Love And Other Drugs

The sweet and yet bitter taste of the coffee going down her sore throat made Luxe smile in contentment and she laughed as she opened her eyes and looked at the person sitting across from her. Andy had taken her out to get coffee that morning and Luxe could tell just by the look of him that he was still mostly asleep. She had stayed on the BVB bus last night-sleeping in her own bunk as they traveled from South Carolina to Georgia, which is where they were playing that night. She felt pretty good, except for her throat which was dry, scratchy and killing her slowly.

Luxe looked at Andy over the rim of her cup, the steam helping her throat and she smiled as his blue eyes locked on to her's and they just stared at one another. Ever since the night with her parents, Andy had been by Luxe's side after the shows and he even walked her to her bus. Last night they had been holed up in the back lounge-Andy sitting on one side of the couch while Luxe sat on the other-and watched the first three Batman movies. Luxe liked Batman, but not as much as Andy and she laughed as he spoke every line in the movie, even the female parts.

He was a dork at heart, something she hadn't known until last night and Luxe found herself strangely attracted to that aspect of him. Andy was all tough talking when he was on stage or in interviews, but on the bus he was just this little dorky guy who loved Batman and wore footie pajamas. He had woken her up this morning, asking her if she wanted to go get coffee before their sound checks and Luxe, of course, had taken him up on his offer and now here they were, sitting across from one another.


"How's your throat feeling?" He asked her suddenly and Luxe swallowed the sip of coffee that was in her mouth and shrugged. She felt like shit, but they were on a tour and she couldn't just not go to work for a few days because she was feeling under the weather.

"Sore, but there's not much I can do about it." Luxe said and Andy just looked at her. That was ridiculous and he was having a hard time understanding why the girls put up with Alex's shit all the time.

"Sure there is-tell Alex you need a break." Andy said as he broke off a piece of his scone and stuffed it in to his mouth. Looking out the window, Andy could see that October had turned in to November and soon enough it would be Thanksgiving and then Christmas-another holiday season away from his family.

"You think I haven't gone down that road with him? He doesn't care..." Luxe said sadly and Andy only gave her a slight smile and reached across the table to place his hand on top of hers.

"I'll talk to him." Andy said and Luxe felt her heart stop. This was too weird and it was making her uncomfortable-Andy was acting like they were actually dating and she didn't need his pity love right now.

"I don't need you to do that Andy." She said, trying to keep her voice calm. They were finally in a good place-they were friends-and Luxe didn't need her personal shit to affect her relationship with Andy.

"Why not? That's what I'm here for." He said with a smile and Luxe sighed. This was getting complicated-more complicated than she wanted it to be. She needed to separate herself from the situation for a little bit.

"You're not my boyfriend Andy...stop acting like one." She said as she stood up and Andy just looked at her with wide eyes. What was going on? They had been talking about her illness and Andy thought he was doing the right thing in offering to talk to Alex and now Luxe was mad at him.

"I-I just don't want you to get hurt Luce..." Andy said and watched as Luxe placed her coffee cup and plate on top of one of the trash cans and looked in his direction.

"Don't worry about me Andy...I'm a big girl and I'll be fine." She said before walking out of the shop and leaving him to sit there alone.


What was going on with her? They had had a really fun night last night and Andy thought it would be good for them to get out and get some coffee this morning, but now he wasn't so sure. He knew Luxe had been feeling under the weather and her cough was getting worse-it had kept her up most of the night last night. Andy knew what it was like to be sick on the road-singers got sick more often than anyone else and they had to take better care of themselves. Andy sighed, running a hand through his hair as he collected his own dishes and then looked out the window.

Luxe was nowhere to be found and he only hoped as he opened the door and walked out in to the chill air that he could catch up to her and explain himself.



"A-Alex? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Luxe asked, her hair and makeup stage ready, but she wasn't dressed completely and Alex only sighed as he stopped talking to the head of their road crew and turned to his singer. She looked like shit-her face was pale and she kept coughing.

"Sure." Alex said as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at the girl before him. Her corset wasn't tied, her skirt was wrinkled and she looked like she was going to pass out any moment.

"I-um-I'm not feeling so well and I was wondering if-uh-if maybe we could cancel tonight?" She said quietly and Alex tried very hard not to let his laughter get too loud. Was this girl kidding? They already had people in the building, they had kids waiting for the Meet and Greet and there was no way he was losing money on this girl because she had a cold.

"Sorry babe, people are already here. Nothing I can do. I can get you a hot cup of tea and some cough drops." Alex offered with a smile and Luxe sighed and tried to keep her tears at bay.


She had been fighting with herself all day-through sound check, through her lunch with the girls and now it was too late. Andy had been right-dammit-she should have gone to Alex sooner, she should have pushed him to let her see a doctor because now she could barely breathe. Char had tried to tighten her corset for her, but Luxe cried out as a sharp pain shattered her chest. Maybe if Alex would just let her wear a normal shirt tonight she could suck it up and then see a doctor tomorrow on their day off before they went down to Florida.


"Okay, well then can I not wear this corset? It's cuts off my oxygen enough and I can hardly breathe as it is." Luxe was hopeful, her grey eyes wide and Alex just took her in. Why was she complaining? This wasn't hard-get on stage and sing-do what he told her to do and he would take care of the rest.

"Sorry doll-the corset is part of your look. Why don't you go and rest before the M&G and I'll have Pixie come and get you when we're ready?" He suggested and then turned away from her to continue his conversation with the head of road crew.


Luxe had been dismissed and as she walked away from the person who was supposed to have her best interest at heart she felt like sobbing. She couldn't breathe, could barely move without pain shooting through her chest and Alex didn't give a shit. Silently she walked back to her dressing room and Luxe noticed that none of the girls were inside-probably out back smoking and joking around with the boys. As Luxe looked around the room, her grey eyes stopped on Char's makeup bag and then her heart rose.

Her fingers quickly dug around in the fabric pouch until finally Luxe was able to locate what she was looking for-the pill bottle. Four little white pills spilled out in to the palm of her hand and Luxe just stared at them. The Valium would calm her down enough so that she could perform and then it would be okay. She couldn't let her fans down-she couldn't let the girls down and dammit she refused to prove to Andy that he had been right.

The pills went down with a gulp of water and Luxe quietly sat down on the couch, her head resting on one of the pillows and she closed her eyes. What was she going to do if she couldn't sing tonight? Everyone was counting on her and if she failed them then that was it-they were done. The silence of the room didn't last long as the other girls entered with laughter and giggles and Luxe only smiled as she opened her eyes and looked around. Char was over by her bag, finishing her makeup while Pixie, Lulu and Mads were having a shot in the corner.


"How you feeling baby girl?" Char asked as she perched on the edge of the couch and placed a hand against Luxe's forehead. The singer felt warm and her skin was clammy to the touch-obviously sick.

"I'll be okay. Can you finish tightening my corset? Please?" She asked and Char only watched as Luxe struggled to sit up and turned her back to the guitarist. Char could see her chest was heaving and she could hear Luxe gasping for breath and she wasn't even speaking.

"How are we doing ladies?" Someone asked from the doorway and Char looked up from Luxe's laces and noticed that Alex was standing in the doorway. The shark-she hated him because he knew that Luxe was sick and yet he was still making her go on stage tonight.

"Awesome!" Pixie giggled as she took her shot and Alex only smirked as he looked towards the two girls sitting on the couch. Luxe looked pained as Char tightened her strings, but beauty was pain and getting on stage and performing was money.

"Good! It's almost time for your M&G...Luxe?" He said and saw the small blonde had looked up at him with tears in her made up grey eyes.

"Put a smile on those lips doll..." He said, a tone to his voice that she knew well and quickly she plastered that wonderful smile on her lips.

The girls quickly finished up in the dressing room and walked one by one down the hall towards the guys room. There the long table had been set up and as Luxe sat down next to Andy, she noticed that he didn't look at her. He was obviously disappointed in her, but the pain in her chest and the rising pain in her head was keeping Luxe distracted from all that right now. The room filled with people, laughing and joking as they signed shirts, posters and took photos.

Andy and Luxe did their thing and he even held on to her hand as they spoke to one girl about her depression problem and smiled as she told them that both of their bands had helped her through some very rough patches. Finally the room cleared out and Andy knew it was time for the guys and he to get on stage as they were playing first.

The world seemed to be spinning as Luxe watched the guys get out on stage and do their thing-the time was going by so fast and she smirked as her body seemed to vibrate. The Valium was obviously having an effect on her and Luxe only giggled as Pixie walked up to her and sang lowly in her ear along with Andy and Ashley. The girls had grown to like the guys music and Luxe noticed that the guys often could be seen singing along to their songs when the Dolls were on stage. Finally after a long set and then their set change it was time for Luxe to get out on stage.


"Good luck!" Andy called out to her, kissing her on the cheek as he walked past with no shirt on and his hair matted down by sweat. She was going to need all the luck she could get and as Luxe walked out on to that stage to cheers, she felt like she was going to collapse.

"How the fuck are you Atlanta!" She called out and the girls in the front screamed and Luxe only smiled as she grabbed for the mic. She couldn't breathe-fuck she couldn't breathe at all and once she tried to sing Luxe felt her heart drop.


The room began to spin-the music vanished from her ears and Luxe could feel her knees give way underneath her. She fell, smacking her head against something and then she was on her back, staring up at the ceiling and trying to gasp for air. One of her hands managed to get behind her back and she was desperately trying to get her strings untied, but Char had tied the knot too tight. People were shouting and her vision was growing fuzzy, but suddenly Luxe was able to focus on one thing.

The incredibly scared and worried blue eyes that were now hovering over her face. Andy was there, touching her-her hair, her face, her lips and she wanted to cry out for him, but she couldn't breathe and so all Luxe could do was open her mouth, gasp for air and motion to her throat. Andy disappeared for a moment and Luxe tried to cry out for him, but her throat was completely unable to capture any of the precious air that she desperately needed. Her eyes were starting to close, she was trying so hard not to give in but maybe if she slept for just a little bit she would feel better.

The last thing Luxe remembered was a ripping noise and then everything completely went black.

Notes

Oh shit-what's going to happen to Luxe? Hopefully they can get to her in time.

Merry Christmas guys!

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