Burn It Down

When we arrived at the hotel, I told Brian to meet me in Simone and mine’s room in 20 minutes and he was to be showered and changed. I then took Simone by the hand and helped her with her luggage showing her our way to the elevator and thank god we got there before anyone else could get on. Matt had given me a few weird looks obviously wondering why I was avoiding him, but I was NOT going to sit there and play nice with Scott when my job wasn’t dependent on it….well okay, my job wasn’t dependent on it, but my reputation for being kind and welcoming was on the line. If I knew Scott, and I’m pretty sure I do after 6 years total of knowing him, one thing I knew he was capable of is undoing everything that you’ve worked so hard to protect and keep safe. “So ready to see our room?” I asked Simone smiling at her.
“Yeah, I’m honestly excited to see what there is to do around here,” she said moving a few strands of hair out of her face.
I laughed, “Well you definitely got the right roommate for that.” I smiled opening the door to the room and led her in flipping on the lights.
“This is a cute little room, I love the décor,” Simone said as she set her stuff down next to the wall.
I smiled at her closing the door and locking it as my phone started ringing ‘Hey Pretty Girl’ by Kip Moore, meaning Matt was trying to get ahold of me. I rolled my eyes and picked up my phone, “What do you want, Matthew?”
“Well hello there Ember, nice to speak with you this evening as well since you were avoiding me earlier,” My brother said through the phone sarcastically.
“What do you want?” I repeated, not playing any games. I wasn’t mad at Matt, but while Scott was around, I wasn’t sure who I had on my side other than Jason.
“Was just seeing if you were okay, I haven’t had the chance to talk to you since the show,” Matt said and I knew his mannerisms well enough to know he was shrugging.
“Yeah, I’ve been hanging with Simone trying to get her settled in,” I replied. “Look Matt, we’re exhausted, we’re gonna hit the sack. Love you.” I disconnected the call before he could say anything back.
Simone stood there with a raised eyebrow, “Are you fighting with your brother?”
I smiled at her, “Nah, he just likes Scott. He doesn’t know exactly what happened with Scott other than I ended the relationship.” I sat on the bed then flopped back.
Simone laid down next to me, “Wanna talk about it?”
“Well…he was…” I took a deep breath in then released it. I was about to divulge information but I felt that I could trust Simone, I felt like I’d known her for a long time. “He was abusive. We’d get in fights, he’d take it to the next level to where we were physically fighting. He put me in the hospital a few times that Matt doesn’t know about. He would mentally abuse me, making me feel like I was completely worthless and that no one else would want me…” I paused for a second.
Simone looked over at me, stunned completely, “Are you serious?”
I nodded, “That’s not the worst part.” I searched for the words to put this the best way possible. “He…he also-“ there was a knock at my door and I cursed softly. “I forgot Brian was meeting us here,” I said as I jumped up and went to the door opening it. I immediately stepped back in fear. Because the guy standing in front of me was not Brian but instead was the blonde hair blue eyed boy I’d been avoiding since the encounter earlier at the stand.
I stood there, “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see what my girlfriend was up to,” he shrugged looking at me.
I glared, “Ex girlfriend Scott. I’m your EX” I emphasized and as he pushed his way in I flipped the door lock over to block the door open so that way Brian could come in when he got here.
“No relationship is over until I say it is,” Scott replied to me then looked at Simone. “Hello, I’m Scott.”
“And I’m not interested,” Simone said sitting up and pulling out her phone.
“Well that was rude,” Scott replied then turned back to me. “Looks like you pick up more and more bitch friends like yourself.”
I rolled my eyes, “What do you want Scott.”
“Matt said you were avoiding him, figured I’d see if you’d talk to me,” Scott replied.
“I don’t have anything to say to you that the cops haven’t already emphasized. In fact I need to pull up that restraining order again, see if it’s expired or not,” I replied knowing it was but knowing if he laid one hand on me I’d get a new one.
Scott instantly grabbed my arm hard, “Fuck you, you little bitch. How dare you send cops after me.”
Simone instantly stood up, “Take your hands off of her.” I gotta admit I appreciated the bravery this chick showed standing up to him.
“Mind your own fucking business,” Scott snapped back at her then his eyes went back to me. “You’re not going to threaten me again are you?”
“You don’t remove your hands from me right now, I’m going to definitely call the cops and we’ll get this settled that way,” I said from behind clinched teeth. I glared him down and hissed in pain as he grabbed even harder at my arm.
Scott reached up and slapped me hard across the face sending me flying to ground. I laid there stunned and then realized there was someone standing in the doorway. In an instant I saw Brian over to Scott and grab him by his shirt and shove him up into the wall. “What’s your fucking problem man?” Scott yelled.
“My problem is you just his my best friend. How DARE you. Who the fuck do you think you are?” Brian spat at him, completely engulfed in rage as Simone darted to my side, instantly pulling me to her. I felt tears welling up in my eyes from all the past memories of when he’d hit me. This was the first time he’d ever hit me with witnesses he had grown cockier since I’d last seen him.
Scott’s hands were at Brian’s trying to pull them away, “Mind your own fucking business dickwad.”
“What did you just call me fuck head?” Brian seethed at the kid.
“I called you a dickwad. Obviously your boyfriend needs to fuck you a little harder next time with his dick because you didn’t get enough,” Scott replied cockily.
Brian instantly lost his patience and threw a punch hitting Scott’s face then threw him to the ground and hit him a few more times. “Get the fuck out of here and if I see you ANYWHERE around Ember again I WILL, repeat, WILL kick your ass more.”
“You’ll pay for that,” Scott hissed as he stood up, his face beaten and bloody then he turned his gaze on me. “You will too whore.” He took one more look at all of us then walked out the door.
Brian instantly moved the door jam so the door would close then hurried to my side, “Em?” He pulled me onto his lap. “Em, are you okay?” That was it, I couldn’t take it anymore and broken down into sobs. Brian wrapped his arms around me pulling me close into his chest as Simone stroked my hair.
“I need to get out of here,” I sobbed out, “Please guys, I need out, please, please, please.” I looked up at them begging.
Brian nodded, “Simone will you call a cab?”
She nodded, “No problem.” Then moved to the front of the hotel room taking out her phone and calling.
“Bri can we bring Jason and Zacky? You 3 are the ones that I feel most safe with when Matt’s not around and I don’t want to bring everyone,” I asked softly not meeting his eyes.
“On one condition,” Brian replied gently wiping away remaining tears with his thumb.
“What’s that?” I asked closing my eyes taking a shaky breath in.
“Look in my eyes?” Brian asked softly, then gently lifted my chin and I opened my eyes. “Tell me the truth, was that the first time that jackass has hit you?”
I took a deep breath and shook my head, “No. It’s not even the 25th time he’s hit me.”
“Son of a bitch,” Brian said and pulled me in for a hug.
“I’m okay Bri, it just brought back a lot of those old feelings, but you saved me,” I whispered hugging him back tightly.
“I’ll always save you Em, you’re my best chick friend, no one’s gonna lay a hand on you,” Brian smiled then pulled me away from him. “Now, get ready, you have 20 minutes. I’m going to grab Vengeance and JB and then we’ll be here to pick you up.”
“I told Matt we were going to bed, so if you see him please make up an excuse,” I pleaded knowing that we’d all get in trouble if we left without Matt knowing.
He nodded, “No worries kid. Go get dressed, put on something sexy.” He winked and gave me his award winning smirk and I laughed before kissing his cheek.
“Just for you Mr. Haner,” I teased then got up from his lap offering him my hand to stand up.
He took it and stood up and gently stroked my cheek, “Make sure you put a cool towel over that cheek for about 5 minutes, it’ll make the puffiness disappear.” He advised me and placed a kiss on my forehead, “I’ll be back in 20 to pick you guys up.” Gave a smile and a nod at Simone then walked out the door making sure if shut behind him.
I nodded and looked at Simone, “Wanna go do something tonight?”
Simone nodded and smiled at me, “Hell yeah!”
I laughed, “Good, let’s get dolled up, shall we?”
“We shall,” she replied and I have to admit, I’m loving this chick, she’s awesome and finally coming out of her shell.
20 minutes later, the swelling on my cheek had gone down immensely thanks to Brian’s trick, new make up had been applied and I stood there wearing my black miniskirt that I hadn’t noticed until now was form fitting and came down to my mid-thigh; and a really cute red and black plaid crop top. I let my hair cascade around my shoulders, my eye liner black with purple eyeshadow, making the green pop in my eyes.
“Hot damn Ember, you clean up well,” Simone smiled over at me and winked. She stood there in a black halter top and cut off denim shorts the went down to her mid-thigh. Her hair was like mine and cascaded over her shoulders, matching perfectly with the outfit. Her black eyeliner and dark green eyeshadow made her sky blue eyes pop even more.
“As do you Simone,” I smiled and then felt the urge to say, “I’m sorry that I brought you into all that drama between me and Scott earlier.”
“You didn’t Em, he did,” She replied and gently touched my arm, “I know we just met, but I like you, I feel a connection with you. I’m comfortable with you, therefore I claim you as a friend and I don’t like seeing anyone fucking with my friends. If Brian hadn’t been there I probably would have attacked Scott.” I smiled and hugged her as there was a knock at the door and I tensed. Simone smiled at me, “I’ll get it.”
I nodded and Simone went to the door opening it to reveal Brian, Jason, and Zacky. She let them in and I walked to my suitcase grabbing my 4 inch stiletto heels. Jason came up and gave me a hug, “Gates told me what happened, are you okay?”
I nodded and hugged him back, “I’m good now, Jase. I got my 3 fave guys and my new friend, we’re gonna go out and have a few drinks and have a good time.”
Jason nodded and then was replaced by Zacky who picked me up and spun around, “I missed you Em.”
I giggled and hung on for dear life, “I missed you too Zack.”
Brian was sitting next to Simone exchanging phone numbers and then of course Jason wanted to give her his and I smiled, leaning my head on Zacky’s shoulder.
Zacky gently stroked my hair, “You look beautiful by the way.”
I blushed slightly and looked up at him, “Really?”
“Would I lie to you?” Zacky asked me softly stroking my cheek.
I shook my head, “You haven’t yet.”
He winked at me as Brian stood offering his hand to Simone who took it, “Ready to go girls?” He asked looking from Simone to myself. We both nodded as the guys led us to the door and I gotta say, I felt like the most protected person in the world, I just wish that Matt could have been one of my protectors. No bad thoughts, not until this night’s over with, I scolded myself and off we went to find another nightlife adventure in this town and we had 5 hours until we left for OKC.

Notes