Southern Constellations. (A Tony Perry Fanfic)

Not So Graceful

Chapter 11

-Arden’s POV-

“Dude Aaron, are you okay?” Austin ask from the back lounge while I was making Aaron tea in the front. To be honest I was like their mom, I cleaned after them sometimes and whenever one of them got sick I would be there. With a mug in one “Drink this tea,” I said. “You need to get your rest, stay hydrated, and I’ll get you some more blankets,” I continued. “He can barely speak which means he won’t be able to sing!” Alan shouted. Aaron cringed at any sound we made especially Alan’s yelling. “We gotta get out of here and let him rest,” I suggested. We all turn around heading toward the front lounge. “What are we gonna do man, Aaron is sick and we don’t have a singer,” Phil said. I was sitting at the table distracted by my phone until Tino said, “Wait, I know who can sing.” He looked straight at me with a grin place across his face. “N-no I can’t and plus I-I can’t play bass,” I stuttered. “Why? You know all the words and your voice is amazing! We’ll get our guitar tech Justin to play bass and you can sing. Please, Arden we need your help,” Austin begged. I knew I couldn’t disappoint them so I took a deep sigh and said yes.

While the guys were at a signing I went to check up on Aaron who was passed out on the couch. Before the guys left they had reminded me to find all black clothing. I head to the bathroom to change when I found some clothes. I put on a black tank that hugged my curves and grabbed my leggings and laced my black Dr. Martens up.

An hour passed by and I grabbed my VIP tag and my sunglasses and headed off the bus closing the door behind me. The blazing sun immediately hit my skin making me want to run back onto the bus, but instead I went off to meet the guys for sound check. When I got there I flashed my VIP tag to the security guard telling him to let me in. “Hey guys,” I said as I approached them. “Ayyy she made it!” Alan cheered. All of the guys turned around and waved at me and I smiled back. “You’re not nervous right?” Phil asked. “Yes and no… yes being because it’s a different crowd then I’m used to and no because I’ve done this before,” I explained. “Don’t sweat it Arden, that crowd is like any other crowd… They’re there to enjoy the music, they might be a little rowdy but they’re all there for the same reasons and besides you got this,” Tino reassured me. I nodded my head and went aside to work on my warmups. The clock was ticking and it was moments away until the guys had to run on stage and start Public Service Announcement. I look around at the guys and they seemed so calm and I was over here going crazy. Austin was putting on his in-ear monitor, Alan was talking to Justin, Tino was pouring water on his head, Phil was being photograph by Adam, and the Pierce the Veil guys were walking up to me… Wait what?!

I was fucked and there was no way for me to run away now because Vic and Jaime already made eye contact with me. Vic came up to me first with open arms, “Hey Arden!” Forcing a smile I turned over to him, “Hey you guys!” Seeing the rest of the guys wasn’t a problem but seeing Tony just standing there in silence made me feel worse and worse. Luckily Of Mice & Men’s manager Thomas came up to me and told me I was about to go up on stage and I never been so relieved in my life. “Oh you’re singing with the guys?” Mike asked. “Just for today since Aaron is sick,” I explained. I put my in-ear monitor in and excused myself from the guys.

After The Flood was over Austin spoke to the crowd, “What’s up New York? As you can see our lead singer Aaron isn’t here today but we did bring a very close friend of ours to help us out. Some of you guys might know her.” When I came out everybody cheered and I had a smile that never left my face. “How you guys been?” I said as the crowd cheered back at me.

Every single song was played with so much energy and it was crazy. After each song I felt the rush go through me and I was just in the moment and the crowd exploded with excitement and adrenaline. Water bottles were thrown back and forth and from where I was standing it seemed like everybody was jumping in sync.

When it came to the end of You’re Not Alone, Austin and I finished it off together. He pulled me to his side and we both looked at the crowd with huge grins. I turned to my side for a second and I see Tony leaving with his head held down in sadness. He didn’t look happy and I wanted to run after him to make sure everything was alright but of course everything wasn’t okay. He still felt guilty for what he did and I knew that for sure.

-2 weeks later-

 -Tony’s POV-

Every day I see her I get more and more upset and I just regret everything. It’s been four months now and at this point I am literally a mess. She’s been moving on with her life and she seems so happy and I’m just moping around. Maybe it’s just time for me to move on and deal with the fact that I fucked up and that I deserve it, but the thing is… I can’t move on.

“Hey man, you coming to the after party?” Jaime asked. “I don’t know man… I’m kinda not up to it,” I said. “Dude, Tone you been around here all sad and shit. Get your ass out there and have some fucking fun!” Mike exclaimed. “Mike is right… We don’t like seeing you this way and besides it’ll keep your mind off of everything,” Vic explained. Running my hand through my short hair I took a deep sigh and got up. “Alright I’m going,” I mumbled. The guys cheered me on and we all walked off the bus. The warmth of the summer night hit us and it was pretty bearable since I had a light jacket on.

“Hey Tony,” Grace said lustfully. I looked over at her and there wasn’t anything graceful about her. She tried so hard to be seductive and it disgusted me. Since she heard about the breakup she’s been on me non-stop and I couldn’t take it. I nod at her and she flashed me her witchy smile. “So, why don’t you and I get out of here,” she whispered in my ear. I pushed myself away from her and gave her the most disgusted look, but she didn’t stop there. She grabbed my arms and I snatched it back, “What the fuck are you doing?!” I was at my boiling point but it didn’t seem to phase her, she thought I was joking and just stood there laughing. “Tony, are you still not over that loser Arden? Gosh! She’s a fat waste of space! You need a real women like me,” she laughed. That was it! “It doesn’t matter if I still have feelings for her or not! She isn’t a loser and she definitely isn’t fat. No man can respect something like you! Look at yourself!” I shouted. She was taken aback and I walked off. With all eyes on me I could feel everybody staring including Arden.

Vic came up behind me, “Dude, what happened back there?!” “She said some shit about Arden and it ticked me the fuck off!” Vic’s face grew sad as he put his hand on my shoulder. “Tony, man, Grace is an asshole for that but you need to calm down. This isn’t healthy for you okay man?” Vic said. I nodded my head and went back to the party. “Is everything okay man?” Tino asked running up to me. “Yeah man, everything is cool,” I reassured him. “Alright… Tone? I think you should go talk to Arden,” Tino said. I shrugged my shoulders and took a sip of my beer. I doubt she would even want to talk to me and from the looks of it she seem to be having the time of her life.

-Arden’s POV-

“What the fuck just happened?!” I asked Naomi and Autumn. Naomi had this worried look and Autumn just stood there covering her mouth with her phone. I took slow sips of my drink and tried to think of what made him that way. “From what I saw that pinked headed girl was all over Tony and he just went off on her,” Naomi said. “It was hard to hear over the music but I think he was defending you Arden,” Autumn said. I was shocked from what I heard and I felt bad for Tony. I looked over at him in a group of guys just standing there with sadness written all over his face.

As he was getting ready to walk off I couldn’t help but to run after him. I tap him on the shoulder and as soon as he turned around I saw his blood shot eyes. He quickly turned his eyes away from me trying to hold back the tears. “Hey Tony,” I mumbled. “What’s up Arden,” he said forcing a smile. “Are you okay?” I asked. Of course he wasn’t okay! That was a stupid question for me to even ask. He looked into my eyes and sighed, “To be honest, no I’m not. I’m never going to be okay,” I felt as if I was getting shot multiple times when he said that. “I’m sorry Tony,” I said. “No don’t be, I should be the one saying sorry. Because I am so fucking stupid! Because I couldn’t trust the one I loved. Because I said something that I shouldn’t have said, and I didn’t even stop you from leaving… I’m sorry Arden,” he said. I stood there crying as I watch him spill his heart out. Maybe what I did was a big mistake, I really don’t know anymore.

“Please, Arden I love you and it’s been 4 months now and I am so close to destroying myself over this,” he mumbled. “Give me some more time to think about it Tony,” I cried. I kissed him on his cheek and walked back to the Of Mice & Men’s bus.