Escaping Grace

Andys POV


I did not like the idea of Leah being in Club Dremel. It wasn't a bad club, and was known for helping out new bands or struggling ones by giving them a place to play. She'd said they owed Xavier a favor, and I bet he'd helped them out in their early days.
I frowned, glancing around the living room as I slipped my jacket on. It stilled smelled like nail polish, and I could see them sitting on the coffee table. Leah was usually very particular about having all of her things in one place.
I called CC.
"What are you doing, man?" I asked, leaving the apartment.
"Uh, nothing important. Why?"
"Leahs having to play at Club Dremel tonight because the band owes Xavier a favor, and I'm heading over. You wanna meet me there?"
"Vales at Dremel too?" I heard a door slam on his end. "That place is harsh. Its not really their style. The girls shouldn't be there."
"I thought so too. Meet me there?"
"Already on my way."
A while later we met at the door, and CC didn't look impressed.
"Should we tell them we're here?" he asked, looking at the neon sign that flashed above us.
"I told Leah I was coming," I shrugged, puffing on my cigarette. This had to be my fourth one since I'd left the apartment.
CC called Vale, and after a minute hung up. "She sounds pissed at having to be here."
"Leah wasn't excited either," I shook my head, feeling my gut tighten. I don't know why I was so worried about it; Leah could take care of herself, and I knew her mates wouldn't let anything happen to her.
I glanced at CC, and then we stepped into the club. Immediately the smell of alcohol and cheap cigarettes hit me, and I grimaced. We shuffled around until we were close to the back stage door.
"Oh, hey guys," We looked over, seeing Nate appear from a dark corner, hastily wiping lipstick off his lips. "What are you doing here?"
"Came to see the girls," I frowned at him, and he didn't look at me straight on. Leah had told me once that I made him nervous, and he needed to be; he was one of the reasons my girlfriend was in this shit bar.
"You can come on back," Nate said, pulling the door open. "Xavier would be thrilled if he knew you were here."
"I'd rather he not," I muttered, scowling at his back as we followed him. I glanced around the cramped space in annoyance, people bumping us as they rushed around.
Finally, we made it to the dressing room, and traveled to the back, where I could see Leah sitting in Clarkes lap, Vales legs propped in Leahs. Vale looked like she was bitching, but I was starting to wonder if that was just how her face looked.
She was fierce, I'd give her that, but I wasn't sure what CC saw in her yet.
Vale caught sight of us, and said something, causing her mates to turn to look. Leah smiled, and I felt my lips rise to smile back. I leaned down as we reached them, giving her a peck on the lips.
"You made it," she sounded relieved. "I had hoped you would."
"I wasn't about to leave you here with this crowd," I glanced back, distrustful. I was ignoring the fact she was still sitting in Clarkes lap. She didn't seem to think anything of it, and she couldn't move anyway because of Vales legs.
"How long till you guys go on?" I asked, watching as the large room started to empty as another band went to play.
"We got thirty minutes till we're on," Clarke answered, scrolling on his phone. "Amd then we're out of here."
"Forevs," Vale added, her hand in CCs. "And so not coming back."
"Well, that certainly hurts my feelings."
We turned as a group to see a blue-green haired guy standing behind us, everything on his face pierced and tattoos on all visible skin. His eyes were dilated, and he kept shifting edgily, his cologne almost overpowering. "Who are you two?" he asked, eyeing us. "If you're not in a band, this area if off limits."
"They're our boyfriends," Vales face was sour. "Mine," she pointed at CC, "and Leahs." She pointed at me. "They go nowhere."
"You're so bitchy now that you're band is doing well," the guy I was assuming was Xavier commented, and CC bristled nearly twice his size. Leah straightened, a nervous look flashing across her face.
"Did you need something?" she asked, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"Yeah. The guys are finishing a bit earlier then expected, so you can head on to the front. I'll pay you guys afterwards."
"Cool." Leah hopped to her feet. "Let's go. I'll see you after," she turned to me, and I nodded, leaning down to give her a possessive kiss; I wanted to make it clear whose she was.
She and her band disappeared to go perform, and CC stepped to my side.
Xavier was eyeing us. "It's weird for Leah to have a boyfriend. Do I know you from somewhere?"
"Uh, probably not," I didn't want this asshole to know who I was.
"Let's go watch them play," I told CC, and he nodded.
We stepped around the dopehead and out from backstage. I could already hear Vale shredding the guitar as we found a way to the front.
I shuffled to the bar, and we watched as they performed a couple songs. The crowd cheered incredibly loud for them, and Leah gave them a hasty thank you before they all shuffled off the stage.
I had never seen Leah run off a stage before.
A few minutes later, the others came around, and CC caught Vale as she flung herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck.
"Let's get out of here!" she muttered.
"Where's Leah?" I asked, shifting.
"She's getting the check from Xavier," Clarke grunted, holding all the bags.
"In the back?" I asked, and he nodded. I took off in that direction; I didn't want her alone with him.
I shouldered my way backstage, and stalked towards the dressingroom. They shouldn't leave her by herself, she was small and a magnet for trouble.
"... And that should do it!"
I paused mid-stride, hearing Xaviers voice from around the corner.
"Until next time, Leah."
"I doubt it." Leahs voice was sour. "Thanks for the check."
"Leah... You know I'm sorry about last time, right? Forgive me?"
What happened last time?
"Look, it was a long time ago, drop it, okay?" Leah sounded uncomfortable. "Really not that big a deal."
"You made it seem that way."
"Drop it," Leah sounded serious.
"Is it because of your new guy? The one with the hair?" Because that certainly narrowed it down.
"This has nothing to do with him. You know I don't like you because you're an asshole and a flirt and you make way too much trouble for us. Now, let go of my arm before I scream."
He was touching her?!
I would break his fucking hand.
I strode around the corner furiously, just as that blue haired fuck was pulling Leah closer.
I didn't think about it, I just punched him.



"Andy, what the fuck?" Leah demanded as soon as she had dragged me out of the club by my jacket sleeve. It was cold and damp on the sidewalk, making it even easier to see the steam rolling out of her ears.
I frowned down at her, rubbing my knuckles.
Why was she mad? I had just been defending her from that loser.
"What? He was touching you and you didn't want him too! What was I supposed to do?"
"You can't just punch everyone who touches me!" she shrilled, and I winced.
I glanced up, spotting her band and CC at the end of the block. They all turned as they heard Leah shouting at me like I was some adolescent.
"Well why the fuck not?" I snapped. "Stop yelling at me like I'm four."
"I will when you stop acting like it!" she ranted, stabbing me in the chest with her finger. "You can't just punch whoever you don't like because you feel like! I can take care of myself without you coming to my rescue."
"What is the problem here? Are you pissed off because I defended you --- because that's just me being a boyfriend! Or are you pissed off because I punched that guy? You got a thing for him or something?"
For a moment, I thought she was going to push me into traffic.
Her cat eyes were livid as she looked at me. She started to speak, stopped, then turned on her heel and stalked away.
I sighed in aggravation; where was she going?
She hailed a cab, and I watched as she climbed in. She was acting like a princess right now, but God knew how her hormonal mind worked. She'd freaked out on me randomly too many times for me to think it wouldn't happen again.
Still, I didn't want her to run off mad at me.
I opened the cab door before it could drive off, and slipped in beside her.
"You're not running away from this argument," I hissed at her, and gave my address to the cab driver, who was looking at us with raised eyebrows.
"You wanna say something?" I snapped, and he turned away quickly.
I glanced at Leah, but she was looking out the Window, completely ignoring me.
And the night had started off so well.

Notes