Chapter 35– We have arrived young Miss **arrived** (Jacquie’s POV)

“We have arrived young Miss,” a male voice says.
I wake to see the guy who had sat next to me.
“Oh thank you,” I say.
“No problem” he says walking into the aisle.

I walk into the aisle and out of the plane I walk into the airport and I look around for Jimmy or Kerrie, I see Kerrie looking around anxiously with Jimmy I run up to her and hug her.
“Hey Neicey” she says hugging me back.
“Hi” I say, “Missed you heaps”
“Same” she says letting go of me.
“Hey Jimmy,” I say hugging him and letting go.
“Yo” he says “We better get your luggage”
“Yeah” I say and we walk to bag pick up.
I get my bag and Jimmy carries it for me then we walk out of the airport. Immediately I feel the cold, New Jersey cold How I missed thy. I rub my hands up and down my arms.
We get into the car, Jimmy puts my bag into the back and we drive off When we get close to where I used to live I look out of the window It had been years since I had been here. Everything looked pretty much the same except things had aged a fair bit and there was a couple more shops on the way to Kerrie’s. I look at everything, each thing bringing back a new memory. Then we finally arrive, The house looked exactly the same, it didn’t look any different, it hadn’t even aged. Jimmy gets my bag out of the car and we all walk inside I look at the walls there were more daggers and swords up.
“You're in the same room” Kerrie says “I haven’t changed it much”
I walk to my room and open the door and go inside.
She was right not much had changed except for the curtains, they were black now and the bedspread BLACK. I think she did that to make me like it more Jimmy walks in and puts my bag down.
“Hope you enjoy” he says and walks out of the room.

I decide to unpack I put away everything neatly and quickly, I put my laptop on the desk and I pull out my phone from my pocket, It was worthless here but I had my contacts on it so I could call anyone if I wanted, I walked out into the lounge room and there Jimmy was with a sandwich.
“Tuna and cream Miss Weird” he says.
I take it off him.
“Gladly accepted” I say.
I sit down and eat it, I missed these heaps.
“What time is it?” I ask Jimmy who had sat down on the chair next to me.
“9am” he says.
“Okay cool” I say, “I was wondering can I…”
“Go see Gerard” he finished “Yeah”
“I was going to say my friends but okay” I reply.

I finish my sandwich put the plate in the sink and walk out the of house and over to Gerard’s.
I knock on the door, it opens and Mikey is standing there playing a game boy not looking up.
“Hello” he says, “May I help you?”
“Maybe” I say.
“I can’t look up who ever you are, I’m trying to beat level 65 I’m so close” he says.
“Fine I’ll just leave and go see Matt,” I say.
This catches his attention and he looks up.
“Jacquie” he says.
“Yes, that would be me” I say and hug him.
“Oh my god” he says hugging me back.
I let go of him.
“Gerard get your arse out of your room and come here” he yells out.
“Fuck off” Gerard yells back.
“Sorry I forgot you were coming” he says “and sorry Gerard is being an arse”
“I’ll go get him,” I say.
Mikey lets me in and closes the door after me.
I go to Gerard’s room and knock on the door.
“Mikey I said fuck off” Gerard says.
I open the door and walk inside, the room smelled bad but not as bad as it used to, Gerard had obviously grown but not just that but he had gained a bit of weight, but that didn’t matter, He was lying on his bed facing the wall.
“Mikey get whatever you want and leave” he says angrily.
I walk up to him and hug him from behind.
“Fuck Mikey have you become gay?” he says pulling himself from my grip and then he looked at me “Jacquie”
“Yes that would be me” I say “And you ... I have no idea who you are?”
I laugh.
“I would be the all mighty Gerard, everyone fears me,” he says getting up.
He was a little taller than me but not by much.
I hugged him and he hugged me back and tighter too.
“I missed you heaps,” he says.
“Same here” I say.
I try to let go but he didn’t plan on letting go so I continued hugging him till like a minute later when he finally let me go.
“Wanna come with me to see the others?” I ask.
“I might stay here,” he says.
“Wrong” I say and grab him by the hand and pull him out the room.
“Are you guys going to see the others?” Mikey asks.
“She is” Gerard says.
“We are, wanna come too,” I ask.
“Sure” Mikey says.
We walk out of the house and we walk to Matt’s.
“There’s one thing I must say is that Matt and Paula’s relationship has worsened so they aren’t always together” Mikey says.
“Oh that’s a shame they are so cute together,” I say.
I knock on the door.
I push Gerard and Mikey in front of me and hide behind them.
“Get him to come out,” I say to them.
The door opens.
“Hi” he says.
“Why don’t you come out here so we can talk to you” Mikey says.
“Umm okay” Matt says confused.
He walks around them and I tackle him to the ground.
“What the fuck” he says and looks at me.
“You evil bitch” he says and pins me down “You should have come to me first”
He gets off me and pulls me up and hugs me.
“Gerard and Mikey are closer to my place,” I say.
“Man you are heaps taller,” he says.
“Well I am seventeen,” I say.
“Of course” he says.
I look at him in more detail, he is still taller than me and he has kept his hair the same, talk about staying the same.
“Ooo another Anthrax fan aye?” he asks.
“Been for ages” I reply “Ray time”
“Yeah” Mikey says excited.

We all walk to Ray’s When we arrive we think of a funny way of telling him I’m here.
“I got up to level 70 Ray” Mikey yells.
We hear footsteps and the door opens.
“No way” he says.
“I saved the evil bitchy princess of darkness,” Mikey says.
“What?” he says confused “There’s no evil princess”
“This game called life does” I say coming out from behind Gerard.
“Jacquie” he says and hugs me.
“Do I have to say it again YES THAT IS ME” I say hugging him back.
He lets go
“Fuck how have you been?” he asks looking at me.
“Okay” I say.
“Frankie Time” Mikey says
“Awesome” I reply.

We walk to Frankie’s, as soon as we are a few blocks away from his place we hear guitar riffs. I knock on the door We wait a while, obviously he couldn’t hear us, Gerard shakes his head.
“Guitar how you mock me” he says.
“Is his room still the same one?” I ask.
“Yeah” Mikey says.
I smile and climb over the fence and walk around the house trying to find an open window, the kitchen one is open so I climb through and am careful not to knock anything over, I walk to his room and open the door.
“Turn that down people are trying to be answered at your door” I yell over the music.
He stops and looks at me.
“Dude” is all he says.
“No Dudette” I reply.
“Anthrax?” he asks.
“Yeah” I say.
“We need to get you a Smashing Pumpkins one,” he says with a smile.
“I've got 2 of those” I say and hug him.
“Good” he says and lets go.
“So yeah seen everyone yet?” he asks.
“We got one person left if Matt doesn’t mind,” I say.
“Oh Paula” he says “he might stay then”
“Well she is my friend though,” I say.
We walk out of the house and Frank closes the door.
“There’s one person left,” I say.
Matt looks at me then looks down and shakes his head slightly, he knows who it is.
“Come on don’t worry okay,” I say walking over to him and putting my hand on his back.
“It’s just she don’t act how she used too” he says
“What do you mean?” I ask
“I would say but I won’t” he says “Just not in front of them”
“We love to be called them,” Ray says sarcastically.
I pull Matt aside so the guys couldn’t hear us talking.
“She has gone really girly and … wild,” he says.
“Wild as in?” I ask.
“Sex used to be fun but then it was just like an everyday thing and then she started acting … well wild” he says shyly “It was a turn on at first but no … not anymore”
“Oh okay” I say kinda weirded out.
“And when she did become girly it was just like lets go shopping, lets go get my nails done and lets go get my hair done” he says “It would have been fine if it was like a once a month salon trip but it was every week and I always had to pay for it and that’s $150 for her hair and like $50 for nails plus then her shopping stuff”
“Well that is bad,” I say.
“And then I just snapped and yelled at her, told her to leave me alone” he says and a tear streaked down his face “ she just looked at me … shocked and then she walked off, I didn’t wanna tell the guys so I went over and said sorry and tried to make her forgive me and then I said could we at least try to get along she agreed”
“Why?” I ask.
“Well everyone else’s relationship had ended” he says wiping his eyes “ I just wanted to look as if I could keep one, but every time I was around her she would start a fight with me and embarrass me in front of them and so I broke up with her like 3 weeks ago”
“I’m guessing you haven’t told anyone?” I ask.
“No” he sighs.
“You gotta tell them soon” I say.
“I know,” he says.
“Okay to Paula's" I say.
“But...” Matt says but I cut him off.
“You just stay near me only say hi if she says it to you okay” I say quietly to him “I wanna see how bad she has gotten”
“You’re going to be in for a surprise,” he says.

We walk to Paula’s and I knock on the door.
She opens the door and wow was she different, her hair now a peroxide blonde and she was wearing one of the skimpiest pinkest dresses I had ever seen.
“Oh my fucken god” she says in a ‘plastic’ voice “Look at you Jacquie you're so… umm…nice and umm…dark”
She does an air kiss either side of my face.
Oh she has definitetly changed.
“You're … nice” I say awkwardly.
“I know, I so am,” she says.
“I’m going to be going now, I’ve got … stuff to unpack” I lie.
“Okay” she says, “See ya next time”
She closes the door.

I walk away down the road a little with the guys following me, and then I stop.
“You okay” Gerard says putting his hand on my shoulder.
I try to hold it in but its no use, I begin laughing me head off and fall to my knees from laughter.
Gerard smiles at me.
I stop myself from laughing when I see Matt’s face It was unreadable, Happiness or Sadness? GOD DAMN HIM FOR BEING SO HARD TO READ SOMETIMES.
I get to my feet and stare at him, He tilts his head slightly as to say what? I raise my eyebrows a little and he obviously gets what I’m on about.
“Its fine” he says.
Everyone looks at him, he back at them.
“What?” he asks.
Gerard shrugs.
“I better get back” Gerard says walking off.
“Umm bye” I say.
He keeps walking.
“Dick” Matt says under his breath.
I glare at him and choose to ignore it.
“I better be getting back to my guitar she gets lonely easily” Frank says.
“Bye” we all say and he walks off.
“Do any of you guys ever hang out?” I ask.
“Eh sometimes” Ray says, “Me and Mikey verse each other on our game boys a lot”
“Whoa you guys use to hangout all the time now… sometimes … weird” I say, “Hey is the park still in tact?”
“Kinda” Ray says.
I begin thinking about everything that had happened in that park alone, Some good, some bad and some just normal but a lot had happened in there.
I get an urge to walk to it and act on it.

When I get there I look around, everything still needing updating but it didn’t matter to me it was pretty much how I left it except for a couple of discarded needles near the slides I see the druggies have set up shop. The guys just stand around occasionally saying words to each other.
I walk over to the swing, images flash through my mind as if there was a movie right there. I look over at the bench again images flash in my mind, I begin feeling faint. I look over at Ray and Mikey talking and Matt looking at the bench I’m guessing he is getting images in his head too.
“You still skate?” I ask Matt.
He looks at me and nods.
“Any better or just as wussy as you were before?” I ask.
“Oh you're on” he says with a smile.
“I better get my board” I say and run back over to my place.
I open the door and run to my room looking for my board I find it and run out and find Matt, Ray and Mikey waiting for me.
“Speed race?” Matt asks.
“Yeah okay” I say.
“Wanna hill to help your snail pace?” he challenges.
“No, but you might need it for yours” I say.
He rolls his eyes, great another person that does that.

We walk a few blocks to the hill we used to go down all the time, again memories flash in my head, like the time Ray tried to go as fast as Matt and fell off and broke his arm. Matt and I walk up the hill while Ray and Mikey stayed at the bottom.
“So great to have you back Jacquie” Matt says.
“Thanks, it is really great to be back,” I say and we had reached the top.
I look down at Mikey and Ray both smiling happily I smile to myself.
“Ready?” Matt asks.
I look at him and smile again.
“Yeah” I say “Yeah I am”
We hope on our boards and wait till Mikey tells us to go.
“I’m so gonna kick your ass” Matt says.
“That’s what you said last time and I kicked yours by like three metres” I say.
“GO” Mikey yells.
We both kick off I begin flying down the hill with Matt just behind me. In a split second he had kicked madly at the ground and finally got in front of me I begin try my hardest to beat him to the bottom but can’t and come in second.
“You have gotten way better,” I say to him.
“Yeah” he says “Practiced nearly everyday since ya left”
“Really?” I ask.
“Nah” he says with a laugh.
I laugh a bit.
“Oh look at that, someone’s got someone new” A guys voice says from behind me.
The voice sounded awfully familiar.
“Go fuck yourself” Matt says.
“Hey honey, don’t hang with these losers” the guy says putting a hand on my shoulder “ Last girl that was with these guys went to Australia and never came back”
I smile at Matt.
“I wouldn’t say that” I say.
“How would you know sweetie?” he says turning me around.
“I wonder how,” I say to him.
He studies me a bit and realises finally who I am and his face changes to a surprised look.
“Remember me?” I say.
“Jacquie” he says.
“Yep that’s it Ryan” I say.
“Whoa you have changed,” he says.
I brush his hand off my shoulder.
“Yeah that’s what happens when you age” I say.
Matt laughs.
“Shut up queer,” Ryan says to Matt.
“Why don’t you” Matt says back at him.
Ryan walks past me and I pull him back and he falls on his arse.
I shake my head at him and laugh.
“Your as weak as ever” I say.
“Just wasn’t expecting it” Ryan says getting up, his face now a pink colour from embarrassment.
“Sure” I reply sarcastically.
“Plus I wouldn’t punch a girl” he says, “I would get bitch slapped”
I clench my fists, which Matt notices.
“Jacquie don’t worry, this hobo is living on the streets,” he says.
“No I’m not” he says, “I’m living at Paula’s and you know that”
This strikes me.
“What?” Ray, Mikey and I say at the same time.
“Yeah, I’m living with her” he says “Long story really the chick was alone and wanted some fun and…”
“Shut the fuck up” I say and punch him straight in the stomach.
He falls down.
I stop and bring my hands to my face I was trying to stop being so violent, I promised mum.
I pick up my board.
“Let's go” Matt says before I can.
We walk off leaving Ryan by himself.
“That never used to be a problem for you” Mikey says.
“What?” I ask still walking.
“You never used to … care if you hit some one,” he says.
“I know” I say.
“So why is it wrong now?” he asks.
“Promised mum I would ease up on it,” I say.
“Oh” he says.
“Mummy’s little girl” Ray says jokingly.
“At the moment I have to be I’m on a suspension” I say.
“What” Ray splutters “What for?”
“Swearing at the teacher oh and also back chatting him too,” I say, “Apparently it’s against the rules to back chat a teacher”
We all laugh.
“What a naughty girl” Matt says jokingly.
“Yeah Mummy’s little bitch” Ray adds.
I crack up, Mum always said I was a bitch.
We all laugh together and continue walking till we get back to mine and we sit in the gutter.
“So” I say.
“So” Ray says.
“Copy cat, what’s the time?” I ask.
“6 … oh shit” he says and gets up and runs.
I look at Matt and Mikey.
“Umm explain?” I ask.
“Either Star Wars or his mum wants him to cook tonight,” Matt says.
“Cooking” Mikey says, “Star Wars was at 10”
“Okay” I say.
“Well I gotta go home” Matt says, “Dad wants some help with some project thing”
Matt rolls his eyes and gets up.
“Bye” Mikey and I say.
He smiles and walks to his place and goes inside.
“Reckon Gerard would talk to me?” I ask.
“Yeah” Mikey says, “He might not be home, well if he is home he is going out soon then”
“Where?” I ask.
“He won’t tell me and he won’t tell mum,” Mikey says.

We walk into Mikey’s house and Mikey walks into his room while I knock on Gerard’s door.
I never used to knock, I never need to the door was always open.
“Yo” Gerard calls.
I open the door and find Gerard reading comics.
“Hey” I say.
“Hey” he says getting up.
“Mikey says you go out around now,” I say.
“Yeah” Gerard says.
“Where?” I ask.
“I’ll show you if you like?” he asks.
“Okay” I say “How long for?”
“As long as you like” he says “But I gotta get changed, and you might wanna you don’t want that shirt dirty or damaged I bet”
“What?” I ask.
“Well the place we are going to is a bit dirty” he says.
“I only got band shirts,” I say.
“Okay go to Mikey’s and ask for a shirt he doesn’t care much about to wear” Gerard says.
“Umm okay” I say leaving the room closing the door after me.
I walk into Mikey’s room.
“Hiya Mikey do you have a shirt you don’t care much about that I could wear?” I ask.
“Umm sure … any reason in particular?” he asks.
“Well I dunno Gerard said I should have change so I don’t dirty this one” I say.
He looks in his closet and brings out a black shirt with the word “danger” across it in red print.
“I don’t really like this shirt” he says “Mum’s friend got it for me”
He hands me the shirt and I take it.
“Thank Mikey” I say and walk to the bathroom and change shirts.
I walk back to Gerard’s room and knock.
“Come in” he says.

I open the door and he is in black jeans and a plain black shirt.
“Ahh the danger shirt” he says “I guessed”
“Yeah, so where do I put my shirt?” I ask.
“Pass us it,” he says.
I give him my shirt and he lays it on his table.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yeah” I say.
He gets a bag and puts it on his back and we walk out of his room.
We walk out of the front door and he closes it behind us.
“Aren’t you gonna say bye to them?” I ask.
“Meh” he says.
“I’ll just tell Kerrie I’m gonna be out for a while okay wait here” I say and walk over to my place.
I open the door and call out to Kerrie.
“Yeah Jacquie” I hear her say.
“I’m going out okay” I say.
“Umm why?” she asks coming into view.
“Why not” I say jokingly.
“Be back by say 10 and make sure you have dinner,” she says.
“I don’t know when I’m gonna be back” I say.
“Jacquie” she says.
“I’ll be with my friends, I promise I will be fine,” I say.
“Okay but if anything happens come straight here okay,” she says making herself damn clear.
“Yeah okay” I say “Bye”
I close the door and walk back to Gerard.
“Now I’m ready,” I say.
“Okays” he says and we walk down the street.
“So done much?” I ask.
“Not really” he says.
“Okay, umm where are we going?” I ask.
“My place” he says.
“Your place?” I ask.
“Yeah, well no it’s an abounded house I hang there cause yeah I can” he says.
“Okay” I say.
“So hows everything in Australia anyway?” he asks.
“Umm okay got suspended that’s all” I say with a laugh.
“What for?” he asks.
“Swearing at a teacher,” I say.
“I expected more like punching a teacher,” he says.
“Nah” I say “I don’t aim to be suspended it just happened okay”
“Aww you're no fun” he jokes.
“Meh” I say.
“So yeah how’s Andrew?” he asks.
“He is good” I say, “He also got suspended because of me”
“How?” he asks surprised.
“Well the teacher called me a stupid skank after I left the room and Andrew back chatted him and yeah got a suspension for it, I seriously don’t get it” I reply.
“Oh” he says

We turn a corner.
“Well I don’t get suspended,” he says.
“That’s good” I reply.
“I just don’t go to school,” he says.
I laugh.
“Good one” I say.
“No I’m serious” he says, “I only go when I have art and music”
“Oh” I say really not expecting it.
“You win some you lose some,” he says.
“What?” I ask.
“Never mind” he replies.
“So you do art and music as electives?” I ask.
“Yeah” he replies, “What do you do?”
“Art and IT and other stuff” I say not really caring much for the question.
“No more dance?” he jokes.
“No” I say and laugh.
“Well we’re here,” he says as we walk up the driveway of an old house.
“Okay” I say looking at the house closely.
It was obviously abandoned as the most of windows were all smashed and the door ripped off its hinges and it’s now resting home on the grass out front. Most of the roof tiles were missing or broken and the chimney look as it was ready to fall down.
“I go here most the time when I wanna get away” he says looking straight at me “Or just plain hang … out”
“Oh okay, it’s safe?” I ask.
“I guess, I haven’t died … yet,” he says walking through were the front door would be.
I follow him and look around.
All the walls were covered in various artworks, One was of a sunset at some place with a bay with boats and factories surrounding the bay I walk closer to it and study the work more closely.
“I bet you don’t see what I see in that,” Gerard says from behind me.
“A beautiful sunset?” I say “With boats?”
“Well you're seeing what most would focus on” he says walking more closer to it “But this is what you missed”
He points to an alleyway in between to of the factories.
There’s a teenage girl crying, with two men pinning her to the wall while another is holding her hips.
“Why did you paint that?” I ask somewhat disgusted in his choice of work.
“I paint what I see,” he says “September 25th that happened, while I was on holiday with my family”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” I ask.
“Revenge” he says turning away.
“Revenge?” I ask madly “You were always crazed with that”
“I didn’t do anything,” he says turning back at me “She is the one that started saying shit to me and Mikes”
“Oh” I say, “Did that happen to her because of you?
“Hell no” he says “It just happened and I watched as she was dragged to an alleyway from the board walk.
“You should have told someone,” I say.
“I wanted to but the only one that would listen to me is 7 thousand or so miles away from me,” he says taking his bag off his back.
“Oh” I say quite touched in a way but angry people didn’t believe him.
“It don’t matter anyway” he says pulling out a glass bottle from his bag and then placing the bag on the ground, the clinging of glass sounded from the bag “Wanna drink?”
He shows me the bottle he had taken out of his bag.
“Vodka?” I ask.
“Vodka, Vodka cruisers, beer and some other crap” he says.
“Well I guess one wouldn’t hurt” I say “Cruiser please”.
“Sure” he says getting out one from his bag and passing it to me “You're not fussed by flavour right?”
“Nah” I say accepting the bottle from him “Thanks”.
He opens his bottle, as do I.
He takes a swish of his and swallows.
“You’re having it straight?” I ask, “It tastes like shit that way”
“Well it don’t to matter me” he says and takes another swish.
I shrug and drink mine slowly.