Ghouls

“W-What?” I asked, completely confused.

“Oh, come on, L.. I’ve been thinking jst over the past few weeks and, Jesus Christ, have I been a jerk,” he huffed, leaning away from me slightly. “After everything you’ve admitted to me? Fuck, I’m surprised you didn’t stab me and that bitch I was with when you turned up in Chicago.” He wasn’t wrong; I was surprised I didn’t too. “At first, I didn’t know what was going on. You were ignoring me, everyone was on my back, you’re brother had is fair share of insults to throw and I just didn’t get it. I knew I’d pissed you off by being with her, but I didn’t realise how bad it was; how shit I’d been until a week or so ago when Cameron made you jump out of your skin while you were side-stage,” he said completely honestly, not looking at me, as if he were watching it in his mind.

“Is this the night you spaced out, fucked up and everyone laughed?” I grinned lightly, stupidly allowing myself to try and get back to the old us... whatever that was.

He smiled, making me blush lightly and butterflies lightly stroke my insides as it was the first smile I’d seen of his in weeks, “yeah... yeah, it was...” his smiled faded, making my own fade with it. “It just got me thinking, y’know? All that time we’d spent together. That trust that you allowed me to build. Shit, we had sex, L.. great sex at that,” he grinned; full of seduction as we both reminisced, “and just seeing the look on your face when Cameron, of all people, put his hands on you... it just made me realise how lucky I was to get that and how much of a knob I was to throw it away the way I did. It made me realise exactly why you’ve been so upset with me. I’m not surprised anymore, y’know?” He was clearly moved, as was I in all reality. He wouldn’t look at me but remained close to me, making me feel secure.

“If you knew all this, why did you do it?” I asked simply, looking up from the floor at his thoughtful face.

“I know it’s no excuse but I was shitfaced, Lau, I don’t even remember it. I don’t remember anything up until I saw you; the tears in your eyes. Drunk, I wasn’t sure what I’d done but I was damn sure I’d fucked up. When I realised the blonde was draped over me,” he paused, clenching his jaw, pissed at himself, “hit me like a tonne of bricks.” He looked over his shoulder at the roadies moving about, not wanting to look at me. “I made her go home. I don’t imagine you’ll believe me and I don’t blame you but I promise, I did not sleep with her. When I realised I’d screwed up, I got her to leave. I knew you probably already thought I’d cheated and I knew that was wrong. But, as I say, I didn’t realise how shit that must’ve felt until I remember all that’s happened to you.”

“You trying to say you fucking forgot we had sex? Forgot I’d spilt my heart out?” My blood was boiling again.

“No, no.. I hadn’t forgotten, there was just other shit on my mind, Lau; the tour.. the excitement of you being on tour with me... My mind had flooded with the good things and washed away the bad..” he smiled, but I didn’t buy it.

“So the sex wasn’t good? Wasn’t good enough to remember..” I pointed out, tears stinging my eyes.

“No! No! NO!” He shouted, making me flinch as he punched the wall, pushing off it as he gripped onto his hair, pulling it. “That night was equally the worst and best night of my life. It was only the worst because I realised you.. you’ve been hurt and that tore me apart. It was the best because you trusted me enough to tell me and sleep with me,” he almost begged, tears forming in his eyes too. “Lauren, it.. it was the night I .. I really realised I wanted you.”

I couldn’t hold it in much longer; the tears flew freely down my cheeks, my eyes staring into his desperately hopeful ones. He was sorry; really sorry. I may not trust him completely yet, but he didn’t deserve the cold shoulder anymore.

“I’m sorry,” I quietly huffed before I was wrapped in his strong embrace, pinning me to his muscular chest and shit, had I missed it.

“No, Lauren.. you have absolutely nothing to be sorry about. I do.. I was the prick; not you,” he whispered against my hair, “I promise, things are going to be so much better from here on out and-“

“Lauren-“ he was cut off by Cameron calling me, causing Brian to pull away significantly, though kept his hands lightly on my hips.

I turned to look at my brother, scowling when I saw the huge-shit eating grin that lined his face, “what do you want? I’m a bit busy,” I tried to scoff before Brian lightly tightened his grip, causing me to blush lightly.

“Alright, I was just getting a bit worried ‘tis all; you’ve been gone a while.. I’ll leave you to it,” he still grinned, rubbing his hands on an old rag before walking back into the venue through the fire exit.

“Sorry about him.. all he’s said.. I’ll make sure he apologises..” I smiled weakly up at Brian, leaning into him.

“You don’t have to do that.. I deserved it; if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t of realised what the fuck I’d done,” he smiled, stroking my cheek lightly before pulling me back into his strong arms. “So, what do you want to do? Whatever, it’s on me,” he spoke, resting his chin on the top of my head.

“You don’t have to.”

He chuckled awkwardly, “yeeah, I do.. I owe you. Now, do you want lunch or not?” he looked at me sternly before showing off that magnificent smile that never failed to spark my own.

“Alright.. alright.. let me just grab my stuff from inside,” I pulled away reluctantly.

“Alright,” he smirked, kissing me again with just as much passion as ever, smiling against my lips before pecking me lightly and letting me go.

I blushed lightly before slowly going inside the venue and heading towards Cam who was still sat on the floor next to the control deck. I picked my jacket, purse, keys and phone off of the floor.

“Suck his dick yet?” Cameron said bluntly, trying desperately to suppress a smirk.

“Fuck off, dickhead,” I told him just about turning to leave.

“No, seriously though,” he called, leaning back so that his back was flat on the floor, though legs still crossed, his light grey shirt rising away from his black shorts and his baseball cap covering his face before he flipped it around so he could still look at me, “you both okay now? Seemed pretty cosy when I came and checked on you.. was it all a big misunderstanding or what?” he asked, completely seriously.

I stood and thought for a second; that’s exactly what all this was; just a misunderstanding. “Yeah, exactly.. he explained what’d happened and, really, I think I just saw red, y’know? Trusted him ‘n shit, saw him with her, presumed the worst, when really nothing happened and he’s been feeling awful about it ever since,” I explained as he nodded.

“Alright, well as long as you’re okay,” he smiled; looking away from the stuff he was playing with in his hands and looking at me.

“Yeeah, I dunno if I trust him completely just yet, but he doesn’t deserve me ignoring him and he’s a great guy, y’know? He’s a lot of fun and, in truth, I’ve missed him a bit,” I blushed lightly.

“Aaaaw, L, you pussy,” Cam rolled onto his front and stood in front of me, twisting the baseball cap around on his head so that the visor was behind his head, ruffling his messy, black hair.

“That’s not even an insult,” I said matter-of-factly before giggling.

“Naaah, I’m just glad that you’re gonna be alright again; I’ve been able to make you chuckle but nowhere near as happy as he did make you for a while.. you’ll be alright, kid,” he told me, hugging me quickly and tightly. “So, where’s he stealing ya to?” he quizzed, putting his hands on his hips.

“Not sure, just out for lunch,” I grinned widely.

“Ooooo, if he doesn’t spoil you rotten, he’s a bigger twat than I thought he was,” he winked, turning away from me.

“Nah, he’s alright,” I smiled, waiting for him to pick up his things.

“Alright, well, I’m just gonna go to the caf and get my lunch so I’ll see you later, yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah, course,” I smiled, before starting to turn away back towards the fire exit.

“Alright, see ya later alligator,” he called, making his way backstage.

“In a while, crocodile,” I seemed to shout across the hall before I heard him cackle, making me smile.

“Everything alright?” Brian asked, smiling, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

“Perfect,” I grinned up to him, making our way out of the car park to the venue.

There was a comfortable silence before Brian asked, “so, what do you fancy?”

“Steak. A big-ass slab of steak. Mmmf.” I grunted stopping to look at the menu in the window of just one of the many restaurants that lined the street.

He chuckled, “okay, steak it is,” pushing me through the doors.

“Good afternoon, how can I help you today?” a seriously posh, bordering uptight, waiter greeted us.

“Table for two, please,” Brian asked as he took is radiators off his nose and tucked them into his bright white shirt.

“Bri, you realise this place is ridiculous expensive,” I whispered to him, cautious, as the waiter showed us to our table.

“Lau, you realise I’m a rockstar and that money isn’t really an issue for me? Plus, I owe you,” he ensured me, smiling and thanking the waiter.

“I agree that you owe me, but you owe me, like, a McDonalds; not an $80 handful of chips,” I whispered to him, still cautious that he really was going to spend that kind of money just for lunch.

He grinned widely at me, causing my clearly vigilant expression to rise into a weak smile. “Plus, I’m seriously underdressed. Everyone in here is in their best evening attire. Brian, I’m wearing my brothers khaki shorts, my white, fucking, Mötley Crüe vest top and my black converse that I almost lost in quicksand that are now permanently caked in crap,” I looked at him seriously.

He continued to smile, his perfect, infectious smile making it increasingly difficult to subdue my own. “You look perfect, Lauren, calm it,” he smirked, his deep, brown eyes lightly glazed with lust, causing those damn butterflies to erupt again.

“No, no, Bri you don’t get it. You look perfect; you always do. I haven’t showered in 3 days, my hair’s a mess, I don’t have any make-up on and you brought me here? Of all places.”

He continued to simply grin at me. “Eugh,” I grunted, slamming my forehead onto the table, “I give up with you.”

“Are you ready to order drinks?” the uptight waiter was back making me spring up, stray hairs that weren’t up in my bun covering my face, causing Brian to laugh out loud.

“Yep, yeah.. um.. I’ll just have a beer, please,” I smiled, earning a look, which could only warrant me spitting on his shoe, from the waiter.

“Same here, please,” Brian grinned, handing back the drinks menu I didn’t even realise we had.

“I’ll be back shortly to take your orders,” the waiter spoke only to Brian, ignoring me.

Once he was gone, “Jeeez, that dude ought to take that solid gold pole out his ass,” I leaned over the table to whisper to Bri, though loud enough for other patrons to hear, judging by the death glares I got.

“Why’s it solid gold?” he chuckled, looking at me confused though full of adoration.

“Because only these people could afford a solid gold pole to stick up their cracks,” I told him, earning a fair few huffs from the surrounding visitors.

Brian was almost bright red trying to contain his laughter as another, female waiter came back and handed us our drinks; much more politely smiling at us both before she headed back towards the kitchen.

“So,” he coughed, taking a swig of his beer, “how’s things been?” he asked, leaning back comfortably on his seat.

“Good, to be fair. Kinda boring because you’ve not been around but awesome; me and Cameron are back the way I remembered. It’s like we’re ten again, most days, and I’d missed the days like that. It’s nice to feel like I’ve got my twin back,” I smiled honestly.

“Ace. I know I’ve only been stood at a distance due to everything, but you guys are great; you’re brilliant together,” he smiled.

“Well, not sure Jade agrees; I’m sure it is like looking after ten year olds most of the time. I’m surprised she hasn’t ripped her hair out, the amount of trouble we’ve caused her,” I chuckled mischievously. “How’ve you been?”

“Honestly? Kinda shit. I’m ecstatic because the tour’s going great, y’know; all the fans are diggin’ the new stuff.. I just had wished I was going to spend it with you, but after I fucked up I-“ he broke himself off; his seemingly permanent smile dropping as he focused on the beer bottle in his hands.

I felt awful; he didn’t deserve all this..”Bri, I am sorry..” I told him, taking one of his hands from the bottle and holding it in mine, making him look at me and smile weakly.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” there was a silence while we looked at each other; lost in each other’s gazes. His eyes wandered as a figure approached the table, “shit,” he cursed, under his breath, I guessed to try and hide it from me.

Next to the table was basically the perfect woman. Perfect ass, perfect rack falling out of her perfect, slim, black dress, perfect hair, perfect face; she was practically the opposite of me. And as if that wasn’t enough for me to hate her, her perfect plump lips began to move:

“Syn.. is that you?”

Notes