Two weeks later, Friday night at 7:00 P.M….

Two weeks had passed and I was different. Who knew that two weeks could change you so much?

No longer was I the blonde haired, blue eyed girl that used to stargaze silently in her driveway at midnight. No longer was I the old Rory that would laugh loudly at jokes, love to chat with good friends, and hungered to study science.

She was replaced, tossed aside, abandoned.

Now I am a black and silver haired Rory with green contacts that looked like the ocean waves. I am the girl who sits silently, hasn’t talked in days, and is abused by the men who captured her. I am the girl whose skin is littered with bruises and scratches. I am the girl who was taken and knows she can’t ever go back. I am that girl who can’t fight anymore.

So this new Rory sadly took the place of the old one.

I trailed Ghost as he took my hand and led me to the front lounge. I silently shadowed the man as he guided the small procession. The other boys were already gathered in the front of the bus on the couches. Chris held his laptop in his hands and Balz was finishing up a crossword.

Ghost sat down in the empty seat on the couch next to Ricky. I crossed my legs and sat down in front of him. He stroked my hair as if he would pet a dog and chattered to Ricky quietly.

The red marks had all faded away, but the memories had yet to stop haunting me.

“Can I take her?” Ricky asked Ghost quietly. I might be silent, but I wasn’t deaf. I heard those words and felt a knot grow in my chest. Ghost must’ve nodded because Ricky chuckled a little.

“Come here, Little One.” He commanded. I moved over so that I was sitting in front of him. I looked up, waiting to hear the next order.

“Up.” He said and I stood up with a mental sigh. I still felt like a little puppy that was trying to be trained, but I couldn’t object to it. Crawling up on Ricky’s lap, he held me there for a minute, running his fingers through my hair. Instinctively, I curled up under his chin. I felt his chest vibrate in pleasure as he hummed a light laugh.

“Is the pet warming up to you again?” Balz smirked. If I closed my eyes, maybe I could be nonexistent. Ricky had no answer to that.

“She’s warming his cold heart.” Chris chuckled his input. Ricky laughed a little the comment. I smiled a little at that. Maybe I was a little useful for something…

“So our next concert is in another week.” Chris told everyone as he tapped a few more things on the keys of his laptop.

“It’s in northern Montana, right?” Balz asked. The singer nodded.

“Sleeping with Sirens contacted us about being mentored.” Vinny added from the driver’s seat. Chris eyed him a minute.

“Really?” He asked. Vin nodded and swerved to avoid a deer. We were all tossed a moment before righting ourselves. Luckily, nothing had tumbled off. Vinny was known to be a…daredevil driver.

“Yeah. I got a call about an hour ago. They were thinking about going into the business but needed a mentor. They were wondering about Rory.” Vin explained.

“Wait, what about Rory?” Ricky asked.

“Well, they were wondering if they could be mentored for a few days, maybe test run a few things, see if it was really for them. They also mentioned that if we were selling, they might buy her…only if they like her of course.” Vinny chuckled.

“Wait, what?” Horror croaked out. I gulped a little.

“Don’t freak the frick out, Rick. I said we’d think about it.” Vin grumbled. I sighed a little but mulled over the thoughts.

Sleeping with Sirens…yeah I listen to them, or I used to listen to them. Honestly, I bet if I looked at my ipod’s playlist, all the bands on there must somehow be involved in this business.

What next, The Amity Affliction!? Of Mice and Men!? Pierce the Veil!?

“Well, it’s definitely a ‘thinking about it’ matter.” Ricky grumbled and resumed stroking my hair. I couldn’t help but try to grasp the fact that I might be getting sold, but maybe it wasn’t so bad if I got sold.

I would be getting away from more bad memories, but I was off to make more. I would be getting away from Ryan, but would there be another man like him in the new band. I would be getting away from Ricky…

I gulped a little at that thought. Sadness welled up in my chest at the thought. Trying to shoo it away, the memories and feelings stayed.

Yeah, I kind of had fallen in love with this man. Yeah, we had rough patches. But hell yeah, I still felt something for him.

“Come on, Little One. Let’s go to bed.” Chris took my hand and pulled me off Ricky’s lap. I sadly went with him. I had forgotten that it his turn to have me sleep in his bunk. Ricky’s hand lingered in my other one a second longer before I was led to the bunk area.

Notes