One Million Branches

Part Fifteen

I wake up to Jack, Alex, Jaime, Travis and Austin laying sprawled out across me. I laugh at them and shake them awake.

“What time is it?” Jack asks squinting from the sun.

I grab my phone and check the time.

“It’s 11:30.” I say stretching.

“Fuck I go on in half an hour.” Austin says.

He jumps up and wakes up the rest of his band.

“I go on in an hour and I need to get ready.” I say pushing everyone off me and grab my blanket and pillow.

I wake up Mitch and Aaron and we all walk back to our bus.

I shower and dry off my hair. I decide on a Create and Aspire muscle cut shirt and a pair of black skinnies. I grab my all black converse and put on some eyeliner and mascara. I check the time and realize it’s time to get to our stage.

We all start walking to the stage when someone calls my name from behind.

“Liz!” I hear again.

I look behind me and see Vic running up.

“Hey. What’s up?” I ask.

“We just finished performing. We’ll be watching you perform. Main stage right?” He asks.

I nod and he nods back.

We continue walking and we all head on stage.

After we perform I look for Tony.

“Are you looking for Tone?” Jaime asks.

I nod and he gives me a frown.

“He left like ten minutes into your performance. We have no idea where he is.” Jaime says.

“What the fuck is his problem lately?” I ask.

The boys shrug and I sigh.

“Will you guys come with me to find him?” I ask.

“Well I’m going out drinking with Travis and Aaron.” Mitch says.

“That’s fine. Will you three come with me?” I ask.

They nod and we walk off the stage and search the crowds.

I turn the corner around a merch tent and there stands Tony against the wall with a girl slightly taller than him kissing.

“W-what the fuck!” I scream.

“Tony what the fuck is your problem!” Mike yells.

Tony pushes the girl off him and takes a deep breath in.

“She was kissing me! She pushed me up against the wall and kissed me!” He shouts defensively.

“Tony you and I are together! That’s complete bullshit. It didn’t really seem like you were trying to get her off of you!” I scream.

“Really? You’re going to say this to me? You’re fucking around with so many guys on this tour!” He shouts.

“I’m friends with them, Tony! Sorry I’m fucking coming out of my shell and that people like me. I have not once cheated on you.” I shout.

“I didn’t cheat on you! She kissed me!” He screams.

I shake my head and take a deep breath in.

“You’ve got to believe me.” He says calmly.

“No. I don’t have to believe you.” I say getting a dirty look on my face.

The girl rolls her eyes at me and mutters bitch under her breath.

“Excuse you?” I ask staring at her.

She just stares at me and I walk up to her.

“Say it again.” I say getting in her face.

She stays quiet and Vic pulls me away from her.

“You can have fun with him. He’s single now.” I say as Mike and Vic drag me off.

I glance back and see Tony staring at the ground.

I stay quiet and walk for a bit to the buses until my adrenaline wears off and I fall to the ground sobbing. My heart feels like it was ripped in two and I feel like I’ve been stabbed and the knife is just sitting in my body.

Mike picks me up and carries me the rest of the way to the bus.

“Shhhh.” Vic says as Mike lays me across the couch.

“Liz I’m so sorry.” Mike mumbles.

Just as he says that all the boys from ATL, OM&M and my band burst through the door.

“Hey Liz!” Alex screams not seeing me yet.

“What happened?” He asks realizing that I was crying.

“Outside. All of you.” Mike says pushing them out and following them close behind.

The door closes quietly and Vic sits next to me. I lay my head on his shoulder and cry onto his shirt.

“Are you fucking kidding me!” I hear Travis scream.

“Tony’s fucking dead.” I hear Austin yell.

“Austin it’s not your problem!” Mike yells.

“No it is. Liz is literally one of my best friends. I think she is to everyone here. She’s a sweetheart, she’s nice, funny, beautiful, and generous. The list could go on and on. She doesn’t deserve to be in pain because of him!” He shouts.

“Shhhh!” I hear one of the boys say.

The shadows slowly start fading away from the blinds and I continue crying onto Vic.

“I’m so sorry.” Vic mumbles kissing my head.

I just shake my head and cry even more.

“A new Adventure Time is on. It’s Monday. Do you want to watch it?” He says.

I nod my head and he picks me up and carries me to the back lounge. He turns on the TV and puts on Adventure Time.

“Want me to stay here?” He asks.

“No. Please leave for now. I need to be alone for a while.” I say staring at my feet.

“Okay. I’m here for you.” He says.

As he walks away he turns back around.

“I love you.” He says with a weak smile.

“Please don’t say that to me right now.” I mumble.

He nods and walks quietly out of the bus.

I pull my knees to my chest and scream and cry into them.

He fucking cheated on me. After saying he was so in love with me and that he didn’t want anyone else.

“Fucking asshole!” I scream throwing my phone across the bus.

I throw myself off the couch and rip my curtain open. I grab an extra razor from my bag and drag the cold metal across my scarred skin.

After I realize what I did I throw the razor across the bus.

I stare into my bunk and all the pictures of Tony and I, along with the stuffed turtle he made me. I grab the turtle angrily and throw it at the back lounge wall. I rip off all the pictures taped onto the wall and then fall to the ground sobbing. I pull myself together and stand up. Tony’s not going to be in the same state I am so why am I doing this to myself? He’s not screaming and crying because he cheated. I’m not going to work myself up over nothing. I walk to the front of the bus and grab a bottle of whiskey.

I drink almost the entire bottle until I end up passing out in the shower on the bus with the turtle gripped in my hands.