Chapter 10: The Drums

POV: Zac

September 24, 2007

Sleep? I didn’t know what the hell that was last night. I had purchased the vibrator for her, mostly because I was rather hoping she’d volunteer to use it in front of me. So much for that luck. She hadn’t volunteered or even mentioned using it.

I had just got out of a cold shower, designed to temper down my raging hormones and when I got out of the bathroom I noticed a message from her, I really should have ignored it. But, when I saw it was a picture message I couldn’t. That picture of wet panties did nothing to help, it also did nothing to convince me she didn’t want to do more.

I’d slept fitfully and the dreams of her were just fucking insane, they had been fairly normal and not quite sexed but just on the verge, last night’s were insane. There was stripping, handcuffs, vibrators and even ice. Yet, none of it was used on me it was a man I couldn’t see and she was just teasing me! It was insane that I’d think about that.

I was particularly glad that she’d left early with the rest of the crew and I didn’t have to see her until later on in the day. We’d checked out and we were sitting behind the venue but I was choosing to sit alone, yet Carrick came in and flopped down a seat away.

“What’s up? You been acting weird.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Yep. Your quite and you have this…I haven’t got laid in a while look. Not normal for you.”

“Eh, four weeks but who’s counting?”

Well, besides me anyway, fuck had it really been that long? Four weeks? That was a month without anything!

“You? Four weeks? No, that’s not near possible, nothing at all?”

“Sex in Colorado, head in Vegas on the 28th. Nothing since Vegas.”

“Well, that’s way off your average of two a week for tours, that’s weird.”

“My what?” I asked.

“Your average, it’s like two a week. Maybe give or take but it’s not a big secret Zac, it’s not like we don’t know why you’re eyeing them or when you sneak off after shows what you’re doing.”

“It’s not always sex.”

“Oral, anal, vaginal, it’s all sex Zac. Just because she’s sucking you off doesn’t mean it’s not sex. We don’t know the type of sex but we’re not stupid, we know why you’re going there.”

“You make it seem like I can’t say no.”

“Have you ever said no?”

“A few times…”

He tilted his head to the side. “Come on Zac, you suck at lying and you’re lying to me. Have you ever said no?”

“Well…not really. But an average?”

“You’re just more open maybe? So if your average is two and you’re talking a month here, what’s going on?”

“Nothing really, busy.”

If I said anything he’d just tell me what I already knew, Gabby wasn’t going to say yes. I wished I could forget about her but with her here on the bus, it was hard. But, I saw the smirk on his lips.

“No problem, just the one you want isn’t available? You know I also saw some rather..embarrassing tweets from some girls.”

“Available but unwilling. Ignore those tweets. Does she know about these averages you speak of?”

“Roadies talk Zac and she said Max told her about the band and he warned her about you. Besides, you had her fetch condoms dude and you left in Colorado, I mean of course she knows.”

He had a point and that was a stupid question because she’d mentioned the blonde from Colorado.

“You really make it sound like I just can’t go without it.”

“I’ve known you a long time Zac, you got bad after Priscilla.”

I cringed at her name. “She was a bitch.”

“She was someone you loved Zac and she cheated on you. It’s okay to want to explore after that. Maybe Gabby is good for you, rejection is good for the ego.”

“Plenty have rejected me.”

“But only one more than once.” He smirked.

I rolled my eyes, the walk was soon and I needed to get inside. I really didn’t want too, wasn’t sure my body could even handle being around her. He came inside with me and he went one way and I went to find my brothers, but I passed a room and heard her voice.

“No, I’ve done told you. You fucked up and not me. You want a third chance? The answer is no.”

I didn’t hear a reply but her voice was strained and she sounded agitated, so I paused by the door.

“No! You were the one that couldn’t keep your dick in your own pants. They did not have to be in hers and I told you when I came back I wouldn’t do another chance. Go fuck your blonde bimbo I’m sure she’ll love it.”

I heard the little tone for hang up and I carefully stepped to the door. “Hey, are you ok?”

She didn’t even look up from her phone. “I’m fine. Did you need something?”

“No…I just came to find them and heard you. You sounded upset.”

She snorted and got up. “The answer is still no.”

I was momentarily confused but then it hit me. “I…I didn’t mean it that way Gabby.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m fine.”

“Ok.” I said.

She pushed past me and headed to the front. I wondered who she was talking too, but clearly whoever it was he’d cheated on her with a blonde, evidently more than once. I went to the front and by all means she was fine, she was hooking up the wires and looking completely normal. During the walk, I tried not to spot or look for anyone, but it was Gabby’s face my eyes settled on, she was forty feet ahead of me and looking at her phone. It didn’t look like she wanted to even see her phone at this moment though. We returned and the three of us went to the back to grab lunch, they were about done with the set up and then we can all do sound check.

Lunch was peaceful and quiet, Taylor and I discussed a song concept he had, Isaac was on the phone with his girlfriend, Nicole. When lunch was over we got up and Ike was still on the phone and Taylor indicated he was going to the bathroom, so I started to the front.

I was about halfway there when I heard the drums being played, it was Blue Sky so I assumed it was Carrick or someone. I reached the door to the side stage and heard something very different though, it was no longer our song. It was harder, louder, and fuck! It was my favorite song, Disturbed has released it earlier this year, Stricken. I pushed through the door expecting to find maybe Mikey, that was his musical taste at times but the person sitting on my stool and totally rocking was Gabriella. I just stood there, pretty sure my mouth was wide open.

“One more time?” He asked.

She shifted on the seat and then started over and I swore my heart wanted to stop, the way she moved at the drums, the way her breasts bounced slightly and the way she flung her hair. The perfect replication of the song.

“That damn snare! Can you just pound the hell out of it?”

She moved the microphone. “I would rather not pound anything Danny. Let me check the wire.”

“You know Zac; you could get a picture it would last a lot longer.” Carrick yelled.

She turned and looked right at me and I saw her eyes dip, son of a bitch! I was also pretty certain that hard-on was visible through the pants I had on. The way it felt very tight I was positive that’s why they dipped.

“When the blood returns to his brain he may think of that Carrick, until then, he’s just going to stand there.”

Fuck my life, I thought I’d adjusted well enough but I guess not. I just turned and ran, there was nothing else I could do. I had to get away from her, the bathroom was the first place I came too and I locked myself inside the room. The images flew through my head of her sitting there, playing. I didn’t even fucking know she could play, let alone that song!

I sat on the lid for what felt like forever trying to breathe, willing the erection to just go. When my phone dinged I got it praying it wasn’t her, nope, just Carrick. I didn’t think my best friend would be an asshole but he’d sent me three pictures. Pictures of her playing from the side and from the front, including a very nice close up of her face and that pure sex look just caused my body to heat up.

Since you couldn’t form words, let along thoughts to take the picture.

Fuck you, you did that shit on purpose!

But of course, for the record I told her she was evil and she said you’d just send her for candy.

I didn’t even reply, I’d racked up enough hours for her that one week and if Taylor and Isaac knew why they’d skin me alive. I tried willing the erection away but I couldn’t. I finally gave him, undoing the button and zipper as quick as I could with those images in my head. It wasn’t new, I’d jacked off plenty of times. I could just see her sitting there, sucking me. I was super close when someone pounded on the door.

“Zac! Taylor and Isaac said to get your ass to the stage.” Carrick said.

There is nothing like a mood killer than the images of your brothers! Fucking great. What was a awesome feeling quickly died. Where was he when I was trying to start with? It took a few minutes to readjust my pants and wash my hands, I should just go out but eh, I wasn’t that depraved yet. I dried my hands and when I opened the door Gabriella was leaned against the wall. This little smirk that really made her sexy as fuck.

“You know, based on the color of your face I’d say he interrupted you.”

She’d denied it when I said that to her. “He actually did, not pleasant when your interrupted either.”

“I’ll try harder next time.” She then turned and went down the hallway.

I blinked, had she just..she couldn’t have implied that was her intention at all. I went to the front and found Taylor and Isaac waiting impatiently.

“It’s about time.”

“Sorry! I was in the bathroom.”

I sat down and of course, sitting here reminded me of when she was here. Fuck my life. We somehow made it through sound check and even though she was standing off to the side, had to adjust a few wires I tried to ignore her. After sound check we got ready and I avoided her, I just couldn’t be near her right now. I could have been a dick and sent her across town for some random candy bar or something but that was racking her hours up quickly and I really didn’t need the candy.

It was Austin that flopped down on the sofa beside me. “Carrick tells me Gabby can play the drums, did you know?”

“No, but I do now.”

“She played like rock or metal or something.”

“I heard her Austin. I know what she played, I even know the song.”

“You seem a little grouchy. Perhaps you should…”

I cut him off. “I don’t need to find some blonde or some girl from the line, what I need is to be left alone.”

He got up. “Okay.”

Great, I’d now irritated or pissed off the opening act. I didn’t want anyone in the line outside, no, the person I wanted to take to bed right now, was on the bus with me and she wasn’t saying yes.

The concert went fantastic, I was able to ignore every set of tits and avoid any potential problems, but sitting at the drums reminded me of her playing and that caused some mild issues. We got showers and changed after the show and by the time all three of us were showered and on the bus, they had the stuff broken down, repacked, and in the trailer. Most of the crew were also showering so we just hung-out. Isaac handed out beers and fixed himself a shot of something, looked like whiskey. Carrick, Austin, and Mikey had beers and when Gabby got back on the bus Andrew and Demetrius were with her, apparently Isaac had asked that at least one of them walk with her back. They sat down and Isaac offered beers to them all too. Andrew and Demetrius took a beer and usually Gabby declined any alcohol.

“Whiskey?” She asked.

“I have that and vodka.”

“Vodka will be fine, I think there is OJ in there too.”

I nearly dropped my fucking beer! Isaac fixed it for her and handed it to her, about the time we got rolling. Apparently she just wanted to drink, because she had that first one downed quickly and he made her a second.

“Anyone up for a game of Truth or Dare?” Mikey asked.

Everyone hesitated but I shrugged. “Sure, sounds like a plan.”

After that everyone agreed, including Gabby, which could be interesting to say the least. Mikey went first, choosing Isaac to truth us with how he felt about his present girlfriend, which turned out to be pretty good, he was feeling they might be destine. Carrick chose Taylor, asking him about Stella and if they’d reached home base yet, since it was a truth then Taylor had to say yes. Austin looked at me.

“Truth or Dare Zac?”

“Truth me.”

“Have you ever gotten head while driving?”

“That would be a no, don’t ever drive anywhere with anyone.”

“Shocking.” he said.

I expected Gabby to pick me and ask some stupidly absurd question, but she asked Carrick what his favorite movie was, that was random as well. Isaac chose Austin, asking if he’d gotten to home base with his girlfriend, which he had.

“Gabby, truth or dare?” Taylor asked.

“Truth.” She replied, following it with a sip of her drink.

“Have you ever dyed your hair and if so, what color?”

For a moment she hesitated. “Yes, I dyed it black when I was 17.”

“Really?” he asked.

“Yes, Taylor. Really.”

It was my turn and I could be an asshole and pick any number of questions, but the one on the tip of my tongue was there.

“Truth or Dare Gabby.”

“Truth.”

“What IS your favorite song?”

She took a very long sip on her drink. “The same one you like, Stricken by Disturbed. It’s my current favorite as I don’t have a long-term.”

Fucking hell, I didn’t expect that. The game moved on, Gabby would always take truth no matter who asked. Which, most of our questions to her were none sex related. I learned she liked blue, red and black, she liked rock music mostly which shocked me. But the drunker I got the more I wanted to know.

“Truth or dare Gabs?”

“Why are you even asking? Truth.”

“Have you ever had sex with a friend, male friend.”

I saw the glass falter in her hand and she was taking longer. “Yes.”

Mikey asked her and she chose truth again. “What is the most public place you’ve had sex?”

“Guys..” Taylor said.

“It’s okay Taylor, he asked you the same thing. Most public place? That would be a park on the slide, at night there weren’t children around just a bunch of adults.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Were the other adults around you?”

“Not your turn, but yeah others were around.”

I saw Mikey shift positions and Taylor’s face turned a little red. Isaac fixed another drink for them both but her eyes were getting a glossy look. I wasn’t sure how much more alcohol she could handle.

My next round I didn’t ask her, I diverted to Mikey, asking him the same thing he asked her. Apparently outside the bus was his, kind of weird. Carrick asked us all the most illegal thing we’ve done, which illegal drugs was most of ours, when it came time for her she didn’t say anything.

“Gabby?” He asked.

“I’ll pass.”

“Then you have to take a dare.” Mikey said.

“Then I take a dare.”

I blinked, what could the truth be if she was electing a dare? Thankfully, it wasn’t Mikey who got to issue it. Carrick fixed a very strong drink and dared her to drink it. None of us thought she could, he’d fixed a whole glass but she drank it like it was nothing. Clearly, drinking was something she was use to.

She passed on her question and she was looking very glassy eyed now. Isaac chose Carrick, asking a random song question, Taylor looked at her though.

“Gabby, where were you born?”

I saw the very clouded look and she was very drunk by now. “I don’t know, I think Kansas somewhere.”

Mikey started to ask that question, how she didn’t know. But Carrick stopped him, instead looking at me, I asked him about his fashion choices.

“Truth or Dare Zac?”

I didn’t expect him to ask me! “Uh..let’s go dare.”

Yet, the moment the words left my mouth I knew that was the wrong choice, because his eyes flicked to Gabby and then back to me and I remembered the spider accident.

“I dare you to suck on Gabby’s neck for a whole minute, uninterrupted.”

Taylor nearly choked on his gulp of beer, Carrick and Austin just blinked, he smiled, the smug bastard and Gabby didn’t seem to really even know what he said. But I knew that if I got that close to her I wouldn’t be able to stop any reactions and based on the way she looked, she’d probably kick me in the balls when I got close.

“Pass.”

“If you pass then you have to take your shirt off, all of them.”

I sat the beer down and quickly took them off, there was no way that I was going to do that. I saw her look at me and saw her tongue dart across lips, perfect! She however skipped the next few rounds, I wasn’t much paying attention to her as she skipped now and they weren’t asking questions to her.

“Truth or dare Gabby?” Mikey asked.

“She’s not going to answer.” Andrew said.

“Why?” He snapped.

“She passed out thirty minutes ago Mikey, she’s been laying on my arm since then. She is out, I nudged her and nothing.” Andrew said.

I blinked, sure enough her head was laying against Andrew’s arm and her eyes were closed. He directed his question then to me but another round was it, everyone was tired. Everyone but Andrew and I got up and went to bed.

“I feel bad leaving her laying back here…” he said.

I slipped my shirt back on. “I’ll take her to her bunk.”

“Are you sure that’s wise Zac?”

“Yeah, it’s not right to leave her back here and you can’t get her. Mikey’s the only other person that pick her up beside me and let’s face it, I’m not calling him too.”

I moved the half-full glass first and tried to rouse her just in case and her eyes blinked at me. She was still pretty much out of it.

“Hey, bedtime.”

She looked confused but she sat up and the both of us helped her, I let him do more because I wasn’t sure I could without issues. I only needed to make sure she actually got in the bunk without falling out and I got the blanket.

“Goodnight Gabby.”

“Where’s Shawn, he usually tucks me in.”

“No Shawn here.”

“But he promised…”

“Sorry Gabby, there is no Shawn here. Just us insane band people.”

I finished covering her up but I saw the tears in her eyes and I felt the tug, that distinct pain. What the hell was going on with me?

I pulled her curtain too as she was going back to sleep. I then climbed into my own bunk, I didn’t understand the feeling at all. Maybe I was just going crazy. But the beers helped because I was asleep long before I could find the answers.