Run Away From The Pain

Looking To The Future

I stepped off the plane and instantly spotted the large black bus and the group of...well... flamboyant people waiting for my arrival.
I instantly dropped my suitcases and sprinted down the steps of the jet and into Steven's arms.

"I missed you guys so much." I murmured into his neck as he hugged me as tightly as he could.
He pulled back enough that he could, lift my face to his and kiss me passionately.

"I missed you too." He smiled as he pulled back, leaving me open for everyone's attacks as the rest of the band dogpiled and pulled me into a big group hug.

"Alex! err...Ace! Oh my god we missed you so much!" They all yelled, as I was being crushed in between a mass of bodies.

"Cant...breathe..." I gasped for air as I was literally being compressed into a pulp between them.

"Sorry, Ace." Joey let go of me first, as Tom, Brad and Joe all followed his example, letting me breathe.
I grinned as I found Claudia hiding behind them, and I leaped into her arms.

"Don't think I forgot about you..." I laughed as I pulled into me, hugger her tightly.
Joey and Brad grabbed my two suitcases and threw them in the understorage of the bus, as we all climbed into the farmiliar moving cabin.

"It's good to be back." I sighed as I plopped down on the comfortable red velvet couch of the bus.
Within minutes, we were all seated and the bus was off, towards West Berlin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Claudia and I were sitting at the guitar pick table, each in the booth across from each other, while Steven, Tom and Joe were sitting on the couch discussing some riffs, Brad was sleeping, and Joey was eating.

"So..." Claudia whispered. "Tell me about the treaty, what happened? What are the rules about? Is the Prince as nice as he is attractive?"
I couldn't help but to laugh at the last question.

"Yeah, he's actually really sweet... Get this..." I smiled, painting a picture for her. "He likes horse back riding, and his favorite band is Aerosmith, and the Stones, and even Led Zeppelin."

"You guys went riding together?" She asked, astonished.

"Yeah, I mean, we were told we had to spend the day together, so I figured I'd just take him riding since I haven't had Spades out in a while." I shrugged my shoulders nonchallantly. "He is insanely cute though... I couldn't even look him in the eyes."

"Wow..." She gasped. "I mean, I knew he was gorgeous, but I didn't think it was that bad."
I just shrugged, and laughed.
"So tell me about the treaty!"

A sick feeling rose in the pit of my stomach, and my heart ached with sadness.
"It's nothing really... just a typical treaty." I lied.

"Really?" She seemed surprised. "Usually they ask for money or armies, or for someone to be married off."

"Yeah, we just offered to share militaries." I shrugged, picking at my nails.
I knew Claudia was staring at me intensely, trying to figure out why I was being so guarded. She knew I was lying... I could feel it.

"Ohh, well that's cool." She just shook her head, as I got up to the fridge.
I grabbed two beers, and a bag of chips and sat back down at the table, handing Claudia a beer, while popping the tab off of my own.

We sat in silence for a few more minutes before Roger stopped the bus outside of an arena.
"We're here guys." He grinned cheekily, as we all scrambled off the bus.

We made our way through a sea of fans, pushing and pulling at each other to get even just a glimpse of the band.
We finally made it to the back entrance of the arena, and let out a sigh of relief as we were being shown to our dressing rooms... well, I was being shown to Steven's dressing room.

I closed the door behind Steven and I as we entered his dressing room, and made my way to the couch, plonking myself down on it with a tired sigh. Traveling always makes me so tired.
I swear to god we weren't even alone for two minutes before there was a knock at the door.

Steven and I looked at each other with perplexed eyes, and both shrugged, not knowing who it could be.
"I'll get it." I smiled faintly and pushed myself up off the couch to answer the door.
Unfortunately, the moment I turned the knob, the door burst open and little miss Cyrinda Foxe strutted past me into the room.

"Excuse me." I hissed, as she bumped into me.
Not even acknowledging my existance, she sat herself down on the couch I was seated at moments ago, and struck up conversation with Steven.

"So Steven, baby..." Her shrill voice made my blood pressure rise to an unhealthy level. "Are you excited for the show tonight? I brought you an eight ball to pump you up."

"Get the fuck out." I snapped. "He doesn't need your fucking drugs."
She turned her head towards me and smirked, then turned back towards Steven.

"So what'dya say, doll?" She laughed pulling a small bag of white powder out of her pocket. "Wanna party?"

Steven's eyes grew unbareably wide, honestly, considering my circumstances, I really should just give up and walk away. I mean, why should I care whether he does drugs and fucks up his life or not?
Oh yeah, because you love him you fucking idiot.
My inner goddess was screaming at me.

"Steven..." I sighed, folding my arms and leaning against the door frame.

"Cyrinda, get out." Steven commanded.
All she did was laugh and lay a line out on the coffee table infront of her.
She quickly sniffed it up, making Steven red.

"Cyrinda, get the fuck out!" He yelled, now clearly impecably angry.

"I'm going, I'm going..." She rolled her eyes. "Don't get your panties in a fuckin' twist."
She put the little baggie back in her pocket and got up to leave.
She stopped half way out the door, and bowed in front of me.

"Excuse me, your majesty." She sneered, spitting venom at the last few words.
I slammed the door shut behind her, and turned to face Steven.

"I'm proud of you, baby." I smiled, as he sat back on the couch, with his hands covering his face.
He didn't answer; he just kind of sat there wallowing in his own self pity.
I knew how hard that was for him to do, and I honestly was proud, heartbroken, but proud.

"Look, I'm gonna go talk to Claudia about something, I'll come back though, in a little bit" I turned towards the door, hearing it creak open slightly. "Okay?"
Still no answer.
I just sighed and walked out the door, closing it behind me.

Just as I stepped out, Claudia happened to step out of Joe's dressing room.
Oh, what a coincidence.

"Hey Claud, I was just coming to see you." I sighed, pain streaking my face.

"I was too..." She half smiled.

"Ohh... well, you go first." I chuckled softly as we began to walk down the long corridor of the arena.

"I know you lied to me." She deadpanned.

"About what?" I asked as nonchallantly as I could.

"The treaty..." She paused, staring directly into my golden eyes. "I know what the real terms for it were."

"How do you know?"

"No offence, Ace, but I do know a little more about the way political treaties work, than you do." She scoffed, then sighed, "It's just a shame that it has to happen that way."

I couldn't help but to burst into tears.
"Shhhh. It's okay, darlin'." She pulled me into a big hug, and rubbed my back, soothing me.

"It's so unfair." I sobbed into Claudia's shoulder. "I don't understand why I have to do this."

"I know honey, I know." She continued rubbing my back. "If you look at the circumstances though, It's not entirely terrible..."

"What do you mean?" I asked, wiping tears from my eyes.

"Well, I know how much you love Steven, but..." She couldn't get the words out, though I knew exactly what she meant.

"Yeah, I guess you're right..." I smiled lightly, dabbing the continual stream of salty tears that were running down my cheeks.

"How much time do you have?" She asked, linking my arm with hers as we made our way back to the dressing rooms.

"I have as little as a week, and as great as a month..." I sighed. "A month is all I have."

"If you want, I can come with you?" She smiled, though I knew it would kill her, if I said yes.

"No, I wouldn't do that to you. I wouldn't make you go through with this. Don't give up your life or your happiness for me" I hugged her. "Thank you for the offer though."

I let go of her, and then grasped onto the door handle of Steven's dressing room.
"I feel like it'll be best if I tell him..." I sighed. "Maybe I'll wait until after the show though."
With one swift motion, I turned the knob on the door, and made my way into his dressing room, only to be stopped dead in my tracks.

Cyrinda Foxe was straddling Steven with not even a millimeter to spare.
Their lips were locked so tight I could've sworn she wore superglue as lipgloss.

"Well, this makes my job easier." I scoffed as they broke apart and stared at me.

"Fuck." Steven muttered, as they froze in place.

I rolled my eyes and slammed the door, and began walking down the long cement corridor not even bothering to look back.