Fear. Hate. Love

Sound Check

~Sound Check~

Hayden's POV:
The movie had ended just as we entered London and it only took us another twenty minutes to reach the arena we would be performing in tonight which was the electric ballroom. While the roadies got to work we got a quick tour of the arena. It was a decent sized place. Of course the buses pulled up outback but during the tour we passed the front door and we could see the street was already littered with fan waiting. It was exciting. Of course I was aware they were here to see Bullet but it was exciting because hopefully after tonight they would be fans of ours too.
"Are you nervous yet?" Zee asked me as we took a seat backstage waiting to be called to do our sound check.
"Not yet, it's more excitement than nerves but wait til were preparing to go on, it'll be more nerves than excitement." She gave a nod.
"How about you? I mean your opening the show?"
"I'm bricking it." She laughed. Just as Jay entered the room. I saw her whole body stiffen up and the smile melt right off her face. I flashed her a smile which she returned weakly.
"Sorry to bother you guys, but Zee you are needed on stage for the sound check." She looked to him and thanked him.
"Back in a few." She said to me before heading off. Jay took her seat.
"I get why you don't like me."
"Who said I don't like you?"
"A fool could see you do and I get it."
"I don't hate you and I am trying to not let the past which I am aware had nothing to do with me cloud my judgment of you, but you have no idea how much you hurt her." He looked away. "Do me a favor, first song we play tonight, Zee is singing it solo. Just listen, I mean really listen to it." He turned back to me and gave a nod. "Right better go see if I'm needed yet." I got to my feet and joined the others on stage.
"Hey so nerves kicking in yet?" Matt asked walking over to me with his guitar strapped to him but not plugged in and he strummed away as he spoke.
"That's funny I just had this conversation with Zee. Not yet but it's still early, It's all excitement at the minute."
"I'm sure you'll kill it. We listened to your album after we met the other day, gotta say, not just saying this but you got 4 new fans." I felt myself flush bullet like our album.
"Really? Thanks that means a lot, we are all huge fans so that is a huge complement."
"Thank you, though I am sure not all of you are fans." he said his eyes fell on Zee who was currently tuning her bass.
"She is the biggest fan," I cleared my throat. "We didn't know about the history until the other day, but she never stopped listening or being your number one fan."
"Really? She always was our biggest fan, always there to support us."
"Then why?" He knew what I was referring to.
"It's complicated, we had to stand by our best friend, our brother you know."
"Jay made you?"
"No not made us, we chose to support him, surely you can get that, you are choosing to dislike jay because of Zee right?"
"I don't... I'm trying not to judge him, but I see how much pain he has caused her and I get defensive."
"I get it. It's a tough situation and I'd like to talk to Zee explain myself but she is to mad at me right now, which for the record I don't blame her for."
"leave it to me, ill see what I can do." Zee then started the bass line for sick bubble gum then started to sing as her sound check started. Matt signaled we would chat later and headed backstage. I took a seat on the edge of the stage and watched Zee do her sound check and soon enough it was my turn.

Zetta's POV:
I placed my bass on the stand and placed my pic into my pocket along with the ten others I had stashed in there. Hay was called to do her sound check and I headed backstage to grab a bottle of water, needed to wet my whistle as they say. I found all the bullet guys chatting to Bolt and Owen.
"Sounded good Zee." Bolt grinned as he threw me a water. It was something I always done after any singing no matter how short it was. I thanked him for both the compliment and the water. I took a gulp and took a seat next to him on the arm of the chair.
"I was just asking the guys if you wanted to join us, we were thinking of heading to KFC for some food after sound check. Oh wait your vegetarian."
"Not anymore. I eat chicken. KFC sounds good." I agreed taking another mouthful of water. The tension in the room was so thick and I knew I couldn't have been the only one feeling it.
"So uh Zee how have you been?" Padge asked.
"Do you care?" I had a case of word vomit. Silence filled the room causing the tension to thicken even more if that was even possible.
"Of course I do." I shook my head,
"I can't do this." I got to my feet and hurried out to the bus. I swallowed hard and broke down. I couldn't do this.
A few moments passed when I heard a knock on the door. I ignored it but I heard the door open and close and I looked up to see Padge.
"Go away Padge." I demanded but he ignored me. A few moments later Matt was by his side.
"Oh god really you too?"
"Listen we know you hate us and don't want to talk to us but we need to explain."
"Explain what? How you all just left me. One sniff of fame and that was it Zee was forgotten. Or did Jay make you?"
"No he didn't make us." Matt protested.
"It's not our place to say to much but all we can say is our friend, our brother needed our support what were we supposed to do. Surly you get that, what if Hayden came and asked you to support a choice she was making even thought you didn't want to or agree with it, but you knew it was her choice to make would you not support her?" Padge asked me. I looked to him and wiped my eyes.
"I would yes."
"That is all we done. Jay needed our support. As I said I don't feel it's our place to explain why but he needed our support and it hurt us Zee we loved, we still love you and we always think about you. We were caught in the middle and we done what we thought was right." Matt added. I looked to them. I could completely understand where he was coming from and I had to admit it made the hurt a little better.
"I understand." I told them. The next thing I knew they were both wrapping me up in a hug. "God I missed you guys, Though you know I understand but I am still hurt."
"We get that, but look fate threw us back together for a reason right?" Padge said pulling away from the hug first.
"I guess so." I nodded.
"I know this is hard for you but know this is just as hard for Jay." Matt said wincing as if expecting me to blow up at him.
"Maybe so, I don't know but he has no one to blame but himself."
"She has a point." Padge shrugged.
"Look come back with us, we are all here and we just need to learn to make the most of this awkward situation we have been put in right?"
"Yeah, I can do that. I can be professional." I gave a sharp strong nod and got to my feet. Following the others back into the arena where everyone was now gathered. Hay flashed me a look of concern and I gave her a reassuring smile. I saw her look to Matt and he gave her a nod. I wondered what that was about. I let it slide, I'd get an answer later... If I remembered.
"Who's ready for food? I'm starved." I asked and everyone jumped to their feet and we got a cab to the nearest KFC had a spot to eat which to my surprise was fun. I missed these guys so much. Jay and I kept our interactions to a minimal but despite that I enjoyed myself. But it was soon time to head back and prepare for our first real gig.