(This is Pre-OYL...I guess)

"I am so unlike you in so many ways
I know I'm just a copy that carries on the stain

But we make the same mistake
Cuz we are one and the same
But we leave behind the stain
That cannot seperate

All that lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?
All that lies in me
All that dies in me
How can I live without you?"

Will continued to sing the song as more people began to come into the music store. He usually did it when it was slow at work, though this time he was actually wasting time while he waited for the new recruit to show up.

Pausing for a second to check her bubble-gum pink hair, and straighten her black and white striped stockings. Today was her first day, she hated first days, But life doesn't get by you without a first day or two.

She stealthed through the shop floor to the office where she was greeted by the manager. His name was Simon, Nice guy but he smoked a little much. Didn't seem to mind the look, all the crackerjack bracelets and the bright green laces in her Vans. He even complemented her hair!!

After a quick run through of "The customer is an uneducated idiot who will want to listen to manifactured rubbish instead of talent but in the end we dont want to be sued" She got a "Newbie" badge and the staff black button up shirt. As always the size ordered is always a size too small, so the promise of new shirts was pledged.

"So whats my first mission?" She asked with a slightly forced smile.
"Well, i've got you teamed up with Will, he's good. Hopefully he can show you the ropes. Just wait by the side listening booth and he'll be with you in 5." Simonsaid, sending her out into the harsh world of retail.

Will continued to play as he thought about Cassie as he sung, after all it was called "How could I live without you", and he knew there was one person he couldn't live without, even if they were going through a slight rough patch. As he played he noticed the girl well actually he noticed the hair first, it was bright pink. But when he looked again he saw that she was wearing one of the work shirts, so she was the new recruit.

"Do you think of me?
Do you dream of me?
I always dream about you
Do you think of me?
Do you dream of me?
I always dream about you"

Finally Will began to get to the end of the song, though in truth he rushed it a little, the recruit seemed to be patient and listening intently to him so he didn't want to leave her waiting too long. After it was finished he took a bow as the customers clapped. "That was 'How Can I Live' by Ill Nino, I highly recommend their CD." He said before turning to the girl. "So I take it you're..the newbie. I suggest you give me your name or I'll be calling you that all day." Will said as he flashed a smirk, trying to keep his eyes on her face and not down to...other parts which her shirt kind of...emphasized.

"Hi Will," She flashed him an award-winning, page-three, I-remembered-your-name smile. "I'm Erin Montoya."
The awkward loner pause was quickly filled with "Il Nino huh. Good choice. That song was from their albumn 'Confession' right? I always liked 'Lifeless...Life' better. ...So...Do you play in a band?"

Will gave Erin a weird look. Most people had no clue who Il Nino were, he liked her already. "Yes...well...no..I used to be but...well...it didn't work out. Creative differences and all, you know how it is." Will wasn't technically lying, there were creative differences...differences that made him hunt them all down and kill them one by one...but she didn't have to know that.

"You know your bands, I think we'll get along just fine. I guess I should show you around." The store wasn't too big so this didn't take too long as he led her to where all the different types of music, though he had to avoid from hissing when he came to the pop music section.

"Just once i'd like to go to a music store without a pop section anywhere near it and the only thing that could be termed "jailbait" would be the gothettes after lite-rock" Erin said, flicking a fallen copy of "Britina! Like, totally great hits!!" back into place. The action making the centeral button on her shirt creak under strain and male occupants of the store wish that same thought.

"I used to work in a bar so i'm used to customers, but they do say every till system is different, do you think you could help me push some buttons..." She said in a mildly flirtatious way. "We actually had Ill Nino play there once."

Will tried not to laugh as Erin mocked the Britina CD. He was actually worried that she'd be into that stuff from the pink hair and breathed a sigh of relief that she actually had...ya know...taste. He was doing his best not to look when the buttons on her shirt were straining but he wasn't doing good job of it. "..buttons...yeah..huh?" Will suddenly looked up as he finally caught what Erin had said. "Um yeah, the register is a little complicated but once you get the hang of it, it's a piece of cake."

Will saw that one of the customers was waiting at the counter. "As a matter of fact I can show you now. And you've actually seen Il Nino live? That's awesome, I've tried but they've never really been in the area." Will let Erin take the counter and begin to point to the buttons and stuff she'd need to log everything in, thanking and cursing himself at the same time for being so tall since it gave him quite the view.

"Good morning!" Erin went into hyper-cheery-buy-things-from-me mode. "'Eyes open' Snow patrol? Good choice." She said as she scanned it with a bleep. She pressed the Customer offer button before it could be pointed out to her, the screens were pretty self explanitory.
The customer was a guy about 19 who shrugged and said "Well, i thought i better find out what all the hype is about. a friend of mine played me there other albumn. It was pretty good"
"well actually for another $4.00 you could get that albumn too" Erin had read through the offers whilst the guy had explained his pitiful lack of snow patrol existance.
Two minutes later and a how-do-you-make-this-credit-card-machine-work-dammit!! the guy had lleft with Eyes open and Final straw. Much more educated. But minus $20...in a good way.
"So how'd i do? Marks out of 10??"

Will had to admit he was surprised at how quickly Erin had caught on, as well as her customer service skills. "Out of 10? I'd say...9.5, you're a natural." He said flashing a smile. "Now for the important stuff." Will told Simon he was showing her the employee room so he could take the register. As Will showed her where the lockers and the other appliances such as the tv, microwave, etc. were he had this odd guilty feeling being alone in the room with her, but it wasn't that big of a deal so he ignored it.

"The lockers are kind of old, don't know why they don't get new ones. After you put in the combination you'll just have to give it a little-" Will suddenly struck the locker with his elbow and it popped open. "Any questions?"

"Skill" she complimented his...elbow work, she tightened the bands around her pigtails in the mirror in the locker he just opened.
"I just have one...Whats your girlfriends name?" She asked with a cheeky smile, letting some of her fringe fall over her face in a cute style.
"And when do i get a gun?...a pricing gun?"

"Isn't that two questions?" Will said with a cocky smirk. "...Her name's Cassie, and how did you know I had a girlfriend?" Will didn't know why he paused at first, he was thinking about whether or not to give the name or not. Maybe he was afraid it'd give her identity away? Yeah...that's it, makes sense and everything. As they made their way out of the room, it seemed like it was pretty slow. "As for the pricing gun, I-"

"Can't you find something else to do than hang around in the employee room? There's always something that can be done, you can take the newbie and stock the shelves." Will turned as he saw the older woman who as usual was giving him a glare, though now it was shared with Erin. "Sure thing Sheryln, we'll be right on it." Will said giving her a mocking salute.

As Sheryln walked away, Will turned and whispered in Erin's ear. "We never really got along, I love music and all but she takes this job way too seriously, and trust me, you'll get used to hearing the phrase 'There's always something to do.' So let stock the shelves, not the most fun thing in the world but at least I won't be doing it by myself this time."

Will leant over and whispered into her ear. She smiled to herself. Even though he had a girlfriend it seemed he wasn't above a little flirting.
She followed him to the stock room and took the clipboard he held out as he opened one of the boxes, she marked the disks off as Will read them out.

"Is Sheryln usually like that? Its hard to tell but i get that reaction from a few people because of how i dress and such." She asked in a pensive way, ticking off several copies of 'Britina:clever suggestion of nudity' "Plus i wanna know about your girlfriend." She added with a wicked smile.

Will rolled his eyes as he called out the discs to Erin. He swore Sheryln purposely had him log in the most pop of music, though the company was helping him this time. "Yeah, Sheryln's like that to everyone...well..except Simon, to him she's a saint but then again he's the one that could fire her. And personally I like the way you dress, it's nice to see someone who has an original style and isn't just copying something to be 'cool'." Will didn't even have to look to see Erin was giving him a weird expression. "Yeah, I know I look like the classic goth guy with creepy contacts just to look badass and all but the fact is I just like the color black, I have a dark sense of humor and my eyes..." Will gave Erin a slightly creepy stare with his black and red. "They're naturally this color." He said it like a joke even though he was technically telling the truth.

Will opened another case and realized that Erin was giving him a look. It was like she was looking for him to say something else and then he realized one of the questions she'd asked that he dodged without meaning to. "Ah, Cass, well...oddly enough we're like, the poster children for opposites attract. My sister's even referred to us as Yin and Yang. At first glance she probably doesn't seem like there's that much to her, just another blonde girly girl with no real thought in her head, but she's a...really powerful person. She just has an aura about her, it just changes you for the better you know? I miss it..." As Will talked about Cassie he seemed to go into his own world for awhile and as he reached the end you could hear the slight sadness in his voice.

Erin laughed when her new co-worker 'joked' about the red and black colour of his eyes being real. "Yeah, and like my hair is naturally this pink!" He liked her style, well, so did she. Whats the point in wearing something if you dont like it huh?
"You don't look all that creepy actually compared to some guys i know...and i've yet to see badass. So far i'm getting the 'Missunderstood nice guy vibe. I like it." She coyly smilied again.

As Will spoke about his girlfriend it was like he changed, like he owed her more than Erin would ever understand. She waited a little while to speak till he came out of his bubble "Sounds like your not as close as you once were? Sometimes opposites just arent meant to be...you need a kindred soul..." Erin said looking at her list before she 'realised' what she'd said. "Oh, sometimes i say things without thinking...Sorry if i stepped over the line" She gazed at him with bright green puppydog eyes.

Will made a slightly goofy face which contrasted with Erin's excessively cute one. "Bah, the last thing I'd scold you for is speaking your mind. I wish more people did it, me included." Will oddly enough found himself looking into Erin's eyes as he talked and not the slightly lower part that had caught his attention before. "Especially since I thought that exact same thing since the moment we got together, not that I thought we'd break up from the getgo or anything. Just that our differences might be too big of a problem, especially considering how her last boyfriend was...and...why am I telling you all this?" Will said with a humorous expression as if he just now realized how much he was opening up to someone he just met.

"By the way, since we're on the subject and all, as cute as you are you've got to have a boyfriend." Will commented making a point of looking down to open the next box as he said she was cute.

"You know, It could just be that different was what she wanted, depending on how alike she was to her ex...And theres a reason why he's an ex. Means she found somone better...Thats you by the way."

So far working in a store had been great, she got to sit in a room with a guy, talk, and put little ticks on the page. Ok, so the bust enhancing shirt and the stressy assistant manageress were a minus but it was better than some of the places she'd worked. "I just have one of those faces people like to talk at, i guess." Erin shrugged.

Glad he was looking down when called her cute, that meant he missed the little smirk that pulled across her face. "A Boyfriend? No, not since... Not at the moment i mean. Plus the person i live with isn't that into guys. We're taking a break. " She said it like she was declaring a pact.

Will smirked as Erin said she was taking a break from guys. Though he had to admit the slightly pervy side of him was curious about the roomate that wasn't 'that into guys', but he couldn't really phrase that question the way he was thinking it. "Bad breakup I take it? I can relate...well kinda. Me and Cass did break up awhile, oddly enough over the differences thing." Sure he could have gone into more detail, but who wants to hear about how he stabbed himself in the eyes to get rid of his powers and ended up getting caught in bed with Cass by her mom, not an interesting story at all, though in case you're weird like that and want to know click here.

"So you have a roomate?" Will asked trying to divert the conversation away from the breakup in case it was a sore spot. "I have a...couple of roommates actually. I live in a ..dorm I guess. They're a bit...rowdy." By the time Will got to the third box to be honest he was focussing more on the conversation and less on what they were actually supposed to be doing which led to Will slowing down considerably as he called out the inventory.

"I guess you could call her a room-mate, but she's more like a sister. To begin with it was like we were from two different worlds, I didn't trust her, didn't like her and i felt like she only put up with me because she had too. But she was really there for me when it mattered, when no one else stood by me. Even the people i thought were my best friends bailed. She stopped me from doing something really stupid, taking a path there would be no way back from..." Erin cryptically explained. "She really did a lot for me, more than she had too. But if anything happened to her...well, you know. Standerd protective vengance stuff would happen."

"I totally understand you. I tend to be kind of...protective of people I'm close to as well. I think it's because I don't tend to let too many people in, been told that I might even be a little too overprotective. Well...not to my face, besides Cass and my sister, I think everyone else is a little too scared to tell me. Can't see why they would be." Will said flashing Erin a smile.

"I don't tend to connect that well with other people. Even the majority of my roomates, I'm not really close to them. Beats the hell out of me why the ones that trust me do. I wasn't fortunate enough to have someone stop me from crossing that line you can't uncross...well let me rephrase that, I had someone to stop me but I didn't accept the help. When I know I'm right, I know I'm right, even if I'm wrong you know?...if that makes sense..." Will suddenly looked up as he replayed what he said in his head to make sure it was right.

Erin looked a little confused for a moment untill she corrected in her head what the goth had said. "Yeah thats about right. I know what you mean, if you think that your right it'll take the world and beyond, with proof, to show you otherwise." She philosophised finishing the check list and picking up one of the marked off CDs. "Good Band. So tell me more about your roomies."

Simon seemed to appear from nowhere, "Hey you two." and held up his forefinger and thumb in the shape of an L...The universal symbol for lunch. Erin looked slightly confused. Again.

Will smirked as he saw Erin's confused expression again. He almost told her how cute the expression was but this time he caught himself. "Don't worry, he's not calling us losers. That's the almighty sign for lunch. You up for chinese? They have the best orange chicken." Will felt a slight chill down his back when he offered. He smirked slightly when he remembered that he usually only ate chinese there with Cassie, but he'd already asked, and it wasn't like it was a date or anything.

"As for my roomies, there's Duo. Whose really cool actually, I think you two'd get along. I'd even say she's my best friend next to Cass and my sis. The only problem is that she tends to hang out with would be like...the equivalent of an extremely annoying little brother. Always doing pranks and stuff. Wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't so damn fast, he's hard to catch sometimes." Will said with a slight smile as he got his food along with fortune cookie. "I swear these fortune cookies are just creepy sometimes."

"L for Lunch...okay..." She said, like it was weirding her out as they got their stuff. "Thats ...new."

She asked simply for the same as what Will had ordered and while being served she innocently asked "So do you take all girls out for chinese the first time you take them for lunch?"

She listened intently as he explained about his roomies, a slightly sad lok on her face. "Sounds like some people i knew before i moved, you almost hope you dont meet people like the ones you leave behind, but we all crave familiarity."

On the subject of fortune cookies Erin was agreeing wholeheartedly. "I know exactly what you mean! They always seem to fit exactly with whats happening in your life, although a relitive of mine did get one with a prediction of death..." She mentioned with a slight smile, as if remembering a memory fondly. "Oh this is mine! Listen Listen! 'Upon taking a new path you will make new friends.' How. True. Is that?!"

Will smiled as he saw that Erin was enjoying the food which was the same as he ordered. "Well...actually you're the only person whose worked here that I've ever taken to lunch, everybody else has been to the food court so much they're tired of the food. Not sure if I could get tired of Chinese, maybe I was asian in another life or something." He said with a laugh.

Will noticed as Erin talked about leaving behind friends she seemed to be getting slightly depressed. He wasn't quite sure what to say about it but couldn't help but to laugh when she agreed with the fortune cookie thing and even went so far as to prove it again. "You called, it, it's like the fortune cookie always knows. Though you know what's even worse than the fortune cookies? The radio, I swear whenever I'm in a bad mood or something the radio always has the exact songs to display how I'm feeling. I can't tell you the number of times I've heard 'Papercut' and 'Down with the Sickness' lately."

Will had just finished his food and opened his fortune cookie slightly worried about what it would say. "Mine says... 'Sometimes the path of tempation will lead to most desired effect." ...Huh...guess that means I should gamble with my 'path of temptation'...whatever that is..." Will said with a laugh as he looked at Erin, though he was trying to hide the fact that even he was kinda weirded out by such an odd fortune.

"How can you get tired of food courts? i mean you could have lunch in a different place for a month, plus you have the shopping perks which is always great!" Erin chatted away while eyeing the closest boutique. "I've never worked in a mall though so maybe that has something to do with it. Food court denial! Just you wait, in a couple of months i'll be saying how sick i am of us coming to the food court everyday, but i think your right about never being sick of chinese food." She finished with a laugh. "Though i dont believe you though about me being the first person you ever took out, bet you say that to all the girls that start there."

"oh my god i so get that too!! its like if your really happy then all the songs are happy and when your depressed its all like...depressive" She shrugged for the lack of a better word. "So why those types of songs??"

"Interesting fortune...So what kind of things are tempting you right now?" Erin said almost flirtatiously, leaning forward slightly, putting an awful strain on that poor little button.

Will blinked 3 times really quickly as Erin leaned forward. It wasn't completely obvious but if you were looking for it you would see that for a brief second his eyes were practically popping out of his skull almost hoping for telekinesis so he could pop that damn button. But that was only very briefly and for the most part he looked unfazed by the flirting. "Hm, well...nothing's...really coming to mind right now..." Will said with a slightly guilty smirk making a point of not making eye contact...with her eyes or other parts.

"As for the songs, well, lately I've been kinda feeling like...there's two of me you know? The one that I show people, that's all quiet and reserved and the one that I only show to myself. It's the side that kind of scares me..." Of course he was referring to his demonic side, which was there all the time both literally and figuratively. So far the only people he'd even told about it were Duo and recently Cassie. Soon he realized the he was deep in thought and momentarily forgot that he was talking to Erin. "Sorry about that, was kind of in my own little place." Will said with a smile. "And just so you know, despite your taunting you really are the only girl I've taken out at work, most of them get weirded out by me after talking to me for awhile."

Suddenly Will got a devious smirk. "Makes me wonder how long it'll take before I eventually wear you down."

"Hmmm, I wonder what weirds them out about you? I mean, You seem fairly normal to me, slightly gothic maybe with the contacts, the hair and the black and all... But at least you dont wear make-up...Or do you?" She said with a devilish smirk.

"And your more than welcome to try anything you like to wear me down, but i think i have more than enough staminer to out last you..." She said while not exactly looking at him.

"And you know, most people have more than one side to them." Erin took the flirting down a touch to get semi-serious. " Its just a good idea to stay in control of what, or who, people see. I mean, usually i'm a lot more guarded with people but i'm showing a friendlier side of myself because i feel a...i don't know...a similarity in the two of us..." She focused her clear green eyes directly into Will's, almost like targeting them.
She let what she'd said hang in the air a little longer than she could have before giving the cutest milk-chan-like giggle.
"Good taste in music Will!! What were you thinking to be looking at me like that?!!"

As Erin talked, Will was giving her a slightly weird smirk. He'd be lying if he didn't say that he noticed a similarity between the two of them. They both seemed to have the same "I don't care." attitude. And then of course...there was the button. Will snapped out of it though as Erin noticed he was looking weirdly at her. "Um...thinking? I wasn't thinking anything. What would make you think I was thinking something?" Will tried not to snicker at the humorous expression Erin was giving him because of his babbling.

"I don't know. I think I'm a pretty easy going guy but I've been told I just have a dark presence, that tends to make people uneasy. Doesn't seem to be working with you though. Maybe you have one too. Maybe you just use the pink hair to throw people off." Will said giving a slightly flirty smirk. "I totally agree with controlling what parts of your personality you let other people see. Some people just can't handle it. No matter how close I am to my few friends there's some parts of me that I still can't let them know."

By this time Will and Erin had both finished the food and had seemingly forgotten that food was initially the reason they were sitting down in the first place. Like Erin, as Will talked seriously his expressions reflected it. "But I guess everyone has their secrets." As Will talked he noticed Erin looking intently at him and couldn't help but to focus on her eyes. Because of her hair and complexion the green stood out even more. But soon the not-so-awkward silence was broken up by a familiar voice. "Sorry to break this up guys but you know that whole job thing you two have? It's called a lunch hour because it's supposed to only be an hour." Simon said giving the two a knowing smile before going back to the store. Trying the best of his ability not to blush, Will began to stand up. "Wow...time flies, huh?"

“ahahaha, Yeah, the pink hair is actually all a part of my secret ninja like assassin skills of deception. Like, you might think that I’m a bubble gum pink airhead…but am i…?” She finished under layers of mystery before breaking the mood with a wide smile that matched Will’s flirtatious one.

“I think something’s need to be left just as they are. It can be better for someone you care about wont be hurt or be able to get defended…wait…offended.”
Erin looked away, dropping her laser targeting eyes for a second as if hiding more than just embarrassment for her strange word mix up. Then she regained her focus, fixing her green gaze on Will once again, listening intently.

When Simon showed up and told them exactly how late they were she literally gaped at him. “ Oh no! And on my first day. I was hoping I could make through the first week was over until I messed up..”
After the initial shock of the lateness Erin wasn’t overly fussed about their being slightly late back. Firstly because off Wills reaction was a good gauge to go by at the moment, and secondly because Simon had seemed to just find it mildly funny.

She collected the litter around her excluding her fortune which she tucked in her purse, and placed it on the tray” and followed Wills lead in the disposal of it.
“I think you’re a very bad influence on me Mr Hayes” Erin said breathily as she gently brushed past him. One moment she was really close, close enough for her to whisper “Bad Will. Very naughty of you” and then she was gone, following Simon, Her long pink pigtails swishing as she walked.

Will couldn't help but to laugh as Erin freaked out over being late. It definitely wasn't his first time, he could see why she wouldn't want to be late her first day. While he probably wouldn't let her know, if it became an issue which he doubted, he'd take the blame for it. Not only would he not really get punished but it actually was at least half his fault their lunch hour ran a bit late.

As Will threw away his trash he was completely caught offguard when Erin brushed against him and whispered in his ear. He could only hope that no one noticed that he instinctively smelled her perfume...or at least he tried, but she'd already gone with Simon. "Naughty me indeed..." Will mumbled very lowly under his throat as he followed closely behind. He had to remind himself of Cassie a few times as they made their way to the shop. It was still pretty empty today, which is why Simon waited awhile to get them and wasn't annoyed. Chances are he would have let Will and Erin come back theirselves but most likely Sherlyn pointed it out.

Will gave a dark smirk to Sherlyn as he sat down on the chair next to the guitar. He gave a wink to Erin as a way of letting her know she wasn't going to get in trouble for anything. "You wanna join me? I'm sure you have a great voice." Will said motioning to Erin with a warm smile as he started the song.

"Hello tomorrow and good-bye to yesterday
We've been waiting for this moment
And we still don't know what to say
We may never find the answers
or know the reason why
Why we both decided we should say good-byyyyye

Nothing but good things are coming my way
If you are going please let me stay
You bring me down when I'm getting high
You turn me on I amplify"

Although she smirked a little after being invited to sing there was a slight issue in that he'd said it on stage so all the people int he store turned to look at her. She blushed a little and shook her head, her hair swishing around her like a herbal essances advert. Erin directed his glance to Sherlyn who had her targeted and was sweeping in like a barroness, a young girl tumling along in her wake.

"Theres always something to do newbie, so Jennifer here is going to show you how to use the cash register" Sherlyn said as if it was Erins fault she didnt how to use the system yet.

"Hey you can just call me Jenny, she persists in calling me Jennifer, not even my auntie maude calls me that. Honestly. So 'newbie,' Name. Rank and Serial number" She finished with a big smile showing the glint of a jewel on her tooth. She had short black hair flicked out in spikes at the back, and cheeky blue eyes. it was hard not to like her.

"Erin, N00b, Not yet issued." The two girls laughed together, the ice broken and while they ran through the system including the multiple search options Jenny tried to find out more about her new friend.

"I live with a friend of mine, she'd like a way older sister, Renee moved here with me from the City. It was a good time for a break for both of us." She paused for a moment, back tracking in her mind finding a place to start that would make the most sense.

"Ok so i come from a big family, me, my cousin, Frankie, and a family friend, Jeff, were raised by my Grandmother. There was an accident and our mothers were killed and our fathers were involved in family business the majority of the time. Most people think oh, easy ride when i tell them that because they think nice little old lady who knits but no, she was strict with us and she always played favorites with my cousin. He was the male heir to my daddy's Empire.

We were basically home schooled, the family was so big that there was always someone around who would educate us for a few hours a day, but our main lessons were taught by Nona, my grandmother. They were all to do with the family business, very physical lessons. We were taught to attack and defend, there were so many nuggets of wisdom thrown at us in one day that a monk would be rich for years. And if we didn't complete the tasks to her level we were punished in the little room with the wind chime.

About 5 years ago or so there was this whole hostile take over involving Frankie that resulted in my uncle and Jeff being murdered, It was too much so i left and lived on my own. I think i was like 13 or 14.

I got a job in a bar called Harleys, had a little place a block away. I wasn't lonely, i had my sisters that i worked with that i felt close to. But the bar attracted the wrong type and i got arrested way too many times because of bar fihts and the like. It was because of this rough bar that i ended up meeting Renee. But eventuly i realised i couldnt ignore my family anymore so i made a choice and it wasn't untill it was much too late that i realised it was the wrong one.

I went back to Nona and Daddy who were most angry with the disrespect i had brought to the family. Where as before i had had Frankie to take the praise and Jeff to take the attention to releave the blame they placed on me for not being what they wanted it was now completely focused on me. For a long time Nona took the death of Jeff, my beloved friend, her ward, out on me. It felt as if i lived in the wind chime room and i was always thankful for when i would black out.

I wished to go back to Harleys, to the fights and pervy men. anywhere was better than being under Nonas eye. My one small blessing was that Daddy was actually taking an interest in me, And because of this my visits to the little room became less and less. They even begain showing me more insight to the busness. Which i then found out was all illigal.

A while later i made a better decision in calling Renee...She was one of the cops who had busted me and given me her number in pity because i was so young after i broke a guys nose. I tipped her off about one of my daddy's jobs. The sound of Nonas furious yells kept me satisfied for days when my cousin was arrested for drug trafficing. Heir indeed.

So my life was like this for a while, calling Renee with information i gleemed when i was being trained harder than i ever had in my life and through this i eventually grew to like her, talking about thinks we liked, movies, shows etc Eventually i was aloud to go back to work at Harleys, I started dating this guy Kobe who worked there. I actually met up with Renee there a couple of times, she'd always warn me out of getting involved in fights. Just because you can break someons nose doesnt mean you should. I can still remember the concern in her voice when i called her to tell her Nona had announced my training was complete, 15 minutes before my first job.

We quickly came up with a plan to arrest me and then leave once it was cleared thorough her bosses, i gave her all the information i could and our plan was almost flawless, but i was put in a police car with men on my daddy's payroll and they busted me out, at the expence of a police officer...my fault really.

This ruined mission added to the others made those in charge go on a witch hunt and when Renee came for me three days later along with the warent of arrest for most of 'mi familia' The Gothem Mafia, it was shown that half of them were dead. Including Nona.

Renee, who's girlfriend had left her once she'd told her force that she was gay, the two of them had a pact. If Renee told her homophobic collegues then her girlfriend would tell her parents. Turned out it was too tall an order. She wanted ouut of the city for a while.

For me though there was still Harleys to deal with, they had always been a front for one of my daddy's rivals busnesses but it was the place that felt the most like home. The reason i left with Renee was i had nowhere else to go, last time i walked away from Harleys it was in flames.

So now i'm 19, my criminal record was errased everyone i've ever known is either in jail or dead and i just started working in a record store.Life is good." Erins face remained the same.

"Erin? Are you...serious?" Jenny had touches of concern in her voice.

"Ah you know...City life can get kinda dull, I'm just kidding" Erin said with a sad smile, she'd been fooling herself that someone would just accept her life. She made a concious effort in changing her smile, replacnig it with her standard playful one. "So, Is it just me or is Will fit?"

Will playfully laughed as Erin turned down his offer. He was hoping she'd join him but he could understand her choosing not to as well, especially as his playing began to draw more people.

"1-2-3 times you've broken me!
Broken Me!
1-2-3! 1-2-3!
I won't bleed like this forever
I'm down to ride but my wings are severed!
Blindside blitz- evacuation!
I'm stuck in hell your on vacation!
1-2-3 times you've broken me!
Broken Me!
1-2-3! 1-2-3!"

As Will played, as tricky as it might have been he was also listening. Thanks to his demonic abilities his hearing, which was already pretty good when he was human, did let him decifer out some of what Erin was saying.

"I've been waiiiiiiiitiiiiin
Waiting for the day.
I've been waiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiin
Waiting for the day.
I'm still waiting for tomorrow.
Tired of living in yesterday.
I've been waiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiin
Waiting for the day I'd be over youuuuu!"

After Will finished the song he took a bow to the small crowd's applause. "That was 'Hello Tomorrow' by Zebrahead. If you'd like to hear more we have the album 'MFZB', odd title I know but it's a good album." Will said with a smile as he put down the guitar to have a teenage girl come up to him, distracting him enough that he didn't hear the end of Erin's conversation with Jenny or that last question. "Excuse me but you look, like...really familiar." Will smirked all the more as this actually happened quite a bit from time to time. Enough so that he usually got a kick out of waiting to let the people figure out on their own why they recognized him.

Will continued to wait as the girl continued to dig in the back of her mind for why she thought Will looked familiar. And sure enough Will could practically see the light bulb above her head. "Darian! You're Darian!" Will found himself laughing a little as he could tell how relieve she was. "Are you sure?" This was another one of Will's favorite past times when this situation came up. Making them doubt whether it's him or not. "No no...I mean...Yes! I'm sure of it! You're um...Will Hey, right?" Once again Will gave a friendly laugh. "That's Hayes." Will corrected. Originally Will tried to keep his rare job of an actor on Wendy the Werewolf Stalker a secret, but more people watched that show than he thought and sure enough from time to time they'd recognize him as Luela's vampire brother. But once again it just made people stay longer so Simon loved the idea.

"Oh. My. God. You are like, so totally cool! I love the eyes! I can't believe you work here. I didn't know you sang too, you're like...soooo talented!" Once again Will gave a friendly laugh. "Thanks. Good to see a fan." "Do you really know Cissie and Terry?" Sure enough that was another one of the questions he'd get a lot. He did find it funny that 9 times out of 10 they said Cissie's name first. "I know Terry a little, she's pretty cool. And Cissie's one of my girlfriend's best friends. Kinda how I got into the show really. I dropped her off and Joe was all, 'you look like a vampire!'. It was kind of funny really." "Whooooooa...would you mind if I can get an autograph? My friends'll be like...soooooo jealous!" Will gave the girl his trademark smirk as he got a pen out of his pocket. "I bet they would. What would you like me to sign?" The girl had seemingly forgotten about that part as she looked around but then quickly pulled a copy of "MFZB" off the rack. "Good choice." Will said, still smirking as he started signing it. "Who am I making this out to?" He asked. "Hm? Oh, Buffy." Will stopped slightly after he heard the name. "Seriously?" "Yeah! Totally awesome name right?" "Uh...yeah, totally." Will said politely as he finished signing the CD. As Buffy left, Will tried his best not to let the attention inflate his already pretty big ego.

As Will played, Jenny taught Erin how to use the stores computer system and also helped her to ring items through for any customers that came to them as she was being trained. By the end of the afternoon she’d been shown how to order items and check stock, the day seemed to go quickly due to Jenny’s personality being so similar to her own, though she had a warped sense of humour that wasn’t unlike-able.
It was nearing the end of their shift when Will finished his set and was swarmed by giggling girls and Jenny was explaining with how much regularity that happened when Sherlyn swaned over and prissily set Erin to tidy the racks of DVDs and CDs. As she sorted the area she was in, Erin heard a little of Buffy’s conversation and Will’s, who was flirting with them like his best friends little sister.

Erin breezed over as the crowed of pre-teens headed to see Jenny as the cash register “So who exactly have you been waiting to get over?” She commented on the song Will had been singing to get his attention. “And how else do you use your fame other than to sell little pop princesses our kinda music that they’ll only claim to like till someone else they think is cute comes on their radar.” She asked him playfully as she alphabetised the heavy metal section, every now and then taking an interest in the band she was sorting. Reading the back of the diskette cases she looked more like she was shopping than like she worked there.

Will turned quickly as he heard Erin's voice behind him and laughed a little at her comments as he gave her a sly wink. "Wouldn't you like to know. And the way I see it, if I can even get one of those girls to see the error of their horribly musical ways my job has been completed." Will said as he took almost a regal stance. Immediately the two heard Sheryln clearing her throat most likely to make them do something when Will pointed at the clock to which she sneered and walked away. It was 5:00 and their shifts were officially over as some of the night shift began to come in.

"Heh, I never get tired of doing that." Will said with a smirk as he turned back to Erin. "Hope you enjoyed your first day." He said as he unclipped his nametag and put it in his pocket donning his new costume of...a regular person who doesn't work in the store. "Are you working tomorrow?" Will asked, and after the answer waved goodbye to the newbie as he started out the store. Taking his phone out of his pocket he dialed quite the familiar number. "Hey Cass, just got off work, just wondering if we were still on for that movie today......hm?......oh...yeah...that's...okay...um...no problem...No really...it's fine...school's important, ya know? We can see the movie some other time...yeah....that's fine...yeah...love you too..." Will said as he hung up the phone not too good at hiding his feelings at the moment with a long sigh. "...because it's not like you can't spare two hours for me or anything..." Will grumbled under his breath.

She laughed as he declared his musical mission in life. “Such an honourable cause! I thoroughly endorse it” She smiled, trying not to feel too guilty about slacking off at the end of her first day as their ever-watchful colleague picked up on it. But Will saved the day and declared the day was over. He seemed to enjoy that part.
Erin partially ignored the Icelandic stares Sheryln was aiming at the back of Wills head as she confirmed that she would be working tomorrow, but only the afternoon. With that Will sauntered towards the door with a casual wave and Erin followed Jenny back to where she’d left her stuff in the staff room. After a quick exchange of mobile numbers and collecting her bag, she was back on the shop floor in a convenient amount of time, heading in the direction of the door, and her newfound gothic guy... who was on the phone...

“We can see the movie some other time...yeah....that's fine...yeah...love you too..."
Ah, one of those calls, she was torn between skirting around him, just leaving him to the call or getting involved.
"...because it's not like you can't spare two hours for me or anything..."
…Its always much more fun to get involved anyway. Plus, opportunities where you find them…

She linked her arm with his and walked at his pace, saying in an almost offhand way “ I can always spare two hours for dark brooding guys, It tends to involve my all-time favourite thing! Me talking about myself!” she cheekily commented on the silent stereotype. “So where are you taking me??”

Will turned sharply as Erin hooked onto his arm. Normally it wasn't that easy to catch the demon off guard but he was distracted before hand. "Huh...wha...huh?" Will confusingly stated as Erin said she could spare the time for him and he even looked more surprised when she asked where they were going. "Um...to the movies?" He said though it sounded more like a question showing that he was still slightly rattled. But the more he thought about it, Cassie was making a steady habit of blowing him off and he did want to see the movie. "To see 'The Omen', purely for humor value really." Seeing the expression on Erin's face Will saw how she probably wouldn't get the joke.

"Been told I'm a lot like the little kid. Creepy and quiet." Will said with a playful dark laugh, not so much lying as stretching the truth. "I hope you like scary movies..." Will said in an exaggerated creepy tone. He wasn't sure if Erin's attitude that cheered him up or the fact that he was in a sense getting back at Cassie by seeing the movie anyway. Either way he'd deal with the moral aspects of going on what could be considered a date to anyone watching later. "The theatre's on the other side of the mall, so since you like to talk about yourself oh so much let me have it." Will said flashing Erin a warm smile.

It was obvious she'd heard the end of the phone call and was trying to cheer him up, what was the harm in letting her?

To begin with it seemed like Will was going to simply brush her off and go off in a big broody dark cloud but no, he was just an adorably confused guy with super fast reactions.

"Um...to the movies?" The way he said it was almost like he was asking her to really go with him and not like she was just tagging where he was going regardless. She'd let herself think he asked anyway.

"You're not...totally quiet, and I’m fine with scary movies, seen more than my fair share of violence, dark corridors, the little room with pointy things that you secretly beg to never know its purpose. Wishing that the creak outside your bedroom really was just the settling house or the scratching of fingernails on the floorboards are simply mice." She gave a laugh that was equally as dark but seemed to miss the humour behind it. "Wait. Wrong genre, right. Oh hey, so if I get scared are you the kinda guy who’ll laugh or protect me?" She quizzed, switching easily to lighter conversation.

Erin laughed as Will took up her offer of dull girlie gossip “You really wanna know?”
He seemed to want to get her, see her ‘point’ so to say. Where was the harm in letting him?

“…So that’s when I moved here with Rene, she’s a friend. We’re just going to take it…mostly easy for a while.” It was 10 minutes later as she brought things up to date as they arrived outside the cinema. “So…William.” She said focusing her eyes on him in her own unique way to draw his complete attention. “Sweet? Or salty.”

At first, Will seemed slightly nervous walking with Erin but quickly begin to lighten up as the two talked. Once again it was like they were in the shop just passing time. Though he had to admit her talk of scary movies did surprise him slightly. "You know you can be kind of creepy as well when you want to." He stated playfully poking Erin's cheek. Then he laughed a little at her question. "Well, judging from my reactions when C-...when it's happened before I laugh then I protect." Will said flashing his trademark smirk, hoping Erin didn't catch what he was going to say.

He then listened intently as Erin talked about herself a little more. He did find her story interesting and before he knew it they were outside the theatre. Will's face turned serious immediately following Erin calling him 'William'. "First thing. It's Will, I hate the name William almost as much as Billy. And second..." Will said, changing his expression to a friendlier one. "I prefer sweet and salty." He finished with a wink as he ordered the tickets.

"Since you were so kind to join me I figure the least I can do is pay." Will said in a friendly tone, making it seem more like he'd asked Erin than her taking it upon herself to join him. Ordering his usual nachos and soda, he turned to Erin to see what she'd get.

"You know you can be kind of creepy as well when you want to."

Erin smiled and mock flipped her hair with an almost sigh of "I try." before she exclaimed "OMG! Did you just poke my cheek?!" She quickly poked him a couple of times in his side, making him jerk closer to her. Perfect positioning for a kiss....so she poked his cheek instead.

After queueing a little they had a slight slip in relations. "Just Will, ok." She smiled as she breezed past him to the confectionary stand ignoring the brief cold front. "I like guys who are firm about what they like." She said in a tone that could be taken almost the wrong way.

"Yeah! free movie!!" Erin punched the air before she suddenly sighed, looking perplexed. "I can never remember what flavour i like actually...I think its salty, I'm sweet enough" She giggled saying the common catchphrase. She picked up the popcorn and diet coke that seemed to become huge in her girly arms. "So which screen is it?" She asked as she was trying to eat the popcorn with no hands.

Will did twitch a few times as Erin got him with a barrage of pokes and there was a slight pause as they were in the kissing zone but luckily Erin chose to tease him with another poke instead. It happened so suddenly he wasn't sure if he'd have let her or not and that would have...well...served Cassie right to be honest...no...that's bad. Bad Will! Bad Will!

After they got their food Will found it funny that Erin kept trying to eat her popcorn with no free hands. He'd have done something like flicking one of the popcorn pieces in her mouth if it wasn't for the fact that his hands were full as well. There's always later though. "Which screen? Um...it's screen 6..." It took a second for Will to get the cinema's joke but after he got it... "Screen 6...ha ha ha." He could see one of the workers snickering slightly as he took the tickets giving back the stubs.

As they got to the theatre, it was pretty empty so far they were the only ones there, though the movie had been out awhile. After sitting down and getting everything situated Will got a devious smirk as he brought up a previous part of they're discussion. "So...about that liking guys who are firm about what they like thing? Is that your way of saying you like guys who are...in charge?" Will said, doing his best to say what he meant in a tactful way.