If Happiness had a Gun

[Victoria]

Sitting down on the nearby bench, Peyton pulled her legs up and hugged her knees to her chest. Every thought from Echo to Max paraded through her mind. On one hand, she had fun with Echo and after how sweet he had been to her all night long, the kiss was deserved. But then why did she feel so guilty about finding herself attracted to another guy? She had promised that she would only ever love Max, but damn she was only twenty. He wouldn’t want her spending her life alone. But four months seemed too short to even think about looking at another guy, let alone maybe liking another guy. A horn honked and pulled her from her thoughts. When she looked up, she instantly dropped her gaze again under the harsh stare of her older brother. Pushing up off the bench she made her way around to the other side of the car and climbed in.

“Peyton…” he shook his head, at a loss for words.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.
“Sorry? These games have to fucking stop! If you’re so damn sorry all the time, why the hell do you keep doing it?” he asked as he pulled back out onto the street and pointed the car towards home. “And right on the tails of Max too. Is that what this is about? Are you that desperate without him that you’re bound to find a way to join him? Because if you keep this up, that’s where you’re going to fucking end up!” He ranted at her. The truth was, she had heard it all before. Several times. But it didn’t change the fact that she just wanted to live her life. She just wanted to get out there because sitting in that damn apartment staring at the walls was getting her nowhere. She continued to dig herself deeper and deeper into this pit of hell that she was just trying to find an escape from. “Are you even fucking listening to me?” He bit harshly.
Peyton’s gaze snapped up, “yes,” she answered far too quickly.
“Do you have any idea how dangerous wandering into the city alone is?” he questioned. He kept ranting at her, as she had expected. It didn’t end until he dropped her off at their mother’s door and muttered something about being late for work because of her before he drove off. Avery just didn’t understand. Her whole world had revolved around Max, they had set out to take on this world together and now she found herself in it alone. Not knowing which way to turn anymore. What did he really expect from her?

----

It had been three weeks now since her last midnight adventure. She had played to Avery’s every wish, anything to get him to just back off again. She knew though that come morning he would find out again and that would be that. She would be lucky to not land herself on house arrest. But she couldn’t take sitting there anymore. She couldn’t take watching the door, hoping Max would just come walking through it. She couldn’t stand seeing all the pictures they had up and around the apartment. Seeing his smiling face every time she turned a corner, but not having the heart to take them down because that meant he was really gone. But most of all, she couldn’t spend another night alone in that bed. She couldn’t bear to curl up and cry herself to sleep, to admit that his pillow didn’t smell like him anymore. She needed to escape. If no other reason than her sanity. She had to pretend like her life didn’t exist for awhile. And when she found herself standing on the train platform, this time she knew where she was going.

‘Hey stranger. Busy tonight?’

[leah]

Otto stood next to Echo, revolver in hand. Otto's scruffy face wasn't his classic puppy dog 'cute' as girls would giggle over when he had a gun in hand. He was the true scary italian man. Echo and him and been friends since they could remember and Otto was always smaller than him but always just as scary. Otto lifted his gun and slowly pulled the trigger a loud pop and he hit the can lined up in front of the two of them behind the local bar's alley. Echo took out his semi-automatic from behind his back and shot two cans down before putting it back in place to check his phone that just went off. It was from Peyton.

"Dude what the hell, just cause you don't play it old school with your guns doesn't mean you get to shoot more cans. You bitch." Otto tossed a piece of gravel at Echo and missed. Echo shushed him and texted back.
Meet you in the same alley?

Echo pressed send after two more gun shots went off. Otto smirked at Echo like he was better. "Don't call me a bitch, you bitch." Echo yelled at his friend and leaped on his back knocking him to the ground. Otto laughed and pushed him off. "Get off me." He shoved and Marie appeared out the back door. "What are you two doing?" She raised her pierced eyebrow and both boys stood up fast and walked her inside. "You can't leave the bar unattended." Otto grumbled.
"Alec is here though." Marie hissed back at the two of them. She was barely five feet tall and she was covered head to toe in tattoos and piercings. She tried to escape from living their life the way that Echo was raised in. He sort of understood, but both her parents had died early and they all knew that Marie's parents were killed. But still. Echo shook his head and walked up to Alec leaving Otto to deal with Marie.

"Mind if I duck out, man?" He asked Alec. He was the oldest of his friends even though everyone knew Echo was more of a boss than anything. "Yeah dude. I'll be here. Get Nyla on Marie's ass for me though."
Echo waved his hand as he left and pulled out his phone and dialed Nyla's number. "What?"
"Alec is asking for you to watch Marie. She's being a pain at the bar."
"Got it. Gem is on a job she might call you if need be"
"I already know, Ny."
The phone went silent.

Echo rolled his eyes and walked back to his home. He smoked a cigarette on his way there and played with his switch blade flick it out and back in. You could never guess he had a gun and three knives on him. He had his switch blade that lived in his jacket, a needle point knife for all the classic stabbings tucked in one shoe and the other was clip point that hung off his belt.

He climbed up to his apartment via the fire escape and changed his shirt to a long sleeve and shrugged his leather jacket back on. Echo only bothered to change just because he wasn't sure if that shirt had blood stains on it or not. But he appeared in the ally waiting for Peyton.

[Victoria]

When Echo’s text buzzed through, she was just stepping off the train at the Bronx station. She couldn’t exactly say what had compelled her to come back here exactly, she just knew that hanging out with Echo made her feel better. And with the storm of feelings rushing at her lately, she needed that. She needed more than forgetting, she needed to have fun. And something told her, hanging out with Echo was the way to go. Although she wasn’t entirely sure how she had gotten there the first time, Peyton set off in search of that alleyway. Problem was, there were a hell of a lot of alleyways in the Bronx. With a huff, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text,
‘So I think I might kind of, accidentally gotten myself a little lost.’
'What streets do you see?'

She glanced around, looking for any street signs around her. For all she knew she could be in Harlem again, or Queens, or god knows where else. She was pretty sure the conductor said the Bronx station. But maybe he said Brooklyn? She really didn’t know anymore. When she finally spotted a sign, she smiled.
‘I’m on E 174th’
'what’s across the street?'
Peyton looked up and around her again, trying to discern what some of the darkened signs said, but the bright lights of one lit up drew her eye.
‘A bunch of closed stores and Luciano’s Pizzeria’
‘Meet you there, say you're waiting for me if anyone bothers you.’

Why would anyone bother her? And how would they know who Echo was? Unless he was a regular there, that could be it. She wasn’t going to think on it because all thinking did was cause problems for her. Looking back down at her phone, she sent through one last message.
‘Kay’
Looking around again, she pulled her leather jacket tighter around her small frame as she headed across the street to the open pizza joint. In Jersey there weren’t twenty four hour pizza places, but she was certainly thankful this one was and that Echo knew the place. When she opened the door, the bell overhead jiggled, drawing the attention of the young guy behind the counter. “Can I help you?” he asked.
Peyton shook her head, “Just waiting for someone.”

[leah]

Echo headed towards pizza, mindlessly walking but hoping that Dino wouldn't be his classic asshole of a person to Peyton. He figured not just because she wasn't easily noticed by their family yet, but still. There was always trouble somewhere. As he walked he texted Gemma if she needed help to call, but he assumed her phone was on silent.

Dino looked over the counter at the girl who appeared in place and asked her if she wanted anything. She declined and he made a face. "Waiting for who?" Dino hopped over the counter and walked up to her, he was well over six feet tall and could become scary fast.
"A friend," she answered simply
Dino narrowed his eyes at her, "A friend?" He repeated.
"Echo," she finally caved, "He said you'd know him."
Dino backed up slowly, "Oh, sorry." He muttered and went behind the counter.

Echo swung open the door and he eyed Dino's odd behavior. "The fuck is wrong with you Dino? And control your sister, jesus!" He shouted and looked back at Peyton. "Hello." he smiled and pulled her into a hug. "Lemme get what I always get and anything for the lady." he yelled in the back at Dino.
"Sure, Sure." Dino yelled back.

Peyton smiled, "Do you know everyone?" she asked as she returned the hug.
"Define everyone." He said sliding into a booth.
"Well your cousin works at the diner, these guys here," she pointed out, "Coincidence I just happened to get lost across the street from this place. I feel like it wouldn't have mattered where I got lost."

Echo shrugged his shoulders, "Everyone knows my family or is somehow related to me, Dino is a cousin of mine but he's a total asshat." He sighed. Dino made a face behind the counter as he brought over a large pizza with all sorts of toppings and two large cups for whatever soda they wanted. Echo didn't even say thank you and just handed him a ten dollar bill, "If Ny has to deal with your sister you're asking for it." He grumbled as he handed a ten to Dino. Dino ran to the back and was obviously making a phone call to someone. Echo held in a smirk and shifted the rest of his attention to the pretty girl and delicious food in front of him. Echo handed her a slice of pizza on a paper plate and held up the two cups to get a drink. "What kinda soda, darlin?"
"Coke," she answered, "I don't want to fall asleep on you later."
"I wouldn't mind." He shrugged his shoulders as he filled the two cups up with the same drink and stuck straws in them. He handed one to Peyton.

Echo fiddled with his pizza, picking off toppings and shoving them in his mouth and then finally eating the actual piece of pizza. He'd do the same with the next piece and after three pieces he had realized he had just been shoving food in his mouth and staring at the pretty girl in front of him. But it was nice, it wasn't strange or awkward silence. It was just comforting.

[Victoria]

The silence that surrounded them wasn’t awkward like she would have expected. It was comforting. In so many ways Echo was reminding her of Max. That demanding presence he had when around others, but he had been nothing but sweet with her. She knew guys like Echo, she understood them. Or at least she liked to think she did. Because she knew Max, inside and out. And she was seeing a lot of similarities the more time she spent with Echo. Or maybe she was looking for them because she wanted to feel as if in some way she still had Max. Which was crazy because Echo wasn’t Max, he was gone and no one would ever be able to replace him. But here, with Echo, for a fleeting moment in time she could pretend like there was nothing screwed up in her life and just enjoy the time spent with him. Everything else just faded away when she slipped into this little bubble of a world that had been created when he took her hand in that alleyway. “So you wouldn’t care if I passed out on you?” she teased, referring to her earlier comment.
Echo shook his head, "nahh," he laughed.
Peyton smiled, “Good to know. But I hear I’m more fun awake. Or at least that’s what Max used to tell me. I mean I really wouldn’t know.”
Echo shrugged his shoulders, "we'll have to find out, huh?" he laughed.
She narrowed her eyes at him playfully, “Maybe,” she teased, “Maybe not.” It was fun just sitting here talking. He didn’t have to be dragging her all over for this to be an adventure for her. She just needed to forget all her troubles in Jersey for a night and have a little fun.

“I probably would have come back sooner, but my friend Gia unexpectedly came for a long visit.” She rolled her eyes, insinuating that she didn’t believe it was unexpected at all. She knew Avery’s games, she knew he would have called her knowing Gia would keep her from wandering off. But eventually she had to return to school, she couldn’t stick around forever. It was bad enough the others were hardly leaving her alone.
"Surprise attack?" He quizzed.
Peyton laughed, “Always, and Avery is at the helm of course. Who else?” she shook her head, “I guess he thought having her around would keep me there. Which he was right. But he can’t send all my friends to stay with me for three weeks at a time.” They had lives too. They couldn’t be babysitting her all the time. Sure they all cared and they wanted to support her as she dealt with losing Max, but there was only so much they could all do. She had to deal with this on her own in her own way and time. Her way of dealing was just not for a night or two every other week or so. “I guess after all my random midnight adventures up here, I kind of deserve to be watched a little. But they can’t watch me 24/7.”

It almost had her considering getting in contact with her older cousin again. She only saw Liz every so often, but she had always said there was a place for Peyton in her apartment if she needed it. Maybe it was about time she consider the offer. And then she could go to art school, maybe live her own life for once without Avery watching her every move. Just because she didn’t always see him didn’t mean she was oblivious that he was there.

[leah]

Echo shrugged his shoulders as she spoke of her brother. He nodded and listened as he chomped on his food and drank his soda. "I suppose your brother is over proprotective to say the least." He smirked and kind of laughed at his own statement.
"That's an understatement," Peyton laughed.
Echo smiled back at her and plopped a piece of cheese in his mouth. His mind was wrapped around the thoughts of just being with the gorgeous girl that sat in front him. His eyes stayed on her face watching it move with every one coming and going in the pizza place. Dino was off else where, but family and 'the business' was not really on his mind like normal.

He reached for a napkin and smeared his mouth over it and his finger tips. "So, my darling friend, what ever shall we do now?"

Peyton shrugged, "I don't know," she answered, "We could go for a walk. Can't imagine there's much else to do in the middle of the night."

Echo laughed, "you'd be surprised." He nodded and stood up. He reached for her hand and waited for her to grasp it before walking out the door of the family owned pizza place. Before the door shut, Dino yelled Echo's name.

"Echo! Man!"

He ignored it. If it was truly important nyla would call him or mysteriously show up out of no where.

"Well, we can walk, we can climb things there's all kinds of crazy things darlin." He smiled and pulled his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.

[Victoria]

Leaning in against him, Peyton laughed, she really didn’t care what they did. She had just needed to escape again. Some people were telling her to just get over Max, and then there were others telling her she was moving on too fast. She didn’t know how to do this, she was flying blind and taking what ever distraction she could. And Echo had proven to be good at that, plus he was fun. “Well, what do you suggest we do?” she asked, “You know this town better than I do.”
Echo pulled her close, "you tend to come when the sun goes down though," He pointed out, "lowers our options."
“If I tried coming during daylight hours they’d tail me,” she shrugged, “And I’m not ready for them to ruin this.” She knew it would happen sooner or later. Avery would figure out when she was leaving and he’d have someone follow her, to see where she was going, what she was doing, and then he would put a stop to it. He had a way about him, people did what he said, no matter the cost to her. If anyone found out where she was going, it would end. Peyton had finally found something, someone that could distract her from the emptiness that just seemed to eat away at her. She wasn’t ready to let that go. Not so soon.
Echo nodded, "You'd be surprised how easy it is to lose a tail."

She wanted to believe him, but he didn’t know her brother like she did. “One, sure, I’ve done it. But I’m the baby sister, I’m never lucky enough to get just one.” She pointed out to him. Glancing around in the darkness she realized that she didn’t know where they were and she wasn’t sure where they were walking to, but she didn’t mind. Even though she hardly knew him, something told her to trust Echo, trust that he wouldn’t lead her into any danger. “So enough about my dysfunctional family, are you complaining that I’ve only been here at night?” she teased.

At least this time she had played it smart, she had contacted her cousin who now lived in Manhattan. Elizabeth didn’t know what she was up to here in the city, no one could know. But At least Peyton could trust that Elizabeth would at least cover for her if Avery called. She understood that it was important for Peyton to find her own way, to muddle her way through this whole Max thing. No one else could help her at this point, they couldn’t fix this for her. Only time would really heal the gaping whole Max had left in her. But until then, she could find new things, new people, who could help her along the way. Wrapping her arms around Echo’s waist, she tried to will all the sadness away. For tonight, one night, she wanted to be happy.

[leah]

Echo ran a hand through his short hair. Echo knew how her family and their tails were. He was ten times worse and only was sent out to tail people sometimes just because of this reason. He didn't tail people, he plain out stalked them. Echo smiled over at Peyton, "I can handle anyone your brother sends our way, darlin' and his little friends."
He didn't know her family, Avery was a challenge, even for her. "If you say so," she answered. She didn't want to dwell on whether or not her brother was tailing her, because it didn't really matter. Not right then.
"I say so." He announced and grabbed her hand.

Echo held her hand, "Have you ever broken into anywhere before?" He grinned
Peyton paused, "...no."

He knew exactly where they were going. He squeezed her fingers between his and traced her knuckles between his and off they went. they trotted down the street and a huge sign for the zoo popped up here and there. Echo smirked and tucked a few blocks down the way before the entrance. "Here we are" He stopped abruptly at a gate with another gate. "What do you think?"
"The zoo?" she questioned. There was a moment of panic that seized at her, she wanted to turn and run from him, from this. She had never done anything against her brother's wishes, let alone against the law. But she couldn't say that anymore, not since Max died. She had come here for adventure, this was it, "Let's go."

"Atta girl." He grinned and propped open the gate and pulled her inside. The fence roared with metal and he pulled it shut behind him. There was no way in hell a tail would follow after them here. "Should I make the lions tigers and bears joke now or later?" He joked as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.