[CLOSED] but watch how good i'll fake it.

[britton "britt" markus roberts]

Britt finished cleaning up his station, putting everything back where it belonged. He looked up and caught the gaze of Dylan, but he blew it off. It was a small shop. He would never admit to anyone -even Mat if he were still alive- that he remembered Dylan from when him and Mat were together. After Mat died, Dylan changed. And Britt didn't want anything to do with this new Dylan.

"I'm leaving for the night. Goodnight." He mumbled as he passed him, tossing his jacket over his shoulder. He walked out to his truck, climbing into the driver's seat. He left the door open, one leg hanging out as he drummed on the steering wheel. He had told Zoey to meet him over an hour ago, but she was nowhere to be found.

'You would get the cheating bitch.' That familiar voice said in his head, his laugh following soon after.

'How about you shut the fuck up? You came through on half your damn offer. I don't even want a fucking kid thanks to you. It's your fucking fault she can't be loyal to me.' He spat back, and the voice fell silent. Britt was getting brave when it came to Satan. He was tired of being pushed around. He had been pushed around since Mat died. He'd be damned if he was pushed around again. At least his body hadn't ached since he got back.

"Damnit, hurry the fuck up. I'm tired." He grumbled, leaning back in his seat.

[zoey ashlyn martyn]

Dylan had of course, not been himself -either of himselves- today, and mumbled a bye before sitting down to do some paperwork.

After awhile Zoey scampered across the parking lot, continually trying to brush her bangs back, though they didn't want to obey.

"I'm so sorry, Britt..." She leaned over to kiss him softly, chocolate chips on her breath. She had only been on the streets once since the arrest last week. Tonight wasn't the night.

"I was tryina help Tony make cookies for his boyfriend and we lost track of time.." She handed him a small bag of them with a genuine smile. "Didn't mean to keep your pretty face waiting."

[britton "britt" markus roberts]

"Can't have cookies, babe." He said, nudging them back towards her. They reminded him of crackers. All round and stuff. Crackers with chocolate chips. Made him sick to even think about crackers anymore.

"You're the only sweets I need." He said, wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her neck gently, rubbing the small of her back. Everything about his past had come rushing back last time he came into town. He had blocked everything out for so long, he had forgotten.

He trailed his hands up her sides, lifting her and gently putting her into his lap. He kissed her deeply, as if he hadn't seen her in years.

'Come on. Sleep with her. You want your baby, don't you?' That voice taunted.

'No.' He thought, moving to kiss her neck again.

"I missed you." He said with a smile.

[zoey ashlyn martyn]

Zoey smiled. "Okay." Stuffing them back in her bag, she smiled faintly, the actions making dimples around the piercings in her cheeks. They were the only ones she had in tonight.

Huffing as she was lifted into his lap, she hugged him close, meeting the kiss with a tender longing. "I missed you, too..." She murmured against his lips, feeling so small in his lap. Her shorter height had never helped her much, and the fact of Britt's age only made it more prominant.

She ran a hand through his hair gently. "How're you doin', baby?" She murmured, kissing his cheek before resting her head against his shoulder.

[britton "britt" markus roberts]

"I'm alright." He said, rubbing her side gently. He laced his fingers together, resting them on her hip. He had missed her, wondered what she had done while he was gone. But he didn't want to think about it. Her being who she was made him really not want to think about what she did when he wasn't around. That's probably one reason why he hadn't slept with her. And had no intentions to. That and her age.

"Everything here's been the same? You and Tony are doing okay?" He asked, kissing her forehead gently. "I guess Tony must be okay, if he's making cookies. How's his boyfriend? Isn't the guy a little off his rocker?"

'Your boyfriend's not much better, babe..' He thought, hugging her a little closer.

"Dylan's inside. He might want the cookies." He suggested with a shrug.

[zoey ashlyn martyn]

Zoey smiled faintly. "We're good, he's kept me in line, promise." And she did..she had been far better than usual. She hadn't admitted to Britton why she sold herself, her being the victim of a rape that had nearly ended her life, she was afraid of sexual intercourse quite honestly.

'You make me do it..' She thought bitterly. He had twisted everything around, she was so afraid of not listening to him...

Only laughter filled her ears. "Maybe," She murmured, kissing him softly on the lips.

"Maybe sometimes all he needs is cookies," She teased. "He's such a grump. I'll be right back okay? Then we can do whatever you want."

Ruffling his hair, she got out, and slipped inside. She had brief conversation and gave him the cookies before returning to Britton. "He seems in a weird mood." She shrugged.

[britton "britt" markus roberts]

'Unless he thinks they're crackers..' He thought, watching her walk away. He wondered if he was always like this, considering how close it was getting to April. He grabbed an old reciept in his car, and his pen. In his large awkward writing, he wrote Dylan a short note.

'Mat loves you. He wouldn't want you to be like this. -Britt.' He stuck it on his windshield, looking in at them as he walked over to the door. When she came out, he wrapped his arms around her, leaning down to kiss her neck.

"It's almost April. That's all." He said quietly, taking her hand and leading her back to the truck. He didn't feel like explaining to her what had happened, why Dylan turned mean, why Britt's body had rapidly started to be eaten away and he stopped being a happy person. He didn't think she would understand just how close a band could be.

"I wanna go for a walk.." He said quietly, taking her hand. He wanted to go see if Mat's grave was still there, still the way they left it three years ago.

[zoey ashlyn martyn]

Zoey frowned. When they got back, the note would be gone, Dylan would be gone. But the cookies would never be touched.

"April.." She murmured, noting it down. She didn't know what had happened, but supposed that was okay for now.

Taking his hand gently, she started towards truck. "Where we walking?" She linked their fingers firmly together between them, rested her head against what she could reach of his shoulder without standing up on tip toes. She followed him quietly, but didn't ask anything more, just glad that he was back and okay for now.

'Nothing's ever okay for long,' Taunted the voice in her head.

[britton "britt" markus roberts]

"To see an old friend." He said quietly, holding tightly onto her hand. He couldn't help but remember the feeling of carrying his casket; Britt and Dylan on one side, the singer and the drummer on the other. He didn't even get his six pallbearers. He got four. The same for their bassist. He walked slowly up the walk way of the cemetery, stopping beside Mat's headstone. He got a cold feeling, like Mat wasn't there. He sat down on the sidewalk, pulling Zoey down into his lap. He hugged her close, tears falling down his cheeks.

'Dylan's so broke..' He thought.

[zoey ashlyn martyn]

Zoey nodded, trailing after him. When he sat her down, drew her into his lap, she traced her fingertips over the name etched in the headstone.

Where had she seen that name? Dylan's tattoos. She'd been in enough near fights, had known him because of his brother Devon. She preferred staying out of their problems but found herself in a bigger one. Britt knew him, too. And Britt was crying.

She let out a shaky breath, kissing him tenderly on the lips, gently brushing at his cheeks. "I'm sorry baby..." She murmured under her breath. She didn't question it though, letting him have his time. He would speak if he wanted to.