Hiding Behind False Eyes (A Ben Bruce Love Story.... Kind of.)

Chapter Seven- My Only Home is the Bottom of the Bottle

Rain’s P.O.V-

I watched, confused, as James abruptly stood up and left the apartment.

“Is something wrong? You seem a bit off,” Ben whispered in my ear.

I jumped, startled, and cleared my throat. Ben pulled away to look at me, concern in his gaze.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah, uh, it’s just the hangover,” I said.

“Okay,” Ben said, though I knew he didn’t believe me. “Hey, whatever it is, I hope you’re feeling better for our date tonight. I hope you don’t mind that I haven’t gotten you a birthday present either… don’t worry, the boys and I have something planned.”

I felt my cheeks color. “You remember asking me out? Wow, I mean… you were really drunk. I’m touched.”

Ben grinned. “Of course I remember. I couldn’t get drunk enough to forget something like that. I mean, I’ve probably gotten close a few times, but that’s beside the point.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I can’t wait,” I whispered in his ear, standing on my tip-toes.

Alyssa walked into the living room. “It’s two. Time to go?”

The boys nodded.

“Rain, you’ve gotta pack the shit you need if you’re coming on tour with us. We leave at eleven for Dallas,” said Cam. “We drive at night so there’s less traffic. Bring like two pairs of clothes, like we said last night, there’s no use packing heavy when we’ve got cash to blow.”

I froze. “Damn it, I still haven’t told my mom! Before we go to the bus I have to stop at home! I’ll show you all around, I’ll be quick, I promise.”

Lyss leaned quietly against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed. That’s when I realized she wouldn’t be coming with us. She had registered for university, and when summer was through she would be focusing on her studies while I toured with Asking Alexandria. I walked away from the boys and pulled her into the hallway to talk to her.

“Lyss, I’m sure you could come if you wanted to. I mean, I bet Danny wants you to come. I want you to come. We all do.”

Alyssa shook her head, expression strained. “You know I can’t, Rain. I’m heading off to university in Florida in a month. I’ve already paid, plus I really want to get school done as soon as possible.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Rain? I mean, you’ve known these boys literally since yesterday. You wouldn’t leave for a year with a normal person you just met... even though they’re famous, they’re still people. Not to mention the fact that they get wasted every night and do loads of drugs. Plus, you’re my best friend. You can’t just… leave. You can’t,” she said, sniffling.

The backs of my eyes burned, threatening tears. “Does it really make a difference? We would be separated at the end of the summer anyway. Better you know what I’m up to and who I’m with then for you to be wondering all the time. If I get you a tour schedule you can know where I am every day.”

Lyss sighed. “I guess,” she said. “Keep in touch, okay? You’re my best friend, Rain, so naturally if you don’t call every day I’ll assume you’re dead and go apeshit.”

I laughed, rubbing my eyes. “I’ll keep in touch, I promise. Now it’s time to go; I have to break the news to mom.”

“Wait,” said Alyssa, and pulled a box out of her hoodie pocket. She handed it to me.

“Happy birthday, Rain,” she said, and I smiled. I opened the box and gasped.

Inside was a silver chain with a tiny, perfect, sparkling ruby pendant. It was beautiful.

“Lyss, I don’t know what to say. This is… it’s gorgeous. Thank you, thank you so much.”

Lyss clipped it around my neck and pulled me into a hug. “I picked it out when the family was in Italy. It’s simple, but it reminded me of you. We should go, though. Come on, you lazy drunks, let’s get in the car,” she yelled over my shoulder at the boys.

**************

“Absolutely not.”

My jaw dropped. Of all things, I wasn’t expecting my mother to refuse to let me go.

“Mom, you can’t just say no… All those nights of me sitting in my room writing songs, you can’t just deny me this. I mean, mom, this is Asking Alexandria. This is my big break.”

My mom turned to look at me. I hoped the boys couldn’t hear our conversation; apparently they were downstairs raiding the fridge.

“Rain, I won’t have you running off to live in a bus with five men you only met yesterday. Are you crazy? Why do you even want to do this? There’s no question about it, you’re staying here.”

“Come on, mom. Give me some freedom! I’m eighteen, I’m an adult now. I can make my own choices.”

“I gave you freedom, and what did you do? You left the house without telling me, and then you totaled your truck. Not to mention the fact that you didn’t even claim insurance or call the police.”

“THEY totaled my truck!”

“That doesn’t make me feel any damn better about you driving around with them for a year!”

I sighed angrily and paced around the room, running my hands through my hair. Mistake; I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, revealing what I had been planning on hiding from my mother. Within an instant she had grabbed my wrist.

“What in the name of God is this?!” she shrieked.

“Keep it down, mom! It’s just a tattoo,” I said. I had gotten it two nights ago with Lyss; it was a swallow, like Ben had on his chest, but it signified the ups and downs of mine and Lyss’ friendship. Sometimes when we were fighting we parted ways, but we always flew home to each other.

“Oh, my God, Rain! Do you want people to judge you?”

“Mom,” I growled, “It’s just a swallow, and I don’t care what they think.”

“Well I do. While you live under my roof you’re not going away with these people, and that’s final. Also, you’re getting that tattoo removed. My treat.”

I stormed out of the room and sprinted into my own room. Pulling a duffel bag from the depths of my closet I threw in the things I needed most: flat iron, makeup, toothbrush, three day’s worth of my favorite clothes, my songbook and a picture of Lyss and I. I took off down the stairs and threw on a jacket.

“Time to go,” I said, grabbing Lyss and pulling her out to the car. The boys followed, and as I felt Ben’s gaze on me I wished I could melt into his arms. We piled into the car and I sat in the back between Cam and Ben, while Danny sat in the passenger seat beside Alyssa. I leaned against Ben as Alyssa pulled out of the driveway and he lightly stroked my hair.

“It’ll be hard at first,” whispered Ben. “The boys are like family, and we’ve all got your back. Plus, to be honest, life on tour is like a big party. You’ll get used to it.”

“I hope so,” I said with a big sigh. I knew there was no going back; I definitely wasn’t leaving on good terms with my mother and I couldn’t imagine what would happen if I went home. My head still pounded from the hangover; leaning against Ben, I fell into a dreamless sleep.