Stitch These Wounds With Me Tonight

[Ashley’s POV]

The day had passed slowly with both girls studying quietly and the police cleaning up the chaos outside. After last night, everyone kept closer eye on them. We all loved them so much, we were afraid of what Dylan has the potential to do to them. We put blanket over the windows to keep out prying eyes, and so the girls don’t have to see the damages made. I have to figure a way out to tell Riley her baby was totaled out. I think I’ll wait until after they take their tests.

“How’s the studying babe? Need help?” I asked Riley.

“No. I’m actually calling it a day on it.” She closed her books and cleaned up the table.

“Want to chill until your test? We can start planning things out for work if you want.” I was trying to keep her mind off of the imminent threat at hand.

“Sounds great! Let me grab my sketch book and pencils.” She ran off excitedly.

[Jake’s POV]

I sat in the kitchen thinking about last night. I don’t think I want to know what would have happened if Jess never told Riley, we couldn’t come out, if the girls couldn’t come with us, or if Dylan gets hold of Jessa. My anxiety is through the roof.

“Jake, you need to stop thinking about all this.” Andy said taking a seat next to me.

“You know I’m going to worry any way.”

“Well, their professors will be here shortly. Matt worked it out with the dean, if they pass the tests tonight, the professors will hand them the diplomas. The movers will be here in an hour. Everything is good to go for that. Police are on standby and will be checking the trucks before they come in the yard.”

“Best case, we bug out tonight. Worst case two days.” I tell him.

[Jessa’s POV]

“Riley, CC, can you two come here?” I called.

“I’m working, I’ll come up in a bit.” Riley called

“I’m coming!” CC yelled.

“Disguise it as an asthma attack, attack! No one will know!” Riley yelled to CC.

I heard CC, Riley, and Jeremy laughing.

“What’s up Jess?” CC asked as he walked in.

“Trying to come up with some shenanigans for our time at the airport.” I grinned at him.

“Oooh! This will be fun, let’s start a list.”

“Baggage trolley races are a must, so is tag. Hide and seek too.” I told him.

“Riley! Get in here now!” I shouted.

She came in a few seconds later. I handed her the list to go over.

“Oh! What about Elf Escalator rides?” She asked eagerly.

“Our security team is going to separate the three of us.” CC chuckled.

Riley got a brilliant idea. “Then we start our trip off with a Monster chugging contest. We have a case left. That way none of them know we had this all planned.”

The doorbell rang and we froze. CC moved to the bedroom door and stood as century in case anything bad was about to happen.

“Girls, time to take your finals!” Matt yelled up to us.

“Good luck girls!” CC exclaimed hugging us tight.

“We’ll finish this when we get done.” I told them.

[Jinxx’s POV]

I caught Jessa’s wrist before she went down to take her test and pulled her into a kiss.

“I know you don’t need it, but good luck.

I kissed her once more before she went to take her tests.

The guys and I all waited not so patiently in silence for the girls to be finished. Jake kept
checking his watch, Ash would sigh, CC and Andy were playing cards, and I was having a staring contest with the doorway. After three excruciating hours, our girls came through the door with heads hanging low and crying.

I jumped up and grabbed Jessa into a hug.

“Babe, what’s wrong?”

She wouldn’t look at me. By that time Ash was trying to get Riley to talk to him without any luck.

“Aw, girls, say it isn’t so! I know how hard you two worked.” Jake whispered hugging them.

I saw Jess glance up at me. She had a mischievous glint in her eye. I wasn’t going to spoil their joke.

“We’re taking a little break. We have more to go.” Riley said as they walked into her room.

“I was so sure they’d pass.” I whispered.

“They said they’re not done yet. There’s still hope.” Jake whispered back.

We quietly talked for a few minutes and the girls came out wearing caps and gowns. We all smiled and started congratulating them.

“Seriously you two?” Jake exclaimed.

“We did it!!! Time for us to graduate! Everyone to the game room!” Riley yelled.

It was a short ceremony, obviously. Then the girls and professors had a drink together before they departed. After they left Matt came back in.

“So, change of plans since you’re done early. We leave in an hour. For safety purposes, we won’t change anything on the flight info until we get to the airport. No one will know where we are for sure for a bit.” He told us.

“Thanks Matt. I guess we all need to do a last minute round up of our stuff.” Andy said.

[CC’s POV]

“CC, you want to come grab the clothes of yours I’ve stolen?” Jessa asked me.

“Yeah, I’ll be up in a few.”

She looked a bit more worried than usual. I grabbed all my stuff from the game room and headed up to throw it in my bags.

“Hey Jess, what’s eating at you?”

“Will you help me find a job when we get home? I want to be able to pull my weight. I don’t need you guys worrying and trying to figure out how to take care of me. I’ve graduated, valedictorian by the way, and it’s time for me to take the last leap into adulthood.”

“Of course I’ll help you! In the meantime, I know there Ashley has an office set up downstairs already, it’s a disaster. I’m sure we can set yours up upstairs where it’s quiet. That way you don’t have to hear us being loud during practice or when we’re gaming.”

“You’re amazing Christian! Here’s your clothes back by the way. I’m keeping the Motley Crue shirt though.” She told me with a smile.

“It’s vintage, be nice to it. Consider it part of your graduation present. You’ll get the rest of it when we get back home.”

I walked back downstairs made a few calls, then pulled the boys aside.

“Did any of you know Jess is the valedictorian?” I asked.

They all looked to me with wide eyes and shocked faces.

“She never told me. Jinxx, did she tell you?” Jake questioned.

“No, I feel horrible that she worked so hard and won’t get to walk at graduation.” Jinxx whispered.

“I have an idea, and I already started on part of it.” I told them.

“I have someone setting up an office for Jess upstairs away from our chaos. It’s painted and ready for her to move in. I also talked to John. He’s working with the label to have Jessa as our Head of Marketing team. She’ll also be over our media.”

“CC, you’re brilliant! I’ll start on stocking up her supplies.” Andy looked at me excitedly.

“I’ll order her computer on the way to the airport.” Jake said.

“I’ll get on ordering her furniture and name plate made for her door and desk.” Ashley chimed in.

“I’ll get her programs she’ll need.” Jinxx offered.

I laughed, “We should put up a bunch of our posters and artwork up in there, sign them at random when we go in. I think we should put up pictures we’re taken out here up too.”

[Jinxx’s POV]

Suddenly we heard Jessa yell from upstairs, “BOMBS AWAY!”

A loud thud followed. “INCOMING!”

Another thud.

“Jess, sweetie, everything alright?”

“Yeah babe. Just taking the luggage down the easy way.”

Another thud.

“Don’t throw any more! I’m coming up to help.” I yelled to her.

Another thud.

“Don’t worry. That was the last one, let’s leggo bitches!” She yelled back.

[CC’s POV]

Operation Three Amigos is a go.

“Jessa, Riley, want a drink before we leave?” I shouted.

The girls crashed into each other as they reached me in the kitchen. Luckily, no one else followed them in. I had three Monsters out for each of us, and three cans stashed in my bag for the ride to the airport. We looked around to see if anyone was coming.

“Down as much as you can before someone comes in. If you finish a can, throw it in the sink and grab the next. On three?”

We nodded. Riley grinned. “Three!”

We all chugged the first in no time. I was almost half way through my next one when I hear one of the girls throw their second can in the sink. I glance up and see Jess pop her third open and Riley and I tossed our second at the same time. Dang, we need to put her in the tour games! Jess tossed her third in the sink and had a huge smile across her face. Riley and I finished our third cans soon after. I threw the cans in the recycle bin with some others to hide the evidence.

“What did we just do?” Riley asked.

“It’s going to be a really good bad idea and be funny as hell, or be the worst decision ever, and we’ll never be friends again because it was your idea.” Jess said with a laugh.

“I’ve got the Advil for later. I have a feeling it’s going to hurt.” I tell them.

Ash walked in, “How about a shot before we head out?”

“I think we’re good. Jess and I don’t like flying and it probably wouldn’t be a good idea.” Riley told him.

I walked into the living room and ran into Matt.

“Are we good to load up the bags?” I asked.

“Yeah, but I have stuff the girls need to change into so they aren’t noticed.” He handed me the bag.

I looked in and laughed. I tossed the bag to Jinxx and told him to pass it to the girls, I was going to help Matt and Logan load bags.

[Jinxx’s POV]

I took the bag CC handed me to the girls.

“Matt said you two need to get changed into this stuff so you’re not noticed.”

Jessa pulled out two wigs and laughed.

“Riley, grab the dark eye makeup and hair ties, I’ll grab us a couple of black tanks and flannel shirts. We don’t have much time.”

I watched Jess as she worked on Riley’s eyes, making them look like a lighter version of Ashley’s on stage. Adding the short brunette wig, you’d never know it was Riley.

“Jeremy, can you help me with mine? Riley can’t keep it straight.” She asked me.

“Sure babe. Close your eyes.”

She closed them and I took advantage of it, kissing her on the tip of her nose. I finished her makeup in no time, making them have a slight smoky look to them. She put on the long black wig when I finished.

“Time to go. Everyone in the vans.” Matt called

[Jessa’s POV]

Once in the car I could hardly sit still. I was so nervous and hopped up on Monsters. I looked
ahead to Christian and back to Riley. They had the same problem. Andy turned around from the front passenger seat to ask someone something, and stopped.

“Fuck, I know that look on CC’s face and the girls have it too. How many Monsters did you
three have?” He asked looking at each of us.

“Only three.” CC told him.

I heard Riley start to giggle. We’re about to be busted.

“Only three?” Andy gave me and Riles a look.

She was cracking.

Ash looked at her oddly, “Babe, how many did each of you have?”

“Only three.” She echoed CC’s words.

“Fuck! I’m sitting by myself this time.” Andy proclaimed.

“But Androoooooo…. I wanted to sit next to you and my Jinxy!” I fake whined giving him a pouty face.

I got nothing but silence. “Pwease Andy? Don’t you love me? I just want to sit wif jooo!!!”

I pouted. He was starting to smile. “Androoooooooooooooo………. Pwease won’t you sit wif meeeee?”

“It’s so hard to tell you no.” He told me.

“So don’t.” I replied.

He looked at me and caved. “Okay, I’ll sit with you.”

He has no clue what he just got himself into. CC is in the row behind us, and Riley is in front of us.

[Jake’s POV]

The trip to the airport didn’t take too long this go round. Matt got the flights changed for all of us quickly, and we’ve got a two hour wait. The girls and CC can’t seem to sit still yet.

“Why on earth did you three down three cans each?” I asked Jess.

“Shiggles, Bubby. Shiggles.” She laughed.

Jess and Riley running on this much caffeine is like them being drunk.We’re in for a long trip home.

“Jinxx, Andy, Ash, you three may need to keep an eye on the girls. This much caffeine in their systems is going to be hell on us now, and them later. It’s going to take us and all of our security to contain them while we wait on our flight.” I told them.

I looked back up to notice Riley, CC, and Jess missing. “Fuck!” I exclaimed.

“What?” Matt and Logan asked simultaneously.

I shook my head as I heard laughing.

“I think I hear them. Matt and Logan, I may need your help.” I said.

We ran down the empty corridor and found CC riding the up escalator with one foot way in front and the other way behind almost like a split, Jess doing the same on the down escalator, and Riley about to come down the same way behind Jess. I shook my head. Andy had his face in his palm. Matt catching Jessa and handing her off to Andy. He waited for Riley, and handed her off to me. CC had other plans and took off like a shot in the dark.

“ONE, TWO, THREE, NOT IT!” CC yelled

“NOT IT!” Jess and Riley yelled springing from our arms.

At least the girls were staying relatively close enough that we could get to them if something were to happen. Just not close enough for us to catch them.

“Jinxx, come catch your girlfriend!” Matt yelled.

Jinxx smiled, “Jess, come curl up with me while we wait. I’m lonely without you babe!”

She went skipping over to him, kissed his lips, and giggled. “Sorry babe, going to have to catch me!”

[Ashley’s POV]

“I’ll assume you want me to try and catch Riley?” I asked Matt.

“Please.”

“Riley, want to go make out in a dark corner?” I yelled.

In no time, she was by my side, putting the death grip on my hand.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” I leaned down to kiss her.

Before I could get my arms around her, she was off again.

“Sorry, I tried Matt.” I shook my head.

I saw Jake with his GoPro out. I hope he was catching all of this. It was pretty funny. No doubt he’d put it up on his YouTube channel too.

[CC’s POV]

This is so fucking funny. No one is sure who we deemed “it” or how to catch us.

“ABC, BASE ON ME!” I yelled. Jess and Riley ran to me.

I looked at Riley and Jess. “Should we let them catch us? We board in twenty five.”

“Trolley race and let them catch us at the end.” Riley said.

“Who’s going to be the other person to push?” Jess asked.

“Get Andy to. He already said he can’t tell you no. I’ll push Riley.”

She laughed at my idea. “Andy, can you come here?” She called.

[Andy’s POV]

“Will you please catch them?” Matt asked.

“I’ll do my best.” I replied.

I tracked the three musketeers down after a few minutes.

“I need your help Andy.”

Jess was sitting on a baggage trolley next to Riley on another. CC was looking like he was about to take off on me. I was right. He took off laughing like an idiot. Jess smiled at me.

“Hold on tight Sissy.” I grinned and took off faster.

“Weeeeeeee! Go Androoo, go! Faster!” She giggled.

“On your right slow pokes!” I yelled catching up to CC with ease.

“CATCH US IF YOU CAN MATTMAN!” Jess shouted to Matt as we blew past them.

CC and Riley weren’t far behind us.

“Hold on Jess. We’re ending the race at that Starbucks.”

“Okay. I need to pee anyway.” She told me.

I pulled the trolley up next to the shop and we waited for the other two.

“Holy shit that was a blast!” Riley laughed out as they pulled up next to us.

Jake came walking up a few seconds later.

“Matt and Logan are so pissed at you guys right now.” He said.

The four of us started laughing as we walked into the café. We ordered and the girls went to
the bathroom while we waited for our huge order. Might as well get apology coffee and teas.

“So how much of the shenanigans did you get on your camera?” I asked Jake.

“Pretty much all of it. It’s so funny watching it all happen. Wait until you see Matt’s face when he saw you had joined the rebellion. Absolutely priceless.”

The girls came out as the order was called out. We headed back to our gate with heads hung low and smiles on our faces that wouldn’t go away.

“Sorry for being a handful Matt.” Jessa told him, handing him his coffee.

“We got these for everyone as a peace offering.” Riley added.

“I make no apologies, you all know how I am with Monster.” CC smiled.

[Jinxx’s POV]

Our flight number was called as we were all finishing our drinks and throwing out the trash. It looked like we were the only people on the flight. I took Jessa’s hand and walked onto the plane with her close beside me. I could tell she was crashing off of all the Monster she drank, and was nervous about the flight.

“You’ll be fine sweetie. Just listen to your iPod and try to unwind.” I whispered to her.

“I packed it on accident. It’s in your bag with all your clothes.” She pouted.

“Then try and sleep it off. You can lean on me or Andy.” I told her.

“Just don’t drool on me Jess.” Andy quipped.

She stuck her tongue out at him and pulled my arm around her then laid her head on my chest. I could feel her shaking slightly. She closed her eyes and held onto my hands.
I caught Andy’s attention and gestured to Jess. He handed me his iPod and headphones for her. I put the headphones on her and turned it on low. She took my hands again. Andy started to rub his hand on her back trying to soothe her.

I looked to Jake who was stuck with CC and Matt behind us, and laughed. I’d rather have the nervous flier than CC on Monster. I did feel bad for Logan having to sit next to the PDA King and Queen.

I’m so glad my room is at the opposite end of the house from his. Riley’s and Jessa’s are down there though. That is if Jessa doesn’t move in my room with me. I hope she says yes
to that idea.

The plane began to take off and Jess started shaking a bit more.

“Sing along with the music Jess. It’ll help if you concentrate on that.” I told her.
“Everywhere she goes people turn their heads
She's a knockout
Everyone wishes she was sleeping in their beds
She's a knockout
When guys see her comin' they start spending their money
She's a knockout
But don't you know I'm the only one who can call her honey
She's a knockout…”
She sang quietly.

“Nice choice! I didn’t peg her for a Social Distortion fan.” Andy whispered.

The distraction worked the entire flight. There wasn’t any turbulence, and the landing was smooth. Our baggage was waiting on us at the carousel.

Now to get a taxi big enough for all of us at this ungodly hour of the morning and go home!

Notes