High Voltage

I was lounging on the soft couch of my dad’s living room, one hand over the edge and pulling on the strands of the furry rug. My eyes were glued to the 64’ inch tv I had given him for his birthday and which he almost never used, because he was enslaved by that dick in the studio. Like now. How stupid can you get? Gates wasn’t even recording, so why the fuck did my dad have to work?

I didn’t even know what the hell was I watching, the electronic clock by the tv was distracting me a couple times too many. I swear it shouted for me to get my ass up and go to that party. Sorry, no luck, pal. The party started an hour ago and it would take another hour for me to get there, even knowing I lived only fifteen minutes away Matt.

After seven gazillion ignored calls from Bailey and Chris, my phone stopped ringing. For a whole fucking minute, before Matt’s dimpled face started blinking on the screen. I growled in to the decorative cushion as I slid over the answer key.

„Whaaat...” I roared in the pillow, not even minding the lack of air.

„Where the hell are you?” He asked and I could hear the party going in full blow in the background. I think I heard Zacky slurring something drunkenly to Matt, but I couldn’t be sure.

„Siberia.” I snapped, diving up from the cushion to take a deep breath. „Look, I’m not in the mood to go to some cheesy rockstar get-together with loads of cheep booze... You could as well--”

„I saved a bottle of JD Single Barrel for you.”

„Count me the fuck in!” Oh that Matt, always knows how to please a lady. I swear if he would be a little bit less of a Matt Sanders and a bit more of an any other guy – I’d marry him. That expensive liquor was my new favorite friend since some fan gave me the bottle as a present at Warped. I don’t know how did he get it, but I really didn’t care. Such a nice drink, yes it was.

„I knew you’d reconsider,” He chuckled in to the conversation as I jumped up, still holding the phone to my ear, „So you’ll be here in what... an hour?”

„Ten minutes, dude!” I shouted and hung up.

The honest truth was, I was already set for the party. Like even before all those knuckle-heads started bombarding me with texts and calls. For fuck sake – I knew I was gonna attend the party, I just acted like I didn’t care so the other half of me, the common sensed one, wouldn’t get too hurt when I ran to Matt’s in a heartbeat. Now even it couldn’t protest since Matt mention Jack Daniels.

It had taken me a long ass time to get through my closet and find something that will leave Haner’s jaw hanging on it’s hinges, but surprisingly I got that done. Yes, I hated him, but I wanted to make sure he sees what he’s not getting ever again. The dick had really ruined my fucking life... When I needed him the most, he left me to hang on whatever strand of sanity I had left. He thought it was fucking easy for me? Could he even imagine the pain I went through, both mental and physical?

I never said I wanted the child, but once there was a tiny person growing inside me I had quit whatever bad habits I possessed and started taking care of myself, I even grew a bit of meat on these bones. Yeah, well, that wasn’t for long tho. Remember the Raven McQueen at our headliner tour? Yeah, double... no triple that and you get what I was after the miscarriage – Sickly thin alcoholic who loved to do loads of crack and I’ll be damned if anyone stopped me. He didn’t give a damn, instead he got a new, smoking hot girlfriend, my band didn’t know where exactly I was and my dad was certain I’m sun bathing at some luxury beach. Honestly? I was very close to the beach , but knowing how I hated the sun through my darkest days, I spent the majority of the time being in nightclubs and bars I don’t even remember anymore.

Not anymore. I’m not gonna throw my life away only because of him. He didn’t have that power over me anymore.

So, with that been said, I stuffed the pockets of my leather jacket with the necessities like my phone, pack of Camel, my thrustworthy Zippo lighter and took the keys, before heading out the door and locking it.

As I walked down the street, I couldn’t get rid of the question – what if I kill him at the party? What if I can’t control myself? Believe me when I say – I was done with him, but that didn’t mean I was done with my hostile and homicidal nature too.

Once I pulled up to Matt’s two story house, I had already smoked my second cigarette and planned at least a dozen ways to kill Haner. Without such a simple thing as a knock I opened the door just to realize the house to be completely silent. Doh, it was a barbeque party after all. I couldn’t miss Matt’s newest playstation console as I walked through the living room and slid the glass door to the patio. For a second I thought to make a run for it, since everyone and by everyone I mean everyone was here. Even Brian senior, Suzy and McKenna. And Matt’s mom. And Matt’s dad. And my dad. Please, just, kill me, okay? And who were those girls?

They all had already teamed up, Matt, Zacky, Chris, Madison and Bailey were chilling around the grill while Johnny and Arin were deep into a conversation of sort, the seniors were having their drinks at the outside glass table and finally McKenna, Brian and two other girls were hanging by the pool. And where the fuck do I step in?

„Meg, oh my god!” Zacky exclaimed bringing everyone’s attention to me. „You’re fucking blond?!”

Oh hey... Hi... hello. So that sets it, I’m chilling with the crazies. I gave my dad a quick wave, with him winking in reply as he turned back to his conversation and I went to join my new best friends. „Yeah, I am... Hi, Zack, by the way...”

„Oh yeah, right,” He laughed pulling me in a light hug.

„About time you get your ass here,” Bailey had a naughty smirk on her face as she raised a bottle of Jack to her lips. Hey, that’s mine! „I could use company with this,” She held the bottle up, making me send an angry glare to her boyfriend.

„Sorry,” He apologized, a guilty smile on his face, „I swear I tried to save the bottle from her...”

„You look... uhmm... different,” Zacky started with a small frown, making me send him an ‘are you kidding me?’ look, because I really tried to look nice today. „Not bad or anything, just... different.”

„Yea, I’m blond dude, get over it.” My eyes fixed on Bailey as she snickered in her drink. Funny, yeah, didn’t feel funny when I had to bribe the hairdresser just take up the fixing of whatever there was left fixing after her. I have absolutely no legitimate reason up in my mind at the moment of why did Bailey even think of taking scissors and snipping off what it felt like a yard of my hair.

„Looks good,” Matt smiled, flipping the meat over.

„Don’t lie to me, Sanders...” I warned, pointing a finger at him.

„No, he’s right, it does look good... different, but good.”

„See?”

„Don’t even start, Harris.” I hissed, „It’s your fault I’m blond.”

„It was your idea, babe?” Matt laughed, pulling her in a one arm hug and kissing her temple. Urgh... that was sickening. I snatched the bottle out of Bailey’s arm and took a long drink. I could feel someone staring, and with the corner of my eye I noticed it to be Brian.

„So how’s that movie with your mom?” Matt asked, looking up from the grill. How the hell did he know about that? Oh, that fucking son of a bitch. I’m so gonna pulverize his ass! „Zee told it was a huge success.” Okay, I may take that back, so Haner wasn’t to blame for spilling a little something of my private life to the whole world.

„I wouldn’t know, wasn’t there.” I replied, trying not to think about the money she still owed me and instead remembering the invitation of the premiere which I shredded to pieces. Matt gave me a dirty look. Come on, you’re a control freak too? Fine... „But however, I’m sure I’ll watch it in Blue Ray once it comes out.”

„I thought so.”

Before I knew it, I realized those a-holes by the pool were talking about me, or more precisely, McKenna, who now hated me more than ever. I think. „...and then Megan there kinda just—„

„Excuse me guys, I think I’ll go and say hello.” I smiled, before pulling away from the group.

„Meg, that’s not—„ Zacky cut himself short as I and my friend Jack the Daniels walked up to Brian and the girls.

„Megan what?” I cut in, a fake smile on my face.

McKenna spun over, shock written all over her face. Yes sweetie, you were saying? „Megan! You’re here... and you’re blond! And this is super awkward...” Cute. So no dissing when I’m actually here? Cool.

„McKenna was just saying about the show where you broke your ribs. I can imagine how hard it was for you,” Okay? Was that genuine sympathy I saw in that extremely long legged creature? So Gates’ new girl was nice? But then again that head-case Kathy also seemed to be nice. I’m so fucking bad at judging people...

„Oh... yeah...” I decided to hide my confusion behind my dear friend – the bottle.

„So what are you doing now, Megan? Are you recording something?” Whoa, hold up girly, you’re fifteen and you know who I am? You with that face and that... little black dress, no tattoos, a beer belly and a beard? ‘Cause that was the majority of our fan base. It consisted either of teen die hards or grown men with big beards.

It was really hard to miss the annoyance in Brian’s eyes as he looked over me. „Uhmm... yeah, you could say so.”

„Oh cool, I’m looking forward for your newest album.” She flashed me her pearly whites and I wished to shield my eyes from the brightness.

At one point McKenna and the other girl disappeared and maybe I was wrong, but she looked like Johnny’s girl. But anyhow, the girl kept eying me with pure interest. „You’re really talented, Megan.”

„Thank you...” I mouthed. Why are you so fucking sweet... and gorgeous? I mentally slapped myself for actually liking the girl Brian had wound up with. I crossed my arms over my chest, still holding the bottle in my left hand.

„So you guys both know each other from the tour?” She asked and I couldn’t miss that possessive arm around her waist not even if I was blind and retarded. Which I didn’t completely deny.

„Actually—„

„Since I was your age,” I replied, holding the knuckles of my hand up to my mouth. Come on, girl, don’t make this hard for me... I want to hate you, so why do you make me like you?

„Okay... Well,” She chuckled, probably feeling too awkward in my lovely company, „I’m gonna check if Matt needs anything. Should I get a glass of wine for you, baby?”

„Yeah, sure.” He didn’t even look at her, his eyes were practically glued to me and not in the nice kind of sense. It was more of a I will fucking kill you if you ruin this way. That classy motherfucker, since when did he switch to wine instead of some cheep and very diluted American brands of good for nothing beer?

„So now you’re fucking children?” I arched my eyebrow at him.

„She’s more of an adult than you could ever hope to be,” He snapped, a slight shrug to his shoulders. Oh hell no, he didn’t just attempt to insult me! It was me who was supposed to insult him!

„Is this some midlife crisis thing or is this you simply, but completely lost your fucking mind?!” I hissed. „She’s fucking fifteen!” And I feel like a pedophile for actually considering the girl smoking hot.

„She’s nineteen...” He stated calmly. Oh, nineteen? Nine fucking teen? Cool. And how old was he? Fifty with something? „But I’m not gonna start this with you. You’re not even worth the sweat.” Oh I-I’m not worth the sweat? I kinda remembered differently from just a year back. He left without another word, leaving me like a fool holding on my bottle like I was holding for my dear life.

Well... this went... real good, if you think about it. I haven’t killed anyone...

Yet.

Notes

I've been surviving this day only thanks to coffee and cigarettes. I swear 4 hours of sleep is too fucking little. I need my beauty sleep for christ sake! But I guess I'll sleep when I'm dead, so here's the chapter and I hoped you liked it! Nothing too interesting about it, more of a filler and explanation for things that left unexplained in the prequel.