I walked behind Vic into the bus.
Everyone else was lounging on the couches.
I sat next to Jaime at the table, who was staring at his phone.
“Hey Cherri.” He mumbled.

Vic sat on the counter behind me, “What are you doing?”
I looked up, “Watching him lose at Words With Friends.”
“Who’re you playing?” Vic asked.
“Tony.” He mumbled.
Tony walked in, smiling, “I won again you asshole!”
Jaime sighed, “Can I play someone who’s completely illiterate?”
“You’re shit out of luck.” I said, playfully punching him.

I stood up and turned to walk into the bathroom, when Mike stuck his foot out.
I stepped over it, and then turned to kick him.
“Ouch!” He yelled.
“Watch yourself.” I warned, glaring at him.
“When did you grow balls Sherri?” Tony asked.
“I’ve always had them, I’ve just been nice. I’m done being nice now.”
“Watch your back, Vic’s girlfriend is a mean one.” Tony laughed.
I froze, and Vic laughed, “She’s sassy too.”
I stared at both of them, frozen in place.
“You’re not used to hearing that yet, are you?” Vic asked, putting his arm around me.
I slowly shook my head, “No. It’s still a little weird.”
He kissed me, “You’ll get used to it.”
Mike, still rubbing his shin glared at me, “She’s got steel toes.”
I made a face and smiled, “Teach you to mess with me.”

He rolled up his pants leg, and looked at his shin, where a big bruise had begun to form.
“You bruised me!” He cried.
“Oh Waah, get over it Mike.” Vic laughed.
Vic sat on the couch, pulling me into his lap, “So, I have a proposition for you.”
“I’m not sleeping with you yet.” I replied.
He laughed, “I wasn’t going to propose that, I was going to ask if you’d like to sleep in my bunk. Just sleep, cuddle, nothing else.”
“Vic, you don’t cuddle!” Jaime yelled.
“Yes I do.” He replied.
“Not with me!”
“Jaime, there’s so much wrong with that, I don’t know where to begin. Besides, Sherri is my girlfriend. That’s what I do with my girlfriends, cuddle.”
“You do more than that, from what I remember from when you were with Cara.” Mike snapped.
Vic shot him a look, quickly falling silent.

I’d only heard stories from people about Cara, and how she hurt Vic.
I tucked my hair behind my ear, and eased onto my feet, turning to walk into the back.

I found my bag, and started digging through my clothes.
I heard the door open and close, and I turned and saw Vic sitting on the couch, hugging his knees, head resting on his arms.
I hesitated, but slowly I walked over and sat beside him.
“Are you okay?”
He nodded, sniffling and looked at me, “Yeah, just a touchy subject, is all.”
I nodded, “I know.”
He hugged me, sniffling, “I was just really, really hurt by her.”
“I would never hurt you. Ever. I know we all say that at the get-go, but I mean it. I’m not that kind of girl. I just got used to the fact that ANYONE wanted to date me, so believe me when I say, I’d never consider cheating on you.”
He chuckled, “That’s good. Makes me feel better.”
“It should, that was the point.”
He looked at me, “I don’t even know why someone like that would even cross my mind, when I have an amazing girl like you.”
I smiled, and felt myself blushing.
“It’s so cute when you blush.” He whispered, kissing me.
“I’m glad you think so, because I have a feeling I’m going to be doing it a lot.” I whispered.
He kissed me again, this time holding it longer than usual.
He put his hand on the side of my face, and I covered it with mine.
He finally broke the kiss, breathing heavily, and smiled, “I love you Sherri.”
I smiled back, “I love you too Vic.”
He took his hat off, and put it on my head, “I want you to have this. I have a hundred more, but this one’s my favorite, and I think it only suiting if my favorite girl wears my favorite hat.”
I smiled, “Thank you.”
He took out his phone and snapped a picture, “And that’s my new wallpaper.”
I tackled him, kissing him, “You’re a dork.”
He laughed, “I know.”
“Vic, you okay?” Jaime poked his head in.
He nodded, locking his arms around my waist, “I’m fine, Jaime.”
Jaime smiled, “Good to know. I’ll give you guys some space.”
He closed the door.

I got up, and straightened my shirt.
“Get up.” I said.
He held his hand out, and I helped him up.
He stood up and dust himself off.
“Your hair’s a mess.” I smiled.
“I have hat hair. You’ll get used to it.”
I smiled, “What if I don’t?”
He shrugged, “Then you’re in for a rude awakening.”
I straightened the hat, “I don’t mind it much.”
He laughed and opened the door.
I followed him back into the front, where we both sat on the couch.

“So, how’d things go back there?” Mike asked, smiling deviously.
“Fine, why do you ask?” I asked.
“You’re wearing Vic’s hat, and your shirt is all wrinkled and disorderly.”
“We didn’t do anything. We just had a chat.” Vic responded, putting his arm around me.
“You’re going to take forever, aren’t you?”
Vic looked confused, “What do you mean?”
Mike laughed, “You’re going to wait forever to pop Cherri’s cherry.”
I turned beet red, and so did Vic, “Shut up Mike, that’s none of your damn business.”
I mustered up a little courage, and spoke up, “For your information, my cherry’s been gone for a long time.”
Vic looked at me in surprise, as did everyone else.
“What?” I asked.
“You mean, you’re not a virgin?” Mike asked.
I shook my head, “I lost my virginity when I was seventeen.”
“Wow.” Mike replied.
“That’s the only reason you were even interested in her Mike, because you wanted to deflour her.”
Mike laughed, “No, of course not.”
We all gave him a dirty look, and he shrugged, “I like women with experience.”
“Then why did you want Sherri if you thought she was a virgin?”
“Cause she’s hot. And I wanted to teach her a few things.” He grinned proudly.
“I know plenty, thank you. And I’m sure Vic can teach me some things I still don’t know.” I replied smugly.
Vic, who was no longer as embarrassed as me, was now as smug as I was.
“Oh yeah? If you’re so smug, then why doesn’t he start right now?”
Vic and I exchanged looks, and he shrugged.
I smiled and shrugged, “Okay.”
Vic looked a little surprised, but I grabbed his hand and lead him to the back.

“Are you sure you want to do this? We don’t have to please Mike.”
I giggled, “So you DON’T want this as much as I do?”
He shook his head, “No, no. I want it.”
I pulled his shirt over his head, “Good, cause it’s happening.”

Two hours later when we were getting re-dressed, he smiled at me, “Wow, you were right, you’re so NOT a virgin.”
I grabbed him by the shirt and kissed him, “Shut up, you enjoyed it, and you know it.”
He smiled against my lips, “It was amazing.”
We walked back into the front, and everyone stopped what they were doing, and stared at us.
Mike smiled, “Okay, I believe you now.”
I sat on the couch, “Good, because that exhausted me.”
Vic fell onto the couch beside me, his head falling over on my shoulder, “Me too. You can really wear a guy out.”
I kissed his head, “You liked it.” I whispered.
He smiled, “Doesn’t make me any less exhausted.”
“We’re almost to the next town guys!” The driver called.
“Good, because we could use a nap.” Vic mumbled, pulling his hat over his eyes, and laying across my lap.
I giggled and played with his hair.

“We’re here!!” The driver hollered.
Vic jumped up, headbutting me.
“Ouch!” We yelled together.
“Sorry.” He whispered, rubbing his forehead.
“It’s okay.” I replied.
He stood up and put his hat back on, “Everybody fall out!”
I stood up and stretched, “That nap was nice while it lasted.”
He hugged me, “Shut up, and get going. We’ve got a show to prepare for.”

We unloaded, and got checked into the hotel.
We settled in, and then we had to head to the venue for soundcheck, and so that Casey and I could set up the merch table.

Vic hugged me, “Have fun.”
I laughed, “You too.”

Casey tossed me a box, and I set it under the table.
“So, was it good?”
I turned around, “Beg your pardon?”
He laughed, “You know what I mean.”
I gave him a confused look.
“You and Vic..you know.”
I laughed, “I don’t think my sex life is anyone else’s business.”
“Well, from what I’ve heard, you two had quite an afternoon.”
“It was fantastic, since you’re not going to stop asking.”
“Nice.”

There were already kids lining up outside when I went out to the bus to grab my phone.
“Hey, you guys selling t-shirts tonight?” A girl asked.
I nodded, “Yeah, we’re right inside.”
“Cool. I’ll see ya in there.”
I nodded and opened the door after flashing security my pass.
“Evening Miss Gill.”
“Please Joe, call me Cherri.” I smiled.
“Alright, Cherri.”
I walked back around where Casey was talking to a girl.
“Don’t make me call Mallory.” I sing-songed.
He laughed, “She was talking sizes.”
I looked at the girl, who smiled, “Hand to god. I have a boyfriend.”
I smiled, “What size are you honey?”
“Small.”
I bent down, and started digging through the box under the table.
“Is that your natural hair color?” She asked.
I nodded, “Yes ma’am. Well, It’s not this intense, I added a little of it, but I am a natural redhead.”
I handed her the shirt.
“Cherri! Vic’s asking for you!” Joe called.
“Be right there Joe!” I yelled back.
“Casey, can you handle this for a minute. I’m going to see what he wants.”
Casey nodded and I walked away.

With my pass on hand, I walked through the doors.
“Where’s he at?” I asked.
“Through that door.”
I opened the door, “You wanted to see me?”
He hugged me, “I wanted to see you before I went on, and I knew walking out there would cause a riot.”
I smiled, “Well, have a good show, I’ve gotta go sell your face and make you look good.”
He laughed, “You think I need help with that?”
I laughed, “Shut up you conceited asshole.”
He kissed me, “I love you. See you after the show.”
I stole his hat, “Thought this was mine.”
He laughed, “It is. My mistake, I’ll grab my other one.”
“See you out there babe.”
I turned and walked back down the hallway.
“Nice hat.” The guard called.
“Thank ya.” I smiled.

I came out the doors and the table was swarmed.
I rushed over, “I’m back.”
“Good, I was beginning to worry.”
“Hey, that’s Vic’s hat!!” Someone yelled.
“Yeah, he gave it to me. We’re just cool like that.”
“I heard you’re cooler than what you’re letting on.” Someone else yelled.
I stood upright, “IF YOU WANT SERVICE, THEN I WANT TO SEE TWO SINGLE FILE LINES RIGHT NOW!!”
They jumped into two lines and shut up.
“Thank you. This makes our jobs easier, and your experience a better one, so keep tight lipped until it’s your turn up.”
Two by two, we handled the crowd, until they dissipated to nothing.
Finally, we fell back into our chairs, and sighed.
“That was mayhem.” I mumbled.
“You’re telling me.” Casey sighed.

We heard the crowd go insane inside the coliseum.
“The boys are going on.” I sighed.
“You should go peek in.”
“Nah, I’m already at risk of being mobbed because I have Vic’s hat.”
“He really give that to you?”
“Yeah. Said it was his favorite hat, and it was only suiting if his favorite girl wear it.”
“Cute.”
“Shut up.”

The boys opened up with Hell Above.
“Oh I love that song.” I whispered.
“Just sneak in the door and stand right there. I won’t tell.”
I smiled, “You’re a gem Case.”
I slinked in the door, and closed it slowly.
I could see Vic up front really putting on the show.
I smiled to myself.
I thought about waving at him, but seeing as how he was about 200 feet away from where I stood, and there was about a thousand people between us, I decided it wouldn’t be a good idea.
One of the girls turned around, “Hey, you’re wearing Vic’s hat.”
I nodded, “Yeah, I stole it from him.”
“How many stories are you peddling about that hat?”
I turned around, and another girl one from earlier, was staring me down, arms crossed.
“Well, he gave it to me, but he was wearing earlier, and I stole it from him before the show.”
“Oh yeah? Why would he give his favorite hat to the merch girl?”
“We’re just cool like that.” I shrugged.
“Well, I heard a different story.”
“Oh yeah? What story would that be?”
My arms were crossed now, staring right at the girl, hat falling over my eyes.
“I heard that you and Vic are an item. LIke, dating.”
“Nope. We’re just good friends. We spend a lot of time together, on account of the fact that we’re on tour together for two months.”
“Good friends?”
“That’s what I said, kid.” I responded, smiling.
“Kid?!”
“Look, I’m not starting a fist-fight at my friend’s show because you guys buy into stupid online gossip. So, watch the show, enjoy the music, and put a sock in it.”
The girl stared at me, mouth agape in disbelief.
I elbowed through the crowd, making my way to front and center.
Once I got to the front, Vic was in the middle of Stained Glass Eyes.
I smiled at him.
He looked down and spotted me, and signaled a quick wave and a wink.

With that, I elbowed back through the crowd.
I got to the back, the girls were still standing there, arms crossed, looking like they’d been sucking on a lemon.

I smiled at them, and opened the door.
I walked back to the merch table.
“How’d it go?”
I laughed, “Couple of girls started asking questions about my hat, and we almost threw down. But I told them I wasn’t starting a fist-fight.”
“You’re a real scrapper.” He laughed.
“I used to be a shy little thing, but I’m coming out of my shell.”
“Vic likes’em feisty.”
“Shut up Casey.”

The show ended, and the crowd swarmed the table.
I ordered them into line, and they did as they were told.
Once the crowd was gone, Casey and I packed it up.

“I’ll finish up. You go find Vic.”
I hugged him, “Thanks Caveman.”

I walked through the hallways.
Vic met me at the door, “Hey, what’d you think?”
I smiled and kissed him, “Great show babe.”
“Heard you almost duked it out with a couple of fangirls.”
“I was defending our secret. They weren’t getting the truth out of me. We’re keeping this on the low for awhile.”
He nodded, “Okay, but don’t beat anyone up for the sake of it.”
I laughed, “No problem. I told them I wasn’t making a scene and taking the spotlight away from you, that would just be a ridiculous spectacle.”
He laughed aloud, “Well thank god you’ve got a level head on your shoulders.”
“Shut up and kiss me wise-ass.”