“Stay by my side.” Andy ordered. “I don’t want you getting into any trouble. I know how Danny’s band can be with girls.”

“Andy, I can take care of myself.” Sophie assured him. “I’ve been doing it on the streets for years.”

He felt a pang in his chest at her words. Just knowing she had lived like that for so long upset him. He knew there was nothing he could have done then but he knew he could do something now. He wanted to make sure she was always protected. He never wanted to leave her side.

They walked down the row of buses and turned at Asking Alexandria’s bus to find them sitting around a small fire pit and tables covered with every type of alcoholic beverage known to man.

“Holy shit.” Andy looked around at all the bottles on the table. “I’m going to get so shit-faced if someone doesn’t watch out for me.”

“Hey, Andy and the Black Veil Brides are here! Now we can really get this party started!” Danny walked over to Andy and handed him a beer.

Andy looked at the beer hesitantly.

“Oh, come on, Biersack. We’re here to have fun! Drink up, mate!”

Andy shrugged, popping the cap off. “Oh, what’s one drink, right?”

Four beers, three cigarettes and many different other drinks later, Andy was wasted and Sophie knew it. This was her chance to sneak back to the bus and pop a few pills that she had stashed away in her bunk. She had told herself she would refrain from doing this but she couldn’t help it. The temptation was overwhelming. When she thought no one was looking, she slipped behind the bus—out of sight.

“Where you off to so soon?” A voice startled her.

“Oh, Ben… It’s just you. You scared me.” She said, breathlessly.

“And you didn’t answer my question.” He replied. “I thought you were quite the partier. That’s what Andy’s band mates seemed to say anyway.”

She shrugged. “I guess I’m not into it tonight.”

“I think I can fix that.” Ben said suggestively and took her by the hand, leading her down the row of buses deeper into the dark where no one could see them.

Sophie began to worry. Andy, Danny and the rest of the guys were too intoxicated to comprehend anything and now she was alone with Ben. There was no telling what he could do to her. Andy had even warned her earlier about the guys.

When they finally stopped walking, Sophie looked around and saw only empty parking lot surrounding her. Ben sat down on the cold asphalt and motioned for her to sit down with him.

He pulled out a plastic bag from his pocket which contained many colorful pills of all shapes and sizes. Sophie’s eyes widened. This was just the fix she needed. Ben handed her a couple pills and watched as she hungrily tossed them in her mouth and swallowed them dry.

“Something tells me this isn’t your first time.” Ben observed.

Sophie gave him a sly smile as she held her hand out for a few more.