After All That We've Been Through

Kady's POV

I walked down the hallway in search of the room number that the nurse told me. "321. 321. 321." I kept repeating the number as I walked so that my mind wouldn't wander to the events that just took place outside. I couldn't cry again: I wouldn't. Silly me for actually thinking I could be happy and safe in a relationship.

"Kady, slow down," Ryn said, jogging to keep up with my fast pace. Suddenly her hand was on my shoulder pulling me around to face her. "Kady...I'm sorry. He is--"

"I don't want to talk about it, alright!" I snapped, turning back around. "And don't make excuses for his punk ass. Fucking coward..." I muttered under my breath as my temper started flare again. "320, 321! Finally...thank fucking god!" I smiled as I entered the room, hoping that I could talk to my best friend again.

As I entered the room, my heart swelled with relief to see him alive. He was sleeping peacefully with the tv on and he looked comfortable. I quickly moved over to the chair next to the bed and placed my hand on top of his. It's then that I saw bruises and small abrasions that covered his exposed flesh. My eyes lingered on the dark colored cast on his wrist as I took in a ragged breath.

"Oh...Mar..." My voiced shook and I felt tears burning my eyes again. "What were you guys thinking?" I rested my head on the edge of the bed and cuddled into Marley's arm. I couldn't help but feel slightly responsible for all this. After all, it was my rejection that caused him to go off the deep end. I guess I should have just went with him after all...

Marley moaned lightly in his sleep as my tears began to fall. I felt like the most worthless piece of shit on the planet. "This is all my fault..." I cried softly into the sheets. "You're injuries...Caleb being in jail...Brian leaving me...all the press bullshit," I angrily wiped away my tears and looked up to see a small smile on Marley's unconscious face. "I'm-I'm sorry....we'll figure something out t-to get us out of this mess..." I sobbed. I closed my eyes to stop the tears and slowly drifted off into darkness.

"Kady? Kady?"

"Huh?" I asked groggily as the person continued to shake my shoulder. I slowly pulled away from the shaking hands and opened my eyes. I guess I didn't realize how exhausted I actually was.

But oh fuck...my neck was stiffer than a boner. I stretched it to one side and then the other but with no relief. The pain was slowly moving up to my head and I knew that soon I would have a killer head ache. This was going to be a glorious day already, I could tell...not!

"Kady, come on, we've got to go pick up Caleb," Ryn yawned. I rubbed my eyes arms glanced over at Marley only to be blinded by the bright sun. "Let's go."

"I think I'm going to stay with Marley," I yawned. Damn why were yawns always contagious? "I want to talk with him when he wakes up," I said, receiving a small sigh from Ryn. I could tell she didn't want to go back to the jail alone.

It was then that her phone sounded in her pocket. "Excuse me for a minute," she said, going to the other side of the room.

Once again feeling some privacy, I reached up and took Marley's hand that was surrounded by the cast and gave it a light squeeze. I was surprised when I felt him lightly squeeze back. However, when I looked up at Marley's face, he was still peacefully sleeping. Well hell, if he could squeeze my hand, he must not be in terrible pain...maybe he could still play the drums!

"Hey Zacky," I heard Ryn say softy from the bathroom. "No we are still at the hospital. They are going to keep Marley until he wakes up and can pass the concussion exam and we...well I'm going to get Caleb."

As I eavesdropped on the conversation I heard Ryn sigh and I pictured her pinching the bridge of her nose. "Well don't let him keep drinking....I know but he did this to himself. He called off the whole relationship...What's Jay doing to handle things on your side? We haven't heard from their dick of a manager Mason..."

I felt my breath catch in my throat as I realized that they were talking about Brian. From the sound of it, he was drinking like a fish and making unwise choices. Sounds about right. And where was that squirm semen we referred to as our manager? Why wasn't he anywhere to be seen. He probably had his dick stuck up some roadie as per usual. The bastard made me sick and I wished we had someone like Jay. What the hell were we thinking?

"No, Kady is not taking it well either. She is really angry and refuses to talk about it...though last night she did break down with Marley...he didn't hear a word of it." Fuck she heard that? I kicked myself mental for not paying attention to my surroundings yet again. When would I fucking learn?

"Yeah I know they are both block headed and stubborn, believe me," Ryn chuckled. Well thanks, what a compliment...and I thought you were my friend. "I' ll tell her but I don't think she'll listen or give him a call." Call that bastard back so he can be a dick and break my heart again? I don't think so! "Yeah okay....see you soon, Zee."

"There you are! I just got all your messages and came straight away!" I looked up to see our manager come stumbling into the room, looking all disheveled.

"Well speak of the devil," I chuckled cynically. "Bout time you crawled out of...what's her name...Veronica? Nice to see you're doing the job we pay you for." Our eyes narrowed on each other and he knew that if he said a word back could fire him in an instant. Why didn't we? He was worthless! Ryn might as well be our manager instead of a PR.

"Look I'm sorry." Mason said as he took as seat next to me and finally looked at Marley. "But we can fix this! I just talked to the doctor and they said Marley will be all clear in a few hours. We can get a replacement drummer..."

"We are not replacing Marley." My eyes narrowed on the chubby little man and he looked away from me. Oh, you are dancing with fire today. "He will be able to play."

"Whatever you say," he sighed, running a hand through his mangled excuse for hair. "Anyway, I've talked with the lawyer for Caleb and he said that he could get the charges dropped or get him some community service. The whole band could do it and we can use that as publicity. Right Ryn?"

"Yeah we could spin that." I looked back to see the blond leaning against the door and typing on her phone. She never did put that down did she? "I've got a press conference set up at one so hopefully Marley will be up and moving by then."

"Beautiful...now what's the deal with this press's scandal between you and Gates?" Chubs was staring me down and it took ever ounce of my being not to tackle him to the ground and claw his eyes out. Was I bit grouchy this morning? Nah...I've always been a bitch... "Are you two an item or even friends?" Slow clap for the most annoying and least observant man in the galaxy! Did he miss the point in the tour when we shared a bus or was he really that daft? No, he was probably just thinking with his dick.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose as my emotions washed over me. I wasn't going to cry and I wasn't going to let them know I was majorly hurting. "The press caught us at the wrong place at the wrong time..." I hissed through gritted teeth. "He fucking paid Caleb's bail because we couldn't find your fat ass! I hugged him to say thank you and there you fucking go! There is no fucking relationship so stop asking about it!" I raged, standing up and storming out in the hallway.

My eyes burned with tears as I walked. I was bound and determined not to let those bad boys fall. "Get a grip, Kadence," I muttered to myself while placing a cigarette between my lips. "You can't fly off the handle like that at a press conference. Relax and be professional..."

I took in a long drag of my cigarette as I stood outside in the blustery Maine air. It was snowing again and I was not at all dressed for this weather. I shivered as the nicotine calmed my nerves, not noticing that Ryn had joined me.

"Are you okay?" She asked, looking me up and down. Her brown eyes watched me and I knew she could tell that I wasn't.

I blew out a cloud of smoke and flicked my asses away. "I'm going to have to be. There is no other way around it. I have to be professional and act like nothing happened."

"Yes, but we both know it did." Ryn stepped in front of me and put both hands on my shoulders, looking me straight in the eye. "If it makes you feel any better, Zacky said he is a wreck and has been drowning his sorrows all night...I guess they found him lying in a snow bank this morning."

I scoffed and put out my cigarette. "It was his choice not mine, the jackass."

"Maybe you should call him?"

I threw my head back laughing. "Are you fucking kidding me? I'm not calling that asshole. If he wanted to talk to me he would be here or blowing up my phone, neither of which he's doing!" I gestured to my phone in my hand and the nearly empty parking lot. "Thanks but no thanks, Ryn. Why don't you take Mason and go get Cal?"

Because in all honesty, if I had to sit in that room and listen to Mason talk, I was going to blow a gasket. The little fat Italian man would be dead on the floor and then we would really have some problems.

"Okay," Ryn sighed as I turned to go back up to Marley's room. I even ignored Mason's disgusting wink as he walked by me. Don't ever think you have a chance with me chubs...

I walked back into Marley's room and planted myself on the chair. He was still dead to the world so I pulled out my phone. "Let's see the damage of my actions."

The first thing I see is a statement from Avenged Sevenfold that read:

Our hearts go out to Fatal Facade during this hard time. The life of Rock'n'Role isn't and easy one and we can't wait until they are back on their feet. Our co-headlining tour with FF will continue and we hope to see all the fans out supporting both bands.

"Well isn't that sickly sweet?" My eyes wander down the page to the picture of me and Brian in an embrace. We are both smiling, have that light in our eyes and look happy. It's totally strange to think about telling the fans it's not what it looks like. Scoffing, I scrolled down the page to see over 1000 comments.

"Holy hell..."

Finally the metal gods have got something right! This relationship is perfect! <3

Gates and Rouge?! POWER COUPLE!!!

Aww they are perfect together! A very welcome surprise!

My jaw dropped as I continued to read the comments. The fans loved us together? There wasn't a single negative comment? But of course that means that our story will sell...fuck they are going to be chasing us even if we say there is no relationship. Well I guess there's not anymore since Gates decided what was best...fuck.

"Kadence?"

Notes

Thank you for all your comments! They mean the world to me and I love that you are all invested in my characters!