Ruby's POV:

I fluffed up my hair as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror of the tour bus's tiny bathroom, smirking at my appearance after applying a quick coat of pale pink lip gloss. We had arrived in Florida and I'd been in here for at least an hour and a half readying myself for the day. As I left the bathroom, Brian stopped dead in the walkway of the bunk area. His eyes scanned me up and down, shoulders rising as he drew in a deep breath.

"Damn." he hissed, biting his lip his eyes darkening as he took in my appearance. "You look fucking incredible..."



"Thank you." I smirked, stowing my makeup bag away in my bunk.
"How long have you had this for?" Brian purred in my ear, grasping my hips as he came up behind me. "If I'd known you had a latex catsuit I'd have made good use of it by now."
"I picked it up in LA recently, same day I got my tattoo from Corey." I giggled as Brian nibbled on my earlobe.
"And you didn't tell me?"
"You were kind of being an ass at that moment." I smirked, turning in his arms.
"But I'm not being an ass now." he husked, mirroring my smirk as his hand cupped the side of my face, running his thumb across my lips.
"No, you're not." I flirted.
"Does that mean I get to have fun with his later?" he asked, his fingers trailing down my collarbone.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?" he chuckled as his fingertips ghosted along my cleavage.
I grabbed his hand as he tried to tug on the zipper. "Maybe later." I winked, gently pushing him away from me as I made my way to the front of the bus.
"I'm holding you to that." Brian laughed, smacking my ass as he followed.

I felt my cheeks burn, thankful that my face was covered by a thick layer of foundation. I'd gone all out today, and I looked pretty damn good. I just prayed that it wouldn't all melt off in the humidity of Florida's climate.

"RUBY!" Jimmy shrieked, running toward me as I was stepping off the bus.
"What?" I laughed.
"You need to come with me right now!"
"What's going on?" Brian asked, appearing in the doorway behind me.
"No time for questions!" Jimmy said, grabbing my hand and dragging me off across the backstage area.

Brian jogged along behind us as Jimmy led us toward the back of the Main Stage, where I could hear some very familiar music playing. As we drew closer, I began to recognize the song, although I hadn't heard it in months. Jimmy led us through to the side of the stage, and I looked out to see none other than The Used.



"I'll be just fine, pretending I'm not. I'm far from lonely, and it's all that I've got..."

"The fucking Used?!" I exclaimed.
"Thought you could use some closure." Jimmy smiled, grasping my shoulder. "Since Jack ruined them for you last time."
"Jimmy..." I sighed, smiling at his kind gesture.
Brian wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissing my cheek. "Best seat in the house, too."

"And it's all that I've got, yeah, it's all that I've got..."

"HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY, FLORIDA?!" Bert screamed as the song ended, holding his microphone out to the crowd.



The crowd screamed in response.
"We released a music video to this next one several months ago, if you know the words, sing along!"

The familiar intro of "I Caught Fire" began and I felt my chest tighten, this had been Mine and Jack's song. The very first night we'd spent together; I'd sat in his lap as we passionately sang along as it played from his computer. I'd avoided it for months, I'd avoided The Used in general for the past several months. Until now, it'd been way too painful. They were something Jack and I had always shared.

"Seemed to stop my breath. My head on your chest, waiting to cave in. From the bottom of my... hear your voice again. Could we dim the sun, and wonder where we've been? Maybe you and me. So kiss me like you did. My heart stopped beating, such a softer sin."

Jimmy turned to me and sang along with me as they dived into the Chorus;

"In your eyes, I lost my place, could stay a while. And I'm melting. In your eyes, like my first time, that I caught fire. Just stay with me, lay with me, now."



"Never caught my breath..."



"Ever know each other... trust these words are stones, why cuts aren't healing. Learning how to love."

Brian released me from his arms as Jimmy and I began to jump up and down, headbanging as we sang along.

"I'm melting (I'm melting), in your eyes. I lost my place, could stay a while. And I'm melting in your eyes, like my first time that I caught fire. Just stay with me, lay with me, stay with me, lay with me now."



Bert turned, suddenly noticing Jimmy and I singing along, he lifted the microphone to his lips once more as he bounded toward us; "You could stay and watch me fall, and of course I'll ask for help."
He held his microphone out to me as I sang the next line; "Just stay with me now."
A grin spread across Bert's face; "We could take our heads off, stay in bed, just make love that's all..."
And again, I sang along as he stuck his microphone in my face; "Just stay with me now."

Bert smirked and grabbed my hand, dragging me out onto the stage. He unhooked Quinn's microphone from its stand, and placed it in my hands.

"I'm melting."

Grinning manically, he lowered his microphone, pointing at me and gesturing to the crowd. I took a deep breath as I lifted the microphone to my lips.

"I'm melting in your eyes, I lost my place, could stay a while."



"And I'm melting, in your eyes, like my first time that I caught fire. Just stay with me, lay with me-"



Bert took over as I headbanged.

"In your eyes, I lost my place, could stay a while. And I'm melting in your eyes, like my first time that I caught fire."

It all felt so surreal. Several months ago, I had been down in the crowd, hoisted up on someone's shoulders as I sang along to this song. I never, in my wildest dreams, would have imagined that I'd be onstage singing it alongside Bert McCracken himself now. It was like a dream come true, and Jack would be absolutely furious right now if he knew. It had always been his ultimate dream, and now, I was the one living it.

Bert hooked his arm around my shoulders as the song drew near to its end; "Just stay with me lay with me."
"Stay with me, lay with me." I sang, and then Bert stepped away, leaving me to finish the song on my own.



"In your eyes.... let's sleep till the sun burns out. I'm melting in your eyes. Let's sleep till the sun burns out, I'm melting in your eyes..."

A broad smile spread across my face as the crowd erupted with cheers and applause. My chest rising and falling as I panted to catch my breath, adrenaline rushing through my veins. Bert kissed my cheek, and spoke into his microphone once more.

"I was told a story about this girl right here by my good friend, Jimmy, as in The Rev." he said, and a few screams sounded from the crowd. "Apparently, several months ago, when we played in Chicago, this girl's fucking boyfriend ditched her over a stupid misunderstanding, ruining her memory of our show." he explained. "WELL LOOK WHO'S FUCKING ONSTAGE WITH US NOW, PUNK?!" he screamed...

Notes

This chapter had to happen. Ruby had to have her chance at closure over the way Jack left her, her moment in the sun, and a chance to feel what it's like to sing in front of a massive crowd. Hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it, I've been looking forward to this one for ages.
- The gifs of "Ruby" are Heidi Shepherd from Butcher Babies, if you're wondering. - Highly recommend listening to them, they're fucking badass, one of my favourite Metal bands and are fucking incredible live. I just figured with Heidi having Red Hair, she'd be the perfect fit for Ruby's appearance onstage.
I've met her, and Carla. Heidi is sooo bubbly and Carla is a straight up tough ass nails metal woman that I envy like no tomorrow.

I've actually really met Bert McCracken, Quinn Allman and Jeph Howard in real life, they're such lovely dudes. And I've seen The Used three times - not to brag or anything :P

You know what to do, Comment!!
5 Comments is the goal before the next chapter, think ya'll can make that happen?
Got some juicy stuff planned, but ya gotta earn it ;)

Until next time! xx