Haunted Hearts || A.W.G || [Discontinued]

Security Guards, Hair Dye and A Different Style || Chapter Seven

//*//*// Style: a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed \\*\\*\\

-- Another early chapter just because xD --

Emerald

"Sorry ma'am, you're not old enough." The security guard says to me at the door. "Hey, Marshall, she's with me. It's all good." Alex taps his shoulder from inside and the man sighs. "Fine." "Thank you." I say to both him and Alex. "No problem." Alex winks and leads me through to a table in the far right of the bar. "You've been here before?" I ask. "Two times before, I just had a connection to the guard, if you know what I mean." He responds. "You slept with him?" I feel my eyes grow big. "What? No. Of course not." He shakes his head. "We shared some past times and became friends. Turns out we're the same person with our experiences." He says then we all order our drinks.

"So Emerald, how've you been doing?" Rian asks. "Okay, I guess." I shrug. "What do you mean?" He takes a sip of his drink. I look at Alex then back at him, "I'd rather not talk about it right now, sorry."

"Oh, it's fine. It really is nice to see you again. Jack was nonstop wondering how and where you were." He laughs. "Yes! I missed you so much." He flings an arm over my shoulder. "And I missed you too." I smile. "I think Alex missed you the most." Zack adds. "That's surprising." I snicker. "Okay, that's enough." Alex butts in and holds up his beer, "A toast to Emerald." "To Emerald!" Rian, Zack and Jack say in unison.

~-~-~

By ten o'clock at night I wasn't completely drunk but a bit tipsy. I don't want to get shit-faced in front of all the guys the first night I'm out with them. Rian and Zack are off talking to some girls while Jack is dancing, which leaves me with Alex. Thankfully he isn't as drunk as I thought he would be.

"So did you miss me over the past three years?" He asks. "Tone it down a bit. We're pretty much acquaintances again." I say. "Sorry." He clears his throat. "How about we start over? Like completely." "Huh?" I furrow my eyebrows. "Hi, my name's Alex. I was an extreme douchebag in high school. I really like this girl named Emerald and am trying to talk to her without coming off as a cocky bastard, which is what she called me in the past." He holds his hand out and I chuckle, "My name is Emerald and I don't like this boy named Alex because no matter how much he denies it, he's still a cocky bastard." "Okay, that didn't work either." He says.

"Never win first place, I don't support the team-" P!nk starts to play over the speakers.

"Oh my God, I have to find Jack." I laugh and start to get up when I hear him scoff, "Are you fucking serious? This is the same shit that happened back in high school."

"You're right. Sorry." I sit back down. I look at him and see that he's upset. "Hey," I tap his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

He sighs sadly and asks, "Do you still like Blink?" "Of course." I answer. "It just seems like you're more into metal and stuff now." He shrugs. "I am, but I still love Blink. How could I not?" I take a sip of my beer. "That's nice to know. I thought you lost your past self." He smiles. "Nope, that girl is still 's somewhere deep down inside." I chuckle. "Why did you change?" He seems cautious with what he's saying. "I didn't want to be reminded of who I was. But when I did dramatically change, I realized that no matter how hard I try to forget the past, it'll always be there. I'll never get rid of it." I respond. "And before you think it's because of you, it's not. It's something way worse."

I can tell that he doesn't know how to respond so I change the subject, "Everytime we go somewhere together, you have connections." "What do you mean?" He laughs. "The coffee shop in high school, you slept with the owner and in return, got free coffee. Now you made friends with a security guard and got me into a bar when I'm only twenty." I say, holding in a smile. "I'm just that charming." He jokes. "And by the way, it's okay to smile. I promise that I won't take it the wrong way."

The rest of the night passes by like the wind.

~-~-~-~

July 31st - Indianapolis, Indiana

I'd like to say that Alex and I are friends again but it's hard to admit it out loud even though I say it in my head easily. "Good luck, guys." I high five them while they run onstage. They start playing the song I believe is called "Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)."

"I fought it for a long time now, while drowning in a river of denial. I washed up, fixed up, picked up all my broken things. Cause you left me police tape, chalk line. Tequila shots in the dark scene of the crime. Suburban living with a feeling that I'm give up everything for you

Oh, oh, oh. How was I suppose to know that you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go. Something's telling me to leave but I won't. Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I don't

It took a lot to take you home. One stupid call and I end up alone. You're made up, dressed up, messed up plans I set in stone. But you made me do when I don't like dancing in the alley with the street rat nightlife. Can't keep living with the feeling that I'm giving up everything for you

Oh, oh, oh. How was I suppose to know that you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go. Something's telling me to leave but I won't. Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I don't

Make a fool of myself when you hang around. When you're gone I'm a match that's burning out. Could have been, should've done what I said I was going to do, but I never promised you

Oh, oh, oh. How was I suppose to know that you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go. It never took a fool to see the things that I won't. Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I do ya

Oh, oh, oh. How was I suppose to know that you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go. Something's telling me to leave but I won't. Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I, d-d-d-damned if I do ya, damned if I don't."

I watch them perform their first song then walk to my bus and go straight to my bunk. I dig in a Walmart bag until I find my hair dye. Ever since I realized that Alex and I were friends again, I've got the urge to go back to being brunette and dress the way I used to. So I stopped at Walmart a couple days ago and bought a bunch of clothes that I usually would wear. Yesterday I went to the mall in Chicago and shopped in Hot Topic plus other stores. I think it's time that I put away the garters and all that stuff because lets face it, it's not me. I wanted to hide behind the black eyeshadow, revealing clothes and platinum hair up until Alex and I started talking again. I went into the bathroom and cut off just a couple inches of my hair then open the box of dye.

~-~-~-~

2 Hours Later

"Hey Em," Brianna knocks on the door. "Alex is asking for you. He's outside."

I take one more look at myself in the mirror and see a totally different girl. Instead of wearing short, tight dresses, I put on a loose black tank top that has zippers on the chest, some black pleather leggings, black heels with studs around the bottom, a feather necklace, spiked bracelets, star stud earrings, and a black beanie. For my makeup I did basic black eyeliner, a light application of dark brown eyeshadow, light foundation and blush with plum lipstick.

"I'm coming." I open the door. "Oh my God, what did you do?" Her eyes grow wide. "Is it bad?" I raise my eyebrows on worry. "No. You look great. I haven't seen you this way since three years ago." She awes. "I bet Alex will love it."

"I didn't do it for him. I did it for myself."

Okay, I'll admit that part of what I just said is true.

"Well go outside. He's waiting for you." She pushes me towards the door. "Fine. Geez." I roll my eyes and open it. "Hey, what's up?"

"Sorry I came without telling you. I just-" He stops talking when he sees me. His eyes look me up and down like they did when he first met me then his cheeks turn red. "Um," He clears his throat. "I just wanted to ask if you would accompany me to a party hosted by Rian, Zack, Jack and I's good friends in Pierce The Veil." "Yeah, sure." I smile and he sighs in relief. "Wait, were you.. nervous?" I ask. "No. Why would I be?" He turns away quickly and starts to walk toward the street. "You're such a bad liar." I follow and nudge him. "Whatever." He mumbles.

-- Songs used in this chapter;

"Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)" - All Time Low --