You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb [ruby da cherry]

Catheter

A ball formed in my chest and I looked up at the night sky, the stars dancing around seemed to mock me. Yeah, I know. I'm not a clown, I'm a whole circus.I walked in circles around the parking lot of the venue, not daring to go into the bus. My hands were shaking and I wanted nothing more than to scream. Seeing Ruby talking to some hoe made me jealous and sad and kinda mad, which made absolutely zero sense as I shouldn't even be feeling this way towards him. I took my phone out of my back pocket and opened the camera, trying to see if my tears fucked up my makeup.

"You look fine," I jumped and looked behind me to see Max. I sighed and put my phone back in my pocket.

"Why did you do that?" I asked, putting a hand to my chest. I felt how warm my skin was from the mixture of heat and my emotions.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I saw what happened, though," he grinned.

"Why are you smiling? Obviously I'm in pain, whatever, it's not funny," I said. He rolled his eyes and put a hand on my shoulder.

"I don't find it funny, Vivi. I know something bothered you back there, and I think I know what it was," he took his hand off my shoulder and crossed his arms.

I looked back up at the sky and closed my eyes. "Please enlighten me."

"How long has this been going on?" he asked. I looked back at him.

"Max, what the fuck are you talking abou-"

"How long have you liked Ruby?"

Shit. My mouth slightly opened and my eyes grew wide. I quickly turned away from him. "That's not what this is."

"Bullshit," he started. A chill ran down my spine, I stood still turned away. "I saw how your face dropped when you saw that girl on him. I noticed your behavior changed a week into the tour as you guys spent more and more time together. I saw you getting lost in thought thinking about him, or your feelings for him, whatever. I wasn't sure if that was the case until tonight - less than five minutes ago - when you ran out the venue clearly upset."

I turned back to him and ran a hand through my hair. "Was it that obvious?"

"Everyone else thought it was a panic attack. I told you earlier, I'm very observant," he said. I looked down at the ground, relieved that no one was suspicious, but ashamed that even one person knew.

"Don't... don't say anything, alright?" I looked up at him. "I don't know how it happened and I hate myself for it."

Max chuckled and shook his head. "I'd never do that. And don't hate yourself, it's cute. I ship it."

"Ew!" I said, laughing, and playfully smacked his arm.

"Anyway, the girl was just some hoe trying to get clout from Ruby. She should be gone now. I'm telling you, he did not seem into it at all," he said. I smiled at him and looked back at the door to the backstage area.

"Thank you, Max," I said. He walked closer to me and patted my back, then led me to the door.

When we entered, the girl was gone. Just like Max predicted. There were other people I didn't know backstage, but they didn't bother me, so I was grateful. Max & I walked over to where the guys were standing and everyone looked at me. "She lives!" Max shouted. The guys all cheered and I walked over to sit on the small couch next to Ruby, making Max give me a knowing smirk.

"What happened? I know ya had a panic attack, but why?" he asked. I studied him for a second. See his shirt? Drenched. I'm such a dumbass.

"I guess the adrenaline from the show caught up to me or something, I really don't know," I explained, keeping my eyes on his face and not his sweat stained shirt.