Life & Love of the Tormented

Chapter Thirty Three

  "Fuck! They are fire!", I scream over the noisey club while I head to bar with the guys.

It's mid show break and even though the atmosphere and the alcohol has given me a nice little buzz and helped me ignore the truths Ben threw at me before the show started, it's wearing off so I need more... a lot more... 

"They fucking are aye!?", yells Ben.

"Thank you for asking me along. They're great!", shouts Colton.

  When we get to the bar I check my phone, it's 9:15pm. I have a text from Taya that has just come through and one from Carter from about half an hour ago.

Taya's text reads 'Hey, what club are you all at? Going home to change first then will head out x'.

'We're at the new one, Club Ecko. Your name is on the door. See you then! xx', I reply.

'Missing you x', is all Carter's text says and it makes me smile.

'Miss you too. Can't wait to see you later 😚', I type out. As I go to hit send, I change my mind and delete the entire message. The conversation I had with Ben earlier has crept back into my mind. 'Not sure when I'll be heading home. Think we should reschedule tonight.', I hit send and put my phone back in my bag.

  "Texting your boyfriend?", Colton says laughing.

I look up from my phone and Colton's eyes are on me, Ben's are on me too.

"Fuck off", I shout at him, annoyance clear in my voice as I swat at his arm.

"Taya will be here in a bit", I say trying to bury the irritation that's brewing. I really didn't want to blow Carter off but I know it's the best thing to do and now I'm in a mood about it.

Ben's face flashes red.

  "Excited to see her?", I ask him laughing... I'm trying to shift my new shitty mood and mocking Ben is helping.

"And you can fuck off too", he says throwing a straw at me and turning away to look up the bar at the bar attendant.

We each take a shot and grab another stubby of Jacks before heading back toward the stage. The band are back on and continuing their set. The bassist really is hot as fuck, and if I hadn't met Carter you could probably guarantee I would have found a way to sleep with him tonight...

-

  The set finishes up around 10:30pm and Taya has messaged saying she's in the Uber and not far. I have a couple texts and a missed call from Carter that I've chosen to ignore for the time being. I miss him already but I can't shake what his brother said.

I need more booze.

  A lot more.

The after party is in one of the private rooms of the same club and I have a pass for each of us to get in but the doors don't open until 11pm. I had only planned on staying for an hour or so because I was going to meet up with Carter but now that I've blown him off again I plan on drowning myself in tequila.

When the doors for the after party open we all pile inside the private room and grab a few more drinks. We bring them to a black couch and table in the corner that we've practically claimed. Taya is finally here and working on getting her own buzz going; she's playing catch up and keeps shouting shots! Colton and Ben tried to keep up with us but they've both tapped out.

"Pussies!", I shout before downing another tequila shot and then sucking on another wedge of lime. This is going to hurt tomorrow but for now it feels so fucking good.

The DJ that's playing is focusing on all the pop punk and emo classics and I am living for it. 'All the Small Things' by 'Blink 182' starts to play and Taya and I give each other a knowing look.

"ALL THE", "SMALL THINGS", "TRUTH CARE", "TRUTH BRINGS", we both begin to sing it at the top of our lungs, jumping up and taking off toward the dance floor. Fuck this is a good song.

Without missing a beat the DJ moves into 'In too Deep' by 'Sum 41'. Taya and I stay out on the dance floor. We're dancing and screaming the lyrics.

  Yes this is what I need, booze, good vibes and no thinking. A complete distraction from the mixture of guilt and anger bubbling inside me.

After another song or two Taya yells out "I need water!", and heads back to the table.

I nod and continue dancing with a couple of random people we've just met. I'm jumping up and down screaming to 'The All-American Rejects' song 'Dirty Little Secret' when someone bumps into the back of me causing me to stumble forward. I land on a few other people who are dancing and begin apologising before turning around ready to blast who ever just fucking shoved me.

  "I'm so fucking sorry dude!", he says.

The drummer from Blood Winter bends to grab my forearm. I'm assuming he's the one who did it. His white t-shirt is covered in his drink and looks as if his level of embarrassment for tripping in a club matches my anger. The base player and lead guitarist both scold and laugh at him while they all reach to help steady me back on my feet.

"Oh it's fine" I say, realising who they are and brushing my dress down.

  "Here let us get you a drink", the drummer says.

"You really don't have to", I reply, "I'm fine really... And it looks like you ended up worse off than me and are actually the one in need of a new drink", I say laughing and gesturing to his shirt.

"Ha ha, thanks", he says sarcastically.

"We insist really", the bassist speaks up.

"Hah fine whatever", I say rolling my eyes and leaving the dance floor.

  "I'm Amelia by the way", I stretch out a hand as we walk towards the couch in the corner.

"I'm Raine", the drummer says shaking my hand. He's bald and is covered in tattoos. His resemblance in style and look is very similar to Travis Barker except Raine is very tall and has very pale skin beneath the black ink.

  "I'm Tom and this is Matt", the guitarist says extending a hand a nodding his head towards the bassist.

  Tom is also quite tall. He has one sleeve of tattoos and a light browny/blonde tapered mohawk on top of his head. He's wearing a muscle tee similar to the white one Raine is also wearing but his is dark grey. He's also wearing tight black skinny jeans... Well all of them are but Tom has a bandana tied around one thigh like a garter. It's a weird look but it suits him. He sports a dimple on each cheek when he smiles. He's cute, but I think that's his point.

Matt is average height but shorter than the others and is the only one wearing a long sleeve shirt. His hair is black and his side swept bangs cover half his face. His eyes are steel grey and piercing. He really is hot as fuck and exactly my type. Or at least my old 'type'.

  My 'before Carter' type...

"Nice to meet you three, even if you all did just try to kill me out there", I say laughing and shaking each of their hands.