Escaping Grace

"Andy! We gotta go!" I called, pulling my hair out from under the collar of my jacket. "We're supposed to be there now."
"Okay, okay," he replied from his room, and I sighed.
Christmas was tomorrow, but Ashley had decided to throw his party on the eve instead. We'd helped some with his apartment, decorations and stuff, and he'd put his tree up against his windows. He had a nice place.
And I'd done some major last minute shopping and found Andy the best gift ever. He would freak when he saw it, it was going to be great.
And yes, we were apparently doing Christmas because he and Ashley had gpne shopping for me. Why he would take Ashley, I had no idea, but at least he had spilled the beans and told me about it after I had threatened him with taking away his vodka.
Drunk Ashley was perfect for interrogations.
I chuckled, leaning against the couch as I waited.
"Aaaaanndddyyyy."
"God, okay, I'm coming," he half-stumbled from his room, still getting his boots on.
"I hate being late, Andy, you know that. You're taking longer than me to get ready!"
"Yeah, but you weren't up all night dealing with a upset Jinxx," he muttered in response.
Poor Jinxx. He and his woman were having a fight about something, but I doubted it was anything serious. He really loved her so I didn't doubt it would work out okay. I'd never met her, or Jakes woman either, but they were going to be at the party tonight so maybe I would.
"Okay, lets go," Andy grabbed his keys off the counter. "Fair warning, Oli is probably going to be there, along with a lot of other guys. Don't freak out or go all fan girl."
"I didn't fangirl when I met you or him, now did I? Why would I fangirl this time? "
Andy just sent me a look.
Thirty minutes later we were at Ashleys, and he was opening the door with a reindeer hat on. "You guys made it!" he exclaimed happily, taking a step back to let us in, alcohol in one hand and a camera of doom in the other.
We stepped inside. Lights were streamed everywhere, a tree against the wall with different drinks beneath it tied with bows. That was Ashleys idea of party favors. I couldn't tell what music he had playing, either it was too low or the crowd gathered were way loud.
"Andy!" And there was Oli. So probably loud.
He strode across the room to where we stood under about fifty Christmas ballons, a very large bottle of whiskey in his hand.
"I see you got the paint out of your hair," he said brightly, and I forced a smile.
"Yeah, but my clothes are another story."
"Ah, memories for ya!" he told me, and took a long swig of his drink. CC traveled over to where we stood, moving reindeer horns on his head like Ashley. He almost looked lonely.
"Hey, CC," Oli said brightly. "Long time no see!"
"For real, hey," they did the guy thing. "Andy said you threw a badass party. You had the paint bomb."
"Yep." Oli beamed. "One of my best."
Right. I let my gaze rove. Jinxx and Jake were here with their women, who were chatting. I could see some of Olis guys from the party that I recognized, and ---.
"Is that Ronnie?" I felt my eyes widen.
Was Ronnie Radke here?!
Okay, I lied, I was totally gonna fangirl.
"I told you," Andy slipped his arm around my shoulder.
"So you did."
Oh my god that's Danny Worsnop.
Fangirl mode inititiated.
"Here," Ashley shoved a drink in my hand. "Have some eggnog. And stop gaping, you're not as cute."
I glared at him.
I wasn't gaping.
I shifted, and took a sip of eggnog. "God did you booze everything?"
"Of course. It's not a party if you're not drunk."
"Why do I feel like that's not right?" I blinked at him, and tilted my head. "When did you get air hockey?"
"Dude! Yeah. Alex dropped it off! He couldn't stay. You wanna play? Come on ---." Ashley caught my wrist and pulled, dragging me across the room to the hockey table.
"Ashley, I'm not very good," I frowned, setting my glass down on the edge.
"See, I've heard that a lot, but you girls always surprise me," he sent me a wink, and I felt myself start to blush.
"How do you always make me feel so awkward?" I muttered, tossing the puck onto the table.
"It's becoming a really fun habit," he laughed, hitting the puck across the board.
"More like an annoying one," I replied, blocking my goal.
He won, unsurprisingly, and managed to finish his drink at the same time. He multi-tasked way too well.
"Here. Best two out of three," he offered, and I shrugged, drinking more eggnog.
"Sure." I glanced over, seeing Andy visiting with all his friends. Sure, Ashley could babysit me while Andy actually got some guy time in. It made it easier since I didn't know a lot of the people here, or those I did recognize probably wouldn't appreciate me fainting if they did talk to me.
"Boom!" Ashley raised his hands up in triumph as he hit the puck into my goal again. "If I keep scoring on you Andys gonna think somethings up!"
I grinned, hitting the puck right into his goal and laughing. "Not if I actually win!"
"Oh ho, brave eggnog girl are we?"
"It's not a party if you're not drunk, " I echoed his words, and he grinned. I leaned over, stretching my arm as the puck stalled in the middle. I flailed, unable to reach it.
"God, Leah, why are you so short?" Ashley complained, and knocked the puck towards me. "Grow some length, woman!"
"Hey, I think she's perfect," I glanced over as Andy slipped his arm around my waist. "And you're taking up all her time."
"It's not my fault she wants to get away from you. It must be the hair," Ashley told him, and I hid my grin as I moved out of the way for Oli to take my place.
"I like your hair," I told Andy as we moved more towards the tree. "Don't listen to him."
Andy chuckled, and slipped his fingers through mine. "You wanna meet Ronnie?"
"Not unless you want me to implode and go all fan girl."
"What if it's the other way around?"
"Yeah right," I shook my head. "Like anyone would know who ---."
"Hi," someone said, and we turned. Jinxx and his woman stood by us, a smile on her face. "You're Leah, right? I'm Sammi."
"Oh, hi," I smiled.
"So how are you liking the party so far? Last year Andy sat the tree on fire so I swore I wouldn't stay late this time." she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, I heard about that," I sent him a look, and he just shrugged. "And so far so good. Ashley knows how to throw a party, that's for sure."
"He does!" she agreed, glancing up at Jinxx for a moment. "A while back I swear I think he was going to die when he learned Jake had proposed to Ella. I think he was upset he was getting close to being the only single guy left."
"I can see that." I could so see that. But I also couldn't see him actually dating someone either.
"So, you're in a band?" Sammi asked while the guys started talking something in depth.
"Yeah. Escape from Grace."
"Oh!" her eyes widened slightly. "You're THAT Leah."
"Is there another one I don't know about?" She made me feel very awkward the way she said that.
"Haha, no. I just didn't connect the dots between you being Andys girl and you guys working together," she shrugged. "So your guitarist is the one CC likes right?"
"Yeah. She went home for Christmas, though. Otherwise she'd probably be here."
"Does it snow in you guys home town?"
"Unbelievably. We usually got between three and four inches. It feels weird here not getting snow."
"I wouldn't want to leave! I've seen snow and I absolutely love it! I tried to convince Jer to move to Alaska with me but he didn't seem very thrilled."
"Ha, I can't imagine why," I grinned. Sammi's smile widened.
"Okay, everyone, listen up!" Ashley called, ringing a cow bell to get everyone's attention. "I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight, especially on such short notice. And to Andy and Leah for helping me decorate and not set anything on fire... Yet," Andy rolled his eyes. "Now, you all know I have no problem with everyone staying over tonight, so let's make sure we party this Christmas!"
Cheers and drinks went into the air. The music cranked up, all hardcore versions of Christmas songs, and Ashley made sure everyone renewed their drinks and was laughing. He was a great party host, I'd give him that, and he knew how to mingle.
"Where's Jake?" Andy asked CC as he staggered over to us. "He and Ella had to leave early." CC managed, waving back and forth. "Something about a clause."
"Santa Claus?"
"Nooo, CLAWS. Like rawr," he demonstrated, flailing his hand in the air.
And there went CC.
"Looks like Oli is at his limit too," Sammi laughed, and we looked, seeing he was dancing with a cardboard snowman. "Where did he even find that?"
"It was in the kitchen cupboard,"Ashley announced as he joined us. "Oli had the munchies."
"How are you not as drunk as everyone else?" Sammi asked him, raising a brow.
"Moderation is key."
"You've been drinking constantly. You haven't set your drink down once."
"Oh, do you've been watching me all night?" he sent her a cheeky look. "You wanna meet me under the mistletoe?"
"Or choke on a walnut," she replied, and Jinxx grinned, lacing his fingers through hers. That was the first physical contact I'd seen them make all night.
I glanced at Andy, and he shrugged slightly, his arm slipping loosely around my waist.
"You wound me, truly," Ashley let his gaze roam the party. "Looks like Ronnie and Craig are getting along again," he commented. "I'm glad my parties can bring everyone together."
"I think it's more the booze," Andy told him.
"Hey, as long as it works, what does it matter why?" Ashley shrugged, and chugged what was left of his beer, his sleeve drawing back enough to reveal a glint on his arm.
"Hey, cool bracelet, Ash," Sammi said, and I glanced at his wrist, seeing a silver chain wrapping around it and clasping onto either end of a guitar. "Where'd you get it?"
"Ah," Ashley blushed slightly. "You know, just a gift from one of my adoring fans."
"Yeah? You must like this fan a lot to wear her gift," Sammi teased.
He shifted uncomfortably. "Oh look! Oli fell over the table. Better go check on my snowman."
He literally ran from us.
"Does he have someone after all?" I blinked.
"He hasn't mentioned anything. Who do you think it is?" Andy frowned.
"I know he's been visiting Starling Studios a lot," Jinxx supplied.
He was at my studio?
"Who would he be visiting there?" I wondered curiously. "I've never seen him."
"A mystery. I wonder if he invited her to the party," she glanced around. "Which girl do you think it is?"
"I doubt he would invite her," Jinxx shook his head. "Not here if he really likes her. He likes to keep them secret. Remember when he was after Lana and none of us knew about it until they were over and she was trying to send him to hell?"
What?
"Yeah. She was supposed to be some voodoo priestess or something." Andy shook his head. "He has some odd tastes, that's for sure."
I heard a crash and turned, seeing CC sprawl out across the couch, a lamp wobbling wildly.
"I think it's time for us to go. Once CC passes out, it usually gets hard core," Sammi said, taking a few steps back and tugging on her mans hand.
"Yeah. I'll see you later. Tell Ash we had to go," Jinxx called, and Andy nodded, watching his band mate be dragged away.
"They seem okay now."
"I hope so." he turned to me, and brushed my hair behind my ear. "Have you looked up?"
"Up? No." I tilted my head back.
Really, Ashley.
He had balloons shaped like mistletoe floating around overhead. I didn't even know they made those.
"Well, to keep with the Christmas tradition," Andy grinned, and I chuckled, rising on my tiptoes.
Like I ever needed an excuse to kiss him.

Notes

YAY, Christmas! Let me know what you think!:)
Who do ya think Ashleys getting gifts from?;D