Lone Survivors

II (Necessary Evil)

I made my way to the bar eager to put as much distance between myself and Paul as possible. Kambria followed behind me whispering something underneath her breath. I could hear the clacking sound of something in her pocket, rosary beads maybe? She wore a cross necklace around her neck and had been clutching it tightly in her hand during the drive here. I ordered my signature drink, Captain and Coke turning around coming face to face with Spencer.

"Kaitie!" He exclaimed.

"Spencie!" I sat my drink on the bar throwing my arms around him. He hugged me tightly, I burrowed my face into his chest fighting back tears. I missed him so much, one day out of the year was never enough.

"You look great!" He smiled down at me. "This was your big surprise?"

"Yup, Jenny called me in. Put me on the earliest flight here." I grabbed my drink. He put an arm around my shoulders wearing the biggest grin I had ever seen.

"I cannot wait to introduce you to everyone!" He led me away from the bar. I took small sips of my drink to mentally prepare.

Meeting new people always made me nervous. My therapist labeled it as PTSD from my parents being murdered. They added my moving around from place to place a contributing factor to the worsening of my condition. He asked my aunt if she would consider retiring from the military and establishing roots. She walked us both out of the room, calling him a quack and a fraud. That was when I began recording the conversations, I would have with anyone who made me feel uncomfortable.

Spencer took me around the room introducing me to the bands and their crew. I held my phone in one hand typing each name in. Another tick I had developed from my trauma. I had to know the names of everyone I worked with. I needed to know their pasts. In my mind everyone had the potential to be the monster that killed my parents.

"Ricky, Patrick, Joe, Dan, this is my best friend Kaitlynn Porter." Spencer's chest puffed out pride in his voice.

"Holy Shit, you're actually real!" Ricky exclaimed.

"Yes, I am, no catfishing going on here." I said, seeing them look away.

"Spence told you about that?" Dan asked, sounding embarrassed.

"He did, I don't blame you for thinking that. No one believes I actually know Spencer Charnas." I sat down next to Patrick.

"I can see that." Patrick nodded. "You excited for the tour?"

"I am, although I'm not sure how much free time I'll have to spend time to get to know you all." I admitted.

"First chance I get I'm having you moved into my bus. The idea of you being anywhere near that sleazy son of a bitch just makes me uncomfortable." Spencer's tone turned cold. His arm had started out around my shoulders, by the time we arrived by his friends, it was around my waist. I didn't think anything of it, to me it was comforting. To anyone on the outside, who didn't know us or our history together would see it as something else.

"I already mentioned it to Jenny." I replied. "I sent her an email about it, she's going to handle it."

"That's my Kaitie!" Spencer kissed my cheek. I blushed heavily hiding it behind my hair.

"Well, we should get to know your Kaitie seeing as how we might be sharing a tour bus with her." Dan smirked.

Spencer and I took turns as we recounted tales of our childhood. After two drinks I switched to water knowing who I would be driving back with. Thankfully it was Amias who came over to grab me. He gave a warm smile to the band members of Ice Nine Kills.

"Paul wants us to head back to the hotel." He began. "We've got an early morning with the merch coming in."

"I'll come pick you up for lunch, love you Kait." Spencer hugged me.