Pin-Up Paper Rockstars

Jimmy twirled a drumstick between each of his fingers on one hand as he wandered the hallways through the venue in Jacksonville. He was trying to work up the courage mentally to approach Matt and discuss what was gonna happen between them. Matt was one of his best friends in the world, and while Jill was definitely a nice addition to his life, he didn't know her well enough to even put a dent in the armour that bound the guys together as a band. What had Danny called that? Bro's before hoes? Even though he didn't consider Jill a hoe in even the least bit, Danny had a point.

"James, you alright bud?" Jimmy stopped pacing and turned around to see Zacky standing behind him, eyeing him carefully.

"Yeah," Jimmy nodded in assurance. "Just thinking."

"Anything I can help with?" Zacky asked seriously.

Jimmy shook his head lightly. "No, I'm good. Do you know where Matt is?"

"He and Brian are just coming in off the bus. Johnny and Danny went and grabbed us some take-out. You should come eat."

"Sounds good, I'll be in soon."

Zacky nodded and slipped into their dressing room leaving Rev alone in the hallway again, though he knew he wouldn't be alone for much longer. He could hear voices approaching.

"Time to buck up, Jimmy," he encouraged himself as Brian and Matt and Jason Berry rounded the corner and came face to face with him. "Hey, Matt, can I talk to you?"

Matt stopped walking and nodded.

"We'll wait for you guys inside." Brian smiled and gestured to the dressing room before he and Jason slipped inside.

Jimmy jumped on the opportunity to be the first to speak. He tightened his grip on his drumstick and lowered it to his side. "Hey, Matt, listen I just wanted to talk to you about what's been going on and I wanted to - "

"Jim, don't worry about it."

They locked eyes and Jimmy shook his head again. "No man honestly, I'm - "

"Honestly, you're in no place to be apologizing. It's me who needs to tell you that I'm sorry for acting like such a dick. She's attractive man, I think we all know that. But she chose you, Jimmy. And we're way to tight to let some chick be the reason we're miffed with each other."

"I just don't want it to be weird."

"Dude, it's fine I promise," Matt reached out and grabbed Jimmy's hand, pulling them together into a tight hug.

When they broke apart Matt smiled and gestured towards their dressing room. "Let's go grab something to eat."

Jimmy nodded and followed him into the dressing room. He couldn't be more thankful about how the conversation had turned out, and he looked forward to telling Jill.

***
Jill strummed her acoustic guitar, and sang softly.

"I can't believe your nerve,
Must've taken alot to show up here,
I don't want what you're offering,
What were you expecting - "

"Sounds good."

She stopped suddenly and looked up to see Trent standing in the middle of the hallway on the bus, shirtless, applying some hair wax to his short blond hair as he worked on preparing himself for tonight's show. She was always amazed at how comfortable they seemed to be around her. But then again, it was nothing to them to see her in her bra and panties either.

"You workin' on a new song?" he asked her curiously as he stepped closer and peeked down at the pad of paper she was scribbling on just moments before he'd inerrupted her.

"Trying. It's hard to write when you're not sure if you'll have a band to back you up."

Trent stood up straight and dropped his hands from his hair. "Jillian, listen - "

"No," she shook her head lightly. "See, if I have a problem with something, or someone, I go to them. I don't conspire with a bunch of others and decide that person's fate without even so much as a heads up."

"Fair enough." he nodded solemnly. "But for what it's worth, I want you to know that I'm sorry. We wouldn't be the band we are without you, and every one of us knows that."

She knew he was being sincere because he didn't like bullshit much either.

"You should really call Cristal back, you're phone is driving me insane."

He welcomed her subject change as an acception of his appology. "It's been vibrating like crazy, has it?"

Jill returned her eyes to her pad of paper but nodded in response. He left the lounge area and headed back into the bathroom no doubt to wipe off his hands before returning and grabbing his cell off the couch. "She and Rachel and Amber and Jan have been conspiring so they can all join us on tour."

Jill raised her eyebrow and looked up at him. "All of them? What city are they supposed to be meeting us in?"

Trent paused what he was doing for a moment before lowering his phone. "This one. I was gonna tell you this morning but I forgot."

"You forgot to tell me that there are going to be four more people crammed into this bus with us tonight? Dude, I thought we decided last tour that the girlfriends could only join us either the first few tour dates, or the last few so we don't feel like killing each other after awhile?"

"Well," Trent's unsure use of words was not exciting her.

"Trent."

"Actually there's gonna be five more. But don't tell Dustan I told you shit because he'll fuckin' kill me."

"Fuck, Dustan. Who the hell else is coming? And where pray tell are they going to sleep?"

"Jillian," he sighed and sank down onto the couch beside her. "You're a pain in the ass you know that? We can't even attempt to surprise you."

"Who else is coming?"

"Carla is. Now fuckin' lay off it because I'm not telling you any more." He got up off the couch and left the room quickly and locked himself in the bathroom before she could bombard him with more questions.

She stared at the closed door in shock. Her best friend was coming to visit suddenly why, and who the hell was watching her apartment now?

***

"Great show, Jillian."

Jill smiled at Jason Berry as she stepped down off the stairs leading up to the stage. "Thanks," she huffed. She was out of breath, and her feet were killing her. Half way down the hallway she stopped and took off her heels and carried them into her dressing room.

"Hey, Jillian." Cristal got up off the bench and met her at the door to hug her lightly.

Jill returned the hug half-heartedly before asking, "where's, Carla?"

"She's with Amber, Jan and Raychel. Some guy named Danny took them to get their tour badges."

"Oh," Jill sidestepped the petite blond and made her way to the washroom. "You guys have a good flight?"

"Yeah. Thanks for letting us join you guys."

"Didn't really have a choice," Jill muttered to herself as she dug into her make-up bag for her make-up remover.

"Are you gonna come with us out front and watch Avenged play?"

She wasn't really keen on the idea but she knew Carla would enjoy it.

"Yeah, I might." She shoved more things aside in her bag before giving up. "Fuck this," she muttered and leaned in to turn on the shower before grabbing a towel from her luggage bag. She had approximately twenty minutes before Avenged took the stage. "If any of the guys come in, keep them outta the bathroom," she yelled at Cristal before slipping out of tonight's ensamble which consisted of a shredded t-shirt, bra, short shorts and fishnet stockings, then stepped into the hot shower.

It was a mere couple minutes later when she heard the dressing room door burst open and judging by the noise she was sure both damned bands were now in the dressing room.

"Everyone, stay outta the bathroom!" Cristal yelled loudly, making people pause for only a moment before errupting into chatter again.

"Not very often you beat us into the shower."

Jill snapped her head around to see Dustan's back to her at the urnal.

"Good thing you listen." she snarled but kept her back to him, knowing full well that the lightly frosted curtain between them wasn't keeping much hidden.

"I had to piss," he retorted, "and I didn't look, but even if I had, it's nothing I wouldn't have been able to see in that magazine."

She wanted so badly to just lay him out right now, just once, fuck being naked. But before she could even respond, he was gone. Now she was so pissed she was vibrating.

"Jillian Court! Hurry your ass up or I swear to god I'll come in there and hug you!"

That sweet voice stopped the flowing river of anger in a heartbeat. "Carla!"

"Mm-hhmm."

Jill finished quickly and wrapped herself up in her towel before making a slight jump into Carla's arms.

"You crazy ass girl, showering with all these damned guys around," Carla laughed. "Hell, I wish that was me, I could have a different shower partner every day for almost two weeks!"

Jill couldn't help but laugh. "I missed you."

"And I missed you. And before you worry about your apartment, my little sister has taken over residence. She promised to look after it."

"I know she will. So how come you decided to come visit?"

"Ten minutes!" Jason Berry yelled suddenly.

Jill sighed. "I better get dressed, guard the door for me then we'll go watch?"

Carla nodded then saluted her. "No one's getting by me."

***

After the show they all crammed onto Sick Chick's bus for the afterparty, and it wasn't long into the conversation when the real reason for Carla's surprise visit came into the light.

"Seriously though, what makes guys chose women they have no intention of ever marrying?"

Jill frowned at her best friend's question and stood up straight. The small wedge of lime floated and bobbed about in her bottle of Corona as she gestured with her hand. "Babe, I'm pretty sure it's the same urge that makes dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving."

"Hey now, in a guys defence that's not fair. We're not all like that." Dustan spoke up, a sudden enthousiasm to the conversation evident in his voice. His girlfriend, Janelle nodded silently as he hugged her to his side with his arm.

"Well it's sorta the same," Zacky admitted from his perch at the table.

Syn seemed to be on the same wave length as he sat across from Zacky and Matt, nodding profusely. "I mean, you wanna get a good look at the manual before you buy, you know."

"Yeah, but at least you're thinking about commitment," Carla sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Jake and I have been together just over six years. If he never had any intention of becoming serious, why would he waste six years of both our lives?"

Rev twirled one of his drumsticks between his fingers as he leaned against the counter. Jill was certain the guy had to carry them around in his back pocket because he always seemed to be playing with one.

"Hate to say it," he stopped the drumstick between his fingers and looked directly at Carla. "But he was probably test driving on the side. He knew he was only wasting your time, not his own."

Jill took a swig of her beer then held it to her side again. "Must girls always be referred to as cars?"

Kyle simply smiled as he stood beside Carla. "Easier that way."

Jill scowled at him and he simply shrugged in return, rolling the look off his shoulders. "Rev's probably right though. I mean put yourself in Jake's situation. He's scared to committ. She might be the one but what if she isn't? What if your real soulmate is still out there, you know. You don't wanna lose what you have, but you can't really make yourself committ to it yet either just in case. If most people realized that, only the ones really in love would marry, and the divorce rate would plummit. I'd bet anything on it."

Raychel frowned at her boyfriend. "I'm glad you chose now to share your view on things."

Carla was now glaring at him as well as she sank down onto the bench seat beside Syn at the table. "How could anyone do that to someone; just lead them on for years? Or I guess what's worse is how did I ever fall for that prick?"

"He's an asshole." Matt stated firmly, the first he'd spoke during the entire conversation. "Just keep telling yourself you're better off without him."

Jill couldn't help but glance from Matt to Carla. It was nice to see Matt's change in attitude, and see him sticking up for someone rather than making problems. Or maybe, just maybe Matt and Rev had chatted about the situation?

"I know, it's just hard. And I'm sorry I came to visit you with all my problems, Jill. I just don't really have anyone else to whine to."

Jill smiled at her best friend. "You know I love you and you can come to me at any time, right?

She nodded.

"And don't even begin to think that after a day or two you're heading back home because you're not. You're staying on tour with us till I say you can go home."

"Oh Christ," Syn lifted his bottle of beer to his lips and smirked. "God help us all."

***

Later that night, Jill finally found herself alone. Around two thirty in the morning, the Avenged crew had decided to head back to their own bus, and everyone on Sick Chick's bus had climbed into bed.

She grabbed the pack of cigarette's Zacky had left for her, despite everyone else's protesting about her quitting, and she stepped outside the bus. She nearly had one lit when Rev called out her name.

"Hey," she smiled at him softly through the dimly lit parking lot.

"Hey," he replied in earnest as he approached.

"What are you doing up?" she questioned, leaving the cigarette at her side a bit longer.

"I came to see if you were still up. We never really got to do something together tonight like we planned."

"You're right, we didn't. Do you want a beer, and we can go sit somewhere?"

"Sure."

She grinned. "Alright then, I will be right back."

He nodded and waited outside as she puched in the code and hurried inside. She left the cigarette pack and lighter on the table before grabbing the last couple cold beers in the fridge then joined him back outside.

"I saw a grassy spot at the back near the fence," Jill offered as she passed him the cold beer.

"Thanks, sounds good."

They walked quietly through the cemi truck and bus filled parking lot to the grass near the chainlink fence. They sat down side by side and were actually able to just chat about every day stuff.

"I'm definitely missing home," Jimmy confided.

"Yeah." Jill nodded. "I think I would be too, if I had much to go home too. I mean there's my apartment, and Carla. But other than that, all I have is the band."

"No boyfriend?"

She shook her head and took a drink of her beer as she glanced up at the stars. "I couldn't keep a guy if someone paid me. I mean, you guys get groupies left and right; chicks that would literally date or marry you at the drop of a hat. Us girls, I think we get the super sleazy guys who'd only like us for a night to brag about in the morning."

"You haven't met any sincere guys? Like not even just back home and not on the road?"

"I live in Detroit, it's all about the underground music scene there. And that's the only thing I've ever known. The only people I've ever really had much to do with." She glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled softly. "What about you? No girlfriend at home?"

He shook his head. "There was not too long ago, but she couldn't, or didn't wanna keep up I guess. Same thing with Matt's ex-girlfriend."

"It definitely takes a special kind of person to do this, from both sides."

He nodded and they sat in silence for a bit longer before Jill shivered slightly. "Wanna go back?"

He nodded and they stood up. Jill was brushing the small pieces of grass off her PJ pants when he stepped closer.

"Jill," Rev stared down at her with his consuming eyes. "I wanna try something."

All she could do with him this close was nod her head.

He leaned closer and re-adjusted his stance. A large hand cupped her cheek gently and tipped her head up towards his before his soft thin lips came into contact with hers. It was the softest kiss she'd ever received in her life, and with it, he stole her heart.

"What was that for?" she whispered softly against his lips when he pulled away just slightly.

"I wanted to remind myself that you're worth fighting Matt for if he should ever change his mind."

By all rights she should be mad, but instead her heart fluttered.

"Change his mind?"

Rev nodded and bent his head to kiss her again. This time, while still just as soft, his kiss was much more consuming. His tongue parted her lips and had her gripping onto the front of his t-shirt to keep herself up should her knees actually buckle like they were threatening to. His arms surrounded her, bracing her against him before he lifted her off the ground bringing her eye level with him.

"For such a badass rockstar," he laughed softly, "your kisses are pretty soft."

She growled playfully as he held her a good foot and a half off the ground. "Funny," she chided, "I was bout to say the same thing about you."