Before The Angels Fell

Andys POV

Day, I don't even know anymore. City, no clue. I was numb.
I staggered off stage with looks of judgment from the other band members, including Ashley.
"Well tonight was shit" Jake commented as we walked into the dressing rooms to gather our stuff.
I tried to ignore him and keep my head down. It wasn't hard since it had been throbbing since this morning. I would have done anything to cancel the show tonight, or the night before, or the night before that.
Me and Ashley went on a bender that fucked us both, but somehow he was fine.
No one else spoke. They all knew it was me. I knew it was me.
We packed up our stuff and got back on the bus. I went straight to my bunk so I wouldn't be bothered by the guys. I didn't want to have to explain why I felt like shit for the last few weeks. I tried to fall asleep, but I kept tossing. Then I remembered, I had a flask somewhere in my bunk.
I felt along the side of the mattress until I felt the cool metal hit my fingers. I smiled as I pulled it out of it's hiding spot and took a swig. The burn of the whiskey hit the back of my throat and warmed my stomach. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feel of the alcohol sending me to sleep.
"Andy? Andy?! Wake up!" I heard Ashley say as he neared my bunk.
I wrapped myself further into my blankets, pretending I was asleep.
"Andy, stop faking, I know you're awake" he whispered.
"What do you want?" I mumbled.
"Can we talk?"
"Fine" I said unwrapping myself and getting out of my bunk.
Ashley walked to back of the bus, furthest away from the guys.
"Are you okay?" He asked, worry in his tone.
"Yeah, I'm fine" I said, my voice raspy.
"No you're not. Tonight's show fell flat. You're lucky the BVB army are always happy to see us. You had no life! Don't tell me you're still fucked from last weekend?"
"What if I told you I am..." I said cautiously.
"Andy!" He shouted.
"Shh! Just quiet, okay? I can't bounce back from benders like you."
"Andy, that's not healthy. If I knew, I wouldn't have made you come with me."
I stayed silent cause I didn't know what to tell him. That I was homesick? That I was lonely? That anything, but this tour would be better right now?
"Well, from now on, you're staying sober. I'll make Jake watch you if you don't!" He threatened.
"Okay, okay. I will. I'll be good for this tour anyways."
"You better" he said sternly.

Ashleys POV

As I walked away from Andy and the mess he had become. I couldn't help, but feel like it was my fault. I mean, I wanted him to have fun, but not develop alcoholism from me. I knew how to handle my alcohol whereas Andy was still young. I shouldn't have pushed him into my world. He really belongs in someone's arms. Someone to look after him, he was still a kid.
I hope was being serious about being sober. The shows were suffering and the crowd won't put up with it forever.
"Is he okay?" CC asked as I got into my bunk.
"Yeah, he just has to lay off the booze. Jake is gonna watch him from now on. We're incapable parents" I joked.
"Well he is a baby. We're the rowdy teens and Jake and Jinxx are our parents" CC said continuing our inside joke.
"We'll always be the fun ones" I laughed.

Rileys POV

Having Kimber stay at my apartment over the last few days had been amazing. I hate being dependent on someone, but it's not even that. I just like having someone in the house. I have always been lonely, but never alone. In theory.
My dad wasn't much, but knowing some one else was there was enough.
I lounged on my bed, sifting through The Roof's Facebook page to see the kind of people that come to the bar as Kimber flicked through TV channels.
"Dude, there's nothing on" she complained.
"Pick a movie then" I said flatly.
"No, I want you to tell me more about Eli" she said as she held my phone.
"Hey! Give me my phone back!"
"He's pretty cute. What happened?" She said, staring at my lock screen.
I hadn't told her much about Eli, other than we worked together and became really close.
"He left" I said simply.
"I know, but why?" She whined as she came over to the bed and sat next to me.
"Okay, wanna know the real reason I own The Roof?"
"Of course."
I told her the whole story of Noah and how I became close with Eli. How Eli acted around me and how we were like a couple, but not.
"Whoa... Do you think that Eli liked you?" She asked afterwards.
"I assume he did, but Noah's death was too much for him. I couldn't decide on how I felt about him and he wasn't willing to stay to find out."
"What a dick."
"No, he's not like that. He was amazing and caring. The first person I felt I could trust, but he broke it too... Like everyone else..." I said sadly.
"It'll be okay, you have me now" she said smirking.
I couldn't help but crack a smile. "We're gonna be good friends."

Notes