One Of The Guys

The weeks leading up to my first live show and the beginning of our tour were exhausting. We practised 6 days a week, all day long and sometimes into the early morning. The only thing keening me going was CC and his enthusiasm about everything. CC was quickly becoming my best friend. During rehearsals we'd talk and laugh, and afterwards we'd hang out in each other's apartments. Every time he saw me he'd give me what we called a 'CC hug', which basically meant he'd lift me up and squeeze me until I couldn't breathe. It was nice to have a best friend.
*
The day before the tour started we moved into the tour bus. It was enormous. Two stories with a full working kitchen and living area, as well as bunks for everyone. Seeing as the kitchen/living area was on the lower level, there were only 2 bunks there. Andy and Jake slept opposite each other and some crew slept above them. On the second level of the bus slept Ashley, CC, me, and some more crew members. I slept on the top bunk above CC. While we slept that night he'd knock on the underside of my bed every so often to show me a funny video he'd found on YouTube.
*
The first show went amazingly! Although I almost threw up initially walking on stage and seeing thousands of fans screaming up at us. My nerves subsided after a song or two. I never missed a note, which gave me more and more confidence as the show went on. Andy was amazing at working up the crowd. Girls screamed and reached out for him, desperate to get a split second of his attention. As far as I could tell, the fans seemed to like me too. When the show ended I was on cloud nine, full of adrenaline. All five of us celebrated backstage with cheap champagne.
"You know what we need to do?" Ashley said, still sweating from being on stage. "We need to go out and celebrate!"
"Yeah!" Jake agreed, "[name] did an amazing job for her first show ever!"
"Thanks Jake" I blushed.
Without further ado, we got on the tour bus and drove to a club.
*
*When we arrived at the club there was a long line outside. It stretched the length of the block.
“Shit, it’s going to take forever to get in” I sighed. The rest of the guys laughed. Had I missed the joke? Ashley lay his hand on my shoulder, “Honey, you’re part of Black Veil Brides now. You don’t wait in lines anymore”
“Stay close to me, it can get a little crazy sometimes” CC said reassuringly.
When we got off the bus and crossed the parking lot, it didn’t take long for some people in the line to recognise us. The crowd started screaming and cameras started flashing. The bouncers were trying their hardest to keep the crowd behind the barriers that were set up. Ashley and Jake ran up to the barrier, they talked to fans and took pictures with them. CC sensed my anxiety and stayed back with me, giving me occasional reassuring smiles. It felt good to have someone look out for me like that.
As we eventually made our way to the door, Andy asked us to wait for him. What he did next shocked and appalled me in ways, I didn’t think possible. He gestured for one of the bouncers to join him, walking up and down the length of the line, he scanned the crowd. Girls were screaming at him, desperately trying to reach out and touch him. He pointed at one pretty brunette girl and the bouncer pulled her out of the line. Walking further, he picked another girl, this time a blonde. Once again, the bouncer pulled her out of the line. He picked one last girl before linking them around his arms and turning to us. “Okay, now we can go in”
“Does he always do that?” I asked CC
“Only some nights. I kind of feel sorry for the girls. He gets their hopes up as they party with him but, he usually abandons them by the end of the night, after he gets bored, forgetting that they ever existed”
“What a fucking asshole” I hadn't meant for CC to hear, but he agreed.
“Come on, let’s get some drinks”
Inside the club was packed. We were led to a table which was cornered off and guarded by two bouncers. Ashley and Jake sat at the table, already with a round of shots.
“What took you guys so long?” asked Ashley. “You know what, don’t answer that, just come over here and take a shot!” Ashley’s enthusiasm lifted my spirits. I decided to forget about Andy and have a good time. I took a shot in each hand and downed them one right after the other.
“Ooh the girl can drink!” exclaimed Jake.
“Of course I can drink! You don’t grow up with an alcoholic mother and not learn a thing or two” I winked as I took another shot for added effect.
The next couple of hours were a blur. They consisted of, laughing, drinking, dancing, and taking pictures with fans. Ashley and Jake were like Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee, dancing together and playing tricks on each other, my sides hurt from laughing at them so much. CC was being his amazing self, buying me drinks and making sure I was having a good time. Andy was pre-occupied with the three girls he had so carefully selected. They were sitting in the corner, hanging out of him, being repulsive.
Suddenly I heard the music from my favourite non-BVB song and freaked out. I was pretty tipsy and full of energy.
“Ohhhhhh my God you guys! It’s my song! Come on, everybody up, we have to dance!” Let me get this straight. I cannot dance. And if ever I try to dance, I always end up looking like Taylor Swift in all of her awkward glory, dancing to a Jay-Z song. As I started to dance, the guys laughed at me and stood up to join me. Out of the corner of my eye, I met Andy’s gaze, which he quickly diverted. Turning his attention back to the girls at his table.
Ashley took my hand and spun me around, passing me onto Jake who did a funny waltz-like dance with me. Laughing and having the time of our lives, CC took my hand and spun me around and around. The room was a blur, flashing lights and people dancing all merged into one. Suddenly, I lost my footing and hit the ground hard.
I was lying on the ground, staring up at the roof laughing. The alcohol in my system prevented me from feeling pain. Three heads popped into my vision.
“Shit are you okay?”
“Oh my God are you hurt?”
“I am so sorry [name]!”
I laughed and sat up, “Calm down guys, I’m fine. It’s just one of the disadvantages of wearing high heels”. CC and Jake each gave me their hand as I got up. I turned to CC. “I think it’s time for a cigarette”. He smiled “Lead the way”.
*
Sweating from dancing, outside the air was cool and refreshing. CC handed me a cigarette and lit it for me then lit one for himself. It was nice and quiet in the smoking area. It was nice to have a breather.
“It’s totally crazy in there” I exhaled.
“Yeah, that’s pretty much every weekend on tour for us. I have to commemorate you for keeping up with Ashley and Jake, those guys know how to party”
“Well, I guess I have to be tough like that being the only girl in a formerly all-male band”
“True” CC laughed. “But don’t feel like you need to put on an act in front of them. Over the past couple months of us hanging out, I know that the true-you is an amazing girl”. He smiled at me, and I found my heart beating faster.
I looked into his brown eyes. Damn, he was too God damn sweet! Even though he wasn’t as conventionally good looking as Andy, his infectious smile and personality shone through. It might have been my drunken state but I started to see CC in a whole different light than before. More than just my best friend.
He was looking off into the distance, occasionally puffing on his cigarette. He was such a genuinely nice and down to earth guy. Nothing like asshole Andy. I smiled. He caught me staring at him.
“What are you looking at?” he prodded.
“Nothing” I said, looking down to my feet. When I looked back up he was still looking at me.
“You look really beautiful tonight [name]”
My heart skipped a beat. Shit, am I really falling for my best friend right now?. He was still looking into my eyes. I decided to take a chance. I leaned into him, and he followed my lead. As our lips met fireworks went off in my stomach. He was soft and gentle, unlike Andy who was aggressive and known to bite. I felt his hand cradle my face. I melted into him and-
the door to the club opened and a bunch of people came pouring into the smoking area. CC and I jumped apart. The people that entered noticed CC and flipped out.
“Oh my God it’s CC!”
“That’s the drummer from Black Veil Brides!”
“Can you take a selfie with me?”
“Please can I have your autograph?”
Feeling overwhelmed, I stood up. “I’ll see you inside!” CC nodded at me as I walked back into the club, emotions swirling around in a fuzzy mess.

Notes

Gahh over 1000 reads! Thank you everyone ^.^ I hope you're all enjoying the story! Sorry Andy's such a dick!
On a side note, I just bought my Warped Tour UK tickets, anyone else going?
-Lauren x