Chapter 5: Cold Chills

POV: Gabby

February 25, 2008

What was supposed to be us getting in late Sunday turned into early Monday when a flat tired delayed us. Carrick and his band were already there waiting on us, but we didn’t make it to the venue until 8 am. It wasn’t uncommon to arrive now but we were looking forward to being parked a while, but that didn’t happen. We began to unload anyway, the boys were helping and I was condemned to the basic very light items like cables and the guitar cases if I used my left hand. Zac yelled when I made a half hearted attempt to help him and Isaac push the piano inside. I was allowed to unpack the wires and lay them out but they set up the equipment.

“When is Carrick and the others showing up?” I asked.

“Should be the next hour, they check out at eleven and he said he would grab pizza for us all. So, should be about noon or thereafter.” Isaac replied.

“Gabby! Where is my damn wire?”

“To your right Tay.”

He grabbed the wire and because this venue had them under a table I just smiled. Damn I needed a feather! I smiled very widely when Isaac presented me with one and Zac got his camera to record it. Taylor screamed like a little girl and jumped when I ran the feather across his back. It was hilarious! Zac sent it to Stella at home and Taylor just groaned.

“I should have known.”

He was a little red faced but nothing bad and he swore he wouldn’t be doing that again. Zac was trying to set the drums up but having problems so I climbed up and just sat down in his lap. Began to adjust the screws and clamps, to the precise location they needed to be.

“You do realize this is not a good place for you to be sitting like this. Right?”

“You are handling it quite well actually, unless you wore very tight underwear.”

His arms came around my waist and I felt the warm lips against my neck. “Only because I know Isaac is 15 feet away.”

Taylor yelled that the pizza was here so I got up. “I’m going to finish fixing the clamps and then I’ll join you guys.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Three slices of white cheese please, I am sure Carrick remembered.”

He smiled and after a quick kiss ran off with Isaac and I sat down to finish the few little clamps, I wanted to make sure they were right because the last thing we needed was for them to roll away. I didn’t realize it was taking so long, but I heard the sounds of heels on the floor, kind of confused me because everyone was male on this tour but me. Then again, venue personnel could be women.

“They sent me to get you, said your food was getting cold.”

I paused with my hand on the clamp because her voice sounded familiar, kind of medium pitched but velvety smooth, I just sat there because that voice was not possible. It had been a very long time since I’d last heard it. I heard the phone go off and was sure it was Zac but I really didn’t want to acknowledge that she was there.

“Hello?” She asked.

It couldn’t be her, there was no way she was here. Why would she be?! But I heard the shoes again, getting closer and then her hand was on my shoulder and I turned staring into the familiar green eyes. I could see the shock in her face as well, not expecting to see me here. Her hand remained on my shoulder and I just stared into the pretty green eyes.

“Kitten? Is that really you?”

Her voice was still the same smooth velvet that I remembered and that name I hadn’t been called that in seven years. I couldn’t believe she was standing there.

“Sierra?”

My phone went off again as my eyes traveled over her face, the same fine features, the same middle of the lip piercing, her hair was multi-colored still, shades of blue and blonde, she was wearing black jeans that fit very well, high heels and a simple white long sleeve, I could see her black bra through the shirt though.

“It is you! My god you look so different without the long hair and the black!”

She moved super quickly, embracing me in a tight familiar hug and it was so comforting and felt so good.

“Where have you been Kitten? Newton told me you just up and left him. You didn’t even take half of your things. Where did you go?”

There was true concern in her voice, something no one from my past seemed to really have anymore.

“I...I uh...caught him with Mary. I just left and went home. I found Tera when I got there.”

“Gabby! Carrick is threatening to…” Zac’s voice trailed off behind her.

Maybe it was the fact she was so close to me? Practically in my lap almost. I was so glad he came and provided me an out because I was feeling all kinds of things right now and I just didn’t need that.

“Sorry.”

“Gabby?” he asked.

“No one’s ever called you by your first name. When did you start using it?” She asked.

“You two know each other?” Zac asked.

Sierra’s arms went around me and she smiled. “She’s my little kitten. It’s what I always called her anyway.”

“Kitten huh? Well, I’ve heard Ella, Gabby, Skye, her full name but never that.”

He was looking at me wanting an answer and I just really wanted to run like hell, where was Austin when I needed him?! I was never so glad for Isaac in my life. Hopefully she’d be gone before the show and definitely before we left.

“Gabs, Carrick is threatening to eat the plate Zac put aside for you. You better go.” Ike said.

“Sure.”

I pulled away from Sierra and made a beeline to the back, leaving her and Zac confused. Yet, I really wasn’t hungry anymore. Carrick had my plate and I knew that I needed to keep up appearances.

“You better leave that plate alone or I’ll feed you to the wolves.”

He slid it over. “It’s about damn time, I’ve missed your pretty face and what the fuck is this about marriage? You two went and got married without me?”

“You were there, it was Vegas!”

“No fucking way.”

“Sorry, way.”

I took a few bites of the cheese pizza which was still warm and still delicious.

“Did you meet our drummer?”

“Mikey? Yeah. Damn Carebear where you been? I met Mikey last year. I know you aren’t that slow.”

“Mikey quit Gabby. We have a new temporary drummer. Carebear?”

“Oh…Um..No, I haven’t met him then, I didn’t know Mikey left. Yes, Carebear.”

“She. She came to get you. Sierra?”

The slice of pizza completely fell out of my hand, landing on the plate. “Sierra?”

If she was there drummer then she’d not be leaving after tonight, she wouldn’t even be 100 feet from me and she’d be on the bus!

“Yeah. Why?”

“We use to tour together.” She said.

I saw both Carrick and Austin lay their forks down slowly, Taylor’s eyes widened and the fork was mid-bite just hanging there. Andrew and Demetrius just stared at me.

“When?” Carrick asked.

“I was the lead singer for Twisted Metal. She was one of the band members girlfriends, traveled with us a lot. Roadie for us actually the first year.”

I think I saw the moment Carrick recognized her face. “I think I may have seen a photo of you then.”

“Yeah, I had more single colors then, I went more multi-colored after the band broke up.”

Zac sat down beside me but when my phone went off I checked.

Are you okay?!

Yeah, I’m fine.

I don’t believe that, but I will accept it.

I just forced myself to finish eating, ignoring that she’d sat down beside me, ignoring that she was here.

“So you know Gabriella?” Taylor asked.

“I remember a far different version of Kitten than you guys apparently know.”

“Kitten?” Isaac asked.

“Sorry, it’s what I called her back then, guess old habits don’t die very hard.”

The pizza wasn’t settling well at all, so I kept quiet.

“How long was back then?” Isaac asked.

“It’s been about seven years since I last saw her, at the time her hair was much longer than it is now and black, I recall a bunch of leather too.”

“Not much leather in her closet now.” Zac said.

I could almost feel her eyes move across me to him. “Really, maybe I should change that. Leather was always a good look.”

I felt Carrick’s foot smack mine and looked at him. He asked if I was okay without using his voice and I just nodded. But truthfully I wasn’t feeling very well, Zac commented something about seeing pictures of leather pants.

“How did you meet Carrick and Austin?”

She looked at me and those green eyes flashed love. “I saw an advertisement for a tour drummer, I love the music so I already knew the songs really. I came in, we jammed a bit and they hired me for the tour.”

“Seems legit, Mikey just up and left. We didn’t want to cancel so we put the ad out first. Several replies but Sierra was the best choice, she knew most of the songs already and we didn’t like have communication problems.” Austin said.

“Fans will get a kick out of the hair.” Andrew said.

She giggled and I remained quiet, remembering things I’d worked to forget.

Newton was acting strange as he lead me to the rear of the bus, some surprise he said and I smiled when I heard her giggle.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you in that little of clothes.”

“He told me to dress in this…what is..”

Her hands came around me and that was the end of the nerves, end of the problems, sex with her was so different and she paid so much attention, as we laid in the floor of the lounge later on she giggled.

“Kitten, that is what I am going to call you from now on.”

“Kitten? Seriously?”

“My little sex kitten, because I’ve never heard anyone purr the way you did.”

It was Zac’s hand waving in front of me that got my attention, I found everyone staring at me.

“You okay there Kitten? You seemed a little out there.”

“I’m fine, tired.”

I was finished with lunch so I just got up and went back to the drums, I needed to finish them before the walk and that was in like an hour. I sat down there in the quietness of the stage but it didn’t stay long because Zac was there.

“Hop up.”

I got up and he sat down on the stool, pulling me back down sideways.

“This isn’t a position I can fix your drums in.”

“What’s wrong? You’ve been acting weird since you came back.”

“Nothing is wrong.”

He just held me there patiently, although his right hand was creeping underneath the back of my shirt, not that I was minding much, the warm fingers felt nice.

“I haven’t seen her in seven years, I don’t know what to expect. Nothing is wrong.”

“Positive?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to walk with us?”

“Of course, I just won’t be like under you.”

He gave my cheek a nice kiss. “I rather like it when you are, but okay. Do stay where I can see you though.”

“I will. If you’ll let me finish this.”

He let me get up and he went to get ready, I finished setting it up and while we were on the walk Carrick set up, Andrew joined the walk but I still stayed near Zac. It was weird now that fans knew, yet I found a lot really didn’t, I assumed they were non-members of the website. When we got back they did their sound check and I had to adjust the drums just a bit and adjust 1 wire that Taylor messed up.

Catering was provided for dinner here, so we sat down about 6 and had a decent dinner , Sierra spent most of the time with Austin and Carrick then going over the set list, so it was nice to have separation and it seemed like she wasn’t really saying much about me. Zac and I both showered together, it was the easiest way. Even if he would probably take another one tonight after the show. I watched their show and sure enough afterwards he hopped back in, but I went to help them break down, following my strict orders not to do anything but break down the drums and wires.

“How are you?” Carrick asked.

“Much better, the doctor said not a lot of bending or anything, he didn’t clear me to return to the same work but I can carry the guitars and the wires, it’s all Hanson is allowing.”

He smiled. “Glad you are better though.”

Sierra looked confused but didn’t ask about it. I saw them greeting fans after the show but Zac was keeping his distance from the blondes and really, all of them. He was doing side hugs and not letting them get so touchy. But the last two trips said they’d all gotten on the bus because he wasn’t outside. When the trailer was re-loaded with all the equipment we made a last sweep and then got on the bus. I was the last one on, letting DJ know we were ready to roll and start the second half of this tour.

Our bunks were the same as before, Sierra’s was on the other side and the front, so she was away from me. I didn’t understand why she was making me so nervous to be around. It had been a long time, over seven years since we talked, sure she called me Kitten still but no one else knew why, least that I knew of. I could hear them in the back so I went there and found most seats were full, everyone was back here but even though there was extra seats my chosen seat was Zac’s lap.

“Aww, so sweet.” Carrick said and then gagged a bit.

“Stuff it Carrick.” Zac said.

Sierra looked up from her spot in the back corner, a confused look on her face. I just settled in his lap, his left hand rested on my thigh and the other one was behind me on the edge of the sofa.

“Where did you get that ring Kitten? It’s pretty, I love the blue.”

“My wedding band? Zac picked them out but I have no idea where he got them, he refused to tell me.”

That totally got her attention. “Wedding band?”

“Yeah, these two love birds decided Vegas was the right place but seriously, could have invited me.” Carrick said.

“Dude, my own parents weren’t there. Get over it.” Zac said.

“I didn’t know you ever wanted to get married. Didn’t Newton ask like six times?”

“He did but I wasn’t ready then. It’s a long story but I want to be here.”

“I couldn’t ask for a better wife.”

“Or hotter.” Austin chimed in.

“You trying to make me replace the guitar player too?!” Carrick asked.

“No, it’s true. Zac isn’t going to deny that either.”

“No denying it from me.” Zac said.

I settled in and she didn’t say anything about them, but the guys chatted about random things from the holidays. Most everyone had spent time with their families, which is what we had done also. Isaac shared his news about an engagement and we spent a long time talking about that and potential dates, he didn’t have a set date yet, but they were thinking next year for the wedding, it was a long engagement.

“How long were you two together before you got married?” Sierra asked.

“Thirteen days.” Zac said.

“Thirteen…Days?” She asked.

“We dated thirteen days, yeah. Vegas wedding, not really planned.” Zac said.

“Yet, you remained married?” She asked.

“Yep. Felt like it was where I belonged.”

“Then you are G. Hanson from the list?”

“Who did you think it was?” Austin asked.

“Some cousin or something, I didn’t think wife. I didn’t think Kitten would ever get married, not after turning down Newton.”

“Who is this Newton guy?” Carrick asked.

“He’s no one.” I said.

She didn’t argue but an hour later she went to bed and then everyone slowly started making their way to bed. Zac and I sat in the back for a little while longer up until everyone else was in bed.

“You never told me Newton asked you to marry him. Is that true?”

“Newton asked several times but he didn’t mean it Zac, he never meant it.”

“Why do you think he didn’t mean it?”

I kissed his neck and moved up to his lips. “Because he never looked at me the way you do, he asked after sex or after getting high. He never remembered asking afterwards and he just didn’t seem serious. If he had been serious and if he had looked at me like you, then maybe. But, I was 17 then too, I wasn’t ready to settle down.”

“You act like that was twenty years ago.”

“Well, it was long enough. Newton wasn’t serious about anything, I don’t really know if he married the girl he cheated on me with.”

“If you were with Tera and Sierra during that relationship, couldn’t you have been seen as cheating too?”

“He initiated those events and he was present the whole time, every time. I walked in on him and Mary, I didn’t even know about them. I didn’t care to after that, I just left. I never told him I’d never say no to that, he knew all he had to do was ask. I wasn’t enough for him so I left.”

He pulled me in for a kiss. “You are more than enough for me. But, we should get to bed. It’s a long drive.”

“Sure?”

“Yes. It’ll be fine.”

Eventually we peeled ourselves off the couch and got into bed, although sleeping above and below one another wasn’t normal now, so it often took me longer to fall asleep. Simon’s messages didn’t help, they were still steady and now the e-mails were pictures and the texts were more personal, reminding me of things I didn’t need reminding of. I eventually fell asleep about 4 am.