tongue of the serpent ➵ a.b.

Chapter 7: Feel

I flutter my eyes open and regain my consciousness. I slept like a baby. And no, I did not imagine Cadell was actually Andy sleeping next to me. I mean, who does that? Apparently me.

I sit up and notice Cadell is still asleep. Astaroth is awake. Frey and Kane are also feeling the weight of sleep. I stretch and hear an unusual voice. It wasn't Andy's, it was...light. But Kane was asleep! I immediately look into the kitchen and find none other than CC eating a bagel. Bagel? Even the food he eats is crazy.

CC and Astaroth are actually in a heated conversation. About drums. Even though they were insanely different, they were best friends.

I did meet all of Black Veil Brides. We're all friends and actually talk and text each other. People suddenly had a habit of walking in our room and eating our food.

In the middle of their argument, I get up and make my way into the kitchen.

"Guys, just shut up," I say sincerely, getting myself a bagel that CC toasted. I steal it off his plate and he begins to cry like a baby.

If I acted like that, Astaroth would get aggravated and slap me. But he was actually laughing! So it's true: CC can bring the best out in everyone.

I poke CC on the nose. "Shut up."

He pulls the bagel he was eating out of his mouth. "What've you been doing?"

I am dumbfounded. "You mean?"

"With Andy. He talks about you a lot."

Andy talks about me? Oh my gosh! I immediately feel my cheeks turn red and rub my eyes. I'm tired but relieved. "Well we rehearse and learn choreography."

Astaroth hears this and butts in. "By the way, you got in four hours late last night. You're obviously lying."

Why that little dipshit! "We just stayed in late. Lost track of the time," I make an excuse. Not a very good one, at that.

"Andy came in real late too," CC states, looking mischievous.

I had had it. Enough is enough. It's the end of the line. Ride's over, punk. I give in. "Andy took me out to eat. No biggie. It was just friendly," which is partly true. We were friendly. We're just friends. Nothing more.

Astaroth forces out a minuscule laugh. "Yeah, and my ass is blue."

I roll my eyes and immediately get pissed. Why do people never seem to see my side? "Ugh, why aren't you guys practicing?" I throw back, changing the subject quickly.

CC looks intent and calm. "Eh," he states neutrally, "we gave the guys a day off. They've been doing well and deserve the rest."

Wait. Gave them the day off? Oh no! Usually the guys wake me up for rehearsal! But they didn't get up early today. "What's the fucking time?" I almost scream, launching out of my chair.

Astaroth clicks his home button on his iPhone. "11:08. Why?"

I begin to freak. Oh shit! Andy's rehearsal! "I have rehearsal with Andy at 10!"

CC gets up and grabs his keys quickly and his voice tingles my ears, "Want me to drive you?" He stares me in the pupils.

"Yeah, I just gotta get ready first..."

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I walk in the giant room with the mirror. The reflection tells me someone is sitting on the floor. Someone with black hair with his head hanging down. The Misfits is blasting on the stereo and I hear mumbles of his soft cries. He's singing. The music drowns out my echoing footsteps and I sneak up on him. I decide my best bet is to catch him from behind. Silently I sit down, inches from his back, and touch it with my etched fingers. I slowly move around and feel his spine. Going up and down. I relax his frame and massage his shoulders. I'm sorry, Andy.