Chapter Twenty-Six

Alanna hung up the phone and pulled herself out of bed. She went to put on the jeans and shirt she'd been wearing the day before, then she realised she would have to go into the club. Knowing that she wouldn't be let in dressed like that she walked over to the wardrobe and began pulling clothes out. "He is dead," she muttered. She pulled out some black flares and a fitted, low-cut top. She dressed and then quickly ran down to the bathroom as fast, but as quietly as she could. She quickly ran a brush through her hair, splashed her face with water and applied some lipstick she found on the counter. She looked at herself in the mirror quickly. "This will have to do," she said to her reflection.

Running downstairs she put on her coat and shoes. On her way out the door she grabbed her car keys off the table and then quietly shut the door behind her.

When she started the car she winced at the noise the engine made. She hoped she hadn't woken up her parents. Hopefully this would be sorted out quickly; she had no desire to spend any more time than necessary with a drunken JC. She'd seen enough of that last time.

Alanna followed Joey's directions to the club. It was out of the way from the tourist area. She reached the club and looked up at the sign. "The Studio." Alanna sniggered in disbelief. As if they didn't spend enough time in the studio as it was, trust them to find a club with the same name.

"Alanna," she heard someone hiss.

She saw Joey poking his head around the entrance waving her over. She looked at the bouncer on the door and with a nod he allowed her to pass.

"What the hell is going on?" she asked Joey once inside.

"I was out on the dance floor and I come back and he is totally smashed. I tried to get him to leave but he won't. I even tried to drag him out and he fought me all the way, people were starting to look. He kept going on about you, you were my last hope."

"Where is he?" she sighed.

"Follow me."

She followed Joey step for step through the busy club, dodging people until he finally stopped at a table near the back. She stepped around Joey and saw JC surrounded by empty beer and shot glasses. She shook her head in disgust. At that moment he looked up. "Alanna, you came" he smiled at her. "Want a drink?" he laughed holding up a glass to her with an unsteady hand.

"No I don't and you're not going to either," she said taking the glass from his hand.

JC pulled a face. "You're no fun."

"And you're a stupid bastard," she said losing the last of her patience with him.

His eyes widened. "Feisty."

Joey just stood by and observed the two curiously.

"Get off your ass now JC, we're leaving."

"You gonna tuck me into bed again?" he asked, eyebrows raised in question.

She caught Joey's look of surprise and shot him a look. "Don't say a word, just help me get this drunken fool out of here."

Joey and Alanna pulled JC upright and they each wrapped one of his arms around their shoulders.

"Do we have to go?" JC moaned.

Alanna looked at him sideways.. "JC...just...just SHUT UP."

JC obeyed her as they made their way outside.

"How did you get here?" she asked Joey.

"JC drove."

"Great, just great," she muttered. "Come on, my car is over here."

Alanna led them over to her car and they pushed JC in the back where he immediately crashed out against the seat.

Joey got in the passenger seat and turned to Alanna as she started the car. "I'm sorry about this, for getting you out of bed, making you come out in the middle of the night...everything. Thanks for helping."

She sighed. "It's okay Joey, it's not your fault. He needs to sort himself out," she said looking in the mirror at JC fast asleep in the back.

Joey was silent while she pulled out into the traffic. "Is there something going on between you two?" he asked cautiously.

Alanna gripped the steering wheel tightly, searching for the right response. "I'm not sure what's going on Joey...I wish I knew."

Joey didn't ask anymore questions, not even how she knew the way to JC's house without being told.

Once they reached JC's house they both pulled JC out of the back seat and took the familiar positions of supporting him so as he didn't fall flat on his drunken face. They reached the door and Alanna realised something. "Where's the key?" she sighed. She had no desire to go searching through his pockets AGAIN and this time in front of Joey at that.

Next to her JC chuckled quietly and a smile appeared on his face, his eyes still closed. "Don't worry Alanna, it's in my jacket this time...unfortunately," he sighed.

Alanna didn't even look at Joey, she knew he would be wondering what was going on. She just wanted to get JC in the house before he decided to spill anymore secrets. She put her hand inside the pocket of his jacket and didn't come up with anything. "Joey can you look in the pocket on that side."

Joey did as she asked. "Nothing," he replied coming up empty handed.

"On the inside," JC said quietly.

Joey checked on his side. "It must be on your side."

"Just typical," she muttered. She opened his jacket slightly and as he'd said there was indeed an inside pocket. She placed her hand inside the jacket and reached into the pocket. She could feel the heat from his chest and she shivered remembering cuddling up to that same chest. She quickly retrieved the key and withdrew her hand. "Got it," she announced.

The two of them led JC upstairs to his room. Once he was on the bed Joey turned to Alanna. "I'll stay here with him tonight, thanks for your help. I'm just going to see if he's got any of the guest rooms made up."

"Okay," she said as Joey left the two of them alone in the room.

She looked at JC silently for a moment, just taking in everything about him. The man she had met and the man he was now seemed to be two totally different people to her at this moment but the same feelings still ran inside of her. She saw him open his eyes and he winced against the harsh brightness of the overhead light. "Alanna is that you?" he said squinting.

"Yeah it's me," she said flatly.

"Are you staying?"

She laughed bitterly. "I don't think so."

All was quiet for a minute. "You've got to stop doing this JC," she said tenderly. "It's not helping anyone...not you, not me. Hell Joey must wonder what the hell is going on after tonight. Please JC," she pleaded, "...I can't put up with this much more."

She turned the light off and as she went to shut the door she heard him. "I love you Allie," he murmured. She turned to look at him and he was fast asleep.

She closed her eyes, fighting the emotions. A single tear slid down her cheek. "I love you too," she whispered before shutting the door.

Chapter 27
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