Hunting Lust (Orion the Hunter Part Three) (17 page)

Angel passed us a couple of beers and we sat and watched the guys do their thing.  I couldn’t wait to see them on stage, performing their actual set, the following day.  During a beautiful ballad that Scott had written, Lucas lay back and pulled me across him.  Then he kissed me tenderly at first but it quickly deepened so that we were making out like teenagers in no time. 

I hadn’t noticed that the music had stopped but nothing could block out Travis’ vulgar mouth when he decided to draw our antics to the attention of the whole crowd.  We sat up, grinning and Lucas bowed to the crowd when they cheered.  I saw Scott, still not looking happy, walk over to Ethan and say something in his ear.  Ethan shrugged and then Scott spoke with Travis, who nodded and finally Chad, who shook his head.  Scott just grinned and walked back over to his drum kit.

He picked up his sticks and nodded at Ethan and Travis.  They began to play and, within seconds, my heart started thumping in my chest.  I looked over at Scott who, for once, seemed to prefer to look down at his kit.  Angel caught my eye, frantically waving at Chad. 
Why would they play this song? Why?

I took deep, calming breaths and tried to relax.  When time came for the drum solo that was as familiar to me as my own heartbeat, Scott looked straight at me as he played.  His face was totally impassive but I got the message loud and clear.  This was deliberate; he wanted to hurt me.  My emotions raged around my head until everything began to spin and then … nothing.

When I came to, Angel was hovering over me, fussing.  She was stroking my hair and asking repeatedly if I was okay. I sat up, confused with my surroundings and all of the noise.  I remembered where I was and realized that I was on a bunk in the tour bus and that the noise was from the crowd outside.  Angel explained that I’d passed out and that Lucas had carried me to my bunk. 

The sound of two men arguing distracted me and Angel’s head also shot around.  I leaned out and saw Chad and Scott having a very heated discussion.  Some of Chad’s words reached me and, as they filtered into my brain, I realized why they were arguing and why I’d passed out.  I made to get up but Angel pushed me back down.

“Let Chad sort it, Issy.  I haven’t a clue why Scott decided that it would be a good idea to perform –“

I gasped. “It was Scott’s idea?  Why the hell …? He knows that I can’t handle that track.”

She looked grim. “I think that’s what Chad is trying to find out. He says Scott’s been acting weird all day.”

“Where’s Lucas?” I didn’t want him getting involved in it.

“He’s gone to try to find a doctor.  He was worried sick, Issy.”

“I don’t need a doctor!” I hissed.

“I know.  But what could I say?  I knew you wouldn’t want me to tell him what was wrong and how would it look if I said I didn’t know what was wrong with you and then stopped him from getting help when you’ve passed out?  I didn’t know what the hell to say.”

I looked at her huge blue eyes, full of love and concern and my heart swelled with love for my best friend.  “I’m sorry.”

She smiled.  “It’s okay.”

Chad’s angry voice was getting louder. I knew I had to do something to sort this before Lucas came back.  So, despite Angel’s protests, I got up from the bunk and walked towards the seating area with her right behind me.

Chad was in full flow, demanding to know what the hell was wrong with Scott, when he saw me and stopped abruptly.

“Issy, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?  I didn’t want to play it.  I told Scott no when he suggested it,” he said, uncomfortably.

I turned on my heel to face Scott.  “You suggested playing it?”  Then I remembered him wandering over to each of the guys and speaking to them.  I recalled Chad shaking his head.  Scott didn’t answer but I knew he had.  “Why the fuck would you do that?  What have I done to you to deserve that?  I thought we were friends but obviously not.”

I stormed down the aisle and jumped down the steps of the bus.  I heard Angel calling me back but I just needed to get out.  I hadn’t a clue where I was heading. I just walked.  I hadn’t got far when I heard footsteps catching me up.

“Issy! Wait.”

I turned to face Scott, tempted to slap him and continue walking.  “I’ve got nothing to say to you, Scott.”

“I’m sorry.  I don’t know what came over me.  It was unforgivable and believe me, you can’t make me feel any worse about myself than I already do,” he cried.

“You looked straight at me when you played the drum solo.  You fucking knew what you were doing. Chad had no business telling you about my past but he did and, as my friend, I never expected you to use it to hurt me.  You knew how upset I’d be if you performed it.  You’ve obviously got a problem with Lucas and now you’ve got one with me. So come on, big man, let’s have it.  What the fuck if your problem?”

I jumped two foot in the air when another voice spoke out of the darkness.  “Answer her, Scott or we find another way to settle this. Just you and me.”

Lucas! 
Oh fuck! Could this get any worse?

Scott sucked in a long breath.  “I’ve already said.  I don’t know why I decided that it would be a good idea to play that track.  I think nerves about tomorrow just got to me.  This is all a bit of fun for you, Lucas but this is what I’ve worked towards for years.  Without my song writing, financing, gig seeking and constantly trying to keep Trav and Ethan in line, there would be no band for you to take over.  I am sorry, Issy. You’ve got to believe me – I was stupid.  I would never try to hurt you, you know that, right?”

“I thought so …” I said quietly.  “Lucas, would it be possible for us to find somewhere to stay tonight.  I don’t feel like staying on the tour bus.”

Lucas stepped to my side and put his arm around my back.  “Of course, Honey.”  Then he turned to Scott and said in a caustic tone, “You’d better go and do what you’re good at – keep Travis and Ethan out of trouble so they can get up on that stage tomorrow.  Tell Angel that I’ve taken Issy to a hotel for the night.  I’m sure she’ll understand.”

With that, he pulled me along with him and walked away.  He called a cab that took us to a hotel.  Lucas directed us into the bar and found a secluded corner table.  He went to the bar and came back with a bottle of Jack Daniels and two glasses.  He poured us both a generous measure and sat back, sipping the amber liquid whilst looking at me over the top of the glass.

I knew that he was giving me the opportunity to speak, to tell him what that had all been about.  I sipped the JD slowly and considered my options.  He must’ve overheard what I’d said about using my past to hurt me.  He must know that it had something to do with Scott choosing to perform a particular track.  I couldn’t think of a convincing lie that would pacify him and I doubted very much that he’d just let this go.  I figured it was better that he learned the truth, and that he learned it from me.

I put my glass down on the table and met his gaze. “Did you recognize the track that they played?”

“Yeah, it’s called Bella Baby, isn’t it?”

I felt my nails bite into my palms and took a steadying breath.  “Yes.  Well, the long and short of it is that it was written for me by my father.”

I watched as surprise flickered across his face.  “Wow, your dad was a song writer?  No wonder you love music so much.”

I smiled.  “Yeah, I guess.  But my dad wasn’t just a song writer, he was the drummer of a band too.”

“Wow.  What was the name of the band?  Were they  ...” He broke off, his eyebrows furrowing.  “Hang on.  Wasn’t it Stag that released Bella Baby? And the drummer was Bryan Prince, if I remember correctly.”

I watched as comprehension dawned and his eyes grew wider and his mouth slack. 

“Bella … Isobella … That song was written for you?” he asked finally.

“It was, not long after I was born,” I said, trying not to be drawn back into the past.

Lucas moved his seat closet and took my hand, rubbing his thumb back and forth across my knuckles.  “When Angel said your parents had both died when you were young, I obviously had no idea who they were.  So, you lost your dad and your mum.  Was it at the same time?”

I closed my eyes and tried to fight back the tears that threatened to escape.  “Yes. They were killed outright in a car crash after a concert.  I was only very young.  I barely remember them.”

“I guess that makes your dad’s music even more special – particularly that track.  An unbreakable bond between you and him.  I’m glad you’ve told me, Issy.  It means so much that you are able to confide in me.”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer; huge sobs wracked my body.  Lucas enveloped me in his big, strong arms and held me - said nothing, just held me until my sobs began to subside.

“So Scott knows all of this? He knows that hearing that song upsets you so much?” he said finally.

I raised my head from his chest and nodded.  “I don’t know what’s with him today.  It’s so unlike him. He is usually the sweetest, kindest man that you could wish to meet.”

Lucas pursed his lips.  “I think I might know.  Unless I’m mistaken, he is in love with you, Issy.  I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he thinks that nobody’s looking.  And how he looks at me when I’m with you.  Us canoodling in front of him must have triggered his jealous, spiteful act.”

I sat back in my seat and frowned.  I’d always known that Scott had a soft spot for me but there was no way that he had strong feelings for me, was there?  If his problem was purely with Lucas, as I’d thought, it didn’t make sense for him to hurt me deliberately.  What Lucas said made sense but I really didn’t think that Scott’s feelings ran deep enough for that. 
Oh my god! He took me to the bathroom when I was pissed the other week!  He helped me to go to the … oh my god!!!

Lucas interrupted my reverie, asking how long I’d known Scott.  I bit my lip, wondering whether I should just tell Lucas everything or, if I didn’t, wondering what I could say that wouldn’t lead to more questions … difficult questions. 

“I’ve known all of them since Junior High.  I moved to their High School and became firm friends with Angel very quickly.  She and Chad were already an item and the band had just begun to form.  They were dire for a while, you know.”  I chuckled at the memory.

“You were lucky.  Moving schools is tough.  Why did you have to move schools?”

Ah! Crunch time!
  I decided to give him the true version but with selected omissions.

“When my parents died, the only family I had left was my aunt: my dad’s sister.  Let’s just say that she wasn’t delighted about it and, had her inheritance from my father not been tied to her becoming my legal guardian, I very much doubt that she would have taken me,” I said with a wry smile.

“Ouch! That must’ve been really tough.  But she did look after you okay?”

I opened my mouth to reassure him that she had, but no words were forthcoming.  My mouth was suddenly dry and it felt like my throat was closing.  I reached for my glass and took a mouthful, forcing the fiery liquid down my throat.

Lucas didn’t miss a thing.  “I’ll take that as a no then,” he muttered.

I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, refusing to cry any more tears.  “Each time she looked at me, she said it reminded her that he was dead.  She didn’t get on well with my mom – nobody was good enough for her big brother.  She idolized my dad and I mean truly worshipped him.  Every single day I had to listen to her blame me or my mom for his death.  When I reached 16, I’d had enough.  The situation had worsened and I needed to get away from her poison but …” Angry tears spilled down my face. I gritted my teeth and dashed them away.

“I thought she’d be glad to see me go when I suggested that I move schools to a good one that accepted boarders.  I thought that money wouldn’t be a problem. She could just pay for it from my trust fund.”  I paused, closing my eyes to block out the painful memories.

Lucas took my hands again.  “What happened, Issy?”