Dear Insanity... I messed up again.

CHAPTER 3

Alexandria's POV

          I was completely pissed off. Completely. That woman had some nerve. A lot of it, actually. Nothing made me more cross. I pulled into Gage's drive way and got out, slamming the car door. I stomped up to his door, letter in hand and slammed my fist into the wooden door. He answered in a pair of boxers. I raised an eyebrow.   "Do you normally answer your door mostly naked?" I asked. He blushed as he looked down.

          "Sometimes. You just woke me up." He answered sleepily. I slammed the letter into his chest. He read it slowly, his blue eyes squinting. He looked up. "Are you serious?!" I nodded. "I thought Ivy wasn't allowed." I gestured toward the car.      "That won't be an issue anymore." I answered. "She lives with me now."

          "In your... car?" I glared at him. "That simply won't do. I have a couple extra rooms... and since I own this place... You could live here if you'd like." Gage's parents had passed away three years ago, and left him everything, since he was an only child.

          "Why wasn't this mentioned when I got disowned?" I chuckled.

          "The parents were still around then." He argued. "Hey dorkus! Are you coming inside?" He yelled at Ivy. She climbed out and made her way up hiding her face behind her hair. We thought nothing of it, since she was bound to be upset. "I'll call Jesse and Luke, and tell them to come over." I grinned at him and flopped myself on his couch.

          "Beer?" I asked, giving him the puppy dog eyes. He grinned and threw one to me.

          "You know I hate it when you do that shit. You want one, Ivy?" She shook her head no, and he shrugged. Ivy never was into drinking a whole lot. I grabbed a cigarette and made my way out the sliding glass door. I lit it and sat down, letting my anger seep out with each drag.

          “You know, that’s really bad for your health.” a strong voice said over my shoulder. I lazily looked up. Shrugging, I took another deep drag, getting more and more relaxed. I sat lower in the chair. “What’s bothering you, little lion?” I shook my head in protest.

          “I can’t talk about it just yet, Gage. Give it time.” I said between swigs of beer. He looked at me with saddened eyes. I knew it upset him that I couldn’t trust him with everything. Hell, he was practically my brother, but I didn’t think Ivy was ready for the rest of the band to know all the details just yet.

          “So, have you looked to see if any other bands have decided if they’re going to warped tour just yet?” He asked, lighting a cigarette of his own. I shook my head. “Cheer up, little lion. Things will be okay. This is our big break! I’d hate to see you miss it because you’re down in the dumps.” I smiled at him behind the can of beer. “I’m serious.”

          “I know you are.” I answered. “I’ll be alright, I promise. Where’s your laptop?” I asked, snuffing out the last of the cigarette. His eyes got wide. “Gage… What were you… Never mind. I don’t want to know.” I chuckled, knowing he was watching his “adult entertainment” and he was not, in fact, asleep when I got here.   “Promise to restart it before you look at the screen or turn on the sound.” He said, eyeing me warily. I nodded. “It’s on my nightstand, in my room.” I pushed open the sliding glass doors just in time to see the front door open and Jesse and Luke walk in, their gig bags in hand.

          “Hey sunshine,” Luke said happily with a grin on his face. Jesse followed behind him quietly. I waved, and he nodded in my direction. I raced up the carpeted stairs and whisked the laptop off the wooden stand and shut it off, really not caring to see whatever it was that Gage was watching. I came bounding down the stairs, taking two at a time.

Ivy’s POV

          I looked over to see Luke and Jesse walk into the living room. Luke’s face was all smiles, as usual. Jesse was hiding again, nothing unusual.

          I knew as soon as Jesse’s and I’s eyes met, he knew about the bruise that had formed underneath my eye and across my cheek. He averted his gaze and cleared his throat. He was so shy; he was hard to read at times. He continued to glance my way, careful not to be noticed.

          A sudden loud bang drew all of our attention to the stairs. Alex was sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, in a heap. She let out a string of giggles. I shook my head.

          “Alex, the infamous klutz strikes again!” Gage had walked back into the house. He smirked. “One of these days, your obituary is going to read ‘Girl dies of tripping over her own two feet.’” He laughed. Alex glared at him.

          “Then you’re without a talented singer!” She retorted. She laughed as Luke pulled her to her feet. That girl was always laughing at herself. She scooped up the laptop and opened it to check the screen. “And… We’re good!” She said, her perfect teeth glimmering. She powered it on. “BAND MEETING! Gage, dear, get me another beer please.” She snickered.

          “I HATE it when you do that!” he moaned. “Besides, It’s MY beer!”

          “So pour me something stronger.” She said effortlessly. Gage shook his head and tossed her a beer.

          Soon, we were all sprawled on Gage’s couch, chatting with each other. I hadn’t realized it before, but this felt like home, and for the first time in my life, I felt comfortable.

          “Okay guys, so I don’t know if Gage told you two, but we’ve been invited to headline Warped Tour this year. We’ll have to use the van, but I think we should go for it. All in?” Alex took charge, as usual. Everyone nodded in agreement.

          We needed this, it was our big break as a band. She smiled wide, and looked at the laptop screen, her finger typing quickly. “Let’s see who else is touring this year.” Gage stretched out and rested his feet on top of my lap. I shoved them back to the floor. Dirty boy. He laughed lightly.

          “Oh, jeez. I’m just joking. You’re learning WAY too much from Alex.” He smirked.

          “Shut up, role model.” Alex spat. “Yay! It’s loaded!” She scrolled quickly. “Here we go.” She squinted, looking at the small text. Her eyes grew wide. “We hit the jackpot.”

          “Spill it!” Luke said impatiently. Jesse’s eyes lit up.

          “All Time Low, Memphis May Fire, Sleeping With Sirens, Pierce the Veil…” Her eyes got even wider. She looked down at the shirt she was wearing. Her eyes met mine. “Asking Alexandria…” I squealed in excitement. “Black Veil Brides, Of Mice & Men, Vampires Everywhere!, Motionless in White, The Relapse Symphony, Blood on the Dance Floor…. That’s it for confirmed… Well, now they can add us to that list!” She grinned while pulling out her phone and calling the contact on the letter. She got up and pressed talk. “Hey, what’s up. Is this Jon Morsely?” She paused and then nodded. “Yeah this is Alexandria, from Between the Tides.” She waited again. “I’m sorry to disappoint you…”

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope you are enjoying the story so far! :D I know it's taking a LONGGGG time to get to the Asking boys, but It's getting there, I promise! The picture is of what Gage would look like. :3