Chapter 14
HIGH ENOUGH
"What exactly do you mean, 'initiation,'?" Addison asked as she looked between Lacey, Tracey, and Stacey.
"Oh, nothing too crazy…" Stacey said in between laughs. "We've all done it."
"To be fair, it started because Lacey was actually stripping back then..." Tracey added with a giggle.
"You stripped?" Addison asked looking over to Lacey. "Didn't you just call strippers 'Skank-ho's?'"
"Because it takes one to know one," Zed laughed. Bucky smacked him.
Realization suddenly hit. Addison stood up. "Wait...you want ME to strip?!"
"NO!" Bucky coughed out. "Just...No! Not happening! No one on this bus is stripping."
Zed let out a discreet sigh of relief.
"Technically no one is going to be stripping ON the bus..."
"That's not what I meant, Lacey."
"I know what you meant, Bucky, and you also reminded me last night that the four of us are a band… So, this is me, embracing our new member," she smiled sweetly over to him before looking at Addison. "You in Casey?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Of course… I mean, if you can't dance…," her voice had an icy edge to it, "I'm sure we could come up with something else."
Bucky and Zed both rolled their eyes. Addison never backed down from a challenge.
"Did you just insinuate that I couldn't dance?"
"And there it is..." Bucky mumbled to himself, rolling his eyes and throwing his hands up in frustration.
"I didn't insinuate anything," Lacey smiled.
Addison smiled sweetly back at her. "Well, I guess I'll just have to show you tonight then."
Addison… dancing… taking off clothes… Zed was about to lose his mind. He stood up abruptly, practically running to the other end of the bus and straight to the cabinet where they kept the liquor. He had just taken a large swig of Jack when Bonzo came waltzing in. Zed wiped his mouth across his arm and stared daggers at him.
"What?"
"This is all your fucking fault!" he whisper-yelled.
"What did I do?" Bonzo laughed.
"You just HAD to bring up going to a strip club!"
"Dude!" Bonzo took the bottle from him and took a sip. "We haven't been to one since this tour started! I'm going through withdrawals!"
"Stick with groupies!"
"Look who's talking! You have a thing for Acey's… I have a thing for strippers. I don't judge you!"
"I do not have a thing for Acey's."
"Righhhhhht…. Besides, I'd think you'd be pretty stoked to watch."
"You're kidding, right?"
Bonzo shook his head.
"Bonz… I'm either going to end up in jail for beating the shit out of whoever is looking at her or I'm going to get kicked off the tour for fucking her in the middle of that stage… There's no other outcome! Do you know how many fights I got into in high school? And that was when she was wearing clothes!" He ran his hands through his hair, pulling hard at the edges and making it stand up in all directions. "I'm so screwed…"
"You're overthinking this. Just focus on all the other tits and ass surrounding you tonight."
"The only tits and ass I want, belong to her… and she made it pretty clear yesterday that she doesn't want me… Not to mention that Bucky was very graphic this morning in his description of exactly what would happen to me if I ever touched her." His eyes went wide as Bucky's warning replayed in his head. "He's strangely protective..."
"He probably just doesn't want to have to find yet another replacement," Bonzo laughed, handing him the bottle again. "And she might have said she doesn't want you, but she sure as shit spends a lot of time looking at you… and don't think I didn't peep that little side-bar the two of you had earlier..."
Zed sat down at the table and stared at the wall. "My head is so fucked right now…"
"I can see that. You're definitely off your swagger game."
"Dude… I just..." he took a large swig. "I don't know what's going on. One second she's pretending I don't exist, then the next we're flirting like it's practically foreplay, and then the next she's on the verge of tears! She acts like she isn't the one that broke things off!"
Bonzo sat across from him. "Answer me something."
"Shoot?"
"All the internal chaos, the risk to the tour, the almost relapse… Is she worth it?"
Zed was silent for a moment before looking him in the eye. "She's everything."
"Great set, man!" the bartender called out as he slid Zed a cold beer.
He picked it up in a mock toast. "Thanks." He took a swig, hoping it would help to cool him off. He hated opening. The only thing worse than that was playing with copious amounts of sweat pouring down your face. As soon as their set had ended, all three of them had rushed off the stage to change out of their signature jackets.
"Dude..." Bonzo said from next to him, holding his beer up to his head. "It feels like summer in Bama in here. For all the 'ambiance' they tried to shove into this place, you think they would have invested in some fucking air conditioning. Wanna head outside?"
Zed shook his head 'no'. Before he could say anything else, the house lights dimmed once more and the crowd started to cheer.
"Really?" Bonzo laughed.
Zed just smiled and took another sip of his beer.
"You are such a masochist."
He shrugged his shoulders and sat down on the barstool, watching the stage as The Acey's started their set, his eyes immediately focusing on Addison. Her outfits every night were straight out of his fantasies. Leather and stilettos… they always were his favorite things on her. He watched as a look of sheer panic crossed her face when the spotlight landed on her. She took a deep breath and started to play. Her fingers moving effortlessly through chord progressions.
"I thought you said she was like this force of nature or some shit like that on stage?"
Zed nodded his head again. "She used to be… I don't know what happened."
"She's literally standing still. If it weren't for the fact that I can hear the bass line coming through the amp..."
Zed smacked him. "Watch her eyes..." he smiled.
"And I'm looking for..."
"I knew the fire didn't burn out… There's still a flicker... She just needs to remember what it used to feel like…"
"I'm so confused?"
"She said something after that first show about not performing for a few years, and that she just didn't have it in her anymore."
"I believe her," Bonzo deadpanned.
Zed smacked him again. "It's still there… I can see it even across a crowded room… she's fighting it… If she'd just let go..."
Bonzo finished his drink. "Whatevs, man. I'll take your word for it. I'm heading back to the green room. It is hot as balls in this place."
"I'll be back in a few."
Bonzo laughed again. "Yeah, right… I'll see you after their set. Enjoy your subtle stalking."
Zed still hadn't taken his eyes off her. "I'm not stalking."
"Keep telling yourself that..." Bonzo patted him on the head. "Oh, and maybe if you could squeeze out another song soon, I'd appreciate it. Opening for this dumpster fire sucks ass." Without another word he walked off, leaving Zed to watch.
"What the hell happened, Adds?" he whispered to himself. As he watched her play and fight internally with herself, the beginnings of a song started weaving through his head.
"Hey!" He called out, getting the bartenders attention. "Can I bum a pen from you?"
"Sure..." he grabbed one from the register and handed it to him. "Need another beer?"
"Please."
The bartender cracked open another one and set it down in front of him as Zed began to furiously scribble down lyrics onto a drink napkin.
"I hold on so nervously
To me and my drink
I wish it was cooling me
But so far has not been good
It's been shitty
And I feel awkward as I should
This club has got to be
The most pretentious thing
Since I thought of you and me
Well, I am imagining
A dark lit place
Or your place or my place
Well, I'm not paralyzed
But, I seem to be struck by you
I wanna make you move
Because you're standing still
If your body matches
What your eyes can do
You'll probably move right through
Me on my way to you..."
He smiled to himself and shoved the napkin into his pocket. She was still his very own Pattie Boyd, even if she didn't know it. He grabbed his beer and took a large swig before standing up and heading backstage.
.
"You can't do this! I won't let you!" Bucky warned as he paced back and forth in front of the shower.
Addison rolled her eyes. She was already cranky from not sleeping. Add to that that the venue that night had been sweltering and now she had to put up with this stupid initiation, she was downright pissed off. All she wanted to do was take a shower in peace and try to cool down before the rest of the band filed back onto the bus to start the night's debauchery. She poked her head out of the shower, interrupting her brother's tirade.
"Do not think for a second that you can tell me what I can and can not do Bartholomew!"
"The last time I checked, I can! I'm older than you!"
"And the last time I checked, you were the one that pulled me into this mess! I was perfectly content back in LA! So unless you want anyone accidentally overhearing this conversation and finding out about us, I suggest you let me shower in peace!"
His eyes narrowed. "This conversation is not over."
"Yes… it is."
"You are not stripping."
With a heavy sigh and an even heavier eye roll, she threw open the shower curtain.
"Ahh!" Bucky clamped his hands over his eyes.
"See! You've seen me naked… multiple times… That's a hell of a lot more than anyone else is going to see tonight."
"Wait… you're not going to strip?"
"I might lose a few items of clothing, but I promise, no one will see me naked."
"Is the curtain closed?"
"...Yes"
Bucky moved his hands and opened his eyes. "Ahhh!"
Addison broke into a fit of laughter before actually closing the curtain. "Ok, ok, now it's closed."
He cautiously cracked one eye before letting out a sigh of relief and opening them both. "You're such a brat."
"Sorry, B… don't know how else to be."
"So you're really not going to completely strip?"
She turned off the water and stuck her hand out. "Towel." Bucky handed it to her and stepped to the side as much as possible in the tiny bathroom so she could get out. "Not that it's any of your business what I choose to show or not show…But, no… I will not be."
"Oh thank god." The look of relief across his face was almost comical. "This morning was bad enough… by the way, I had a little chat with Zed. Something like that will never happen again."
"It was an accident, B… tell me you didn't go all 'old school mafia' on him."
"Knowing Zed, it wasn't an accident… that guy is bad news, Sis."
Addison put her hands on her hips. "So you've said… you also said that he was like the male version of me? Does that mean your opinion of me is that low as well?"
"Adds, the guy has probably slept with half of New York."
"So? I've slept with most of the Sunset Strip."
Bucky shuddered. "I really don't need to hear things like that…"
"Answer my question, Bartholomew."
"Addison… It's not the same."
"Why?"
"Because you're my sister! I'm supposed to protect you! I can't take back the things that have already happened, but I can at least try to keep them from happening now! I asked you to stay away from him for a fucking reason, don't fucking push it!"
Addison took a step towards him and pushed at his chest. "What aren't you telling me?"
"I just said not to push it…or me! I've got a signed contract saying you won't get involved with him."
"I didn't actually sign shit and you know it."
"You didn't have to, remember…" he pointed to himself. "Power of attorney."
Addison was furious. "Why don't you just type up something saying that I'm giving you full control of Bamm! while you're at it!"
"Jesus, Adds! I have power of attorney so you have a chance to KEEP Bamm!" He sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Accident or not, stay away from him. End of conversation."
"Oh...this is SOOOO not the end of the conversation, Brother-dear."
"Enough! I don't understand why you are making such a big deal about this! Do you have a thing for him or something?!"
"No!" she answered a little too quickly.
"Then what the hell is it? Huh?"
"Because I'll be damned if I let anyone tell me what I should or shouldn't do in my bed or with my body!" She yelled back. "You've been on my ass every single fucking night! I don't need you yelling at me every time I get dressed to go on stage! I don't need you throwing a fit because I flirt with fans or hook up with someone after a show! You have to back the fuck off! You want me to be in this band? Then treat me like every other member!"
"But… but..."
"No buts! And for Christ sake, no more following me into the bathroom! All I wanted was ten minutes of peace and quiet before I had to start pretending again! Do you have any idea how fucking hard this is for me? No! You don't! All you care about is that you have a full band!"
Bucky was silent as he watched her fume.
"What now?!" she snapped.
"I forgot how scary you are when you're pissed off… Maybe you should have taken my Dad's offer to work for the family."
Addison reluctantly cracked a smile. "Don't forget it again… And your Dad just loves me because I introduced him to my Uncle Bobby."
"DeNiro...The way to any true mobsters heart..." Bucky smiled. "But you're right… I haven't been fair to you. I'm sorry."
"No more overbearing big brother behavior?"
"I make no promises..."
She rolled her head back and let out a frustrated sigh.
"Sorry. It's in the job description… But, I'll try."
"Thank you."
He wrapped her up in a hug and kissed the top of her wet hair. "You're welcome, Addie-loo."
"Ugh. Don't call me that," she giggled and pushed him away. "Now get out… I need to apply a set of pasties."
"WHAT?!"
Addison burst into laughter. "I'm joking, Bartholomew. But seriously, get the fuck out or I promise I will drop this towel."
"I swear you're going to make me go prematurely gray on this tour," he mumbled as he maneuvered past her and out the door.
Bright lights flashed and synthetic base boomed as they walked through the purple velvet curtain into the main room of the posh gentleman's club.
"I can't believe we're fucking doing this," Bucky said under his breath, earning him an elbow to the ribs from both Addison and Eliza.
Tracey clapped excitedly and grabbed Addison's hand, dragging her towards an empty set of tables at the front of the stage.
"Remember, other tits and ass..." Bonzo said draping his arm around Zed's shoulder.
"Bonzo..." Zed turned his head and looked at him. "Arm."
Bonzo laughed and removed his arm from him. "Fine… be a grouch. Why don't you go grab us a table, I'll get the first round."
"Thanks, man."
"It's the least I can do… I'm sure tonight will be very entertaining!"
Zed flipped him off before grabbing a table a safe distance away from where The Acey's were gathering. He sat down in his seat and lit a cigarette, trying to fight the urge to look in Addison's direction.
"Hey there, cutie… you look like you could use a distraction..."
Zed looked up to see an overly enhanced blonde standing in front of him.
"Unless you can erase memories of young love gone wrong, I'm afraid you'd be wasting your time."
She smiled and straddled his lap. "Hun… that's my specialty..."
"Tequila and perrier… heavy on the tequila, light on the water..." Addison said as she sat down at the bar to order. "Oh, and a tequila chaser..." she looked across the room and spotted Zed sitting next to the stage. "...Better make that a double chaser."
"That's a hell of a drink order," Bonzo laughed, sitting down next to her.
She turned and looked at him, smiling over sweetly. "Well, let's see what you would order if you had to take your top off up there."
He laughed and shook his head. "Point well made." He flagged down the bartender. "Can I get two Jack on the rocks? Also, her drinks are on me."
"You don't have to do that Bonzo."
He laughed again and handed his credit card over to bartender before turning back to look at her. "Look, I'll tell you the same thing I told Zed…" The bartender returned with their drinks. Bonzo held his glass up and clinked it against hers. "It's the least I can do..."
"Well thank you," she smiled, downing her first shot before standing up.
"You're welcome." He picked Zed's glass up from the bar and started to walk off. He stopped and turned back towards her. "Good luck up there… Addison."
Her mouth dropped open. "How did you…."
He smiled again and raised his glass in a toast before walking over towards Zed.
Addison shook her head. Of course, Zed would have told Bonzo. Those two shared everything. Even groupies. She let out a huff of frustration and walked back to the table where everyone else was waiting.
"Well, it looks like the boys are well on their way to accomplishing their goal for the evening," Eliza smirked as she sipped her drink and looked bored.
Addison looked over her shoulder just in time to see Zed's head sandwiched between a set of huge fake boobs. "Good for them..." she finished off her tequila and grabbed Tracey's drink from the table.
"Hey! That's mine!"
"And those shoes you're wearing are mine..." she downed the drink in one gulp. "Good lord, that tastes like rubbing alcohol and bad decisions...keep them coming."
One, two, three
Not only you and me...
Zed's head snapped towards the stage the second the song registered in his brain.
Got one eighty degrees
And I'm caught in between...
"Fuck me gently with a chainsaw..." he whispered taking in the site of Addison on stage.
Countin'
One, two, three
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Gettin' down with 3P
Everybody loves me
Oh…
He pushed the voluptuous blonde off of his lap, completely transfixed on Addison. "… That's the same routine she did senior year."
"Woah..." Bonzo whispered in awe next to him. "Where the hell is that on stage every night?"
"Now do you see what I meant? Holy Christ on a cracker..." he not so subtly readjusted his suddenly too-tight pants as he watched her leather jacket drop to the stage as she executed a perfect pirouette.
Babe, pick a night
To come out and play
If it's alright
What do you say?
He couldn't take his eyes off her. This was the girl he knew. She owned the room. Everyone was watching her. With every sway of her hips, they cheered for more.
Merrier the more
Triple fun that way
Twister on the floor
What do you say?
She strutted around the pole before pressing her back against it. As she shimmied down, she slowly began to unbutton the black blouse she was wearing.
Are you in
Livin' in sin is the new thing (yeah)
Are you in
I am countin'
One, two, three...
Her shirt hit the floor.
"Fuck me..." he whispered. Her long fishnet covered legs kicked out as she spun around the pole.
"Damn… You know, there's nothing in the Acey's contract that says I can't hook up..."
A low growl tore from Zed's mouth, cutting him off before he could finish. "Bonz...we were in active combat together… you know what I'm capable of… try anything..." He stopped talking when Addison danced over towards them. His mouth ran dry as she stood on the small round table between the two of them. Her long white hair skimming the top of her sheer black bra. She was breathtaking. She looked down to him and winked. He knew what was coming next. There's no way she'd do it again and risk her cover.
What we do is innocent
Just for fun and nothin' meant
If you don't like the company...
She gracefully fell into his lap, running a hand down his face, just like she had at lunch the first day of Senior year when she defended her title as HBIC. He held his breath in anticipation as she drew his face closer to hers and started to sing.
"Let's just do it you and me… You and me… Or three … Or four… On the floor…."
She blew him a kiss before kicking her leg up and over him so she was off his lap. Before he could even process what had happened, she was already across the stage dancing in front of Tracey.
"Oh thank god..."
"What?"
"That ended with one hell of a kiss last time..."
One, two, three
Not only you and me
Got one eighty degrees
And I'm caught in between...
"I've never felt so left out..." Bonzo pouted as he watched Addison dance on Bucky.
Zed punched him without taking his eyes off of Addison. "Do you think Bucky is gay?"
Bonzo rubbed his arm. "What?" he laughed.
"I thought maybe they were hooking up...but our boy looks like he's about to be sick."
"Huh… never really thought about it. Didn't he hook up with E a few years back?"
Zed shook his head. "I don't think so."
Bonzo shrugged. They both watched as Addison climbed back onto the stage for her big finish. She swung around the pole effortlessly, coming down in a full split. Everyone in the club was on their feet applauding.
"She did THAT in school?"
Zed nodded his head quickly. "I mean, she had clothes on and there was no pole… but yeah..."
"How the hell did she not get suspended?"
His smile widened. "Because she's Addison Fucking Donnelly."
"Hot Damn! Sexy Mamacita!" Tracey giggled as Addison triumphantly made her way back to their table. He pulled her into a tight hug and smacked a loud kiss on her cheek. "I have to say, Case… I was NOT expecting Britney!"
Addison rolled her eyes playfully as she hugged him back. "Are you kidding? God is a woman, and her name is Britney Spears."
"I can not argue with that! Damn women… fierce shoes… loves Britney… knows how to move... if I were straight I'd so be all over you right now!"
"Awwww… thanks, Tracey!"
Lacey stood up and held out her hand. "You're officially one of us!"
Addison shook her hand. "Thanks, Lacey."
"Be honest… that wasn't your first time on a pole, was it?" she asked skeptically.
"Believe it or not, I have never done that before."
"Well, damn… you could teach a class. That technique was..." she shook her head. "I'm impressed."
"Wow… Thanks, Lacey..."
"Don't get used to it."
Addison held her hands up in mock surrender.
Stacey was next in line to congratulate her and "officially" welcome her into the band. She handed her a shot of vodka. "To our newest Acey!"
"CASEY!" they all toasted.
Nearly an hour later, the shots were still flowing as the celebration continued. Addison was almost drunk enough to forget that Zed was sitting across the room from her. Almost. Every now and then she found herself glancing in his direction, fighting the primal urge to grab him and drag him off to a dark corner so that she could have her wicked way with him.
"You look like you're thinking something naughty..." Eliza whispered as she leaned in closer.
Addison snorted out a small laugh and flipped her off.
"If anyone asks… I had a headache and went back to the bus," she whispered before standing up and walking off.
Bucky watched her walk out past the velvet curtains before he stood up. "Casey… can I talk to you for a moment?"
She suddenly realized what was going on and started to giggle as she followed him out of the club.
"Are you using me as a diversion so you can get laid?" she asked the second they cleared the door.
He laughed and pulled her into a hug. "Maybe."
"Well, I guess I'll allow it… You did a good job not going all Big Bro on me tonight!"
He laughed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah… I was trying. You didn't make it easy you know… I could have gone my whole life without you grinding on me."
"Maybe Eliza can use some of those moves on you instead," she whispered in a fit of giggles.
"Okay… I was about to ask you to cover for me while E and I grab a hotel for a few, but I think I should bring you back to the bus, Drunky."
"I'm not as think as you drunk I am!"
"And thank you for proving my point..."
"No! You need to get laid. And Eliza needs to spend some time alone with you. I'll be fine..." she said shooing him off.
"Are you sure?"
She pushed at his shoulder. "Seriously, B. Go."
"Okay… but call me, I have my phone."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." As Bucky turned to walk off she shouted for him. "Bucky!"
"What?"
"Don't forget to wrap it up!"
He flipped her off and smiled. "Look who's talking!"
She blew him a kiss and made her way back inside and to the table.
"Where's Lacey?" Addison asked, picking up another shot from the table.
Stacey motioned over her shoulder. "Making a complete fool of herself."
Addison looked over. "Is she…."
"Trying to give Zed a lap dance?" Tracey finished for her. "Yeah..."
"I thought she hated him?"
"There is a fine line between hate and love, sister..." he said holding up a shot and clinking it against hers before they both drank.
"Boy is that the truth..."
"Excuse me…"
The three of them looked up.
"Would you mind if my friends and I joined you?"
Tracey eyed the tall man from head to toe. "We'd mind if you didn't, Hot stuff… pull up some chairs!"
"The fuck..."
Bonzo looked up from the stripper on his lap. "What?"
Zed rolled his eyes and motioned over towards the table where the Acey's had been sitting all night. Addison was now the only one there, sitting on top of the table surrounded by four frat looking guys hanging on her every word as she laughed and tossed her hair over her shoulder.
"Lacey! For the last time! Stop trying to stick your tongue in my ear! Fuck!"
"Well then pay attention to me!" she whined.
"Why?" he snapped.
Lacey huffed and sat down next to him.
Bonzo could see the tension vein in Zed's neck start to pulse. He'd been around him in enough stressful situations to know that his friend was about to snap.
"You so fucking owe me, Z," Bonzo whispered as he pounded a shot. He slipped a bill into the dancer's thong and smacked her ass. "Thanks… I think I'm good for now." The stripper angrily grabbed her top and stormed off. "Lacey?"
She looked up from her spot next to Zed. "What?"
"Those moves looked damn hot… Wanna show me what you can do somewhere a little more... private?"
She looked back up to Zed.
He rolled his eyes. "Never fucking happening, psycho."
She huffed and stood up, grabbing Bonzo's hand and pulling him towards the ladies room.
Zed watched as they disappeared down the dark hallway. He finished off his drink and stood up, looking around to make sure no one else was around. With the coast clear, he started towards Addison and her small crowd of admirers. He purposely walked up behind her.
"Hey, Princess… where's everyone else?"
Her head snapped around. "Zed! I missed you!" she giggled, standing up on the table so she could hug him. She turned her head back towards the guys."This is the guy I was telling you about!" she whisper-shouted.
He gently guided her face back towards him. "Jesus, how much did you drink?"
She shrugged and giggled some more, leaning into his touch.
"Where are Tracey and Stacey?"
She shrugged again. "They left with…." she snapped her fingers trying to recall their names. "I don't know… baseball hat guy, and dimple cheeks guy."
"What about Bucky?"
"He needed to sleep in a real bed away from all of us."
"They left you alone?"
She nodded her head.
"She's not alone… we'll take care of her," one of the guys sitting around her said.
Zed growled at him. "I don't think so..." he looked back to Addison. "Come on Adds."
"You're supposed to call me Casey… remember, silly? C-A-S-…" she stopped and looked up at him. "Is it E-Y or I-E?"
"Yeah… I've heard enough..." He scooped her off the table and over his shoulder.
"Where are we..." she could barely get the words out in between fits of giggles.
"Away from possible trouble," He said as they made their way out of the club.
"Whatever you say, Trouble!" She continued to giggle until she suddenly stopped and smacked his ass. "Speaking of trouble! You, mister, are in big trouble!"
He smiled and shook his head. Drunk Addie always was entertaining. "Me? Why?"
"Because you told Bonzo. Now he knows I'm not really Casey."
Zed cursed under his breath. If it weren't for the fact that Bonzo was currently screwing Lacey just to keep her away from him, he'd be nut punching him the second he saw him. Addison wiggled around, making her short pleated skirt ride up higher, successfully distracting him. He smiled and fixed her skirt, only for her to squirm around again.
"Will you stop wiggling your ass?! It's right in my face…"
She giggled and wiggled some more.
"Adds, I swear, I will bite it…"
She lifted her head up and looked at him, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. "Promise?"
"Do. Not. Start with that lip!"
She poked it out in a pout instead.
"Not the pout!" He laughed. "That's almost as lethal!" he smacked her ass.
Addison giggled. "You know I can walk if I'm getting too heavy."
"Are you kidding me? You are lighter than I remember… which is saying something..." He stopped walking. "And now I need to change the subject… and take a very cold shower."
"Why?" she asked, poking his butt.
"No Bullshit?"
She nodded her head and smiled.
He set her down onto her feet, catching her as she stumbled unsteadily. "Because now I can't stop thinking about all the crazy ways I used to be able to throw you around in bed and it's making it a little uncomfortable to walk."
"I'm sure I could help fix that for you..." she whispered, running a finger down his arm.
"I don't think so… If I remember right, we're supposed to be staying away from one another. The other day was a mistake...a one-time thing… isn't that what you said?"
"I did?"
He nodded.
"Well, that was a stupid thing for me to say..." she giggled, almost falling over.
"What did you drink? The only time I have ever seen you this drunk was Mason's birthday party."
"That's because I had Vodka!"
Zed rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Christ… I am so glad I got you out of there..."
"Me too..." she said breathily, running her hand down his stomach and grabbing him through his pants.
He let out a small whimper as his eyes rolled back into his head.
"Adds..."
"I don't like anyone better than you, it's true..." she sang into his ear.
"I'd crawl a mile in a desolate place with the snakes, just for you..."
Zed let out a sigh of relief when she let him go, but it was short-lived. Her hands started to work the button fly of his pants.
"Oh, I'm an animal, hand me a tramadol, gimme the juice
You are my citadel, you are my wishing well, my baby blue, oh, oh, oh..."
Her hand wrapped around him. Zed was lost in the sensation. Without even thinking about it, he grabbed her face and kissed her. He moaned into her mouth. "Fuck...You taste like every dark thought I've ever had..."
"I want you inside of me so fucking bad..." Her kisses were frantic as she continued to stroke him.
A loud series of catcalls coming from across the street brought him back to reality.
"Adds… we need to stop… we're in the middle of a sidewalk..."
She smiled up to him and bit her bottom lip. "So… wouldn't be the first time..."
"That look is going to be the death of me. I swear..." He pulled her hand out of his pants and picked her back up, walking as quickly as he could.
Addison was of no help. She kept wiggling around, running her hands over him, biting him, scratching him… He was almost at his breaking point.
"Gorgeous, I'm trying to scrape together every last shred of morality I have, which I'll admit isn't much, and not fuck you against a wall again."
"But what if I want you to?"
"You're too drunk to know what you want right now...Fucking vodka..."
She giggled and started to drunkenly sing again.
"I used to like liquor to get me inspired
But you look so beautiful, my new supplier
I used to like smoking to stop all the thinking
But I found a different buzz
The world is a curse, it'll kill if you let it
I know they got pills that can help you forget it
They bottle it, call it medicine
But I don't need drugs..."
she hiccuped before starting to sing even louder.
"'Cause I'm already high enough
You got me, you got me good
I'm already high enough
I only, I only, I only got eyes for you..."
Zed sent up a silent prayer of thanks as the bus came into view. "Almost there, Adds." She maneuvered herself around so that she had her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck. Her hands pulled at his hair as her mouth latched onto his neck.
"Addie..." he whined. She giggled and sunk her teeth into his collarbone. "Fuck, that feels good..." He knocked on the bus but got no answer. He opened the door. "Hello? Anyone home? Eliza?"
"She's not really here, silly..." she said, pulling his face down to hers for another kiss.
He climbed the steps and walked them over to the bench seat, sitting them both down.
"Addison..."
"Do you see anyone other than me?
Baby, please..." She sang against his lips.
"I'll take a hit of whatever you got
Maybe two, maybe three..." her hands worked themselves under his shirt.
"Oh, you're phenomenal, feel like a domino, fall to my knees
I am a malady, you are my galaxy my sweet relief, oh, oh, oh …"
"Addison…You know I want you… But I don't want you to regret this in the morning..."
"Fuck regret!"
"Now where have I heard that before..." He somehow managed to pull away from her. "I'm going to go get you some cold water."
"Oh don't try to give me cold water...I don't wanna sober up...all I see are tomorrows...Oh, the stars were made for us…." she broke into a fit of giggles, almost falling off of the bench seat. "Shit, that's pretty good. I need to write that down." She started to dig wildly through her purse until she retrieved her journal. "I thought this thing had lines..." she said squinting to find where to write.
"Just hand it here," Zed took the leather-bound notebook from her hands and started to scribble down what she had just sung. "There. Written down, now let's get you into bed."
"Mine or yours, Handsome."
Zed ran his hands through his hair anxiously, pulling at the ends. "You are not making this easy."
"Oh, I think I am," she said as she knelt down in front of him.
"That's...that's not what I meant, Adds….Fuck, that feels good..." his eyes nearly crossed as he felt her teeth graze against him on the outside of his pants. He shook his head for clarity. He picked her back up and onto his shoulder, walking her towards the bunks. He opened the curtain to hers and set her down. "Stay..." he ordered, before walking towards the back of the bus. He grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and then a few Tylenol out of the bathroom. As he stepped back into the hall, his phone started to buzz. He pulled it out and looked at the message.
Bonzo
3:15a…Hope you're having fun, but... WE NEED TO TALK ASAP!
He rolled his eyes and typed out a quick response before shoving the phone back into his pocket and walking back to Addison's bunk. He couldn't help but smile. She was fast asleep.
"Adds… wake up. I need you to take these. You'll feel a whole hell of a lot better in the morning if you do."
She didn't even open her eyes as she sat back up and opened her mouth.
"You're adorable..." he smiled as he placed the pain relievers onto her tongue. "Now drink," he said holding to bottle up to her lips. She swallowed them down and collapsed back onto her pillow. "Addie..." he whispered, shaking her shoulder. "Do you want to change? I can't imagine that outfit is comfortable."
She sat back up, lifting her arms. He laughed softly, "Oh, so now I have to change you?" She sleepily nodded her head. He pretended to sigh. "If I must… Getting you naked is such the chore..." He carefully helped her out of her constricting outfit. As his hand brushed against her forearm, he could feel a raised line under her tattoo. Gently, he lifted her arm and examined it more closely. The scar ran the entire length of the skeleton. He ran his hand along her wrist, finding another scar under that tattoo as well. Very carefully he looked at her other wrist, finding another covered scar. He ran his fingertips softly over the tattoo on her breastplate, same thing. The one on her hip covered an exceptionally large one. Finally, he traced the words along her bikini line, finding a thin line that ran almost from hip bone to hip bone. He couldn't get to the ones on her back, but he'd be willing to bet that those were covering scars as well. His breath caught in his throat.
"What happened to you, Adds..."
A soft snore was his only answer. He sighed and picked up her discarded clothes, folding them and setting them on the small shelf at the end of the bunk. He looked around for something for her to sleep in. Her sweatshirt was already in the pile to be laundered. Without knowing what else to do, he pulled his black t-shirt over his head and put it on her. He gently laid her back down onto her pillow.
"Goodnight, Beautiful," he whispered, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. As he climbed down he heard her whisper his name.
"Zed..."
"I'm right here."
She breathed out a soft sigh. "...Forever..."
His breath caught as he watched her smile in her sleep. With his heart beating in his throat he leaned down and kissed her gently. "...and after."
.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: More and more past questions! I know! I promise all will come to light… eventually. Stick with me!
If you're enjoying this crazy story or have any wild theories, drop me a review and let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
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SONGS USED IN THIS CHAPTER
High Enough- K. Flay
Paralyzer- Finger Eleven
3- Britney Spears