You Put the Spike in My Heart

Bailey had been laying in the same spot for hours, just staring up at the sky. Once in a while one of the boys would come over and grind across the top of the bench, inches from her face. She was severely annoyed with this at first, but by the tenth time she had given up caring altogether.

They had been skating all damn day and Bailey had been counting down the minutes until they could go back to the stadium and watch the concert. A deep cut on her cheek reminded her why she hadn't touched a skateboard in years. Ever since then she had sprawled out on the bench and fought the urge to leave the boys for a bar.

"How's your face?"

Bam's visage blocked out the waning sunlight above her, the usual smug smile lighting up his face. Bailey glared in response, reflexively rubbing the sore area.

"We can't all be pro-skateboarders like you."

"Someone's grumpy."

She sat up and wrapped her arms around her legs, trying to ignore his jives as he took the spot next to her.

"Can we go back to the stadium now? I'd actually like to watch Bert's band play too."

Bam snorted at this and then shook his head.

"Are you sure you don't just miss a certain boy with black hair, hazel eyes and -"

"Brandon Cole Margera!" Bailey slapped Bam in the back of the head so hard he almost fell off of the bench. "What is your major malfunction?"

"What'd I do?!" He snapped back at her, eyes wide.

"I told you I don't like Gerard like that, why do you insist on bringing it up every two seconds?"

"Bit defensive, ain't she?" Dunn commented, plopping down on the other side of her. Bailey put her face in her hands, she was in no mood to be ganged up on.

"Don't you think that if I really did like him, I would have told you one of the many times you asked me while I was belligerently drunk?"

Bam seemed to think this over but then smiled and shook his head.

"I honestly think that maybe you don't even know that you like him. It always takes you longer than it should and - OW!" Bailey slugged Bam in the arm and they both grew quiet, glaring playfully at each other.

Dunn wrapped his arm around Bailey and sighed as if getting ready to explain something very simple to a confused child.

"The proof is all there, you know. You've fallen asleep on him, you prefer his company to anyone else's lately - which cuts me deep there, Baileykins."

Her glare turned to him but then Bam picked up where he left off.

"You've been bickering with him on and off, which is a prime example of a Bailey-crush."

"Excuse me?" She raised an incredulous brow at him.

"Oh, you know. It happened between me and you. You fight with him, you're relatively nice, you act all bat-shit crazy and then you go in for the kill. Like a black-widow spider, he'll never see it coming." Bam gave himself a self-affirming nod but Bailey just stared at him like he was an idiot.

"Oh! And you kissed him!"

"I've kissed the both of you too, doesn't say much for him now, does it?"

She sprang up off of the bench before either of them could do her any physical harm and headed towards her car.

"Where do you think you're going? We're not done skating." Bam asked and grabbed her around the wrist. She looked at his hand and frowned but then put on a fake smile.

"Aren't you famous? I'm sure you've got enough money on you for a cab."

She didn't wait for his response as she took her arm back and got in the car.

~*~

"Crap." Bailey commented to herself as she pulled back into the stadium. The concert had obviously already started, the music managing to shake her car all the way in the parking lot.
Once her feet met the pavement she tried to run towards the entrance but only succeeded in tripping over herself the entire way.

The security guards were still snickering when she reached them and they waved her through without so much as a glance at her pass. Mumbling numerous expletives under her breath, she couldn't help but think about how much it sucked being sober.

She made her way through the hallways as quickly and carefully as possible only to stop short at the last door. Familiar laughter poured out and she couldn't help but smile as she pressed herself against the frame so as to hear better.
Bailey nibbled on her lip ring in concentration. It sounded like Frank was bouncing off the walls and Ray was trying to calm him down. She raised her fist and went to knock on the door -

"This is our last song tonight. It's called 'On My Own'..."

"Shit."

Bailey retracted her hand and raced to the stage.
Upon finally reaching her destination, Bailey peered through the curtains and was surprised at what she saw. The sun was almost set on the horizon to the left of the stage. It cast an eerie, deep, orange glow over the enormous crowd. Her brother was on his knees before them, letting out a guttural, heart-wrenching scream. Sweat poured from every one of the guys, all of them looking lost in a strange trance.

She hadn't honestly listened to any of their songs before, figuring her brother was a simple court jester on the stage, doubting that he was the very impressive thing that this crowd came to see. Their music was raw and deep, something she felt immediately connected to.

Tears started to escape over Bailey's cheeks. She had a newfound love and respect for her brother. It was suddenly hitting her how very selfish and mean she had been to him. She had treated him like less than dirt and she felt foolish for it.

She had been mistaken. She could hear it in the music and his screams - she wasn't the only one who had lost their mother.

The music had ended too soon, she craved more of it, craved that connection of someone who understood her. She wiped the stray tears away as the boys made their way off the stage, opening the curtain for them with a smile that she hoped was convincing.

"You guys were amazing!" Bailey gushed.

They all eyed her warily as they said their thanks, as if at any moment she would return to the dreaded state they had witnessed that morning. As the guys made their way by her, she grabbed Bert's hand before he could follow.

"Bert, I just wanted to...I just needed to..." The apology wouldn't come and she groaned before deciding on taking a different route.

"Listen, Bert. I've been a bitch." She blurted.

Bert laughed at her and mussed her hair a bit.

"Don't worry, kiddo. You're forgiven." Bert said before disappearing behind the others. Bailey's smile turned into an unhappy pout.

"That 'kiddo' shit has got to stop." She grumbled to herself before taking off after Bert.