A/N: Okay, I'm going to make any excuses as to why I was late updating. I, like many of you, love to read fan fiction. So, that is what has had me tied up. I knew this chapter wouldn't be long. It's sorta a filler chapter, but not. I needed to move time along in this story. If every city had it's on chapter, this story would be very long.

Here are the stories that have had me captivated from writing:

The Unaccompanied Soul- JMCullen09

Just Wait- InstantKarmaGirl

Strings- jdbeaner

The Harder They Fall- Ironic Twist

Thank you to my beta adt216 for doing this, even though she was sick.

So here's chapter 15

Chapter 15

"There's a romance between us but it only hurts"

-'Down the Drain,' Poisonblack

B.

Houston

Houston was normal. Nothing extraordinary happened. We got there early, which gave me extra time to set up my equipment and to relax before I started working. Work had been normal. Jasper, Carlisle, and Jake wanted full body massages. Alice wanted her feet done, and Cullen just wanted his back worked on.

I didn't confront Jake. It wasn't my place, but then I felt that he would feel better if the truth just came out. I wanted to find time before we got to Atlanta for Cullen's birthday to talk to Jake.

On the bus ride from Dallas to Houston, Cullen had been doting when he wasn't glued to his phone or laptop. Out of nowhere, he became obsessed with texting, IMing, emailing, and his Facebook. No one else seemed to be noticing his new obsession but me.

I guess he thought if he showered me with kisses, intimate touches, and naughty whispers that I would be easily placated. Too bad for him that he didn't know that one of the skills that massage therapists attain over time is the ability to pay close attention to people and their surroundings. Is it wrong to wish that his sudden in depth interest be that of a dealer rather than another girl? I know I was being stupid thinking that way. Either option could possibly take him away from me.

After I had finished work, I changed tops- replacing my polo with a plain white, spaghetti strapped tank- leaving my khaki shorts on, and I changed out of my work shoes into cheap, white flip-flops. Everyone sat around playing video games, talking, or was fully submersed in the internet world. I was the odd person out. I wanted sleep.

No one had noticed me at the entrance of the lounge, so no one knew I had climbed into to the bunk that Cullen and I shared. Once I lay down on the cold sheets, my body instinctually drew into itself since it didn't have the usual warm body next to it. In that moment, I knew my feelings for Cullen had intensified. Physically, emotionally, and mentally I had grown accustomed to him.

Violently, someone had awakened me by shaking my body and telling me it was time to head inside the club. Someone's hand had gripped my elbow and turned me over, pulling me out of the bunk and causing me to scrape my back. After I had gained equilibrium and winced in pain, my eyes stared into the angry eyes of Cullen. I felt my eyebrows pinch together as my right one quirked in question. His top lip lifted in a minimal snarl, shaking his head to tell me not to push any further.

He barked for me to go and grumbled as I stumbled over a loose fitting flip-flop. He yanked my arm roughly, pulling me down the hallway and out the bus. By the time we had walked inside the club, his hand had moved to my hand, interlacing our fingers. My hand had turned numb from him squeezing so hard. No attention was paid when I expressed my concerns. I had no idea what had set him off.

After we had reached everyone, Cullen shoved me off on Alice. Before he left with the rest of the guys, he turned around, got up close in my face, and pointed his finger, almost poking my nose.

"Do not go anywhere. Alice, keep her within your eyesight at all times," he commanded.

He parted with a last warning stare and turned his back, walking towards Emmett.

Once he was out of earshot, I asked Alice what happened while I was asleep. She said he had been doing coke off and on for most of the day and a bit of paranoia had set in. Cullen had thought I was off somewhere with another fucking man. She said when he found me sleeping in the bunk that it had pissed him off even more because I hadn't told him I was back.

We moved closer to the side of the stage and saw all three-Cullen, Jasper, and Emmett- moving around like a bunch of out of control monkeys. The uneasiness of embarrassment hung in the air between Alice and me. She acted normal, so I knew the other two had been doing coke also. They acted retarded for the rest of the show.

After they had finished and relaxed after the show, the four guys stood outside the bus signing autographs and taking pictures with their fans. Alice and I sat around in the lounge eating the pizza the club had bought for us. I waited for her to say something, but nothing was said. Once again, what happened tonight wasn't something that was new.

While I ate my pizza and checked my email, Cullen's cell phone kept buzzing with new text messages. Strong urges to check his phone crashed against me like violent waves, but I had to fight it. He had a password lock on his phone. After six messages, I had to get up and move to the front of the bus.

The meet and greet had lasted about twenty minutes, and when the four guys and Carlisle stomped onto the bus, the peace and quiet shattered. Jasper threw himself down on the couch across from me, dug into his pocket, and pulled out a joint. Jake, Paul, and Embry said their hello's to me and walked back to the lounge, followed by Carlisle. Emmett sat next to Jasper and Cullen sat at the end of the couch next to my feet, pulling them into his lap and laying his forearm across them.

A weird communication traveled between the three boys with Jasper saying something about Snow White and Emmett and Cullen nodding their heads and smiling. I passed on the joint. The three of them finished it quickly. Both, Jasper and Emmett, stayed up front for another few minutes before wordlessly running back to the

lounge. I knew when Jasper walked in because Alice squealed and Emmett pounded on his chest like Tarzan.

Cullen didn't give me time to respond when he slapped my laptop shut, moved it to the floor, and lay on top of me. Once his lips met the crook of my neck, I couldn't say no. We fucked in the front of the bus with everyone in the lounge awake.

Baton Rouge

I felt like ass all day. On the ride from Houston to Baton Rouge, Cullen wouldn't leave me alone for half of the trip. I think my pussy and ass touched every surface at the front of the bus. He finally left me alone when he saw that I was falling asleep while he fucked me from behind. In fact, I don't recall if he finished or not.

When I finally woke up, I was covered in a multicolored afghan-still naked underneath though- but I had woken up to my sinuses stuffed up and my stomach hurting. I found myself hanging close by the restroom at the venue the band was playing at. Alice and Jasper walked all over the vicinity trying to find a drug store to buy sinus medicine and Pepto Bismol.

After taking the sinus meds and the nasty pink liquid, I curled up on the couch in the lounge with the afghan, which turned out to be Alice's blanket. Cullen sat at the other end, our feet and legs entwined. Again, he had his eyes glued to his laptop, typing quickly and loudly. His phone had been sent four texts and he had talked on the phone twice.

When the men left to go get ready for the show, Alice stayed with me and we watched girly movie after girly movie. Cullen had chastely kissed me on the forehead and said he would be back after while. I was asleep in the bunk when I felt him slide up behind me and wrap his arm around my waist.

New Orleans

We pulled into the back of the club, which faced Bourbon Street, at around two in the afternoon. I still felt somewhat tired from being sick, so Carlisle gave me an extra day to rest. Alice and I had woken up before the boys, so we sat around eating our breakfast of strawberry cream cheese spread on whole-wheat bagels and two glasses of orange juice.

We were deep in conversation about the people back in Forks that I hadn't heard Cullen get down from the bunk. So when I found him up front untying a tourniquet and then easing a needle out of his arm, I stood in mortification. He didn't see me as he bent his head back on the upper couch cushion. After several minutes of being in shock, I gathered my bearings and walked towards the back. He was normally more discreet.

As I passed our bunk, I heard that familiar beep of a text message on his phone. I pulled the curtain back and saw the phone lying near the pillows. When I picked it up, another text came and this time I saw the name Josie. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, as I had no idea who Josie was, so I asked Alice after I put the phone back down and walked back to the lounge. She had no idea, but she wouldn't be surprised if it was some former groupie who had his number and was hoping to meet up with him on his birthday.

Cullen's birthday was June twentieth and we would be in Atlanta, Georgia. I had no idea what to get him, so I asked Alice. She grimaced and said she had no idea either. We grew silent, but it was a comfortable silence. As my thoughts roamed back to the image of Cullen easing the needle of out his arm, I tucked my bottom lip into my teeth and started biting on it. I knew if I said anything to him or anyone else, an argument or fight would ensue, and I was too damn tired for either one.

While John and Embry unloaded all the gear and Carlisle finished taking care of the business concerning the club, all of us walked around Bourbon Street. I was appalled by the amount of debauchery that went on during the daytime. Strip clubs were open and so were adult novelty stores. We entered a couple of novelty stores. While the guys were like kids in a candy store, Alice and I liked some of the toys, but most of it disgusted us.

We left Bourbon Street and walked down St. Peter Street, taking us to Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral. From there, we walked to N. Peters Street to the French Market and browsed in various shops, buying trinkets and souvenirs. In the area was Café Du Monde, where we had coffee with chicory and half-hot milk and their world famous beignets.

During our walkabout, Cullen held my hand or wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. While the gestures were sweet and we had a good time, he wasn't there. It seemed as if Alice and I were the only ones "physically" present. Several times during the outing, we would cut our eyes to each other and share worried expressions.

That night, even though the entire band was drunk, they played one of the best shows I'd seen so far. There was no jumping around like a bunch of monkeys or falling over shit, forgetting chords, or lyrics.

After the show and after the partying, we boarded the bus. Alice pulled Jasper into their bunk and they weren't seen again. Jake, Embry, and Paul sat around smoking weed and watching martial arts movies while Carlisle kept quiet and watched the movies. I found a book I had been wanting to read and cuddled up in the bunk, leaving Cullen to his laptop. I fell asleep alone.

Cullen

Biloxi

The day after New Orleans, I woke up with my laptop still sitting on my thighs, still turned on with fifteen instant messages waiting. Sleepily, I wiped the crust from my eyes and smirked at the screen name. I couldn't wait to see them. All the messages were naughty but then turned to sounding pissed off. I shook my head and closed the screen.

Our past several shows had been amazing, some of our best. I wish Bella had been feeling well to see our Baton Rouge show. We had no idea why she had gotten sick, but she dealt with it the best she could. I spent a good portion of my time lately talking to people I haven't spoken to in awhile, especially one person who I haven't spoken with in almost a year. They're coming to Atlanta for my birthday.

I moved the computer to the other cushion and swung my legs off the couch, resting my forearms on top my knees. Numerous bruises and track marks littered both arms. The most recent bruise was small in comparison to the nightmare that was still healing, the one from Albuquerque. My hands wiped my face and I got up, walking to the back.

We weren't moving anymore, so I pulled my phone from my pocket and saw it was two in the afternoon. Everyone would be up by now. When I reached the back, the only person in there was Jasper. He said Jake was hanging out with John and Embry while they unloaded the gear. Bella was massaging Carlisle, and Emmett and Alice were out loading up on junk food-per Emmett's demand.

Jasper was already drinking, and when he got up to get another beer, he grabbed me one. We sat around drinking beer after beer until the case was gone, leaving us shitfaced. He pulled out a baggie of coke, chopped it up, and we did four lines each.

By the time everyone got back, Jasper and I couldn't quit laughing at stupid shit on the TV. Carlisle looked at us, shook his head, and opened the refrigerator to grab a beer. We were playing at a casino, so Alice and Bella wanted to do a bit of gambling. Emmett said he wanted to stay on the bus to eat his economy size bag of Doritos and the three from the reservation wanted to hit the buffet the casino offered.

Jasper and I grabbed our boots, wallet, and cell phones and then escorted the girls to the venue. Jasper and I wanted to hit the Blackjack tables, but the girls didn't want any of us to part, so we all headed to the slot machines. Before doing that, Jasper and I each got two hundred dollars in quarters-one hundred for us and then one hundred for each girl.

The girls went to slot machines that had palm trees decorating them. Jasper went to one that had a fishing theme, and I went to one with three huge diamonds on it. We wound up parting ways in the end. After I spent twenty bucks, which was quick, I did my last spin on machine and won fifty bucks.

I gathered my earnings and scouted out a new slot machine, settling on the one Jasper used. Shortly after I began playing, a leggy cocktail waitress with pretty cookie brown skin walked up to me, asking if I wanted a drink. I told her I wanted vodka on the rocks. When she returned, I paid for the drink. She said her name was Zafrina. Her hair was shoulder length and thick, black, and tightly curled. Her lips were full but her nose was cute with a slight slope. She whispered that her break was in five minutes, wanting me to meet her by the back slots. Jasper came around the corner, rested his arm on my shoulder, and said the girls were ready to go. Zafrina rolled her eyes and walked away.

The four of us walked away being about five hundred dollars richer. Bella said that had been her first time gambling and that the next time she was near a casino, she wanted to try the tables. I would do my best to make sure that happened.

It wasn't too long after we got back on the bus that it was time for the show. Bella was feeling better and squeezed my knee in excitement. I couldn't wait until the show was over and we were back on the bus. I wanted her in every way possible.

Montgomery

We stayed late in Biloxi after the show and gambled. We didn't want to sleep on the bus, so we found a Motel 6 and booked rooms. Bella and I explored every inch of the shitty room and were accompanied for most of the night by Alice and Jasper's loud fucking. We had the end room while my dad and Emmett shared a wall with Jasper and Alice.

We checked out by ten and were on the bus by eleven for the four-hour drive. When we arrived in Montgomery, it was almost three in the afternoon. There were several Army dudes waiting around wanting to meet us and get shit signed. I had no problem with that.

The club didn't have an extra room, so Bella had the evening off. Carlisle called someone shortly after that and had a massage chair delivered. The four of us walked off the bus and met with the Army dudes. They were cool as fuck and gave us each Army shirts. There were a total of six of them. Emmett left and came back with six of our latest band shirts- screws leaned back over the rims of shot glasses passed out as four pairs of red female lips barely touched the rim of the glasses.

That day we all remained sober and alert, although the girls had one beer each. We sat around the bus that day watching movies, eating pizza and hanging out. The day in Biloxi, my phone was silent as were emails, but today my phone buzzed every ten minutes for two hours with text messages. I answered a few and then put it on silent. Bella was watching from the corner of her eye, drawing her mouth in a firm line and slightly squeezing her eyebrows together as she crossed her arms. I knew she was pissed.

Our show was good, and we hung out with great men and women of the Army and Air Force. Some of the guys were awesome, and we exchanged Facebook information. Emmett and Carlisle were more energetic than they had been-Rosalie and Esme were coming in the next day when we arrived in Columbus, Georgia. Rose would be back on the road with us and Esme was coming in for my birthday.

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Thank you,

ayngyl22