Southern Constellations

I groaned, and winced at the excruciating pain in my head. I opened my eyes, to see Vic. His arms around my waist, and hugging my body. I struggled against his grasp, and finally broke free. The light coming from the lounge was agonizing, but I knew that I had to leave the comfort of the bunk area.

"You're up," Tony smiled, and made his way over to me. He handed me two small pills and a water bottle. I quickly swallowed them, and handed the bottle back to him. I couldn't remember anything from the previous day after coming to stay here.

"Tony, what happened last night?" I mumbled, rubbing arms and trying to generate warmth.

He smiled again, and handed me the navy blue blanket as we both sat on the sofa. "We drank a lot." he chuckled. "I think you'd be better off asking Vic questions...." His sentence trailed off into silence, and his, once happy, expression became worried.

"Just tell me." I demanded, becoming impatient.

He shook his head. "Wait until he gets up. Talk to him." He said, standing up, and walking outside.

I sighed loudly in irritation, and grabbed my phone from my bag. I quickly scrolled through Facebook, and Twitter. I hadn't taken notice to the thirteen text messages I had.

I opened the message app, curiously. Two from Tinika, Twelve from Kellin. I shook my head, as I began reading them.

Is everything going alright? -Kellin

How's everything going? -Kellin

Do you need anything? -Kellin

Woah, did you sleep with Justin? -Tinika

Why aren't you answering me? -Kellin

Bitch, answer me! -Tinika

Cora, is everything alright? -Kellin

I couldn't help but laugh at Kellin's constant questions. I replied to them both, as my mind wandered to the first message Tinika had sent me. Someone had started this rumor. I wasn't sure who. For all I knew, it could have been a fan online who started it, and it had just gotten to a gullible person. Either way, I didn't like it.

"You look deep in thought. What's on your mind?" Jaime sat next to me, sweat glazing his face, causing me to seriously consider staying in the air conditioning all day.

"Nothing." I lied, trying to avoid eye contact with him.

"You're lying." He said, poking my side. "What is it, Cora?"

"Someone started a rumor about me." I answered, sighing again.

"About what?" He asked, knitting his brown together in confusion.

I hated talking about things like this to anyone besides Tinika. It made me worry about who I could really trust. Tinika had been the only one of my friends who didn't leave me after high school. She was the only one who took me for who I was, even when she found out about me branding myself.

"Someone said that I slept with Justin." I answered, scrolling through a few more texts. "I've got to go. Kellin want's me to help with load in." I lied, standing up, and quickly shoving the blanket back in my bag, and slipping my Toms on. I rushed out the door, and walked to the Of Mice & Men tour bus.

"Hey Coraline, what're you doing here?" Tino asked, hugging me gently.

I smiled. "Hey. Is Tinika here?" I asked, although I already knew the answer.

He nodded. "Yeah, she's still sleeping though." he answered.

I nodded as a response, and walked back to the bunk area. Instead of checking in the bunk that was never occupied by any of the band members, I wrenched open the curtains of Austins bunk.

What a surprise.

Tinika's head layed on Austin's chest. His arms were wrapped around her waist. I showed no expression to this. Instead, I shook Tinika awake.

"Cora?" She asked, sleepily.

"I hate to ruin the moment, but I need to talk to you. Please?" She nodded, and wriggled out of Austin's arms.

She slipped on a pair of Vans, and followed me outside. I didn't look, or take any concern to, the questioning faces as we walked off the tour bus.

"What's wrong?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I didn't sleep with Justin. That's just disgusting. But I think I did something with Vic last night. Something I shouldn't have." I answered, worry coating my voice.

"Did you ask him about it?" She stared at me, still confused.

I shook my head. "Not yet. But Tony seemed really...weird about it." I said.

She grabbed my shoulders, and shook my gently. "Don't worry about it! I'm sure it'll be fine." She comforted me.

I sighed, and thanked her. I hugged her quickly, before I continued walking down the long line of buses.

Once I had finally arrived at the bus I've learned to call home, I threw my stuff on the floor. I sat on the sofa next to Justin, and glared at him.

"What'd I do?" He asked, defensively.

"It's because of your existence, that I'll be called a whore." I sneered, crossing my arms over my chest in annoyance.

"Oh. About that..." he rubbed the back of his neck in nervousness. "I know who started it."

My mouth fell open. "Who? I'm going to kill that hoe!"

He chuckled. "Don't kill anyone. Jesus christ. Anger management needs to be addressed, I see."

"Stop stalling and tell me who it is!" I demanded, becoming slightly angry, and impatient.

"Alright! Some guy from Twitter." He pulled out his phone, and opened the app. He searched "Scene_Kid13478" and gave the iPhone to me. I stared at the picture, and read the name over and over, making sure I hadn't been hallucinating.

Jake Lacey

"Do you know him?" Justin asked, jerking me from my thoughts.

I nodded. "Well, I used to. In high school." I answered, not being able to take my eyes off of his picture. He hadn't changed much. His unnatural red hair still swooped over his face, his lean, muscly body still made him attractive. But he was no longer smiling. He had a mysterious, dark look to him. Which made me slightly scared. And by scared, I mean the kind of scared a little kid gets in the dark.

"Alright, this is stupid." I handed him his phone back. "I'm done with this. Fuck it. If I'm going to be known as a whore, so be it. I'm not getting involved in anything even more dramatic." I said, anger erupting from the pit of my stomach.

"But that's like being accused for something you didn't do. That is being accused for something you didn't do, Coraline." He said.

"No shit." I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice.

"At least not many people believe it." He said, attempting to be positive about the situation.

I sighed, and began relaxing again. "I'm going back to bed. Wake me up at the end of tour." I joked, walking back to my bunk.

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"I swear to god, Cora! Stop doing this! it's not going to get you anywhere!" Tinika yelled, becoming annoyed with my depressing actions.

I sighed, and nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry. We should do something fun." I suggested, staring at her.

She smiled. "I've got an idea." She said, grabbing my wrist, and dragging me towards the Asking Alexandria stage.

I couldn't help but laugh. we made our way into the crowd, and began singing and jumping along.

Your thighs were made for cheeks to graze. My lips, your poison, they bring you to your knees.

As we continued singing the many songs, and even getting into a few mosh pits, my spirits lifted quickly. It was the best ending to a bad day. I guess it all depends on the people you surround yourself with.