Fundamentally Loathsome

12. X-HALE

* DISCLAIMER: Contains explicit language, drug use, violent references, sexual content.

Two Months Later

[ FRANKIE'S P.O.V ]

"Come on! Your love shows many colors. Roses will show their thorns. You showed me signs of silence – showed me my way back home. I break my back right over. I dance on broken glass. I hold my breath half to death. You can't forget the past. Unless you think it's not over – let's kiss it goodbye. Is it really worth it? Is it all just a lie? Not like I'm giving up now – I am willing to try. Unless you think it's not over – let's kiss it goodbye. Come on! Come ON! You break your back right over – you can't on broken glass. Although you'll always love me, you can't forget the past. Unless you think it's not over. Let's kiss it goodbye! Is it really worth it? Is it all just a lie? Not like I'm giving up now. I am willing to try. Unless you think it's not over – let's kiss it goodbye!"

I broke into a guitar solo and looked out over the crowd. They were seemingly happy – judging by their jumping bodies. I smiled and spat out across the stage and started the final verses.

"My love shows many colors. Devils will show them horns. I lead you into darkness, hoping it will lead us home. You break your back right over. You can't on broken glass. Although you'll always love me, YOU CAN'T FORGET THE PAST! Unless you think it's not over. Let's kiss it goodbye! Is it really worth it? Is it all just a lie? Not like I'm giving up now. I am willing to try. Unless you think it's not over – let's kiss it GOODBYE!"

I let the music ring out, echoing all around me. The crowd cheered and chanted for more. In my eyes, I've made it a long way since I moved from Utah. I'm signed to Roadrunner Records under my name. So far, I'm just solo with different people to play bass and drums. Sometimes I'll have a rhythm guitarist as well but most of the time there are only three people on stage. I have so many songs written and I continue writing almost every day. I still keep in touch with Joey, Jim, Paul, Sid and of course Shawn.

I walked off stage after unplugging my guitar and put it in the case. Grabbing a bottle of water and chugging it, I was startled to see a group of men in black jump suits standing before me, clapping.

"Holy fucking shit! What are you-" before I could finish I was tackled by Joey and then picked up by Mick. I hugged them all and then noticed one was missing – Corey. I didn't let it bother me for more than a few seconds because I was being congratulated by the rest of them.

◊◊◊

We were all sitting in my dressing room backstage, talking about our lives. I introduced them to the guys with me for the moment.

"Greg is my bassist. But I call him Thor," The heavily tattooed man stood from his spot on the couch and shook all eight of the present 'Knot's hands.

"And Pepper is my drummer. He changes his hair color every week so sometimes you'll have no idea who he even is," I laughed while introducing him and he repeated Thor's gesture. When he got to Joey, he took a minute to explain how big of an influence that he was at a young age for him to start drumming.

"So, we never made it as far as to what you guys are doing here? I thought you were home now," I explained to them, looking across all their faces.

"Well, we have some good news for you," Shawn said as he took a seat again on a couch. Everyone else seemed to do the same but I remained standing. I folded my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow, smirk present on my face.