On Tour

“What the fuck did you do?“ The artery on Matt’s neck was dangerously swollen and his face was red. Karma couldn’t help but burst in tears as she saw how angry he was.

“Did you fucking tell Trey to send photographers?“ He screamed, and Karma’s ears felt like they were going to burst. “No,“ she defended herself. Was he really thinking all that about her?
“Then why were we photographed?“

He gesticulated wildly as he spoke. Karma didn’t know why photos of them were being published so often all of a sudden. Someone had to be out to get them, and even though she knew Trey wanted to keep her in the media, she didn't think it was possible that he sent them.

Those pictures were even worse than the ones in London.
It was her and Matt standing in front of the hotel, him pressing her against the wall. Heavily kissing. Again, it was extremely hard to deny that it was them. The shot was professional, definitely. How could we not notice? But Karma already knew the answer to that question. They were drunk.

“I don’t know, Matt! Maybe because we’re pretty famous by now? People want to know about us. Also because Brian screamed around that he loves me maybe?“
“Just fuck you. I know you did something,“ he spat. "You're probably cheating on me with Brian anyway. He wouldn't say that out of fucking nowhere." It hurt Karma to hear that.

She was innocent. That much she knew. Either Trey found out where she was and had her photographed against her will or someone else had found them. At this point, she didn’t even care. She just wanted that scandal to be over, one way or another. The questions about the first picture hadn’t even stopped yet, how was she going to handle the next ones?

“Do you not trust me anymore?“ She sobbed, knowing that this was ultimately true. She’d lied to him too many times, even if it was to protect herself, and him from having to deal with all her issues. She was convinced Matt wouldn't love her anymore if he knew everything she was keeping from him, even if one sane part in her told her he would.

“I’m gonna fucking throw up,“ she announced, but Matt threw her back onto the bed. “Why did Brian say that?”
“How am I supposed to know? You know he feels something for me, I can't change that!”
“That's just so gross.”
“What? That he likes me? Well you happen to like me, too!”

Matt snorted angrily. “Did you ever cheat on me with him? Be honest with me for goddamn once!” Karma felt guilty. Brian did kiss her after all. But I didn't even kiss him back and I don't want them to fight again...

“No,” she heard herself say despite wanting to tell him. It was as if her mouth did not obey her brain. But nothing changed, after all, did it? I still love him, I didn't even kiss Brian back and I surely didn't enjoy that kiss. If I told him now it would only be another reason for him to get rid of me soon. He probably should, but I just... I don't want him to.

His eyes narrowed. “I know a liar when I see one. So I take it you sent a photographer, too.”
“I fucking didn't! Both of it!” They were screaming by now. A faint knock interrupted their fight. “Guys, are you alright in there?“ Brian's voice sounded thin through the door.

“Leave us the fuck alone you stupid asshole,“ Matt screamed, “And we talk later. You better have a fucking good explanation for last night.“ It hurt Karma's ears since he was so close to her.

Suddenly, Matt's weight was taken from her. He reached for the phone on the nightstand. “Show me your phone. Do it now. I’ll believe you if you didn’t text him that.“

When was the last time I actually texted Trey? Karma wondered. They usually spoke on the phone. Knowing she didn’t do anything, she handed him the phone without another word.
He opened the chat with Trey, then snorted audibly. What the fuck did I write?

But then she saw it, too. The last text from Trey. It was just from that day they’d been caught dining in London.

If you really want this you’ll have to do those things from me. Tell me where you are if you’re going out. I’ll send a photographer. Soon they’ll have no other choice than to make it official. If you don’t, I’ll have someone come after you guys anyway. It’s either a real break-up or a partly fake love story.

Oh shit, he’s so gonna think…
“So he blackmailed you into telling him where we were?" Karma shook her head. It was not how Matt thought it was, no matter how logical his explanations were.
“Did you delete those texts after that?“ His voice was surprisingly calm now. “No,“ she said with a sigh, knowing that she would not convince him easily.

“Alright. Then show me your call history.“
“Matt,“ Karma tried to reason with him. He saw her speaking to Trey just yesterday.
“Yeah, show me please.“

“Listen, I did call him yesterday. But I swear I didn’t tell him where we were headed. I don’t even want that career now. My album is gonna be out and whatever. I’m done then. I don’t want this business,“ she spoke.

It was only after having said it that she knew just how true it was. Staying with only Avenged was more than enough, maybe a couple of model jobs and that would be it.
“So what did you tell him that was so urgent?“ Matt furrowed his brows as he spoke. Karma wasn’t sure how much he believed, but judging from how calm he was, he was either sure they were breaking up anyway or he believed her.

And she didn’t know which was worse.
“I told him not to put too much on my plate after I’m home. And by home I mean my OC home. With you, Matt.” It was the truth.

“Alright. So who took the photos?“
“I don’t know. I’ll ask him right now.“
Trey picked up right after the first ring. “Trey, did you send those photographers yesterday?“ She said, not wasting any time to greet him.

“I already saw those pictures,“ he replied coolly, “I told you it would be good for you. I already have fourteen new requests for you, you’re gonna be crazy busy in the next months!“
What the fuck.

Karma was glad Matt could hear Trey’s response. “Well Trey, I don’t think I want to do this anymore. Please cancel everything. And I’ll not be needing your services anymore after that.“
Matt stared at her with a shocked expression. Trey didn’t say anything for ten full seconds.
“Munich is your last concert tonight, right?“

“Yes.“
“Can you come back to London after that? We’ll have to deal with some paperwork, especially with the album.“
“Book me a flight. And another one to LAX a couple of hours later.”

Karma ended the call without saying anything. Trey had gone way too far by sending someone to take pictures of her. She understood that he wanted to keep her in the media, but that was just crazy.

“I’m so sorry, K.“ Matt whispered, “I shouldn't have thought all that of you. And then thinking you'd cheat on me with Brian... My jealousy got the best of me I guess." Another pang of guilt hit Karma as she realized Matt now thought he was the flawed one, which he was not. “It’s alright,“ Karma replied, then kissed him gently. Was it really? Time would tell.

“Stay here and only leave the hotel for the gig?“ Matt asked with a smirk, then Karma grinned back at him.
“Yeah.“

Hours later, Karma and Matt entered the stage together. They held each other’s hand as they performed. Not a single word was said about their relationship although a lot of fans had signs asking about it.

Their little gesture was saying enough. The fans went crazy when they touched during songs like Seize the Day. “People are really shipping us, aren’t they?“ Whispered Matt into her ear as a pissed off Gates pulled off a mega solo.

“Yeah, looks like it,“ Karma said with a grin. Then she watched him sing his part. What would be so bad about people actually knowing about us? They at least wouldn’t ask me that anymore, Karma thought with a grin, then put her own microphone to her lips.

Now was not the time to be thinking about that. Now was now, and she owed the people in Munich a great show. Everything else would be settled later.

Karma’s flight to London departed at 9 am the following day. She hoped the issue with Trey would be settled soon, or else she would have to get in contact with her good old friend Howard King, the attorney that got it all started in the first place, again. He could get her out of the contract for sure.

But after all, Trey had sounded reasonable on the phone yesterday, so Karma was hoping he would just let her go. He’d been a good manager for a year or two, but enough was enough. He’d definitely crossed a border when sending photographers to where Karma and Matt were trying to keep their relationship private.

It’s gonna be alright, she reassured herself as she boarded the plane. The safety precautions video played before her bored eyes as she fell asleep, hoping this would be the last time ever to jet around for Trey.

Notes

Update for you all! Just a heads up this story will have only a few more chapters, but I have a sequel planned which is only Matt POV and which will be published as soon as this story ends. I already have 12 chapters written on that so you won't be left in the dry.

For those of you who read my Single Honeymoon story: I am thinking of writing a sequel, too. What do y'all think?

Thanks a lot for your feedback on my story, I really hope you like this update. And for those of you who asked: Yes, I did plan for you guys to not like both of them at some point. They're both making mistakes and stuff.

Have a nice day you all :)