Hand of Blood

It had been a couple of days since Kayla suprised me by turning up at my house, and in a way, those couple of days had bought me out of my hiding since the incident the week before. I had actually started returning all of the guys attempts to contact me, and had even agreed to meet up with them today, after Matt's demands got a little difficult to resist. I knew it was all the wrong thing to do, as the day that the guys are leaving is getting closer all the time, but I was finally starting to realise I should make the best of it. Go out with a bang, as they say, no matter how short lived the fun had been or how much time was left. It was just a few days now. Just days. Everything suddenly seemed to have gone so fast. I could still remember so clearly the first time Matt approached me on that late Friday evening.

I dragged myself off of my bed and sauntered across to the window, noting the time on my wall clock to the back of my mind. The man still walking up to me through the low light in my minds eye, was coming over to take me back to Jay's in about 15 minutes, so I should probably have been making some finishing touches to my appearance. Instead I simply leaned my forehead against the cool glass and smiled to myself, my eyes wandering the bright blue sky and shining sun beyond. It was such a nice day today, which really made a positive change from all the rain we had had lately. However, it also meant I had to wear clothes that actually managed to keep me cool, and I had been more than a little bit self conscious lately, what with both my bruises and scars. The bruises were a lot fainter now, though, and my split lip had completely healed up. I was really thankful for that, but there would always be those other marks on my skin.

I sighed to myself and consciously pulled down my tshirt sleeves a little, attempting to cover up a little more skin with the bright red material. I had been hoping that by wearing something eye catching, it would take peoples attention away from any form of damage that I still had on show across my body. I guessed my fitted Alexisonfire tshirt would be my safest bet. The rest of my 'outfit' wasn't quite so interesting, as I had gone for some plain black jean shorts, that hovered just above my knee. I didn't want to over do it with the colour, of course.

I pursed my lips in thought as I took a quick look around my room, before wandering out and heading into the bathroom. It was there that I found my trusty liquid eyeliner and quickly went about applying it neatly around my eyes. Once it was more or less presentable, I pulled my hair up into a messy pony tail, revealing the orange beneath, deciding this would work best as I didn't have the effort in me to straighten it this morning. I paused at the thought, as I would usually have slaved over every little detail to make myself look perfect in every way. For some reason just slobbing around with the guys all day scared away a little bit of my vanity. I felt comfortable around them, I suppose you could say, or maybe it was because they can't possibly see me in a worse state than I was that night. Or maybe this last month really had changed me.

My attention was caught as I head the front door ring throughout the house. I quickly wandered from the bathroom and made my way downstairs, hopping back onto the ground floor with a spring in my step. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I started unlocking the door, the knowledge of who was on the other side waiting for me taking me in it's grasp. I honestly hadn't felt so upbeat in a while.

I finally pulled open the door, the midday light streaming in and instantly warming my skin. I soaked it in for a moment, the bright light causing me to squint a little to readjust my sight, before my attention fixed on that tall shadow greeting me. I chuckled as I felt my whole body suddenly be consumed by his lean frame, arms tightly wrapping around my waist. I felt Matt's soft laugh vibrating through his chest, while my arms barely made it up in time to cling around his neck as I was pulled slightly off of the ground. After a moment my feet touched back down and I felt Matt move back away from me, causing me to simply beam back up at him.

"Good afternoon to you too," I replied with a grin, faltering slightly as I noticed Matt's attention had suddenly been lost. I tilted my head curiously as I continued to look up at him, his expression oddly blank as he watched me in return. He was slightly out of focus, almost like he was looking through me. His whole composure had gone from welcoming to strangely quiet in a split second.

"Uhm, hey Matt?" I tried, completely confused, but appearing to snap him out of his trance none the less. He instantly shuffled on his feet and looked into my eyes, accompanied by what I swore was a hint of blush on his cheeks, though I could have been mistaken.

"H-hey, Brianne," he finally stammered out, "It's good to see you again," he added, causing me to smile to myself at his odd behavior. I turned my gaze down for a moment as I maneuvered my red converse beside the door onto my feet. The moment I looked back up, the smile still on my face, I found Matt watching me intently once more. I frowned lightly in confusion, and his gaze quickly fell to the ground. He was still the one I could never quite understand.

"Mattie Bro, you okay?" I asked lightly, slowly stepping out onto the doorstep. That seemed to catch his attention the most, as Matt's gaze shot back up to mine, an unreadable look in them. I paused as I saw him bite his bottom lip somewhat nervously. That action was starting to annoy me. It was specifically one of the things I didn't understand with him.

"Yeah, of course. I'm great, er, little sis," he replied awkwardly, with the statement appearing extremely forced out. I could have sworn I even heard his voice crack the tiniest bit at the end of the sentence.

A moment later, Matt had turned away and wandering down the front path. Still puzzled, and on the verge of exploding and asking what the hell biting his lip meant and why he was having such off mood swings, though carefully containing myself, I turned to lock the door and followed after him.

I got into step beside Matt as we walked down the street, and I noticed his eyes fall down to me somewhat timidly. I frowned up at him, not bothering to hide my confusion at how closely he seemed to be watching me today.

"Do I have something on my face, or... Something?" I asked lightly, causing Matt to instantly grin at me.

"No, nothing like that," he chuckled, appearing to be suddenly more comfortable with my joke. "You actually just look pretty good today," he added, with a hint of teasing in his tone. Considering his current unreadable mood, though, I wasn't sure whether he was covering up his honest comment with the sarcasm.

"Thanks," I replied lightly, chuckling as I shook my head and turning my attention forward. "You're not too shabby yourself," I added as I glanced back up at Matt for a moment. He grinned back down on me, the mood officially lightened and the air clear. I wasn't sure what had started off our quite awkward greeting, but I was thankful it was over now. I hoped.

I suddenly paused as I felt a familiar ripple travel through my body as we turned out of my street, my teeth instantly clamping down on my lip. Matt seemed to notice my now tense composure, as his curious gaze fell back onto me. I tried to smile it off, only for it to falter as the loud growl erupted from my stomach. Matt's eyes widened as he watched at me, and I instantly felt myself blush.

"Hungry, huh?" He asked after a moment, almost in a state of shock. I pursed my lips as I lightly slapped his arm before folding my arms back across my chest. Matt laughed softly as I felt his body move against mine, throwing his own arm across my shoulder.

"Kay did warn me," Matt sighed half to himself as my gaze shot back up to him, confused as to why Kayla would have told him such a trivial thing. It wasn't like telling people I had no food would change anything. I watched as Matt turned and started fumbling through his pocket with his free hand, before removing a £20 note and dangling it in front of my face. My gaze wandered from the money and back to Matt's crystal gaze blankly.

"Shall we get food now, or order later?" He asked brightly.

I frowned as I looked at the ground, somehow knowing this was coming. "Matt, you don't-"

"And none of this I don't have to business," Matt quickly interrupted, returning the note to his pocket and catching my attention. "Because I do have to," he stated, smiling warmly at me. I tried my best to return it before my eyes grew wide, another growl escaping my body.

"So, I'll take that as a now," he said with a chuckle, hugging me into him a little more. I shook my head and smiled to myself as I gave in, snaking my arm around his waist to make our current walking arrangements a little more comfortable. An early dinner it was, then.

+

An hour later than planned, and feeling rather full, Matt and I were finally on Jay's street. After taking a detour into town, we hit the first restaurant we could find that didn't look too busy, and to be honest we had a pretty good dinner. Matt even opted for the vegetarian option, which I felt like I had to repeatedly apologise for. He assured me it was fine though, and managed to convince me by explaining how guilty he felt whenever he ate meat in front of Kayla as it was, let alone there now being two of us. It then spurred a whole conversation about how little I felt I knew about Kayla, and I found out about all her animal rights interests. It certainly was an enlightening meal.

When we approached Jay's house, Matt lead the way through the usual unlocked door and into the music room, where Kayla was already sitting alone on one of the sofas. She smiled broadly at me and got up as we walked in, nearly knocking me off my feet with her hug.

"Honey! How are you?" She exclaimed, letting me go for air again and smiling into my face.

"Pretty good, thanks," I responded lightly as Kayla took my hand and lead me back over to the sofa, letting go again as she tumbled down onto the soft cushions. I watched in slight amusement as she stretched out, appearing a little more hyper than usual.

"Matt went out for you ages ago," Kayla added thoughtfully, as her gaze wandered over to the opposite side of the room, where Matt was making himself comfortable on the opposite chair. "What did you two get up to, then?" She asked with a grin, looking back up at me. My eyes widened as I glanced over at Matt, his expression matching mine, before we both looked back at Kayla's all knowing smile.

"We just got some dinner," I explained honestly, frowning at Kayla for a moment as I set my hands on my hips. She chuckled and shifted her position on the sofa so she was now sitting upright, beaming up at me.

"Of course Hun," she said lightly. "Matt just took your gorgeous looking self out for a casual meal, excusing the fact you have stunning legs that I would kill for," she reeled off easily as she stared grudgingly at my limbs in question, causing me to blush as my gaze wandered over to Matt again. I swear his cheeks were more crimson than mine as he threw daggers at Kayla with his eyes.

Kayla sighed lightly, making me to look back at her. "You know what honey? That sad thing is, I actually believe you," she added before pursing her lips, causing me to chuckle softly while a pillow was thrown from Matt's side of the room across to where Kayla was sitting.

Fortunately, the mini fight that was about to break out across the music room was brought to a halt, as the door behind me flew open, three loud voices coming from the other side. I smiled in slight relief as I saw Jay, Padge and Moose all wander into the room, though it fell again the moment Jay's gaze met with mine. He had literally stopped in his tracks as his jaw fell open just the smallest bit, and I suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable under his burning gaze.

"Jason, will you fucking move?!" Padge growled at the sudden hold up, resulting in the three men standing rather close together. Jay was shoved forward as Padge forced him to move, breaking Jay's gaze from me.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry," Jay mumbled as he hurriedly wandered away from the other two men still standing idle behind him. I smiled over at Padge, who paused for a moment as he looked over me, before he returned it with a knowing smirk which matched one that Kayla would carry. The were certainly on the same wave length. He shook his head lightly as he wandered over to me, my attention falling back to Moose.

"Whoa," the last band member stated with a grin as he sauntered across the room, following after Jay and Padge, moving past me and onto a sofa further back in the room. I pursed my lips as I slowly turned, moving across to the sofa where Kayla was sat on beside me. I heavily fell down onto the soft material, hugging a cushion over my body as I looked around at everyone in the room. My gaze had settled over on the opposite side of the room, where Matt had suddenly become oddly quiet again, his gaze on the ground. I frowned to myself and glanced over at Kayla.

"You know, I think I feel like changing," I mumbled, my self conscious levels going through the roof. I had technically just been checked out by three guys, possibly even a fourth over at my own house now it made more sense. Number one, I wasn't used to it at all. Number two, it just felt weird, you know?

Kayla gasped and scowled at me. "No way, Hun! Don't worry about those one track minds," she scolded, before throwing glares behind her at the three men sitting on the other sofa. They all looked back at her innocently, causing me to laugh softly to myself. I suppose it paid not to care too much about what you looked like, for once. So much for 'slobbing out' with the guys.