Dom rolled her eyes and groaned. No matter how much she wanted to get up off the couch and leave, she just didn’t feel like it. Rolling her head on the arm, she watched from her sprawled out position as Nat paced around the kitchen, her voice raised as she yelled into her cell phone. For the first time in two months she and Frank were arguing. Not about money, or touring or even spending too much time together. No. They were arguing about perfection, their perfection, to be exact. A smile tugged at the corners of Dom’s mouth and she had to choke back her laughter. Only Nat and Frank would have a heated argument about absolutely nothing. Arguing for the sake of arguing.

“Frank, I fucking hate you right now, okay? Just shut the fuck up!” Nat’s aggravated tone drowned out the low volume on the television and Dom raised her eyebrows when the blonde slammed her hand on the kitchen table. She heard Frank’s raised voice on the other line and sighed, only to jump when Nat stomped over to her and dropped the phone on her stomach, Frank’s yelling still loud and clear from the phone.

“You talk to him, cuz I don’t need his stupid bullshit,” Nat grumbled, eying her expectantly. “Go on, talk to him.”

Giving Nat a what-the-fuck look, Dom raised the phone to her ear and sighed, trying not to laugh.

“I mean, Christ, Nat, I don’t even remember why we’re fighting. Why do we have to get into it right now? Especially now. Fuck. With all that shit going on with Dom and Luke and—”

“Don’t bring me into your stupid tiff, Frankie,” Dom cut him off and the line went silent. She covered her mouth to suppress a giggle when he cursed and cleared his throat. “Sorry, Dom.”

“Don’t ‘Sorry, Dom’ me, mister. You’re in big trouble,” she said, the mocking tone not lost on Frank.

“Not you too,” he laughed.

“Seriously though. Only you two would fight over being too perfect. Shut the fuck up, Frank,” Dom shook her head. “Like really? You’re perfect because you’re made for each other so quit your bitchin’.”

“I didn’t start it!”

“I know. I’m yelling at both of you, you just can’t see it,” Dom snorted, glancing up to see the deer-in-the-headlights look on Nat’s face. The blonde flipped her off and stomped back to her bedroom, slamming the door. Ignoring her roommate’s outburst, Dom pulled the sleeve of her sweatshirt away from her free hand and stuck her finger in her mouth, chewing the nail.
The sound of passing cars filled the silence and Frank sighed, “I’m sorry we annoy you with our petty fights. Sometimes, I don’t even know how they start.”

“It’s okay, you’re too adorable to be pissed at. I don’t get how she can stay angry with you,” Dom smiled. “But thanks for making my day better. I needed a laugh.”

His chuckle filled the phone, “No problem, Pumpkin.”

“Don’t fucking call me that, Frank.”

“Why? You know you love it,” he teased and Dom groaned.

“No, I don’t. Dick.”

His laughter filled her ear and she rolled her eyes.

“I’m hanging up,” she threatened.

“Oh, come on, Pumpkin, have some fun.”

“Fuck you, Frank. I said don’t call me that.”

He laughed again and Dom grinned, hitting the end button. She reveled in the moment for a split second before Nat’s phone rang again. She glanced at the ID, knowing it was Frank and grinned as she answered.

“—Bitch don’t hang up on me!” Frank yelled and Dom giggled, hanging up on him again.

Tossing the phone on the coffee table, Dom sighed, falling back into herself. It’d been three days since her encounter with Luke and she spent most of them on the couch avoiding everyone but Natalie and occasionally Frank. Her studio had remained empty since her night with Gerard and she’d avoided his and Mikey’s phone calls since then. Closing her eyes she plugged her headphones in her ears and hit shuffle, trying to fend off the nagging feeling that still haunted her. She still felt him, the shadow of his hands pressing roughly on her skin. She always felt dirty.

“We hold in our hearts, the sword and the faith,” Gee’s voice filled her ears and she smiled. Her favorite song the band never released. Ignoring the horrible quality of the track she hummed along, trying desperately to ignore the disgusting feeling eating at her. She let her mind wrap around the lyrics and her muscles relax and she breathed slowly, gradually falling into a trance as she hummed. Just as she started really zoning out, the headphones were ripped from her ears and Nat leaned over her with a determined face.

“Fuck this, Dom. We’re going out.”

“What the fuck, man!” Dom snapped swinging out at her roommate but Nat stepped out of reach with a grin.

“I’m sick of you moping around. All you do is lay around and frown and be mopey and then you work and mope some more. Fuck that. We’re going out.”

Groaning, Dom pushed herself to her feet and shrugged, “I guess I have no choice in the matter, right?”

“Exactly,” Nat winked. “Now go get ready.”

“I really fucking hate you sometimes,” Dom grumbled, shuffling to her room and closing the door.

An hour later the girls stood in the frigid air outside one of Nat’s favorite, little known clubs. The music pumping behind the door wasn’t the typical rap and pop but a mix of rock and alternative. Dom sighed as Nat shoved her way to the front of the line, her thin frame clad in black leggings that looked like a second skin and a low cut white tank top. Her heels were high and made her legs go on forever and her hair was loose around her face. Dom groaned behind her, her hand clutched in her roommate’s. Her attire much more conservative, a pair of skinny jeans paired with her usual Converse and a black tank top that she covered up with a loose gray sweater. Her hair hung loose down her back, the front pinned out of her face.

“Hey, Tony,” Nat grinned at the bouncer regulating who got in and he nodded at her with a wink.

“Go on in sweetie. She with you?” He eyed Dom and she stepped closer to Nat, feeling his dark eyes raking over her frame.

“Yes, she’s with me,” Nat beamed and he nodded, stepping aside to let the two women into the dim club.

The music pounded through every inch of the club, Nat bobbed her head, pulling Dom toward the slowly filling bar. Dom glanced around, searching for a hiding place to stay until Nat got her fill of the club and decided to leave. Squinting into the smoky room her eyes widened at the familiar mass of auburn curls that could only belong to one man. Pushing away from the bar, Dom made her way across the room, following the man until he stopped at a corner booth and sat down.

“No shit,” she whispered, stopping and watching the four men sip from various plastic cups. She jogged the last few steps to the table and grinned. “Ray, what the fuck are you guys doing here?’

Ray, Gerard, Mikey and Frank looked up at the sound of her voice and grinned. Frank jumped up from his seat at the end of the booth and hugged her while the other three stared open mouthed as Nat made her way over holding a Shirley Temple and a beer.

“Here’s your stupid sober drink,” she shoved the grenadine and Sprite into Dom’s hand.

“I’ve been craving one of these for so long,” Dom grinned and took a long sip, moaning with satisfaction. “So fuckin’ good.”

“Anyone want to explain to me why we’re in the same club as you guys?” Nat interrupted her moment. Glaring over the rim of her cup and frowning, Dom shrugged and slid into Frank’s vacated seat beside Mikey. She flashed a brief smile before returning to her soda.

“We just wanted a change of scene,” Frank explained and Dom rolled her eyes when Nat huffed, her attitude quickly showing.

“Well, so did we so we’re leaving. It’s a girl’s night,” Nat snapped, grabbing at Dom’s arm. “Come on, we’re going to another club.”

“Fuck that,” Dom yanked her arm away and scooted closer to Mikey. “I’m not bar hopping because you’re being stupid. Now go make up and be perfect again.” She leaned forward, pushing Frank toward his girlfriend. Nat flashed Dom her best puppy eyes but she wasn’t having it. She turned away from them, instead tapping Ray and smiling when he glanced at her over his beer.

“We need to discuss guitar lessons,” she mouthed and he beamed.

“Anytime, just let me know.”

“Awesome.”

“Dom, how are you feeling?” Mikey leaned close to her and her smile fell.

“Well, I was trying not to think about it but now that you brought it up, I’m feeling pretty ticked off,” she turned to the younger Way with a scowl.

“Sorry,” Mikey turned back to his beer and Dom paused. She hadn’t meant to snap at him, but she’d been avoiding him and Gerard because she knew they’d get protective. They always did. Sighing, Dom draped her arm around Mikey’s shoulders and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“I’m sorry, Mike. I didn’t mean to snap. I just don’t want to think about his hands on me,” her voice faltered and she took a sip of her Shirley Temple. Her eyes caught Gerard’s as she took another sip and he smiled at her, taking a drink from his diet soda. Her heart fluttered in her chest and she took a deep breath, pushing her glass away from her and standing up.

“Okay, who wants to dance?” When no one jumped at the offer, Dom rolled her eyes and grabbed Ray’s arm. “Come on, Toro, let’s go.”

He gaped at her as she yanked him from the booth and let her pull him away, beer in hand. She led him onto the floor and raised her hands over her head, a serene smile on her face as she found the rhythm of the music. She peeked an eye open to see if he was moving, laughing aloud at his stiff stance.

“Ray, seriously?” She giggled. “Here, watch me.”

“Do I have to?” he groaned as she swung her hair to the rock music.

“It’s really not that hard, sweetie,” she laughed, taking his hands in hers and swinging them. “For a musician, you really don’t appreciate the music.”

“I strongly disagree,” he leaned close to her, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. He pulled her close, resting his hands on her hips and swayed to the music. Blushing, Dom went along with his movements. He wasn’t the best dancer but given the music and the situation, she enjoyed it anyway. She stiffened when a hand ran down her back and Ray stopped dancing, his features darkening when he glared at someone over her shoulder.

“Dom, go back to the table.”

“What’s wrong?” she whispered.

“Just—” He began but Dom froze when the hand returned, this time wrapping around her waist and tugging her away from Ray.

“Fuck,” Ray grumbled as Dom glanced up into the sneering face of the man she had spent three days trying to forget.

“Get off me, Luke!” she slipped form his grip and stood beside Ray, who pushed her protectively behind him.

“Nice to see you again, Toro,” Luke drawled, standing up to his full height, a few inches taller than Ray. He puffed his chest out and flexed his muscles, trying to intimidate the guitarist, but Ray didn’t back down.

“Touch her again and you’ll lose a finger, Baxter. I swear to God,” Ray growled. Dom grabbed onto Ray’s arm, seeing his hands ball into fists when Luke only laughed aloud and stepped closer.

“Right,” he chuckled. “I’m trembling in my boots, Toro.”

“Ray, let’s go,” Dom tugged at his arm as the two men glared at each other. “Please.”

When she thought Ray was easing up, Luke grunted, spitting at Ray’s feet. As Dom’s fingers slipped away from Ray’s arm he lunged forward, landing right hook on Luke’s face. Dom froze, watching the scene as if in slow motion. The blood erupting from Luke’s nose and the red mark blooming on his cheek, Luke lunged forward and Ray lowered into a fight stance but Dom fisted her hands in his shirt, yanking him away. She jumped in front of him, shoving him back toward the booth only to feel Luke’s mass ram into her gut, winding her.

“Dom!” Was all she heard as she crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. Ray’s face floated on the edge of her vision before her world went black.