I sat at the edge of the hotel bed, tapping my foot along to whatever song Mike was listening to on his phone. He checked his appearance in the mirror, then looked over to me with a small, but still beautiful smile. "You ready?" He questioned, turning off the music from his phone.

I nodded, "I've been ready, Mike."

He let out a soft chuckle as he watched me grab my phone and toss it into my bag, then leading me to the door of the hotel. We walked down to the elevator and were alone. Mike grabbed my hand and tightened his grip on it as we walked out of the hotel to hail a cab and make our way to the venue.

When we pulled up, I saw Of Mice and Men's tour bus parked in the back of the building. I was nervous about this. I've had a terrible feeling about tonight for weeks now, and I couldn't stop it. All of my friends told me not to worry, even Mike. But I couldn't help but let my head stir up it's own emotions and situations. Mike and I walked in from the back, and I saw Benji sitting at a table with Josh, both with beers in their hands. Before walking over to join them, I finally got to see Vic, Jaime, and Tony. All three had smiles spread across their faces as they opened their arms and hugged me tightly. Mike walked over to Benji and Josh and talked for a while.

"Future sister-in-law, I've missed you!" Vic mentioned with a grin, hugging me tightly.

"I missed you, too! How's the tour been?"

"It's been good, you know. As good as it can be given the circumstances, but overall it's been okay."

"Has anything happened or is Mike lying when he says nothing has?"

Vic chuckled, "He just doesn't wanna worry you. But, no not really. Austin doesn't really say anything to Mike's face. It's more of a behind his back, when he's back on the Of Mice bus thing, you know?"

I nodded, "I honestly have such a bad feeling about tonight, Vic."

"Hey, don't stress about it. You're on a mini vacation, Luce. Take a breather from the drama for a few days."

I took in his advice, hoping that he would be right. But no matter what, I can't help but feel like something awful might happen. I walked over to the table where Benji, Josh, and Mike were sitting. "Joshie!" I said, replacing the worry with a fake smile.

"Hello there, Lucy. Nice to finally see you in my city for once."

I sat down beside Mike, "I know. Once the guys leave tomorrow night, you have to show me the secret spots. Is Frankie in town?" Frankie is a friend of mine, Benji, and Josh. He's a graphic designer here in New York, and quite possibly the most hilarious and outspoken people I've ever met.

"Of course. He hates everywhere else. He said that he might come to the second show tomorrow night. He was working tonight."

"Are you working tonight?" I asked him. Josh never stopped working, ever.

He grinned, "You know me too well, Lucy. But yeah, I'm doing a piece on Of Mice and Men and your boys band here." He gestured to Mike whom I noticed had a beer in his hand. The waitress brought me a glass of whiskey on the rocks, and placed it in front of me.

"I ordered you that instead of a beer. You seem on edge tonight." Mike said, rubbing his right hand on my left one, gently.

I took a deep breath, taking a sip. "Thanks, baby. I feel on edge. I'm just nervous, I guess."

"Why?" Josh asked curiously.

Benji smirked as he sipped on his beverage, probably some concoction with vodka and Red Bull. "Because the front man of Of Mice is a total dick."

"That's been in love with Lucy but never acted on it and now hates us because he's mad that he can't have her." Mike finished, with a giant grin. Him and Benji laughed, and I just rolled my eyes. But, I had to agree. That was basically the entire issue.

"Yeah, basically." I said, my eyebrows rising.

"You and Austin used to be your best friend, right?" Josh asked. "I remember him and Tal would always post pictures of you three."

"Yeah, he was until he started being an asshole. He's been a hater of mine and Mike's relationship since the beginning."

"Well, it's not much of his business now is it?" Josh said, easily and making more sense than anyone has about this topic.

"It's not." I smiled, agreeing.

"Are you guys gonna go backstage and watch or be out here?" Mike asked, sliding off of his seat and grabbing his beer.

"Um, I'll go back there right now, but be out here when you guys play. I don't care much for Of Mice" Benji said standing up and following Mike's actions. I got up as well, grabbing my drink and purse, while holding onto Mike's hand.

"I'm good right here, guys. I'll have this spot saved for us. I gotta work." Josh said, grinning. We all nodded and made our way to the back before fans started filing in. We passed by the Issues dressing room, and the You Me At Six dressing room before we passed Of Mice and Men's dressing room.

I heard my name being shouted and I identified it instantly as it was Alan's nerdy voice. I looked back as he ran towards me, following us into PTV's dressing room. I put down my stuff and shouted his name, "Alan Ashby!" I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"I mean, hi bitch, I miss you." He said with a laugh.

"I missed you too, Alan. How's my favorite Of Mice member been doing?"

"I thought I was the favorite!" Tino popped into the room and I hugged him as well, then sitting beside Vic whom was drinking a beer.

"Oh, I can't choose. You're both my favorites to be honest." I sipped on my drink as they began telling me how much they've missed me and whatnot.

Mike was sitting in the corner with Casey and Benji, tossing back beers and talking music. I looked out the door and saw Austin walking to his dressing room. At that moment, I felt like throwing up more than anything in the world. Right after him was Tyler Carter who shouted my name louder than Alan did before, and Tyler ran inside of the dressing room. I wasn't close with Tyler, but I gave Issues a good review on their last album and he's been kissing my ass since then.

"Oh, hey Tyler." I waved, and he went in for a small hug.

"Come to our dressing room so Bohn and Josh from YMAS could see you!" As for Michael Bohn, Issues' vocalist, I was cool with him. Just a teeny bit though. And Josh from You Me At Six, he was one of my really good friends.

"Um, sure. Give me a second." I said, getting up and giving Mike a look. He nodded and I knew that meant to calm down.

I left my drink on one of the tables and had Tino and Alan following me as we followed Tyler to go see the other bands. We walk passed the OMM dressing room, and I said a quick hello to everyone in Issues and chatted for a few minutes to all the guys in YMAS. Alan and I were walking back to the PTV dressing room, when he wanted to grab his drink from his dressing room. I stood outside of the door as he walked in, and when he did, Austin looked up from tying his shoe and looked directly at me.

He stood up and walked up to me, his eyes landing from my eyes to my engagement ring. I saw him swallow hard before he spoke, "Uh, hey Lucy." He said, groggily.

"Um, hey." I replied softly. I nervously fixed my skirt with my hands, as they ran through it.

His eyes went back to my ring and it seemed like he couldn't stop looking at it. "Nice ring you got there." He had a sting to his comment, a bitterness.

"Thanks." I could've been rude and gave him a sting back with my words. But I decided not to. I wasn't going to add fuel to the fire that was already burning high.

"How long are you here for?" His bit down hard. Hard enough that I could see his jaw move.

"I'm here for a few days. Even after you all leave."

He nodded, "That's cool." He looked down at his large feet, and that's when I noticed that Alan was standing behind him the entire time with wide eyes.

"C'mon, Alan." I said, ready to leave this tension filled hallway.

Alan moved passed Austin and we walked back to the dressing room, as quickly as possible. I walked back in and I'm not going to lie, I was a little flustered; I was uncomfortable with how all of that went. I walked to Mike and gave him a look. "Let me guess, he talked to you?" Mike said, irritated with Austin at this point.

"He was like, 'Nice ring you got there.'" Alan said mockingly. "But, he said it kinda rudely."

"What's new? He has shit to say everyday. I don't care if he says anything about me or to me, but if he says any shit, and I mean anything to you, I'm kicking his ass." Mike said looking at me. He began to get his drumsticks and tap on his lap with them, lightly.

"Where's my drink?" I said, and Vic pointed to it. I grabbed it and drank some of it, the rest of it honestly. I sat back on the couch and began to look at my phone. There was a text from Brandon that said:

Just breathe, Lucy. I know you and I know how bad you're freaking out. It'll all be okay. I love you, and have fun with your boo.

I smiled at the message and sent a silly selfie with Vic back, letting him know that all was good, so far. But, I would keep him updated.

---

Issues, You Me At Six, Of Mice and Men, and Pierce The Veil all had played. PTV was done and getting off of the stage, leaving the crowd going nuts. There was constant screaming as I made my way back to the dressing room with Benji tagging along behind me. We were laughing, both buzzing as we continued to walk down the long hallway. We stopped suddenly when we heard shouting, and when I heard my name, my heart fell to the floor; getting stomped on by everyone in the hallway. Aaron Pauley's girlfriend, Amanda, was here and she found me. "Lucy! Oh my god, Austin and Mike are fighting right now!" She looked concerned and it felt like my feet were planted into the cemented ground, but Benji and I ran towards the chaos anyway.

Mike was yelling something about how Austin didn't have any say in his relationship and to get the fuck over his feelings. I looked at Austin and he had a bloody nose, and was pushing Tino and Phil to back off of him because he wanted to "get that motherfucker". He got out of their grip and pushed Mike, so Mike had pushed him back, getting out of Jaime and Tyler's grips, and he attacked Austin, throwing punched left and right. I got in the middle, with Vic and Benji telling me not too. Vic pulled me back and Benji went into the fight, pulling Mike off of Austin and dragging him back into the PTV dressing room.

My eyes welled up as they picked Austin up, him breathing heavily. I was pissed, I'd never been so pissed off in my entire life. I went up to Austin and pushed him with all I had, "I can't fucking believe you, Austin! You can never just get over things. You always have to cross the fucking line and make shit complicated for everyone!" I kept pushing him and pushing him and hitting him. "You can't ever be happy for me! Ever! I fucking hate you! Stay the fuck away from me, Mike, and everyone fucking else in my life. Just leave everyone alone! You're just a fucking coward!" Austin looked at me in despair, tears forming in his eyes when Jaime grabbed me in one quick sweep and practically carried me into the dressing room with Tony, Vic, Alan, and Casey following behind us.

The door slammed behind Casey as I stood there, tears running down my face. Mike was pacing the floor venting to Benji about what happened and how much he hated Austin. I sat down on the couch, taking a deep breath. Jaime sat next to me, rubbing my back. "How come Austin always have to ruin everything?" As soon as I asked that question, the room fell silent and Mike came up, bending down so he could be eye-level with me.

"Luce, I'm sorry. But, he started saying shit as soon as we walked off stage. And, he was saying shit about you. I lost it." I looked him in his eyes, seeing how dark and defeated they were. I saw the bruise that was forming on his left eye, and I felt like this was all my fault. This is all because of me. What's even happening right now? Fighting over me.

I hugged Mike, crying into his arms. I was just as frustrated as everyone else. I just wanted to go back to the hotel at this moment. I was done emotionally. Eventually, the noise in the hallway had gone silent, and Alan went back to his band to see how Austin was doing. Mike was packing up his stuff in his bag, as were the rest of the guys. Benji had left with Josh, and I was just waiting for all of us to head back to the hotel.

Casey poked his head in the room, "The cabs are here, guys. Let's go to sleep."

I stood up and followed Vic, Jaime, and Tony out of the room. Mike pulled me back for a moment, kissing me suddenly, but nonetheless, more passionate than ever before. "I love you, princess. I'd do whatever to make sure you were safe and happy."

A smiled pulled on my lips, "I love you too, Mikey. And thank you, for having my back tonight."

"I'll always have your back." He smirked as he stared into my eyes.

I stood on my tippy toes and kissed his lips softly. He intertwined his fingers with mine as we walked to the front of the venue and got into the cab, putting tonight to rest.

Notes

Well lookie here, I updated two days in a row!

HEAVY CHAPTER. A lot went down, and a lot is gonna be affected because of this. But don't fret, when there is always low lows, there is usually high highs.

Tell me your thoughts, emotions, theories. You know how I love feedback :)

Love you forever,
Amber