Status: Being written as we speak ... Comments are love <3

Stuck in the Middle

Super Glue

Ashley's POV

I rolled over in my bunk and reached my hand around searching for my phone. I growled under my breath when I couldn’t find it. I laid there and tried to go back to sleep for what felt like forever, before I eventually gave up and cracked open my eyes. The bus was silent except for the boys’ soft snores, and Ronnie mumbling something about zombie bunnies in his sleep. I pulled back the curtain to my bunk and noticed it was still dark on the bus, which meant it was still early in the morning. I softly climbed out of my bunk and tried to stifle my laughter when I noticed Derek was hanging halfway out of his bunk, the slightest movement and he would come tumbling down on to the floor. I so badly wanted to tickle his foot, but I decided against it when I heard my stomach grumbling. I hadn’t eaten anything since about 11 am yesterday; I had two toaster strudels and was about to leave when Ronnie finally emerged from his bunk and demanded that I change my clothes. When I got back to the bus I took a shower, yelled at Craig and Danny, and passed out while watching TV; I vaguely remember someone carrying me to my bunk last night, but I’m not sure who. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my stomach growl again and I tried my best to walk my way to the kitchen in the dark without knocking anything over, which didn’t happen by the way.

“What’s with all the noise?” Jacky mumbled as he crawled out of his bunk and sleepily rubbed his eyes.

“I knocked the cookie jar over.” I replied as I bent over and started picking up the double stuffed Oreo’s from the ground.

“Did you break it?” Jacky asked as he bent down to help me pick up the cookies.

“I don’t know.” I replied as I opened the lid to the cookie jar “ROAR!” it screeched causing me to lose my balance and fall to the floor. You see the cookie jar is a lion and you open its mouth to get a cookie and it goes ROAR!

“Oh God that was great.” Jacky said in between fits of hysterics. “I knew there was a reason Ryan brought that thing on the bus. I was too afraid that he would yell at me for touching it, but now I know it’s absolutely wonderful! Do it again!” Jacky said before dropping the cookies he had picked up off the floor back into the lion’s mouth.

“God Jacky if I didn’t know any better I would swear you were a fucking stoner.” I replied as I placed the rest of the cookies back into the jar and sat the jar back down onto the counter.

“Nope I just enjoy hilarious things.” He replied reaching over me to open the lion’s mouth again.

“Don’t!” I whispered slapping his hand away. “People are still sleeping, and I would like to keep it that way. I would like to be dressed and off this bus before Ronnie wakes up.” I replied pushing him back towards his bunk.

“But I’m hungry…” He whined. I stopped pushing him and hung my head in defeat. Jacky is usually a quiet soft spoken guy, but he makes a lot of noise otherwise. I doubt this kid was ever successfully able to sneak out of his house with all the slamming and closing of cabinets, and doors, and oh my God does this boy stomp when he walks. “Hey Ashley love, have you been looking for this?” Jacky asked as he pulled my phone out of the fridge and dangled it in the air.

“How the fuck did that get in there?” I mused out loud.

“You guess is as good as mine.” He replied with a shrug. “You’ve got a text by the way.” He said before handing the phone over to me.

I slid my finger across the screen and unlocked the screen.

From: Max
:)
Sent 4:45 AM

I scrunched my brows in confusion as I looked at the current time 5:30 AM. He sent that message 45 minutes ago. I thought to myself as I scratched my head and continued to look at my phone in confusion.

“Is everything okay?” Jacky asked waving a hand in front of my face.

“Hmm?” I replied not sure what he had said to me.

He motioned to the phone in my hands. “Is everything okay?” He repeated.

“Oh yea, uhh … wrong number.” I replied as I shoved my phone into the pocket of the pajama bottoms I was wearing.

Jacky eyed me carefully before nodding his head. “I’m going to make me a bagel with cream cheese do you want one too? Ronnie bought your favorite.” He said dangling a bag of fresh blueberry bagels in front of my face. My eyes grew wide and my mouth started salivating. I quickly wiped away some of the drool that had started dripping from my mouth. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Jacky replied with a laugh.

I quickly nodded my head up and down in agreement. “You my friend are the best band mate a girl could ask for!” I replied as I pulled him into a hug. “I’m going to step out and smoke before Ronnie wakes up. I really don’t feel like getting a lecture on how I’m slowly killing my body, and blah blah blah.” I said as I grabbed my Marlboro Smooth’s off of the counter and sprinted to the door before Jacky had a chance to reply.

I leaned up against the side of the bus as I lit my cigarette. I closed my eyes as the sweet poison they call nicotine filled my lungs. I opened one of my eyes when I felt the metal on the bus give in a signal that someone was standing next to me. “What are you doing up so early?” I asked Emily as she quietly stared off into the distance at the now rising sun.

“Oh we got a shipment of shirts in today and I was helping the other guys out with sorting them and putting them in their correct locations.” Emily began to explain.

I held my hand up in the air. “No need to explain anymore I used to be the guys merch girl way back when.” I replied with a laugh.

“You say that like it was so long ago, but in reality it was only like 5 years ago.” She replied laughing as well.

“A lot has happened in those 5 years.” I said as a smile on my face slowly turned into a frown. “When I was 17 I never pictured things this way. Ronnie was still playing Escape the Fate with his best friends, Craig was in Bless the Fall, Max …” I trailed off and looked at my feet. “Hey by any chance were you up at … never mind.” I said as I ran my hand through the rats nest called my hair.

Emily sighed as she continued to stare off into the distance.” Craig is turning into this over protective brother that I can’t stand. He pisses me off so bad at times I want to punch him in the face, or even piss on his bed.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I was laughing so hard I slid down the side of the bus clutching my sides. It took me a moment to control my laughter but when I finally did I looked up at Emily with a straight face. “I’ve punched Ronnie in the face a couple times when he pissed me off. I learned it doesn’t solve the problem it just starts a physical fight. I also learned not to head butt anyone either you just end up hurting yourself.” I said as I pushed myself up off the ground and dusted the dirt off of my butt. Emily looked at me like I was crazy. “I mean you hurt the person, but you’re left with a splitting headache in the end.” I amended. “Don’t piss on his bed you’ll have to deal with the smell, piss in a cup and tell him its apple juice, or beer.” I said laughing at the memory of me doing this to Max when we were younger.

This time she was the one laughing so hard she was clutching her sides. “Oh wow… that was great. I can picture you doing that and then clutching your head afterwards. Who did you head butt?” She asked as she finally got ahold on her laughter.

“Umm… your brother.” I replied with a small smile. “He started talking shit about Ronnie on stage and when the show was over he walked over to me for a hug like everyone else was doing and I head butted him. I made his nose bleed.” I replied with a victorious smile.

“So you’re the crazy bitch who did that.” Emily replied with a laugh. “He wouldn’t stop talking about it for weeks.”

“Hey Ash who are you talking to?” Jacky asked as he leaned his head out of the bus door.

“Emily, this is Jacky. Jacky this is Emily.” I replied motion between the two of them. “She’s Mabbitt’s little sister.” I replied with a smile.

Jacky smiled and waved at Emily. “I’d come down and shake your hand, but I’m in my boxers. Ash your bagel is ready. I’m gonna try to go back to sleep.”

“Yea, sure that’s fine.” I replied as Emily smiled back at him and nodded her head in hello.

“I’ll let you return to your breakfast and to Jacky.” Emily said with a wink before turning around and walking away.

“Hey …” I shouted as I jogged over to where she was. “Do you mind if I get dressed on your bus. I plan on getting vengeance on Ronnie for making me wear those atrocious footie pajamas yesterday. I know that if I get dressed on the bus he and he sees what I plan on wearing I will be locked in the back room all day.” I said with a laugh.

“Yea, only if you help me get back at Craig too. I caught him going through my things yesterday.” She replied with an evil grin.

“Sure, but you’re going to be dressed a little bit more acceptable than me. I kind of don’t want your brother hating me, well not until the end of the tour at least.” I replied with a wink. “I should probably be over there in like 10-15 minutes.” I said before I turned around to walk back onto my bus.

“I’ll leave the door unlocked for you. I’m going to go take a shower I should be out by the time you get there though.” She shouted over her shoulder as she walked towards her brother’s bus.

I walked back onto the bus with a smile plastered on my face. I noticed Jacky was still awake as he sat at the table picking at his bagel. “Not as good as you thought it would be?” I asked as I sat down next to him and picked up my own bagel taking a bite out of it before sitting back down.

“I’m just more awake then I thought.” He replied with a shrug as he dug one of the blueberries out of the bagel and flicked it at my face. “What are all smiles about this morning? You’re usually all I hate the world, don’t talk to me or I will kill you, where the fuck is my coffee in the morning.” He said trying his best at imitating my voice but failing miserably.

I shrugged my shoulder before replying. “I’m not sure it’s just nice having a girl to talk to. I’m going to grab my shit and get dressed over there.” I wrapped my bagel up in a napkin and walked over to my bunk to grab the outfit I planned on wearing as well as my makeup.

“Why are you going over there to get dressed?” Jacky called out to me from his seat at the table.

“Oh you know vengeance and what not.” I replied as I walked out of the bunk area with my tote bag.

Jacky looked at me in bewilderment for a second or two before he was able to make a coherent sentence. “Vengeance on who Max, Craig, or Ronnie?” He asked as he put his hands on his hips.

“I’m not sure why I would be getting Vengeance on Max I haven’t spoken to him in over two years I could honestly careless what he thinks, and I plead the fifth to the rest. The less you know the less you can get in trouble for. I’ll see you later.” I said kissing his cheek and grabbing my bagel off of the table next to him before grabbing my camera bag off of the couch and walking off of the bus.

I skipped my way to the Escape the Fate bus humming to myself all the way. I smiled when I noticed that Emily had left the door to the bus cracked slightly. I opened the door and quickly ran up the steps, but came to a screeching halt when I saw Max sitting on a couch in the front part of the bus staring off into space. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts, or maybe drugged out of his mind; the world may never know. I giggled to myself as the tootsie pop commercial popped into my head.

I guess my silent laughter was enough to pull him out of his thoughts because he looked over in my direction and glared at me. “What are you doing here?” He growled.

“You know you’d get a lot nicer answers out of me if you would at least say hi first.” I replied with an eye roll sitting down next to him on the couch, but leaving enough space between the two of us so we weren’t touching. “I’m here because Emily asked me to come over.” I replied with a pissed off smile.

“No need to be a bitch.” He scoffed as he glared in my direction.

“I wouldn’t be a bitch if you weren’t such a bastard.” I replied returning the glare. “Why the hell did you text me this morning?” I asked as my glare on him softened.

“I sure as hell didn’t text you one of the guys must have gotten ahold of my phone.” He replied suddenly finding his socks so interesting.

“You’re lying.” I said barely above a whisper. Max looked up from his feet and stared at me like I was speaking a different language. “Max I’ve known you since you moved from Ohio I know when you’re lying. Your band or friends might not pay enough attention to tell the difference, but I can. I know you’re lying to me. Why did you text me?” I repeated my question as I looked him in the eyes. “Look at me!” I repeated as his gaze shifted to my neck. Max was very good at lying to people who didn’t know him that well. He would look at something directly behind you, at your forehead, or at your lips; he would never look at you directly in the eyes. “Max please…” I began as my eyes started to fill with tears.

“Ash please don’t look at me like that, you know I can’t…” He began, but I cut him off.

“You can’t what Max? You can’t stand up to my brother? You can’t be my friend? What did I do to you that was so horrible? Max I thought we were … you know what never mind just forgot I ever brought this up. I guess you meant more to me than I ever did to you. I seem to put more interest into other people than they do to me, that’s just how my life is. First I was let down by Ronnie, and then by you, but at least he’s trying to make up for his mistakes. That’s more than anybody could ever say about you. Tell Emily that I’m waiting on her outside, I don’t want to even look at you right now.” I said as I stood up from of the couch and walked towards the door of the bus. I turned around and looked at him once last time. “You know I thought you might have grown up over the years and maybe just maybe regretted what you had said to me but it’s apparent that thought has never crossed your mind. You’re too wrapped up in yourself to care about anyone else.” I sighed to myself sadly shaking my head as I walked off the bus.

I stomped around the side of the bus hiding myself from anyone who decided to be awake at this ungodly hour; my brother being one of them. I leaned against the siding of the bus slowly sliding down it until I softly hit the floor. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my smokes. I closed my eyes shut trying wiling the tears away as I sucked in the toxic poison. My stomach growled at me once again and I grimaced at the feeling. I think my stomach is trying to eat itself. I frowned when I realized I left my bagel on the couch next to Max with the rest of my belongings.

“Here I thought you might want this.” Max’s voice rang through my ears. I shook my head thinking it was all in my head, but when I opened my eyes he was sitting across from me on the ground holding my bagel out for me to take. “I figured if you didn’t eat this you wouldn’t eat anything else today. I know how you get busy and forget to take care of yourself.” He replied giving me a half smile.

I snatched the bagel from him and frowned. “Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?” I asked truly afraid to hear the answer.

“Well would you rather I be a dick?” He asked quickly standing up and dusting off his pants.

“What? No I didn’t say that.” I replied looking at him like he was crazy.

“Well the I suggest you just take what you can get. You can’t always have it your way princess.” He sneered as he stomped off and back onto the bus.

I just sat there dumbfounded not sure exactly what to think of what just happened. I threw my bagel across the field in frustration before I stood up and began pacing the length of the bus. Every step I took I muttered something awful about Max. “Stupid fucking drug addict, he thinks he’s better than the rest of the fucking world. I’d like to take him down a level or two; I’d like to show him how it feels to be in my position; how it feels to not know what the hell you’ve done wrong.”

“What the hell happened?” Emily asked walking off the bus running a brush threw her hair.

“What are you talking about?” I asked stopping mid step looking at her truly confused.

She looked at me like I was stupid. “Well Max just stormed into the bus and started pacing and muttering to himself much like you are, so I’ll ask again. What happened?”

“Oh you know the usually … Max hates me for some unknown reason.” I replied with a sighed as I blew hair out of my face.

“Oh okay.” Emily shrugged clearly not buying my answer, but not pressing the issue anymore. “Well how about we get on that bus and start getting ready.” She said as she looped her arms with mine and started pulling me onto the bus. “Max I need you to leave the room Ash and I need to get dressed.” Emily shouted as she dragged me onto the bus.

“Just go into the back room and get dressed.” He replied as he stared at the ceiling.

“We can’t Monte and Robert fell asleep in there last night watching a movie.” She replied grabbing my bag off of the couch and going through it.

“I was here first just pretend like I’m not here.” He replied as he continued to stare at the same spot in the ceiling. As if he was willing it to set fire or blow up.

“Emily just listen to him, he’s probably too high to even notice what’s going on around him anyway.” I said as I laid my makeup out on the kitchen table.

“Apparently I’m not high enough, I still know that you’re a fucking cunt.” He growled at me.

“Anyways…” Emily said rather loudly trying to get my attention from my former best friend sitting on the couch. “So I noticed you and Jacky seemed a little cozy.” She said with a shit eating smile. “Why were you two both up at 6 in the morning, and better yet why was he making you breakfast?” She question as she wiggled her eyebrows in a suggestive manor.

“Nothing.” I replied looking at her like she was crazy. I mean don’t get me wrong Jacky is fucking hot, but I don’t see him like that. I mean at first I did, but the longer I got to know him the more I realized it would never work. It would most likely be a drunken one night stand that would ruin our friendship and make him working with my brother very awkward. He was more like a brother to me, actually all the guys in Falling in Reverse were like brothers to me.

“Then why was he in his boxers?” She pressed as she walked over to her bunk and looked for something to wear.

“Because he sleeps in his boxer?” I replied more as a question than an answer.

She looked at me like she didn’t believe me. “How can you be stuck on a tour bus with him and not want to jump his bones?” She asked coming back from her bunk and setting some clothes down in front of me that somewhat resembled my outfit just not as whorish.

“How do you sleep on the same bus as Monte and not fuck him.” I replied glancing over in Max’s direction to see if he was listening.

“Because Monte is just Monte, but Jacky on the other hand is hot, tatted up, and has a fucking British accent.” She responded with a smirk on her face.

“I’d rather fuck Ben Bruce.” I replied with the same smirk. “I mean, I know I would be cheated on, but at least it’s not like fucking my brother.” I said with a grimace.

“Fuck this I’m going to bed!” Max pretty much yelled as he stood up from the couch and stomped his way over to his bunk.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his child like actions. “What’s up his ass?” I asked as I pointed my thumb over in his direction.

“He’s probably mad that you didn’t say you wanted to fuck him.” Emily replied with a laugh. “He seems to get moody anytime anyone brings you up in conversation. I’m not sure why.” She shrugged as she held up her bikini top to her chest. “What do you think?” She asked as she turned to face me.

“It looks cute.” I replied with a smile as I gestured for her to sit so I could do her hair and makeup. I started with her hair. I was always better at doing other peoples hair than my own. I use to cut and style all the guys hair for them. The one time I tried to cut my own hair it was disastrous. Craig, Max, Monte, and Robert made fun of me for days. I shook the memories from my head as I pulled her long brown hair up into a bun and braided part of her bangs into it. I at the finished result and smacked her hand away from the mirror she was reaching for. “No looking until it’s all done. Now how do you want your make up?” I asked as I gestured towards everything I had laid out on the table earlier.

“Well I usually don’t wear much make up just a little eyeliner. I tend to go for more natural colors though, nothing too dramatic.” She replied as she looked at the colors I had laid out before her.

“Okay I’ve got an idea and don’t worry I won’t use then bright colors on you. Those are more fore clubs, and concerts than walking around all day in the heat. Now close your eyes.” I instructed. I applied a light brown with a slight shimmer to her whole eyelid before dabbing a bit of dark brown to the corner of her eyes to make a smoky effect. I used eyeliner to trace a thin black outline around her eyes and added a bit of mascara. I finished off with a light blush and a light brownish red lipstick. “There all done.” I replied with a smile as I started piling on my own make up. I went with darker colors with my eyes silver, black, brown, and white. I did my eyeliner and mascara a little darker than I did with Emily. I wasn’t one to go with natural colors I liked to make things pop. I braided my bangs and pulled them along with the rest of my hair into a messy ponytail.

“How do I look?” I asked as I struck a pose for Emily.

“You look beautiful as always. I could never pull off those colors, shit I’m amazed I can pull off this.” She replied smiling back at me.

“You belittle yourself too much you’re a very smart and pretty girl.” I replied as I started shimmying out of my pajamas.

“You’re going to change in here? What if someone sees you?” Emily asked turning her body slightly so she wouldn’t be looking directly at me.

“Well we’re both girls and I believe we have the same parts.” I answered with a laugh. “I’m pretty sure everyone in this band has seen a naked girl at least once in their life. Your brother, Max, Monte, and Robert have seen me naked numerous times. Wow, that came out wrong… I’ve never slept with any of them. You’re just in such cramped quarters on a bus it’s hard not to walk in on someone changing. I mean I don’t even know how many times the guys in Asking Alexandria walked in on me while I was changing or taking a shower, although they probably aren’t the best example to give. I’m just going to shut up now.” I said with a slight blush on my cheeks due to me embarrassing myself.

“I wish you would you sound like a fucking whore.” Max shouted from his bed.

“Give me just one second.” I said to Emily as I pulled the skirt up over my bikini and walked over to my bag. I started searching through my bag for a tube of superglue that I always have on me. You never know when something is going to break. I smiled in relief when I found it. “Which bed is Max in?” I asked as I walked past Emily towards the bunk area.

“Uh the bottom one on the right.” She replied walking into the bathroom to go change.

I smiled at her as I quietly walked over to Max’s bunk. I kicked my foot into the curtains before whispering for him to scoot over. I mentally kicked myself in the ass for crawling in his bunk with him; I knew that no good could come from this. “What he fuck is your problem dude? What the fuck did I do that was so horrible that you felt the need to kick me out of your life and treat me like shit? You act like I’m beneath you. I swear if you don’t stop talking shit I’m going to glue your mouth shut!”

He refused to answer me he just stared at the top of his bunk wishing that I would just go away, but I was determined to get an answer out of him. We laid there in silence for a few minutes before I began softly singing the first song that popped into my head.

“So tell me how does it feel,
how does it feel to be like you?
I think your mouth should be quiet
Cause it never tells the truth
So tell me, so tell me why,
why does it have to be this way?
Why can't things ever change?”

I felt the bed shift and I could feel his eyes on me. I closed my eyes as I continued to hum the rest of the song to myself. I was soon silenced by his lips on my own. I laid there shocked for a second or two before I was able to realize what the hell had was actually happening. I quickly pushed him off of me and looked at him like he was crazy. “What the fuck Max” I yelled as I started swatting my hands in his direction.

“Fucking shit Ashley stop hitting me!” He screamed back at me trying to grab my hands and pin them above my head to stop me from hitting him.

“Max I asked you a simple question I did not ask for you to fucking kiss me. All I wanted to know was why you fucking hate me so much. Not once did I ask you to fucking shove your tongue down my throat. How fucking high are you?” I screamed as I started thrashing around his bunk trying to get out from beneath him so I could hit him again. I smiled triumphantly when I managed to free one of my hands from his grasp and was able start punching him again.

“Will you fucking stop for just one second?” He growled from on top of me. I stopped trashing about the bed and looked at him; silently wishing her would magically explode. He brushed some of my hair out of my face and stared into my eyes for a moment before he once again attached his lips to mine.

I don’t know what it was but when he was hovering above me looking me in the eyes something just clicked. It was like the past few years never happened. It just felt right, and I kissed him back. I started moving my lips in sync with his. He held both of my hands above my head in one of his hands while his other roamed my bare side, and that’s when everything hit me like a freight train. This is the guy who had broken my heart, even if we were just friends, this is the guy who told me to go kill myself, this is the guy who acted like I didn’t exist anymore.

“Max get off of me.” I mumbled against his lips as I tried to push him away.

“What?” He asked looking at me like I had just slapped him.

“Get. Off. Of. Me.” I said each word clearly.

“What why?” He asked clearly not understanding why.

“I just can’t act like you never said those things to me. I can’t act like everything is okay. I just … no.” I replied trying to tug my hand out of his grasp. “Max let go of me!” I yelled as I tried to kick him, but ended up kicking the wall instead.

“I … I can’t.” He replied looking at our two hands that were intertwined.

“Don’t bullshit me Max let me go.” I growled as I began hitting him again.

“Will you listen to me for a God damn second before you start freaking out again?” He yelled as he sat up in his bunk. I laid there glaring at him. “I really am trying to let go of your hand, but they are stuck. I think your little plan of gluing my mouth shut back fired on you.” He said with a laugh. "I guess you could say I'm stuck on you." Max said as he wiggled his eyebrows and began laughing even harder.

“Jesus fucking Christ this isn't the time for fucking jokes.” I screamed jumping out of the bed and pulling Max out with me.

"Who said it was a joke?" He replied arching one of his eyebrows at me causing me to glare at him. I didn't see what he thought was so fucking funny about this.

“What the fuck do you think you’re wearing?” I heard Craig yell at Emily.

“Oh fuck!” I mumbled to myself as I tried my best to run towards the front of the bus to stop Craig from yelling at his sister. “Blame me it was me…” I trailed off as I looked at a fuming Craig. “I uh … I have a bunch of water balloons on our bus and we were going to have a water fight.” I made up a lie off the top of my head. It wasn’t a complete lie I do have a stash of balloons on my bus I just didn’t plan on using the today.

“Why is she dressed like that?” He asked as he pointed to his sister.

“Umm … the clothes are hers, but I did her hair and makeup, and I think she looks cute.” I replied trying to cross my arms across my chest but failing miserably when I realized I was still attached to Max. “But enough about Emily I’ve got bigger fucking problems. I’m fucking super glued to your bass player!”
♠ ♠ ♠
Emily's outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/stuck_in_middle_ch.4/set?id=54154331
Emily's makeup: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=54251592
Ashley's makeup and outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=53874490
I know it's really long but I had a bunch of ideas