashley yet?"
"What makes you think I'm gonna ring her?" I said getting annoyed.
He just rolled his eyes at me!
---Mary-Kate---
"Is it my imagination or has that car been around for quite some time?" I asked Ashley as we drove down the road.
She glanced in the rear vision mirror "It's been there since we stopped for the milkshakes"
"That was hours ago!"
"So, they're travelling at the same pace as us. Nothing weird" She said as she turned the indicator on "this motel looks good. Should we stay here?"
I surveyed the sign "It has a pool and cable. It'll do" We pulled into the motels parking lot and the car did too "Ok, I'm kind of worrying now"
"Chill! It's the best motel in the area, lots of people stay here! You've been watching to many of those thriller/mystery things"
I sighed as we got out of the car and walked into the reception "I guess you're right" I couldn't help myself though. I turned around and got a look at the people as they got out of their car.
Dark Glass. Dark Clothes.
Creepy!
Chapter 3:
|
---Zac---
"That's it!" Taylor said frustratedly getting up from his seat "I'm gonna go call Shannon to see if she can go out tonight. Anything is better then sitting around watching you sulk"
"Yeah! Just rub in the fact that your girlfriend is here and mines not! Thanks man"
Taylor just shook his head "You're crazy!" And with that he left.
I know I should have been doing something rather then just sitting around the apartment. But, I couldn't help it! I couldn't concentrate on anything, except worrying about Mary-Kate and I. I couldn't deny the feeling that something with out relationship wasn't right. She'd seemed distant before she left. Maybe I should call her...
NO! I don't want to seem overprotective...
AUGH! This is pure torture!
---Mary-Kate---
I woke up the next morning to hear birds chirping and.... other then that... Silence! Something I really missed in New York. Not that I didn't like the action but,.. silence is (at times) Golden! I smiled and burrowed under my blankets. Preparing to go back to sleep
"Time to get up" Ashley interrupted my attempt, by walking into the room and opening the windows "There's so much to see and do! We don't wanna waste our time sleeping" Ashley always was the early riser...
"What's wrong with sleeping?" I grumbled, sitting up in my bed and rubbing my eyes.
But she had already disappeaered into the other room. I could hear her making noise in the kitchen.
"Hope she's making coffee!" I grumbled.
***
"That's the last one" I said throwing a bag in the boot (Not literally of course) And slamming it. I glanced around the car park to see if that same black car from last night was still there.
Sure enough it was. Parked in the space for room 15. I looked for the number. Ah there it was, upstairs. I glanced up. (yes I admit I was being nosy. But I had to do something while I waited for Ashley to finish up whatever she was doing in the motel room)
Was it just my imagination or was someone watching me through that gap in the window?
I shuddered and turned away.
Creepy! Very Creepy!
---Ashley---
"Your friends are back" I said looking in the mirror.
Mary-Kate glanced behind us, sure enough the same black car was there. She shuddered.
"They're probably travelling to Cali too. This is a pretty popular route." I said
"Popular or not. That car still gives me the creeps. With those glazed windows you can't see inside, and the whole things black! And... it just seems like something from a murder mystery!"
Even I shuddered at that analogy "Morbid, Mary-Kate!"
---Michael---
"Mel? Can I talk to you?" I asked Melanie as she walked out of her classroom. I'd been waiting outside for like the past 5 minutes.
"Sure" She said as we walked down the hall "What's up?"
"Well,.." I started. But, just then Jesse ran up.
"Hey Mel" he said pointedly ignoring me "I found that book you wanted" he handed her a paperback.
"Thanks" she said with a smile.
I cleared my throat "Excuse me" I said to Jesse. "But we have to go"
Jesse looked a little surprised but backed up "ok man"
"Michael!" Melanie chided as I led her away "that was rude!"
"Well, so was he!" I returned. "And since when have you two been so friendly?"
"Michael he lent me a book!"
"Exactly!"
She shook her head, giving up and sighed rather angrily. "So what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Uh,.. it doesn't matter" I said. I decided with how happy she was with me, it probably wouldn't be the best time.
---Zac---
I sighed impatiently as I waited for Mary-Kate to answer her cellphone.
Ok, so I'm overprotective! I don't care! I just have to talk to her! To know everythings ok!
Finally she answered "hello?"
"Mary-Kate! It's me"
"Oh hey Zac" she didn't exactly sound thrilled to hear from me. In the background I could hear Britney spears and I think .. Ashley singing 'where are you now'
"So where are you now?" I asked. Then slapped myself on the head. Man that sounded dumb.
"Where is your heart when I'm not around?" She said with a smile, Continuing the next part of the song.
'I'd like to know the answer to that' I thought to myself.
"How does this place look?" I heard Ashley ask.
"Great" Mary-Kate said to her "Sorry Zac I gotta go, we're stopping for lunch"
"Ok then. Call me?"
"Sure thing! Love you" She said then the phone went dead.
I sighed and hung up the phone. I still had that bad feeling. And no matter what I couldn't shake it off!
---Mary-Kate---
I breathed a sigh of relief as we climbed out of the car. The black one, which had been on our tale since we left the motel continued down the road "They musn't have been following us after all" I said to Ashley happily.
She raised an eyebrow "I told you that already!"
I just stuck my tongue out at her.
---Josh---
"I HAVE GOT TO STOP DOING THIS TO MYSELF!" I said tearing my eyes away from the phone.
A knock on the door was a pleasant interruption...
"Hey Mel" I said opening the door for her.
"Hey, is Michael here?"
"nope sorry"
"Oh, I kind of needed to talk to him about something"
"His next class should finish in about an hour"
"Thanks. So what are you doing?"
"Nothing much" I glanced at the phone.
"Oh" she seemed to have guessed I'd been trying to call Ashley "Did you hear about the twins?"
"No!" I said
"They've gone off on a road trip to California. Cool huh?" she said
"Yeah... cool" Well, at least I had a reason for why I hadn't seen Ashley around much lately. I'd been especially curious when I waited across the hall from her classroom, just for a glimpse of her, and she never came out..
I'm not obsessive, really! I just... need a life...
---Ashley---
A black car pulled out in front of us "That looks familiar" I thought to myself. I glanced over at Mary-Kate to see if she'd noticed. She was fast asleep "It'd probably just worry her" I thought to myself with a shrug.
Why was I chosen? Why am I left without? The love of my life! The love that I need! The love that they say is in life for free! The love of dreams the love that I want. Loneliness knows me by name!
"Ugh! Chareful" I whispered to myself, reaching over to skip the track.
A fragile heart was broken before... the next song continued.
My mind immediatel wandered to Josh. Ugh! Stop it! DO NOT THINK ABOUT THAT JERK!
Though I couldn't help realizing I was kind of unsure of why I was mad at him. Probably cause all we ever did was fight! There were so many different disagreements to choose from. I had to admit, dating him, even though it was for such a short time, was pretty interesting. If a guy agrees with everything you say, it's great, at first. But can at times get boring. If only Josh and I agreed on at least a few things. 1% or so, of the time hardly counts. Or does it?
Oh, I should stop thinking! I'm just confusing myself!
Well, not totally stop thinking, I do have to drive after all....
Chapter 4:
---Mary-Kate---
I woke up to see that it was no dark. I yawned and stretched. Decididing the roof of the car really wasn't that interesting I levered the seat up.
"Evening sleepy head" Ashley said with a smile "Want to take a turn at driving?"
"Sure just let me wake up first" I said rubbing my eyes. It took me a minute but I soon noticed the car in front of us "Hey! Isn't that?..."
"Don't panic! They're not following us! They're in front of us..." She grinned at me.
"That cars been hanging around since we left New York! I don't see why you're not more worried!"
"Because it's coincedence! There's nothing to worry about" She insisted.
"Whatever!" I said shaking my head.
She just smiled all the more..
---Josh---
"Amy" I said quietly reading the name in my adress book. "Lets see... she's cute, funny, sweet, and smart" You can tell I really need to get a life. I'm talking to myself now! I sighed and picked up the phone. "Hello is Amy there?" I asked the person who answered.
It was time to get over Ashley!
---Melanie---
"Where are you off to?" I asked Josh as I walked into the guys dorm. He raced out the door as soon as I was through.
"Date!" He yelled over his shoulder before disappearing.
I turned to Michael "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
He shook his head "I have no idea!"
"Guess what?" I said handing him a piece of paper.
He quickly skimmed it "Auditions.... pop group.... talented singers.... good looks" he read parts outloud. Then glanced up at me with a smile. "Lemme guess, you're gonna addition for the next big manufactured pop group!"
I grinned "Right on!" I took the paper from him "Look it's so perfect. Not only do they have group songs. But each member is able to have a solo song on the album and do solo performances at concerts. It's half a group half solo! Which is good since I never could make up my mind which I wanted to do"
"What about college?"
"I'll worry about that if I get in"
"I hope you do" He said hugging me.
"I hope so too!" I said I quickly kissed him "Can you come to the auditions with me?"
"Sure when are they?"
"Now!"
---Zac---
"A black car?" I puzzled to myself walking into the lounge of the apartment I share with Taylor.
"I thought you prefer red" He observed from where he was watching Television.
"Mary-Kate said they've been seeing a black car ever since they left New York" I said sounding worried.
"There are a lot of black cars"
"Yeah, I guess you're right" I said trying to calm myself down. After all Mary-Kate had called and seemed happy to talk to me. I should be glad about that! It seems my worries were unfounded.
---Ashley---
I listened to Mary-Kate's side of her convo with Zac as I chewed on a french fry.
She hung up the phone and turned to me.
"You guys are so good together!" I said "I don't want you to break up"
"Me either" She admitted "I just want to put the wedding off for awhile. Give myself some time..."
"Make sure Zac understands that" I said
"I will"
---Michael---
As usual I was totally amazed by Melanie's voice.
"I am Stronger!" She sung out the last line of Britney Spears Stronger and everyone clapped.
"Very good Melanie" One of the judge guys (or whatever they're called) said.
She thanked them and sat down next to me. "So whats next?" I asked.
"They'll probably ask me to dance to something then we'll be able to go home. They'd ring me in a couple of days if I make it" She said "I so hope I do!"
I put my hand over hers and smiled. "You will!"
---Mary-Kate---
I watched through the restaurant window as the black car drove away. I'd been TOTALLY freaked out when it drove into the same restaurant we were eating at. But now it was gone. Forever I hoped.
I took another sip of my soda "Good riddance" I whispered.
"Did you say something?" Ashley asked.
I shook my head "nope!" I said with a smile.
Chapter 5:
|
---Mary-Kate---
"I hate to admit it" Ashley said to me the next day as we headed out of the town we'd spent the night at "But, I'm starting to worry too" She motioned for me to look behind us.
I glanced back "You've gotta be kidding me!" I said, the black car was back!
"3 days in a row, This is a little more then weird..." Ashley trailed off "I'm gonna try to lose them "She said after a minute of silence.
"Good idea!" I said, for some reason I felt a lot more secure knowing Ashley was worried too. Weird... I know. But at least I didn't feel like I was going insane, and the only one worried.
Ashley turned down a side road.
"Do we really want to stray away from civilization?" I said glancing around. The road led up to the mountains and as far as I could see there weren't any people around.
"Do you want to drive?!" She asked annoyed, though I could tell she was regretting that move too.
I glanced back over the seat. "I don't see them" I said. The road was totally empty except for us. "Wait a minute..." I said spotting movement back a bit "Here they come"
"Ok, this is bad.. this is really bad" Ashley said panicking.
---Melanie---
"Distract me! I'm getting nervous!" I said running over to Michael and throwing my arms around him.
"Good morning to you too Melanie" He said with a smile, and leaned in to kiss me.
I grinned sheepishly "Hi!"
"They haven't called yet?"
"Nope, but that's normal. It hasn't even been 24 hours. Can we go do something to get my mind of it?" I asked.
"Like what?"
"Like... go shopping?"
He groaned "PLEASE! Anything but that"
---Josh---
I woke up with a smile on my face. I'd gone out with Amy the night before and it had been great! I hadn't thought about Ashley once. Ok, maybe once, when the restaurant had this color wall that I liked and she'd hated. We argued about that for half an hour....
I'm getting distracted. Amy...
I sighed happily. She's really great. I think I might have found the girl for me!
Forget Ashley what's her name!
---Ashley---
'Calm down' I told myself 'We've got to turn around and go back to the town. We've got to get away from these people'
"What are we going to do?" Mary-kate asked starting to bight her nails.
I leaned over and pulled her hand away from her mouth. A habit I'd had ever since she employed me to help her stop biting them years ago. "We've gotta drive back to the town"
"But that means we gotta get past them!"
"I know that" I said turning the car. We were now face to face with the black one which was driving towards us "here goes" I said pressing on the accelorator.
We drove toward the other car which didn't change direction,... at first. When we got closer it parked itself on a horizontel angle blocking our course.
"Uh-oh" Mary-Kate and I said in unison.