Aidensville, North Carolina
(sometime in early fall)

Mick's Diner was one of just a few quaint little restaurants and businesses in Aidensville that the Outcasts frequented. Mick, a fellow war veteran, was on good terms with Corey and allowed his group to hang out and eat without harassment, unlike many of the other, more conservative businesses in town. The majority of the businessmen and merchants that inhabited the town regarded them just as the general populace did. Trash, criminals, undesirables and dangerous. Bad for business as well. Mick's catered to more out-of-town clientele than anywhere else so he could afford the negative stigma the Outcasts brought with them.

Corey and his rabble, as usual, set in the far back corner of the diner, clustered around a little table with Magnus laying by their feet. Corey pinched a piece off of his burger and dropped into the awaiting dog's mouth, who inhaled it happily. They'd convened today to decide whether or not their newest acquaintance, Riley, should be made a part of the group. The Outcasts tended to attract the rebellious teens of Aidensville but in most cases they were either disgruntled because their parents actually enforced some rules at home OR because they were little crybabies and nobody "got" them. Riley was no poser nor a moody teen, her troubles were genuine and her longing for companionship the same as everyone else's. So, they'd agreed she should be inducted into the group. Traditionally, they'd take new members out for some over-the-top (and illegal) party to celebrate. Tonight was no different.

"Well ladies and gentlemen,"
Corey began, finishing off his soda,
"I believe it's time we celebrate the adoption of our new family member."
He glanced at his watch and smiled,
"The party at the scrapyard should be starting right about now. Everybody up for it?"
Magnus rose and barked softly though enthusiastically.

The old scrapyard on the south side of Aidensville played host to all manner of illegal activities on Saturday nights. People bet on illegal fights, got wasted and took part in the fights, got high and had sex in pretty much any remotely secluded spot (usually) and often times woke up the next morning somewhere unfamiliar without remembering how they got there. It was the epitome of a hard party, especially when some of the gangs and families in the south side went toe to toe in the little scrapyard arena.

Declan took a puff of his cigarette as he glanced across the sky. He was stood outisde of the diner. It was quite late already, the afternoon had slipped away quickly, as he had been with his friends. He smirked to himself. Friends. He thought it sounded strange when he said that word. He would have never used it back in Ireland. Though, he didn't have any real friends back there. Only fellow gang members, who he knew would turn on him in seconds if they had any provocation.

He always used to keep an eye out for anyone trying to stab him in the back, but he didn't now, not with his new group. He was amongst people he could trust, or, at least, he believed he could trust. They had changed him. He used to threaten anyone or anything that looked at him the wrong way, he used to get absolutely smashed on a consistant basis any he used to go home every night with cuts and bruises all over his face. Now, that sort of thing rarely happened. He was a different person, more in control of himself. More mature. Hell - before he had got up to walk outside the diner and have a cigarette break, he had even said "Excuse me." He would have probably been ridiculed for even having the politeness to leave the diner to smoke if he was with his old crowd.

He finished his cigarette and let it fall to the ground, stepping on it to put out any remaning embers, before turning to the door of the diner and entering, reclaiming his seat beside Corey at the table without a word. He rubbed his eyes and glanced around the table. Today they had essentially been integrating Riley in to the group. It was all quite trivial, the whole tradition of welcoming a new member, but Declan did not mind. He enjoyed it, even. Tonight they would be partying, and even though Declan tried to separate himself from alcohol, he let his worries slip for occassions like this. He hadn't had any serious alcohol related issues since he moved to America. Declan leant down Magnus and scratched his ear affectionately.

"Well ladies and gentlemen," Corey began, snapping Declan out of his trail of thought. "I believe it's time we celebrate the adoption of our new family member. The party at the scrapyard should be starting right about now. Everybody up for it?" Corey glanced around at the group, as if to ask for confirmation.

"Have I ever not been up for it?" Declan grinned, shifting out of his seat, speaking clearly in his calm yet assertive accent.

Initiation.

The word buzzed continually in her head, a word that fueled her thumping heart and glittering eyes, a word that meant this night was certain to be amazing. Alexandra sat with her knees pulled up to her chest, hands clenching tightly to a warm, half-empty mug of hot chocolate as she eyed the girl across the table. Riley. The newbie with the fiery hair and wide ears. The reason 'initiation' was ringing over and over again in her ears. Alex would be lying if she said she wasn't smitten by the girl when she first saw her, the cute face, radical hair, and quiet nature were all strangely adorable, and a sudden need to befriend this Riley had been tugging at Alex's mind since the group had gotten together for the night. While the idea of a party hadn't been said outright, it was pretty obvious they were going to one, seeing as Riley had yet to join them for one before. A wide grin parted her pale face and she arched her neck to take another long sip of her drink, hoping to calm her giddy nerves. No need to waste energy yet.

Around them, the quiet murmur of diner life played like white noise. The whir of a coffee machine, smell of hot food, and whispers of some shadier clientele all mixed and mingled inside of Alex's head, reminding her slightly of what everything sounded like after a full night of alcohol and blaring club music. Speaking of club music, Alex briefly wondered where they were be heading. Perhaps a coat of makeup would be good for tonight. Another smirk appeared and she giggled to herself, leaning back into the wooden chair until she felt her back creak pleasingly, and then she stood, leaping to her feet like an excited child.

"I'm heading to the bathroom, be right back~." she purred before hopping off. As she walked quickly past the large diner windows and nosy patrons, her hands instinctively went up to pull a black scarf over her mouth, eyes downcast until she was finally in the fluorescent lit room. Inside, she finally let out a breath, and pulled off the scarf to get a good look at her face. Pale. Colorless even. Her frail body was covered by a jacket much to big to be hers, and wiry hands dug into each deep pocket to place countless items on the sink counter. Makeup, brushes, sprays, and many other small items piled high on top of one another until the jacket was finally empty, and then she got to work on herself. A fine-tooth comb was dragged through her thin hair, swishing it out of her eyes and styling it to curve just above her darker eyebrows. Blush was applied in gentle strokes, just enough to bring out her high cheeks, and a pale pink matte lipstick was put on with precise slowness. Eye liner, eye-shadow, smokey blue to show off her eyes, and mascara were applied next with quick wisps, and then she stepped back to examine her work. Yes, look pretty, boys just adore pretty-ole-you.

You've been feeling quite agitated, right?~

Right.

Alex puckered, then smiled once again, ignoring the obvious splash of lipstick that stuck to her front tooth. She had to be cute, had to get in at least one boy's pants tonight. Her emotions had been somewhat out of whack for a few days now, she had became angrier easier, happier slower, sadder, madder, sadder, madder. Sex helped all of that, though. Somehow.

"BPD..."

Alex is not crazy. Her parents had been wrong, she was just a bit emotional. While the specifics of BPD were still foreign to her (the idea of asking one of the group to look it up for her had never crossed her mind), Alex did know that many people were often institutionalized for the disorder. Meaning that they were crazy. And Alex is not crazy. The clatter of plastic suddenly drew her attention away from the mirror, and she glanced down, finding a particularly cheap looking makeup case lying on the linoleum floor. Powder foundation covered the tiles, and a loud sigh escaped her mouth as she reached down to pick up the broken makeup, chucking it into the closet garbage can before she began to pack up everything once again. Once the pockets were full, she reapplied the scarf around her mouth and stepped back into the diner.

Declan had seemed to return a few moments before Alex, and as she passed behind the gruff looking man she ruffled his hair, flashing him a closed-mouth smirk. Finally sitting, Alex relaxed once more, but quickly perked up when Corey started talking.

"The party at the scrapyard should be starting right about now. Everybody up for it?"

"Duh!" she cried with obvious gaiety, hands rising high into the air, the minor mental crisis in the bathroom quickly being pushed aside to allow the excitement of partying all night to set in. Alex quickly turned her attention to Riley, eyes twinkling brightly,

"It'll be so much fun, you'll love it!" she explained, grinning widely.

Riley was shy. There was no doubt about that. She sat close to Corey in a way that spelled out her personality, almost clinging to the fact that he was out there, and the rag tag leader of the group. She glanced around at the others nervously, still feeling the obligation to give them polite smiles every time they looked at her face. As she began to sweat a bit from the stress of the diner's bustling, she was shocked out of her trance by Corey's voice asking about some party at a scrap yard.

"Um..yeah! That sounds g-great…", she murmured, a smile spreading across her face as she first stared at Alex, and then around at the rest of the group, "I haven't gotten out much in a while…so it could be pretty interesting."

As she finished her sentence, she glanced down at the black bandana wrapped around her wrist tightly, and began scratching around the edges. Although this was all the most fun she had had in months, it was still stressful and busy, and it was still a bit of a trigger for her self harm.

Madison or as a lot of people know her in Aidensville as "Icy", was one of the last one in the group to show up at the diner. She walked in and spotted the gang straight away, so she walked over, grabbed a spare chair from another table, span it round and sat down, leaning on the back of the chair, by resting her arms on it. She hated sitting on normal chairs like people should do. Only time she sat normally was in fact if she was sitting in the booth sofas. Otherwise, she sat how she pleased.

She had arrived just in time for Corey to say that it was time for Riley's initiation at the scrapyard party that had pretty much started. She smiled,finding it crazy that was already that time again for their little family to officially grow and introduce another member. She found Riley utterly adorable, and truth be told, she truly felt sorry for Riley. She had seen what life can do to a person, from when she used to be a hooker on the streets at night- just to gain money to put food on the table, when she lived with her drug addict of a father. She could see the anxiety and pain that Riley showed, when Corey said it was time for something, that she clearly hadn't really done before.

Her smile showed empathy and sympathy, as well as comfort. "You'll be fine doll, everyone ends up enjoying themselves at these things. I know I was just as weary when I was initiated, but not anymore." She told the new girl, who she knew she would get on just fine with. Although Madison was the kind of girl who would lash out still when touched without consent, and there were times she was still a little jumpy around men, but this gang she found saved her. She was so ready to just go back to what she knows so well, but the gang helped her stay on the path of being free from that. She owed this gang and "family" everything, not that she would openly confess that to a lot of them.

Whilst she was talking, she was absentmindedly playing the sleeve cuff zipper on her biker jacket, which was a habit that had grown from her days of selling herself. She would do it every time they were planning something big, or in the case of hooking, about to pick up a new customer to please, then leave with cash in hand. Parties were just another night on the town as far as Madison was concerned. Sure, she said truthfully that everyone ends up enjoying themselves at these parties, but she still found herself being slightly edgy all night long, because of guys always wanting to get in her pants, due to her reputation. Tonight, she just hoped all attention would be on Riley and the others, so she could go her merry way without starting yet another fight with some guy twice her weight and height.

She watched as Alex got up and went to the restroom to fix herself up for the night, before looking back and around at the gang, "So I'm guessing we're off once Alex comes back?" She questioned.

The small cup of water fizzed in howards hands, he looked down at it instead of everyone else, they all had their little conversations to pay attention to. He was sat by the new girl, Riley, there was plenty of space in the seat where he sat but he still couldn't help himself, he shrunk down and away from the two adjacent people, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. The prospect of going to a party at the scrap yard was not exactly promising as a good night for him, then he heard her speak. The soft quiet, murmurs of an angel escaping her lips, it made his heart miss a beat. He slipped his hands under the table to where his back pack was, tucked away under his chair and pulled out a note pad and pen and scrawled a note on it, it read: 'you don't have to go you know, well let you in regardless.' he slipped the note into Riley's hand and excused himself from the table. "I'll be back." he rasped and stood up, walking past the group towards the door.
"Hey, Pip-squeak!", Howard froze, startled out of his skin. "you can't take that glass outside." Howard scurried over to the counter where Mick stood, arms crossed in impatience, the timid boy gulped and put the glass of fizzing water infront of Mick.
"could you save my dr-" he was cut off by the sound of pouring ad mike poured the glasses contense into a sink. Howard just slumped and went back to the door where he exited into the cold night outside. Sitting on the concrete steps outside the diner he looked up as the incandescent glow of northern Aidensville blocked out the majority of the stars. He slipped a book from his back pack and exhaled a sigh of relief, he opened the bible's black cover and took a deep sniff of the pages, the scent of the worn leather of the book calming. He looked at the inscribing on the inner cover:'The Kingdom of God is Within Man.'
"Thanks dad." he whispered and started to read where he left off.

Silky onyx tresses still managed to glisten underneath Mick’s dim lit diner while raven colored hues intently scanned over the new girl with flame dyed hair. Ara did not look like the stereotypical junkie that many non-users would picture. Pulling off the masquerade almost seamlessly was a full job in and of itself. Her cognitive functions always staying in tack along with a flawless appearance most deemed vain, and they would be correct. Hours of dedication are spent on her looks alone to make sure no hair traveled out of place but those pesky purple and red track marks on her arms--nearly impossible to hide...her purity tainted long ago with those first 8 milligrams. Obsessive one could say about her beauty routine but if she did not occupy her spare time with something else the addiction would surely amplify itself. The million dollar question, however, of why a smart college student is slowly killing herself over time with heroin is simple: it makes her feel like she should truly feel, like a completely normal human being.

Black manicured nails shown on hands wrapped around a glass bottle of beer. This drink would steady the craving and hold her over until she received her poison of choice. It had been a grueling 10 hours since her last injection and the withdrawal symptoms were gradually beginning to kick in. She would have otherwise excused herself to go to some seedy motel to shoot up covertly but the location Corey mentioned would suffice. On good nights she would not have to pay for anything, how could she refuse? Money saved. She bought a few new syringes and spoons yesterday, which are toted around in a small black clutch when out for long periods of time. Not idiotic like some addicts who shared their equipment, Ara at least knew better than that. She made sure to keep her negative symptoms under check, and use in private as far away from the group as possible...tonight would be the exception. She was certainly not naïve to the fact and perfectly aware that many found the habit disturbing. She did not talk about it and felt like it was no one’s business but her own--heroin was not a problem. Everything was under control.

“Service is a little slower than usual around here. You don’t have that problem at the scrapyard, sounds like a tempting plan.” Ara shrugged and arched a brow at one of the waiters.

The hangouts here in Aidensville could not compare to the exclusively snazzy clubs and locations in Dubai but the crowds here were reckless and gritty, much like herself. At 16 she would have never set foot in the majority of places she regularly visits now but her presence can be seen in the shadiest of locations…making a daily purchase.

“That’s because it’s not easy trying to keep up with you, dear. You drink faster than any man I know.” He said sarcastically and pursed his moisturized lips while heading behind the counter to tend to more customers. Evan was gorgeous but strictly into men, go figure.

For a brief moment Ara’s red stained lips curled into her signature impish smirk before disappearing over the tinted green bottle of Stella. Alex or “Doll” as Ara nicknamed the platinum blond seem amped to start partying when she returned from the restroom, unlike Howard who sloughed down in the worn seat almost broodily. If he could pull himself inward and hide in the void he had created Ara thinks that’s exactly what he would do. The audacious Lebanese girl could always count on Alex as a partner in crime though. Both of their natures were wild and eager to experience adventure especially what life had to offer in all its rigidness. Fantastic.

“I am.” Ara’s words replied to Madison’s question. “No time to waste, let's make some memories.” She then added with a wink toward Riley and downed the third beer in no time before throwing a twenty dollar bill onto the tabletop’s crumb covered center. Although she had purchased only three beers the extra could pay for one of the others’ meal. After rising to head toward the door, her nimble fingers placed an undisclosed amount of money into the previous waiter’s back pocket. He had been arched over slightly to dish out the other patrons meal. “Thank you sweetheart.” Evan cooed.

It was a little uncomfortable drinking in front of Declan since he steered clear of the contents, and sometimes the naturally tan girl felt guilty but it was difficult changing her bad habits. There had not been a time where one of the group approached the addict for an intervention. Perhaps it was just as uncomfortable for them to address her as it was for her to pretend she was not hooked on heroin. It’s better this way. She could not bear to look some of them in the eye and confess that she could not stop…it was better pretending the fixation did not exist and that she did not crave it more than human affection.

Damn…maybe I do have a problem.

Ara decided to take a detour and could not bring herself to tell the others of her plans. It was a decent last meal with the group and she hoped they would all eventually be able to healthily cope with their pain. This realization was enough to send Ara to a treatment facility where she would learn a compleltly different lifestyle. She would not be able to hang around her outcast family any longer if she wished to stay clean. That was the price but hopefully they would understand someday. In order to save herself she had to move forward but turn her back on the people she loved.

Riley smiled politely at Madison, biting her lip as she shrugged and accepted the fact that she was going to something that the rest found fun. She was never much of a rambunctious one as a kid, or even now, as a teenager. She had never gone to parties like these, and the sheer thought of drinking, and drugs sounded a bit off putting, but possibly exhilarating at the same time.

She didn't say any more, looking around at everyone's faces, before a note brushed against her hand. She frowned in confusion, and glanced to Howard, opening the small note. As she bit her lip, he stood and she simply shrugged, making it known that she was fine with the party. She wanted to fit in. She wanted to seem like she really loved it with these people. They understood her. They took her in when no one else did.

"I'll um…I'll be right back too…But I'm down for the party…", she stuttered out, looking up at Corey as if she was asking quick permission. She didn't wait for an answer, standing from the table with some effort. She kept her left wrist tucked close to her body, still nervous about the disapproving glances from everyone she had ever met, and then made her way toward the door, a bit behind Howard.

"Is this your thing?", she asked quietly as she stepped out onto the steps, her arms crossed uncomfortably across her chest. She stood still at the door for a few seconds, before a patron pushed her, rather hard, out of their way as they exited. She gave them a look, trying not to look too aggressive, and carefully took a seat beside Howard on the steps, "You're like…the…recluse of the group? How do you manage that, with this lot?"

Howards heart was pounding, he hadn't expected her to follow him out and the and was definitely not expecting a question like that. He closed the bible shakily and slipped it into his bag. Howard turned to look at her, and all the troubles slipped from mind, all there was, was her face, haloed by the white light of the north in the distance. "It's-" he stopped, not knowing whether to open himself up to the fire headed girl or to remain shut, he'd been closed for a long time, not wanting to burden anyone with his problems, even the extent of Stan's beatings were unknown to them, "it's hard. I love them to bits bit I can't let them see I do, so I keep myself away but not really away, if you know what I mean..." he was fumbling with his fingers as he spoke, nervous about being so close to Riley, the smell of soap and an odd coppery smell wafting towards him, captivating him more then any book could, but he knew what that coppery smell was, it was not foreign to him, blood. His eyes wandered her face for a moment before sliding down her arm to rest on her wrist, a black cloth of sorts tied around it, his heart ached. He knew what was under it -most of the group knew- but it still hurt him, more then Stan could, more then loneliness could. "are you ok?" he asked softly, reaching forward but then pulling back sharply, 'you can't have her' he told himself in his head 'she's not yours to care for.'. "I noticed the bandana." he reached out this time and held her left hand in both of his, gently and carefully, like holding a small animal, he could not have her, he knew this but he could help her, "I understand and I don't think any less of you but that bandana won't do, I've got some stuff in my bag if you need help with it.", he was screaming internally, 'just talk to her! Be thoughtful and considerate, not a bloody doctor!' but what was done was done and let go of her hand and let it glide quickly back to her side, like she was snatching it back. 'Why do you taunt me so?'

Riley frowned at his explanation to her question, and simply nodded sadly. She knew exactly what he meant by not letting the group see him, and keeping himself away. She was the same. They knew about her issues and still yet, she didn't want them in her face about it. She bit her lip, as silence engulfed them, but suddenly began to blush and grow weary as she noticed his eyes on her most vulnerable part of her body.

"Um…", she whispered, her voice shaky and her eyes misty. She didn't know how to answer the age old question 'are you okay?'. It was one that she had heard probably thousands of times from people who didn't know her, and sometimes…from her own stupid parents, before she left. Still yet, there was no easy answer. She was okay, essentially. She didn't see her self-harm as an issue that should be solved, but rather as a coping mechanism for all of the anger and frustration. It was a release that none of them could understand, and yet they tried. They tried to change her, in their own way, and they tried to convince her that she was sick. Thinking about it, she grew even angrier. If they really cared for her, they would leave her alone about it, "I don't need help…"

She said the words slowly, bringing her wrist up to rest against her chest, as if she was hugging it. She frowned, a bit confused, and shook her head, "I…I think this is a bad idea…", she whispered, her brain begging her to find somewhere silent to 'practice' and to relax her nerves, "I think I'm going to go…um…"

She stopped, realizing she had nowhere to go without the little group. She was a ways away from her parents, who wouldn't take her in without the therapy, anyways. Her hands shaking, she settled, deciding that she would find a place in a bit, perhaps at the party, to let her frustrations out on herself. She massaged the bandana, which held her favorite blade in its folds, and sniffled a bit, "Nevermind…"

3.He knew he offended her, Howard didn't know a simple question could hurt someone so much but he knew pain and knew when someone was feeling it. "I- I'm sorry." he stuttered "I didn't mean to offend. You stay, I'll go," he got up quickly and gathered his things, he was about to walk off to the bus stop infront of Mike's when he remembered something. He pulled a small black box from his bag and handed it to her, "a gift, for your initiation." his voice cracked at the last word, the back of his green eyes stinging with tears. he tossed the box to her and watched it cartwheel through the air before she caught it. Before she could say anything to him he scurried off, pulling his hood up over his head and made his way to the sign that identified that part of area as bus stop. The tears were already dripping forth from his eyes and light sobs emerged from his throat, he slumped on the sign and slid down, dropping his head between his knees so no one could see him cry. He never wanted to upset her, Howard got her a gift to make her happy. He thought of the gift, a black band with a silver ingraved plate on the front, 'Outcast' styled on it in gothic font -the same font as his tattoo- on the back was ingrained, 'alone together'. He spent most of his savings on it, renting out a workshop and buying the blank plate, 'but it was worth it'
he thought to himself, 'maybe she'll forgive.' but he still couldn't stop crying, he started to bang his head in frustration against the pole he leaned on, sending a wave of pain through his head. Pulling a book out of his bag he dried his tears on his sleeve and continued to read, red eyed and with a raspy breath.

Corey stood from his seat and tossed a twenty dollar bill onto the table along with Ara's. Corey also didn't care to pay for the others from time to time as he tended to be more financially stable than the others. And besides, he'd probably make a hundred or so at the party that night so it was no loss to him. He courteously exchanged farewells with Mick and headed outside of the café just in time to watch Howard slink away and around the corner, out of sight.
"Little guy's upset huh?"
He asked Riley, shrugging into his denim jacket with a relaxed expression.
"There's a bus stop around the corner, he's probably headed there. He can't drive and his usual haunts are too far to drive to."
Corey whistled once and patted the side of his leg and Magnus came barreling out of the café to his side.
"He's really sensitive. You have to be careful what you say to him."
Corey explained before slowly walking up the street after the boy. Magnus followed, his tail low as he picked up on the stress from his human companions.

---

Corey casually walked over to the little bus stop and leaned against the small tree that grew there, for decoration and shade during the summer months. Its red-brown leaves rustled softly in the breeze but otherwise the world was quiet. Magnus slowly stalked over to Howard's side and plopped down next to him, nudging the young man with the tip of his nose. Magnus was more than just a bomb sniffer, he was a decent therapy dog too. In Afghanistan, Magnus would always sniff out the one soldier having an especially bad day and would usually go demand to be played with or petted until the person felt better. A brush with death and a case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder hadn't changed that.

"Alright bud, what's wrong? Magnus wants to know."
Corey asked. Magnus rubbed up against Howard in similar fashion to a cat.

"nothing," whispered Howard not lifting his head from between his knees, to not let Corey see his tear stained face, "tired." he didn't like to lie to people and especially not to corey -who had been so good to him in the past. "just tired." he lifted his head up to the dog when it was sufficiently dry and looked into it's eyes with his red ones, worn out from silent crying giving him the effect of tiredness. "Dogs don't feel sympathy..." whispered Howard hushidly to Magnus, not knowing -or caring- if corry could hear him or not he looked up to Corey, "shouldn't you be with the rest? one outcast shouldn't keep you away." he looked tentatively into Corey's eyes. 'just go, just go, just go' he repeated in his head over and over again not wanting to engage himself in meaningful conversation after Riley. "I'll be at the party Cor, if that's your concern, you know I wouldn't miss an initiation.", he was still looking into Corey's eyes, his own pleading to be left alone, the sting of tears returning to his eyes. Howard stood up and started away from Corey, down the street, "I'll be there." he called back hoarsely "I just need to do something." he didn't actually need to do something, he just wanted some alone time.

Corey shrugged, not trying to stop the younger boy.
"Alright then. Be careful man."
He said in farewell. He gave a whistle and Magnus hopped up and followed him back to the diner. There he quickly explained the situation to the others.
"Howard's gonna catch up with us later. He doesn't feel well."
He said, gesturing with a thumb over his shoulder towards the corner.
"Everybody hop in the car, we need to get going before we miss anything."
Corey added, unlocking his four door pick up and climbing into the driver's seat. Magnus athletically leapt through the open window and landed in the passenger seat, sliding over a little to allow others in.

Glancing down at a cup of water that he had not yet finished. Since it seemed they were about to leave, Declan downed it and stood up."Howard's gonna catch up with us later. He doesn't feel well." Corey announced. Declan frowned, feeling bad for Howard - he would have gone to see how Howard was doing, but he knew that if Howard wanted to speak to him, he would just speak to him. He doubted he was the sort of person Howard would want to talk to, anyway. "Everybody hop in the car, we need to get going before we miss anything." Corey continued."Shotgun," Declan grinned as they departed the diner.

They reached the car and Declan climbed in to the seat beside Corey, where he rested his head back leasurely, relaxing his arm on the window and peering out it, looking for anything of interest. He petted Magnus and allowed the dog to rest on him as the engine started up.

Madison hadn't bothered to get a drink, as she arrived so much later than everyone else. There wasn't even a real reason for her late arrival, she just hovered behind then made her own way down by foot. She had made sure to not take any roads that were her old pick up points, so she wouldn't meet anyone she once knew. She still couldn't handle even the thought of seeing one her past colleagues.

At the diner, she was curious about what was being spoken of between Howard and Riley, but she also knew it was none of her business, so she would stay out, unless either came to her to talk. She had wondered if the subject of Riley's bandana round her wrist had got brought up. Again, she knew deep down it was none of her business, so she let that thought pass out of her mind, as quickly as it came into her mind.

When Corey left, then came back saying Howard would meet them all later on, she just nodded and with a light thud on her hand on the back of the chair's back rest, she stood up and span the chair back round again. She was finally hearing the words she was waiting for, to get this night started: "Everybody hop in the car". "You don't need to tell me twice," She spoke up, and headed out the diner and to the car that Corey was indeed talking about. She climbed inside after Declan but in the back, grabbing the window seat, where she propped her elbow up on the window's tiny ledge and propped her chin into the palm of her hand.

It was time to party....

Riley glanced up at Corey when he stepped out and began speaking to her. She reached a hand out and brushed her fingers along Magnus' side as he passed. Corey didn't know that she honestly didn't say anything to Howard. She simply felt uncomfortable with him touching her disgusting wounded arm.

Since he returned pretty quickly, Riley stood up from her place on the steps and stood next to the door, waiting silently on the others. While she stood there, she slowly opened the box in her hand, and bit her lip. Her eyes slowly closed, and she picked the bracelet out of its home inside the small square prison, "Really…", she whispered, turning the bracelet over in her fingers. She let out a shaky sigh, slipping it onto her good wrist, and peered through the door to see the others finally heading her way.

"He's coming…", she whispered softly, smiling a bit. At least she hadn't ended up making him feel like he needed to leave the group. If anyone did, it was herself. She was just about to shyly call shotgun, when Declan beat her to it. Her shoulders slumped and she followed Madison into the back, careful to keep her arms in her lap, where her elbows wouldn't brush anyone on accident. She stared up at the mirror in between the two men, glancing at both their faces, and then simply stared at the console in front of her.

Howard hugged himself as he walked, his body cold as a brisk breeze blew past him. He screwed up and he knew it, he couldn't face his mistake so he decided to face away from her. He kept walking from light to dark, stepping into each circle of light cast by the street lamps and out of them, into a sudden darkness, the pattern repeated until he heard a car driving behind him, he turned around to see it.
Stan.
He was sat behind the wheel of a chevy pickup, his jaw set, his combed back hair glinting in the interior lighting of the vehicle. The car slowed to a stop, he didn't need anymore warning, slumped and defeated Howard made his way to the car where he opened the door to the backseat when he was stopped.
"shotgun." said Stan plainly, though with a subtle undertone of threat, Howard complied and shut the door, opening the passenger seat and climbing in, sitting awkwardly next to the towering man.
"H- Hello Sta-", he was cut off.
"Where have you been." it wasn't really a question, a question was something that could be dodged, this was a statement, Stan didn't do questions.
"I was with m- my friends." Howard replied stainedly, looking at Stan's facal expression relax a bit. Stan's eyes were red, Howard wasn't sure whether it was the drugs Stan periodically took or if he was tired.
"I've been looking for you all night," it was the latter, Stan was not known for his concern, he wanted something from Howard and he wasn't going to ask, "my buddies are comin' over tonight, you're gonna be entertainment." Howards heart skipped a beat, the word entertainment came from Stan's lips nonchalantly but Howard knew of the vileness behind the word. His heart rate started to pick up as the car drove on, his mind frantic to try and find an idea to get out of the situation, and get out Howard did.
He bailed out of the car, throwing the door open and himself out, landingon the asphalt of the road sent a jarring pain through Howards small frame, he got to his feet and started to run, he heard the car stop and lock footsteps following behind.
"Not again!" he yelled in total panic as he went flying down the road "Never again!"

Corey waited for his little family to force itself into the "cozy" cab of the truck and took off at a relatively slow speed down the road.
"Y'know, in the military this is considered crappy driving. The way they taught me was to shriek down the middle of the road at breakneck speed and light up anyone that got in my business."
He said, turning on the radio.
"I guess not everything you learn there translates that well into civilian life huh?"
He said with a chuckle.

---

As they approached the really shady part of town, a song, one of many Corey considered an anthem for the Outcasts, began to play through the truck's speakers. As he cranked up the volume, the old scrapyard came into sight. Its rusty sheet metal walls keeping prying eyes off of the activities within. Lights and a blend of voices, singing, yelling and swearing, were the only sign of life visible from the outside.
"You guys ready to start a riot?"
Corey asked enthusiastically as he parked next to a cluster of beat up cars and motorcycles.

Corey led the little cluster of people up to the heavy sheet metal gates of the scrapyard where a pair of large, burly men stood smoking cigarettes.
"Go on in Core."
One grunted, pushing the gate open a little. They'd learned long ago that Corey could be trusted and that wherever he went, Magnus went come hell or high water.
"Thanks man."
Corey said with a nod as he led the group into the big, open scrapyard. Nearly all of the junk that populated the open lot had been moved to the sides and piled up against the fence, leaving plenty of room for the numerous partiers to walk around. In the center of the yard was a little ring drawn in the dirt, surrounded by a small crowd of onlookers and populated by a pair of shirtless men, beating each other senseless while bets were cast on who'd win. The rest of the yard was populated by loose groups of people laughing over various subjects, some dancing by radios and others passing around a bong. A plain, one room building sat at the back corner of the lot and inside neon strobe lights flashed and flickered to the beat of a nondescript EDM song.

The two sides of the scrapyard were almost comical they clashed so much. The building and some of the small crowds were full of northsiders, rich white kids that felt rebellious or just wanted a relief from the monotony of their lives. Meanwhile, the fight ring was almost all rough, criminal looking southsiders in everything from wife beater t-shirts and jeans to hoodies and sweats. Corey glanced down at Riley,
"Welcome to the party. It's your initiation so you can pick where we go first. Though I'd suggest we hold off on getting high or drunk until the end of the night."
He said, absentmindedly scratching Magnus behind the ear.