Burn It Down

I wiped the sweat from my forehead as I finished setting up the merch booth, Jason came over after getting everything done with soundcheck. “Would you like help until the guys go on stage?”
I grinned at him, “That’d be great Jase, considering the kids are gonna swarm during the opening bands and then afterwards.”
He shook his head, “I didn’t mean just me, there’s gonna be a girl that will be here soon to try out for a spot to help for the remainder of the tour. Larry’s orders.” I raised an eyebrow looking at him in disbelief. “What? Larry figured you could use the help. There’s also supposedly a guy that’s gonna be mainly muscle but also going to be up here helping to sell.”
I rolled my eyes, “Let me guess, Matt thought it was best not to mention this to me because he thought I’d refuse it?”
“Actually, he was supposed to tell you this morning, did he not?” Jason asked as he brought over a couple of chairs for us to chill in.
“Uh….no. He did come in and grill me for details about my non-existent sex life instead,” I huffed, still being a little pissed off about him being a helicopter towards my life.
Jason looked surprised, “Wait, you told Matt about us!?” He joked.
I threw him a glare, “Don’t let him hear you joke like that, apparently even just being around me you’ll get accused of fornicating with me.”
“Who’s fornicating with you?!” I heard a loud yell and turned rolling my eyes and chuckling at Jimmy who came and sat down pulling me to his lap.
“Apparently you now Jimbo,” Jason laughed as he sat in the opposite chair.
“Jimmy what are you doing out here?” I changed the subject looking at him in his beanie, jacket, and aviators; obviously trying to avoid being noticed by any stray fans that may have slipped past security.
“I got bored, the others were being lame and Haner’s passed out again taking a nap again so we can’t plan a start for the prank war,” Jimmy pouted at me.
I laughed, “We could start a prank war with the guys Jimmy.”
“I want in!” Jason laughed leaning forward on his knees and rubbed his hands together like an evil genius. “Who’s our first victim?”
“I’m thinking Mattie would be a great candidate,” I smiled innocently.
Jimmy chuckled, “What’d he do to piss you off Little Shads?”
“Accusing me of sleeping with Brian,” I shrugged like it was nothing. I instantly saw Jason and Jimmy grinning like maniacs with the wheels turning in their heads. “What do you have in mind?”
Immediately we started hashing out the details of what we needed to do and who we needed to have involved on the inside lines of the prank. Soon our planning was interrupted as tiny footsteps came closer. I looked up seeing a beautiful girl about my height with blue/green hair, covered in tattoos wearing a miniskirt, black leggings, converse shoes, with an old avenged sevenfold shirt that had been cut into a crop top t-shirt. I stood and walked towards her, “Hey can I help you?”
She held up her pass, “I’m the new girl, Simone,” she replied shyly smiling politely.
I smiled warmly, “Welcome, please come on back.” I motioned her to the edge of the circle of tables that had been set up. She came back and I offered her my hand. “I’m Ember Sanders, I guess I’ll be the one training you.”
She nodded, “Cool, I’ve heard a lot about you.” Her eyes moved past me and saw Jimmy and Jason sitting there still plotting quietly. Her eyes grew and a look of shock came over her face.
I suppressed a giggle, “Hey lazy asses,” I called over to them. The stopped and looked at me. “Come meet the new girl.”
Instantly the two of them were up, Jimmy came over and immediately wrapped the girl in a hug, “I’m Jimmy, I’m the drummer and the hottest one in the band.” He took a step back as Simone blushed crimson.
“I’m Simone,” She said quietly as Jason moved up next extending his hand.
“I’m Jason Berry,” He flashed her his nicest smile, “I’ll be managing the training program here when I’m not setting up for the show.”
“Nice to meet you,” she replied having finally recovered her ability to form sentences.
I smiled warmly at her and then looked at Jimmy, “Guys, we got some training to do, Jason can you grab us some water bottles and make sure we have enough inventory to get us through tonight?”
Jason nodded and dragged Jimmy away to help him. “This is so unreal,” Simone started as I turned back to her.
I laughed, “What does?”
“Being here, getting ready to sell merch for the band that’s changed my life in more ways than one.” Simone gushed. I smiled and half hugged her.
“Well lets get started so that way they can keep changing your life eh?” I grinned and she nodded. I started showing her where everything was located, ran her through drills to remember which item/design went with which number.
By the time the doors opened and kids started coming in filing past the booth, Simone and I were good. We were running around grabbing merch in the sizes customers wanted. When the crowds died down we took a breather and restocked the tables before sitting on the chairs that Jason had left out for us. “So where are you from Simone?” I asked inbetween sips of water.
“Actually, a small town about 90 miles North East of here called Emporia,” she smiled.
“Nice,” I smiled at her as Jason came running up to us. “Hey Jase.”
“Hey, did that guy ever show up?” Jason asked looking around us.
“No,” I frowned slightly now recalling that Jason had informed me there would be 2 people.
“He may be running late, if he’s not here by the end of the set, he’s lost the job before he’s even started,” Jason stated shaking his head and pulling out his phone texting someone.
“Uhm, guy?” Simone asked in a concerned voice.
“Don’t worry hon, you’re golden, you were in no competition for the job. This guy’s supposed to be spare merch but mainly loss prevention and muscle incase we get drunk guys getting hands on with us,” I explained smiling at her, my slight dimples showing. “By the way Jase, what was this guy’s name?”
“Uhh…” He scrolled through his phone looking for the message, “Scott McNally.”
I choked on my water, “Wait what?”
“Scott McNally,” he repeated looking at me this time to make sure I heard him.
“Where he from?” I asked, my anxiety level rising steadily. No, no, no he cannot show up now!
“Uhhh….Vegas, I believe,” Jason said as he received a message back. “Ah, looks like he had transportation delays, he’s on his way here from the airport now.”
I instantly paled, my panic levels through the roof and I stared off unable to say anything else, I felt a small hand on my arm, “Hey are you okay?” Simone asked me and it was only then I could see concerned etched on not only her face but Jason’s as well.
“Jason I need to speak with Matt, right now,” I said as I stood up suddenly and started to head towards the stage.
“He’s on stage Ember,” Jason said as he stepped in front of me. I immediately tried to fight past him. “Hey, hey, hey,” Jason grabbed my shoulders gently with his hands, “What’s going on?”
I looked into his eyes, “Jason he can’t be here. How did he get the job?”
“He said he was your friend,” Jason said confused, “is he not your friend?”
I shook my head, tears starting to fill my eyes, “Jason no, no, no, no, no” I kept repeating shaking my head freaking out completely.
“Hey,” he pulled me close to him rocking me slightly as Simone watched us at a complete loss then keeping up with a few stragglers that were coming up to the booth. He gently moved us to behind the board with the merch designs. “What’s going on?”
“Jason, he…he…” I stopped and tried to breathe.
“Breathe Em,” he gently caressed my cheek with his thumb as he cupped my face.
“He’s my ex. He’s…” I searched for words to use without giving away too much information that would cause drama in front of the new girl. “He’s not a nice guy.” I finished finally.
Jason looked at me with a raised eyebrow, “I can’t fire him Em, I don’t have that power, we’d need proof that he’s a danger to you or anyone else here or he’d have to fuck up royally.”
“Matt likes him,” I whispered. “He won’t be fired.” I shook my head in disbelief and brought my hands up to wipe away the tears that I didn’t realize were falling.
Jason held me too him again as I heard that voice that held my attention for the 2 years we were together. “He’s here,” I whispered to Jason.
“I’ll watch him,” Jason promised me. “I won’t leave and I’ll talk to the guys and see if we can get him moved elsewhere or even remove him from here completely, okay?”
I nodded and wiped my eyes, “I’ll be out in a minute.” He nodded and hugged me again before disappearing back out and I heard him greet the guy.
“Hey I’m Jason, welcome to the job. You’re late,” Jason said in a tone that was pretty stand offish, completely opposite of how he’d greeted Simone.
“Yeah, Sorry, the plane got in late, there were storms and they had to take a different route,” He replied, fuck he was a good liar. I had almost forgotten that fact. I finally got my breathing down and grabbed another stack of beanies and signed posters from the bins and carried them back around the barrier, putting them in their spots. “There you are!”
I cringed but put on a polite smile and turned around meeting the pale icy blue eyes that I had come to know so well, “Hey Scott.”
He wrapped me in a hug and I couldn’t react, thankfully Jason pulled him off of me, “Hey, none of that while you’re on the job.”
Scott chuckled, “This your new boyfriend?” He raised an eyebrow at Jason.
“No I’m your boss, so let’s lay down the rules. You report directly to me. If there’s a guy getting handsy with the girls you tell the guy to back off,” Jason said crossing his arms over his chest standing next to me. “We do not condone harassment of any kind, especially sexual harassment. You will stand at the back of the merch booth, observing fans making sure no one has sticky fingers with the merchandise. Last but not least, anything that these girls need, water, food, more merch, you get it without complaint.”
Scott matched Jason’s posture, “First off, Larry never said anything about me reporting to some guy who doesn’t know when to get a haircut. Second off, if I want to hug Ember or the other chick, I’ll do so. I’ve worked security before you don’t need to be so macho about it.”
Jason stood closer to him, “If you want to stay here you will listen to me. I’m the one Larry’s been letting know because I’m the one that helps these girls get set up along with my brother Matt.”
I turned to Simone and we went back to the merch, straightening up, “Please don’t say anything about me freaking out to him,” I looked at her in the eyes.
She nodded, “No worries. I like you and no offense but he seems like a tool.”
I laughed softly, “You have no idea.” We continued to work and although Jason kept Scott away from me, I could feel those icy blue eyes following my every movement.
* * * * * * *
After the show, Simone, Jason, Scott, and I were almost done putting up the merch, all the fans had been cleared out of the building and we were almost ready to have Jason and Scott roll the merch back out to the truck. All of a sudden I was picked up from behind and spun around, I let out a shriek having been taken by surprise then saw Brian’s monster tattoos, “BRIAN!” I yelled.
He smirked and set me down, “Damn, you are a screamer.” I glared at him and crossed my arms then decided I couldn’t be mad at him today hugged him tightly rolling my eyes. He chuckled, “Can’t stay mad at me huh?”
I shook my head, “Not today, I need a secret favor.” I slipped him one of the slips of paper from the card.
He laughed and nodded discreetly and wrapped an arm around my shoulders and I knew we’d speak later, “Hey,” he held out his other hand towards Simone, “I’m Brian.”
Simone smiled and shook his hand, “Nice to meet you, I’m Simone,” She flashed him a smile then was introduced one by one to the others. Matt had immediately gone up to Scott and was talking with him. I tried to hide the hurt in my eyes wanting to stay strong and not break down again…at least not yet.
Jason walked up standing on the opposite side that Brian was on and wrapped around my waist, I flashed a grateful look his way and wrapped my arms around both of their waists, pulling them tightly to me like I would a security blanket. Zacky raised an eyebrow at us, obviously able to see the anxiety in my features, ‘What’s wrong?’ he mouthed to me.
I shook my head then nodded him over, which of course he sauntered over, “What are the plans for tonight?”
“Uhh….staying in the hotel again I believe, the new girl’s gonna room with you if that’s cool and then the new guy’s gonna room with Matt upon Matt’s request,” Zacky said nodding along with his thinking.
I couldn’t help but smile, “So no one’s going out tonight?”
“Nah, we gotta jet out at 4am for OKC, we play an earlier show tomorrow but it’s at an outdoor arena and we also have an interview first thing tomorrow morning at a local radio station,” Zacky claimed.
I nodded Good, my plans can go smooth tonight then and no one will suspect anything.

Notes