Reckless and Relentless- An Asking Alexandria Fanfic

Chapter 22

***Back at the hotel***

  No one had said much of anything since Danny made the comment about my wrists. He deserved to know, and I wanted to tell him, but I was terrified he would leave me.

  We were sitting with the rest of the guys, drinking and smoking weed in Sam, James, and Cam's room. "So when can we see the fuckin tattoo?" James asked me. "When it doesn't hurt to pull my sleeve and bracelets off it!" I said, faking a laugh.

  Ben gave me a look that said, "Are you really going to show him?", so I slightly shook my head no, that way no one else would really notice. He and Stormi were the only ones who knew, and I felt terrible keeping it from Danny.

  That's it. I'm telling him. I can't hide it forever. I thought to myself. "Hey, Danny?" I said, "Can I see you in our room, please?" The guys howled and Stormi yelled, "Ooh, boy gonna get some!" Danny blushed and I said, "Oh, shut up, you losers!" "Ooh, touchy touchy!" Sam joked.

  I rolled my eyes at Sam. If only he knew... Danny stood and took my hand. "Come on, love." he said with a smile, and pulled me to our room. Closing the door behind us, he led me to the couch and we sat. He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my head away.

  "What's the matter, love?" he asked, gently turning my head back towards him. "Danny, I... I don't really know how to tell you, but, um... Promise me you won't leave me..." I said, trying not to cry. He had a look.of genuine concern as he said, "I promise you, Charlotte, I will never leave you, no matter what."

  I sighed, and slowly pulled my sleeves back, followed by my bracelets. "This is why you couldn't be with me when I got the tattoo..."

  He stared at my wrist for about 30 seconds before punching the side table next to him, then flipping it over, sending the hotel's phone and welcome pamphlet to the ground. Grabbing my wrists, he yelled, "Why the FUCK would you do this to yourself?!"

  I desperately fought back tears as I said, "I'm really not as perfect as you think I am... I have a lot of...problems, and I just don't know any other way to cope."

  "And you think digging a blade into your fucking skin is going to solve anything?" he said angrily. "No, but-" "Then don't fucking do it! You know what that fucking does? It hurts you, it hurts Stormi, cuz I'm sure she fucking knows, and it damn sure hurts me!"

  "I'm so sorry Danny... I just thought you deserved to know..." I apologized. Unable to face him, I got up and ran from the room, down the hall, and into the elevator. I heard him running behind me, calling my name, but the doors shut before he could get to me.

***Two hours later***

***Danny's POV***

  "Charlotte, babe, please. I'm sorry for how I acted. I'm worried about you. Please call me back." I left a fifth voicemail for her. Since she ran out, no one had seen or heard from her.

  We were all walking the streets of LA in pairs of two, trying to find her. I was with Stormi, Ben was with James, and Cameron was with Sam. Stormi had yet to say a single word; I knew as worried about Charlotte as I was, Stormi was more worried. "Do you think we'll find her?" I asked.

  She simply shrugged in response, and I noticed she was crying. "Hey." I stopped, pulled her closer to me, and gave her a hug. "Everything is gonna be okay. We're gonna find her." She still wouldn't say anything, just shook her head, as if to say, "You don't know that."

  Pulling away from me, she grabbed out her phone and I saw she was typing to Charlotte.

Stormi: Charlotte, plz talk 2 me. Can u @ least tell me where u r? Danny didn't mean 2 hurt u. We're so worried about u.

***Charlotte's POV***

  I felt my phone buzz yet again in my pocket and I decided to finally check it. I had eight missed calls, five voicemails, and 23 missed texts. I sighed, and decided to check my voicemails.

  All five were from Danny, apologizing, asking where I was, and if I was okay. I thought about calling him back, but decided to wait and check my texts. I had missed texts from everyone, primarily Danny and Stormi. I decided to send out a group text to them all.

Charlotte: Im ok guys, dont worry about me. I just needed 2 b alone.

  Almost instantly, I was bombarded by them all, asking where I was, if I could call one of them, and could we meet up somewhere. I sighed and wrote back:

Charlotte: I dont rlly feel like calling every1, but im at Amoeba Records if u guys want 2 meet up.

***Twenty minutes later***

  I walked through the CDs, looking for new music to try listening to. No one had answered my last text, so I was unsure as to whether anyone would bother meeting up here or not. My phone buzzed with a text from Ben.

Ben: James and I r here, where r u?

  I looked toward the entrance and saw them glancing around. I whistled to get their attention and they saw me instantly. Both ran over and Ben wrapped his arms around me tightly. "Don't you ever disappear like that again, Charlotte." Ben told me, letting go so that James could hug me.

  "I'm sorry guys... I just, I just couldn't be around anyone, I needed to be alone." I explained. "You could've just had Danny go back to our room and sat in yours for awhile." James told me, his voice full of disappointment. "No, when I need to be alone, I always go outside, walk around." I said. "It helps me clear my head."

  "Charlotte, didn't your first night here teach you anything?" Ben asked me. "Don't go off somewhere by yourself, you can get hurt." Before I could answer, I was tackled by Sam and Cameron, who nearly made me fall over.

  "Well fucking hello there!" I said, laughing at them. "You," Sam said, pulling away, "are a fuckin moron." "Yeah yeah, Ben just lectured me for going off by myself." I rolled my eyes. Sam shook his head and gently took hold of my wrists. "I mean for that."

  I lowered my head as Ben said, "Save it, Danny and I already discussed it with her. Well, I did. He just got mad." "Mad is a fucking understatement." I said under my breath. "He doesn't like knowing anyone he cares about hurts themself." Ben explained to me. "Yeah that's pretty damn evident!" I laughed as my phone buzzed again.

Danny: Stormi & I r here, love. where r u?

  I rolled my eyes. We were not easy to miss, especially with my hair! I whistled at them like I had Ben and James, and they both ran over, Stormi reaching me first. She hugged me tightly and I could feel her tears hitting my shoulder. "Stormi," I said, "I'm okay. You found me, I'm not hurt, everything is okay."

  I realized Danny was awkwardly standing there, and I was unsure if I should hug him, or even say anything. I didn't need to. "Charlotte, love, I'm so sorry..." he said, and I could see tears forming in his eyes. I sighed and let go of Stormi.

  "If you don't hug him, you'll get no more drugs or alcohol today." Ben threatened. "It's my birthday and we're in LA. Who the hell said I need you for that?" I asked.

  Ben frowned and Danny started to walk outside, crying. I ran after him, grabbed his arm to turn him around, and hugged him tightly, feeling my own eyes begin to rain. "I'm so sorry..." he whispered. "Danny it's okay, I shouldn't have left." I said, pulling away slightly to look him in the eyes.

  "Not trying to interrupt, but it's 6:30, y'all leave in less than four hours, and dinner is kinda fuckin necessary." James said, tapping me on the shoulder. I laughed as I wiped tears from my face, and leaned my head against Danny's shoulder.

  "Okay, um..." I said, trying to figure out the best way to plan things. "What's between here and the motel that sounds good?" I asked. "McDonald's!!!" Stormi yelled. "Sounds good, anyone have a problem with that?" Danny asked us.

  "Babe! It's McDonald's!" Ben said, throwing himself on Danny, and Danny wrapped his arms around Ben. "Oh, fine then!" I laughed. "I'll just give Cameron all my loves!" I said, playfully wrapping my arms around him. "I call James!" Stormi yelled, and kissed him.

  I half let go of Cameron and stared at her. "Bitch you're lesbian." I said, and they both laughed. "Not for me she isn't!" James said, kissing her again. "Well o-fucking-kay then!" I laughed. "Let's start walking, yeah?"