I can feel my body flailing upwards, my arms reaching towards the top. But, my ankles have cylinder blocks tied to them, so I remain at the very bottom of the ocean. Unseen, unheard of, no thought of mind.

That's when her face appears in front of mine, her image swaying in the clear waters. She looks like an angel, her immaculate features wavering next to my damaged, defiled body. Her eyes match the colour of the ocean, making them almost transparent in the splashing waters underneath. Staring into them, I can feel my body relax and float, completely at peace.

My eyes fluttered open and the feeling of choking overtook my body. I realized that it wasn't water that I was feeling, but rather a pool of my own sweat from yet again another nightmare.

I beat my alarm clock by about seven minutes, which was something I was quite used to doing nowadays, having been on a schedule back in Florida. I got up and walked to my shower to get ready for the day ahead. All memories of my dreams started to fade away, except for the familiar face that kept me company just as I was about to die.

Frustrated, I exited my shower and put on a pair of worn out, faded black jeans and left my room to walk out to the balcony, where my smokes were resting. I put my shirt on as I exited the house and grabbed my keys, in a rush to get to work.

I wasn't even paying much attention when Tony started a conversation with me a while ago.

"...So then after the seventh phone call, she finally answered." Tony said me with a grin but it never met his eyes - pure sadness.

"What'd she say?" I asked, looking away from him and focusing back on the car we were both working on.

Tony sighed and dropped his tools, kicking them away from him before leaning on the car's bumper. "She was mad at first, asking why I won't stop calling."

I snickered. "Maybe you should just accept defeat, Tony," I said with a little force in my throat because I was too preoccupied with getting a job done properly rather than gossiping.

"She told me that she wants someone who has their shit together. Someone who doesn't party everyday and has the drive to make something of themselves." He frowned.

"You could do that if you tried," I commented.

"She already has a new boyfriend..." He mumbled.

I looked up at Tony and watched as he drew squiggles on the side of the car, out of the piled up dust.

I turned back to the car and continued working on it, by myself. "Ah, well." I said finally. "You'll find another," I prompted. "Always do."

Over the last month or so, I had managed to remain fairly sane at work and not letting myself fall into any bad decisions. Tony and I had gone out hard since our big night, but when we did go out, I made sure it was in a setting that I wouldn't be stuck in.

I hadn't even gotten into a single fight yet.

Tony and I finished our job and made our way to the picnic table outside the shop. It was incredibly hot outside and I already had a strong regret choosing this location to sip anxiously on my water.

"So how's life back at Morgan's place?" Tony piped up.

I didn't know how to describe how living there is. It was odd. I liked being there, and being around my friends and being somewhat myself.

But it didn't help the paranoia.

Aria's face suddenly appeared in my thoughts.

Since having a conversation with her, a real one that is - She and I have been decent towards each other. I wouldn't say we're best friends or even friends at all but I actually stuck around while she was over and listened in on conversations. My first impression of her was damn wrong. I thought for sure she'd be a prissy girl from a pretty neighborhood but she's different.

Tyler had nothing but stress on his plate lately, which was unfortunate. He was working hard, and even though it wasn't as long of hours as I worked, he needed to use his brain more.

Cars came easy to me, boats were simple too. But law didn't come easy to Tyler, and running a whole business was even worse. He was sinking but extremely good at hiding it. He was good at pretending but I knew how to see through him unlike his other half who thinks everything is fine because he tells her everything is fine. When it wasn't.

"You know that's his last name right?" I pointed out.

Tony huffed before he continued, "Tyler, whatever. He always eyes me down when I see him in passing."

That's because he didn't like you. "Ah, don't stress about it. It's been good, living there again actually. Everything for the most part is back to normal."

I could hear loud voices in the distance, so I sat up from my current position to see Shawn yelling at the younger new guy. The kid looked down in shame and just took everything Shawn was telling him which I didn't find right.

Stand up for yourself. Coward.

"Is he still with that sexy blonde?"

"Maybe that's why he eye's you down in passing," I glowered.

Tony laughed. "No that's not it. It was actually about a month or two before you left for... Where'd you go, florida?" I nodded. "It was when you and I left on a cabin trip about four hours from here on the island. Don't you remember? We came back a few days later and then you disappeared for like three days. Since then, Morgan has hated me." Tony disclosed.

I almost forgot about our cabin trip last year, maybe it was because I wasn't mentally present for most of it. We left on a Thursday with a few of Tony's buddy's that I couldn't even remember the names of. I told Tyler I was camping but in reality I spent that whole long weekend tweaked out of my mind. I was on everything that was supplied there - blow, speed, lean, alcohol, the list goes on. I blew close to a thousand dollars that weekend which is utterly disgusting. On day two, I was pretty much comatose. I'm pretty sure I had an acute overdose, not that Tony or his friends noticed or cared.

I called Tyler that night, flipping out from paranoia. I was spewing nonsense about Tony, my father, Nash. I told Tyler that I wasn't coming home and to dispose of everything I had, and to forget about me. I told him that if I didn't die tonight, that I'd die tomorrow, happily. I scared the fuck out of him. I was such a loser back then, I still am now.

"Ty doesn't hate anyone, he's just particular." I defended him.

"He's not all that special. Just because he has money-"

"Tony," I sat up and get right in front of his face. "Don't talk shit you don't know about." I fumed as he leaned back. "I'll knock your fucking teeth out, cut it."

"Sorry," He mumbled in defeat.

I leaned back into my normal sitting position on the picnic table and took a sip of my water, mentally wishing that it was vodka. Tony sat there in silence, trying to make himself as least visible as he can.

I couldn't shake the thought of Aria out of my head. Maybe it was because of the dream I had last night. Why did she leave her house at such a young age, to a different Country?

It pissed me off that she's gotten to me. If she would've just left after grabbing her phone that night, I would've been able to easily forget about her.

I couldn't get into her brain without her getting into mine. I was annoyed with myself and the situation in general because I never had such conflicting thoughts on a human being. It was always been best to just push everyone away from me and leave it at that.

Tony and I made our way to a bar after work, seeing as my cravings for booze overcame me and I wanted a quick fix. Tony was always up for anything that I suggested, which was one of the things I tolerate about him.

I reached in my pocket and retrieved my constantly buzzing phone, only to see Samual calling me once again. I rolled my eyes on instinct and shoved my phone back into my pocket after hitting the end button.

Tony sensed my annoyance. "What's with the sour look on your face?"

I glared at him when I noticed him get a little too close to me, which made him instantly take his seat back.

Once again, my phone continued to ring and I had the strongest urge to whip it across the bar. I slammed my phone down on the table in frustration, which made Tony jump a little.

"Christ, Eli." Tony raised his eyebrows.

I counted down the seconds before my phone rang once again by the same person. I raised my phone and turned it over, showing the screen to Tony. "Geez, twenty-two missed phone calls." He scratched his head.

"Do you have anything to do with this?" I narrowed my cold expression onto him.

Tony's carefree attitude made another appearance as he smiled in a child-like way. "Well I told him you and I were hanging out again." I raised an eyebrow. "But that's it I swear!" He raised his hands up. Behind his constant, buggy eyes, I could see he still feared me which was satisfying.

"Hm."

"Is this why you're more grouchy than usual?" He asked. I rolled my eyes and felt the buzzing in my hand once again. "Not that you're usually not grouchy..." he added with a playful grin.

I shook my head, not giving him the satisfaction of a response.

Finally, feeling my anger come over me, "What!" I answered the phone, pressing on the answer button so hard it could've cracked my screen.

"My oh my, it's about time you've picked up the phone," I could tell Sam was tweaked out just by the sound of his voice.

"What the fuck is so important for you to be blasting my phone." I growled low. While I listened to Sam ramble on about utter nonsense, I watched Tony as his curiosity started to glow.

Since my return, I hadn't really seen much of Sam. I saw him the first day I arrived at the shop to get my job back, but it turned out he didn't even work for Shawn anymore. He was visiting Tony. "I have heard that you've been with Tony lately, and I was hoping to use your expertise." He said, quick.

"The fuck you on about?" I asked, annoyed.

"You know, your charm. Your knowledge." I remained silent and stared at nothing in particular. "You're known for being able to get what you want. Everyone knows you have it really good with Shawn... And I could really use my old job back." He broke his words to me in a hesitant manner.

"Then go into the shop and get it," I said in my usual style.

"You're his right hand man. He'll listen to you if you tell him!" Sam begged over the phone.

I raised my eyebrow and almost smirked. "Don't you already have a job?" I glanced up at Tony who was now frowning in confusion. He was practically squirming in his seat, wanting to know what Sam was telling me. I gave him little to no clues in my responses.

"I fucked up man, oh fuck, fuck." Sam started rambling, which while he did, I zoned out of the conversation completely, his voice being nothing but static noise as I glanced past our table to observed the random people who had the same idea I had. "You're the only one I know who can help me," Caught my attention.

"What? Help you with what?" I asked.

"I'm in big trouble Eli, I'm fucked. Aw man, I fucked up. I'm so de-"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Are you listening to me? All my shit was taken. I owe this guy... I owe him something and he was expecting me to pay up but it's all gone and I'm so fucked."

I finally caught on.

"That's on you. Why would I get involved?" I took another sip of my beer.

"Because you've been in my position." He said, serious. He was not wrong, I had been in his position where I've made some heavy people angry with me.

I hung up the phone in frustration.

I looked around the bar again, trying my best to ignore Tony's whining voice, asking me what's happened over the phone. From my peripherals, I could see him practically bouncing in his worn down side of the booth, eager to know everything that I've just been told. I kept my attention on the bar though, watching as certain people start to get a little too tipsy.

"Eli... Eli!" I finally snapped my focus back onto Tony who was now frowning at me. I said nothing but just looked at him, to let him know that my attention was back on him. "Are you good?" Am I good?

I sighed and stared down at my phone and began to play with the blackened screen, making fingerprints all across the glass. "I think I'm going to do something that I shouldn't." I said, quiet.

Tony raised an eyebrow in confusion and cocked his head slightly to the side. It was at that point where I wished Tony was a little more street smart and a little less clueless. If Tony had even a quarter of the knowledge that I did about being on the street, I could step out of the trouble and let him help Sam himself. Unfortunately, Tony was dense and only liked to have fun, which would considerably get Sam and himself into more trouble than what was about to happen.

People may call me an asshole, and mean, and whatever else they wanted, and it was true. But for some reason, I couldn't help but need to help the little guy get out of trouble. It was possible that I did this because I was once that person, and I didn't want anyone to be afraid like I was when I was younger.

People saw me as a dangerous person. That's what was needed to get shit done.

I realized now that Tony has said something to me that I completely drown out, too preoccupied in my own thoughts to pay attention. I picked up my now dirty phone and clicked on the first name on my call history list.

When the phone answered, I didn't give him a chance to speak. "I'll meet you in an hour, I know the place." And I hung up, leaving the conversation at that.

It was shocking that Sam has been able to run a business like he has been for this long. It's even more shocking that he's been able to keep it alive with Tony involved. The two of them alone are not the most intelligent people, and if you put them together, the only thing that you're asking for is complete chaos.

Sam and Tony liked to bounce a lot of crazy ideas off one another, which usually ended them up in trouble. I used to be like them when we'd get fucked up together. Ideas upon ideas we'd throw at each other until one of us actually went through with the plan, and let each other spiral down into madness. I was usually the one that would actually do the stupid things we've talked about.

I got up from my sitting position at our table and shoved my phone into the back pocket of my pants. At the same time, I took out my pack of smokes and put one in between my lips, prepared to light it up as soon as I stepped out the doors.

"I have to go." I told Tony, flat.

"I'll come with you," He said and stood up beside me.

I gave him an expression that makes him rethink his offer. "No." I said and started walking towards the door.

I heard Tony catching up to me. I headed outside and take a pufedf at my cigarette, before turning around stopping Tony in his tracks.

"It's my business too, I should be there..." He mumbled to me.

By his comment, I realized that he knew exactly what Sam was telling me over the phone. Tony knew that Sam would call me. And it was Tony's idea to have him go to me in the first place.

I backed Tony into the wall, towering over him. "Exactly. You'll make things worse than they already are. You fucked up, and now I have to fix your fucking mess." I snapped at him before giving him another shove back into the wall and storming off.

I arrived to my destination, a small white house next to a large field. I didn't know how he kept his house so well kept and maintained. It was an easy to find location.

nothing but a flood of memories came through me, so strong that it sent shivers down my spine. The shed behind the house, so worn down and discreet. So off from the essence of the rest of the property. This was one of the many places where I've almost died due to doing one too many drugs.

I walked around the back and opened the shed doors, using force to actually get in; the doors were almost falling apart.

When I entered the shed, I saw Sam pacing back and forth, the whole place was trashed, and his face was black and blue.