Hard Fucking Death Core

ELEVEN (Iselen POV)

"I hate you..." I open my mouth wide in sock while staring at Madison's index pointing at my nose.

"Yes, we don't like you anymore..." Lzzy crosses her arms over her chest and looks at me angrily.

"Why? What have I done?" I ask perplexed.

"We've lost our bet and Ruby has our money now..." Zu points over her shoulder with her thumb, the singer is behind her fixing her makeup in front of a mirror. "She's smiling smugly nonstop now, you know when she gets her way she becomes unbearable... more than usual... this is your fault." Her index joins Mad's one in front of my face.

"I'm sorry... I don't..." I stare at them in shock not knowing what to do while I feel my cheeks blushing and tears threaten with flooding my eyes. I never expected the Hardcores to take it this bad, I haven't even had time to come to terms with what happened inside my brain yet, the only things I managed to do today were to have breakfast and sleep more, take a shower and get dressed to come to the stadium where Ruby had a sound check before tonight's concert. Hours went by in a blurry, sometimes I feel euphoric and sometimes I'm worried sick when I think of what consequences of my actions I could face... In addition to this, I still have to work and write articles for Vanessa. I'll go crazy if I keep overthinking like that...

"Girls... Iselen doesn't understand your jokes and you're scaring her..." Ruby growls a warning fixing her hair in front of the mirror.

"Who said we're joking?" Madison smiles amused and winks at me, my guts get relaxed when I understand they're making fun of me. Suddenly, Taylor taps with her fingers on my shoulder and I stare at her raising an eyebrow, her bright blue eyes surrounded by smoky shadows look a bit creepy at short distance.

"Are you planning to become a Yoko Ono? Are you going to isolate Ruby from the rest of the band and force us to break up?"

"Of course not! Who do you think I am?" I answer outraged, I'm getting tired of being the target of the stupid jokes of this bunch of spoiled brats that always seem to think the worst of me. "Do you really think I could persuade that pigheaded woman to break up with you? Ruby doesn't take orders from anyone, much less from a one-night fuck..." I cross my arms over my chest angrily while the pretty blonde steps back, taken aback by my rage, before smiling and nodding.

"Well, in that case, we forgive you for making us losing that bet... Girls, it's almost time..." The Hardcores nod and gather in the middle of the dressing room but Taylor leans forward and kisses my cheek before whispering. "I don't think you're a one-night fuck... but you haven't realized yet..." She winks at me leaving me speechless with my mouth open and walks away to put her arm on Zu's shoulders, they all have a group hug for a minute and remain silent, focusing on while 90,000 people wait in Wembley Stadium for the concert to start. The energy in this dressing room is amazing, expectation and excitement drift through the atmosphere, and I feel privileged to be a witness of this moment.

"Let's go!" Ruby whispers and they all nod before pulling away and walking to the door, the singer is the last one leaving but she stops abruptly and shoves me against the wall, her lips meet mines in an almost violent kiss, her tongue swirls around mine tearing a moan from my throat and making me forget about the dull pain of my bruised buttocks pressed against the dressing room wall. "I want you backstage tonight, I need you to hand me bottles of water and towels during the concert."

I nod and she smiles, giving me a last peck before leaving while my eyes follow her movements fixed on her back, I don't understand it... She has a big team working for her, dozens of people that could hand her water and towels like they've always done. She doesn't need me... I shake my head confused and touch the wall with my hand looking for the light switch when something catches my eye on one of the tables, exactly in front of the mirror where Ruby was fixing her makeup: a blow line perfectly ready and untouched... she's left but didn't snort her dose. At this point I know Ruby's cocaine use is only occasional, not as frequently as she smokes weed for example, and she turns to the hard drug when she's especially exhausted or very nervous but this is weird, she had a line ready and she ignored it... I shrug and close the door, I won't be the one reminding her that she's forgotten to get high today.