AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is rated M.
Chapter 24
LOVE IS MADNESS
Zed watched as Addison walked away from him and back into the house. He looked up at the sky and pulled at the ends of his hair. "Fuck!" With a heavy sigh, he pulled out his cigarettes and lit one up.
"You are insane
My desire
A violent daydream
Love, love..."
He shook his head and grabbed his notepad out of his back pocket, jotting a few notes down. "At least I can get a fucking song out of this disaster," he mumbled to himself. He shoved the notepad back into his pocket and finished off his cigarette before heading back inside. He scanned the crowded room, finally spotting Bonzo sitting in the corner typing on his phone.
"Hey Bonz, you ready to bounce?" He asked as he walked up to him.
Bonzo looked around. "Yeah… more than ready." He finished off his beer and stood up, pocketing his phone. "You want to grab Addie and Tracey?"
Zed shook his head. "I'm sure they're having fun."
As they made their way through the crowd Zed overheard Tripp's name. He stopped walking and turned towards a small group of guys talking.
"No man, he took that hot drummer chick upstairs."
His fists clenched. He turned to Bonzo and rolled his eyes. "Yeah… we definitely need to leave."
"Lucky bastard. She's so out of his fucking league," one of the other guys laughed.
"No shit… He was so fucking cocky earlier, talking about how he'd hooked up with her in Los Angeles over the summer, and that she was all fucking over him… Dude… he was PISSED when he saw her eye-fucking that dude from the band..."
Zed smiled to himself and kept walking. At least he'd accomplished something.
"Why do you think he slipped a few of these in her drink," one of the other douchey frat guys laughed as he held up an orange pill bottle. "She'll be out in no time."
Zed stopped abruptly. His vision turned red, his hands balled into fists ready to fight.
Bonzo grabbed onto his arm to stop him. "Forget them, go find her," he said urgently. "I'll get Tracey. We'll be right behind you."
He nodded and took off toward the stairs.
"Oh, God that feels so good..."
A loud crack caught their attention as the door flew open. Zed stood in the doorway, chest heaving, eyes blazing. His heavy footfalls pounded towards them and he grabbed Tripp by the hair. With one quick yank, he dragged him off the bed and spun him face-first into his fist.
Addison jumped up. "Zed! Are you fucking crazy!"
"Motherfucker," Zed seethed. Spit gathering at the corner of his lips as he twisted, throwing his weight and muscle into another punch- this one to the gut. Tripp folded in half grasping his middle.
"Aren't you two going to stop him!" Addison screamed over to Bonzo and Tracey who were now standing in the doorway.
"Nope..." Bonzo said, folding his arms across his chest.
"Goddamnit, I swear..." she started to walk over to try to break them up, only to stop herself and rub her forehead. "Zed… Stop..." she said, blinking a few times and trying to take a step forward.
Zed thew a left, a right, another left. A blur of motion, flailing body parts, and silent fury. "Tracey, get her out of here..."
"Don't...try to te...tell me wha… what to do..." she took a step towards him but stumbled.
"Princess..." Tracey said as he rushed to her side. "Are you okay?"
She blinked a couple of times. "Yeah… I'm..." she closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead again before collapsing into his arms.
"We've got company Z!" Bonzo hollered as he swung at one of Tripps fraternity brothers who had been in a nearby room.
Zed paused for a couple of seconds to catch his breath. "Tracey, get her outside and call 911 and then call Bucky!" He tackled Tripp to the floor where the two of them became a web of arms and legs straining to gain purchase.
"I want the fucking book thrown at him! We're talking about my baby-sister!" Bucky screamed into the phone.
"Could you keep it down? Some of us are trying to sleep..." she rasped from the bed.
Bucky's head snapped up. "She's awake! Angelo, I'll call you back." He hung up his phone and walked over to her bedside. "How are you feeling Addie-loo?"
"Like I've been hit by a cement-mixer going 90 on the freeway."
"Well, if it makes you feel better you look like frosted shit cookies with a side of rancid milk."
She let out a soft laugh and shook her head. "You say the sweetest things, brother-dear."
He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "You know I'm teasing you. You look beautiful… just tired."
She sighed and hugged him. "What the hell happened?"
"What do you remember?"
"I was at a party… we played..."
"You guys played a gig without me there?"
She looked up at him and smirked. "Are you finished interrupting me?"
"Sorry… continue..."
"Anywho… we played, Tripp and I went upstairs… and then… Zed?" she asked unsurely.
Bucky nodded his head. "I've obviously been given the second-hand account of things from Tracey, the doctors, and the police, but here's what they say happened…" He took a deep breath as he reached for her hands. "You were brought in earlier tonight unconscious. You tested positive for a substance called GHB."
She sat herself up as best as she could without the room spinning. "Bucky, I swear I didn't take anything. You have to believe me."
"I know… it was put in your drink."
"What?"
He nodded before continuing. "It's a popular date rape drug. It slows activity in the central nervous system, and when a high dose is taken it can cause loss of consciousness, seizures, difficulty seeing, and the inability to recall what happened when drugged."
"Wait… you mean Tripp tried to..." she shook her head. "That makes no sense whatsoever! Why would he…."
Bucky shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I just know that I've never been so thankful that you're friends with the guys."
Addison gave him a questioning look.
"If it hadn't been for Zed and Bonzo overhearing one of the frat guys bragging about how that Tripp guy spiked your drink, god only knows what could have happened. I mean, I'm pissed as hell they're in jail and I have to go bail them out, but shit… I'm so fucking grateful they were there." He hugged her tight and kissed her head again.
"Zed's in jail?"
"And Bonz..." Bucky nodded.
"Why?"
"Because Zed beat the crap out of that guy, and Bonzo knocked out a couple of other guys who tried to break it up."
"Oh my god, are they okay?"
"I'd assume so… I haven't been down to the station yet. I do know that Tripp is in this hospital. Unfortunately, he's got a cop outside his door… or I'd have him in the morgue."
"Well, that explains why you were on the phone with Angelo..." Addison whispered.
Bucky nodded his head. "My cousin already has all the papers ready to go for when you give the cops your statement. I want that fucker in jail for a long ass time. All you need to do is talk to the detective who keeps popping in here to check on you."
"B… I'm can't press charges."
He pulled back and looked at her incredulously. "What do you mean? Adds, he tried to..."
"I know… And I'm angry as hell," She interrupted, holding her hospital band up for him to see. "But think about it, B… A fake name only goes so far. If I press charges I have to use my real name. If I use my real name, this leaks to the press. And if it leaks to the press then your other cousin's side business gets exposed, and then..."
Bucky held up a hand to stop her. "I see your point… I don't like it, but I see it." He was quiet for a moment before he smiled over to her. "My Dad was right, you would be a great mobster."
Addison rolled her eyes and hugged him, pulling him closer to her. "However your family decides to handle this… because I know you're not going to let this go… I don't want to know about it."
"You got it, sis."
Paperwork. So much paperwork. Between the hospital discharge papers, her official statement, the forms dropping all charges, and then the release forms for Zed and Bonzo, she'd spent the better portion of the pre-dawn and early morning hours filling out paperwork. Addison sighed and rolled her head back as she finally finished signing the last form. She sat down in an insanely uncomfortable plastic chair and waited. After about an hour's wait, a police officer walked Bonzo out.
"Addison?" he asked as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "I was expecting Bucky..."
She smiled and waited for him to be uncuffed before she threw her arms around him and hugged him close. "Like my best friend would ever forgive me if I let you rot in jail. And I told Bucky bailing you guys out was the least I could do."
Bonzo hugged her back and sighed. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine...Thank you for what you did last night…"
"Like Bree would ever forgive me for letting something happen to her best friend… and don't even get me started on what Z would do to me..."
She let out a soft laugh and motioned towards the exit. "Uber is waiting outside. I'll call another one… I think Z and I need to talk."
"That would be an understatement," he laughed as he kissed her cheek. "I'll see you guys in a little while." He hugged her once more and walked out the door.
With a heavy sigh she sat back down in the uncomfortable plastic chair she had been sitting in previously and leaned her head against the wall, closing her eyes.
"Beautiful… wake up..."
She could feel a warm hand caress her cheek.
"Addison, rise and shine..."
Her eyes fluttered open to meet his warm brown eyes. "...Hey," she whispered sleepily.
"Hey," he smiled back at her. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired… you?"
"Same… Thanks for bailing me out."
"Thanks for saving me."
"Anytime, gorgeous… Let's get out of here."
She nodded her head and stood up. An awkward silence widening the gap between them. She turned and walked
for the door with him right behind her.
She walked them away from the building, trudging through the snow towards a small cluster of trees down the street where the Uber she had called was waiting. She stopped with her hand on the door. "I need you to be honest with me. No bullshit."
He nodded his head.
"Lacey..."
"Addison, look at me," he took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "I swear, I was telling you the truth the other night. She cornered me and I was trying to diffuse the situation. I want nothing to do with her in any way, shape, or form."
She was silent for a moment before she nodded. "Okay..." She opened the car door and climbed in.
Zed followed in after her and closed the door behind himself. Without saying a word she rested her head on his shoulder. She took his hand in hers and lightly rubbed her thumb across his scabbed knuckles. "Does this hurt?"
"A little..."
She brought them up to her lips and gently kissed them.
He let out a contented sigh. "Better than Morphine."
She smiled and shut her eyes, nuzzling into his side and falling asleep once more.
.
"OH MY GOD!" Tracey exclaimed as Addison and Zed walked onto the bus. He threw his arms around her and hugged her as tight as he could. "I'm so sorry, dollface! I haven't even been able to sleep! I've been so worried!"
She hugged him back just as tight.
He pulled back so that he could look at her at arm's length. "I'm so sorry I took that asshole up on his offer to go to that party!"
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "None of what happened is your fault, so please don't beat yourself up over it." She hugged him again. "Thank you for getting me out of there."
"You know I love you, Princess. You're literally my favorite person in the world."
"Awwww… You two are so cute," Eliza called over from the bench seat as Zed plopped down next to her.
"I love you too, E!" Tracey laughed. He pulled back from Addison again. "Now that I know you're okay, I'm going to go try to get a few hours of sleep." He smacked a loud kiss on her lips and walked towards the hall.
"Everyone else still asleep?" Addison asked as she walked over to Eliza and hugged her.
"Yeah… Well, Lacey isn't back yet, but everyone else is asleep."
She nodded her head. "In that case, I'm going to take advantage of the empty shower." She gave Zed a small smile and walked off.
"So… how was the slammer?" Eliza asked as she looked over to Zed.
"As pleasant as ever," he laughed.
"Well, at least you were fighting for a good cause this time," she teased as she ruffled his hair affectionately. "I'm proud of you stretch."
Zed chuckled and pushed her hand away. "Thanks, E.
"Speaking of sleep," Bucky said as he walked out of the hall yawning. "Do you need to get any before the show tonight?"
"Nah, I'm good. I slept in the car on the way back over here."
"Good," he nodded his head and walked over to Zed, pulling him into a hug. "Thank you for getting Casey out of there last night."
Zed gave him an odd look. "Wait, so you're not going to bitch me out for fighting and getting arrested?"
"Nope."
He looked over to Eliza. "Are you witnessing this?"
She smiled and rolled her eyes. "I told you. It was for a good cause this time."
Bucky straightened up and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm going to make some coffee," he said as he walked off towards the kitchen.
Zed stood up and shrugged out of his jacket, taking his notebook out of his jacket pocket. He walked over to the small table and sat back down, grabbing a pen and highlighter from the pencil cup.
"Whatcha working on?" Eliza asked as she absentmindedly twirled a drumstick around her fingers.
"A song… Actually, I could use your help."
"With?"
"It's a duet. But I really need a female voice for this to work."
"Why would you write a song like that? You know I don't sing."
"Yeah, I know. But the idea came to me last night at that fucking party, and I wrote it out. I kept going over it and singing it in my head while I was sitting there last night and now I just have to hear it….Please?" he said as he capped the highlighter and put on the biggest pout he could.
Eliza rolled her eyes. "Fine. Plugin and let's see what you've got."
"Yes!" Thanks, E!" He handed her the sheet of paper. "Your parts are highlighted." He grabbed his guitar and sat down next to her, plugging into the portable amp.
She rolled her eyes again. "Here goes nothing..."
Zed laughed and started to strum his guitar.
"You are insane
My desire
A violent daydream
Love, love..."
Eliza took a deep breath.
"You are crazy
A perfect liar
Said you'd save me
Love, love..."
"I know the moment I looked into your eyes
I'd have to swallow all your lies
I never said that I would be your lover."
"I never said that I would be your friend..."
"Stop, stop, stop..." Zed suddenly said holding his hands up. "It's just not working."
"You know I don't sing, Z."
"I know," he sighed heavily as he stood up and stretched. "I just really wanted to try it."
"Why don't you get one of the Acey's to help you out?" Bucky offered as he walked back into the room. "That song had some potential."
Eliza rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Like Lacey would ever allow anyone to help this one," she said pointing over towards Zed.
Zed threw his hands in the air and plopped himself back down onto the couch.
Bucky shook his head and typed out a quick text. "You're lucky you happen to be in my good graces at the moment."
They all looked up to see Addison walking in drying her hair with a towel. "You summoned?"
Bucky smiled sweetly up at her from his spot at the table. "Zed here wrote a new song but needs a female voice... and E can't sing to save her life...No offense."
Eliza held up her hands. "None taken. It's a well-known fact."
"So what do you say?" Bucky asked.
"Are you going to put out the fire when Lacey finds out?"
"Don't worry about Lacey."
She rolled her eyes, "Riiiight." She tossed her towel to Bucky and walked over to take the music sheet from Eliza's outstretched hand. "Let's do this I guess."
Zed tried to hide his smile as he stood up and picked up his guitar again, strumming out the intro once more.
"You are insane
My desire
A violent daydream
Love, love..."
Addison arched her brow at him as she picked up the next line.
"You are crazy
A perfect liar
Said you'd save me
Love, love..."
Zed looked up and met her eyes as he joined in. "I knew the moment I looked into your eyes
I'd have to swallow all your lies.
I never said that I would be your lover..."
"I never said that I would be your friend..."
"I never said that I would take no other"
"Be your lover"
"Never said..."
Zed motioned to Addison to pick up the next verse.
"You are insane, my desire
A dangerous game
Love, love"
"You are crazy,
A perfect liar
Simply save me
Love, love"
They both subconsciously moved closer together as they sang. "I knew the moment I looked into your eyes
I'd have to swallow all your lies..."
"I never said that I would be your lover"
"I never said that I would be your friend..."
"I never said that I would take no other"
"Be your lover"
"Never said…
Oh, whoa, no, oh, no, whoa…."
"Love is madness" they both harmonized through almost gritted teeth. Both of them pouring all their frustrations and emotions into the song.
"I knew the moment..."
"I knew the moment..."
"I knew the moment…Love is madness
I knew the moment I looked into your eyes..."
"I knew the moment I looked into your eyes"
"I knew the moment I looked into your eyes"
"Love is madness" They both panted, trying to catch their breath, their faces only inches apart.
"Will you two please just go fuck and get it over with?" Tracey said, making his presence known. "That was hot as hell...I will totally cover for you… OOOH! Can I watch?"
"There's still a no fraternization policy in place," Bucky said standing up and giving them both a poignant look. "But...that was...damn that was good." He smiled as he looked between them. "Is there any way we can work that into the set?"
"Oh, no...I couldn't..." Addison said, slowly walking backward away from them, already feeling the familiar panic starting to rise in her chest.
"You totally should, Princess!" Eliza added.
"And don't worry about Lacey, I'll deal with her."
"It's not Lacey I'm worried about, Bucky..." she mumbled under her breath as she continued to slowly back away from them.
"Come on… Please?" Zed pretended to pout.
"I...I...I can't!" She said before running off the bus, pushing past Lacey who was just opening the door.
"What the hell was that all about?" Lacey asked as she walked onto the bus. "And why is everyone just standing here?"
Zed rolled his eyes and stormed past her out the door. He looked around the snow-filled parking lot, finally seeing her walking towards the right side of the building. He ran off towards her. "Addison!"
She spun around, surprised to hear her name being called out that loudly. "Are you crazy! Are you trying to blow my cover?!"
"I don't give a shit...What the hell was that all about in there?"
"I don't want to talk about it!"
"That song was amazing. We were amazing. I know you felt it."
"Yeah, Zed. I did. I felt it on all kinds of levels…" she said as she fought back her tears. She turned back around and continued to walk off.
"Damnit! Will you stop running off! I'm so tired of this shit! Why won't you sing?"
She stopped dead in her tracks and spun back around. "Because I'm terrified! There! Are you happy now?!" She yelled before storming off once more.
Zed pulled at his hair in frustration before chasing after her. He grabbed her roughly by the shoulder and spun her around. "Since when? What the hell happened? You were born to fucking perform. Hell, you sang your ass off on top of that bar back on your birthday!"
"Since I got the news that my Dad
died while I was on stage singing instead of being by his bedside. Since the last time I sang center stage was his memorial service and I couldn't even make it through the damn song without having a complete breakdown! Since every time I even think about singing on stage I can't fucking breathe! Take your pick, Zed!" she said sniffling back the tears that were threatening to spill. "And I was trashed on my birthday. I can't perform on stage trashed."
Zed let go of her shoulder. "Fuck...I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
"No...it's not." He stood there awkwardly for a moment before he was struck with a brilliant idea. "I'm going to help you."
"Zed..."
"Adds, you are way too talented of a musician and singer to be hiding in the corner of the stage while some two-bit marginally competent hack holds the spotlight."
"I don't want the spotlight anymore."
"You should at the very least be sharing it."
"You aren't going to drop this...are you?"
"Nope. Consider this my way of thanking you for bailing me out."
"Me bailing you out was a thank you for saving me from that creep. We're already even."
He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "Please?"
"Fine. What's your plan...I know you already have one."
"Of course I do. I'm always prepared."
"Except when you're not," she mumbled under her breath, her teeth practically rattling in the cold.
"I let you get away with the mumbled comment the other day, I'm not letting it slide again. What did you say?"
She huffed out a breath and looked away, refusing to meet his eyes. "I said 'Except when you're not'."
Zed sighed dramatically. "You find yourself without a condom on your persons one time...one...and you never hear the end of it," he teased with a smirk. "If I remember right, I offered to go back upstairs and get one, but someone wasn't having any of that."
"I'm just saying...not 'always prepared'… Fucking vodka..."
"Well, I am this time." He pulled her around to the front entrance of the building. "But I'm going to need to get you somewhere warmer and I'm going to need your bra Benjamin."
"What?"
"Your bra Benjamin...the hundred you always keep stashed in there for emergencies."
"And what makes you think I have that on me?"
Zed rolled his eyes and gave her a look.
"Fine." She reached into her bra and pulled out the bill. "Should I expect to get that back?"
"Not a chance."
"Great plan so far, Zed. I'm not exactly rolling in cash these days, especially after this morning."
"Trust the process," he said, throwing her a wink. They walked up to the doors that were being watched by a very large man wearing a ski cap and a puffer coat.
"We're not open yet."
"I know. We're with the bands that are playing tonight. Would it be possible for us to go get a feel for the stage? You know make sure the acoustics sound right, plan out where we want to position everything before we start hauling the equipment out in this weather?"
The bouncer shrugged. "Sure," he grumbled as he stood up and unlocked the door for them.
"Ladies first," Zed smiled. As Addison walked in, he turned towards the bouncer holding out the hundred dollar bill. "Can you do me a solid and make sure no one else comes in?"
"I can only hold off the employees for so long." He said with a knowing smirk. He glanced down at his watch. "You've got thirty minutes."
"More than enough time," Zed said handing him the bill. He walked in and found Addison staring up at the darkened stage. He took her by the hand and led her up to the stage, positioning her in the very center. "I'll be right back," he whispered in her ear. "Don't move." He took off towards the access panels and flipped on the canned lights.
Addison flinched and shielded her eyes from the sudden brightness. "You could have warned me!"
"What? And miss the deer in the headlights look?"
"Ass."
"You know it," he laughed as he jumped back up onto the stage.
"So...other than taking my money and my vision, what's the plan?"
"It's simple. Sing."
"I told you...I can't."
"Yes. You can. Now face the front."
She did as she was instructed.
"Now just...sing..."
Addison sighed and turned around to look at him. "This is dumb. If I have a panic attack I'm going to kick your ass once I come out of it."
"You're not going to have a panic attack. And you definitely won't be kicking my ass."
"We'll see about that."
"Now turn back around. We only have thirty minutes."
Addison sighed dramatically and turned back towards the front of the stage. "What am I supposed to sing?"
"Something that's going to get your confidence up...let's keep it simple and go with a classic...if I remember right, Britney never failed you."
Addison let out a humorless laugh. "Great...now your going to ruin Brit for me."
"Addison...just sing."
"Fine..." She took a deep breath. In a quiet, shaky voice she started to sing. "Baby can't you see, I'm calling. A guy like you...should wear a warning. It's dangerous...I'm falling….There's no escape. I can't wait. I need a hit, baby get me it. You're dangerous. I'm loving it..." She took an unsteady breath, feeling the panic starting to rise. Before she could close her eyes, Zed's mouth was on her, kissing her neck and down her shoulder. His hands wrapping around her, roaming across the front of her body.
"Deep breath, Gorgeous. Don't stop..." he whispered in her ear before he bit down.
"With the taste of your lips, I'm on a ride. You're toxic, I'm slippin under. The taste of a poison paradise, I'm addicted to you don't you know that you're toxic...Taste of your lips…Taste of your lips...Taste of your..."
Zed spun her around quickly, capturing her lips in a deep kiss. His hands were everywhere. "Keep singing, Addison."
She moaned as his hand pushed against her center. "Too high, can't come down. Losing my head spinning round and round...Ahh Ahhh Ahhh Do you feel me now? Ahhh Ahh Ahh Ahhhh..."
He slid his hand into the waistband of her jeans, delving straight into hot wet center, never stopping the torrent of kisses across her body. He could feel her tightening around his fingers as he pushed them in and out of her. "I know you're close...Sing through it, Baby."
Her voice was louder, stronger even. "With the taste of your lips, I'm on a ride….You're toxic. With the taste of a poison paradise. I'm addicted to you don't you know that you're..." She took a deep breath, shattering as she sang out. "TOXIC!"
Carefully, Zed pulled his hand back out of her pants. "Addison...look at me." Her hooded eyes met his just as he placed his fingers into his mouth, sucking them clean. "I want you to remember this when you step on stage."
"I don't think one orgasm is going to cure me."
"No...but I'm willing to keep trying. I'll help you out before every single show if I have to."
Addison threw her head back and laughed. "I'm sure you would."
"I'm dead serious. It's a hard job...but I'm sure I can rise to the challenge," he whispered thrusting his hips against her.
"Zed… we shouldn't be doing this," she said running her hands up his chest. "No more illicit trysts."
"This isn't a tryst. This is purely therapeutic." He placed a hot kiss on her shoulder.
"Well, when you put it that way..." her hand moved lower to cup his hard bulge. "Why can't I stay away from you?"
"Because deep down you don't want to fight this either..."
"Just shut up and kiss me again..."
"Gladly, Baby..." he whispered as his hands went to her cold damp hair, pulling her in for a hard kiss.
They both pulled apart quickly when they heard voices approaching.
"Oh… There you two are," Bucky called out as he walked in with one of the bar managers. "We're about to start unloading equipment. What are you doing?"
Zed froze. Luckily Addison stepped up and spoke. "You said you wanted that song worked into the set, didn't you?"
Bucky nodded.
"Well, I explained to Zed why I didn't want to sing on stage."
"You did?" Bucky asked in shock.
"Yeah, he offered to help me find a way to get passed it."
"You did?" Bucky asked, this time looking at Zed.
Zed relaxed, thankful for her quick thinking. "Yeah… I think if we can work together some on stage without anyone else around, we can work through it."
Addison rolled her eyes. "I remain skeptical… but..." she smiled, "I'm willing to give it a try."
Bucky stared at her for a moment. "Seriously? You're really willing to try and get over it?"
She nodded her head. "Yeah, I mean Zed made a pretty convincing argument..."
Zed tried to hide his smile. "So, B… what do you say? You think Princess and I could get some private rehearsals in before shows?"
Bucky was grinning from ear to ear. He looked over to Addison and nodded. "If it gets you singing on stage, absolutely… Now come on, we've got a trailer to unload, and both of you need to grab jackets… Don't need anyone else getting fucking sick..." he mumbled as he walked away.
Addison turned to Zed mouthing the word "rain-check" before she jumped off the stage to help Bucky.
Zombies had just wrapped up their set, when Bucky ran over towards them all, looking a little rattled.
"I just found out management promised the local radio station an interview and a meet-and-greet after the show," he announced, patting his pockets for his cigarettes.
"You're shitting me?" Lacey asked in shock.
"Nope. Be on your best behavior, and let's do this!"
"Fuck yes! This is what rock and roll is all about!" Tracey exclaimed as he hugged Addison. "Let's go!"
"I'll be right there," she smiled. "I'm just going to grab another bottle of water."
"I'll see you back there!"
She stayed put as she watched them all walk towards the green room. "Looks like another rain-check..." she said quietly, knowing that Zed was still standing behind her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a soft kiss under her ear. "Good thing we have a long
drive tonight." He bit down on her earlobe, soothing the sting with his tongue.
A few minutes later, they were all set up in the green room. Bucky looked around and made a silent headcount. "Where's Stacey?"
"Asleep," Lacey said with a shrug. "She ducked out right after we were done. But… at least she made it through the set."
Bucky nodded and walked over towards the local deejay to get things started. After a short interview, the green room door opened and a flood of female fans entered the room. All of them ranging in age from about eighteen to twenty-five, and all of them heading straight towards Zed and Bonzo.
"Um… Where are the male fans?" Lacey asked looking over to Bucky.
A blonde bimbo slid up to Zed, snaking her arm around him, and posing for pictures. She was all tits and ass and hanging all over him. Heat seared up Addison's neck to her face. The flash went off. She didn't let go. Zed smiled and started to chat her up. Addison started over their way, ready to take her down. She suddenly stopped mid-step as the reality of the situation fully hit her. Zed doesn't belong to her. She took a deep breath and put a lid on her rage, reminding herself that they're not dating, they're not exclusive...they're just friends, and barely that, despite his declaration the other night.
Nobody could know that she was secretly jealous as hell- least of all, Lacey and Bucky.
She gritted her teeth and put on her best fake smile.
"I'm going to get a drink," she mumbled as she grabbed her stuff and exited the stage door towards the bar.
After scoring a few free drinks from the bartender and having him compliment her bass skills, she returned backstage to find the room empty. Well, almost empty.
She rolled her eyes and smiled before shutting them tight. "Ahhh! My eyes!" she called out teasingly.
She could hear Bucky and Eliza both curse as they jumped apart.
"Oh thank fuck it's just you," Bucky said, the relief clear in his voice as his chest still heaved.
"Honestly, you two… I'm scarred for life."
"Don't be a brat… we were just making out… I've had to witness much worse with you."
She bit back a laugh. "Where'd everybody else go?"
"Guess," Eliza said as she rolled her eyes.
"Fuck. The bus?"
"You got it… well, some of them at least. The rest went to the nearest strip club."
Addison put on her best apathetic expression while swallowing the bile climbing up her throat. "Just as well. I met a guy in the bar," she lied. "He wants to take me to his car for a quicky. I should only be gone for an hour. I'll be back in plenty of time before we need to get on the road."
"Really?" Bucky said looking over to her. "After what happened last night?"
She shrugged. "I've been through worse… still enjoy sex."
His face scrunched up in disgust. "I hope you have condoms."
"Nope."
He narrowed his eyes at her.
"I'm fucking with you, B. I'm always safe...lesson learned, remember."
"Not funny."
"It was a little funny..." She reached into her top and pulled out a condom, tossing it at him. "Same goes for you… Have fun." She turned on her heels and headed towards the exit.
The cold air hit her like a slap across the face as she scowled at the bus across the blacktop through the snow.
Even though her head urged her to forget about it, her heart had to know. She trudged over to the bus, her feet filled with the lead of dread.
When she finally made it, she hid in the shadows and listened.
"Yeah, baby, take it all..." a male voice growled over the muffled grunts that escaped through the window. Rhythmic banging accentuating their moans.
Zed suddenly appeared beside her and clamped his hand over her mouth to keep her from shrieking in surprise. He held his index finger over his lips and lead her by the hand to the back end of the bus.
"You thought I was in there," he grinned with that sexy smirk that turned her into a puddle.
"So what if you were?" she blew off the insinuation, even though she wanted to punch him.
He stepped into her personal space and guided her to the other side of the bus. There was a nice big wall there. No one could see them unless they came looking. Her pulse hammered in her veins.
"Jealous?"
"No."
"Liar."
She narrowed her eyes. "We are not having sex again until you promise me you're using condoms with the other chicks you fuck."
He held up his right hand. "If I fuck another woman, I swear I'll wear a condom."
"Or another guy..." she added, just to cover her bases.
He shook his head and smiled. "Or another guy."
"Who's on the bus?"
"Tracey..."
"Good for him..." Addison closed the gap between them. Her hands skating across his leather-covered shoulders. "Where'd your groupie go?"
"I called her an Uber."
"Why?"
"Not my type..."
She refused to read anything into his answer, but couldn't help the silent celebration in her mind. "Since when do you have a type? I thought a pulse was the only thing that mattered..."
He grabbed her open coattails and tugged her close enough to feel his rigid cock straining underneath his leather pants. His brown eyes flashed in the shadows. "Actually, my tastes have become rather singular as of late..."
"As of late?"
"Fine...my tastes have always been rather singular...she just wasn't around until recently..."
"I bet you tell all your hookups that..."
"Just you...always, just you..."
"So now I'm just a hookup?"
He rolled his eyes. "I told you how I feel the other night… You know I lo..."
She put her finger over his lips, cutting him off. "Don't… Please..."
He arched his brow and swirled his tongue over her finger.
She licked her bottom lip. "Trouble… Where were we earlier?"
"Hmm..." he smiled as his hands pulled up the hem of her tight skirt and cupped her pussy through her fishnet stockings. He smiled as he leaned down and bit her shoulder. "You're so fucking wet already." With a wicked smile playing on his lips, he grabbed onto her stockings and ripped them open. She let out a breathy moan as he guided her leg over his hip and slipped two fingers deep inside her.
"Fuck..."
He smiled against her lips before biting softly. He took a step away from her and unzipped his pants, freeing himself into the cold night.
Her eyes focused on his cock, her teeth biting into her lower lip as she watched him roll a condom down his length.
He could see how heavy she was breathing already. He lifted her and spun them around so that she was pressed up against the cold brick wall. Her legs wrapped around him and her hands ran through his hair, pulling him even closer to her as she licked along his jaw.
"Christ, I need you, Adds."
"Then I'm yours."
They both threw their heads back and moaned as he pushed into her slowly, savoring the feeling.
"Don't say shit like that if you don't mean it," he said through strained breath as she contracted the muscles inside of her, gripping him tightly as he entered her completely.
Her arms wrapped around him. "You were right..." she breathed. "I am sick of fighting… whatever this is between us."
He smiled as he slowly pulled nearly all the way out, and then slammed back in hard, making her scream out in ecstasy.
"No more fighting this?"
She bit her lip and shook her head before grabbing onto the back of his head and covering his mouth with her own.
He ran his tongue along hers, touching her, tasting her until they needed to pull apart for air. When they did, he looked into her crystal blue eyes, watching them darken and flicker and close slightly as he continued to pound into her. He kissed her again and then across her chin and up the line of her jaw towards her ear, biting down. "I get so lost inside your eyes..." he sang quietly.
Addison let out a soft giggle followed immediately by another moan as bit down on her neck.
"You don't have to say you love me
You don't have to say nothing
You don't have to say you're mine..." He grabbed her chin, making her focus on his eyes. He could feel the pressure starting to build in his stomach as it pressed against hers.
"Honey
I'd walk through fire for you
Just let me adore you..."
Her breath caught from both his words and the feel of him rotating his hips so that his pubic bone rubbed against her clit. "Zed..."
"Oh, honey
I'd walk through fire for you
Just let me adore you
Like it's the only thing I'll ever do..."
She pulled his face back towards her, attacking his mouth once again.
The muscles in his legs contracted as he slammed repeatedly into her. The pressure continuing down his cock as she gripped and squeezed him with her pussy. "I'm so close, baby."
"I'm right there, too… You feel… so… fucking… good..." She bit down onto his shoulder as hard as possible sending them both over the edge.
Zed rested his forehead against hers as they both panted trying to catch their breath, wearing matching smiles as the snow gently started to fall around them.
"I knew it was only a matter of time before you two hooked up!"
Both of their heads snapped towards the side of the bus where Tracey was standing smoking a cigarette.
Addison rolled her eyes. "Um, Trace…" she called over to him. "Would you mind… just giving us a quick second to…" she motioned down to their lower halves.
"Like I haven't seen the both of you naked before." He let out a laugh and turned around.
Addison and Zed quickly straightened themselves out, stealing a quick kiss before they walked over towards him.
"Sooooo…," Zed said nervously.
Tracey turned around and smiled. "Relax, I told you I'd cover for you. You're secret is totally safe… God, you two are hot together…" He looked over to Addison and smiled even more. "If he doesn't help you get over your ex-boyfriend, I don't know what will."
Addison laughed nervously and looked over to Zed. "No more fighting this?"
He smiled and nodded.
"You asked me to trust you earlier, I'm asking you to do the same..."
"Wait...Adds! What are you doing?" Zed
whispered in a sudden panic.
"Wait! Zed knows your name?"
She turned back towards Tracey. "… Zed IS my ex."
"Addie!"
She looked back over to Zed. "We're going to need help if we're going to keep this from Bucky and Lacey. You have Bonzo!"
"Wait..." Tracey said as he stood there with a look of complete confusion. "Addie?..." His eyes opened wide as the realization hit like a sledgehammer. "Holy shit… the tattoo! You're not joking!"
Addison shook her head and smiled. "No… I'm not." She blew out a breath and flipped her lower lip down, showing him the matching one.
"Oh. My. God…."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Storytime! I was stuck in traffic one day and Love Is Madness, by Thirty Seconds to Mars, came on the radio. I completely fell in love with it and started to think about how I could work it into the story I was writing at the time (Our Year/ Watch Us Shine). Obviously, it wasn't going to work. So that's where the whole original idea for this entire crazy twisted story came from. With all that being said, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
If you're reading Watch Us Shine, I just want to say that it was a complete coincidence that Addison was in the hospital in both stories this week. I didn't think the chapters would line up like that… oops.
SONGS USED IN THIS CHAPTER
Love Is Madness- Thirty Seconds To Mars
Toxic- 2WEI (Yes, the version Milo danced to on DWTS)
Adore You- Harry Styles