Always one.

chapter 3

1 year ago.

"Alora come onnn" Jeremy said as he dragged out the "on".
"I'm coming you impatient child" she said while laughing at his behavior.
"You look beautiful" he said in awe.
"You clean up nice as well" she returned a big smile.
"Alora you're a good girlfriend but you hurt my ego" he said jokingly with his hand clutched to his chest where his heart is.
"Oh I'm sorry my amazing boyfriend I didn't know your ego could get hurt" she added the comment laced with sarcasm.

He pulled her down the last step of the stairs by her waist and held her there.

"Only you can hurt my ego.." he said in a hushed voice.
"I know.." she whispered back with a laugh that didn't quite escape her lips.
"Let's go?" He asked.
"Let's go." She replied.

A Galla. That's where they're headed.

The drive was full of laughter coming from alora and faces of adoration from Jeremy as she continued belting the lyrics to a song he knows all to well because of alora.

"If you like it then you shoula put a ring on it" she screamed it full of energy.

He looked at her with the smallest smile she'd ever seen.

"If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it" she said a bit quieter this time.

He grabbed her hand and kissed her ring finger.

"Soon enough my love" he said to her.
She looked down and blushed as the song continued.

"Woah oh oh woah oh oh"
"If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it" the radio played.

Then it didn't. Nothing could be seen.

It was like everything stopped.
The music was caught in the background almost unheard.

The only that could be heard was glass shattering.
Bullets flying.
And muffled screams.

"Jeremy!" Alora yelled.
"Alora! Are you okay?" He asked as he looked over to see an empty seat.

He looked out the back window and there she was.
A gun pointed to her head.

"Long time no see?" A man whom he hadn't seen before asked.
"Let her go." Jeremy said sternly.
"I don't think I will. She seems pretty sweet, smells sweet too" he said as he pulled her hair enough to erupt a choked sob from aloras throat.

"Leave her alone. Or else." Jeremy said needing nothing more than to protect her.
"Or else what Jeremy?" The man asked.
This only puzzled Jeremy more.
"How do you know me?" Jeremy asked.
"You think I'd just crash into you for no reason boy?" He asked Jeremy.

The conversation was to calm. To weird.
He just hit them. On purpose.
And has alora?

"What the fuck do you want?" Jeremy yelled at the man.
"Her!" The man yelled back as he turned around to take off but fell limp to the ground.

"Ahhh!" Alora screamed when her ears started ringing.
A bullet.

She turned around slowly to see Jeremy standing there with a gun.

She looks at the man on the ground before turning back to Jeremy.

"What the fuck just happened?" She asked him.
"We need to leave" he said seemingly paranoid of something.
"Who is he Jeremy?" She asked.
"I don't know, but I do know I only shot him in the leg so we need to leave before he bleeds out." He explained to her.
"What are you talking about? We need to help him!" She screamed going down to help the man.

Jeremy was to fast to grab her arm and turn her back around.

"Alora let's go." He said trying to get her to listen.
"No. I'm going to help him." She argued looking furious.
"He just tried to kidnap you! He just crashed my car to get to you!" Jeremy yelled.
"So you're worried about your car when he could die?" She asked him.
He paused and continued with a sigh.
"Alora please.. let's go." He begged.

She looked at the man and weighed her options.

She needed to tell her sister about this.

"Whatever let's go. But if he dies.. don't expect me to talk to you tomorrow." She says.
"Okay I can manage now let's go." He said

Her tears were still hot on her face as they drove off making sure nobody saw them.

After she calmed down she decided she needed to inform her sister.

"Ren we're fine I promise" alora tried reassuring her sister.

"She wants to talk to you." She said passing the phone to Jeremy.

He picked it up with one hand and the other on the wheel.

"Ren.." he tried but was immediately interrupted with questions.

'what happened'
'is alora really okay?'
'what is going on?'

"Ren.. calm down. I have your sister. She is okay, I got her out of there." He said sternly trying to get it through her head.
Alora heard a small thank you afterwards before the phone was being handed back to her with the call ended.

"She's spooked huh?" Alora asked sarcastically.
"I'm gonna drop you off.. I need to handle something" he said without making eye contact.
"Why don't we just go together?" She asked curiosily.
They do everything together, why was this any different.

"Because Its really important." He said sparing her a side glance.
"And what? I can't handle it?" She asked getting upset.
"No.. alora I just need to get to my house soon" he said.
"Then I'll stay over." She said still persistent on going with him.
"I told Ren you'd be home tonight." He said.
"I don't care. Do you know what just happened? Do you think I wanna be alone after that?" She asked.

She does have a point.

"I'll drop you home, and stay till you fall asleep." He reasoned.
She sighed and slumped into the seat.
"Whatever, I don't care right now" she said not meaning her words.

He smiled to himself a small smile.
He knew she was just curious.
But.. curiosity killed the cat.

*********

OKAY. Done. Welp, hope you enjoy!