Burn It Down

“She still asleep?” I heard someone ask softly then felt a rumble of a quiet laugh.
“Yeah, she’s cute when she sleeps though,” the other whispered back.
I then felt someone sit on my back and groaned along with the person I was laying on. I opened my eyes, “What the fuck?”
Brian strained, “Morning Beautiful,” with a smirk.
“Did I wake you?!” Jimmy asked from atop both of us.
“Just a lot Jimbo,” I replied, my voice husky from sleep. Zacky smiled at us from the opposite couch as Johnny piped up.
“Damn Ember, I didn’t know you were that kind of—“ Johnny was interrupted by a slap to the back of his head from Zacky.
“Don’t talk about her like that,” Zacky shook his head laughing.
I groaned as Jimmy got off of us and I slowly tried to raise up from Brian and stand without hurting him. He helped me as much as he could and smiled at the view. “You look positively sinful at the moment Ember.”
I blushed as I stretched, my tanktop pulling up showing my midriff. “Shut up Haner.”
The guys chuckled at me as I caught sight of the time, “Shit! You let me sleep all day!?” I groaned at them.
“Honey, it was like 2 when you fell asleep on Brian,” Matt smiled at me apologetically. “Jimmy tried to warn you to stay awake.
I groaned, “What time are we leaving to go out?”
Matt shrugged, “We’ll probably leave around 7 to go grab something to eat at Olive Garden, then go to the club.”
I gasped at him, “It’s already 5! When do we get to the hotel?”
“We’ll be there in about 30 minutes,” Zacky told me obviously holding back a chuckle.
I ran to the bunk to grab my stuff and threw on a bra before I brought the bag up to the front room along with the new clothes and jewelry that I had received for my birthday and sat on the couch with my bag at my feet ready to go.
“Damn, I’ve never seen you get ready so fast,” Matt teased as he gave me one of his dimpled smiles.
“Bullshit Mattie, you’ve seen me get ready to go somewhere faster than that,” I flipped my hair and looked at him matter of factly.
“Really now? What kind of ready?” Jimmy wiggled his eyebrows at me suggestively and I blushed and threw a couch pillow at his head.
“JIMMY!” I yelled completely and totally embarrassed as the others erupted with laughter.
“I think your sister can fight for her own virtues Shads,” Brian smirked looking at Matt.
“We’re here!" the driver called throughout the bus. I immediately jumped up and stood by the door waiting for the bus to come to a halt.
As soon as the brake was set I hauled ass out of the bus only to be picked up around the waist by a laughing evil maniac named Jason Berry. “Where ya off to so quick little shads?”
I glared and wiggled trying to get down, “Jasssssonnnn, let me go!” I whined.
He raised an eyebrow with an amused expression on his face, “Why?”
“I gotta get ready! The guys let me sleep all day so I have to go get ready! We leave for the restaurant in like an hour!” I tried getting out of his arms again.
He laughed and set me down, “Am I invited?”
I thought about that, “Only if you help me get to my room quicker before anyone else delays!”
Jason’s brother Matt came up behind us, “I believe we can do that.” He gave me his award winning grin.
I giggled, “Fine, both of you can come if you get me to my room in the next 3 minutes.”
With that the Berry twins looked at each other and smirked then grabbed me, picking me up each holding one leg and one arm and ran towards the front desk of the hotel. I couldn’t help but close my eyes and scream as I held on for dear life. I was instantly being ripped away from the Berry’s and pulled close to someone’s chest.
I instantly knew who’s arms I was in and somewhat relaxed, “Are you guys fucking kidding me?! You could have tripped and really hurt her!” Matt yelled at the Berry’s a little pissed off that they’d put me in any potential danger.
“We were just joking,” Jason pouted at us.
I finally regained some of my composure and pulled away from my brother slightly, “They didn’t mean any harm Mattie. They were just trying to do what I asked them to.”
He looked down at me, his mouth in a firm line letting me know he was NOT happy. “Seriously settle down the horseplay, I’d rather not take her to the hospital tonight when we’re supposed to go out for her birthday,” he stated moving his gaze from me to the brothers standing behind me.
They snapped to attention saluting him as they pulled me away again towards the front desk, this time keeping my feet securely on the ground as we moved. I saw a glimmer of a smile as the others joined Mattie’s side. I smiled back at him then stopped at the front desk. Within 5 minutes Matt Berry was handing out the room keys and I raced towards the elevator. I went up to the 3rd floor to the 13th room and let myself in.
I smiled at the warmth from the heater and looked around the small room that housed 1 kingsized bed across from a dresser/TV stand. I threw my bag on the bed and pulled out the dress not wanting it to get wrinkled. I laid it on the bed, admiring it’s beauty. I quickly grabbed my shower stuff and went to the bathroom, finding a glass shower. I turned on the water to a warmer, then set up the portable speakers and plugged my phone in, clicking on shuffle and heard “Innocence” by Halestorm come on.
I quickly stripped and stepped into the shower smiling at the warmth, and started singing along to Lzzy Hale’s voice as I washed my hair and body. The next song that came on was Carry Out by Timbaland feat Justin Timberlake. I couldn’t help myself and began dancing in the shower singing along. I smiled and rinsed my hair and skin from soap and turned off the hot water. I wrapped a towel around my body, then a smaller one around my hair.
I continued to dance to the music as I did my make up and started getting dressed slipping on a pair of silky black boyshorts. I then slipped on the dress after releasing my hair from the towel. There was a knock on my door then Zacky slipped his head in as I wrapped the dress around me trying to reach the zipper, “Hey Em, do you need help?”
I held the dress in place making sure my chest was covered, “Yeah, that’d be great Zack.” I smiled at him then put my back to him.
Zacky came up behind me and zipped the back of the dress up and hooked it for me, the sweetheart neckline fitting just right on my D cups, holding them up like a bra would. The green accenting the black perfectly, drawing attention to the bodice, waist, and the short hem that ended right above my knees.
Zacky smiled, “Beautiful.” I blushed and giggled.
“Thank-you, I honestly love this dress and it’s my 2 favorite colors,” I looked into his eyes.
Zacky cleared his throat after a second and looked towards the dresser seeing the green and black necklace, “I know it is. Would you like help with the necklace as well?”
I nodded and smiled as I turned again for him and held up my damp hair, “Thank-you Zacky,” I whispered as he hooked the necklace around my neck.
“No problem, I just figured I’d check on you as its almost time to meet down in the lobby,” Zacky said nervously rubbing the back of his neck flashing me a small smile.
I grinned and took a look at him, “You clean up well Vengeance.” He stood before me in black jeans and a white t-shirt with a grey and red sweater over it, tonight going with his contacts instead of glasses.
He smiled and gently shoved my shoulder, “Yeah yeah.” I grinned and went to the bathroom again with my brush.
“Zacky what should I do with my hair tonight?” I asked standing in front of the mirror playing with my hair. At that exact moment 2 more people burst through my door, Brian and Johnny.
They both let out a wolf whistle, “Holy hell, someone call 911, my heart just stopped!” Johnny yelled out playfully.
“No joke, it should be illegal for you to look that amazing,” Brian stated, he and Johnny looking me up and down.
“Stop fucking me with your eyes and help Zacky and I decide what I’m doing with my hair,” I chastised the boys trying to avoid letting the blush come through.
Brian stepped up behind me and smirked into the mirror, “I think you should wear it half up, half down, pull your bangs back.” I swallowed thickly meeting his eyes.
“Alright,” I smiled. “Now get out of here before you all get in trouble, I’ll meet you down in the lobby in 10.” I teased Brian and the others. The trio looked at me one last time then walked out the door. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, “Boys.”
I clipped my hair up the way Brian had suggested and then went back to my bag. I pulled out 3 different pairs of shoes, finally deciding to go with 5” black platform pumps. I walked up to the full length mirror on the wall and smiled at myself, hardly recognizing the girl looking back. I smiled and grabbed my phone, ID, and money. I stuffed the money into the dress under my arm and then carried my phone and ID with me.
I made sure I had my room key and then walked out of the room, I shoved the key down next to the cash and went to the elevator. I stepped into the empty elevator and stood in the back. Slowly the elevator descended the 2 floors to reach the Lobby, as the doors opened I saw 6 guys jaws drop eyeing me up and down. Matt smiled and wrapped me in a hug as I reached them, “You look stunning.”
I smiled and hugged him back, “Thank-you.”
Jimmy smiled, “Let’s eat bitches, I’m hungry.” Off to the restaurant we went.

Notes