How it Happened is Irrelevant (Mabbell)

35

Somehow, I'd managed to fall back asleep. I woke up to Craig telling me that he had to tell me something. "Wake up, TJ," He said. "I've got a surprise for ya!" He shook me. I waved my arms around uselessly to get him off. It was still probably early, and I was exhausted. This life gets exhausting. 

"It's too early," I complained. "Tell me later."

He kissed my lips gently to get my attention. "C'mon. I'll make it worth your while." 

I shook my head, still not opening my eyes. "Later."

"I gotcha a motorcycle," He whispered into my ear. "Rented it for the day." 

I sighed and finally opened my eyes. "You really expect me to believe that? " 

"It's outside. Come and see. " He waved me on to follow him. I stood up, stretched for a moment, and followed him outside. I would've changed first, but I was still wearing yesterday's clothes. Craig and I hadn't changed before passing out last night, and I still hadn't changed after our fight. I mean, Craig changed. But whatever. "What're you thinking about? " He asked, seeing my furrowed brow. 

"Changing clothes, " I answered honestly. 

He opened his arms in presentation when we were at the motorcycle that he'd rented. It was a jet black Harley Davidson with two seats but no helmets. "Ta-dah! "

"Why did you rent this? " I was all-too reminded of when we were shooting  the Picture Perfect music video. I'd ridden a motorcycle then just because we'd had one, and I nearly killed myself falling off four times. The difference then was that the guy in charge of the video made me wear a helmet for just because he knew I would fall off. 

"To ride it. I thought that was obvious. " 

"I'm not any good. " I shook my head. "You and I both know I'll just fall right off. " Although looking at it, I was willing to give it a shot once more. 

"I'll go with you. I'll even drive-"

"NO!" I interrupted. No way was I letting him steal my thunder. I was a fucking man. "I'm driving. Just....give me a test run before you hop on." I didn't want to hurt him if I fucked this up. I jumped onto the motorcycle, starting the engine and listening to it cause tons of noise pollution for a minute. I revved the engine to show off, mostly for Craig. Somehow, we'd managed to not have much of a crowd around our bus this morning. We were a good two or three miles from the actual venue itself though, so that's probably why. I finally took the brake off, and road a straight for all of thirty seconds before fucking up the turn. I turned to sharp and fell off, the motorcycle landing on me. I quickly shut it off so that I could get it off of me. 

Craig ran up to me, concern filling his face. "Can you walk?" He asked.

I nodded. "I'm invincible, baby." I stood up, feeling a small pain in my leg. I got back on the motorcycle and started it once more, not bothering to rev the engine this time. Turning the motorcycle wasn't so bad, and I did it with ease after about the fifth time. My lover was looking a little bored though, so I stopped to let him on. 

Craig's arms wrapped around my torso when I took off. It was more of a reflex of shock than one of love. His grip loosened immediately though. In fact, he even let me go completely. It scared me when he put his arms to the sky. I never told him so though. 

Our joyride lasted about four hours. When we returned, we had some signings and two interviews to do. That night, after the show, I was looking through the cabinets for something to drink. "We don't have any tequila?" I asked.

"You drank it all," Kevin told me. 

"Vodka?" I opened another cabinet. 

"You and Craig finished the last of it last night," Robert reminded me.

"Whiskey?" I looked at them.

Craig shook his head. "Finished it two days ago," He said. "But you drank most of it."

"Wine? Beer? Sangria? Absinthe? Moonshine? Spiked cider? Fizzy water?" I was getting desperate. 

"You could always go down to the liquor store," Max suggested. 

"I think it's time for an intervention," Kevin said. "You've been drinking like a camel, TJ. Especially on this tour. I'm used to you being a heavy drinker, but it's getting a little out of control."

"I agree," Robert said. "It's almost to the point where you can't go a single day without drinking."

"But he did," Craig pointed out. "I told him to."

Kevin shot me a look, remembering the day that I'd stolen his cup of Jack. "Yeah, about that." I rubbed the back of my neck. "I kinda might've had a little bit before we left."

"You promised!"

"I was stressing out!" I raised my hands in defense. "You've all been drinking too!"

"Not nearly as much as you," Robert told me. "You can go a day without it. It's almost bus call. We'll get more liquor tomorrow."

I sighed. I'd have to listen to them to save my ass, but at the same time, it was almost worth racing out to get a little something to last the night. Almost. I could go over to Falling in Reverse's bus. I'll bet you anything that they have alcohol. 

And have some they did. The counters and cabinets were stocked to the brim. Ronnie told me I could have whatever I wanted, but I had to share, and I wasn't allowed to finish it. 

I think somewhere down the line I followed one of those rules. And I remember a voice saying that someone had to come get me. I remember feeling leather underneath of me. I remember someone calling me a irresponsible child with a bottle as a favorite toy. That would conclude the entirety of my drunken memory. It would soon be restored for me.