It's Called Warped Because Hell Was Already Taken

When I opened my eyes, it was day outside.
I sat up, blinking to the sudden light.
“Ronnie?”
I called his name, when I found him asleep next to me.
Memories of last night came flooding back; Ashley leaving, me staying the night here…
Kicking the covers off, I stood up just to realize I wasn’t wearing any clothing.
No.
Frantically, I pulled on my boxers and skinny jeans.
I was searching for my shirt when he woke up, yawning adorably.
“Andy?”
His voice was full of sleep, it sounded alluring.
“Yeah?”
“Morning.” he smiled at me, sitting up.
“What happened last night?” I asked, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.
He peeked at himself under the blanket, laughing.
“My guess, is we fucked.”
Yeah…I guessed as much from the sudden pains when I tried to walk.
Ashley was going to be…wait. Why the fuck would he care?
Ronnie was so sweet and caring of me.
Unlike Ashley.
Besides, it was more like revenge. Getting even after he banged his ex-girlfriend.
“You okay?” Ronnie queried, taking in my facial expression change.
I didn’t answer, instead I leaned in and kissed him softly.
“As much as I enjoyed that,” he started, pulling away. “What time is it?”
“Almost noon.” I laughed.
“I have to get ready for my set soon.”
“Fine.”
I pouted, getting off of him. He pulled me in for one more kiss before getting dressed.
Once he was ready, we walked to my tour bus so I could get dressed too.
“Hello?” I called out.
It was empty.
“No one’s in here.” I informed Ronnie, heading to my suitcase.
The sun was already shinning very brightly, I opted for a pair of skinny jeans that were so ripped up they probably didn’t resemble pants and a fringed vest.
“There’s no way in hell I’m going to deal with my flat iron.” I complained. “It’s too hot.”
“Alright. Let’s go to the venue.”
We were halfway to the park when he suddenly stopped walking.
“Did you take your pain medication?”
What did I tell you? He was sweet and caring.
“Yeah.” I lied.
Truth is, I forgot. I didn’t feel like walking all the way back to the parking lot just for this.
I’d be fine.
If I had to, I could send Jinxx for them before the show.
He wouldn’t mind; much.
“Okay. Well, we can just walk around until I have to head to the stage.” Ronnie was saying.
“Okay.”
“What are you going to do about Ashley?” Ronnie was asking.
“I don’t know. I’m planning on talking to him soon. Preferably when he isn’t drunk.”
“That’s a good idea.”
We walked around in complete silence for a few minutes.
“Let’s go behind the stages.” Ronnie suggested, in an attempt to avoid fans.
We were behind the Monster Energy stage, only a few people milling around, when I could hear someone behind us.
I chose to ignore it; this was a public place!
“Don’t ignore me Andrew.” a voice cooed.
I froze.
No, he couldn’t be.
I hadn’t seen or even heard from him for several states now! I thought we were finally free from him, and I didn’t have to worry until we got back to Los Angeles in a few days.
“Andy…” Zack’s voice continued to call my name.
Next to me Ronnie tensed, clenching his hands lightly. He turned around slowly, and I followed suit.
“Is that…?” he whispered under his breath.
I nodded, at a loss for words.
“What do you want?” Ronnie demanded.
“I just want to speak to my little Andy.” Zack answered sweetly.
“No.”
Ronnie growled under his breath taking a slightly protective stance in front of me as Zack walked up to us.
“Come on.” Zack whined. “Andy wants to speak to me, right Andy?”
“No.” I whispered, shaking my head rapidly.
“Leave.”
“Make me.”
I felt Zack wrap an arm around my waist, gingerly. He was actually trying to not hurt me.
As if he was trying to prove he was safe.
“I told you to fucking leave!” Ronnie shouted, pushing Zack off me rather roughly.
“You fucking bastard!”
We were standing fairly close to the wall of the stage, an advantage for Zack.
He grabbed Ronnie by the shoulders, shoving him against the metal railing.
He slumped to the ground, eyes closed.
“Ronnie!” I tried to wake him up, momentarily forgetting about Zack.
By now the people who had been eyeing us from afar came rushing over to us.
“I saw the whole thing!” a teenage girl panted. “I called an ambulance. Is he okay?” she asked nervously.
“I don’t know.” I replied honestly.
An arm snaked around my waist again; causing me to freeze.
“Get off him!” a burly man demanded.
“No! He’s my boyfriend! I have a right!” Zack sneered.
“No, you’re not!”
“You’ll pay.” he whispered in my ear, sending a chill down my spine.
He let go and walked off.
“Ronnie, please be okay.” I muttered, running a hand through his hair. “I love you.” I admitted.
I let go of his hair only to find my fingertips stained with blood.
Fuck.
Before I could completely process what that could mean, an ambulance arrived.
“Andy!”
Ryan Seaman, their drummer, was running towards me.
“Yeah?” I asked, looking up from Ronnie’s peaceful expression.
“What happened?” he asked.
“He was protecting me from an asshole and got his head slammed against a railing because of it.” I mumbled.
Guilt started setting in; was this my fault then?
“Whose going to ride with him?” a paramedic asked.
I was going to offer myself, but Ryan beat me to it.
“I’ll go.” he volunteered. “Andy, you’ll need to talk to the managers. We’re going to have to cancel our show so Black Veil Brides is going to have to play earlier.”
I nodded, walking away.
Pulling out my cell phone, I called Jon.
He told me to gather the guys, we were on stage in an hour.
I headed inside the backroom of the Kia Soul, grabbing my make-up bag on the way.
What if something happened to Ronnie?
It would be all my fault!
What if he developed amnesia and forgot all his songs?!
‘Stop worrying Andy’ I chided myself.
I managed to smear my war paint on, a little messier than usual but on nonetheless.
Pacing back and forth across the small stage, my ribs were acting up.
Fucking hell, I forgot to ask Jinxx to bring me my pain meds.
Whatever.
What’s one more show?
I just had to be careful.
Careful.
That isn’t my greatest ability.
“Hey Andy.” Jinxx greeted me, as he stepped backstage with the others.
“Jinxx. CC. Jake.” I couldn’t focus long enough to think up a proper greeting.
CC looked around, slightly confused. “Where’s Ashley?”
What do you mean, where’s Ashley?
I asked Jake to gather everyone up!
This wasn’t my problem if he couldn’t be found. I glanced at Jake who merely shrugged.
My guess is, he’s either drunk or nursing last night’s hangover back on the tour bus.
“Why the fuck should I care?” I finally stopped pacing, glaring at them.
“Didn’t you guys make up?”
“No. He was being a fucking douche bag last night. I haven’t heard from him since he walked off. I thought he left for the tour bus.” I answered.
“Oh.”
I noticed Jinxx and Christian exchange a worried look but I decided to ignore it.
“I’ll call him.” Jinxx offered.
He didn’t answer; figures.
By then we were dressed and made-up, minutes before our set.
“What do we do now?” CC asked me.
Why bother worrying over something we can’t control?
“We’ll play without him.”
I thought they were going to argue with me, but instead they nodded.
“Let’s go!” Jake faked enthusiasm.
They grabbed their instruments and ran on stage.
“Washington!” I called out to the gathered crowd.
For an early set call, the crowd was already fucking huge.
“I don’t know how you live here, but it’s fucking cold!” I laughed. Within the last hour the sun had hidden behind a gray, overcast sky.
“In case you didn’t know, we’re Black Veil Brides for California!” I shouted, to the increasing cheering.
“Our bassist, Ashley, couldn’t make it tonight so we’re going to have to play without him!”
I had to refrain from rolling my eyes at the mention of Ashley. He better have a good fucking excuse for not being here.
“Our first song is Fallen Angels!”

“Black hearts of chrome and battle scars!” I sang out.
I took a sharp breath; we had only done two songs, but I couldn’t do it anymore.
“I’m sorry guys.” I stopped singing suddenly.
The guitar riffs cut off, and the guys looked at me oddly.
“I’m sorry.” I repeated myself. “I’m just in too much fucking pain right now.”
I gestured to my ribs.
“I can barely move, I’m fucking sorry.”
I dropped the microphone, walking off stage rather stiffly.
I heard Jinxx pick up the microphone and apologized once more to the crowd, explaining how we’d still be doing the signing later.
I felt fucking horrible for letting my fans down but I was so close to fucking tears right now.
I should have remembered my damn pain killers.
Not that they do shit anyways.
I stepped backstage, and walked to the place where Ronnie and I had been earlier.
Nearly a quarter of a mile away.
I wanted to be alone.
Leaning against the make-shift wall of the Monster stage, I pulled out a cigarette.
Inhaling the sweet toxic I felt myself start to relax, the pain start to wither.
“Well, well, well.” a voice spoke up besides me.
“Looks like I’ve finally got my Andy all to myself.”