But you've buried everything we used to fight for...

Mike tightly gripped onto the drumstick he held in his left hand while pushing his brown locks out of his face. Droplets of sweat dripped from the top of his face and slowly transitioned onto his drum set in front of him. Carefully, he picked up the other drumstick, placing it into his right hand as a skillful melody began to play inside his mind.

Weeks had gone and past from the last time Mike laid eyes on his beloved instrument and since then it was all he could think about. He still managed to sit back and get high from time to time but his passion to play music never left. His hands tingled; eager to perform a small number he had came up with on the course for the new Pierce the Veil album that had been on hiatus for a year now. It bugged him to have all his hard work gone to waste but there was nothing he could have done. Without Tony the band wasn't whole.

Tony. That name left a dreadful mark inside Mike's mind. If it wasn't for him he would probably be on the road as of now, performing his heart out, drinking after shows, waking up and now and then forgetting all about the night before's events. Just living in the moment for all he cared basically but that was now gone. No one knew how long the breakup would last anyway. In his eyes they'd probably never get back together. By no means did Mike feel Pierce the Veil would once again rule the scene especially not after the fallout between him and Tony.

That's when his foot started to press on the drum pedal. His body then took over control letting the beat inside his mind flow out and wrap around him. Mike progressed rapidly on his drums as the slow beat quickly transitioned to an upbeat solo. He banged his cymbals with intensity as he let all of his anger out through the mind-blowing power of music.

In all honesty, he truly found playing to be better than smoking. All Mike needed was a release; if he could get his mind off of that chilling night then he could let everything else slip to the back of his head. He knew he was wrong but it was too late to apologize. After all, he was what brought Tony to his pushing point.

Tour was almost coming to an end. It had been a wonderful experience as well as feeling to be back playing for both old and new faces almost every night. From various daily sets to several time spent talking to people at meet and greets whose courage gave him hope countless of times, Mike was a little sad it would soon be all over in just a couple more days. The guys along with crew and members from the other bands on tour with them had decided to visit a bar not too far from where their hotel currently was.

There was only one problem: Tony. For the majority of the day he had spent his time in complete isolation. Vic was his roommate and even he had tried to get Tony out of the dull hotel room to spend some time with friends but no matter how nicely he asked and offered Tony just wouldn't budge. Jaime was next and followed in Vic's footsteps only to be pushed away by what he thought was his best friend. No one understood what was going on in Tony's world and Mike didn't want anything to do with it for the most part.

If it wasn't for his older brother and Jaime begging him he would've already been at the bar with everyone else, most likely buzzed in less than an hour due to letting the alcohol erase his a majority of his problems for the time being. Instead, he stood outside Tony's room, staring the dreary, brown door in the face.

Mike's knuckles banged up against the wooden door three times. No one answered. Mike then knocked again and ended up receiving the same response as before. This wasn't like Tony one bit. Every part of him wanted to up and leave but there was something holding him back from doing so. It was Tony's voice coming from the other side. It was muffled at first until he placed his ear closer to the door.

"How is she holding up?" Tony's voice questioned. Even though he was on the other side it didn't take Mike long to realize he was conversing with someone else at the current moment.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for her birthday," Tony answered before pausing. "I know, I know but it'll be good since I'll be home soon. The guys should be fine, they're better off without me dragging them down anyways. I'll call you when my plane lands, tell Emily I love and miss her for me."

The sound of his voice then faded out leaving Mike to assume the call had finally ended. He couldn't believe what he had just heard Tony confess over the phone. Questions ranging from just who he was talking to along with his intentions of leaving without telling anyone roamed around inside his head. The newly learned information wasn't sitting too well with Mike and he was going to do something about it no matter what the cost.

"Oh it's you," Tony's voice called out towards the slender man in front of him. Mike's confusion only lasted a few seconds before his actions took over. Furious wasn't even the right word to describe him at the moment especially just after hearing his 'friend' act like nothing was happening. He could see the two suitcases clenched in Tony's hands from behind the door.

"How could you," Mike was able to choke out.

"What do you mean?" Tony continued to play dumb in front of his bandmate. His attempt to put up a facade against Mike wasn't working and immediately dropped it once he noticed Mike's behavior.

"Why are you doing this to us Tony?" Mike questioned, "All of us didn't work our assess off just so you can go up and quit one day. That's not fair and it's selfish. I thought you out of all people would've understood that by now."

"It's none of your business what I choose to do with my life Mike," Tony gritted through his teeth, upset with the sudden backlash attitude coming from his newly ex-friend. "Just let me do what I have to do and go about your own business. It's as easy as that."

"I came here because I wanted to hang out with my friend but I guess I got the wrong room."

"Well I guess you did," Tony barked. He hit off the lights in his hotel room and started walking out with his suitcases in tow behind him.

"Fine, go ahead and leave. The only thing you were right about was the band being better off without you here. You're dead to me Tony and that's all you'll ever be. We don't need people like you driving us apart," Mike yelled towards the hooded man who just kept walking down the long hallway after shutting his door.

That was the last time Mike ever saw Tony. It was also the last time anyone else also saw him. With his disappearance, a technician had to fill in for him for the final shows. People at the meet and greets continued to worry about his whereabouts while Mike hated whenever people even brought up his name at all.

You're dead to me.Those exact words rung inside Mike's head. His eyes glanced down to the huge holes in both his bass and snare drums. He would have to get them replace now that they had been destroyed by accident due to him releasing his built up stress. As he reminisced back to that dreadful day once more, it pained him to remember how rude and stupid he was to Tony. It had a way more powerful consequence on the band than he could ever imagine.

He had fucked up big time.

Notes

Finally we're at Mike's part. I hoped you all enjoyed it as short as this chapter was. (:

Next one will be back to focusing on Tony's recent troubles.

-AustinCarlily