I’ve got whiskey running through my veins
"We’re the Beautiful Wasteland and I hope you all had a blast with us," Paul was shouting in the mic as my fingers slid over the guitar neck, playing the intro of our last song, "But... Yeah, there’s a ‘but’," He smirked, lowering his gaze on the front row girls, who believe it or not, but were like clay in his hands. I thought this thing would be a complete disaster, that we’d choke like my dad had said, but it turned out just the opposite. Was it because of Paul’s charismatic nature, or my skanky look, or Chris’s and Bails’ drunken jokes in between the songs, or maybe Franks dreamy blue eyes, but somehow the Noir fans were cheering for us. The feeling was magnificent, "Before we let the Noir guys take over the stage, we’d like to play you something very special, something... very indecent " He laughed and I could’ve swore a girl fainted right there. Next to the guy who was too distracted by my flesh to realize his girlfriend had went lights out!
"Wait, wait, wait Paul..." I stopped playing and walked to the backvocals microphone, "I think someone’s not feeling too well..." It was clear, the brunette wasn’t too shabby I won’t deny it, it was extremely hot in here and these fans were crazy, but how can you miss on someone passing out? Right now I really admired the stupidity of that male next to the poor girl, "Someone, please get that girl out of there!" I shouted, really afraid for her life. These crazies could’ve stomped her and nobody would’ve batted an eye. Nothing happened. It seemed like my words had gone into thin air. Those fucking douchebag security guys didn’t even hear what I said. My eyes traveled back to backdrops, where Viper and Dev were trying to reason with someone from the security. I pointed out to dad for him to come on the stage to take my guitar. Do I honestly have to do everything myself?
"Meg, what are you doing?" Paul asked as I handed my blue Schecter to dad, before jumping off the stage. Now I get it why had she passed out. It felt like fifty gazillion degrees over here. And the worst of it all, these people were completely insane... When the security guys saw what I was doing, they finally switched on, trying to get me out of the crowd, which was clearly trying to rip me apart, while shouting how much they loved me. Okay? This was the first time these guys even saw me and sorry to say, but I didn’t care for any of them, my objective was that girl, who was swaying along that mass of people. Somehow I grabbed her, losing my leather jacket to those people and resulting with a very ripped up shirt, before the security pulled me back along with her.
"Make sure she’s okay and get her backstage, is that clear?" I yelled at one of the security guys.
"Yes, Ma’am." He nodded, guiding her away. Paul handed me a hand, before pulling back up on the stage, where dad was waiting with my guitar. He had a warm smile on his face.
"I’m proud of you," He whispered in my ear when he put the guitar strap around my shoulder, "Even tho you look like a streetwalker."
"Okay, I mean fuck..." Paul exclaimed looking over my shirt which was holding only on a single strap, revealing my black bra, "No one else passes out while we’re here... Just look at her—" He pointed out to me, "Her clothes won’t survive another attack for Christ sake!"
"Isn’t that the purpose of them?" I walked up to the backvocals mic, while dad set me up with my guitar, "To get rid of them as quickly as it’s humanly possible?" I grinned, hearing dad chuckle behind me. I admit it, it was kind of awkward with him being here, but a girl gotta to do what a girl gotta do, right?
"Don’t tease," He chuckled, finally turning back to the audience. I shrugged, fixing the remaining of the shirt by tying a knot on my side. "Anyhow... Our time has gone to it’s end... Bailey, give me some drums," Paul said, before Bails showed off her wonderful drummer skills, "So what do you say if we LIGHT IT UP?!"
_______
We all had been backstage for the most part of the Midnight Noir show, just being absolutely mesmerized by how they took it away, by how Jason a.k.a. Viper ruled the stage, by how classy Scott Corbie could look, by how goofy could Boyd be, by how Aron nailed every piece James had written and of course by how Dev could turn even a straight guy in to the absolute of the absolutest homosexuals.
It was an hour of pure awe, an hour in which I understood what I wanted to achieve and how much we still had to work on ourselves. Dad had congratulated me on the success and "complimented" me on my attire choice. But even tho he didn’t particularly like appearance he admitted it did the trick. That, and of course my act of mother Theresa.
When Jason announced they were doing their last song, me, Bails and the guys decided to go back to the bus and to start celebrating, but little did we know that we couldn’t actually get to the bus without being forced to sign some people’s shirts and even faces and answer a couple of questions of where to find our music (which was nowhere, at least yet) and when will we be playing again.
"I’ve seen you somewhere before..." A guy around his early twenties addressed me as I decided to ditch my band and just go find some very stiff liquor to intoxicate myself with.
"Me?" I questioned looking around. Was he really talking to me? Where could’ve he possibly seen me? I didn’t even have facebook for crying out loud!
"Yup," He replied proudly, "I think my sister takes your classes."
"Classes?" Was he aware we were a little too far away from Santa Monica and the Institute itself? What was he doing here? "Are you talking about the Musician’s Institute?"
"No way, you are a teacher?!" Another one of what I supposed to be Midnight Noir fans exclaimed. He turned from talking to Paul to be fully facing me. "That’s so rad! How old are you?"
"I’m twenty five..." I answered confusedly. Was this what the Noir guys went through on daily basis, if so, then this excitement was very much tiring.
"Oh cool, I’m twenty two..." Don’t get me wrong, but why was I supposed to know how old was he? Oh, but then it hit me. He was trying to get me to invite him inside the bus. Holy fuck, dude. I’m not Devious Knox. I’m not into this stuff. Not anymore at least. "So you wanna get a drink or something?"
"Who’s talking about drinks?" And speaking about the devil himself. Devious Knox around the horizon, guys! "Meg, doll, don’t tell me you’ve started drinking without me!"
Thanks King. I smiled seeing the confusion in the dude’s face. Believe it or not, but he could come in handy from time to time. "No, I’ve been waiting for you..."
"Sorry," The guy excused himself and went to talk to Jason and Boyd. Dev snaked his hand around my neck.
"You have to keep your distance if you don’t intend to fuck their brains out." He whispered in my ear, before licking my cheek. Was this him being drunk or was this simply Devious Knox? I couldn’t quite tell the difference. "Anyhow, you were amazing... And the outfit... I mean, jesus fuck, you can’t do this to me, doll." He rested his forearms on my shoulders, looking me deeply in the eye. Yup, this was Devious Knox. And a drunk one to be more exact.
"If you weren’t taken, I’d reconsider the deal," I winked, making him blink a couple of times, before my eyes landed on the dark haired girl we all knew as Dev’s Kathy. I sneaked out of his reach,
"You mean you’d fuck me if I wasn’t married?" I smiled. No. He was soon to be divorced, only he didn’t know that himself. I’d sleep with him if only he didn’t have that homicidal maniac by his side.
"I’d sleep with you if it wasn’t for your road lady."
_______
Now why did I think this morning would differ from any other and I wouldn’t have a major hangover? Why was I that naive? I couldn’t be feeling any more miserable and we can thank Bailey Harris for that one. Actually? I wasn’t even feeling sober, so when Boyd asked if I was willing to drive I kinda only had to breathe on him for him to recline. Smart choice.
I had no idea where we were. I was the last one to leave the bunk are and as far as I could tell we had stopped outside some K-mart or Wallmart or whatever. All those shops were the same to me and I was too blind to really see the name of the supermarket. The only lively soul I’d seen this morning was Boyd and he also had ditched me. Boohoo.
As I stepped outside the bus wearing just my sweatpants, a mysterious t-shirt, which obviously wasn’t mine, I instantly was blinded by the sun. Where the fuck were we? Africa? I thought we were traveling north, so why was it so steamy in here? My frown turned upside down when I saw Dev coming my way with two cups of coffee. Thank you god, finally he does something right.
"Oh great, you brought me some coffee," I took the Starbucks cup from him as soon as he was just a couple of feet from me. Holy hell, I craved some drink with high levels of caffeine so much I believed I could’ve even murdered someone for a good cup of super strong black coffee, so this better won’t be some stupid Valley girl Latte.
I took a sip and instantly regretted it. It tasted nothing like coffee, not even a soy latte, what the hell was this thing? I grimaced in disgust, "What the hell did I just drink?"
"Pumpkin Spiced Latte," Dev replied casually, although I could see he was getting a tad irritated. Why? I didn’t care enough to find out. "I told you it’s not for you."
"Pumpkin... what?" I gaged a little, "You can’t just walk around carrying pumpkin spiced latte’s! It’s like murder in a cup!"
"Serves you right for taking something that’s not yours." But of course, it was autumn after all, pumpkin spiced latte’s were the ultimate deal right now. God... That’s why I hate autumn. Every girl pulls out her university hoodie, some black leggings, her Ugg’s and walks around with Pumpkin shit in a cup by Starbucks. Yippy.
"Who the fuck drinks this shit?" I tried cleaning my tongue with the top of my palm to wipe the taste away.
"Kathy," he shot me a glare. What was with him?
"So now you’re her Pumpkin Spiced Latte caddy guy?" I raised the cup to my nose and snuffed it. It even smelt wrong, "Is that soy milk?" I returned the cup, "Okay... if this is your wacko’s coffee, where’s mine?"
"After you insulting me yesterday?" I did... what? I didn’t quite remember me even speaking to the guy.
"I didn’t insult you," I brushed my fingers through my hair. I didn’t, or... did I? "I didn’t even talk to you..."
"Yeah... You wish." He snorted, turning around and walking for the tour bus.
"Hey, hold up," I pulled him back, "What did I say?" Dev didn’t reply, he just broke loose of my hold and carried on towards the bus. I sighed, trying to get a hang of yesterday, but I failed miserably. What did I do? After the show there’s barely anything left in my memory, except for the neverending liquor and me, Bailey and the guys playing a bit of a strip poker. I remembered backing out when they told me I had to break loose of my underwear. Sure. Like that’s going to happen, yeah. As far as my memory goes, Dev was talking with Kathy for most of the time, I didn’t even go near them for Christ sake! My eyes narrowed on two body’s just a couple of feet from where I was standing.
Oh good, there’s Bails... and Jason. Maybe they know something. I made a small run towards them.
"Hey guys,"
"What’s up, Meg?" Jason smiled.
"Do you guys happen to know why’s King not talking to me?" I asked curiously, cause I seriously couldn’t even imagine what had I said to him to offend him so much. I insult him every day, for god sake!
Bailey exploded in laughter, bringing a grin on Jason’s face. Okay? That can’t be a good sign, "You really don’t remember?" I shook my head, getting really, like really, confused, "You called him a cheap whore."
"And that’s it?" I frowned deeply. I’ve been calling him a whore since the first day we met, maybe not particularly a cheap one, but nevertheless he knew I took him for one. "I call him a whore every day."
"Yeah, you’d wish," Bailey chuckled, "You told him that his fame has gone to his head, not leaving place for any kind of wit, other than his bimbo radar."
"Shit... Did I really say that?" I mouthed. That really did sound like me, but... suddenly a wave of memories washed over me. I did in fact recall standing... No, that’s not the right word, swaying drunkenly half naked with a partly empty bottle of Laphroaig in front of his sitting silhouette and shouting terrible things at him. Why? How did it even come to that?
"That’s not all..." Curse Bails and her joy of ruining my day, "You told that girls wants to be with him only because he has money and fame. There’s nothing attractive in him. He’s rotten." Oh my god... I didn’t say that. I blinked a couple of times, my jaw dropping. Fuck, I spun around trying to understand what had led to that kind of conversation.
"But I congratulate you," Jason started, making me turn back, "Finally someone told him the truth, which he never gets to hear."
"How did it happen?" I raised my thumb to my teeth, anxiously biting it, "I mean... why did I start to insult him in the first place?"
"Well..." Jason started and I could see he didn’t want to talk about it that much, "He and Kathy were taking a few lines—"
"A few lines? Like coke?" I exclaimed. Since when did he do drugs? Okay, now it all starts to add together.
"Yeah... I guess you didn’t know he does that shit. Anyhow, they got high and you got in a fight with Kathy. Dev didn’t stand up for you and you got mad." He sighed, "I warned you Meg..."
"So now you’re telling me it’s all my fault?" I was incredulous. Of course it was kind of my fault, I did in fact yell at him, but if he didn’t stand up for me yet again, then what kind of worthless piece of shit friend was he?
"Are you going to apologize?" Bails asked with a grin on her face. Of course.
"To hell I am!" I shouted, turning around furiously and walking back to the bus.
"That’s my girl," I heard Bailey say proudly, before I vanished from their view.
third person view
"I did warn her," Jason said watching as she got in the black bus.
"Yeah... I guess you don’t know Meg." Bailey sighed, trying to remember why was she even here with Jason, "She’d better free fall off mount Everest than apologize for something she’s not to blame for."
"Then I guess this is the end of their friendship, cause Knox won’t tolerate this shit."
"Oh you’ll see... He’ll come begging on his knees and he’ll be the one to apologize. They all do. You’ll see." Bailey said matter of factly.
"Now why would he?"
"You honestly think Dev is the one making rules in their relationship? How possibly naive can you get, Hunter?" They started off to the bus, Bailey shoving her hands deep in the pockets of her jeans.
"Care to explain?" Jason raised an eyebrow.
"Fine..." She exhaled deeply, "Meg can get anyone... anyone she pleases, the fact that she hasn’t added Knox to her collection means something... Either she’s not into him, or she’s keeping him for desert. I suggest she’ll do her voodoo and he’ll be wrapped around her tiny little finger."
"I really don’t believe you," Jason laughed, leaning against the bus, while Bailey pulled out her pack of Marlboro.
"Why?" She lit her cigarette and took a deep drag, before fixing her eyes on Jason, "Just because Meg doesn’t act like it now, doesn’t mean her grannies whorey gene doesn’t flow in her veins."
"You want to tell me Meg is just like Dev?"
"Of course not." Bailey frowned, "What makes her so great is that she doesn’t sleep with guys. That’s what makes them mad. She can act like a whore, but she gives none."
"How do you possibly know this?" Jason asked now with a disbelieving grin on his face.
"We’ve been friends as far as I can remember. I thought her this shit." She confessed, leaving Jason with raised eyebrows.
"You’re a really evil person." He stated, seeing her shrug.
"Life’s a bitch, Hunter."