Stitched Up Hearts (HIATUS/POSSIBLY DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 4-A Fishy Turn

(( Okey this is the most I have ever posted in a day haha. Yes this whole story will probably be published by the end of the school day at this rate hahaaaaa ha))

"'What family'," says Ashley, disturbed, "That's her exact words. After that she just, broke down."

"So where is she," asked Jinxx, leaning over the counter. CC only sat with his chair leaned back on the wall, only on two legs. His bottle of whiskey sat between him and Jinxx, unopened on the counter. The storm was raging on even worse and the wind was actively rocking the bus back and forth.

"Sleeping, in my bunk," I reply. I look down at my plate, only one bite taken out of my piece of pizza, "It's late and I could tell she didn't wanna talk anymore so."

"In your bunk, isn't that a lil..."

"Seriously Ash!"

"Sorry, sorry. Hard habit to break. Anyway...we need to find out. It sounds like something traumatic happened to her," he replied before taking a sip of beer, "Maybe I should be the one to talk about it with her. You know, since I know what it's like to lose family."

"She never mentioned losing them," I shot back, slightly frustrated, "She may have run away for all we know, and maybe for a good reason."
No sooner was this said then I heard screaming from the bunk area, "No, NO," Jen shouted.
I jumped up and ran back to the bunk area, feeling protective, "JEN?! Are you okay??"

She was still asleep, thrashing around and getting entangled in the sheets. My shirt looked drenched in sweat, as did her hair. She suddenly sat up and balled up her hand in a fist before slicing it through the air, apparently taking swings at whatever was terrorizing her.

"Jen! Jen wake up," I called, cautiously crawling in the bunk with her-and ducking another punch, "-WOAH! Jen!"

I gently took her wrists before they could cause any damage. Minutes passed before she finally calmed down and practically collapsed back into my arms. I gently lowered her so her head rested on the pillow, like sleeping beauty.
A few minutes later, her eyes opened and she breathed heavily, a wild look in her eyes, "No..no...A-andy?"

"Hey Jen. You were having a nightmare, at least I think you were. Are you okay?"

She sniffled and gulped, evidently holding back more tears. "I'm fine," she managed to choke out as she forcibly calmed herself down, "It was just another dream. I-I can handle it."

"Do you wanna go back to sleep," I inquired.

She shook her head, "N-no I think I wanna stay up a while. I don't wanna see that again."

"Okay, that's good. What do you wanna do instead?"

She looked at me, evidently with a request she dared not ask, "Just, not sleep."

"Okay, do you want a hug or hot chocolate or anything," I asked, gently sliding my hand over hers. Sparks flew up my arm right to my heart. Tiny ones, but I knew they were there.

She looked up at me, "Did you say a hug and hot chocolate? I'm there," she said, seeming to perk up from her gloom.

I chuckled and eagerly slid my arms around her beautiful tiny body. She did the same with me and gently rubbed my back. I felt her face in my chest, every warm breath invade my shirt to my skin. I gently rubbed her back and looked down at her.

"You're so fun to hug, you know that right," I said, only hugging a bit tighter, unwilling to let go yet.

She giggled and pressed into me harder, "So are you. You're so nice and warm."

I smiled down at her, "Now, how about that hot chocolate?"

I gently pulled her off the bed with me, still hugging for a few moments before reluctantly pulling away from each other. She smiled and took my hand, "Lead the way, you," she giggled.

I smiled and lead her to the kitchen by the hand.

"Hello guys," greeted CC, finally opening his whiskey. Jinxx and Jake waved. Ashley just nodded, his eyes going immediately to Jen.

"Guys do you know where the box of Swiss Miss is," I asked, leading Jen into the kitchen.

"Um, I think the top cabinet. Is it any good at this point," asked Jinxx, getting up to look.

Ashley shot him a look, "Dude it's brand new."

"Oh, wait I was thinking about the other one," replied Jinxx, sticking his head in the cabinet.
Jen gracefully perched on one of the bar stools, looking around silently. I sat beside her, smirking, "Like it?"
"I love it," she replied, smiling, "This is ah...one dream of mine."

"What is?"

She looked around again, "Just...being on the road. I mean, the whole thing is being in a band and touring but yeah...that was never possible."

"Why not? I mean, it's a hard business and stuff but what was holding you in particular back," I asked, leaning toward her, very curious.

She sighed, "I tried to put together a band like, six times. And they all broke up because I can't lead worth sh**."

I winced, unexpecting of the curse from her, "It's always rough in the beginning."

"It is. We never even got to the middle," she sighed, "Not one rehearsal nor did we ever talk about what genres we wanted to do as a group. The last one I was starting to work on I immediately quit because I didn't want all that pain again."

She looked down at the counter, silent.
I gently slid my hand over hers, "What all do you do?"
She looked up at me, "Oh, I do violin and vocals. Some guitar here and there."

"So, like me," asked Jinxx, removing nearly everything from the cabinet.

"Yep, only you don't do vocals unless I missed something," Jen confirmed.

"Okay okay we're more like cousins," he joked, taking a pause in his search to look at her with a silly look. She giggled, seeming to relax a little more. I looked at him gratefully before turning my attention back to her, my thumb brushing the back of her hand.
The bus physically rocked with the wind, the rain seeming to be more like a waterfall going sideways. Thunder boomed even louder. Lightning flashed every other minute. We all stopped our conversation, just listening to the chaos outside. Jen cautiously leaned into me and I looked down at her, wrapping my free arm around her. Needing no further invitation, she laid her head under mine, trembling.

"I-I usually like storms," she said quietly, "B-but this one it unnatural."

"I agree. Maybe we should head out early tonight? Or stay in a hotel or something. I do not feel safe on this bus," says Ashley, looking around.

Jake yawned, seeming to be one of the few who wasn't on edge, "Well whatever we do we gotta decide now. It's like...eleven forty guys," he replied quietly, looking at his watch.
We continued conversing for quite awhile before finally agreeing on going to the nearest hotel.
Which is how we ended up driving through one of the worst storms ever, to the Red Lion hotel.