Believed (My Misery Muse) (13 page)

Chapter 22

Jules

After Denver, we drove the short trip to Colorado
Springs where they were playing at a club the next night.  It was a small show
that was going to be filmed. They wanted a smaller more intimate venue.  I was
excited because we would be sleeping off the bus.  I wanted to get away from
everyone for a while, especially after the kiss I had shared with Sam.

When we got to the hotel Ian left to make sure
everything was ready before the band got off the bus.  Everyone was exhausted
and ready for a real bed and food.  We were all antsy so when Ian came back it
was a race out the doors.  He passed out keycards and we quickly took off
towards the hotel and the bank of elevators.  I leaned against the far wall
beside X.

“Tired?” He asked quietly.

I nodded and rolled my head so I could look at
him. “You?”

“Nah,” he replied while yawning.

As soon as the elevator dinged, we all climbed off
and quickly found our rooms.  I was grateful that we weren’t all sharing a
suite like we had in Vegas.  A room of my own sounded like heaven after being
stuck with them on a tour bus for so long.  At this point, I wasn’t even sure
how many days it had been.  They all seemed to blur together.

I found my room, quickly entered, dropped my bags
by the door, and then made a beeline for the bed which I fell into.  I had no
intentions of getting up before I had a decent eight hours sleep.  If anyone
woke me before then I couldn’t attest for their safety.  Almost as soon as my
head hit the pillow I was asleep, dreaming of warm lips and blue eyes.

I woke in the morning, laying there snuggled and
wrapped up in warm blankets.  I didn’t want to get up but I needed to.  When I
couldn’t take it any longer, I rolled and unraveled the blankets I had been
cocooned in, then headed to the bathroom.  The idea of a long hot shower
beckoned me.

When I was finished with my almost hour-long
shower, I pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a long sleeve shirt.  Shoved my
feet in my Jack Skellington slipper boots and went in search of food and
coffee.  I noticed a coffee shop that had been in the lobby last night.

I ordered a latte and scone, when I had them in my
possession I found a table.  I took a drink of my coffee, a bite of scone, then
pulled my phone out.  I needed to talk to someone about what happened
yesterday.

          Me:    You awake

          Max:   am now

          Me:    We kissed

          Max:   who kissed?

          Me:    your brother and I kissed

          Max:   and?

          Me:    haven’t talked to him since

          Max:   why not?

          Me:    not sure if he’s avoiding me or
I’m avoiding him

          Max:   why are you avoiding him?

          Me:    you know why

          Max:   actually I don’t

          Me:    Beau

          Max:   what about the ass nugget?

          Me:    I think he broke me

          Max:   no he didn’t

          Me:    how can you be sure?

          Max:   you’re too strong to let some
douche canoe break you

          Me:    why am I so stupid?

          Max:   you’re not stupid Jules

          Me:    I’m scared

          Max:   of course you are, so is Sam

          Me:    tell me what to do

          Max:   I can’t

          Me:    why not?

          Max:   this is something you two have to
work out yourselves

          Me:    why did I put up with it?  If I’m
so strong why didn’t I stop it

          Max:   you thought you loved him, you
wanted to help him

          Me:    have you seen him?

          Max:   yep, he was standing across from
the shop yesterday

          Me:    you didn’t do anything did you?

          Max:   nope, but Cris did

          Me:    what did he do?

          Max:   let’s just say he won’t be so
pretty if you see him again

          Me:    why would he do that?

          Max:   because he’s your big brother,
it’s his job

          Me:    he didn’t get into trouble did
he?

          Me:    Max?

          Me:    fuck he did, didn’t he?

          Me:    I’m coming home

          Max:   no you’re not, he’s fine

          Me:    why can’t I come home?

          Max:   just stay until they come home,
it’s safer

          Me:    what aren’t you telling me?

          Max:   nothing

I knew he was lying to me, there was something
going on.  I also knew he wouldn’t tell me. He, like everyone else, thought
they were protecting me.  It didn’t matter that I was an adult.  I put my phone
down and finished my breakfast.  I’d try Devi later and see if I could get any
more details later, or maybe I’d call Ash instead.  Except I was worried Ash
would be mad at me for getting Cris in trouble.  Devi would be safer; I wasn’t
ready to talk to Ash yet.

Sam

I was in the process of making coffee in my hotel
room when a buzzing noise made me look over to see my phone vibrating against
the bedside table.  I finished pouring the water in, then hit the button to
make it brew before answering.

“Hello?”

“Hey Sam.”

“What’s up, Max?”

“Some trouble came up here.”

“Dad?”

“No,” he chuckled. “Cris was arrested yesterday.”

“Why?”

“He beat the shit out of Jules’ ex.”

“Good for him,” I muttered.

“Yeah but the guy started spouting off some
threats.”

“What kind of threats?”

“Not sure, we’re still looking into them.”

“Max,” I growled.

“There’s nothing you can do from there, just keep
an eye on her, okay?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Oh and congrats on getting the balls to finally
kiss her,” he said laughing.

I groaned and rubbed the back of my neck. “She
told you?”

“Of course, she tells me everything.”

“I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“Sam, do not play her,” I could hear the anger in
his voice.

“I’m not trying to.”

“Seriously, she can’t handle you playing some game
with her.”

I sighed. “I can’t handle one either.”

“Sam,” he said softly, “be careful with her, but I
think if you actually gave it a chance you two could help one another.”

“Max, I don’t want anything serious with anyone.”

“I get that, but bro, just talk to her.”

“How’s Mom holding up?”

“She’s still interviewing more nurses for Dad.”

“Good.”

“Since she’s finally realized having help is a
good idea, it makes my life so much easier.”

“How’s Dad?”

“He has his good days and his bad days,” Max said
quietly.

“I’ll be home soon.”

“Mom will be happy. She’s still pissed you went on
tour when he’s sick.”

“It couldn’t be helped.”

“I know, but she doesn’t understand.”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “I know she
doesn’t.”

“It’s fine, everything is good here, I promise.”

“Call me if you need anything.”

“I will.  And take care of my best friend, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“And don’t break her heart.  She couldn’t handle
it, not from you.”

“What do you mean, not from me?”

“Nothing. Never mind. I gotta go.”

With that, he hung up on me, I flopped back on the
bed and stared up at the ceiling.  My brother was a pain in the ass.  I closed
my eyes and envisioned swollen lips and lilac eyes.  I jerked up off the bed
and fixed myself a cup of coffee before heading over to my couch, and pulled
the acoustic guitar out of its case.  I had a riff floating through my head and
I wanted to get it down before I lost it.  Then I would go and search out
Jules, I needed to make sure she was okay. I had promised my brother.

I pushed myself up from the bed and got dressed. 
Then went in search of Jules, I was standing outside her room knocking when X
came walking down the hall.  He looked at me, then the room number before
smirking at me.

“She’s not there.”

I sighed. “Where is she?”

“Down in the café,” he said smugly.

I rubbed my forehead trying to stem the headache I
could feel building. “What aren’t you telling me, Xavier?”

He chuckled then walked off. “Better hurry,” he
called back then walked into his room.

I headed towards the elevator; I had promised I’d
keep an eye on her.  He really needed to tell me what threats were made so I
had a better understanding of the situation.  Either way, I’d have security
with her at all times until this whole fiasco ended.

When I walked in the lobby, I saw the small café
that was tucked away.  I walked in and found Jules sitting with two of the guys
from Warped Morality.  Thatcher, their bass player had an arm draped across her
back, staring down her shirt while her head was thrown back laughing.  Keaton
was sitting across from her laughing in his coffee cup.  All I wanted to do was
go and rip Thatcher’s arm from his body.

Jules turned her head in my direction, her eyes
shining in amusement, she quirked her lips up in a smile and I felt my heart
stutter.  I reached up and rubbed my chest then turned and headed to the
counter.  I needed coffee; I needed to get the image of her laughter from my
head.  I really needed to get my anger under control before I permanently
damaged Thatcher for being near her.

I ordered a coffee and stood aside while they got
it; I felt my phone vibrate and fished it out of my pocket.

“Yes?”

“Find her?”

“Yep,” I clipped.

“You sound pissed,” X taunted.

I grit my teeth. “Not at all.”

“Uh huh, keep telling yourself that.” Then he hung
up.

I took my coffee from the barista and headed over
to where Jules was sitting.  Today was going to suck.

Chapter 23

Jules

I sat half listening to Thatcher as he told me
some of the things he’d seen the groupies do while on tour to get attention. 
He reminded me of what a younger of Xavier would have been.  Keaton was quiet;
he just sat back and watched everything that happened around him.  Keaton
looked up at me and smiled slightly then nodded towards where Sam was staring
at us from the counter.

“Something going on there?” He asked quietly.

“Don’t know,” I answered just as quietly and
honestly. I didn’t know what was going on with us if anything.

I kept my eyes locked with Sam’s trying to
decipher what was rolling through him.  I saw the anger, but I wasn’t sure whom
with.  He continued to stare at me as he walked over to our table and sat down
across from Thatcher.

“Good morning,” he murmured.

“Morning,” I replied and finally looked away.

“Where have you been keeping Jules hidden away
Sam?” Thatcher asked. I looked over at Keaton and rolled my eyes.

He chuckled quietly while Sam stared at Thatcher;
it reminded me of that saying ‘if looks could kill.’

“What time do you need to leave to get where ever
the show is?” I asked Sam trying to break his stare down with Thatcher.

“In a few hours,” Sam said looking over at me. 
“You coming this time?  Or are you staying here?”

“We’re not leaving after the show?”

“We are, but the bus is staying here.  After the
show, we’re coming back here then heading out.”

“I think I’ll hang out here, maybe get some work
done.”

“You could come out with us,” Thatcher offered.

“You’re not playing?”

“Nah, this is just a My Misery Muse show,” he said
with a shrug.  “Some of us are going to go out and party before we leave
tonight.”

“No thanks,” I said smiling over at him. “I think
I just want to hang out in a non-moving bed for a while.”

Thatcher grinned at me. “Non-moving bed, huh? 
What have you been getting up to on that bus of yours?”

I felt my cheeks burn at the way that sounded.
“Nothing,” I mumbled.  “I just meant…” I stammered. “I mean…”

He laughed. “I get it, Jules, just couldn’t
resist.”

I looked down at the table and willed my cheeks to
go back to normal.  Only I could feel Sam’s eyes on me, which only caused them
to flush more.

“We’ll leave security with you,” Sam said.

I looked up at him and nodded.

“I’ll be here,” Keaton said quietly.

“You’re not going out?”

“Not my thing.”

“Mine either.” He smiled at me and I returned it.

“When we get back, we’ll head to Albuquerque,” Sam
reminded me.  “So make sure you’re ready.”

“Will do.”

He nodded. “I need to go check on things.” He
looked at me one more time before standing and walking out of the café.

I sighed and laid my head down on the table.

Keaton laughed. “He has it bad.”

“Who has what bad?”

“Sam, he likes you.”  I heard a chair scrape.
“Come on, Jules, let’s go find something to do.”

“Fine,” I mumbled.

I stood and followed Keaton out of the café.  I
liked Keaton; he was soothing to be around.

Sam

We walked off the stage and I was relieved. 
Standing under the stage lights, sweating my ass off was bad enough, add in the
extra lighting for the filming and I was miserable.  I took a bottle of
Gatorade from one of the stagehands and gulped it down, tossed it in the trash,
and took a second bottle.  We headed to the green room that the bar had
supplied us for the night.

“I want a fucking shower,” Eli grumbled.

“Amen,” sighed Seth, “you stink, Eli.”

“Fuck off, Seth,” Eli growled. “You try playing
drums under all those fucking lights.”

“I get the first shower,” X quipped. “I’m the
star.”

I looked over at Seth and saw the glimmer in his
eyes.  We both threw out now empty bottles at X.

“Hey,” he yelled when one of them pelted him in
the head. “You’ll mess up my hair.”

I snorted. “Doesn’t matter, we don’t have time for
you to fuck your way through the groupies tonight.”

“Sam,” he breathed dramatically, “there is always
time to fuck.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not tonight, we need to get
back to the hotel.”

“Just because you aren’t getting any doesn’t mean
you have to deprive the rest of us,” X whined.

“Why don’t you pick someone out for a quickie?”
Eli added, “You seem more irritable than normal.”

“And a quick fuck with a faceless girl will fix
that?” I asked.

“Stress relief,” X quipped.

“No thanks,” I grunted.

I felt Seth’s eyes on me but I studiously ignored
it.

“How long has it been?” X asked seriously.

“Dunno, Seattle, I think.”

“Dude, that was in like November,” Eli gasped.

“Yep.”

“Okay I get you aren’t into sleeping with a bunch
of groupies, but come on Sam, you don’t do the celibate thing either.” X said
looking over at me.  “So what gives?”

“Just been busy.”

“No, you’re not any busier now than you are any
other tour,” Seth said quietly.

We walked into the green room and I grabbed a
bottle of water from a bowl of ice.

“Just not into it, I guess.”

“No, you’re just not into it unless it’s a
particular brunette,” X said eyeing me.

I scrubbed a hand over my face and sighed. “There’s
no one particular, just not into the whole groupie thing anymore.”

X pointed his bottle of water at me. “You were
never into the groupie thing like the rest of us, but it never stopped you from
getting some every few weeks.  Since we went back home, you’ve been different.”

“Don’t deny you have a thing for Jules,” Eli
smirked over at me. “I saw you in the bunk room.”

I snapped my head in his direction. “What do you
mean saw me?”

“Yesterday, you and Jules kissing on the floor in
between the bunks,” he clarified.

I swallowed roughly then closed my eyes. “It was a
mistake.”

I heard Seth sigh. “Just don’t hurt her,” he
muttered then walked off.

“Don’t worry, Sam, I’m sure Keaton took good care
of her,” Xavier quipped.

“What?” I growled.

“Oh she didn’t tell you?  They were hanging out in
her room when we came here.”

I watched as X walked away and Eli took off to the
bathroom.  My legs gave out and I plopped down on the couch with my head
between my knees.  I couldn’t catch my breath, the thought of someone else
touching her, the images running through my head, it all made me want to kill
someone.

“Sure it was still a mistake?” Seth asked quietly.

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe you should figure it out before what you’re
picturing actually happens.  Keaton’s a good guy, and unlike Max, he won’t see
her like a sister.”

“There are things going on, I can’t talk about
it.  I don’t know what I want or what I think.”

“I’m here if you want to talk.  Just realize that
she’s not going to wait around forever for you to figure it out.”

I nodded, because he was right.  Eventually she’d
find someone who wasn’t as fucked up as me.  She deserved that, but still the
thought of someone else touching her was driving me crazy.