AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is rated M.
On The Edge
Chapter 41
ROOTS
- PART 1 -
I FUCKING HATE YOU ZED NECRODOPOLOUS!
Lacey snickered as she flipped to the next page of the Rolling Stone magazine she was reading. "Glad I'm not the only one… So nice to see she's finally come to her senses."
YOU'RE SUCH A FUCKING BITCH, CASEY!
Jacey stood up and looked at Bucky expectantly. "Shouldn't you try to break that up? That's like the fifth fight since we left for Portland! They've been fighting like this for weeks!"
"NO!" Bucky answered a little too quickly. "I mean, no… as long as they're still able to work together I don't care how often they…" he swallowed back a grimace, "...fight."
Eliza hid her smile and discreetly patted his leg under the table.
At the sound of something hard hitting against the bathroom door, Lacey looked up and smiled. "I hope she gives him another black eye."
Bucky rolled his eyes and looked down to his phone to check the email that had just pinged. "Shit!"
ZzZzZzZzZ
"I FUCKING HATE YOU ZED NECRODOPOLOUS!" Addison screamed as she pulled Zed towards the bathroom, ignoring Bonzo's crude hand gestures as they pretended to storm past the bunks. "I fucking love you, Zed Jacobs," she whispered through a giggle.
"I love you, too, Addison… YOU'RE SUCH A FUCKING BITCH, CASEY!… You're in so much trouble…" he whispered, as he slammed the door closed behind them and stalked towards her with a devilish smile.
"Promise?"
"Abso-fucking-lutely…" He grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her to him, crashing his lips against hers and spinning her around so that her back collided with the door.
She bit back a moan as her leg wrapped around his waist.
"BREAK IT UP YOU TWO!" Bucky yelled, banging on the door.
Addison and Zed both exchanged a look of confusion. The whole "pretend to fight," thing had been Bucky's idea to begin with.
"Too much?" Zed asked quietly.
Addison shrugged.
"Guys, we've got a problem… open up!" Bucky whispered anxiously.
Zed pulled Addison away from the door and opened it, looking around to make sure he was alone.
"Really Z? You think I would risk it if someone was around?" Bucky asked with an agitated edge to his voice as he pushed his way in and closed the door.
"What's wrong?" Addison asked.
"I'M SO TIRED OF YOU TWO FIGHTING!" Bucky yelled back towards the door before dropping his voice down to a whisper. "Just got another email from Jamie."
"No," Addison whined. "Another one?"
"I'm afraid so."
"DAMNIT BUCKY! I should be scheduling rehearsals by now, not trying to salvage the lineup! The show is next fucking month!"
Missy had seemed to make it her mission to ruin the lineup Addison had been tirelessly working to create. Nearly everyone she had reached out to had been excited to participate, but over the course of the last few weeks, her mother had somehow convinced them to back out.
"IT'S HER FUCKING FAULT!" Zed yelled, referring to Missy but using it as a way to keep up their 'fight'.
Addison threw her hands into the air. "THAT'S IT! I'm putting a stop to this FUCKING BULLSHIT!"
"How?"
"I'm going to have to go see her," she whined quietly. "It's the only way to get her to BACK THE HELL OFF!"
"I'll be honest, this is fucking exhausting," Zed laughed. "I wish we could just have a conversation like normal people."
"Well, no one said you two had to FIGHT SO FUCKING MUCH!" Bucky snapped.
"It's stress relief, Brother-Dear."
He shot her a glare.
Addison bit back a laugh. "Seriously though, B. Do we have time in the schedule for me to slip away for an afternoon?"
Bucky sighed. "Do you really think it'll work?"
"I don't know! She hasn't answered my calls and she's been ignoring everyone on the board. It's all I've got left!"
"I don't want you going alone," Zed said, grasping her hand.
Addison looked up to him and smiled softly. "It'll only be for a few hours."
"I DON'T TRUST HER!" he yelled towards the door.
"Neither do I," Bucky added. "But Addie's right… We've tried everything else." He pulled out his phone and looked at their upcoming schedule. "Think you could fly out first thing in the morning? I can make up some bullshit excuse, but I'm going to need you back before soundcheck."
Addison gnawed on her lower lip and nodded.
"I want to go."
"No," Bucky answered quickly. "Too fucking risky."
"I don't want her going alone! THAT WOMEN IS A COMPLETE PSYCHO!"
"I don't want her going alone either, but what choice do we have?"
Zed threw his hands up in frustration.
"Mason…" Addison whispered.
"What?"
"I'll have him pick me up from the airport and come with me."
Bucky and Zed were both silent for a moment as they thought it over.
"I don't hate it," Bucky finally said.
"FINE!" Zed growled loudly.
"Did you just yell at me?!" she snapped.
He rolled his eyes and smiled as he leaned down and brushed a kiss against her lips. "Of course not, baby."
She giggled and kissed him back. "That's more like it..."
"Could you two wait until we get to the hotel or at least until everyone goes to sleep?"
They both flipped him off.
"Really?"
"Sorry, Brother-dear," Addison said softly.
Bucky rolled his eyes. "Just keep your distance from each other for a few. You were just fighting, remember?"
They both silently laughed and nodded as he opened the door. "I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN! UNDERSTOOD!"
Zed snapped to attention. "Sir, yes sir!"
Addison bit back a giggle. "Easy there soldier…" she whispered, leaning into his side. "You going all army man makes me feel ways about things…"
"Is that so?"
She nodded and bit her lip.
"Seriously?" Bucky snapped looking around to make sure no one else overheard them.
"What? You interrupted makeup sex," she whispered. "You can't blame me for still being worked up."
"You weren't really fighting."
"So?"
He shot her a glare. "You're pushing it… You two better have a damn good song to show for this shit."
"Sorry," they both whispered taking a large step away from each other.
Bucky took a deep centering breath and walked off towards the front of the bus with them both in tow.
Zed plopped down onto the bench seat next to Eliza and reached for his phone that he had left to charge. "Um…" he held up the cable. "Where's my phone?"
Eliza shrugged. "I don't know, wasn't there when I sat down."
"Huh…" he stood up and walked back down the hall, throwing Addison a wink as he passed.
"Saw that…" Tracey whispered as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through her hair while he typed out a text.
"Are you texting Mase?"
"Did you say texting or sexting?" he giggled.
"Texting… but now that you mention it…." She sat up and grabbed his phone from him.
"Hey!"
Addison scrolled through their text exchange before letting out a disappointed sigh. "You totally had my hopes up."
He chuckled and swiped his phone back from her. "Sorry doll face. If it makes you feel any better, no one is more disappointed than me."
She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you want to see him?"
Tracey nodded and sighed. "Yeah…"
"What are you doing tomorrow morning?"
His head snapped over to hers. "Um… nothing nearly as exciting as what I think you're about to suggest."
Addison giggled and hugged him tightly. "Well, my mother has ramped the bitch factor up quite a bit and I need to go deal with it. Z and B aren't crazy about me going by myself so I thought about asking Mason if he'd meet me at the airport… Maybe while I'm with the wicked witch at the Beverly Hills Hotel, you two could go for coffee… or something better?"
Tracey kissed her cheek. "Have I ever told you how much I love you Honey Bunny?"
"Maybe a time or two."
Zed walked back to the front of the bus and threw his hands up in the air. "I can't find it anywhere… Can someone call me?"
"I gotcha Zeddikins," Tracey said dialing his number.
Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches
I slam in back of my Dragula
Zed followed the sound of his ringtone back towards the hallway, just as Jacey came out holding the missing phone.
"I guess this one's yours," he offered. "Must have grabbed it by accident. I swear they all look the same."
Zed took it back and ended the call. "No worries man, I'm just glad I didn't lose it. Definitely have some stuff I'd miss on this thing," he chuckled.
"Uh, yeah…" Jacey nodded as he scratched the back of his head nervously. "Hey, while I've got you... take it easy on Princess," he said looking over to Addison on the pull-out next to Tracey. "She's good people."
Zed gave him a questioning look.
"...the fighting? You two have been going at it a lot lately."
"Ooooh, yeah… that." Zed shrugged and smiled. "Creative disagreements. We're both pretty opinionated, but it's my band we're writing for so…"
"I get it. I'm just saying…"
Zed held his hands up in surrender. "I'll try to keep my temper in check."
"Thanks, man."
Her fingertips traced over his bicep. "Have I ever told you how much I love your muscles?"
"The better to hold you down and fuck you with, my dear."
Addison laughed as he rolled over her and took her nipple between his teeth. He nibbled, but only lightly.
Between their romp in the bunks before they arrived at the hotel, and then the two once they checked in, neither of them had the stamina needed for another round just yet. Zed propped himself up on his hands and leaned in to kiss her a couple of times before he laid back on his side facing her.
Her hand ran over his bicep again, then down his arm, tracing his tattoos as she went. A mischievous smile graced her lips as her fingers traced over the slight dip at his waist right before they crept around to his ass. She gave it a squeeze and looked up at him. "I think I love your ass more, though."
Zed laughed and grabbed her butt as well, bringing them closer together. "I love yours more."
She bit her lip and let out a wicked laugh.
"Uhoh… what?"
"Nothing…" she answered innocently. "Just a fleeting thought."
"Bullshit," he whispered in her ear as his hands roamed up her waist and started to tickle her.
"AHHH! Stop!"
"Then tell me," he teased.
She narrowed her eyes. "Fine… roll over."
"Roll over?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "I want to try something."
He arched a brow as he slowly turned over onto his stomach in the center of the bed, watching her as she walked across the room to where her overnight bag was sitting.
"YES!" she called out victoriously as she spun around clutching something small. She giggled and skipped back to the bed holding it out for him.
"A quarter?"
"Yep!"
"Out of all the things I could have imagined you bringing into bed after telling me to 'roll over', that would never have made the list," he said through a laugh.
"I've always wanted to try this," she said enthusiastically.
"Try what, exactly?"
"You were in the military… it's just like the quarter test on the bed after you've made it. I want to see if it'll bounce!"
"You want to quarter test my ass?"
"YES!" she giggled again.
Zed dropped his head into his hands and closed his eyes, trying to control his laughter. "I can't believe I'm letting you do this…"
"You know you love me, now flex!" she ordered.
"Ma'am, yes Ma'am!" he looked over his shoulder and watched as she tossed the quarter at his backside… and missed the bed completely.
"Dammit!"
Zed was laughing so hard that his stomach was starting to hurt, he barely felt it when she smacked his ass and told him to be still so she could try again. He tried to hold in the chuckles, but she smacked him twice more before he was still enough for her. This time it worked, and even he was a little surprised when the quarter bounced off and rolled under the bed.
Addison jumped up and down, shouting and cheering, making her tits and her ass bounce around, too.
He grabbed her and pulled her back into the bed, covering her mouth with his. "That was the dumbest thing we have ever done," he managed to get out between laughs and kisses.
"It was awesome and you know it," she giggled as her hands began to travel lower. "Now back to that, 'Ma'am, yes, Ma'am thing…"
"It's really late… Don't you have a flight to catch bright and early?"
She nipped his lower lip and smiled. "I'll sleep on the plane."
"Well in that case…" he rolled her over and kissed her again. "Sergeant Jacobs, reporting for duty..."
"Call me as soon as you land. And text me as soon as you get to the hotel. And call me as soon as you leave," Zed whispered against her lips in between kisses.
Addison smiled. "Aren't you being a little overprotective?"
He pulled back just far enough to look her in the eyes. "No. I'm never underestimating your mother ever again."
She traced one of the dark circles under his eyes. "At least try to get some sleep while I'm gone."
"Not a chance," he chuckled, pulling her back in for another kiss.
Bucky rolled his eyes. "Are you two almost finished? Nancy is literally holding the door open, waiting for you."
"Oh, leave them alone, B," Tracey sighed. "Let them be madly in love."
"Trust me. I have been."
Zed turned to Bucky. "Are you sure I can't go with?"
"Not a chance, Z. It's believable if I say that these two hit up a day spa for hot yoga and massages. Not so much if you're involved."
"Wait, hot yoga and massages are an option?" Tracey asked.
Addison laughed. "I thought you wanted to see Mason?"
He sighed and nodded. "I do… but damn does a spa day sound amazing."
"Trust me, I'd much rather visit a spa than my mother."
At the mention of Missy, Zed pulled Addison back into him, crashing his lips against hers once more. "I'm serious. Call me. Text me."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you, too… forever."
"And after," she smiled. "I'll be back before soundcheck."
TROUBLE:
Just landed. Wish me luck…
Good luck Baby. Be careful. I love you.
I love you too. GET SOME SLEEP.
I have plans for you when I get back…
How am I supposed to sleep after you say
a thing like that?!
Mase just pulled up. TTYL. ;*
Tell him I said HI
He says WHAT UP and he can't wait to
hang out next week
At the hotel… here goes nothing XOX
I love you so fucking much.
Just checking in. How's it going?
Hello?
Baby, it's been over three hours. I'm starting
to freak out.
Adds what the fuck is going on? I just called
Mason and he hasn't heard from you either.
Soundcheck is starting
Where the hell are you?
I swear I'm about to find a way out there.
Dammit Addison! Answer your fucking phone!
"Where the fuck were you two?" Lacey screamed as Addison and Tracey walked into the dressing room. "You missed soundcheck and the show starts in twenty fucking minutes!"
"Not now, Lace…" Tracey warned as he shrugged out of his jacket.
"Excuse me? You two ditched us for a fucking spa day! I think now is the perfect time!"
Addison grabbed a bottle of tequila from the wet bar and uncorked it before taking a large swig. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and glared at Lacey. "I am not in the fucking mood right now Lacey. Back the fuck off!"
"I don't think so! It's bad enough you get to sing in my fucking band! Now you don't even feel like you have to show up to soundcheck? Who the hell do you think you are?!"
Addison threw the bottle as hard as she could at the wall, sending shards of glass flying. She shook her head and laughed. "Who the hell do I think I am?" She stalked closer to Lacey. "I'll tell you exactly who the hell I am..."
Tracey and Jacey both rushed in between the two of them.
"What the hell is going on in here?!" Bucky yelled as he ran into the room. "Casey? Tracey? When do you two get here?"
"Nice timing," Tracey sighed in relief. "About a minute ago."
"Casey. Outside. Now!" he snapped.
Addison pushed Jacey away and stormed back out of the dressing room, following her brother towards the backstage exit. The second they were outside, he spun around to face her. "What the fuck happened? I tried calling you! Zed's been a fucking basket case! And then all we get is a text from Tracey that you guys are finally on your way back?" he rushed out.
Before she could answer, the door opened and Zed ran out. "Oh, thank fuck!" he said as he pulled her to him, crushing her against his chest. He kissed the top of her head. "I was so fucking worried. What happened, Baby?"
She pushed him away. "I can't… Just…" she threw her hands in the air. "I need some fucking space…" She wiped an errant tear from her cheek and ran off across the parking lot towards the bus.
Zed went to follow her, but was pulled back by Bucky. "Just give her a few minutes…"
"But…"
Bucky held his hand up. "I'm going to talk to Tracey. You call Mason… but make it fast, we've got a show to do."
ZzZzZzZzZzZ
"Are you sure you're okay to go on already? I can still have them skip the duet. It'll give you another thirty to get your head straight." Bucky said in a rushed whisper as she tuned her guitar.
"I'm fine! Fuck!" Addison snapped.
He held his hands up and looked over to Zed on stage, giving him the thumbs up.
Zed gave him a small shrug before grabbing the microphone and introducing her like he did every show when she came out to join them for a few songs. The crowd erupted into applause as she took the stage.
"You okay, Baby?" he asked, far enough away from the microphone that it wouldn't be picked up.
"I'm fine."
He gave her a wary glance.
"Zed, just play the fucking song!" she sneered.
His lips curled up in a snarl and he turned around towards Bonzo, giving him a head nod to start. Together they began to build a slow tempo as Addison stepped up to the microphone. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she softly began to sing the song they had been working on the last few weeks.
"I have been sleeping for seven moons and now I'm awake…"
"I have a hunger deep within me I can't shake," Zed practically whispered into the mic, silently begging her to open her eyes back up.
"You see it twist and turn, I won't let it take a hold of me..."
"The time to hunt has come, it's time for me to feed."
"We know one of us is going down
So I say we do this anyway…"
"We know one of us is going down
So I say we do this anyway..."
"One of us is going…" she whispered before her eyes opened and looked right into his.
"Down in the darkness, beneath the light
Meet on the hunting grounds, down
Down in the shadows, become the night
Meet me on the hunting grounds, down…" They sang together. Both of them allowing their anger and frustration to come out through the lyrics.
"If one of us is going down"
"One of us is going down
I say let's do this anyway"
"Let's do this anyway..."
If one of us is going down"
"One of us is going down
We do this anyway"
"On the hunting grounds…"
"I guess all that fighting they've been doing lately was worth it," Jacey muttered to Bucky as they stood in the curtains and watched.
"Guess so..."
Addison held Zed's gaze as she breathed out the start of the next verse. "I was raised by wolves, taught to fight until the death…"
"Slowly wear you down to your very last breath."
"I can hear your heart pound, you don't think I'm a threat."
"Like a predator, sink my teeth into your... neck," he leaned over and bit her, knowing it was a risk, but needing the physical contact with her more than anything in that moment. Her eyes fluttered closed and the crowd went wild. "We know one of us is going down… I say let's do this anyway."
"We know one of us is going down, and I say let's do this anyway."
They were practically nose to nose, their guitars nearly touching. "One of us is going…." Zed whispered before they both sang the chorus together again. The tension was noticeable to everyone around them as their back and forth continued to build.
"On the hunting… grounds," Addison breathed out the last line.
Without thinking, Zed closed the minuscule space between them and kissed her.
The cheers erupting from the audience drowned out the gasps coming from the stage and behind the curtains.
Addison paced back and forth across her hotel room, ignoring the incessant knocking on the door. She had taken off before the final chord of her bass had finished ringing through the amplifiers at the end of The Acey's set. She ignored her brother as he tried to stop her, and she sure as hell ignored Zed, even though she knew he was going to follow her back to the hotel. A quick call to the front desk on her way to ask them to re-key her room and to not give one to anyone else other than her, assured that she'd at least have some space to think.
Her head was a fucking mess. Snippets of the conversation with her mother were re-playing on a constant loop.
...
"Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"
….
"Honestly, Darling, I'm the only family you have left."
….
"I really don't know how you can stomach to look at yourself."
….
"You've always been a disappointment."
….
"You're just going to ruin it like you ruin everything else you touch."
…..
She let out a scream of frustration and grabbed her acoustic guitar off the bed. "I thank you for all the lives you've led… I thank you for every word you said… I thank you for walking a-way. I thank you for the promises you broke… for always watching, watching while I choke. I thank you for teaching me… Yes, I thank you for your hurting…" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting her anger flow through her and take control. "I bite down a little harder! My blade's a little sharper! My roots, my roots run deep into the hollow. Strike back a little harder! I scream a little louder! I'm stronger than I ever knew. I'm strong because of you…" tears streamed down her face.
She nearly screamed when she felt a pair of strong, familiar arms wrap around her. Her eyes flew open as she spun around. "What the fuck! How did you…"
Zed pointed to the now open balcony door. "I went in through Wy and Wills room and climbed over."
She pushed him away and set her guitar back down. "I don't think you should be in here after what you did on stage tonight."
"I don't give a fuck."
"Well I do!" she yelled.
"It was just a kiss. Bucky is running damage control with Lacey. It'll be fine."
Addison rolled her eyes and started pacing again.
Zed reached out and grabbed her hand. "Adds… you've got to talk to me. This is killing me, Gorgeous."
She pulled away and continued to pace.
"You can ignore me all you want, but I'm not going anywhere, Adds. It's you and me, remember? A and Z. Alpha and Omega. Forever and After…" he scrubbed his face with his hands and dropped down to his knees. "Just tell me what fucking happened… please, Baby… I'm begging you."
She stopped with her back to him. "My mom offered to give up her board seat and give up control of mine that's she's holding."
"What? That's a fucking miracle!"
Addison shook her head, still not looking at him. "If you think that offer didn't come with conditions, you're forgetting who we're dealing with."
"What does she want?"
"Everything…"
He waited silently for her to elaborate.
"She wants me to pull the tribute performance… and she wants me to end things with you."
"You have got to be kidding me?"
She let out a humorless laugh. "Not in the slightest…"
"Addison…"
"...Don't worry, I told her she could go straight to hell. I lost you once because of her, I'll be damned if I lose you again."
Zed let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "And the show?"
"Looks like if we do it, it'll be just me, you, and Mase… everyone else has pulled out. I don't blame them… she's right… I probably will ruin it."
He walked up behind her and rubbed a hand down her arm. "No, you won't. She doesn't know how amazing you are. We can do it…"
She shrugged him off.
"Baby…"
"Today's Penny's birthday."
His head snapped up at her whispered words. "What?"
"Today is her birthday and I fucking forgot… of course, my mother was more than happy to remind me."
"Shit…" he nearly tackled her with a hug. "I'm so fucking sorry."
Her tears were flowing freely again as she melted into his embrace. "How could I forget? She's right, I'm a horrible fucking person. I do ruin everything!"
"That is so far from the truth, Adds. You are the most caring, and wonderful, and loving person I have ever known..."
"I've spent this day every fucking year by her side. And I fucking forgot!" she sobbed.
Zed held her tight, kissing away her tears and trying his best to comfort her, neither of them moving until there was a sharp knock on the door.
"Open the fuck up!" Bucky yelled from the other side.
Addison wiped her eyes. "And now I have to deal with this shit… You couldn't have just kept your damn lips to yourself?!"
"Are you really upset I kissed you?"
"On stage? In front of Lacey?… Yeah, I'm a bit pissed off. We barely tolerate each other on the best of days. Do you have any idea how much of a miserable bitch she's going to be now?" she asked as she stood up and walked to the door to open it.
Bucky stormed in and waited for her to close the door before he said a word. "Don't ever do that shit on stage again!"
Zed ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "I'm sorry. I spent the entire day worried out of my mind, and then she ran off and something was wrong, and then that song… I got caught up in the moment."
"How bad is it?" Addison asked.
"I told her that it was all just a show to get a reaction from the audience."
Addison snickered. "And she bought that?"
"After a lot of time spent talking her off the ledge… barely. So I repeat, don't pull that shit again."
Zed held his hands up in surrender as Addison sat down next to him on the edge of the bed. He sighed contently when she reached over and took his hand.
"I also had to agree to cut back your leads. Sorry, Sis."
Addison dropped her head down into her hands and scrubbed at her face. "Fine. Whatevs."
"And you two should probably keep your distance from one another on the bus. More so than normal… Now, with that out the way…" Bucky said. "What. The. Fuck. Happened?"
"Long story short? Or all the gory details?"
"After what you put me through today, I want every single detail down to the china pattern that the Beverly Hills hotel was using for brunch."
Addison rolled her eyes but took a deep breath and started from the beginning. "I surprised her at the hotel. Thankfully Pierce was out of town filming some movie, so I didn't have to deal with him."
"Fucking Pierce…" Zed mumbled under his breath.
She squeezed his hand and continued. "We went downstairs for brunch. I ordered tequila and perrier and the avocado toast. She ordered a vodka double neat with a twist."
"Okay, I don't really need the minute details," Bucky threw in.
"Fine... she offered to give up her seat on the board as well as control of my seat."
"What's the catch?"
"I sign off on pulling the hall of fame performance, I break things off with Zed, and I stop touring."
"You didn't tell me about the tour!" Zed said at the same time that Bucky let out a string of curses.
She shrugged. "Sorry, it's been a long day."
"Why? And how does she know about the tour? And more importantly what the hell did you tell her?" Bucky rushed out.
"Because she's an evil fucking hag who doesn't want me to ever be happy? Um, no fucking clue… And of course, I told her no… but much more elaborately and colorfully stated."
Bucky bit back a small laugh. "I'd expect nothing less to come out of your mouth."
Addison gave him a small shrug. "So, the show is just going to be Me, Zed, and Mason. Just the three of us. Doing EVERYTHING… Singing and playing… Shit…" she dropped her head back into her hands. "Do you have any idea how much work this is going to be? I'm going to have to re-do the arrangements on every damn song to put them in the proper range, I'm going to have to create every fucking transition… and that's only the start of it!"
Zed wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
"That's not all that she said though…" she said looking back up to Bucky, "the gloves are off. She's officially cutting me out of her estate, she's pursuing the suit to retain my seat and she's going to re-file to get Daddy's estate and Bamm!... Not to mention the havoc she can cause with this tour."
"Fuck…" Bucky muttered under his breath.
"Oh, and she tipped off the paparazzi when she got up to use the bathroom. They showed up shortly thereafter. Followed me all the way to the cemetery. I was so fucking angry I threw my phone. It's totally smashed to shit… When they finally gave up, I went to the security office and looked up Bamm!'s number to transfer me to my office so my admin could look up Mason's cell in his company file…" she blew out a breath. "It was a whole thing..."
"Why were you at the cemete…" he suddenly stopped talking and pulled his phone back out to look at the date. "...shit… Addie-loo…" he looked up and shook his head. "I'm so sorry... I forgot."
Her tears started falling again. "So did I."
Lacey slammed her printed copy of the newest setlist down onto the table in front of Bucky. "Why the hell are we adding covers to our set?"
Bucky continued to tap out the email he was composing on his phone. "Because we are."
"And why the hell is that fucking snowball singing them?! I told you I didn't want her singing!"
"Because she is," he replied, still not looking up.
"DAMNIT BUCKY! THIS ISN'T FUCKING FAIR! THIS IS MY BAND! I WANT US PLAYING MY SONGS!"
Bucky let out a slow breath and set his phone down. "If The Acey's only performed 'your songs' there wouldn't have been any new material since we left New York. I already pulled most of her songs from the set after the temper tantrum you pitched in Portland! Now if you don't mind…" he picked his phone back up, "I'm dealing with some important shit at the moment and I need to concentrate."
"Important shit? I'm important! You're my manager! You're supposed to make sure I'm happy! I AM NOT HAPPY!"
"Wow…" Willa said as she walked into the kitchen. "Do you sound as entitled and bitchy in your own head as you sound to the rest of us?" she asked as she hopped up to sit on the small counter.
Lacey let out a frustrated scream and stormed out.
Bucky looked up from his phone over to Willa. "Was that necessary?"
"Completely."
He bit back a laugh and looked back down at his phone.
"More Missy drama?"
He sighed and nodded. "Yeah. With all the pictures popping up, and the suits she's filed, I feel like I've been dealing with lawyers for a month."
"It's only been a week," she laughed.
"Fuck…" he threw his head back. "How's she doing?"
"She looks like she hasn't slept all week and I don't think she's looked up from her laptop or taken her headphones off since we got on the road."
"She probably hasn't…"
"Yes, she has," Addison said as she walked in and headed straight for the cabinet. She let out a curse. "We're out of coffee."
"It's probably because you, Bucky, and Zed drank it all."
Addison flipped her off and blew her a kiss just as Zed walked into the kitchen as well.
"Coffee?" he asked through a yawn.
"We're out."
"You know you guys could just try sleeping," Willa shrugged. "You look like shit."
"Suck my dick, Wills."
"Been there, done that, Zedward… and you know the rules… only with Pom-Poms permission."
"I'm too tired to even get excited about that," Addison yawned.
Bucky rolled his eyes. "Could you not?"
"Sorry, Boss," Willa laughed. She looked back over to Zed. "Why are you so pissy?"
He yawned again and stole a quick kiss from Addison. "Other than the fact that I've been so busy trying to master a dozen legendary songs that I haven't slept, haven't had sex, I'm out of cigarettes, and now out of coffee? No reason."
Addison pulled a piece of Juicy Fruit out of her bra and shoved it into his mouth. "I'm out too… gums helping a little."
"We should be stopping to refuel soon… You guys can reload then," Bucky said as he stood up and stretched. "Did Bonzo or Eliza have a problem with the new setlist?" he asked Zed.
"Of course not, why would they?"
Willa snickered. "Lacey did."
"She's still bitching about it," Tracey said as he walked in holding his phone out for Addison. "Mason wants to talk to you, Honey-Bunny."
Addison took the phone from him and walked out.
"How's he doing?" Zed asked.
"About as well as the two of you," Tracey laughed. "He's been practicing non-stop. At least he doesn't have to do it all on a tour bus in somewhat secret."
"He still planning on flying out with Bree tomorrow?" Bucky asked.
"Yeah. I think that's one of the things he's trying to coordinate with Addie-Caddie right now. Although…" he looked over to Zed. "If you don't get some sleep, it's not going to be much of a birthday party."
Zed shrugged as he yawned again.
"Dude, he's right. You need to fucking sleep. Don't you dare screw up our homecoming show because you're too fucking tired."
He let out a tired laugh. "I still can't believe we're playing the main stage at the old Power Plant. How many nights did we spend talking about that growing up?"
"Every fucking night," she said giving him a fist bump. "We're living the dream."
They felt the bus slow.
"Looks like we're stopping," Bucky said, pulling out his wallet. He handed Zed a twenty. "Grab me a pack of cigarettes and as many RedBulls as that will buy."
ZzZzZzZzZ
Zed walked through the aisles of the gas station like a zombie. He closed his eyes and tried his best to remember the list of things he needed to get for Bucky and Bonzo as well as what he needed for himself. He suddenly felt something hit his face. He opened his eyes back up just in time to see Addison throwing another bag of potato chips at him.
"You were falling asleep," she yawned as she walked by.
He looked down at the bag and held it up to his face so that it lined up with the one printed on the packaging. "Hey…" he called out, getting her attention.
She drowsily looked up and started to laugh. "You're such an idiot… Gods do I love you." She quickly clamped her hand over her mouth and looked around nervously, luckily Lacey was across the store flipping through a magazine and talking to Tracey.
Zed chuckled and pretended to reach behind her to grab another bag of chips. "Two days."
"What?"
"Let's take a break from planning the tribute for the next two days."
"Zed, I can't…"
"Baby, we've been at it for a solid week. We're already ahead of where we thought we'd be…."
"But…"
"Bree and Mase are flying in tomorrow for my birthday. We've got reservations at Canlis, looking over Lake Union. We're playing at Power Plant the next night... And we're both too fucking exhausted to enjoy any of it… Please?"
She yawned again. Her eyes burning with every blink. "You're right," she sighed. "Two days."
"Thank you," he exhaled.
"Now if only we could get five minutes without Lacey somehow being around," she whispered. "I'm in desperate need of an orgasm and I don't want to wait until we get to the hotel."
Zed's head snapped up, suddenly very awake. He took the junk food out of her arms. "You grab the coffee and I'll start checking us out. I can do a hell of a lot with five minutes."
Addison giggled and took off in the opposite direction.
ZzZzZzZzZzZ
Lacey sneered as she flipped through a copy of US Weekly. "Do you really believe that load of crap Bucky said back in Portland?" she asked Tracey.
He looked up from the copy he was flipping through. "About?"
"Them!" she hissed under her breath.
He followed her gaze over to Zed and Addison on the other side of the store. "Of course."
She looked back at him and rolled her eyes. "But they're always together, they're always whispering like that, they're…"
Tracey closed his magazine and cut her off. "Lace, they are NOT together. I've met her boyfriend. The two of them are completely head over heels in love. Casey and Zed are just friends and they happen to write and perform really well together. This whole Casey and Zed being an item thing that you've been obsessing over is tearing the band apart. Can you please, drop it? Please? For me?"
She sighed and gave him a hug. "Only because I love you… and you and I need to stick together. With Stacey gone, it's just the two of us."
"We have Jacey and Casey," he reminded her.
Lacey pulled back and patted his cheek. "You're so cute sometimes…" she said with a shake of her head. "I know you're friends with Casey, and I might like sleeping with Jacey on occasion, but they'll never be real Acey's. You and I are family." She went back to her magazine and let out a giggle as she read the title of the next article. "Celebrities and their look-a-like kids… These are always great! Let's see who they have…" she flipped the page and started to scan over the pictures.
"AHHH!" Tracey shrieked, swatting the magazine out of her hands.
"What the shit. Trace?"
"Oh… um… there was a spider. Like a really big one…"
Lacey shuddered and kicked the magazine farther away with her foot. "Good catch. I fucking hate spiders," she said with another shudder as she reached for another copy.
"Hey! I think the bus is finished," he said getting in between her and the rack and pointing behind her towards the bus.
"Already?"
"Um, yeah… looks like it from here."
She turned around and shrugged. "Guess we need to get going…"
"Yeah. I'm uh… just going to grab a candy bar and a diet coke. I'll meet you back there. Need anything, Lacey-babe?"
She held up her own diet coke and shook her head. "No… I'm good. Are you okay?"
"Yeah! Totally fine… You know what? Let's just go!"
As he and Lacey walked out the door, he caught Addison's eye as she walked up to the register. He pulled out his phone and sent her a quick text.
"Crap…" Zed said as she joined him. "There goes our five minutes."
Addison pulled out her phone and read the message:
...
TRACEY
Found another pic of you and your
mom. US Weekly. You look great
in it, BTW. Don't worry L didn't
see!
Thanks. Can you tell Bucky?
I'll take care of the ones
here.
...
"Shit…" Addison muttered.
"I know. I was already game-planning the quickest way to get you off…"
She giggled and smacked his arm. "I was referring to this…" she said, handing him her new phone. "But now that you've said what you were thinking, I'm mad about that too," she whispered as she walked off towards the magazines.
Zed laughed when she came back over with every copy of US Weekly that had been on the rack.
"And all these," she told the clerk, handing them over.
Zed grabbed one off the top and flipped through it until he spotted the picture. "He's right though. You do look great… but then again, you always look exceptionally hot when you're pissed off."
She rolled her eyes and snatched it out of his hands as the cashier told them the total. Addison swiped her credit card. "Thank you," she said, picking all the magazines back up and throwing them away as they walked out the door.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was trying to get this update out last week, but it wasn't finished. Technically this chapter still isn't finished, but it was quickly approaching 14,000 words and that's a bit much for a single chapter, so I reluctantly split it. The good news is that I can guarantee another update next week with Part 2! Sorry if this one seemed all over the place. It will all come together next week.
MUSIC USED IN THIS CHAPTER:
Hunting Grounds, In This Moment
Roots, In This Moment
(I've been listening to them a lot lately)