Need you now... (ATTN: AJ)

[Maci]

OOC: Since we move through the other two so quickly...I thought, hey...what the heck, why not? c:

BIC:

Maci picked up her phone, glanced at it and dropped it onto the sand. It was Summertime, and the waves splashed near the shore of the beach she sat at, her legs pulled close to her body as her arms wrapped back around them, resting her head on her knees, her ear relaxing against her knee. It had been a couple of hours since she last heard from AJ; he was at practice and she had decided to sit this one out, she didn't feel very comfortable around the other members, other than Sync. She sighed to herself, closing her eyes and listening to the water crashing, it was so peaceful. She had had a busy couple of weeks. Her parents were on her back about college and applying and scholarships and she was just tired of hearing about all of it. Summer was short enough without the nagging from [mostly] Vivian and Brian.

She actually had no intentions on going to college, not with her and AJ being like peas in a pod. She wouldn't have it unless he left his band and moved in with her in her dorm at, whoever decided to accept hers, campus. Maci knew good and well that wasn't going to happen, and that was the predicament they were in. She opened her eyes and picked her head up, resting her chin on her knees, watching the seagulls dive at the water, one out of probably five actually catching a fish. Man, they have it good. You're born, grow up, find a sex partner when you want a baby or two, raise them for a month or so & eventually die. You don't have to worry about school and parents and curfews..., she thought. But, she continued, they never experience a love like this...I can take the good with the bad...because AJ is so worth it., she nodded her head at her unspoken words. The phone caught her attention out of the corner of her eye, she sighed and picked it up again, it had been another hour since she had been waiting on him to call or text. It was so hard to bare whenever he wasn't around, and she had no idea how she lived her life day-to-day before. Maci picked up her phone and shoved it into her pocket, looking down the beach in both directions, noone. It was actually really nice to have no body around on days like this, when she without her better half. Maci got up and started walking down to the water, the waves cresting at her feet as she walked a little farther from inland. She turned and looked back at her mustang, glimmering in the sun. The memories in that car.., she though with a chuckle, standing there in the water, moving sand between her toes.

[AJ]

Still half-laughing AJ opened the door to the kitchen of his parent's house. Sync had picked him up for rehearsal and dropped him back off at home. It had been a long studio day, doing recordings and playing the same thing over and over. So they'd decided to grab a drink at Nando's, just one, after rehearsal. They'd been fantasizing about their next gig and what'd it be like to perform infront of a stadion packed with people.

It was oddly still in the kitchen and both his parents, Dominic and Lillian were seated at the table. AJ stopped in the doorway and let the door crash closed behind him. He raised a brow and his smile faded. "What's up?" They just started at him. His mother had her hands infront of her mouth and his dad was looking at him like he was gonna kill him right there and then. He dropped his gear to the floor and eyed them both. Something was definately up. "What the hell is wrong with you, did the cat die or something." He said dryly and picked his gear back up and wanted to make a run for his room, getting a little annoyed by their behaviour and no explanation. His dad got up, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Stop." He eyed him with a pleading look. "What the hell did I do now?" Lillian got up too and placed her hands on her hips. "Sit down." She hissed. AJ rolled his eyes, dropped his gear to the ground again and sat down. "Are you gonna tell me now what the hell you're so mysterious about or what." Dom was getting angry now too. "We're moving." "Again." He eyed his son, who immediately got up. "Fine. Go, but I aint comin' with ya." His dad clenched his jaw and took a step back, or he wouldn't know what he was going to do. He folded his arms. "Don't forget you are the reason we moved to this godforsaken place." "Fine, then it's settled, right?" He was standing infront of his dad, both their eyes spitting fire. Lillian got between them. "We want you to come with us. This band of yours." She sighed and dropped her gaze. "It's the reason you dropped out of school and it's why you're never home. Those guys are a bad influence. It doesn't have a future." "Oh please." AJ spat at her. "You know damn well it's my dream. That band, it's my future, allright. As is this town." His dad stopped him from walking away again. "We're moving 'cause of you, AJ, so we aint going anywhere unless you're with us." "Then forget about it. I'm old enough to fend for myself anyway." He said, breaking through the grip of his dad and marching upstairs.

Lillian sighed and dropped her slender frame back in the chair. "I'm not going to lose another child, Dom." Dom sighed and dropped his shoulders. "This aint gonna work like this anymore, Lily."

He ran both hands through his hair, dropped his guitar case on his bed and kicked his shoes through his room, letting out a roar of frustration. He heaved a sigh and sat down on his bed, flashing his eyes around his room. Fine. If you don't want me then I'll find a place of my own. He thought to himself, already thinking of what stuff he'd definately needed to bring along. He took his phone in his trembling hands and dialed that number. He dialed it without thinking, he knew it by heart. "Hey babe." "Where you at. I'll be right there okay, got a little problem. Don't worry though, it's gonna be allright. Allright see you soon babe." He sighed and hung up the phone, clenching it in his fist. He was gonna owe her an explanation, something he really didn't wanna bring up again, but he knew he'd have to bring up eventually, the reason why the left LA, city of Angels."

[Maci]

Maci hung up the phone, surrounded by the silence of noone but her around, other than the ambience of nature. AJ's voice was almost cold, she knew something was wrong, but all she could do was stand there, millions of thoughts cranking through her head. What could be going on? Or was it nothing, maybe she was just being paranoid. She sighed and walked back through the water, tiny fish parted as she dragged her feet through the water and back onto the sugary white sand. She slipped her flip-flops back onto her feet, the sand crunched underneath her weight, she shook her feet to rid of the loose sand.

Maci made her way back to her car, hoisting her body onto the rear-end of it so she could sit on the back of it as she awaited AJs arrival. The spoiler was hot on the backs of her legs, and she propped her hands underneath them, they wern't nearly as tender as her legs were to hot temperatures. She began thinking again about college, her mothers voice haunting her, she dropped her head into her hands, her hair falling around her hands and arms, fingers grasping her hair. "Godddd why do they care so much? Why can't they just let me live my life?", she thought to herself, gently rubbing her head, the thought of leaving AJ behind in this place literally gave her a headache.

[AJ]

AJ merely sighed, pacing around in his room, his phone still clutched in his hand. He heard his mom knock on his door and rolled his eyes. "Not now mum." He clenched his jaw and grabbed his jacket. She opened the door anyway. He grabbed the keys of his Harley.

"I don't care about what you're gonna say, I'm outta here." It sounded harsh and he immediately regretted it. He did love his mother, ofcourse he did. Atleast she had been around when he needed her. He sighed and turned around. "I'm sorry, but I really gotta go." He said, sorrow in his eyes. She merely nodded and dropped her gaze. He continued his way downstairs, not even bothering to look at his dad and slammed the door behind him.

He jumped on the motorbike and kicked it's engine to life. He straightened the collar of his jacket and with that drove off, on his way to Maci who had been waiting for him at the beach. Thoughts crossed his mind as the cool air ran assaulted his senses. He didn't want his parents to leave, his mom especially, but he was tired of being under their 'command' aswell. He really needed his girl right now as he drove his foot further down on the gas.

He could see her figure already and couldn't help but smile. She seemed a little lost though, as if something was bothering her. He hoped he didn't scare her too much. He parked the Harley next to her car and walked up to the still figure sitting on the rear of the orange Mustang. "Hey babe." He leaned in to kiss her, his hands placed on the hot car. He sighed and stroked her cheek. "Wanna take a walk?" He gazed over at the beach which looked oddly appealing to him. He took her hand, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb like he always did. His eyes pleading, almost serious which was rare for him. "What's bothering you?" He couldn't help but notice the almost lost-ness in her eyes, something was definately bothering her. He knew that it wasn't from his call, it was something else too.

[Maci]

Macis ears twitched when she heard the roar of AJs motorcycle, she picked her head up and there he was, climbing off of the bike and making his way torwards her. She couldn't help but smile either. There was her everything, coming in her direction. "Hi sweetheart", she said as he kissed her and caressed her cheek, she closed her eyes briefly, her hand placed on top of his as he did so. She opened them back up, "Yea", she replied, her tone was worried. She held onto his hand as if it were their last day together, as if she would never let him go. Maci climbed off of the car, hopping onto the parking lot asphault. She didn't really desire to talk about what was going on at home, but she always opened up to AJ, even if talking about it was the last thing she wanted to do. "Eeh, it's just family stuff, you know. Mom and Dad badgering me about college, and frankly, I am sick of hearing about it..", she replied as they walked.

Maci looked over at AJ, having no idea what was going through his head or why his voice sounded so worried over the phone. "What was it you wanted to talk about?", she asked, genuinly concerned.

[AJ]

AJ took Maci's hand as she hopped off the rear of her car. He laced his fingers through hers. They started to walk towards the beach, and AJ kicked his shoes off, holding them in his hand, and Maci's hand in his other hand. He sighed, knowing that feeling all too well. "Yeah I know what you mean." He was glad to be dropped out of school really, so he didn't have to go all that stress all again. "I mean I don't but..." He sighed and looked at Maci. "Atleast we'll have this summer together atleast." He whispered, looking over the ocean at the horizon.

He felt the sand travelling through his toes as the two of them walked down the beach. He didn't dare looking at her, though he knew he wasn't going to leave her. It just made the situation way more complicated thant it already was. Maci was hunting for a college and surely she was going to be occupied by studying, but the fact that she had to move out, the mere thought of not seeing her as much as he loved gave him an empty feeling. He heard her asking what it was he wanted to share with her and flattened his ears. "Well..." He swallowed and stopped in his tracks. "My parents are moving again." There it was, he spilled it, but this was just the easy part. He looked away from her and sat down in the sand, his knees pulled up slightly. "Here come and sit with me." He looked up to her with pleading eyes. "It's okay though, I'm not coming with them." "It's just that, the reason they want to go, is me. Again." His voice sounded raspy near the end. "You know we used to live in LA, right." "We moved to this town too, because of me."

He dropped his gaze, all the memories flooding back to him. This was it, no turning back now. "No one knows about this, but I trust you and..." He swallowd. "I'm really sorry I haven't told you sooner, you had the right to know before, you know, you and me." He was really dancing around the subject now, he found it really hard to bring up. "You know LA is a big city, so when I moved there it had a huge impact on me. I was like fifteen or something and I was easily influenced by all the stuff that happened around me." "I don't really remember how, but I got acquanted by some guys that were a little older than me." "Ofcourse I wanted to belong, and blahblah, you know how it goes, wanting to impress the others and all." He started to rub her hand again. "So one day I hang around with these guys and we were at this old warehouse. Asked if I wanted to tag along, so yeah ofcourse I came, trying to prove I did belong with them." "It all started with throwing in windows, hanging out at the streets at night, trying to impress others." "Then at that warehouse one of those punks pulls out a package of weed." "I mean weed." "Even the other guys didn't know he got his hands on that, said it was real good and stuff." "So I was like, noway I'm not doing that sh*t." "So I wanted out, but ofcourse they didn't let me." "Eventually, I gave in, but it got from bad to worse." Got kicked out of school, I was on the streets more than there or at home.
"God, we even beat up a guy so bad, he was in the hospital for a week." "I'm not proud of what I did... I really am not, it didn't take long for us to get arrested." "I sat out a month sentence, and worked at a refugee for four months." "It was pretty nice actually helping others instead of beating them up for a change." "I learnt from it and payed for what I did."

"But that wasn't all." "Those punks blamed me, the youngest of the lot for them sitting out longer sentences. Got beat up one time real bad, and got our home's windows threw in for thanks." He sighed, still staring at the horizon, he didn't dare to look at her, he was so afraid on how she'd react.
"So my sister got fed up and left, moved back to New York with her boyfriend." "It went on for about a year or so, until my dad got fed up and left." "We did move around for a few years until my dad got a job here." "Rest is known history I suppose." "So now, they want to make sure none of that sh*t will happen again, so they take measures before means I suppose."

He let out a long sigh and bowed his head. "I'm no angel, but I didn't do anything wrong this time. I payed the debt long ago, I'm clean, I'm sober, I'm not a criminal." He surpressed tears welling up in his eyes and bit away the lump in his throat, he wasn't gonna cry infront of her, he refused to show he was weak. He still avoided her gaze, not wanting to hear she'd reject him now. He was stupid for keeping this to himself for so long, should've spilled it to her ages ago. He shook his head lightly, his face buried in his hands. Please don't leave me, please don't leave. It was the only thing racing through his head right now. "I'm sorry, I'll understand if you need time..." He said, the words sounding weak as he finally lifted his head and looking into her eyes. "But please don't leave me." "I need you." "You replace all those bad things, with you I don't need them anymore." He took her hand with both of his now, his eyes pleading. "I.. I love you." He stammered, couldn't believe he actually said it. But it was his heart who had spoke it, it was true. He loved her more than anything.

[Maci]

Maci looked up at him whenever he mentioned the Summer, "It isn't long enough..", she muttered. She did as he asked and sat, folding her legs as she sat in front of him, her one standing ear aimed in his direction, taking in his words. It was then his story flooded her with knowledge, things she hadn't known about him before became very clear. She noticed his gaze went from her to the ground as he spoke, he was obviously ashamed of what had happened and what he'd been through, and she knew he would rather not talk about it. Her hands rested on his arms, showing that she didn't feel betrayed or anything, and that he wasn't a criminal in her eyes, her eyes glistened as he continued to speak, it was hard to see him like this, it was rare the two had a heart to heart like this one..

Maci picked his chin up with her hand, making him look up at her, her eyes locked with his. "AJ, you mean more to me than you will ever know..I can't explain it, and I can't deny it. Nothing in your past could possibly make me love you any less.", she said, then dropping her hand from his face and getting on all 4's (hands and knees), leaning forward and kissing him, her hand rising again to carress his cheek before she rolled back to rest on her legs. "I need you too..AJ, I won't ever leave you. I don't know what I am going to do about school, but I am going to work it out. The thought of being away from you tears my heart into two.", she said, stroking his hair. What he said next was so unpredicted, and it was the first time the words had crossed his lips, she crawled into his lap, straddling his legs, her body relaxing against his as she spoke, "I love you too". She continued to hang onto him, the worries of college no longer nipping at her mind as she smiled, AJ was her rock and she didn't need anything or anyone else.

[AJ]

It was like his whole body was shaking, afraid to hear an answer if it were to be negatice. He totally understood if she wanted to back off, take a break or leave him right here and now. The lump in his throat came back but he looked into her eyes anyway, pleading, begging she wouldn't leave him. He closed his eyes, welcoming her touch, which sent a shudder through his spine. He was at a loss of words when she said she understood. She understood. Did she? It didn't matter. Wait it did. He was confused by her answer and shook his head. "Maci are you sure.." He couldn't finish the sentence, her hands on his face, his laying still in the sand. It was like he was frozen, then she continued. She was honest, he could see it in her eyes, and it was tearing him apart. God he loved her so much, her honesty, her caring personality, her love. He still couldn't move, his breath was stuck in his throat, then finally letting out a sigh and breathing hastily. He embraced her and buried his head under hers, allowing himself to be weak. "I love you so much."

His heart was racing like mad, but he was relieved above all. It was like the whole burden fell from his shoulders, like he was finally free from all the stress. He should've done this sooner. Way sooner. It would have saved him all the awkwardness with her being around his parents. He really didn't like it at home. His mom was okay, but there only had to happen this and they both got suspicious again, like they didn't trust him once things were only a little out of the ordinary. Maci sure helped with that, atleast his parents approved of her, and saw her honest intentions. She was his cure, and he was never going to let her go. He regained himself and rested his arms on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "We will find a way to be together. It's all going to be okay." "I can believe that now, I trust you with all my heart and I don't ever wanna let you go." He smiled and kissed her passionately. That famous grin appearing on his face again after their kiss broke. "You just pick the college you love, and we'll find an apartment, for the two of us. We'll manage, I can get a job and... I just know it, this is gonna work out." He was convinced of it and stroked Maci's arms with both hands, never breaking away from looking into her eyes.

[Maci]

Maci could feel his body trembling as she pressed her chest against his in a hug. She knew that was hard for him, and she could see why. It's not everyday someone becomes honest with you, especially with something they have held back for as long as he had. She stroked his hair as she lain against him, holding him and convinced she would never let him go. She was greatful that he could come clean like that, she felt it made them all that more close, as if it were possible. She felt those butterflies again, "AJ..of course I am sure..", she whispered, assuring him that she did, indeed, love him with all of her heart. "I love you too AJ, you have no idea", she added, squeezing him again in a hug, still sitting against him in his lap.

"I don't ever want to let go either, I would crumble..", she replied, smiling back and kissing him back, her body relaxing as if she stress was melting away. He always had a way of doing that to her, she could always feel herself turn to jello when he was around, especially when he held her and kissed her like he was doing. That feeling was amazing. She ran her fingers around his rounded lion ears, coddling them, as he spoke. She nodded with a grin to match his, "We'll work it out for sure, babe, don't you worry.", she remarked.

It seemed like all of their problems were solved as they looked into each others eyes. It seemed like love really did conquer all. It was that she remembered their other predicament, AJs parents moving..."Where are you going to live, AJ? I can talk to Mom & Dad about you moving in with me...", she said, confident they wouldn't mind.

[AJ]

He rubbed his cheek against her as Maci pulled him into a hug. "I know we will." He was a bit hesitant when she brought up living together. Maybe it was stupid to say he was prepared to get an apartment together. He totally forgot about her parents. "I'm not sure, I know you're close to your dad, it'd be tough on him if you're leaving and all." "And I'm sure they wouldn't want me around their house." He chuckled, his arms wrapped around her. "I think I'll go and talk to mom later."

He sighed. He was sure she'd understand better than Dom. Atleast Lillian let him finish his sentences, and if not, he'd call Jess. She sure knew what to do. "I mean, I haven't done anything wrong, we are going steady, the band's going steady and really, I don't need school right now." "There's nothing wrong, I just hope she trusts me and that I can make her see that I'm doing fine. I don't want 'em to move because of me." "I'm not even sure if they still want to with me sticking here." He sighed again. "Ohwell I just gotta talk to her and see what'll come outta it." He moved his hand up and twirled his fingers around Maci's hair. He leaned in to kiss her again. "You always make me feel better." "You're magic."

[Maci]

Maci leaned back, a touch of concern on her face, "You'd be surprised.", she said, one brow lowered as she smiled at him. She bumped her muzzle against his, nuzzling him as she sunk back under his chin. "I understand if you're not yet ready for that kind of commitment though..", she admitted, although if he were to run off without her, she'd break mentally, she felt. She sighed, trying to send thoughts like that as far out of her head as possible.

"I hope they stay too, since they'll be going alone even if they do go. I really do like your parents.", she smiled, backing from his chin and accepting his kiss. His words were so sweet, and she hung on them, kissing him again. "I guess we do that to each other, huh?", she asked, finally getting off of him and offering a hand for him to get up. "Come on, love. Let's go find some trouble to get into..", she snickered.

[AJ]

"Commitment?" "Sweetie I'd do anything for you, and to be honest, it aint that bad." He grinned. "That way I can wake up to that beatiful face of you every day." He poked her nose and kissed her again before taking her hand and getting up with a groan. He didn't realize his butt had practically been asleep. He rubbed his thy and squeezed one eye, a pouty expression on his face. "Ow my butt..." He said with a cheesy smile and snickered. "Yeah my parents like you too." He said, knowing it was the truth, they really did love her to bits. In their eyes Maci was the only good thing being around their son right now, apart from themselves. "I think mom even sees you as the ideal daughter in law." He laughed. "So she can go shopping with you again."

The two of them walked down the beach, back to the parking space, hand in hand.

AJ looked from his bike to her Mustang. "Hey babe, ya still got that helmet I gave you in your car? We could make a ride down the city to relax some, if ya want." He squeezed her hand. "Maybe find some trouble too." He joked and moved closer to her, stroking a lock of her hair behind her ear and kissed her, his hand on her cheek. He just loved the feeling of the wind travelling through his hair and clothes when he drove on that motorbike. It wasn't often he did so, but it certainly helped his mind to clear from things. Especially when she sat behind him, head resting on his back and arms arouns his waist. "So what do ya say?" Again, being his cheery and usual self as he eyed her closely.

[Maci]

Mace giggled as he rubbed his thigh, she loved that pouty face, there was no resisting it. She laughed and pushed him playfully, though actually pushing herself more than him. Her eyes drew to him when he said his parents liked her too, she turned that usual shade of pink, blushing, "Awwww, really? Your mom is amazing...". She thought for a minute about the daughter-in-law part, smiling to herself, then adding, "Maybe one day we can make that a reality..", she grinned, letting AJ guide her back to the lot.

"Oh yea, I do! I love riding your bike with you..so I leave it in there.", she said, and she meant that. The wind through her hair, it whipping through her hair wildly, the wind beating against her legs as they rode...and her favorite part, snuggling against AJ. She started feeling giddy inside, pretty excited about going. She unlocked her car and fished the helmet out of the two-door car, which was in the back seat. Grabbing it, she shut the door and turned back ground with a smile, giving him one more kiss before sliding the child-sized helmet over her head. AJs band sticker on the back of it, which she wore proudly.

[AJ]

AJ nodded and waited for Maci to get the helmet out of her car and then lock it again. He grinned when he saw the Flight at Midnight sticker. "How did you get your hands on that?" He laughed and pointing at the sticker. "Have you been going through my stuff again?" He snickered. "Next time steal some more to spread around the city." He wiggled his brows and remembered the rehearsal and recording earlier that day. "Oh I forgot to tell you, we finished the album." "Just gotta wait for the producer to make some audio edits and that jazz, and we need an album cover. But I hope it'll be in stores soon!" His eyes lit up at the thought of seeing his own music in the stores and on MTV. Wouldn't that be awesome... then he'd never have to look for a job!

He kissed her one last time before putting his helmet on and mounting the bike. He kicked the engine to life and took both Maci's arms to put them around his waist. "Here we go." He grinned, looking briefly over his shoulder and then leaving the parking lot. It was a beatiful day for a ride, so AJ was determined to make the best of it.

[Maci]

Maci laughed, forgetting he'd yet to see that she had looted one of his stickers. She nodded, still giggling, "Alright, I will!". She folded hear erect ear and slipped the helmet over her head, her hair like a waterfall being released from a dam, as it fell over her shoulders. She raised her plastic wind shield, her face had a huge smile on it, "ARE YOU SERIOUS AJ? OH MY GOSH! Congrats baby!", she said, so glad to hear that they'd soon be viral. "You guys are going to seriously rock the world...", she said.

She kissed him back and climbed up onto her seat behind him, she let him wrap her arms about him and smiled, resting her helmeted head against his back before she looked around a little, feeling the hot breath running through the exhaust pipes against the backs of her legs. The two traveled down the road parallel to the beach, the view was breathtaking. Her eyes followed a speedboat that was running about the same speed they were, smiling to herself, I'll bet that's fun!, she thought to herself. The rear tire whipped up sand that had found its way onto the road behind them, it scattered and fell, as if the two had never been through there. AJ finally turned around after a few miles and headed back, Maci raised her shield again, only slightly to take in the salt-water air that came off of the ocean.

The two neared the spot where that orange mustang sat, the sun danced on the paint as if it were a sparkling jewel. Maci descended herself off the bike, pulling off her helmet and shaking her head so that the wrinkle in her hair would release where the pads of the helmet pressed against it. Her ear stood again and she unlocked her car, placing her gear back into the back seat, then spotting their boards. "Hey..you wanna ride over to the skate park?", she asked AJ, still grinning from their beachside ride.