Blame It (Of Mice & Men)

Secrets Don't Make Friends

The last day of tour rolled around and I was now 6 months pregnant. "I can't do anything," I whined. "I'm fat, my back hurts and-" "YOUR FEET ARE SWOLLEN! WE KNOW! SHUT UP!" I jumped and looked over to see Alan holding his head in frustration.

"Why are YOU complaining? You're the one who did this to me anyhow!" I retorted. "It takes two to tango, babe. So cry your little river, but be sure to build a bridge and get over it," Alan said, standing and walking out of the bus.

Sounds harsh, right? That was nothing compared to what he said last week.

I yelled in frustration, knowing everyone else was out of the bus and went to the back to change clothes. I pulled on a black sundress and slipped on my UNIF Hellraisers before brushing my curls. I was about to walk out the door when I heard Alan talking to a girl.

"Look, I can't be doing this anymore. I have a fiancé and a baby on the way. I know I never denied it before, but we can't keep doing this behind her back." I brought a hand to my mouth to keep out a cry of shock. "Alan, baby, don't do this. She won't know," the girl's voice chimed in.

I opened the bus door and they looked at me. I shook my head and walked towards the stage, ignoring Alan as he called my name. I showed the guard my pass and he let me backstage where the guys were pumping themselves up before they went on.

"Where's Alan?" Tino asked. As if he heard us, Alan grabbed his guitar and ran onstage. Tears brimmed my eyes and his eyes widened. "We're talking about this later," he said, kissing the top of my head before running onstage.

"Mrs. Ashby, would you like a chair?" I turned to see one of the stage managers holding a chair which I graciously thanked him for before sitting down.

Mrs. Ashby. Could I even be called that anymore?

Alan cheated on me and we haven't been engaged more than 3 months. I wiped my eyes as I stood. "Please tell my brother and husband I went to the bus, please," I told the manager halfway through the set.

He nodded and I walked around the stage. "Um, excuse me?" I asked one of the guards. "Can you please walk me to my bus?" The guards had been warned that I might ask because of the last incident, so he nodded, walking with me. It must've looked funny to see a tall buff guy walking a short, pregnant woman to her bus. I held my belly as I walked, feeling Jellyfish move around.

"Here you go, miss," he said once we were outside the bus. "Thank you," I said, smiling sheepishly. He nodded and walked off as I punched the code in, opening the door. "Hey Mike?" I called out. "Yep?" he appeared in the doorway. Mike wasn't too much older than Alan, about 24, and was insanely fit and not bad looking at all.

"Um, could you um.." "Do you need help onto the bus, April?" He asked, laughing. I pouted but nodded and he climbed out, holding my waist and effortlessly lifting me onto the bus.

"Thank you," I whispered, walking back to the bus. Mike followed me. "I heard Alan yelling at you this morning," he said, leaning against the door frame. "You deserve better, ya know?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't, Mike." "But you do. You deserve someone who will let you know how beautiful you are, how cute your laugh is, how your eyes do this twinkle thing when you're happy. Not someone who gets mad at you all the time." I smiled softly at Mike. I hugged him as best I could before pulling away, but his lips were on mine and as hard as I tried to push him away, I couldn't. He was too strong.

"Hey, April-" Mike let me go and I looked up to see Alan staring at us with a look of hurt, confusion, and anger. "I'm gonna go," Mike said, walking off the bus.

"So this is how things are?" Alan asked, stepping onto the bus and locking it. "You're gonna kiss our bus driver while I'm away? What else have you done with him?" "You cheated on me, Alan! You had sex with another girl! He kissed ME! I was trying to push him away!" I yelled. "BULLSHIT!" he yelled and then there was a stinging in my cheek and I was on the ground.

He hit me. Alan hit me.

"Oh my god, April-" "Don't touch me," I whimpered, scooting away from him.

"April, I'm sorry I didn't mean to hit you," he said, trying to come closer to me.

"I hate you. I hate you and I never want to see you again. You'll be lucky if you'll ever get to see Jellyfish," I growled. I threw my ring at him and stood, running to the back room, holding my cheek in one hand and my belly in the other.