Chorus (Thirteen)

"I've known this girl since we were in diapers. She was my best friend through everything that I went through, and she did it all with a smile on her face. I thought we'd never stop being friends, until she started trying to make it big in the acting industry. She wanted her name in lights and since I wanted to be a musician too she thought that we'd be this like power couple or something, but it didn't really happen that way.

"She became obsessed with being famous and the day came that she finally got her big break in a big movie, and she left me behind in the dust. She didn't call, text, e-mail, nothing. Not after she realized the type of friends she could have if she ditched me. So I started my YouTube channel and I posted as much as I could, whenever I could. I worked hard. I finally got recognized and suddenly she was posting throwback pictures of us on her social media, trying to propel her career by using mine as a buoy to keep hers afloat.

"My manager thought that since we were both in California around the same time after my last tour show, that we should get together and date for a little while to boost our social media presences, and I thought that it could help us reconnect and we could become friends again, or maybe something more. I didn't want to admit it, but I did have feelings for her at one point in time, but the way that she acted before we even agreed to it made me realize that fame just made her an attention seeking monster who only cares about herself. That's why I've been in so many different moods lately, trust me it has nothing to do with you, Holly. You're...you're just everything that-"

"Hey, are you guys done making out back here we have a plan!" I heard Blake interrupt and I suddenly realized how close in proximity we had become.

I cleared my throat and hastily, but reluctantly stepped back away from Sebastian's warm and inviting body, cursing Blake for ruining what I was sure would be a great moment between the two of us.

I shook my head and smiled to myself, wondering what on earth Sebastian was about to say to me. We hadn't spoken about that mind blowing kiss since it had happened, and I honestly didn't know where we stood when it came to romantic feelings between us, but I knew that there was definitely something worth discussing.

We followed Blake into the living room where everyone was still scheming away, thinking through ideas that would make my life better and make Dylan's a living hell.

"Okay Holly, we've got it. So the first step in our plan is that you have to act like nothing happened when you go back to school. We'll make sure you have at least two people next to you at all times and that there's always a teacher around, that way he can't corner you and get you alone," Josie started, and then Blake jumped in next.

"Yeah, and my dad is a lawyer so we'll draw up a restraining order that says he can't come within five hundred feet of you no matter what, can't contact you or talk to you ever, unless its for court or something like that," Blake interjected.

They were all talking so quickly and so animatedly that it was almost hard to keep up with their plan.

Jason was the next person to continue.

"Dylan's parents might be untouchable, but he isn't. He plays football, right?" he asked me and I nodded my head, wondering where he was going with that line of questioning.

He had an evil glint in his eyes and I was beginning to fear the exact type of revenge plan was being concocted.

"Well, my younger cousin plays on a rivaling team with yours and I heard that the season is in full swing. They haven't played each other yet and I may or may not have told him how much of a jackass Dylan is, and since he's the quarterback I'm going to make sure that he either gets sacked hard enough to knock him as hard as you were, or have him pick a fight with him and get him to show his ass to the crowd. Either way, he'll get what's coming to him," Jason said and I felt tears prick in my eyes.

"Yeah, and we're not only going to roll his house with the finest toilet paper around, but we are also going to give him a taste of his own medicine," Josie interjected, making me turn my attention to her.

"What do you think about the words, 'Woman beater' scrawled on his parent's nice four car garage? In Paint."

I started laughing at the thought of the look on his mother's face when she came outside to see her pristine yard and house tarnished because of her son's bad behavior.

"I don't know guys, it doesn't really sound like the type of thing that I would do. I'm all about getting justice, but revenge?" I contemplated aloud, my voice breaking, betraying what little resolve I had left.

"Holly, you are too good for you own good. He beat you, tried to steal something from you that wasn't anyone's to take, only yours to give, and he broke your phone and threw you down a flight of stairs, he almost killed you for Christ sakes! The least he deserves is a tee peed lawn and a head injury to match yours honestly. It's ridiculous that he walked away from that fall without even a scratch!" Blake shouted out in anger and with her haircut and color she honestly looked like an angry tinker bell.

I thought it was funny and I would have laughed if the ache in my chest hadn't suddenly returned ten fold. Everyone sitting around talking about the worst thing that had ever happened to me like it was just a normal topic of conversation made my breath come in quick spurts, a tingling prick of panic splitting through my skin.

"Guys stop, you're making her uncomfortable. Listen, Holly, if you don't want to do this whole revenge fantasy thing, we don't have to if it will make you feel better. We won't even do the restraining order if you don't want to. This is all your terms, I promise," Sebastian said to me, getting up off of his seat on the couch and coming to crouch in front of me in a caring manner, yet again causing the hole to shrink.

I wondered how he could do that-make me forget about all fo my problems with a simple gesture. He captivated my every thought all of the time and I didn't know if it was healthy or not but I appreciated it, a welcome change from all the suffering I'd endured.

"No, I want to do the restraining order. That sounds by the book, I just don't want to do anything that could jeopardize getting justice in court, I think that's the only justice that really matters, anyway..." I trailed off, hoping that they would all understand my wishes and comply with what I wanted.

"We can do that for you. I'll have my dad be your lawyer if you want, pro bono of course, no one hurts Bastian's girl and gets away with it, not on my watch," Blake said to me and I sent her a grateful look, happy that she understood what I wanted and was going to find a way to help me by doing the right thing.

She had just called me Sebastian's girl. Cue the fangirling in my head.

"So, how do we go about that?" I asked her, and she whipped out her cell phone, proceeding to type on it like a mad woman, holding one finger up to us signaling to give us a minute and wait on her.

"There. You've got an appointment with him tomorrow at four o'clock right after school. Jason, can you take me and we can pick her up and go together? It'll be at his office downtown and your parents can come too if they want-"

"No, definitely not my parents. They make me want to bash my head into a wall whenever they're together in the same place," I said and they all looked at me with a puzzled look before Sebastian started chuckling at me.

"Noted. Well then I guess it's settled. I'll have dad contact the Sheriff's office and let them know that you'll be pressing charges and then he can obtain Dyl-hole's statement from the scene and then we can arrange for the police to take your statement as well. Don't worry, he'll take care of everything, including prepping you for trial if it comes to that," she said to me in a comforting manner.

"What do you mean if it comes to that? I thought that since I'll be pressing charges it'll automatically go to trial?" I asked her curiously.

She shook her head, "He might take a plea deal. I don't know for sure if he will but considering the video evidence we have against him already, that and your statement plus if we can get one of those guys to turn on him and corroborate your story then he'll be done for, trust me."

"Huh. And how do we get them to turn on Dylan? They've been friends for years," I asked her.

"We just have to fib a little. Tell one of the boys that the other turned on him and they'll squeal like the little piggies that they are. Trust me, I've watched enough Law and Order to know how these things work," she said to me waggling her eyebrows and I laughed at her, looking around at everyone around me.

I had accidentally acquired three new friends who would do seemingly anything for me, and it was a humbling feeling.

Suddenly, I didn't feel so alone anymore, and that made the hole in my chest seem infinitely less powerful that it ever had.

Author's Note:

So, what did you guys think?

Was that the explanation from Sebastian that you were expecting?

Do you think Holly made the right decision wanting to get justice the right way?

Who still wants Dylan's balls to be put into a shredder?

(ME!)

Let me know how you feel, your comments always make me smile!

-Kristen :)