Devil in the Details

Not Alone

Ashley let out a sigh as he chugged his water bottle. They had just finished soundcheck and he was already sweating. The venue's air conditioning system was down but they were set on having it fixed by show time, because if not the high heat would be a danger to the bands performing and the fans in the crowd.

"I feel like we're on Warped." CC sighed, collapsing on the couch in their dressing room, sweat shining in his body since he opted to drum shirtless in the heat.

"You said it Chuppy." Jinxx laughed, grabbing a Pepsi from the mini fridge in the room, just wanting something cool to drink.

"I hope they get this fixed by tonight. I don't want to cancel the show." Andy sighed sitting in the floor and checking his phone.

"They said they already had someone working on it." Jake said with a shrug, playing with one of CC's drumsticks.

Ashley had zoned out from the conversation. Alex had just woken up and texted him, his entire focus was on his boyfriend now as he text back and told him about what was happening.

"Alright I've had enough of this, who's the girl Purdy?" Jake asked staring at Ashley in frustration.

"What?" Ashley questioned in confusion looking up from his phone in Jake's direction.

"You have a girlfriend Ashley, it's painfully obvious." Jinxx cleared up Jake's statement.

"You're constantly on your phone, you're using emojis in their contact, you haven't hooked up once on tour, you haven't gone to a single strip club. You're acting differently Ashley, we can call tell. Who are you dating? What's her name?" CC questioned, also fed up with his friend not telling him shit.

"I-" Ashley started and then trailed off, he technically didn't have a girlfriend so he could deny it, but there was also no denying that since Alex came into his life he had changed.

"Ash, you're our brother, we can tell you're happier. We want to know about the person who's causing this change." Andy started, "So who's your girlfriend..." He trailed off seeing something in Ashley's expression that he couldn't exactly make out. "Boyfriend?" He prodded hesitantly.

Only Andy noticed Ashley tense up slightly when he brought up the fact that Ashley may be in a same-sex relationship while Jake distracted Jinxx and CC with a laugh.

"Seriously Andy? Ashley dating a guy? What the fuck are you smoking?" He continued to laughed thinking it was the funniest thing even that Ashley could possible have a boyfriend

"Yeah, too unAshley." CC joined with a laugh.

"It would be off, considering Ashley's history of exclusivity being with woman." Jinxx nodded.

"Exactly, Ashley? A faggot, no way." Jake continued to cackle in laughed. Andy stared at Jake in disbelief at what he just said, all 4 band members jumping as Ashley threw his water bottle into a wall.

"I'll be on the bus." He mumbled storming past Andy slamming the door shut behind him, only Andy noticed tears threatening to fall in Ashley's eyes as he stormed out. Trying to keep his emotions in check.

Andy stared at Jake in shock, anger coursing though his veins. He just made Ashley fucking cry, no wonder Ashley was keeping a tight lid on his love life. "Are you actually fucked in the head Pitts?" He questioned.

"What? It's true." Jake tried to defend himself.

"What the fuck gave you the right to use faggot in any context?" Jinxx questioned unlike Andy managing to contain his anger.